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HISTORY 



or 



GREEN COUNTY, 



WISCONSIN 



TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS TOWNS AND VILLAGES, EDUCATIONAL, CIVIL, MILI- 
TARY AND POLITICAL HISTORY; PORTRAITS OF PROXINENT PERSONS, AND 
BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN, 



EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE-HISTORIC RACES, AND A BKIEF ACCOUNT 
OF ITS TERRITORIAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



SPIllNtiKtKl.D, ILL. 
ITNtON IMini4SMIN<5 mMPANV. 

1884. 



5S7 



TO THE 

PIONEERS OF GREEN COUNTY 



THIS VOLUME IS 



RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 



WITH THE HOPE THAT YOUR VIRTUES MAY BE EMULATED AND YOUR TOILS 

AND SACRIFICES DULY APPRECIATED BY COMING 

GENERATIONS, 



PREFACE 



This work was commenced, and has been carried forward to completion, with a specific 
object in view, which was, to place upon record, in a reliable manner and in permanent form, 
whatever incidents of importance have transpired within what are now the limits of Green 
county since its first settlement. As preliminary to the narrative proper, it was thought best to 
give a succinct history of the State at large, including an accountof its pre-historic earthworks, 
of the early visitations of the fur trader and missionary, and of the jurisdictions exercised over 
this region by different governments; also, of the important incidents transpiring here while 
the Territory of Wisconsin was in existence. This part of the work is from the pen of Prof. 
C. W. Butterfield, of Madison, Wisconsin. 

In the general history of the county, as well as in the sketches of its city, towns and vil- 
lages, the reader will find that incidents, reminiscences and anecdotes are recorded with a 
variety and completeness commensurate with their importance. Herein is furnished (and this 
is said with confidence) to the present generation and to those which follow it, a valuable reflex 
of the times and deeds of the pioneers. It has been truly said that "a people that take no 
pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything to be remem- 
bered with pride by remote descendants." It is believed that, in the following pages, there is 
erected a lasting monument to the memory of the pioneer men and women of Green county. 

The resolutions passed by Congress i?i 1876, in reference to the preparation and preserva- 
tion of local history, and the proclamation of the President of the United States recommending 
that those resolutions be carefully observed, have met with the very general and hearty ap- 
proval of the people. Indeed, so acceptable has seemed this advice of our law-makers, that 
steps have already been taken in almost every thoroughly organized community throughout the 



TV 



PREFACE 



land to clironicle and place in permanent form the annals of each neighborhood; thus rescuing 
from oblivion much interesting and valuable information that otherwise would have been irre- 
trievably lost. 

It was thought there could be no good reason why the annals of Green county should not 
be placed on as enduring a foundation as those of surrounding counties; and to this end, no 
expense or pains have been spared to render this history worthy of patronage. That portion 
of the work which relates to the county generally (including the whole of the first twenty-eight 
chapters) has been prepared and edited by Prof. C. W. Butterfield— "whose reputation as a 
writer of history," says the Monroe Sentinel, "was well established before he came to Green 
county to prepare its chronicles." A number of experienced writers under the guidance of 
George A. Ogle, Esq., have had charge of the sketches relating especially to the city, towns 
and villages. The whole book has been submitted to county and town committees of citizens 
for revision, thus insuring correctness and adding materially to its value. 

The labors of all engaged in this enterprise have been cheered by the cordial assistance 
and good will of many friends — so many, indeed, that, to attempt to name them, would in this 
connection, be impracticable; to all of whom, grateful acknowledgements are tendered. The 
officers of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, have, from the first, been unremitting in 
their endeavors to aid the undertaking. The newspaper press of the county, is entitled to espe- 
cial mention for their help and encouragement so generously tendered. 

Union Publishing Company, 
October, 1«84. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

PKE-HISTORIC AND SETTLEMENT 17 

First Exploration of the Northwest 18 

Wisconsin visited by fur traders and Jesuit mission- 
aries 19 

Founding of Jesuit missions in Wisconsin 20 

Wisconsin under French domination 31 

Wisconsin under English supremacy 23 

Wisconsin as a part of the Northwest Territory 25 

Wisconsin as a part of the Territory of Indiana 27 

Wisconsin as a part of Illinois Territory 29 



CHAPTER H. 



WISCONSIN AS A TERRITORY. 

Secretaries 

United States Attorneys 

United States Marshals 



PAGE 

34 
35 
35 
35 



CHAPTER III. 

WISCONSIN AS A STATE 



42 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 



CHAPTER I. 



PAGE 



AREA, POPULATION AND SURFACE FEATURES. 

CHAPTER n. 
TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 75 

CHAPTER in 
ABORIGINES OF GREEN COUNTY 89 

CHAPTER IV. 
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY 140 

CHAPTER V. 
THE BLACK HAWK WAR 157 

CHAPTER VI. 

UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS 192 



CHAPTER VII. 



PIONEER LIFE 



208 



CHAPTER VIII. 

PIONEER REMINISCENCES 212 

By Henry F. Janes 313 

By Samuel F. Chipman 215 

By J . W . Stewart 216 

By Albert Salisbury 231 

By Edward C . Beouchard 236 

ByRobertL. Keam 230 

By Hiram Brown 230 

By Marg-aret McCoy 238 

By J. K. Crocker 241 



CHAPTER IX. 

PAGE 

FIRST THINGS 246 

CHAPTER X. 

GREEN COUNTY FORMED AND ORGANIZED 2.52 

CHAPTER XI. 

TERRITORIAL, STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL REP- 
RESENTATION 273 

Cong-ressional delegates from Michigan Territory 273 

Members of the Council of Wisconsin Territory 273 

Representatives of Wisconsin Territory 280 

Constitutional Conventions 283 

Members of the State Senate 286 

Members of the Assembly 291 

Membersof the United States Senate 295 

Congressional 298 

CHAPTER XH. 

THE COURTS OF GREEN COUNTY 311 

Circuit Court of the United States for the County of 

Crawford 311 

Territorial District Court 317 

Circuit Court of Green County 3:^1 

County Court of Green County 347 

CHAPTER Xm. 

COMMON SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY 3.53 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE BAR— PAST AND PRESENT 364 

The Bar of the Past 364 

The Bar of To-day 376 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XV. 

p 

RAILROADS OF GREEN COUNTY 

CHAPTER XVI. 
AGRICULTURE. AND THE AGRICULTURAL SO- 
CIETY 

CHAPTER XVn. 
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE COUNTY BOARD 

CHAPTER XIX. 
ELECTION STATISTICS 

CHAPTER XX. 
THE WAR FOR THE UNION 

CHAPTER XXI. 
COUNTY OFFICERS 

CHAPTER XXII. 
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS 

CHAPTER XXIII. 
COUNTY BUILDINGS AND POOR FARM 

CHAPTER XXIV. 
LITER ATU RE— SCIENCE— ART 

CHAPTER XXV. 



THE NEWSPAPER PRESS 

The Green County Union 

The Monroe Sentinel 

The Jeflfersonian Democrat 

Various Monroe Papers 

The Sun 

The Monroe Gazette 

Green County Hemld 

The Judean 

The Latest News 

Montleello Items 

The Brodhead Independent 

The Brodhead Register 

Albany Weekly Journal 

The Albany Vindicator 

Random Extracts Concerning Green County News- 
papers 

CHAPTER XXVI. 
THE SWISS COLONY OF NEW GLARUS 



AGE 

385 



409 
424 
438 
405 
481 
540 

551 
575 
581 



58(5 
586 
586 
598 
599 
600 
604 
605 
605 
606 
606 
608 
618 
619 
620 



620 



623 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

PAGE 

TOWN OF ADAMS 644 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

TOWN AND VILLAGE OF ALBANY 857 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

TOWN OF BROOKLYN 718 

CHAPTER XXX. 

TOWN OF CADIZ 744 

CHAPTER XXXI. 
TOWN OF CLARNO 766 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

TOWN OF DECATUR 787 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

VILLAGE OF BRODHEAD 803 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

TOWN OF EXETER 837 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

TOWN OF JEFFERSON 867 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

TOWN OF JORDAN 890 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

TOWN OF MONROE 906 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

CITY OF MONROE 921 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT 994 

CHAPTER XL. 
TOWN OF NEW GLARUS ■ 1023 

CHAPTER XLI. 
TOWN OF SPRING GROVE 1046 

CHAPTER XLII. 

TOWN OF SYLVESTER '. 1097 

CHAPTER XLIII. 

TOWN OF WASHINGTON... 1127 

CHAPTER XLIV. 
TOWN OF YORK 1144 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



VII 



BIOGRAPHICAL 



PAGE 

Abley, Jacob 711 

Ableman, William 898 

Ace, Elijahs 861 

Adams, George 971 

Adams, Henry 288 

Albly, Jr., Henry 1035 

Albly, Henry 856 

Albright, Albert 785 

Alien, DeWittC 1076 

Ames, Fred L 1156 

Amidon, Lorenzo 735 

Andrew. E.J. 731 

Anderson, T.J 780 

Annis, John F. 1018 

Armstrong, J. J 882 

Armstrong, A 791 

Armstrong, J. H 882 

Arnot, Andrew 987 

Atherton, Walgrave 799 

Atkinson, Francis 693 

Atwood, James P 1085 

Atwood, Pervine 1079 

Austin, D. W 1086 

Austin, Seth 888 

Babcock, Reuben 1076 

Babler, Oswald 1039 

Bacon, Orrin 288 

Baebler, Isaiah 1015 

Baebler, Henry 1016 

Baebler. Albrecht 1016 

Baglev, George W 700 

Bailey, William E 648 

Bailey, Uriah G 647 

Baird, William 1111 

Baker, Charles M 336 

Baker, James C 991 

Baker. George W 1012 

Ball, David W 975 

Ball, Samuel D 1107 

Ball, John S 934 

Ballon, Lee 812 

Barber, Joel A lien 306 

Barmore, Alfred 1118 

Barnes, Henry M 863 

Barney, Milo L 1015 

Barlow, Richard.. 1014 

Bartlett, John E 619 

Bartlett, Edmund 369 

Bartlett. L. C 813 

Bartlett, Joseph 728 

Bartlett, G. W 679 

Bass, John 1143 

Baumgartner, Jacob 1137 

Baunigartner, Anton 1137 

Baumgartner, John 1135 

Baxter, Zebulon 735 

Baxter, Charles H 1011 

Bayrhoflfer, Charles T.... 900 

Bayrbofifer, Charles L.... 901 

Beach, Robert 885 

Beach, John 979 

Bechtolt. Daniel B 895 

Beckman, William 780 

Becker, Jr., Fredolin 1041 

Beebe, B. W 808 



PAGE 

Beeny, Albert N 1033 

Behrudt, August .1125 

Belveal , Joseph 879 

Benkert, David 1138 

Bennett, John B .346 

Bennett, Mrs. H. C 42!» 

Bennett, E G 432 

Bennett, Andrew 734 

Bennett, A. Z 735 

Benage, David S 884 

Benage, Abram 886 

Benson, Harney 900 

Benkert, Rudolph 919 

Berryuian, Albert L 713 

Berryman, Ephraim 883 

Berryman, Adrian 1018 

Bidlingraaier, John G 1142 

Biggs, James 28H 

Binger. William 7,56 

Bi nger, Nathaniel 762 

Bingham, John A 348 

Bingham, Helen Maria.. 581 

Bintlifif. James .594 

Blackford, E. J 879 

lUackford, Samuel 894 

Blackstone, John W 291 

Blain, Joseph 893 

Blair, EdwinP 743 

Blanchard, John B 831 

Bleiler, John 917 

Bloom, George W 778 

Bloom, George 1118 

Bluraer, John 656 

Blumer, Ezra 655 

Blumer. J.Jacob 430 

Blumer, Adam 1131 

Blumer, Samuel 426 

Bluraer, John 1012 

Blunt, William 769 

Boardman, Horace E 428 

Bolender, John 293 

Booth, Charles Asa .594 

Botkin, Alexander 281 

Boughton, Harlow T. .. 712 

Bowen, Davis 282 

Bowen, Thomas S 287 

Bowen, Ephraim 295 

Bowen, Jared 1 790 

Bowen, Hiram 832 

Bowen, James E 1098 

Boyls, William 1004 

Boyles, Samuel L 1083 

Bradley, William 880 

Bradford, Frederick M... 763 

Bradford, John 764 

Bradshaw, H. N 425 

Bragg. Thomas J 908-966 

Bragg, S. S 967 

Brant, Samuel 1074 

Brant, John A 1094 

Brant, J 833 

Bratley, William 763 

Bray, George. 654 

Bray, Eliphalet D 654 

Brechlin, William 1125 

Brewer, Jeremiah 660 



PAGE 

Brewer, J. W 738 

Breyiinger, F. J 1022 

Bridge, George W 

Bridge, J. H 969 

Brigham, Ebenezer 274 

Brobst, Sr., Isaac 1074 

Brobst, Daniel 1074 

Brobst, Jr., Isaac 1075 

Brooks, F. M 857 

Brooks, William M 8,57 

Brockway, Henry 716 

Broughton, Russell 432 

Broughton, John 6,58 

Broughton, Albert L 663 

Broughton, William 664 

Brown, William 983 

Brown, J. S 878 

Brown, Hiram '. 283 

Brundage, Andrew J 375 

Brunkow, William 1122 

Brunnen, Martin zum 1138 

Brunnen, Sr., Jacob zum. 11,38 
Brunnen, Jr., Jacob zum. 1139 

Bryant, Edwin B 368 

Bucklin, Frank J 836 

Buck, Theodore Z 101' 

Buehler, Andrew 98' 

Bulson, A. E 435 

Bulflnch, George W 1115 

Bulfinch. William 1114 

Burr, John 11.56 

Burgeson, Adne 115 

Burgy, Jacob 1136 

Burns, Charles W 706 

Burt. Franklin J 797 

Bussey, George 884 

Bushnell, Clark E 914 

Butt.s, Frank 7.34 

Button, Georsre M 819 

Byers, Fred W 427 

Byrne, William 

Cameron, John 775 

Campbell, Alexander 777 

Campbell, .lames 405 

Campbell, Samuel C 1155 

Capwell, H. B 729 

Carle, B.F.. 886 

Carter, John 881 

Carver, James W 709 

Carroll, Anthony 1020 

Carpenter, Cornelius N. . . 378 

Catlin, John 277 

Chace, George W 900 

Chase, John B 663 

Chase, P. F 988 

Chapin, Eli....: 783 

Chapiii, Enoch J 78t 

Chapel, Austin C 1081 

Chapel, James H 1083 

Chambers, J . A 878 

Chambers, John 888 

Charlton, Edwin A 616 

Chandler, Peter 911 

Chanincss, Isaac 908 

Chamberlain, Theodore.., 1008 



PAGE 

Cheney, S. C 989 

Chesbro, Henry 1121 

Chesebro, Eldridge W.... 1139 

Chryst, William J 882 

Churcbill, Norman 969 

Clarno, O. H. P 767 

Clarno, William 761 

Clark, Alfred 780 

Clark, J. E 868 

Clark, L. P 868 

Clark, Daniel 918 

Clark, William 1007 

Clark, Jabez 1019 

Clawson, Bowen B 830 

Clawson, P. J 376 

Clayton, Samuel T 1136 

Clemans, Mary 1069 

Clemmer, John A 798 

Clemmer, J. N 429 

Cleveland, H. G 977 

Cleveland, A. L 970 

Cleveland, James 97'J' 

Clinton, Edmund D 403 

Coates, William H 1008 

Coates, George E 1122 

Cobb, Amasa 306 

Cohn, Jonas 987 

Cole, Mary 801 

Cole, Samuel 736 

Colby Samuel 1086 

Colton, Arden H 698 

Colton, Melzar 1111 

Coldren, William H 1073 

Combs, Ogden 984 

Comstock, Asa 664 

Comstock, Lewis 711 

Confer, F 427 

Confer, James 1141 

Conkey, Amos 777-1145 

Conger, Harmon S 346 

Conway, James H 1007 

Conway, Thomas 1007 

Connery, John 967 

Coplien, Herman 1125 

Corson, Charles D 978 

Corson, Alanson 974 

Conelius, N 907 

Cotherman, Thomas 913 

Cotherman, Samuel 1118 

Coulter, James R 1053 

Covey, David 646 

Covell, William H 1117 

Craven, R 978 

Crompton, Thomas 737 

Crawford, John 861 

Crow, Thomas 764 

Crouch, James 1128 

Crouch, Samuel T 1128 

Crouch, William R 1129 

Crotty, Michael 645 

Crowell, Roswell 1147 

Ci'owell, William 1146 

Cunningham, Jeremiah P 844 
Curtis, Brant C 751 

Dale, James 749 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Dalrymple, .Tohn 741 

Diirkin. William T,V 

Darling-, Nelson >m 

Davis, Jeptha 7~8 

Davis, David. M 1040 

Davis. Elizabeth A 10ti!» 



1069 
788 
436 
800 
833 



Davis, George 
Dawson, John .7 

Day, A.L 

Hay, Uiissell J . 

Day, D. C 

Deilriek, Daniel 1070 

Dederick, Peter L 10 

Deetz. Jacob 898 

Deniston, Charles R 293 

Derrick, Frank K 435 

Derrick, Franklin H 825 

Derrick, Theodore J 107t 

Dettwiler, Emanuel 919 

Devoe, George 640 

Devoe, George S 64' 

Deviesc. Major 838 

DeHaven, Alpheus 965 

DeRctner, Peter 743 

Dinges, Andrew 779 

Disher, David 782 

Diven, Emanuel 756 

Diven, Henry 756 

Dodge, Henry 296 

Dodge, Joseph T 582 

Dodge. A. C 986 

Dodson, William M 782 

Doolittle. J ames R 336 

Doolittle, Ezra 723 

Doolittle, Leonard 719 

Douglas, A. S 37' 

Douglas, John 829 

Doty, James Duane 311 

Drake, Abner A 780 

Dreibelbis, Martin 785 

Dunbar, Sr., Joseph 849 

Duncan, Levi P 654 

Dunwiddie, David 29i 

Dunwiddie, Brooks 350 

Dunwiddie, Daniel 1071 

Dunwiddie, D. T 1095 

Dunwiddie, Hiram 1095 

Dutst, Henry 988 

Dye. A. M 914 

Eastman, Ben C 299 

Eaton, Thomas H 781 

Edgar, Matthew 856 

Edwards, Alonzo J 861 

Edwards, William 751 

Edwards, Luke 1124 

Egglestone, J. F. 719 

Eidsmore, M. 1150 

Eitel, John G 785 

Eldred, Stephen L 658 

Eldred. Stephen R 659 

Eley, George...^ 887 

Eley, John 912 

Ellis, George F 860 

Ellis, Richard F 900 

Ellis, Nehemiah 899 

Elmer, Conrad 912 

Elmer, Jr., John U 1010 



PAGE 

Fleek, Jerome B T»3 

Fleck, Edmund T 78V 

Flook, W. M 811 

Fleek, Benjamin H 790 

Flint, Sanford H To 

Flint, John 700 

Flood, Edward 736 

Flood, John 735 

Flood, Martin 719 

Flower, Dwight 436 

Foster, J. H 972 

Frey, Charles 0S3 

Freitag, Henry 86, 

Freitag, Jacob 864. 

Fritz, Hermann G 888 

Freitag, John J 864 

Fritsch. John D '.m 

Fuellemaun, Robert 992 

Fuller, H. D 42'; 

Fuller, CM 74:^ 

Fuller, M. H 74'.; 

Fuller, Lorenzo 762 

Fuller, Waldo..... 112C 

Fulton, William F 8.55 

Fulton, James T 865 

Gabrey, George 741 

Gabriel, Josephs.. 1154 

Gabriel, Richard 1155 

Gans, Joseph 1118 

Gapen, Marion T 882 

Gapen, Lewis 979 

Gapen, L. H 882 

Gardner, E. T 364 

Gardner, Warren E 793 

Gardner, Charles F 1089 

Geigle, Martin 916 

Gettings, Roger 982 

Gibbons, John 916 

Gibbons, Richard 902 

Gitford, C. A. 874 

Gilbertson, Jr., Ole 708 

Gilbertson, Ole 708 

Gleason, M. T 827 

Glennan, Richard 714 

Gliddeu, D. H 742 

Gloege, Herman L 519 

Goddard. A. W 9^0 

Goldin, Theodore W 54',i 

Goodrich, (ieorge 972 

Gorham, William C 1114 

Gorham, Rice D 913 

Gothorapson, Peter 0(i5 

Gothompson, Syver 665 

Gothompson, Andrew 666 

Gothompson, Ellef 666 

G ra venor, Thomas 690 

Gray, C. S 720 

Gray, Sylvester 720 

Green, Thomas 858 

Green, Frank B 8.59 

Green, Albert M 1146 

Green. William C 114." 

Grenzon, William 886 

Grenzow, W. F 88 

Grinnell, Robert P 648 

Grinnell, John F 648 

Grinnell. Willard E 97 



PAGE 

HauSer, Caspar 1042 

Havens, Peolin P 855 

Hawes, John 989 

Hawthorn, Andrew J 768 

Hawthorn, James 223 

Hawthorn, W. B 768 

Hawthorn. John 768 

Hazelton. George C 309 

Hetty. Thomas 1135 

H o 1 ty . Henry 86;j 

lUftv, Jacob 975 

Hetty, J. Jacob 1036 

Hefty. Thomas C 1038 

Hefty. David 1041 

Heinzelman, Martin 783 

Henn, William 77 

Hickman, James 883 

Hicks. J. W....: 679 

Hill, Washington 985 

Hill. Daniel 69 

Hills. Ashael 68;^ 

Hills, Sylvesters 682 

Hills, Sylvester 681 

Hilton, JamesT 1157 

Hilton, Gustavus 1132 

Hintzman,W. F 918 

Hoehn, Henry. 

Hbesly, Jr., Thomas 1034 

Hoesly Marcus 1035 

Hoesly, Andrew 10)0 

Holmes, Albert S 662 

Holcomb, Reuben 64' 

Holmes, J. W... 885 

Holdrick, Henry 1046 

Holloway, Samuel 1135 

Hollerbush, George 741 



Holloway. Ara S 1135 

Hooker, Lewis 1080 

Horton. Cyrus A 1087 

Hosken, John 850 

Howe, W. F 435 

Howard. Warren 679 

Hoyt, Erastus 691 

Hoyland, Ben L 979 

Hudson, James 707 

Hulburt, Erastus 659 

Hulburt, C. D 975 

Hulburt, Marvin M 1124 

Hulburt, Erastus 1006 

Hulburt, John 1006 

Hulburt, Dorwin 1124 

HuniLston. Ira T 1000 

Hutzel, Samuel 1119 

Hutzel, John W 1123 



PAGE 

Kirby, Moses 1072 

Kittleson, Jacob A 1158 

Kittelson. Ole E 711 

Klassy. John 1043 

Kline, William 1047 

Kline, Isaac 1047 

Klumb, Rebecca 1083 

Knight, Ralsey 1016 

Knoble, Fredolin 1020 

Kundsen, LeviO 1095 

Kratzer, Michael 764 

Kryder, Andrew J 1092 

Kubli, Jacob ... 896 

Kundert, Jr., Jacob 901 

Kundert, Fredolin 1033 

Kundert. Jacob 918 

Kundert, Thnmas 1044 

Lake, French 225—1050 » 

Lassell. Harris 1123 

Lee, Even Kittelson 711 

Lee, George W 425 

Legler. Fred E 978 

Legler, John 1039 

Lemon, William 1134 

Lemon, Thomas 1134 

Lemmel, John 689 

Leonard, C. D. W 735 

Lewis, William 713 

Lewis, L. N 798 

Lewis. James 866—895 

Lewis. Jeremiah 914 

Lewis, Benjamin 1015 

Lewis, Samuel 984 

Lewis. John 996 

Lichtenwalner, Peter 993 

Lichtenwalner, Joseph... 784 

Lindley, Pitt 1113 

Lloyd. Thomas 714 

Lockman. Lyman 762 

Lockwood, D. 737 



Elmer, Jacob H 1013 Grosscup, Daniel Paul 872 

Elmer, Adam 1030]Guinter, William 887 

Elmer, Werner 1039 



Elmer, Mathias 1040 

Elmer. John 1117 

Ely, James 973 

Emrick, Joseph , . 88( 

Enfield, Frederick 79' 

Evans. Enoch 964 

Eveleth, Oren K 901 



Haas, Jacob 109(1 

Hadinger, Frederick 7s2 

Hafner. Henry 9l«i") 

Hahn, John A 712 

Hahn, Ernest 835 

Hale, Calvin 9ii4 

Hale. Alfred 904 

Hall, J. C 427 

Faeser, John G 919 Hall, Jr., William 1090 

Farmer, Henderson 1077 Haincr, Richard 69!t 

Fenton, William loll HMiinnon, Jacob 970 

Fenton, Thomas lUlO Hamilton, Thomas 1070 

Ferguson, John 851|Hanchett, Luther 306 

Figi, John J 904i Harper. Andrew 1131 

Fillebrown, William C 375|Hare, Linus 1139 

Fleek, Reuben .. 828 Hartman, N. W 875 

Fleek, Adam 797|Hartwig, W. F 886 



Irvin David 316 

Iseli, Christian 1142 

lackson, Thomas A 1091 

Jenny, Peter 1009 

Jobes, Hiram B 690 

Johns, Samuel 915 

Johns, Richard 91 

.lohnson, William F 1121 

Johnson, William 1089 

Johnson, Isaiah 990 

Johnson, L. B 429 

.Tones, Burr W 309 

Jones, George W 295 

Jones, Jacob 778 

Joi-dan, Alonzo 865 

Karney, Melville 10&5 

Karney, Powel 1078 

Kealey. Michael 1018 

Keen, .Joseph 916 

Keen, James 910 

Keep, John M 337 

Kelley. John .. 1088 

Kelley, Jo.seph 965 

Kerr, Benjamin S 381 

Kilwine, Philip 800 

Kildow, James W 1048 

Kildow, Joshua P. 1049 

King. CM 976 

Kingdon, Sr., Henry 737 

Kingdon, Jr.. Henry 737 

Kinnison, William H 911 



Lockwood, Gaylord 738 

Long. Frank 765 

Loofbourow, N. A 426 

Lore, William 1121 

Loveland, Frank 1140 

Loveland, Argalus 1140 

Lucas, Charles W 835 

Luchsinger, Christian ... 1041 

Luchsinger, Thomas 1042 

Luchsinger, Othmar 1125 

Luchsinger, John 292 

Luchsinger, Fred 1043 

Ludlow, A 968 

Lynch, Simon P 763 

Lynde, William Pitt. 299 

Lj'on, William Penn 342 

McCammunt, John 779 

McConnell,' Mrs. Urania.. 865 

McCoy, James 734 

McCreedy, S . W 736 

McDowell. William 283 

McGoon. Richard 1006 

McKenny, Alonzo 862 

Mclndoe, Walter D ;%6 

McNish, Alexander 983 

Mack, W. B 792 

Magee, George 850 

Magoon, Andi-ew J 1043 

Magoon. Henry S 309 

Marty. Jacob 1021 

Malkut, William 1125 

Martin, Isaac E 1079 

Marti n Ol i ve r W 10^5 

Martin, Morgan L 297 

Martin, Nathaniel 750 

Marshall, Josiah H 863 

Matzke, Christian F 1122 

Mattison, Saul 1085 

Meacham, John A 763 

Medbpry, Hira n 376 

Meinert, Christopher 660 

Melvin, F. R 294 

Melvin, Austin 736 

Melvin Alonzo 736 

Meredith, Edward J 715 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



IX 



PAGE 

Meythaler, Andrew 896 

Michael, George 754 

Milbrandt, August 1033 

Miles, Martha ]a93 

Miller, Moses 901 

Miller, J. B 970 

Millman, T J 775 

Milliken. Benona 1119 

Mitchell, Jesse 799 

Mitchell, Thomas 1000 

Mitchell, Benjamin 1099 

Mitchell. Franklin 39:5 

Mitchell, Thomas 716 

Mitchell, Samuel 716 

Moldenhauer, W. F 876 

Monroe, William 436 

Monteith, William 651 

Montgomery, Jarvis W. .. 754 

Moore, Joshua 1141 

Moore, William F 1133 

Moore, Har^'ey F 833 

Moore, Lewis F 1031 

Morse, William G 765 

Morse, Calvin 858 

Morse, Josiah P 854 

Morris, Rowley 436 

Morris, H. P 911 

Morris, William H 911 

Morris, John S 911 

Morton, James 753 

Morton, A . 783 

Morton, L. W. P 1005 

Morgan, Daniel H 360 

Moreland, John 980 

Mosher, Erastus 655 

Mosher, E 985 

Mullin, Frank 646 

Mullin, Martin 645 

Murrey, William P 69 

Murdock, John C 1116 

Munger, Thomas 799 

Myers, John 88 

Myers, Emma J 1088 

Nally, William R 913 

Neieks, Godfrey 1133 

Newman, Isaac 880 

Newman, William S 881 

Newman, V.B.S 876 

Newman, J. J 1080 

Nichols, Liouis A 681 

Nichols, Samuel F 680 

Niles, Johns 987 

Noble, S. P 786 

Noggle, David 341 

Norton, John W 854 

Norton, John 1142 

Norder, Gustave 1123 

Northcraft, Samuel 791 

Nulty, Peter 894 

O'BrienH 940 

O'Neall William H 1072 

O'Neall, John B 1073 

Odell, J. W 605 

Olson. Rollin 903 

Osgood, Lewis P 893 

Ostrander, James L 883 

Osborne. William 885 

Owens, Jr.. William 11.56 

Painter, Emanuel 779 

Parkin, Peter 853 

Parkin. Charles 1007 

Patton, G. R 869 

Patchin. W. B 993 

Patterson. Thomas. 986 

Patterson, Franklin 733 

Patterson. J. L 733 

Payne. E. W 807 

Peckham, Winfield S 707 

Peckhani. Abel 707 

Peebles. Philander 1148 

Peebles Hibhard 1148 

Peebles Seth V 664 

Peebles, William H 664 

Peebles, Ed win M 665 

Pellen, Gotlieb 918 



Penn, W. C 883 

Pengra, George S 1117 

Pengra, Marshal H 393 

Peny, John B 375 

Perrine, Joseph 976 

Perrine, John L 974 

Perrine, William C 1129 

Pflster, John J 835 

Phelps, Noah 282 

Phillips, Israel 701 

Phillips, George W 899 

Phillips, Levi D 899 

Palmer, Mason 761 

Picket, Augustus 755 

Pierce, S. C 810 

Pierce, Josiah 1004 

Pierce, Franklin 1004 

Pierce, Albert 1005 

Pierce, 'James 1021 

Pike, Charles 982 

Pletts, Samuel 877 

Poff. Levi H 894 

Post, Orland B 1087 

Preston, Frank 784 

Preston, Nathaniel 880 

Pryce, Sr. Thomas 662 

Pryce . Jr. , Thomas 663 

Pryce, Edward 662 

Putnam, Oliver S 383 

Putnam, .John J 383 

Putnam Hiram D 716 

Putnam John J 715 

Putnam, H. C 828 

Putnam. Cyrus 1 1094 

Purintun, Judson M 708 

Purintun, Talbert 733 

Purintun, Alonzo 732 

Purington, A. C 833 

Randall, Archibald N 377 

Raymer, Jesse 761 

Regez, Jacob 1045 

Reynolds, J. S 991 

Richards, John.. 1021 

Richards, Thomas B 853 

Richardson, Josiah V. ... 836 

Rinehart, William M 764 

Roberts, George W 430 

Roberts, Walter C 431 

Roberts, John V 754 

Rhodes, M. P 764 

Roderick, Jacob L. 801 

Roderick, W. W 804 

Roderick, Andrew 879 

Roderick. James W 879 

Rodocker. Levi 885 

Root, James 733 

Rood, J. L 983 

Ross, Augustus 853 

Ross, Leonard 852 

Ross, Milton 851 

Ross, William H 8.53 

Ross, Marion F 857 

Ross, Arad 859 

Ross, Abel E 8.59J 

Ross. David B 859 

Roub. Lewis 8S0 

Rowe, Samuel 79s 

Ruegger, Edward 548 

Rush. Henr j^ 744 

St. John, Charles lOld 

Sadler, George 1120 

Sawin, Alvin J 724 

Sawin, John 724 

Sawj'er. John B 824 

Schadel, S. P 990 

Schuetze, Louis 932 

Sc'huler. Samuel 981 

Sc'hinid, Melchoir 1037 

ohmid, John Peter 1036 

Schindler. Fred 1035 

Schiiidler. Henry 977 

Schindler. Gabriel 1037 

Schwartz, Cai-1 1134 

Schlittler, Melchlor 1143 

Scott, S. A 737 

Scott, Amos 860 

Scott, Richard 6.51 



Sears, Thomas 1009 

Searles. J . B 805 

Shaw, Daniel N 705 

Shatf , Thomas 1078 

Searles, Robert D 1134 

Selleck, Hanford M 1018 

Shank, Henrv 762 

Shull, Jesse W 744 

Sherman, James T 831 

Sherbondy, John L 1121 

Shook, Jonas 967 

Short, August 1085 

Shriner, Ferdinand 982 

Silver, Willis 995 

Silver, Christopher . ... 995 

Silver, Artemas 996 

Silver, Azariah 995 

Silvor, Henry G 859 

Simmons, Charlton J 1129 

Skinner, W. R 836 

Smith, Milo 655 

Smith. Daniels 680 

Smith. JamesS 680 

Smith, W. R. 720 

Smith, Andrew J 1137 

Smith, Richard A 1137 

Smith, Jonathan 724 

Smith, Stephen 732 

Smith, Emory 732 

Smith, Henry 743 

Smith, Hiram 755 

Smith, Miles 7.56 

Smith. Andrew 801 

Smith, William 836 

Smith, Moses W 860 

Smith, Granville W 862 

Smith, Sr., William R.... 723 

Smith, Samuel J 1088 

Smith, F. W 1125 

Smiley, Daniel 661 

Smiley, William 661 

Smock, John C 778 

Smock, Frank H 778 

Smock, LeRoyS 981 

Snyder, John 981 

Soper, John 891 

Soper, Ed ward L 892 

South, George R 603 

South, Enoch 917 

Soseman, John D 439 

Spahr, Peter 978 

Spangler, George 973 

Spaulding. George T 806 

Spoouer, AVyman 3.35 

Sprague, E. R 834 

Sprague, Louis A. W 619 

Spi-ague, Burr 383 

Stair Bros 830 

Starr, Solomon 780 

Staley, Joseph 903 

Stalev, Jonas S 861 

Stabler, Benjamin 1095 

Starkweather, Harvey P.. 730 

Stauffacher, Isaiah 1123 

StHiitlac-her, Henrv 1115 

Stauffacher, Jacob A 1100 



PAGE 

Straw, Josiah 1078 

Strader, John 775 

streiff, Fred 1044 

Streiker, Andrew 1130 

Stuart, Joseph W 828 

Stuntz, A. C 550 

Studley, F. K 986 

Sullivan, David 857 

Sutton, Zebolou 710 

Sutherland, Solomon 1113 

Sutherland, Justus 1099 

Sutherland, A . W 968 

Sutherland, F. B 1101 

Sutherland, Daniel S 280 

Sutherland, James 381 

Swan, Stephen 736 

Sylvester, Amos R 1097 

Syre, Knute 1156 

Taft, S. C 1013 

Taf t, Sceva P 830 

Tait, Walter 705 

Tanberg, C. E 548 

Taylor, Lemuel .904 

Ten Eyck, Rachel M 1051 

Ten Evck, Jacob 1051 

TenEvck, A.A " 801 

Thorp, Henry, 969 

Thorpe, George W 969 

Thomm, Fred 931 

Thomson, Robert 703 

Thompson, Charles F 8.35 

Thompson, Joseph 834 

Thompson, Thomas W 1112 

Ties, Fred J 1089 

Tilley, Edward 709 

Tilley, Jr., Sampson 709 

Tilley, Sa npson 709 

Timms, Charles 771 

Titus, John H 1013 

Tochterman, Christopher. 430 

Tomkins, Charles W 684 

Towne, L. E 431 

Treat, Joseph B 288 

Trickel, Ashford 968 

Trickle, Edward 776 

Trickle, Andrew J 776 

Trotter, John 890 

Trotter, William 891 

Trogner, John H 1009 

Tiousdale, George 425 

Ti-ousdale, James L 425 

Truax, Samuel 824 

Trumpy, Henry 784 

Tschudy, Fritz 10:34 

Tschudy, J . Jacob 973 

Tschudj'. Fridolin 777 

Tschudy. Fridolin 776 

Tweedv, J ohn H 298 

Twining. Nathan C 991 

Ula, John C 1149 

Ula, Christian H... 1149 

Underwood, Edward 915 



Stauttaehor, 
Stauffacher, 

itaull'acher. 

'tautfuclier, 



Van Matre, Lewis D 

Deitrich. . 1044 Van Wagenen, Garret — 

Dietrich 1016 Van Wagenen, Henry... . 

Anton 1008 Van Wart, Sr., Harry.... 

Abraham ... 896 Vance, Samuel 



990 
985 
425 
713 
1101 



Staiittaoher, Anton 877 Vanderbilt, Sovina 1074 



tealy, Jeremiah H 435 

Stewurt, Harmon B 832 

Stewart. John 1144 

Stewart. John W 114.^ 

Stewart, John W 367 

Stuessy, Melchoir 1040 

Stephens, Sylvester R — 1113 

Stephens, Chester 891 

Stephenson, Nathaniel 1115 

Stephenson. Charles J 1119 



Stephenson, John 



Vineyard, James R. 
Voegley, Jacob — 



74 

895 



Walworth, John .593 

Warner, Charles A 1071 

Warren, John H 407 

Warren, Lovewell 684 

Warren, Zebina 687 

Warren, Lemuel 684 



Warren. Lemuel H. 



1115 Warren. Eugene F. 



Washburn. Cadwallader C 

Way. William John 

Webb. William 

Weismiller, Samuel 

Wells, T. B 



Stevenson, James 882 

Stev'iison, WiUiam 881 

Steinnian, J. C 1020 

Steinger, Eli 1120 

Stites, George W 764 

Stockburn. Francis B.... 734 Wells, Addison P 893 



687 
688 
299 
7 15 
706 
777 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Wells, Thomas li !»65 

Wells, Peter 965 

Welton. Seth 903 

West, Georjre 820 

West, William J 912 

West, Samuel UlS 

West, Matthew 1110 

West. 1). W 1120 

Weseott, J. F 1147 

Wescott, Walter S -87 

Wheeler, Alonzo 1157 

White, O. .1 ~'91 

White, James W 750 

White, Eugene A 776 

White, H. K 889 

Whitehead, John 763 

Whiton, Edward Vernon. 334 



PAGE 

Whitcomb, Joshua 059 

Whitcoiiih, K. C 920 

Whitcoiiib, James 1014 

Whitiiioi-e, E. W 730 

Whipiile, Henry 913 

Wickersham, Taylor 91 

Wiederkehr, Henry 903 

Wilev, Joshua 779 

Willis, Robert 435 

Wilcox, Asahel . 101'.J 

Wilson, William 856 

Wilson, John 857 

Wilson, James 857 

Wilson, Peter 1001 

Wilson, Ira 1002 

Williams, Isaac T 761 

Williams, Manly H 812 



Williams, H. P 916 

Williams, Clark 1077 

Williams, Seth C 1078 

Wing-, E. T 738 

Winter, George 738 

Witmer, Joseph N 606 

Witmer, Henry C 606 

Witmer, David 607 

Wolcott, Lucius 973 

Wood, John 709 

Wood, B. L 971 

Woodling, Francis 837 

Woodling, John H 1094 

Woodworth, Wilbur C... 585 

Worrick, Abram 885 

Wright, Coli n W 381 



Young, Isaac W... 

Young, John A 

Young, Samuel..*. 
Young, W. W....ai 



PAGB 

,. 1075 

.. SOT 

.. 1076 

. 738 



Zeitlow, Herman F 1134 

Zeitlow, Frederick 884 

Ziegenfuss, AVilliam E 431 

Zimmerman, Kudolph 917 

Zimmerman, Henry. .. 903 
Zimmerman, J . Conrad . . 1042 

Zimmerman, John S 1093 

Zimmerman, Benjamin.. 1093 

Zimmerman, Isaac 1093 

Zimmerman, G. W 1081 



PORTRAITS 



PAGE 

Austin, Seth 397 

Beach, B 433 

Brant. John A 325 

Bridge, J. H 523 

Campbell, James 631 

Campbell, Mrs. James ... 632 

Clinton, E. D 559 

Cornelius, N 69 

Craven. R 469 



PAGE 

Diven, Emanuel 271 

Doolittle, Ezra 199 

Eldred, S. L 379 

Goodrich, George 649 

Goodrich, Mrs. Marthena 650 

Green, A. W 505 

Green, W. C 343 

Jackson, Thomas A .595 



PAGE 

Moreland, John 415 

Pierce, S. C 289 

Pike, Charles 253 

Randall, A. N 307 

Rush, Henry 451 

Sherman, J.T 641 

Sherman, Mrs. J. T 542 

Spaulding, George T 577 



PAGE 

Sutherland, Solomon 133 

Stewart, H. B 487 

Twining, N. C 361 

West, Samuel 181 

Wescott. J. F 217 

White, O. J 235 

Witmer, H. C 667 

Woodling, John W 613 

Woodling, Nancy 614 



Certificates of Green County. 



We, the undersigned members of the committee appointed to revise and correct the General History of Green County, 
Wisconsin, do hereby certify that the manuscript of said history was submitted to us, and that we made all the changes and 
additions that we, in our judgment, deemed necessary; and, as corrected, we are satisfied jyith and approve the same. 
Monroe, June 7, 1884. 

N. Cornelius, "l 

J. V. Richardson, I 
N. Churchill, 
T. H. Eaton, | 

J. A. Kittleson, ^j y Committee. 
Chas. A. Booth, I 

• Herman L. Gloege, 

A. Ludlow, I 

J . Jacob Tschudy, J 



We, the undersigned members of the committee appointed to revise and correct the history of (our respective towns) 
Green county, hereby certify that we have examined and heard the same read and have made all the corrections and addi- 
tions that we, in our judgment, deemed necessary, and as so changed, are satisfied with and approve the same: 



O. J. White, 
O. H. P. Clarno, 
Alpheus DeHaven, 



-Clarno. 



William B. A. Soper, 
L. T. Osgood, 

—Jordan. 

P. Minert, 
Thomas Flint, 
William Webb, 
Robert Thomson, 
W. H.Hudson, 
Samuel Mitchell, 
J. B. Chase, 

—Albany. 



J. C. Zimmerman, 
Thomas Luchsinger, 

—New Glarus. 

P. Pierce, 
William H. Coates, 
P. Wilson, 

—Mt. Pleasant. 



Henry Diven. 
C. R. Deniston, 
Hiram Smith, 



J. P. Grinnell, 
H. M. Brazel, 
Jonas Shook, 



-Cadiz . 



—Adams . 



E. F. Fleek, 
E. Bowen, 
B. J. Day, 
W. B. Mack, 

—Decatur and Brodliead. 



M. H. Pengra, 
S. D. Ball, 
I. E. Bowen, 



—Sylvester. 



Jacob Roderick, 

G. R. Patton, 

J. S. Brown, 

A. Riley, 

John A. Chambers, 

—Jefferson. 



N. Cornelius, 
O. H. P. Clarno, 
N. Churchill, 

—City of Monroe. 



H. G. Silver, 
J. W. Norton, 
P. P. Havens, 



—Exeter. 



S. C. Campbell, 
Hibbard Peebles, 
J. S. Gabriel, 



— Foj*. 



Andrew Harper, 
S. T. Crouch, 
C. J. Simmons, 
Fred Blum, 

— Washington. 

N. Cornelius, 
N. Churchill, 
J. B Galusha, 
T.J. Bragg, 

—Town of Monroe. 



J. W. Kildow, 

D. M. Davis, 

J. H. Woodling, 

—Spring Grove. 

James McCoy, 
John Dalrymple, 
Francis B. Stockbourn, 

E. J. Andrew, 

—Brooklyn. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN 



CHAPTER I . 



PRE-HISTORIC AND SETTLEMENT. 



AT a remote period there lived in this coun- 
try a people now designated mound build- 
ers. Of their origin nothing is known. Their 
history is lost in the lapse of ages. The evi- 
dences, however, of their existence in Wiscon- 
sin and surrounding States are numerous. 
Many of their earth works — the so-called 
mounds— -are still to be seen. These are of 
various forms. Some are regularly arranged, 
forming squares, octagons and circles; others are 
like walls or ramparts; while many, especially 
in Wisconsin, are imitative in figure, having 
the shape of implements or animals, resembling 
war clubs, tobacco pipes, beasts, reptiles, fish 
and even man. A few are in the similitude of 
trees. 

In selecting sites for many of their earth 
works, the mound-builders appear to have been 
influenced by motives which prompt civilized 
men to choose localities for their great marts; 
lience, Milwaukee and other cities of the 
west are founded on ruins of pre-existing struc- 
tures. River terraces and river bottoms seem 



to have been favorite places for these mounds. 
Their works are seen in the basin of the Fox 
river, of the Illinois, and of Rock river and its 
branches, also in the valley of the Fox river of 
Green bay, in that of the Wisconsin, as well as 
near the waters of the Mississippi. As to the 
object of these earth works, all knowledge rests 
upon conjecture alone. It is generally believed 
that some were used for purposes of defense, 
others for the observance of religioiis rites and 
as burial places. 

In some parts of Wisconsin are seen earth 
works of a different character from those usu- 
ally denominated "mounds." These, from their 
supposed use, are styled "garden beds." They 
are ridges or beds about six inches in height, 
and four feet in width. They are arranged 
methodically and in parallel rows. Some are 
rectangular in shape; others are in regular 
curves. These beds occupy fields of various 
sizes, from ten to a hundred acres. 

The mound builders have left other evidences 
besides mounds and garden beds, to attest their 



18 



HISTORY OF WTSCOTSrSIN. 



presence in this country, in ages past. In the 
Lake Superior region exist ancient copp«r 
mines, excavations in the solid rock. In these 
mines have been found stone hammers, wooden 
bowls and shovels, props and levers for raising 
and supporting mass copper, and ladders for 
descending into the pits and ascending from 
them. 

There are, also, scattered widely over the 
country, numerous relics, evidently the handi- 
work of these pre-historic people; such as stone 
axes, stone and copper spear-heads and arrow 
heads, and various other implements and uten- 
sils. As these articles are frequently discov- 
ered many feet below the surface of the ground, 
it argues a high antiquity for the artificers. 
These relics indicate that the mound builders 
were superior in intelligence to the Indians. 
None of their implements or utensils, however, 
point to a "copper age" as having succeeded a 
"stone age." They all refer alike to one age, 
the indefinite past; to one people, the mound 
builders. 

There is nothing to connect "the dark back- 
ward and abysm" of raound-building times with 
those of the red race of Wisconsin. And all 
that is known of the savages inhabiting this 
section previous to its discovery, is exceedingly 
dim and shadowy. Upon the extended area 
bounded by Lake Superior on the north, Lake 
Michigan on the east, wide-spreading prairies 
on the south, and the Mississippi river on the 
west, there met and mingled two distinct In- 
dian families, Algonquins and Dakotas. Con- 
cerning the various tribes of these families, 
nothing of importance could be gleaned by tlie 
earliest explorers; at least, very little has been 
preserved. Tradition, it is true, pointed to the 
Algonquins as having, at some remote period, 
migrated from the east, and this has been con- 
firmed by a study of their language. It indi- 
cated, also, that tlie Dakotas, at a time far be- 
yond the memory of the most aged, came from 
the west or southwest, fighting their way as 
ihey came; that one of their tribes once dwelt 



upon the shores of a sea; but when and fur 
what purpose they left their home for the 
country of the great lakes there was no evi- 
dence. This was all. In reality, therefore, 
Wisconsin has no veritable history ante-dating 
its discovery by civilized man. The country 
has been heard of, but only through vague re- 
ports of savages.* There were no accounts at 
all, besides these, of the extensive region of 
the upper lakes; while of the valley of the 
upper Mississippi, nothing whatever was known. 

FIRST EXPLORATION OF THE NORTHWEST. 

The history of ^\ isconsin commences with 
the recital of the indomitable perseverance and 
heroic tiravery displayed by its first visitant, 
John Nicolet. An investigation of the career 
of this Frenchman shows him, at an early age, 
leaving his home in Normandy for the new 
world, landing at Quebec in 1618, and at once 
seeking a residence among the Algonquins of 
the Ottawa river, in Canada, sent thither by 
the governor to learn their language. In the 
midst of many hardships, and surrounded by 
perils, he applied himself with great zeal to 
his task. Having become familiar with the 
Algonquin tongue, he was admitted into the 
councils of the savages. 

The return of Nicolet to civilization, after a 
number of years immured in the dark forests of 
Canada, an excellent interpreter, qualified him 
to act as government agent among the wild 
western tribes in promoting peace, to the end 
that all who had been visited by the fur-trader 
might remain firm allies of the French. Nay, 
further: it resulted in his being dispatched to 
Nations far beyond the Ottawa, known only by 
heresay, with whom it was believed might be 
opened a profita* le trade in furs. So he started 
on his perilous voyage. He visited the Hurons, 
upon the Georgian bay. With seven of that 
Nation, he struck boldly into wilds to the north- 
ward and westward never before visited by civ- 
ilized man. He paddled his birch canoe along 

♦Compare Champhiin's Voyages, 1633, and his map of that 
date; Sagard's, HUtoire du CaJiada: Le Jeune Relation, 1633. 



HISTOEY OF WISCONSIN. 



19 



the eastern coast of Lake Huron and up the St. 
Mary's Strait to the falls. He floated back to 
the Straits of Mackinaw, and courageously 
turned his face toward the west. At the Sault de 
Ste. Marie, he had — the first of white men — set 
foot upon the soil of the northwest. 

Nicolet coasted along the northern shore of 
Lake Michigan, ascended Green Bay, and finally 
entered the mouth of Fox river. It was not 
until he and his swarthy Hurons had urged their 
frail canoes six days up that stream, that his 
western exploration was ended. He had, mean- 
while, on his way hither, visited a number of 
tribes; some that had never before been heard 
of by the French upon the St. Lawrence. 
With them all he smoked the pipe of peace; 
with the ancestors of the present Chippewas, 
at the Sault; with the Menomonees,theWinneba- 
goes, the Mascoutins, in what is now the State 
of Wisconsin; with the Ottawas, upon the Man- 
itoulin Islands, and the Nez Perces, upon the east 
coast of Lake Huron. He made his outward 
voyage in the summer and fall of 1634, and re- 
turned the next year to the St. Lawrence. He 
did not reach the Wisconsin river, but heard 
of a "great water" to the westward, which he 
mistook for the sea. It was, in fact, that stream, 
and the Mississippi, into which it pours its 
flood. 

"History cannot refrain from saluting Nicolet 
as a distinguished traveler, who, by his explora- 
tions in the northwest, has given clear proofs 
of his energetic character, and whose merits 
have not been disputed, although, subsequently, 
they were temporarily forgotten." The first 
fruits of his daring were gathered by the Jesuit 
fathers, even before his death; for, in the autumn 
of 1641, those of them who were among the 
Hurons at the head of the Georgian bay of 
Lake Huron, received a deputation of Indians 
occupying the "country around a rapid [now 
koown as the 'Sault de Ste. Marie'], in the midst 
of the channel by which Lake Superior empties 
into Lake Huron," inviting them to visit their 
tribe. These "missionaries were not displeased 



with the opportunity thus presented of knowing 
the countries lying beyond Lake Huron, which 
no one of them had yet traveled;" so Isaac 
Jogues and Charles Raymbault were detached 
to accompany the Chippewa deputies, and view 
the field simply, not to establish a mission. 
They passed along the shore of Lake Huron, 
northward, and pushed as far up St. Mary's 
strait as the Sault, which they reached after 
seventeen days' sail from their place of starting. 
There they — the first white men to visit the 
northwest after Nicolet — harrangued 2,000 
Chippewas and other Algonquins. Upon their 
return to the St. Lawrence, Jogues was captured 
by the Iroquois, and Raymbault died on the 
2iid of October, 1642, — a few days before the 
death of Nicolet.* 

WISCONSIN VISITED BY FUR TRADERS AND JESUIT 
MISSIONARIES. 

Very faint, indeed, are the gleams which 
break in upon the darkness surrounding our 
knowledge of events immediately following the 
visit of Nicolet, in what is now the State of 
Wisconsin. That the Winnebagoes, soon after 
his return, made war upon the Nez Perces, kill- 
ing two of their men, of whom they made a 
feast, we are assured.* We also know that in 
1640, these same Winnebagoes were nearly all 
destroyed by the Illinois ; and that the next 
year, the Pottawattamies took refuge from their 
homes upon the islands at the mouth of Green 
bay, with the Chippewas.f This is all. And 
had it not been for the greed of the fur trader 
and the zeal of the Jesuit, little more, 
for many years, probably, would have been 
learned of the northwest. However, a ques- 
tioning missionary, took from the lips of an 
Indian captainj "an account of his having, in 
the month of June, 1658, set out from Green 
Bay for the north, passing the rest of the sum- 
mer and the following winter near Lake Supe- 

* Historyof the di:--covery of the northwest by John Nico- 
let in 1634, with a sketch of his life, hy C, W-. Butterfleld, 
Cincinnati. Robert Clarke & Co., 1881. 

* Le J eune, Relation, 1(536. 
tCol. Hist. New York ix, 161. 

$ Not ' 'captive," as some local histories have it. 



20 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



rior ; so called in consequence of being above 
that of Lake Huron. This Indian informed the 
Jesuit of tiie havoc and desolation of the Iro- 
quois war in the west ; how it had reduced the 
Algonquin Nations about Lake Superior and 
Green bay. The same missionary saw at Que- 
bec, two Frenchmen who had just arrived 
from the upper countries with 300 Algon- 
quins in sixty canoes, laden with peltries. These 
fur traders had passed the winter of 1659 on the 
shores of Lake Superior, during which time they 
made several trips among the surrounding 
tribes. In their wanderings they probably vis- 
ited some of the northern parts of what is 
now Wisconsin. They saw at six days' jour- 
ney beyond the lake toward the southwest, 
a tribe composed of the remainder of the Hurons 
of the Tobacco Nation, compelled by the 
Iroquois to abandon Mackinaw and to bury 
themselves thus deep in the forests, that they 
could not be found by their enemies. The two 
traders told the tales they had heard of the 
ferocious Sioux, and of a great river upon which 
they dwelt — the great water of Nicolet. Thus 
a knowledge of the Mississippi began to dawn 
again upon the civilized world."* 

The narratives of the Indian captain and the 
two Frenchmen induced further exploration two 
years later when Father Rene Menard attempted 
to found a mission on Lake Superior, with eight 
Frenchmen and some Ottawas. He made his 
way in 1660 to what is now Keweenaw, Mich. 
He determined while there to visit some Hu- 
rons on the islands at the mouth of Green bay. 
He sent three of his companions to explore the 
way. They reached those islands by way of 
the Menominee river, returning to Keweenaw 
with discouraging accounts. But Menard re- 
solved to undertake the journey, starting from 
the lake with one white companion and some 
Hurons ; he perished, however, in the forest, in 
what manner is not known, his companion 
reaching the Green bay islands in safety. 
White men had floated upon the Menominee, 

* History Northern Wiscoasin, p. 39. 



SO that the northeastern part of what is now 
Wisconsin, as well as its interior by Nicolet in 
1 634, had now been seen by civilized white manf. 

FOUNDING OF JESUIT MISSIONS IN WISCONSIN. 

In August, 1665, Father Claude AUouez 
embarked on a mission to the country visited 
by Menard. Early in September he had 
reached the Sault de Ste. Marie, and on the 
first day of October, arrived in the bay of 
Chegoimegon, at a village of Chippewas. 
Here he erected a chapel of bark, establishing 
the first mission in what is now Wisconsin 
to which he gave the name of the Holy Spirit. 
While Allouez had charge of this field, he 
either visited or saw, at Chegoimegon, scattered 
bands of Hurons and Ottawas ; also Pottawat- 
tamies from Lake Michigan, and the Sacs and 
Foxes, who lived upon the waters of Fox river 
of Green bay. He was likewise visited by the 
Illinois, and at the extremity of Lake Superior 
he met representatives of the Sioux. These 
declared they dwelt on the banks of the river 
"Messipi." Father James Marquette reached 
Chegoimegon in September, 1669, and took 
charge of the mission of the Holy Spirit, 
Allouez proceeding to the Sault de Ste. Marie, 
intending to establish a mission on the shores 
of Green bay. He left the Sault Nov. 3, 1669, 
and on the 25th, reached a Pottawattamie cabin. 
On the 2d of December he founded upon the 
shore of Green bay the mission of St. Francis 
Xavier, the second one established by him 
within what are now the limits of Wisconsin. 
Here Allouez passed the winter. In April, 
1670, he founded another mission ; this one 
was upon Wolf river, a tributary of the Fox 
river of Green bay. Here the missionary 
labored among the Foxes, who had located upon 
that stream. The mission, the third in the 
present Wisconsin, he called St. Mark. 

In 1671 Fatheir Louis Andre was sent to the 

missions of St. Francis Xavier and bt. Mark, as 

a co-worker with Allouez. At what is now the 

t Bancroft, in his History of United States, evidently mis- 
takes the course pursued from Keweenaw, by Menard. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



21 



village of DePere, Brown Co., Wis., was located 
the central station of the mission of St. Francis 
Xavier. This mission included all the tribes 
inhabiting the vicinity of Green bay. A rude 
chapel, the third one within the present limits 
of Wisconsin, was soon erected. Allouez then 
left for other fields of labor ; but Andre re- 
mained here, working with zeal during the 
summer of 1671. However, during a temporary 
absence his chapel was burned, but he speedily 
erected another. Then his dwelling was de- 
stroyed, but although he erected another, it 
soon shared the same fate. He was at this 
time laboring among the Menomonees. When 
he finally left "the bay tribes" is not known. 
In 1676 Father Charles Albanel was stationed 
at what is now DePere, where a new and better 
chapel was erected than the one left by Andre. 
In 1680 the mission was supplied by Father 
James Eryalran, who was recalled in 1687. 
When he left, his house and chapel were burned 
by the Winnebagoes. It was the end of the 
mission of St. Francis Xavier. The mission of 
the Holy Spirit was deserted by Father James 
Marquette in 1671. It was the end for 170 
years of a Roman Catholic mission at Che- 
goimegon. 

WISCONSIN UNDKR FRENCH DOMINATION. 

In the year 1671, France took formal posses- 
sion of- the whole country of the upper lakes. An 
agent, Daumont de St. Lusson, was dispatched 
to the distant tribes, proposing a congress of 
Indian Nations at the Falls of St. Mary, between 
Lake Huron and Lake Superior. The principal 
chiefs of the Wisconsin tribes were gathered 
there by Nicholas Perrot. When all were assem- 
bled, it was solemnly announced that the great 
northwest was placed under the protection of 
the French government. This was the begin- 
ning of French domination in what is now Wis- 
consin. The act of Daumont de St. Lusson, at 
the Falls of St. Mary, in 1671, in establishing 
the right of France to the regions beyond Lake 
Michigan, not being regarded as sufficiently def- 
inite, Nicholas Perrot, in 1689, at the head of 



Green bay,' again took possession of the country, 
extending the dominion of New France, not only 
over the territory of the upper Mississippi, but 
'•to other places more remote;" so that then, all 
that is now included within the boundaries of 
the State of Wisconsin (and much more) passed 
quietly into the possession of the French king. 

No fur-trader or missionary, no white man, 
had as yet reached the Mississippi above the 
mouth of the Illinois river. But the time for 
its exploration was at hand. Civilized men were 
now to behold its vast tribute rolling onward 
toward the Gulf of Mexico. These men were 
Louis Joliet and James Marquette. Jolietcame 
from Quebec, having been appointed by the gov- 
ernment to "discover" the Mississippi. He found 
Marquette on the north side of the straits of 
Mackinaw, laboring as a missionary among the 
Indians. The latter was solicited and readily 
agreed to accompany Joliet upon his expedition.* 
The outfit of the party was very simple: two 
birch-bark canoes and a supply of smoked meat 
and Indian corn. They had with them five 
white men. They began their voyage on the 
1 7th day of May, 1673. Passing into Lake Mich- 
igan, they coasted along its northern shore, and 
paddled their canoes up Green bay and Fox 
river to the portage. They then crossed to the 
Wisconsin, down which they floated, until, on 
the I7th of June, they entered the Mississippi. 
After dropping down the river many miles, they 
returned by way of the Illinois and Lake Mich- 
igan to Green bay, where Marquette remained 
to recruit his strength, while Joliet returned to 
Quebec to make known the extent of his dis- 
coveries. 

Fontenac's report of Joliet's return from a 
voyage to discover the South sea, dated Nov. 
14, 1674, is as follows: 

"Sieur Joliet, whom Monsieur Talon advised 
me, on ray arrival from France, to dispatch for 

* That Count Fontenac, governor of New France, andM. 
Tolon, intendaut, should have expressed a wish to Joliet 
that Father Marquette be invited to accompany him in his 
contemplated journey, is to be inferred from the words of 
the missionary ; hut ){othi)ig in the orders of these ufflcers to Joliet 
is found to confirm the stateme7it . 



23 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



the discovery of the South sea, has returned 
three months ago, and discovered some very- 
fine countries, and a navigation so easy through 
the beautiful rivers he has found, that a person 
can go from Lake Ontario and Fort Fontenac 
in a bark to the Gulf of Mexico, there being 
only one carrying place, half a league in length, 
where Lake Ontario communicates with Lake 
Erie. These are projects which it will be pos- 
sible to effect when peace shall be firmly estab- 
lished and whenever it will please the king to 
prosecute these discoveries. Joliet has been 
within ten days' journey of the Gulf of Mexico, 
and believes that water communications could 
be found leading to the Vermilion and Cali- 
fornia seas, by means of the river that flows 
from the west [the Missouri] into the grand 
river [the Mississippi] that he discovered, 
which runs from north to south, and is as large 
as the St. Lawrence opposite Quebec. 

"T send you by my secretary the map he has 
made of it, and the observations he has been 
able to recollect, as he has lost all his minutes 
and journals in the shipwreck he suffered with- 
in sight of Montreal, where, after having com- 
pleted a voyage of twelve hundred leagues, he 
was near being drowned, and lost all his papers 
and a little Indian, whom he brought from 
those countries. These accidents have caused 
me great regret. Joliet left with the fathers at 
the Sault de Ste. Marie, in Lake Superior, copies 
of his journals; these we cannot get before next 
year. You will glean from them additional 
particulars of this discovery, in which he has 
very well acquitted himself." 

It is not known that the copies of Joliet's 
journals, mentioned in Frontenac's report, were 
delivered to the French government; but an ac- 
count of the voyage by Marquette was published 
in 16S1 by Thevenat. This fact has caused an 
undue importance to be attached to the name 
of the missionary in connection with the dis- 
covery of the Mississippi, and at the expense of 
the fame of Joliet.* 

* "The Count of Frontenac," says Shea (Wis Hist. Coll., Vol. 
VII, pa«e 119), "on the Utix of November, [1674] inadis 



Explorations begun by Joliet were continued. 
La Salle, in 1679, with Father Louis Hennepin, 
coasted along the western shore of Lake Michi- 
gan, landing frequently. The return of Henry 
de Tonty, one of La Salle's party, down the 
same coast to Green bay, from the Illinois, fol- 
lowed in 1680. The same year. Father Henne- 
pin from the upper Mississippi, whither he had 
gone from the Illinois, made his way across 
what is now Wisconsin, by the Wisconsin and 
Fox rivers to Green bay.* 

He was accompanied by Daniel Greysolon 
Duluth, who, on his way down the Mississippi had 
met Hennepin in September, 1678. Duluth left 
Quebec to explore, under the authority of the 
governor of New France, the region of the up- 
per Mississippi, and establish relations of 
friendship with the Sioux and their kindred, 
the Assiniboines. In the summer of 1679 he was 
in the Sioux country and early in the autumn 
of that year at the head of Lake Superior hold- 
ing an Indian council. In June, 1680, he set 
out from that point to continue his explorations. 
Going down the Mississippi he met with Henne- 
pin, as stated above,journeyed with him to the Je- 
suit station, near the head of Green bay, across 
what is now the State of Wisconsin. Follow- 
ing the voyages of Hennepin and Duluth was 
the one by Le Sueur, in' 1683, from Lake Michi- 
gan to the Mississippi, ascending that river to 
the Sioux country in the region about St. An- 
thony, and his subsequent establishment, said 
to have been in 1693, at La Pointe, in the pres- 
ent Ashland Co., Wis. He was, at least, a 
voyageur stationed at Chegoimegon during that 
year. He continued to trade with the Sioux at 
intervals to the year l702.f 

patch to Colbert a nnounced the successful issue of Joliet's 
expedition ;" but Shea then adds : ' 'They had to wait for f ul Jde- 
tailstill the account drawn up by Father Marquette should be 
sent down, " as though such an account was really expected; 
but the fact was, as stated by Fontenac himself, that copie 
of Joliet's journals were what was looked for. 

*Hist. of Northern Wis., page 44. 

tibed. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



28 



Nicholas Perrot was again in the northwest 
in 1684. He was commissioned to have chief 
command, not only "at the bay," but also upon 
the Mississippi, on the east side of which 
stream, at the foot of Lake Pepin, he erected 
a post. Here he spent the winter of 1685-6. 
The next year he had returned to Green bay. 
He vibrated between Montreal and the west 
until 1697. In 1699 St. Cosme and his com- 
panions coasted along the west shore of Lake 
Michigan. Other explorations followed, but 
generally in the tracks of previous ones. 
Except at "the bay," there was not so long as 
the French had dominion over the northwest, 
a single post occuj)ied for any length of time by 
regular soldiers. This post was called Fort St. 
Francis. There were other stockades — one at 
La Pointe in 1726, and, as we have already seen 
one upon the Mississippi; but neither of these 
had cannon. At the commencement of the 
French and Indian War, all three had disap- 
peared. At the ending of hostilities, in 1760, 
there was not a single vestage of civilization 
within what are now the bounds of Wisconsin, 
except a few vagrant Frenchmen among the 
Indiajis; there was no post; no settlement, west 
of Lake Michigan. But before dismissing the 
subject of French supremacy in the northwest, 
it is proper to mention the hostility that for a 
number of years existed between the Fox Ind- 
ians and Frenchmen. 

In the year 1693, several fur-traders were 
plundered by the Fox Indians (located upon 
Fox river of Green bay), while on their way to 
the Sioux; the Foxes alleging that the Fren6h- 
men were carrying arms to their ancient 
enemies. We hear no more of their hostility 
to the French until early in the spring of 1712, 
when they and some Mascoutius, laid a plan to 
burn the fort at Detroit. It was besieged for 
nineteen days by these savages, but the besiegers 
were obliged finally to retreat, as their provis- 
ions had become exhausted. They were pursued, 
however, and near Lake St. Clair suffered a signal 
defeat at the hands of M. Dubisson and his 



Indian allies. The Marquis de Vaudreuil, now 
that the Foxes continued their hostilities, de- 
termined on a war of extermination against 
them. De Lourigny, a lieutenant, left Quebec 
in March, 1716. He made his way with alacrity, 
entering Green bay and Fox river, it is said, 
with a force of 800 French and Indians, en- 
countering the enemy in a pallisaded fort, 
which would have been soon reduced had not 
the Foxes asked for peace. Hostages were 
given, and Lourigny returned to Quebec. In 
1721 the war was renewed, and in 1728 another 
expedition was organized against these savages, 
commanded by Marchemd de Lignery. This 
officer proceeded by way of the Ottawa river of 
Canada and Lake Huron to Green bay, upon 
the northern shore of which the Menominees, 
who had also become hostile were attacked and 
defeated. On the 24th of August, a Winnebago 
village on Fox river was reached by De Lignery 
with a force of 400 French and 750 Indians. 
They proceeded thence up the river to the 
home of the Foxes, but did not succeed in meet- 
ing the enemy in force. The expedition was 
a signal failure. But the march of Neyon de 
Villiers, in 1730, against the Foxes, was more 
successful, resulting in their defeat. They 
suffered a loss of 200 killed of warriors, and 
three times as many women and children. Still 
the Foxes were not humbled. Another expedi- 
tion, this time under the direction of Capt. De 
Noyelle, marched against them in 1735. The 
result was not decisive. Many places have been 
designated upon Fox river as points where 
conflicts between the French and their allies, 
and the Foxes and their allies took place; but 
all such designations are traditionary and un- 
certain. The Sacs and Foxes finally became 
connected with the government of Canada, and 
during the French and Indian War were 
arrayed against the English. 

WISCONSIN UNDEB ENGLISH SUPREMACY. 

On the 9th day of September, 1760, Governor 
Vaudreuil surrendered Canada to General Am- 
herst, of the British army, and^the supremacy 



24 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



over the northwest passed from France to 
Great Britain. But in what is now Wisconsin 
there was little besides savages to be affected by 
the change. The vagrant fur-trader represented 
all that there was of civilization west of Lake 
Michigan. Detroit was soon taken possession 
of; then Mackinaw, and finally, in 1761, a 
squad of English soldiers reached the head of 
Green bay, to garrison the tumble-down post, 
where now is Fort Howard, Brown Co., Wis. 
This was on October 12 of the year just men- 
tioned. Lieut. James Gorrell and one ser- 
geant, one corporal and fifteen privates con- 
stituted the "army of occupation" for the 
whole country west of Lake Micliigan from 
this time to June 21, 1763, when the post 
was abandoned by the commandant on ac- 
count of the breaking out of Pontiac's War, 
and the capture of the fort at Macki- 
naw by the savages. The cause of the 
war was this : The Indian tribes saw the dan- 
ger which the downfall of the French interests 
in Canada was sure to bring them. They 
banded together under Pontiac to avert their 
ruin. The struggle was short but fierce — full 
of " scenes of tragic interest, with marvels of 
suffering and vicissitude, of heroism and en- 
durance ;" but the white man conquered. The 
moving incidents in this bloody drama were 
enacted to the eastward of what is now Wis- 
consin, coming no nearer than Mackinaw, but 
it resulted in the evacuation of its territory by 
British troops, who never after took possession 
of it, though they continued until 1796 a nominal 
military rule over it after Mackinaw was again 
occupied by them. 

No sooner had the soldiers under Gorrell 
left the bay than French traders seized upon 
the occasion to again make it headquarters for 
traffic in furs to the westward of Lake Michi- 
gan. Not that only, for a few determined to 
make it their permanent home. By the year 
1766 there were some families living in the de- 
cayed Fort Edward Augustus and opposite 
thereto, on the east side of Fox river, where 



they cultivated the soil in a small way and in 
an extremely primitive manner, living, now 
that peace was again restored, very comfort- 
ably. Of these French Canadians, no one can 
be considered as the pioneer — no one is entitled 
to the renown of having first led the way, be- 
coming, therefore the first settler of the State, 
much less the father and founder of Wisconsin. 
It was simply that "the bay," being, after Pon- 
tiac's war, occupied by Canadian French fur- 
traders, their station finally ripened into a per- 
manent settlement — the first in Wisconsin — the 
leading spirits of which were the two Lang- 
lades, Augustin and Charles, father and son. 
It had all the characteristics of a French settle- 
ment. Its growth was very slow. The indus- 
tries were few and simple. Besides the em- 
ployments of trading and transporting goods 
and peltries, the inhabitants engaged in hunt- 
ing and trapping. Attention was given to the 
cultivation of the soil only incidently. Gardens 
were cultivated to some extent for a supply of 
vegetables. Gradually, however, a few persons 
turned their chief attention to agriculture.* 

In 1783 four white persons occupied in a per- 
manent manner the tract of land where now is 
Prairie du Chien, in Crawford Co., Wis. They 
were soon followed by a number of persons 
who located there. These became permanent 
traders with the Indians. 

Besides the settlement at "the bay" and the 
one at Prairie du Chien some French traders 
were located where Milwaukee now is in 1795, 
but they could hardly be called settlers. Ten 
years before that date Laurence Barth lived at 
the portage between the Fox and Wisconsin 
rivers, now the site of Portage, Columbia Co., 
Wis., Avhere he was engaged in the carrying 
trade. But his residence could not fairly be 
termed a settlement; so that when, in 1796, the 
English yielded possession of what is now Wis- 
consin to the Americans (a nominal one, how- 
ever,) there were really but two settlements — 
Green Bay and Prairie du Chien. 
♦Hist. Northern Wis., p. 49. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



25 



WISCONSIN" AS A PART OF THE NORTHWEST TER- 
RITORY. 

Tlie Congress of the United States, by their 
act of the 6th day of September, 1780, recom- 
mended to the sevLi-al States in the Union hav- 
ing claims to waste and unappropriated lands in 
the western country, a liberal cession to the gen- 
eral government of a portion of their respective 
claims for the common benefit of the Union. 
The claiming States were Connecticut, New 
York and Virginia, all under their colonial char- 
ters, and the last mentioned, in addition thereto, 
by right of conquest of the Illinois country. 
The region contended for lay to the northwest 
of the river Ohio. Virginia claimed territory 
westward to the Mississippi and northward to a 
somewhat indefinite extent. New York, and 
especially Connecticut, laid claim to territory 
stretching away to an unbounded extent west- 
ward, but not so far to the south as Virginia. 
Tiie last mentioned State, by virtue of conquests 
largely her own, extended her jurisdiction over 
the Illinois settlements in 1778, and the year 
after, and erected into a county enough to in- 
clude all her conquests. But, what is now the 
State of Wisconsin, she certainly did not «xer- 
cise dominion over. The three States finally 
ceded all their rights to the United States, leav- 
ing the general government absolute owner of 
the whole country, subject only to the rights, 
such as they were, of the Indian Nations who 
dwelt therein. 

Under a congressional ordinance, passed in 
1785, for ascertaining the mode of disposing of 
lands in the western territory, the geographer 
of the United States was directed to commence 
the survey of them immediately beyond the 
Ohio river, upon the plan which has ever since 
been followed by the general government, re- 
sulting in regular latitudinal and longitudinal 
lines being run, so as to circumscribe every 640 
acres of land, not only in Wisconsin but in all 
the west, wherever these surveys have been 
brought to completion. Two years subsequent 
to the passage of the first ordinance, was that of 



another and more famous one, providing for the 
government of the territory northwest of the 
river Ohio. This is familiarly known as the 
ordinance of 1787; and to this day it is a part of 
the fundamental law of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Michigan and Wisconsin, the five states since 
formed out of the region included within the 
limits affected by its provisions; — an act of Con- 
gress, passed in 1789, having adapted it to the 
constitution of the United States. But neither 
the treaty with Great Britain of 1783, nor the 
ordinances of Congress which followed, gave the 
United States anything more ihan constructive 
possession of the whole of its western territory. 
The mother country, it is true, recognized the 
northern lakes as the boundary between her 
possessions and those of the now independent 
states, but finding an excuse in the fact of some 
of her merchants not being paid their claims as 
stipulated by the treaty of 1783, she retained 
possession of the whole northwest, including 
what is now Wisconsin, until 1796. 

By the ordinance of 1787, the United States 
in Congress assembled declared that the terri- 
tory northwest of the Ohio, should, for the pur- 
poses of temporary government, be one district, 
subject, however, to be divided into districts, as 
future circumstances might, in the opinion of 
Congress, make it expedient. It was ordained, 
that a governor, secretary and three judges 
should be appointed for the territory; a general 
assembly was also provided for; and it was de- 
clared that religion, morality and knowledge, 
being necessary to good government and the 
happiness of mankind, schools and the means of 
education should forever be encouraged. It 
was also ordained that there should be neither 
slavery nor involuntary servitude in the terri- 
tory, "otherwise than in the punishment of 
crimes whereof the party shall have been duly 
convicted." But this organic law was of course 
nugatory over that portion of the territory 0( - 
cupied by the British, and so continued until 
the latter yielded possession, and in fact, for 
some time subsequent thereto. 



36 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



By the treaty agreed upon in 1 794, between 
the United States and Great T^ritain, usually 
known as the Jay treaty, the evacuation of the 
posts and places occupied by British troops and 
garrisons in the northwest, was to take place on 
or before the 1st day of June, 1796. All set- 
tlers and traders within the precincts or juris- 
diction of these posts were to continue to enjoy 
unmolested, all their property of every kind, 
and to be protected therein. They were at full 
liberty to remain there, or to remove with all 
or any part of their effects; and it was left free 
to them to sell tlieir lands, houses, or effects, or 
to retain the property thereof, at their discre- 
tion. Such of them as should continue to reside 
there were not to be compelled to become citi- 
zens of the United States, or to take any oath 
of allegiance to the government thereof; but 
were at full liberty so to do if they thought 
proper; and they were to make and declare their 
election within one year after the evacuation of 
the posts by the military. Persons continuing 
after the expiration of one year without having 
declared their intentions of remaining subjects 
of his Britannic majesty, were to be considered 
as having elected to become citizens of the 
United States. It is believed that no citizen of 
Wisconsin, either in the settlement at "the bay" 
or at Prairie du Chien made such a declaration 
but that all who remained, became thereby citi- 
izens of the new government. 

The Indian war in the west; which followed 
the Revolution, was brought to an end by the 
victorious arms of Gen. Anthony Wayne, upon 
the banks of the Maumee river, in what is now 
the State of Ohio, in the year 1794. The treaty 
of Greenville was entered into the next year 
with twelve western tribes of Indians, none of 
which resided in Wisconsin. Nevertheless, one 
of the provisions of the treaty was that, in con- 
sideration of the peace then established and 
the cessations and the relinquishments of lands 
made by the Indian tribes there represented, 
and to manifest the liberality of the United 
States, claims to all Indian lands northward of 



the Ohio, eastward of the Mississippi, and west- 
ward and southward of the great lakes and the 
waters uniting them, were relinquished by the 
gencal government to the Indians having a 
right thereto. This included all the lands 
within the present boundaries of Wisconsin. 
The meaning of the relinquishment by the 
United States was that the Indian tribes who 
had a right to those lands were quietly to enjoy 
them, hunting, planting and dwelling thereon 
as long as they pleased, without any molesta- 
tion from the general government; but when 
any tribe should be disposed to sell its lands, 
or any part of them, they were to be sold only 
to the United States; and until such sale, the 
general government would protect all the In- 
dian tribes in the quiet enjoyment of their land 
against all citizens of the country, and against 
all other white persons who might intrude upon 
them. And if any citizen of the United States, 
or any other white person or persons should pre- 
sume to settle upon the lands then relinquished 
by the general government, such citizens or other 
persons should be out of the protection of the 
United States; and the Indian tribe on whose 
land the settlement might be made might drive 
off the settler, or punish him in such manner as 
they might think fit; and because such settle- 
ments made without the consent of the general 
government would be injurious to them as well 
as to the Indians, the United States should be 
at liberty to break them up, and remove and 
punish the settlers, as they might think proper. 
The titles of the Indians to their lands were 
thus acknowledged; and they were unquestion- 
able, because treaties made, or to be made 
with the various tribes had been declared by 
the constitution of the United States, the su- 
preme law of the land. But those titles could 
only be yielded to the general government. 
The principal question to be afterward deter- 
mined was, what lands were each tribe the 
rightful owners of. So long as Wisconsin 
formed a part of the northwestern territory, no 
treaty was made by the United States with any 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



21 



tribe or tribes occupying any portion of the 
the country now lying within the limits of Wis- 
consin. 

When, in 1706. Great Britain yielded posses- 
sion of the aorl Invest by withdrawing its garri- 
sons from the military posts therein, in pursu- 
ance of the Jay treaty of 1794, and the United 
States took formal possession thereof, the 
change in the political relations of the few set- 
tlers of Green Bay and Prairie du Chien was 
not felt by them. They had become the adop- 
ted citizens of the United States without any 
realization further than a bare knowledge of 
the fact. Britibh authority had been so little 
exercised in their domestic affairs, that its with- 
drawal was unnoticed, while that of the United 
States only reached them in name. Nearly all 
who were engaged in the fur trade were agents 
or employes of the British fur companies, and 
their relation to these remained unbroken. No 
intercourse for several years sprung up with 
the Americans. 

Under the ordinance of 1787, Arthur St. Clair 
was appointed governor of the northwestern 
territory. At different periods counties were 
erected to include various portions of that 
region of country. By the governor's procla- 
mation of the 15th of August, 1796, one was 
formed to include the whole of the present 
area of northern Ohio, west of a point where 
the city of Cleveland is now located; also all of 
the present State of Indiana, north of a line 
drawn from Fort Wayne, "west-northerly to 
the southern part of Lake Michigan," the whole 
of what is now the State of Michigan, except 
the extreme northwest corner on Lake Superior; 
a small corner in the northeast part of the pres- 
ent State of Illinois, including Chicago; and so 
much of what is now Wisconsin as is watered 
by the streams flowing into Lake Michigan, 
which included an extensive portion of its area, 
taking in the territory now constituting many 
of its eastern and interior counties. To this 
county was given the name of Wayne. The 
citizens at the head of Green bay, from 1796, 



until the 4th of July, 1800, were, therefore, res- 
idents of Wayne county, Northwest territory. 
But the western portion of the present State of 
Wisconsin, including all its area watered by 
streams flowing northward into Lake Superior, 
and westward and southwestward into the Mis- 
sissippi, was during those years attached to no 
county whatever. Within this part of the State 
was located, of course, the settlement of Prairie 
du Chien. 

WISCONSIN AS A PART OF THE TERRITORY OK 
INDIANA. 

After the fourth day of July, 1800, all that 
portion of the territory of theUnited States north- 
west of the Ohio river, lying to the westward 
of a line beginning upon that stream opposite 
the mouth of the Kentucky river and running 
thence to what is now Fort Recovery, in Mer- 
cer Co., Ohio, thence north until it intersected 
the territorial line between the United States 
and Canada, was for the purposes of temporary 
government, constituted a separate territory, 
called Indiana. Within its boundaries were 
included not only nearly all of what is now the 
State of Indiana, but the whole of the present 
State of Illinois, more than half of what is 
now Michigan, a considerable portion of the 
present State of Minnesota,and the whole of Wis- 
consin. The seat of government was estab- 
lished at "Saint Vincennes on the Wabash." 
now the city of Vincennes, Ind. Upon the form- 
ation of a State government for the State of 
Ohio, in 1802, all the country west of that State, 
but east of the eastern boundary of the territory 
of Indiana, was added to the latter ; so that 
then the area northwest of the Ohio river in- 
cluded but one State and one territory. After- 
ward, civil jurisdiction was exercised by the 
authorities of Indiana territory over the Green 
bay settlement, in a faint way, by the appoint- 
ment, by Gov. William Henry Harrison, of 
Charles Reaume as the justice of the peace 
therein. Prairie du Chien was also recognized 
by the new territorial government by the 
appointment of two persons to a like ofiice — 



28 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



Henry M. Fisher and a trader by the name of 
Campbell. 

As American emigration was now rapidly 
dotting the wilderness to the westward of the 
State of Ohio with settlements, a treaty with 
some of the Indian tribes who claimed 
lands in that region extending northward into 
what is now Wisconsin, was a necessity, for as 
yet, none of these Nations )iad met any au- 
thorities of the United States in council. At 
the close of the contest between France and 
Great IJritain so disastrous in North America to 
the former, the Sacs and Foxes readily gave in 
their adhesion to tlie latter, asking that English 
traders might be sent them. The two Nations, 
then about equally divided, numbered about 
700 warriors. Neither of the tribes 

took part in Poniiac's war, but they befriended 
the English. The Sacs had, by that date emi- 
grated some distance to the westward, while 
the Foxes, at least a portion of them, still re- 
mained npon the waters of the river of Green 
bay, which perpetuates their name. A few 
years later, however, and the Sacs were occu- 
pants of the upper Wisconsin also to a consid- 
erable extent below the portage between that 
stream and Fox river, where their chief town 
was located. Further down the Wisconsin was 
the upper village of the Foxes, while their 
lower town was situated not far from its mouth, 
near the site of the present city of Prairie du 
Chien. 

Not long after Wise msin had been taken 
possession of by the British, its northern por- 
tion, including all that part watered by the 
streams fiowing north into Lake Superior, was 
the home of the Chippewas. The country 
around nearly the whole of Green bay, was the 
hull ing grounds of the Menomonees. The ter- 
ritory of Winnebago lake and Fox river was 
the seat of the Winnebagoes, while, as just 
stated, the Sacs and Foxes had the region -of 
the Wisconsin river as their dwelling place. 
During the war of the Revolution, these 
two tribes continued the firm friends of the 



English, although not engaged in active hostili- 
ties against the Americans. When finally Eng- 
land delivered up to the United States the pos- 
session of the northwest, the Sacs and Foxes had 
only a small portion of their territory in Wis- 
consin, and that in the extreme southwest. 
Their principal possession extended a consider- 
able distance to the south of the mouth of the 
Wisconsin, upon both sides of the Mississppi 
river. 

On the 3d of November, 1804, a treaty was 
held at St. Louis between the Sacs and Foxes 
and the United States. These tribes then ceded 
to the general government, a lage tract of land 
on both sides of the Mississippi, extending on 
the east from the mouth of the Illinois to the 
head of that river, thence to the Wisconsin. 
This grant embraces, in what is now Wisconsin, 
the whole of the present counties of Grant and 
La Fayette, and a large portion of those of Iowa 
and Green. It included the lead region. These 
tribes also claimed territory on the upper side 
of the Wisconsin, but they only granted away 
a tract two miles square above that stream, near 
its mouth, with the right of the United States 
to build a fort adjacent thereto. In considera- 
tion of the cession of these lands, the general 
government agreed to protect the two tribes in 
the quiet enjoyment of the residue of their 
possessions against its own citizens and all oth- 
ers who should intrude on them ; carrying out 
the stipulations to that eifect embodied in the 
Greenville treaty, of 1795. Thus begun the 
quieting of the Indian title to the eminent do- 
main of Wisconsin by the United States, which 
was carried forward until the whole territory 
(except certain reservations to a few tribes) had 
been fairly purchased of the original proprie- 
tors. 

So much of Indiana territory as lay to the 
north of a line drawn east from the southern 
bend of Lake Michigan to Lake Erie, and east 
of a line drawn from the same bend through 
the middle of the first mentioned lake to its 
northern extremity, thence due north to the 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



29 



northern boundary of the United States, was, 
for the purposes of temporary government, on 
the 30th of June, 1805, constituted a separate 
and distinct territory, called Michigan. This 
new territory did not include within its boun- 
daries any part of Wisconsin as at present de- 
fined. 

WISCONSIN AS A PART OF ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 

On the 3d of February, 1809, an act of Con- 
gress, entitled an act for dividing the Indiana 
territory into two separate governments, was 
approved by the President and became a law. 
It provided that from and after the 1st day of 
March thereafter, all that part of the Indiana 
territory lying west of the Wabash river and 
a direct line drawn from that stream and "Post 
Vincennes" due north to the territorial line be- 
tween the United States and Canada, should, 
for the purpose of temporary government, con- 
stitute a separate territory and be called Illinois, 
with the seat of government at Kaskaskia, on 
the Mississippi river, until it should be other- 
wise ordered. By this law, all of what is now 
Wisconsin was transferred from Indiana terri- 
tory to that of Illinois, except that portion lying 
east of the meridian line drawn through Vin- 
cennes. This fraction included nearly the 
whole area between Green bay and Lake Mi- 
chigan and remained a part of the territory of 
Indiana. When, in 1816, Indiana became a 
State, this narrow strip, as it was neither a por- 
tion of Michigan territory on the east or Illinois 
territory on the west, remained without any 
organization until 1818. In that year it became 
a part of Michigan territory. 

In 1809, an effort was made by John Jacob 
Astor, of New York city, to extend the Ameri- 
can fur-trade by way of the lakes to Wiscon- 
sin and parts beyond; but the monopoly 
of the British fur companies was too 
strong. He could only effect his object by uni- 
ting with the northwest company of Montreal, 
in 1811, to form out of the American and Mack- 
inaw companies, a new one, to be known as the 
Southwest company, of which Astor owned a 



half intererest, with the arrsiugement that, after 
five years, it was to pass into his hands alto- 
gether, being restricted in its operations to the 
territories of the United States. This company 
was suspended by the war with Great Britain, 
which immediately followed. At the close of 
hostilities, British traders were prohibited by 
law from pursuing their calling within the 
jurisdiction of the United States. The result 
was the southwest company closed up its affairs, 
and the American fur company re-appeared un- 
der the exclusive control of Astor, who estab- 
lished his western headquarters at Mackinaw, 
operating extensively in what is now Wiscon- 
sin, especially at La Pointe, upon Lake Superior, 
where large warehouses were erected; a stock- 
ade built, lands cleared, farms opened, dwell- 
ings and stores put up. But English traders 
evaded the law by sending their goods into the 
United States in the name of American clerks 
in their employ. These goods being of supe- 
rior quality to those furnished by Astor, they 
continued to command the Indian trade to a 
large extent. It was only when the American 
prince of fur-traders was enabled, to import 
goods to New York of equal quality and send 
them by way of the lakes, that he could success- 
fully compete with his rivals and in the end 
drive them from the field. 

At the commencement of the war with Great 
Britain the few_ settlers at Green Bay and 
Prairie du Chien depended largely upon the 
fur trade for their living, monopolized, as we 
have seen, at that period, by British traders. 
At the beginning of hostilities this dependency 
was promptly secured to the latter by the cap- 
ture, from the Americans, of the post at Macki- 
naw. Naturally enough most of the people of 
Wisconsin, limited in number as they were, ad- 
hered to the English during the continuance of 
hostilities. As to the Indian tribes, within 
what are now the limits of the State, it may be 
said that, in a measure, they, too, all arrayed 
themselves on the side of Great Britain. The 
Menomonees aud Winnebagoes took part in the 



80 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



capture of Mackinaw, and subsequently in other 
enterprises against the Americans. Indeed, 
all the tribes in the northwest were firmly at- 
tached to the English by reciprocal interest in 
the fur trade, from which they derived their 
supplies. Great Britain had never ceased since 
the Revolution to foster their friendship by the 
liberal distribution annually of presents; hence, 
they were ready when the War of 1812-15 was 
inaugurated to take up the hatchet against the 
Americans. Just before hostilities began, the 
English traders were especially active in excit- 
ing the Indians against the Americans, more es- 
pecially against American traders. Robert 
Dickson, a resident of Prairie du Chien, an 
Englishman by birth, was among the foremost 
in stirring up the animosity of the savages. 
Soon after the declaration of war he collected a 
body of Indians at Green Bay for the purpose 
of rendering assistance to the British forces in 
their operations on the lakes and in the north- 
west; they were principally Pottawattamies, 
Kickapoos, Ottawas, Winnebagoes and Sacs, 
the last mentioned being Black Hawk's band. 
This chief was made commander-in-chief of the 
savages there assembled, by Dickinson, and 
sent to join the British army under Proctor. 

The English early succeeded in securing the 
Wisconsin Indian tribes as their allies in this 
war; and having taken Mackinaw in Jul}'^, 1812, 
they were, virtually, ])ut in possession of what 
is now the eastern portion of the State. Early 
in 1814, the government authorities of the 
United States caused to be fitted out at St. 
Louis a large boat, having on board all the men 
that could be mustered and spared from the 
lower country, and sent up the Mississippi to 
protect the upper region and the few settlers 
therein. The troops landed at Prairie du Chien, 
and immediately proceeded to fortify. Not 
long after. Col. McKay, of the British army, 
crossing the country by course of the Fox and 
Wisconsin rivers, with over 500 British and In- 
dians, received the surrender of the whole 
orce. The officers and men were paroled and 



sent down the river. This was the only battle 
fought upon Wisconsin soil during the last war 
with England. The post at Prairie du Chien 
was left in command of a captain with two 
companies from Mackinaw. He remained there 
until after the peace of 1815, when the place 
was evacuated by the British. 

On the 3d of August, 1814, an expedition of 
about 300 men. under command of Maj. Zachary 
Taylor, left St. Louis in boats for the upper 
Mississippi. When they arrived at Rock Is- 
land they found the British there, apparently 
in force, with a battery on shore commanding 
the river. A severe fight took place, but after 
sustaining a loss of several killed and wounded 
the Americans returned to St. Louis. The 
British afterwards left Rock Island, and ujDon 
the signing of the treaty of peace by the envoys 
of the two governments, and the ratification of 
the same, the whole northwest, including Fort 
McKay at Prairie du Chien, was evacuated by 
British forces. 

When it was made known to the Indian 
tribes of the west some of them upon tlie Miss- 
issippi were willing and eager to make treaties 
with the United States. A lucrative tiade 
sprung up between the merchants of St. Louis 
and the traders and Indians up that river. 
Goods were periodically sent up the river to 
traders, who in turn transmitted in payment, by 
the same boats, furs and lead. But, generally, 
the savages hovered sullenly around the now 
rapidly increasing settlements in the territories 
of Michigan and Illinois, and the general gov- 
ernment began to consider in earnest how the 
influence of British intercourse might be 
checked, for the savages were still encouraged 
by English traders in their unfriendly disposi- 
tion and supplied with arms by them. Accord- 
ingly, in the winter after the close of the war, 
Congress prohibited foreign trade in the ter- 
ritory of the United States; and, in the summer 
following, steps were taken to make this policy 
effectual, by establishing a chain of military 
posts near the Canadian frontier and upon the 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



31 



principal lines of communication thence into the 
interioi-. These posts were to be occupied by 
Indian agents, with factories, or government 
stores, designed to supply the place of the pro- 
hibited traffic. 

On the 21st of June, 1816, United States 
troops took possession of the fort at Prairie du 
Chien. During the next month three schooners 
entered Fox river of Green bay, under the 
American flag, displaying to the astonished 
inhabitants of the small settlement upon that 
stream near its mouth, their decks covered with 
government troops. They were under command 
of Col. John Miller, of the Third United States 
Infantry, whose purpose was the establishment 
of a garrison near the head of the bay. The 
rendezvous of the troops was upon the east side 
some distance up the river, and was called 
"Camp Smith." At the end of two months the 
garrison was established in barracks enclosed 
with a stockade. Camp Smith was occupied 
until 1820, when a more substantial struc- 
ture was erected on the west side of the 
stream near its mouth, and named Fort Howard. 

The settlement at Green Bay was made up at 
the close of the war, of about forty or fifty 
French Canadians. The inhabitants (as at 
Prairie du Chien) were now for a time the 
subjects of military rule. "They received the 
advent of the troops in a hospitable spirit, and 
acquiesced in the authority asserted over them, 
with little evidence of discontent, maintaining 
a character for docility and freedom from tur- 
bulence of disposition remarkably in contrast 
with their surroundings. Military authority 
was, in the main, exerted for the preservation 
of order." There was no ciyil authority worth 
speaking of. It was at a period when important 
changes were taking place. That sometime 
military authority, under such circumstances, 
should have been exercised in an arbitrary 
manner, is not at all a matter of sui-prise. "The 
conduct of the soldiery was also sometimes 
troublesome and offensive ; as a rule, how- 
ever, harmonious relations existed between 



them and the citizens. The abuses were only 
such as were unavoidable, in the absence of any 
lawful restraint on the one hand, or means of 
redress on the other." This state of affairs did 
not long continue, as initiatory steps were not 
long after taken to extend over the community 
both here and at Prairie du Chien the pro- 
tection of civil government. 

The Indians of Wisconsin, upon the arrival 
of United States troops at Prairie du Chien and 
Green bay, gave evident signs of a disposition 
to remain friendly, although some thought the 
advent of soldiers an intrusion. An Indian 
agency under John Boyer and a United States 
factory, well supplied with goods, with Major 
Matthew Irwin at its head, were soon established 
at the bay ; a factory at Prairie du Chien, 
under charge of John W. Johnson, was also 
started. The Menemonee and Winnebago tribes, 
the former upon Green bay, the latter upon the 
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, were now brought 
into nearer relations with the United States, 

WISCONSIN AS A PART OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY, 

Upon the admission of Illinois into the 
Union, in 1818, all "the territory of the United 
States, northwest of the River Ohio," lying west 
of Michigan territory and north of the States of 
Indiana and Illinois, was attached to and made 
a part of Michigan territory; by which act the 
whole of the present State of Wisconsin came 
under the jurisdiction of the latter. At the 
close of the last war with Great Britian, Wis- 
consin began in earnest to be occupied by 
Americans, But the latter were still ftw in 
number when the country west of Lake Michi- 
gan was attached to Michigan territory. Now, 
however, that the laws of the United States were 
in reality extended over them, they began to 
feel as though they were not altogether beyond 
the protection of a government of their own, 
notwithstanding they were surrounded by 
Indian tribes. On the 26th of Cctober, 1818, 
the governor of the territory erected by procla- 
mation three counties lying in whole or in part 
in what is now Wisconsin — Brown, Crawford 



32 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



and Michilimackinac. The county of Michili- 
mackinac not only included all of the present 
State of Wisconsin lying north of a line drawn 
due west from near the head of the Little Noquet 
bay, but territory east and west of it, so as to 
reach from Lake Huron to the Mississippi river. 
Its county seat was established "at the Borough 
of Michilimackinac." The whole area in Michi- 
gan territory south of the county of Michili- 
mackinac, and west of Lake Michigan formed the 
two counties of Brown and Crawford; the 
former to include the area east of a line drawn 
due north and south through the middle of the 
portage between the Fox river of Green bay and 
the Wisconsin; the latter to include the whole 
region west of that line. Prairie du Chien was 
designated as the county seat of [Crawford; 
Green Bay, of Brown county. On the 22d of 
December, 1826, a county named Chippewa. was 
formed from the northern portions of Michili- 
mackinac, including the southern shores of Lake 
Superior tliroughout its entire length, and ex- 
tending from the straits leading from that lake 
into Lake Huron, west to the western boundary 
line of Michigan territory, with the county seat 
"at such point in the vicinity of the Sault de 
Ste. Marie, as a majority of the county com- 
missioiers to be appointed shall designate." 
Embraced within this county — its southern 
boundary being the parallel of 46 degrees 31 min- 
utes north latitude- was all the territory of the 
present State of Wisconsin now bordering on 
Lake Superior. Brown and Crawford counties 
were soon organized, the offices being filled by 
appointments of the governor. County courts 
were also established, to which appeals were 
taken from justices of the peace. In January, 
1H23, a district court was established by an act 
of Congress, for the counties last mentioned, 
including also Michilimackinac. One term 
during the year was held in each county. James 
Duane Doty was the judge of this court to May, 
1832, when he was succeeded by David Irvin. 

The United States were not unmindful of her 
citizens to the westward of Lake Michigan, in 



several other Important matters. Indian agencies 
were established; treaties were' held with some 
of the native tribes, and land'claims'of white 
settlers at Green Bay and Prairie^['du Chien 
adjusted. Postmasters were also appointed at 
these two places. 

In 1825 and the two following years, a general 
attention was called^to the lead mine_s in what 
is now the southwestern portion of the State. 
Different places therein were settled with 
American miners. In June, 1827, the Winne- 
bago Indians became hostile; this caused the 
militia of Prairie du Chien to be called out. 
United States troops ascended the Wisconsin 
river to quell the disturbance. There they were 
joined by Illinois volunteers, and the Winneba- 
goes awed into submission. Fort Winnebago 
was thereupon erected by the general govern- 
ment at the portage, near the present site of 
Portage, Columbia Co., Wis. A treaty with the 
Indians followed, and there was no more trouble 
because of mining operations in the "lead 
region." On the 9th of October, 1829, a county 
was formed of all that part of Crawford lying 
south of the Wisconsin, and named Iowa. In 
1831 the United States purchased of the Men- 
omonees all their lands east of Green bay, 
Winnebago lake and the Fox and Milwaukee 
rivers. The general government, before this 
date, had, at several periods, held treaties with 
the Sac and Fox Indians. And the time had 
now come when the two tribes were to leave 
the eastern for the western side of the Misssi- 
sippi river; but a band headed by Black Hawk 
refused to leave their village near Kock Island, 
111. They contended that they had not sold 
their town to the United States; and upon tlieir 
return early in 1831, from a hunt across the 
Mississippi, finding their village and fields in 
possession of the whites, they determined to 
repossess their homes at all hazards. This was 
looked upon, or called, an encroachment by the 
settlers; so the governor of Illinois took the 
responsibility of declaring the State invaded, 
and asked the United States to drive the refrac- 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



33 



tory Indians beyond the Mississippi. The 
result was, the Indian village was destroyed by 
Illinois volunteers. Tliis and the threatened 
advance across the river by the United States 
commander, brought Black Hawk and his fol- 
lowers to terms. They sued for peace — agree- 
ing to remain forever on the west side of the 
Mississippi. But this truce was of short dura- 
tion. 

Early in the spring of 1832, Black Hawk hav- 
ing assembled his forces on the Mississippi in 
the vicinity of the locality where Fort Madison 
had stood, crossed that stream and ascended 
Rock river, "ibis was the signal for war. The 
governor of Illinois made a call for volunteers, 
and in a brief space of time 1,800 had 
assembled at Beardstown, Cass county. They 
marched for the mouth of Rock river, where a 
council of war was held by their officers and 
Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson, of the reg- 
ular forces. The Indians were sent word by 
General Atkinson that they must retui-n and re- 
cross the Mississippi or they would be driven 
back by force. When the attempt was made to 
compel them to go back a collision occurred 
between the Illinois militia and Black Hawk's 
braves, resulting in the discomfiture of the 
former with the loss of eleven men. Soon af- 
terward the volunteers were discharged, and 
the first campaign of Black Hawk's War was at 
an end. This was in May, 1832. In June fol- 
lowing a new force had been raised and put 
under the command of General Atkinson, who 
commenced his march up Rock river. Before 
this there had been a general "forting" in the 
lead region, in Illinois, and including the whole 
country in what is now Southwest Wisconsin, 
notwithstanding which a number of settlers 
had been killed by the savages, mostly in Illi- 
nois. Squads of volunteers, in two or three in- 
stances, had encountered the Indians, and in 
one with entire success — upon the Pecatonica, 
in the present Lafayette Co., Wis. — every sav- 
age (and there were seventeen of them) being 
killed. The loss of the volunteers was three 



killed and wounded. Atkinson's march up 
Rock river was attended Math some skirmish- 
ing, when, being informed that Black Hawk 
and his force were at Lake Koshkonong, in the 
southwest corner of what is now Jefferson Co., 
Wis., he immediately moved thither with a 
portion of his army, where the whole force was 
ordered to concentrate. But the Sac chief, 
with his people, had flown. Colonels Henry 
Dodge and James D. Henry, with the forces 
under them, discovered the trail of the savages, 
leading in the direction of Wisconsin river. It 
was evident that the retreating force was large, 
and that it had but recently passed. The pur- 
suing troops hastened their march. On the 
21st of July, 1832, they arrived at the hills 
which skirt the left bank of that stream, in 
what is now Roxbury town (township), Dane 
county. Here was Black Hawk's whole force, 
including women and children, the aged and 
infirm, hastening by every effort to escape 
across the river. But that this might now be 
effected it became necessary for that chief to 
make a firm stand, to cover the retreat. The 
Indians were in the bottom lands when the pur- 
suing whites made their appearance upon the 
heights in their rear. Colonel Dodge occupied 
the front and sustained the first attack of the 
Indians. He was soon joined by Henry with 
his force, when they obtained a complete vic- 
tory. The action commenced about 5 o'clock 
in the afternoon and ended at sunset. The 
enemy sustained a loss, it is said, of about sixty 
killed and a large number wounded.* The loss 
of the Americans was one killed and eight 
wounded. During the following night Black 
Hawk made his escape down the Wisconsin. 
He was pursued and finally brought to a stand 
on the Mississippi near the mouth of the Bad 
Axe, on the western boundary of what is now 
Vernon Co., Wis.; and on the 2d of August 
attacked on all sides by the Americans, who 
soon obtained a complete victory. Black Hawk 
escaped, but was soon after captured. This 
ended the war, 

*Bl!ick Hawk fjivcs a voi-y ditfercnt account as to his 
loss. "In this skirmish," says he, 'with fift.v braves Idc- 
fended and acooniplishtd ni.v passagre over the Wisconsin 
with a loss of only si.x men." 



84 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



Tlie survey of public lands to which the In- 
dian title had been extinguished; the erection 
of Milwaukee county from the southern part of 
Brown; the changing of the eastern boundary 
of Iowa county to correspond with the western 
one of Milwaukee county; the attaching, for 
judicial purposes, of all the country west of the 
Mississippi river and north of the State of Mis- 
souri to the territory of Michigan in 1834, and 
the division of it into the two counties of Des 
Moines and Dubuque, were the important events 
following the close of the Black Hawk war. 
The prospective admission of the State of 



Michigan into the Union, to include all that 
part of the territory lying east of Lake Michi- 
gan, caused, on the Ist of January, 1836, a ses- 
sion (the first one) of the seventh territorial 
council, to legislate for so much of the terri- 
tory as lay to the westward of that lake, to be 
held at Green Bay, when a memorial was 

adopted, asking Congress for the formation of 
a new territory, to include all of Michigan ter- 
ritory not to be admitted as a State. This re- 
quest, it will now be seen, was soon complied 
with by the National Legislature. 



CHAPTER II 



WISCONSIN AS A TERRITORY. 



The Territory of Wisconsin* was erected by 
act of Congress of April 20, 1836, to take effect 
from and after the 3d day of July following. 

♦Wisconsin takes its name from its principal river, 
which flrains an extensive portion of its sui-face. It rises in 
Lake Vieux Desert (which is partly in Michigan and partly 
in Wisconsin), Hows generally a south course to Portage in 
what is now f'olumbia county, where it turns to the south- 
we-t, and after a further course of 118 miles, with a rapid 
current, reaches the Mississippi river, four miles below Prai- 
rie du t'hien. Its entire length is about 450 miles, descending, 
in that distance, a little more than 1,000 feet. Along the 
lower portion of the s'ream are the high lands, or river hills. 
Some of these hills present high and precipitous faces to- 
ward the water. Others terminate in knobs. The name is 
supposed to have been taken from this feature; the word 
being d<!rived from mis-ix, great, and oK-nin, a stone or rock. 

Compare Shea's Disrovrni and Exyilorntion of the MUxix- 
>'h^y}i, pp. 6 (note) and 268; Foster's Minxissifj^ii Valle}/, p. 3 
(note); Schoolcraft's Tliirty Years with the Indian Trihes, p. 
2'0 and note. 

Two definitions of the word are current— as widely differ- 
ing from each other as from the one just given. (See Wis. 
Hist. Soc. Coll., Vol. I , p. Ill, and Webster's Die, Una- 
bT-irfsred. p.163'2.) The flrPt— "the gathering of the waters"— 
has no corresponding words in Algonquin at all resembling 
the name; the same may be said of the second— "wild rush- 
ing channel." (See Otchipwe Die. of Hev. F. Raraga. 

Since first used by the French the word ' 'Wisconsin" has 
undeigone considerable change. On the map by Joliet, re- 
centlv brought to light by Gravier, it is given as "Miskon- 
s'ng." In Marquette's journal, published by Thevenot, in 
Paris. 1681, it is noted as the "Meskousing." It appeared 
there for the first time in print. Hennepin, in lfi83, wrote 
"Onisconsin" and "Misconsin;" Charlevoix, 1743, "Ouis- 
consin;" Carver, 1766, "Ouisconsin" (English— "Wiscon- 
sin"); since which lasr mentioned date the orthography has 
been uniform.— Butterfield's Discovery of the Northwest in 
1634. 



It was made to include all that part of the late 
Michigan territory described within boundaries 
"commencing at the northeast corner of the 
State of Illinois, running thence through the 
middle of Lake Michigan to a point opposite 
the main channel of Green bay; thence through 
that channel and the bay to the mouth of the 
Menomonee river; thence up that stream to its 
head, which is nearest the lake of the Desert: 
thence to the middle of that lake; thence down 
the Montreal river to its mouth; thence with a 
direct line across Lake Superior to where the 
territorial line of the United State.'l ast touches 
the lake northwest; thence on the north, with 
the territorial line, to the White Earth river; 
on the west by a line drawn down the middle 
of the main channel of that stream to the Mis- 
souri river, and down the middle of the main 
channel of the last mentioned stream to the 
northwest corner of the State of Missouri; and 
thence with the bounda,ries of the States of 
Missouri and Illinois, as already fixed by act of 



HISTOKY OF WISCONSIN. 



85 



Congress, to the place or point of beginning." 
Its counties were Brown, Milwaukee, Iowa, 
Crawford, Dubuque and Des Moines, with a 
portion of Chippewa and Michilimackinac un- 
organized. Henry Dodge was commissioned 
governor April 80, 1836; C'harles Dunn, chief 
justice, and David Irvin and William C. Frazer 
associate justices; by Andrew Jackson, Presi- 
dent of the United States. The following were 
the secretaries, attorneys and marshals, with 
the dates of their commissions who held 
office while the territory was in existence : 

SECRETARIES. 

John S. Horner, May 6, 1836; William B. 
Slaughter, Feb. 16, 1837; Francis I. Dunn, Jan. 
25, 1841; Alexander P. Field, April 23, 1841; 
George Floyd, Oct. 30, 1843; John Catlin, Feb. 
24, 1846. 

UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS. 

W. W. Chapman, May 6, 1836; Moses M. 
Strong, July 5, 1838; Thomas W. Sutherland, 
April 27, 1841; William P. Lynde, July 14, 
1845. 

UNITED STATES MARSHALS. 

Francis Gehon, May 6, 1836; Edward James, 
June 19, 1838; Daniel Hugunin, March 15, 
1841; Charles M. Prevost, Aug. 31, 1844; John 
S. Rockwell, March 14, 1845. 

The first important measure to be looked af- 
ter by Governor Dodge upon his assuming, in 
the spring of 1836, the executive chair of the 
territory was the organization of the territorial 
Legislature. A census showed the following 
population east of the Mississippi : Milwaukee 
county, 2,893; Brown county, 2,706; Crawford 
county, 850; Iowa county, 5,234. Total, 11,683. 
The enumeration for the two counties west of 
the Mississippi was — Des Moines, 6,257; Du- 
buque, 4,274. Total, 10,531. The population, 
therefore, of both sides of the river aggregated 
22,214. The legislative apportionment, made 
by the governor, gave to the territory thirteen 
councilmen and twenty-six representatives. 
These, of course, were to be elected by the peo- 
ple. The election was held Oct. 10, 1836. 



Belmont, in the present county of Lafayette, 
Wis., was appointed as the place for the meet- 
ing of the Legislature, where the first session 
began October 25. A quorum of each house 
was in attendance. Henry S. Baird, of Green 
Bay, was elected president of the council, and 
Peter H. Engle speaker of the house. 

The following persons served as presidents 
of the council while Wisconsin was a territory : 
First session, first Legislative Assembly, 
Henry S. Baird, Brown county. 

Second session, first Legislative Assembly, 
Arthur R. Ingraham, Des Moines county. 

Special session, first Legislative Assembly, 
Arthur R. Ingraham, Des Moines county. 

First session, second Legislative Assembly, 
William BuUen, Racine county. 

Second session, second Legislative Assembly, 
James Collins, Iowa county. 

Third session, second Legislative Assembly, 
James Collins, Iowa county. 

Fourth (extra) session, second Legislative 
Assembly, William A. Prentiss, Milwaukee 
county. 

First session, third Legislative Assembly, 
James Maxwell, Walworth county. 

Second session, third Legislative Assembly, 
James Collins, Iowa county. 

First session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
Moses M. Strong, Iowa county. 

Second session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
Marshal M. Strong, Racine county. 

Third session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
Moses M. Strong, Iowa county. 

Fourth session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
Nelson Dewey, Grant county. 

First session, fifth Legislative Assembly, 
Horatio N. Wells, Milwaukee county. 

Special session, fifth Legislative Assembly, 
Horatio N. Wells, Milwaukee county. 

Second session, fifth Legislative Assembly, 
Horatio N. Wells, Milwaukee county. 

The followinsr persons served as speakers of 
the IIousi- during tlit' cuntiniianri' of Wiscon- 
sin territorv : 



36 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



First session, first Legislative Assembly, 
Peter H. Engle, Dubuque county. 

Second session, first Legislative Assembly, 
Isaac Leffler, Des Moines county. 

Special session, first Legislative Assembly, 
William B. Sheldon, Milwaukee county. 

First session, second Legislative Assembly, 
John W. Blackstone, Iowa county. 

Second session, second Legislative Assembly, 
Lucius I. Barber, Milwaukee county. 

Third session, second Legislative Assembly, 
Edward V. Whiton, Rock county. 

Fourth (extra) session, second Legislative 
Assembly, Nelson Dewey, Grant county. 

First session, third Legislative Assembly, 
David Newland, Iowa county. 

Second session, third Legislative Assembly 
David Newland, Iowa county. 

First session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
Albert G. Ellis, Portage county. 

Second session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
George II. W^alker, Milwaukee county. 

Third session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
George H.Walker, Milwaukee county. 

Fourth session, fourth Legislative Assembly, 
Mason C. Darling, Fond du Lac county. 

First session, fifth Legislative Assembly, 
William Shew, Milwaukee county. 

Special session, fifth Legislative Assembly, 
Isaac P. Walker, Milwaukee county. 

Second session, fifth Legislative Assembly, 
Timothy Burns, Iowa county. 

Each of the three branches of the infant gov- 
ernment was now (October, 1836) in working 
order, except that it remained for the Legisla- 
tive Assembly to divide the territory into three 
judicial districts, the number required bv the 
organic act, and make an assignment of the 
judges. This was speedily done. Crawford 
and Iowa constituted the first district, to which 
the chief justice was assigned; Dubuque and 
Des Moines the second, to which judge Irvin 
was assigned; and Judge Frazer to the third, 
consisting of Milwaukee and Brown counties. 
The principal matters engaging the attention 



of the legislators were the permanent location 
of the capitol, the erection of new counties and 
the location of county seats. Madison was fixed 
upon as the seat of government; and nine coun- 
ties were erected east of the Mississippi: Wal 
worth, Racine, Jefferson, Dane, Dodge, Wash- 
ington, Rock, Grant and Green. West of the 
river six counties were set off: Lee, Van 
Buren, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine and Cook. 
The Legislature adjourned sine die, Dec. 9, 
1836. The first term of the supreme court was 
held at Belmont on the the 8th day of Decem- 
ber, of that year. The appointment of a clerk, 
crier and reporter, and the admission of several 
attorneys to practice, completed the business of 
the first terra. The following persons served 
as clerks while Wisconsin was a territory: 

John Catlin, appointed at December term, 
1836; Simeon Mills, appointed at July term, 
1839; La Fayette Kellogg, appointed at July 
term, 1840. Gov. Dodge, appointed Dec. 8, 1836, 
Henry S. Baird, as attorney general. His 
successors were as follows: 

Horatio N. Wells, appointed by Gov. Dodge, 
March 30, 1839; Mortimer M. Jackson, ap- 
pointed by Gov. Dodge, Jan. 26, 1842; William 
Pitt Lynde, appointed by Gov. Tallmage, Feb. 
22, 1845; A. Hyatt Smith, appointed by Gov. 
Dodge Aug. 4, 1845. Upon the organization of 
the territory in 1836, it was necessary that it 
should be represented in the National Legisla- 
ture; so on the day of the election of the terri- 
torial Legislature, George W. Jones, of Iowa 
county, w^as chosen a delegate in Congress. His 
successors were: 

James Duane Doty, elected Sept. 10, 1838; 
James Duane Doty, elected Aug. 5, 1840; Henry 
Dodge, elected Sept. 27, 1841; Henry Dodge, 
elected Sept. 25, 1843; Morgan L. Martin, 
elected Sept. 22, 1845; John H. Tweedy, 
elected Sept. 6, 1847. 

At the close of the year 1836, there was no 
land in market east of the Mississippi, except a 
narrow strip along the shore of Lake Michigan, 
and in the vicinity of Green bay. The residue 



I 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



37 



of the country south and east of the Wisconsin 
and Fox rivers was open only to pre-emption by 
actual settlers. The Indian tribes still claimed 
a large portion of the lauds. On the north were 
located the Chippewas. The southern limits 
of their possessions were defined by a line drawn 
from a point on that stream in about latitude 
46 degi-ees 31 minutes in a southeasterly direc- 
tion to the head of Lake St. Croix; thence in 
the same general direction to what is now 
Stevens Point, in the present Portage Co., Wis.; 
thence nearly east to Wolf river; and thence in 
a direction nearly northeast to the Menomonee 
river, Between the Wisconsin river and the 
Mississippi, and extending north to the south 
line of the Chippewas was the territory of the 
Winnebagoes. East of the Winnebagoes in the 
country north of the Fox river of Green bay 
were located the Menomonees, their lands ex- 
tending to Wolf river. Such was the general 
outline of Indian occupancy in Wisconsin terri- 
tory, east of the Mississippi, at its organization. 
A portion of the country east of Wolf river and 
north of Green bay and the Fox river; the 
whole of the area lying south of Green bay, 
Fox river and the Wisconsin, constituted tlie 
extent of country over which the Indians had 
no claim. In this region, as we have seen, was 
a populatian of about 12,000, it was made up 
of the scattered settlers at the lead mines; 
the military establishments, (F'ort Crawford, 
Fort Winnebago and Fort Howard), and settle- 
ments at or near them; and the village of 
Milw aukee; these were about all the parts of 
the territory east of the Mississippi, at that 
date, occupied to any extent by the whites. 

Tiie second session of the first Legislative As- 
sembly of the territory of Wisconsin, began at 
Burlington, now the county seat of Des Moines 
Co., Iowa, Nov. 6, 1837, and adjourned Jan. 20, 
1838, to the second Monday of June following. 
The principal acts passed were, one for taking 
another census; one abolishing imprisonment for 
debt; another regulating the sale of school 
lands and to prepare for organizing, reg- 
perfecting schools. There 
passed incorporating the 



ulating and 
was also one 



Milwaukee and Rock River Canal Company. 
This was approved by the governor, Jan. 5, 
1838. By an act of Congress approved June 18 
of the same year, a grant of land was made to 
aid in the construction of the canal. The grant 
consisted of the odd-numbered sections on a 
belt of ten miles in width from Lake Michigan 
to Rock river, amounting to 139,190 acres. Of 
those lands 43,447 acres were sold at public 
sale in July, 1839, at the minimum price 
of |2.50 per acre. Work was commenced on 
the canal at Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee 
river for a short distance from its outlet was 
improved by the construction of a dam across 
the river, which was made available for manu- 
facturing and other purposes. A canal was 
also built about a mile in length and forty 
feet wide, leading from it down on the west 
bank of the river. Much dissatisfaction subse- 
quently arose; the purchasers at this sale, and 
others occupying these canal and reserved 
lands felt the injustice of being compelled to 
pay double price for their lands, and efl:"orts 
were made to repeal all laws authorizing fur- 
ther sales, and to ask Congress to repeal the act 
making this grant. The legislation on the sub- 
ject of this grant is voluminous. In 1862 the 
Legislature of the State passed an act to ascer- 
tain and settle the liabilities, if any, of Wis- 
consin and the company, and a board of com- 
missioners was appointed for that purpose. At 
the session of the Legislature in 1863, the com- 
mittee made a report with a lengthy opinion of 
the attorney-general of the State. The views 
of that officer were, that the company had no 
valid claims for damages against the State. In 
this opinion the commissioners concurred. On 
the 23d of March, 1875, an act was approved by 
the governor, giving authority to the attorney- 
general to discharge and release of record any 
mortgage before executed to the late territory 
of Wisconsin given to secure the purchase 
money or any part thereof of any lands granted 
by Congress to aid in the construction of this 
canal. The quantity of lands unsold was sub- 



38 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



sequently made a part of the 500,000 acre tract 
granted by Congress for school purposes. It is 
believed the whole matter is now closed 
against further legislative enactments. 

There was another important act passed by 
the territorial Legislature of 1837-8, by which 
fourteen counties were erected, but all of them 
west of the Mississippi. The census having 
been taken in May, a special session of the 
first Legislative Assembly was commenced June 
11, 1838, at Burlington, continuing to June 25, of 
that year. This session was pursuant to an 
adjournment of the previous one, mainly for 
the purpose of making a new apportionment of 
members. The population of the several 
counties east of the Mississippi was, by the 
May census, 18,149. By an act of Congress, 
approved June 12, 1838, it was provided that 
from and after the 3d day of July following, all 
that part of Wisconsin territory lying west of 
that river and west of a line drawn due north 
from its headwaters or sources to the territorial 
line for the purposes of a territorial govern- 
ment should be set apart and known by the 
name of Iowa. It was further enacted that 
the territory of Wisconsin should thereafter 
extend westward only to the Mississippi. Be- 
cause of the passage of this act, the one passed 
at the special session of the territorial Legisla- 
ture making an apportionment of members, be- 
came nugatory — that duty now devolving 
upon Gov. Doty. On the third Monday of July, 
183S, the annual term of supreme court was 
held at Madison this, of course, being the first 
one after the re-organization of the territory; 
the previous one was not held, as there was no 
business for the court. On the 18th of October, 
Judge Frazer died, and on the 8th of Novem- 
ber, Andrew G. Miller was appointed his suc- 
cessor, by Martin Van Buren, President of the 
United States. 

The Legislature of the re-organized territory 
of Wisconsin met at Madison for the first time 
— it being the first session of the second Legis- 
lative Assembly — Nov. 20, 1838. Its attention 



was directed to the mode in which the commis- 
sioners of public buildings had discharged their 
duties. There was an investigation of three 
banks then in operation in the territory — one 
at Green Bay, one at Mineral Point, and the 
other at Milwaukee. A plan, also, for the 
revision of the laws of the territory was con- 
sidered. A new assignment was made for the 
holding of district courts. Chief Justice Dunn 
was assigned to the first district, composed of 
the counties of Iowa, Grant and Crawford; 
Judge Irvin to the second, composed of the 
counties of Dane, Jefferson, Rock, Walworth 
and Green; while Judge Miller was assigned to 
the third district, composed of Milwaukee, 
Brown and Racine counties — including therein 
the unorganized counties of Washington and 
Dodge, which, for judicial purposes, were, 
when constituted, by name and boundary, at- 
tached to Milwaukee county. 'I he Legislature 
adjourned on the 22d of December, to meet 
again on the 21st of the following month. The 
census having been taken during the year, it 
was found that the territory had a population 
v,f 18,130, an increase in two years, of 6,447. 
The second sessioii of the second Legislative 
Assembly began Jan. 21, 1839, agreeable to 
adjournment. An act was passed during this ses- 
sion legalizing a revision of the laws which had 
been perfected by a committee previously; this 
act took effect July 4, and composed the princi- 
pal part of the laws forming the revised statutes 
of 1839. The session ended March 11, 1839. 
On the 8th of March of this year, Henry Dodge, 
whose term for three years as governor was 
about to expire, was again commissioned by 
the President of the United States. At the 
July term of the supreme court, all the judges 
were present, and several cases were heard and 
decided. A seal for the court was also adopted. 
From this time, the supreme" court met annu- 
ally, as provided by law, until Wisconsin be- 
came a State. 

The next Legislature assembled at Madison, 
on the 2d of December, 1839. This was the 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



39 



third session of the second Legislative Assem- 
bly of the territory. The term for which mem- 
bers of the house were elected would soon 
expire ; it was therefore desirable that a new 
apportionment should be made. As the census 
would be taken the ensuing June, by the 
United States, it would be unnecessary for the 
territory to make an additional enumeration. 
A short session was resolved upon, and then 
an adjournment until after the completion of 
the census. One of the subjects occupying 
largely the attention of the members, was the 
condition of the capitol, and the conduct of the 
commissioners intrusted with the money ap- 
propriated by Congress to defray the cost of its 
construction. These commissioners were James 
Duane Doly, A. A. Bird and John F. O'Neill. 
They received their appointment from the 
general government. Work began on tlie 
building in June, 1837, the corner stone being 
laid with appropriate ceremonies July 4, During 
that year and the previous one, Congress ap- 
propriated 140,000, Dane county 14,000, and 
the territorial Legislature, about $16,000, for 
the structure ; so that the entire cost was about 
$60,000. The building, when finished, was a 
substantial structure, which, in architectural 
design and convenience of arrangement, com- 
pared favorably with the capitols of adjacent 
and older States. The capitol proving inade- 
quate to the growing wants of the State, the 
Legislature of 1857 provided for its enlarge- 
ment. By this act, the commissioners of school 
and university lands were directed to sell the 
ten sections of land appropriated by Congress 
"for the completion of public buildings," and 
apply the proceeds toward enlarging and im- 
proving the State capitol. The State also ap- 
propriated $30,000 for the same object, and 
$50,000 was given by the city of Madison. 
The governor and secretary of State were 
made commissioners for conducting the work, 
which was begun in the fall of 1857, and con- 
tinued from year to year until 1869, when the 
dome was completed. The Legislature of 1882 



appropriated $200,000 for the construction of 
two transverse wings to the capitol building, 
one on the north and the other on the south 
sides thereof, in order to provide additional 
room for the State historical society, the 
supreme court, the State library, and for the 
increasing work of the State offices. The gov- 
ernor, secretary of State, attorney general, 
with others, representing the supreme court 
and the historical society, were made commis- 
sioners for carrying out the work. The cost 
will be within the amount appropriated by ihe 
State. The total appropriations for the en- 
largement of the capitol and for the improve- 
ment of the park, to the present time, are $629, 
992.54. This does not include the sum of 
$0,500 appropriated in 1875, for macadamizing 
to the center of the streets around the park, 
nor the $200,000 appropriated in 1882. The 
park is 914 feet square, cornering north, south, 
east and west, contains fourteen and four-tenths 
acres, and is situated on an elevation command- 
ing a view of the third and fourth lakes and 
the surrounding country. In the center of the 
square stands the capitol. The height of the 
building from the basement to the top of the 
flag staff is 225^ feet, while the total length of 
its north and south wings, exclusive of steps 
and porticoes, with the addition of the new 
wings, is 396 feet, and of the east and west 
wings, 226 feet. 

The Legislature of 1839-40, adjourned Janu- 
ary 13, to meet again on the 3d of the ensuing 
August. The completion of the federal census 
of 1840 showed a population for the territory of 
30,744. Upon the re-assembling of the Legisla- 
tui*e — which is known as the extra session of 
the second Legislative Assembly — some changes 
were made in the apportionment of members to 
the House of Representatives. The session 
lasted but a few days, a final adjournment 
taking place Aug. 14, 1840. The first session 
of the third Legislative Assembly began Dec. 7, 
1840, and ended Feb. 19, 1841, with only three 
members who had served in the previous Asseni- 



40 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



bly. All had recently been elected under the 
new apportionment. 

On the 13th of September, 1841, Gov. Dodge 
was removed from office by John Tyler, then 
President of the United States, and James 
Duane Doty appointed in his place, the com- 
mission of the latter being dated the 5th of 
October following. 

The second session of the third Legislative 
Assembly began at Madison, on the 6th of 
December, 1841. Gov. Doty, in his message to 
that body, boldly avowed the doctrine that no 
law of the territory was effective until expressly 
approved by Congress. This construction of 
the organic act resulted in a lengthy warfare 
between the governor and the Legislative As- 
sembly. On the 11th of February, 1842, an 
event occurred in the Legislative council, caus- 
ing a great excitement over the whole territory. 
On that day, Charles C. P. Arndt, a member 
from Brown county, was, while that body was 
in session, shot dead by James R. Vineyard, a 
member from Grant county. The difficulty 
grew out of a debate on a motion to lay on the 
table the nomination of Enos S. Baker to the 
office of sheriff of Grant county. Immediately 
before adjournment of the council, the parties 
who had come together, after loud and angry 
words had been spoken, were separated by the 
by-standers. When an adjournment had been 
announced, they met again ; whereupon Arndt 
struck at Vineyard. The latter then drew a 
pistol and shot Arndt. He died in a few mo- 
ments. Vineyard immediately surrendered him- 
self to the sheriff of the county, waived an ex- 
amination, and was committed to jail. After a 
short confinement, he was brought before the 
chief justice of the territory, on a writ of habeas 
corpus, and admitted to bail. He was after- 
ward indicted for manslaughter, was tried and 
acquitted. Three days after shooting Arndt, 
Vineyard sent in his resignation as member of 
the council. That body refused to receive it, 
or to have it read even ; but at once expelled 
him. The second and last session of the third 



Legislative Assembly came to a close Feb. 18, 
1842. 

For the next six years there were seven ses- 
sions of the territorial legislature, as follows: 
First session, 4th Legislative Assembly, com- 
menced Dec. 5, 1842, ended April 17, 1843; 
second sesssion, 4th Legislative Assembly, com- 
menced Dec. 4, 1843, ended Jan. 31, 1844; 
third session, 4th Legislative Assembly, com- 
menced Jan. C, 1845, ended Feb- 24, 1845; 
fourth session, 4th Legislative Assembly, com- 
menced Jan 5, 1 846, ended Feb. 3, 1846; first ses- 
sion, 5th Legislative Assembly,commenced Jan. 4, 
1847, ended Feb. 11, 1847; special session, 5th 
Legislative Assembly, commenced Oct. 18, 
1847, ended Oct. 27, 1847; second session, 5th 
Legislative Assembly, commenced Feb. 7, 1848, 
ended March 13, 1848. 

The members of the first session of the 
fourth legislative assembly had been elected 
unded a new apportionment based upon a 
census taken in June, showing a total popula- 
tion of 46,678. In each house there was a 
democratic majority. Gov. Doty was a 
whig. It was a stormy session. After the two 
houses had organized, the governor refused to 
communicate with them, as a body legally 
assembled, according to the organic act, he 
claiming that no appropriation for that object 
had been made by Congress. The houses con- 
tinued in session until the 10th day of l^ecember, 
when they adjourned until the 13th of January, 
1843, they having meanwhile made representa- 
tion to the National Legislature, then in session, 
of the objections of the governor. It was not 
until the -ith of February that a quorum in both 
houses had assembled. Previous to this, Con- 
gress had made an appropriation to cover the 
expenses of the session; and the governor, on 
the 13th of January, had issued a proclamation 
convening a special session on the 6th ofMarch. 
Both houses in February adjourned to the day 
fixed by the governor, which ended the troubles; 
and the final adjournment took place, as already 
stated, April 17, 1843. Nathaniel P. Tallmadge 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



41 



was appointed governor in place of Doty on 
the 21st of June, 1844, his commission bearing 
date the 16th of September. James K. Polk 
having been elected President of tlie United 
States in the fall of that year, Henry Dodge 
was again put in the executive chair of the ter- 
ritory, receiving his appointment April 8, 1845, 
and being commissioned May 13 following. 

It was during the fourth session of the fourtli 
legislative assembly that preliminary steps 
were taken, which resulted in the formation of 
a State government. The first Tuesday in 
April, 1846, was the day fixed upon for the 
people to vote for or against the proposition. 
When taken it resulted in a large majority 
voting in favor of the measure. An act was 
passed providing for taking the census of the 
territory, and for the apportionment by the 
governor of delegates to form a State constitu- 
tion, based upon the new enumeration. The 
delegates were to be elected on the first Mon- 
day in September, and the convention was to 
assemble on the first Monday in October, 1846. 
The constitution when formed was to be sub- 
mitted to the vote of the people for adoption or 
rejection, as, at the close of the session, the 
the terms of members of the council who had 
been elected for four years, and of the house, 
«ho had been elected for two years, all ended. 
The legislature re-organized the election dis- 
tricts, and conferred on the governor the power 
and duty of making an apportionment, based on 
the census to be taken, for the next Legislative 
Assembly, when, on the 3d of February, 1846, 
both houses adjourned sine die. The census 
taken in the following June showed a popula- 
tion for the territory of 155,217. Delegates 
having been elected to form a constitution foi- 
the proposed new State, met at Madison on the 
5th day of October. After completing their 
labors, they adjourned. This event took place 
on the 16th of December, 1846. The constitu- 
tion thus formed was submitted to a popular 



vote on the first Tuesday of April, 1847, and 
rejected. A special session of the legislature, 
to take action concerning the admission of Wis- 
consin into the Union began Oct. 18, 1S4V, and 
a law was passed for the holding of another 
convention to frame a constitution. Delegates 
to the new convention were elected on the last 
Monday of November, and that body met at 
Madison the 15th of December, 1847. A census 
of the territory was taken this year, which 
showed a population of 210,546. The result of 
the labors of the second constitutional conven- 
tion was the formation of a constitution, 
which, being submitted to the people on the 
second Monday of March, 1848, was duly ratified. 
On the 29th of May, 1848, by act of Congress, 
Wisconsin became a State. 

It may be here premised that the western 
boundary of the new State left out a full or- 
ganized county, with a sheriff, clerk of court, 
judge of probate, and juotices of the peace. A 
bill had been introduced at a previous session 
in Congress, by Morgan L. Martin, the delegate 
from Wisconsin, to organize a territorial govern- 
ment for Minnesota, including the district left 
out on the admission of Wisconsin; but which 
failed to become a law. The citizens of what 
is now Minnesota were very anxious to obtain a 
territorial government, and tw^o public meetings 
were held — one at St. Paul, and the other at 
Stillwater — advising John Catlin, who was 
secretary of Wisconsin, to issue a proclamation 
as the acting governor, for the election of a 
delegate to represent what was left of the 
territory of Wisconsin. Mr. Catlin repaired to 
Stillwater and issued a proclamation accordingly. 
H. H. Sibley was elected; nearly 400 votes hav- 
ing been polled at the election. Sibley was 
admitted to his seat on the floor of Congress by 
a vote of two to one. His admission facilitated 
and hastened the passage of a bill for the or- 
ganization of a territorial government for Min- 
nesota. 



42 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



CHAPTER III 



WISCONSIN AS A STATE. 



The State of Wisconsin is bounded on the 
north by Minnesota and Miijhigan; on the east 
by the State last mentioned; on the south, by 
Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota; and on the west, 
by the two last named States. Its boundaries, 
as more particularly described, are as follows: 
Beginning at its northeast corner of the State 
of Illinois, that is to say, at a point in the center 
of Lake Michigan, where tlie line of forty-two 
degrees and thirty minutes of north latitude, 
crosses the same; thence running with the boun- 
dary line of the State of Michigan, through Lake 
Michigan [andj Green bay to the mouth of the 
Menomonee river; thence up the channel of the 
said river to the Brule river; thence up said 
last mentioned river to Lake Brule; thence along 
the southern shore of Lake Brule, in a direct 
line to the center of the channel between Mid- 
dle and South islands, in the Lake of the Desert; 
thence in a direct line to the head waters of the 
Montreal river, as marked upon the survey made 
by Captain Cram; thence down the main clian- 
nel of the Montreal river to the middle of Lake 
Superior; thence through the center of Lake 
Superior to the mouth of the St. Louis river; 
thence up the main channel of said river to the 
first rapids in the same, above the Indian vil- 
lage, according to NicoUett's map, thence due 
south to the main branch of the River St. Croix; 
thence down the main channel of said river to 
the Mississippi; thence down the center of the 
main channel of that river to the northwest 
corner of the State of Illinois; thence due east 
with the northern boundary of the State of 
Illinois to the place of beginning. The gen- 
eral shape of Wisconsin is that of an 



irregular pentagon. Its land area is 58,- 
924 square miles; and, in respect to size, it 
ranks with the other States as the 15th. It is 
known as one of the North Central States, east 
of the Mississippi. It extends from 9 degrees 
50 minutes to 15 degrees 50 minutes west longi- 
tude from Washington city, and from 42 de- 
grees 80 minutes to about 41 degrees 80 minutes 
north latitude. It has Lake Michigan on the 
east. Green bay, Menomonee and Brule rivers. 
Lake Vieux Desert, the Montreal river. Lake 
Superior and the St. l^ouis river; on the north- 
east and north; and, on the west, the St. Croix 
and the Mississippi rivers.* The average length 
of the State is about 260 miles; its average 
breadth 216 miles. The surface features of 
Wisconsin present a configuration between the 
mountainous, on the one hand, and a monoto- 
nous level, on the other. The State occupies a 
swell of land lying between three notable de- 
pressions: Lake Michigan, on the east; Lake 
Superior, on the north; and the valley of the 
Mississippi, cm the west. From these depress- 
ions the surface slopes upward to the summit 
altitudes. Scattered over the State are promi- 
nent hills, but no mountains. Some of these 
hills swell upward into rounded domes, some 
ascend precipitously into castellated towers; and 
some reach prominence without regard to beauty 

' '*The boundary of NVisconsin is commonly ^iven as Lake 
Superior and the State of Michigan on the north, and Michi- 
igan and Lake Michigan on the east, and sometimes, also, 
the Mississippi river is given as a part of the western boun- 
dary. These boundaries are not the true ones. The State of 
Wisconsin CAiends to the center of Lakes Michigan and Su- 
perior, and to the centerof the main channel of the Missis- 
sippi river. As the States of Wisconsin and Michigan meet 
in the centf r of Lake Michigan, it is not Lake Michigan that 
b'Hinds Wisconsin on the east, but the State of Michigan, and 
so on. The correct boundary of Wisconsin in general terms, 
is as follows: Wisconsin is bounded north by Minnesota and 
Michigan, east by Michigan, south by Illinois, and west by 
Iowa and Minnesota."— .4. O. Wriaht, 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



43 



or form or convenience of description. The 
highest peak, in the southwestern part of the 
State, is the West Blue Mound, 1,151 feet above 
Lake Michigan; in the eastern part, Lapham's 
Peak, 824 feet; in the central part. Rib Hill, 
1,263 feet; while the crest of the Penokee Range, 
in the northern part, rises upward of 1,000 feet. 
The drainage systems correspond, in general, to 
the topographical features before described. 
The face of the State is the growth of geologic 
ages furrowed by the teardrops of the skies. 

The constitution of Wisconsin provided for 
the election of a governor, lieutenant governor, 
secretary of State, treasurer and attorney gen- 
eral, as the officers of State. The first State 
election was held May 8, 1848, when, not only 
State officers were chosen, but members of the 
Legislature and members of Congress. The fol- 
lowing are the names of the governors elected 
and the terms they have served, since Wisconsin 
became a State: Nelson Dewey, June Y, 1848 
to Jan. 5, 1852; Leonard J. Farwell, Jan. 5, 
1852, to Jan. 5, 1854; William A. Barstow, Jan. 
2, 1854, to March 21, 1856; Arthur McArthur, f 
March 21, to March 25, 1856; Coles Bashford, 
March 25, 1856, to Jan. 4, 1858; Alexander W. 
Randall, Jan. 4, 1858, to Jan. 6, 186v!; Louis P. 
Harvey, Jan. 6, 1862, to April 19, 1862; Edward 
Solomon, f April 19, 1862, to Jan. 4, 1864; 
James T. Lewis, Jan. 4, 1864, to Jan. 1, 1866; 
Lucius Farchild, Jan. 1, 1866, to Jan. 1, 1872: 
C. C. Washburn, Jan. I, 1872, to Jan. 5, 1874; 
William R. Taylor, Jan. 5, 1874, to Jan. 3, 1876; 
Harrison Ludington, Jan. 3, 1876, to Jan. 7, 1878; 
William E. Smith, Jan. 7, 1878 to Jan. 2. 1882, 
Jeremiah M. Rusk, Jan. 2, 1882, and still in 
office. 

The gubernatorial vote of Wisconsin since its 
admission into the Union was as follows: 

1848. 

Dewey, democrat 19, 538 

Tweedy, whig " 14, 449 

Dewey's majority 5,089 

+ Ex-OfflcU). 



1849. 

Dewey, democrat 16,649 

Collins, whig 11,317 

Dewey'a majority 5,332 

1851. 

Farwell, whig 22,319 

Upham, democrat 21, 812 

Faiwell's majority 507 

1853. 

Barstow, democrat 30,405 

Holton, republican 21,886 

Baird, whig 3,334 

Barstow'a pluralitv 8,519 

1855. 

Barstow, democrat 36, 355 

Bashford, republican 36, 198 

Barstow's majority *157 

1857. 

Randall, republican 44, 693 

Cross, democrat 44, 239 

Randall's majnrity 454 

1859. 

Randall , republican 59, 999 

Hobart, democrat 52, 539 

Randall's majority 7. 460 

1861. 

Harvey, republican 53,777 

Ferguson, democrat 45, 456 

Harvey's majority 8, 321 

1863. 

Lewis, republican 72,717 

Palmer, democrat 49, 053 

Lewis' majority 'iS, 664 

1865. 

Fairchild, republican 58, 332 

Hobart, democrat 48,330 

Fairchild's majority 10, 002 

1867. 

Fairchi.d, republican 73,637 

Tallmadge, democrat 68,873 

Fairchild's majority 4, 764 

*rhi8 certificate was set aside by the supreme court. 



44 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



1869. 

Fairchild, republicHn 69. 502 

Robinson, democrat 61, 239 

Fairchilds' majority 8, 263 

1871. 

Washburn, republican . 78, 301 

Doolit lie, democrat. 68, 910 

Washburn's majority 9,391 

1873. 

Taylor, democrat 81, r)99 

Washburn, republican 66, 234 

Taylor's majority 15, 375 

1875. 

Ludington, republican 85, 155 

Taylor, democrat 84,314 

Ludington's majority 841 

1877. 

Smith, republican 78,759 

Mallory, democrat 70.486 

Allis. greenback 26,216 

Smith's majority 8,273 

1879. 

Smith, republican ' 100,535 

Jenkins, democrat 75,080 

May, greenback 12, 096 

Smith's majority over both 12.509 

1881. 

Husk, republican 81,754 

Fratt, democrat 69, 797 

Kanouse. prohibition 13,225 

Allis, greenback 7, 002 

Rusk's plurality 11, 957 

Tlie following are the names of the lieuten- 
ant governors and their terms of service, since 
Wisconsin became a State: John E. Holmes, 
June 7, 1848, to Jan. 7, 1850; Samuel W. Beall, 
Jan. 7, 1850, to Jan. 5, 1852; Timothy Burns, 
Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1854; James T. Lewis, 
Jan. 2, 1854, to Jan. 7, 1856; Arthur McArthnr, 
Jan. 7, 1856, to Jan. 4, 1858; E. D. Campbell, Jan. 
4, 1858. to Jan. 2, 1860; Butler G. Noble, Jan. 
2,) 1860 to Jan. 6, 1862; Edward Solomon, Jan. 
6, 1862, to April 19, 1862; Gerry W. Hazelton, 
(ex-officio), Sept. 10, 1862, to Sept. 26, 1862; 



Wyman Spooner, Jan. 14, 1863, to Jan. 3, 1870; 
Tliaddeus C. Pound, Jan. 3, 1870, to Jan. 1, 
1872; Milton H. Pettit, Jan. 1, 1872, to March 
28, 1873; Charles D. Parker, Jan. 5, 1874, to 
Jan. 7, 1878; James M. Bingham, Jan. 7, 1878, 
to Jan. 2, 1882; Samuel S. Fifield, Jan. 2, 1882, 
and still in office. 

The following are the persons that have been 
elected secretaries of State, with their terms of 
office, since the State was admitted into the 
Union: 

Thomas McHugh, June 7,1848, to Jan. 7, 1850; 
William A. Barstow, Jan. 7, 1850, to Jan. 5, 
1852; CD. Robinson, Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 2, 
1854; Alexander T. Gray, Jan. 2, 1854, to Jan. 
7, 1856; David W. Jones, Jan. 7, 1856, to Jan. 

2, 1860; Louis P. Harvey, Jan. 2, I860, to Jan. 

6, 1862; James T. Lewis, Jan. G, 1862, to Jan. 
4,-1864; Lucius Fairchild, Jan. 4, 1864, to Jan. 

1, 1866; Thomas S. Allen, Jan. 1, 1836, to Jan. 

3, 1870; Llywelyn Breese, Jan. 3, 1870, to Jan. 
5, 1874; Peter Doyle, Jan. 5, 1874, to January 

7, 1878; Ham B. Warner, Jan. 7, 1878, to Jan. 

2, 1882; Ernest G. Timme, Jan. 2, 1882 and 
still in office. 

The treasurers, with their terms of office, 
have been as follows: 

Jairus C. Fairchild, June 7, 1848, to Jan. 5, 
1852; Edward H. Janssen, Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 
7, 1856; Charles Kuehn, Jan. 7, 1856, to Jan 4. 
1858; Samuel D. Hastings, Jan. 4, 1858, to Jan. 
1, 1866;WilliamE. Smith, Jan. 1, 1866, to Jan. 3, 
1870; Henry Baetz, Jan. 3, 1870 to Jan. 5, 1874; 
Ferdinand Kuehn, Jan. 5, 1874, to Jan. 7, 1878; 
Richard Guenther, Jan. 7, 1878, to Jan. 2, 1882; 
Edward C. McFetridge, Jan. 2, 1882 and still in 
office. 

Attorneys-General, with their terms of office, 
have been elected as follows: 

James S. Brown, June 7, 1848, to Jan. 7, 1850; 
S. Park Coon, Jan. 7, 1850, to Jan. 5, 1852; Ex- 
perience Estabrook, Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1851; 
George B. Smith, Jan. 2, 1854, to Jan. 7, 1850; 
AVilliam R. Smith, Jan. 7, 1856, to Jan. 4, 1858; 
Gabriel Bouck, Jan. 4, 1858 to Jan. 2, 1860; 



HISTORY OF, WISCONSIN. 



45 



James H. Howe, Jan. 2, 1860, to Oct. 7, 1862 
Winfield Smith, Oct. 7, 1862, to Jan. 1, 1866 
Charles R. Gill, Jan. 2, 1866 to Jan. 3, 1870 
Stephen S. Barlow, Jan. 3, 1870, to Jan. 5, 1874 
A. Scott Sloan, Jan. 5, 1874, to Jan. 7, 1878 
Alexander Wilson, Jan. 7, 1878, to Jan. '■2, 1882 
Leander F. Frisby, Jan. 2, 1882, and still in 
office. 

The constitution divided the State into nine- 
teen senatorial and sixty-six assembly districts. 
In each of these districts, on the 8th of May, 
1848, one member was elected. 

The first Legislature of the State began its 
session at Madison, the capital, where all subse- 
quent ones have convened. The commencement 
and ending of each session, with the names of 
the speakers, were as follows. 

Ninean E. Whiteside, June 5, 1848, to Aug- 
ust 21. 

Harrison C. Hobart, Jan, 10, 1849, to April 2. 
Moses M. Strong, Jan, 9, 1850, to February 11. 
Frederick W. Horn, Jan. 8, 1851, to March 1 7. 
James M. Shafer, Jan. 14, 1852, to April 19. 
Henry L. Palmer, Jan. 12, 1853, to April 4. 
Henry L. Palmer, June 6, 1853, to July 13. 
Frederick W. Horn, Jan. 1 1, 1854, to April 3. 
Charles C. Sholes, Jan. 10, 1855, to April 2. 
William Hull, Jan. 9, 1856, to March 31. 
William Hull, Sept. 3, 1856, to October 14. 
Wyman Spooner, Jan. 14, 1857, to March 9. 
Frederick S. Lovell, Jan. 13, 1858, to May 17. 
William P. Lyon, Jan. 12, 1859, to March 21. 
William P. Lyon, Jan. 11, 1860, to April 2. 
Amasa Cobb, Jan. 9, 1861, to April 17. 
Amasa Cobb, May 15, 1861, to May 27. 
James W. Beardsley, Jan. 8, 1862, to April 7. 
James W. Beardsley, June 3, 1862, to June 17. 
James W. Beardsley, Sept. 10, 1862, to Sept. 
26. 

J.Allen Barker, Jan, 14, 1863, to April 2. 
William W. Field, Jan. 13, 1864, to April 4. 
William W. Field, Jan. 11, 1865, to April 10. 
Henry D. Barron, Jan. 10, 1866, to April 12. 
Angus Cameron, Jan. 9, 1867, to April 11. 



Alexander M. Thomson, Jan. 8, 1868 to 
March 6. 

Alexander M. Thomson, Jan. 13, 1869, to 
March 11. 

James M. Bingham, Jan. 12, 1870, to March 



17. 



William E. Smith, Jan. 11, 1871, to March 25. 

Daniel Hall, Jan. 10, 1872, to March 26. 

Henry D, Barron, Jan. 8, 1873, to March 20. 

Gabe Bouck, Jan. 14, 1874, to March 12. 

Frederick W. Horn, Jan. 13, 1875, to March 6. 

Samuel S. Fitield, Jan. 12, 1876, to March 14. 

John B, Cassoday, Jan. 10, 1877, to March 8. 

Augustus R. Barrows, Jan. 9, 187S, to March 
21. 

Augustus R. Barrows, June 4, 1878, to June 7. 

David M. Kelley, Jan. 8, 1879, to March 5. 

Alexander A. Arnold, Jan. 14, 1880, to 
March 17. 

Ira D. Bradford, Jan. 12, 1881, to April 4. 

Franklin L. Gilson, Jan. 11, 1882, to March 31. 

Earl P. Finch, Jan. 10, 1883, to April 4. 

The constitution divided the State into two 
congressional districts, in each of which one 
member of Congress was elected May 8, 1848. 
The first district embraced the counties of Mil- 
waukeCjWaukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Walworth, 
Rock and Green; the second district was com- 
posed of the counties of Washington, Sheboy- 
gan, Manitowoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebago, 
Fond du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Colum- 
bia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa, Lafayette, (^rant, 
Richland, Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and 
La Pointe — the counties of Richland, Chippewa 
and La Pointe being unorganized. (It may 
here be stated that the first Legislature changed 
the apportionment, making three districts; 
other apportionments have been made at each 
decade, so that there are now nine congress- 
ional districts.) The first members were elected 
to the XXXth Congress, which expired March 4, 
1849. The members elected from Wisconsin to 
that and subsequent Congresses are; 



46 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



XXXth Congress, 1847-9. 
First District.— William Pitt Lyude. * 
Second District. — Mason C. Darling. * 

XXXIst Congress, 1849—51. 
First District. — Cliarles Durkee. 
Second District. — Orsamus Cole. 
Third District. — James Duane Doty. 

XXXIId Congress, 1851-53. 
First District. — Charles Durkee. 
Second District. — Ben. C Eastman. 
Third District.— John B. Macy. 

XXXIIId Congress, 1 853-55. 
First District — D iniel Wells, Jr. 
Second District — Ben C. Eastman. 
Third District.— John B. Macy. 

XXXI Vth Congress, 1 855-5 V. 
First District.— Daniel Wells, Jr. 
Second District. — C. C. Washburn. 
Third District. — Charles Billinghurst. 

XXXV th Congress, 1857-59. 
First District— John F. Potter. 
Second District. — C. C. Washburn. 
Third District. — Charles Billinghurst. 

XXXVIth Congress, 1 859-61 . 
First District.— John F. Potter. 
Secotid District. — C. C. Washburn. 
Third District. — Charles H. Lirrabec. 

XXXVIIth Congress, 1861-63. 
First District.- JohnF. Potter. 
Second District. — Luther Hanchett, f Walter Mc- 

Indoe. 
Third District.— A. Scolt Sloan. 

XXXVIIIth Congress, 1863-65. 
First District. — James S. Brown. 
Second District. —IthamarC. Sloan. 
Third District. — AmasaCobb. 
Fourth District.— Charles A. Eldredge. 
Fiftli Distiict.— Ezra Wheeler. 
Sixiii District. — Walter D. Mclndoe. 

XXXIXth Congress, 1865-67. 
First District. — Halbert E. Paine. 
Second District. — IthamarC. Sloan. 
Third District — Amasa Cobb. 
Fourth District.— Charles A. Eldiedge, 
Fifth District.— Philetus Sawyer. 
Sixth District.— Walter D. Mclndoe, 

* Took their seats June 6 and n, 1848. 

+ Died Nov. 24, 18&J; Mcludoe elected to fill the vacancy, 
l>ec.30, IStB. 



XLth Congress, 1867-69. 
First District— Halbert E. Paine. 
Second District.— Benjamin F. Hopkins. 
Third District. — Amasa Cobb. 
Fourth District — Charles A. Eldredge. 
Fifth District. — Philetus Sawyer. 
Sixth District. — Cadwallader C. Washburn. 

XLIst Congress, 1869-71. 
First District.— Halbert E. Paine. 
Second District. — Benjamin F. Hopkins. X 

David Atwood. 
Third District. — Amasa Cobb. 
Fourth District. — Charles A. Eldredge, 
Fifth District. — Phietus Sawyer. 
Sixth District — Cadwallader C. Washburn. 

XLIId Congress, 1871-73. 
First District. — Alexander Mitchell. 
Second District. — Gerry W. Hazeltoii. 
Third District. — J. Allen Barber. 
Fourth District. — Charles A. Eldredge. 
Fifth District. — Philetus Sawyer. 
Sixth District. — Jeremiah M. Rusk. 

XLIIId Congress, 1873-75. 
First District. — Charles G Williams. 
Second District. — Gerry W. Hazelton. 
Third District. — J. Allen Barber. 
Fourth District . — Alexander Mitchell . 
Fifth District.— Charles A. Eldredge. 
Sixth District. — Philetus Sawyer 
Seventh District. — Jeremiah M. Rusk. • 
Eighth District.— Alexander S. McDill. 

XLIVth Congress, 1875-77. 
First District. — Charles G. Williams. 
Second District. — Lucien B. Caswell. 
Third District.— Henry S. Magoon. 
Fourth District.— William Pitt Lynde. 
Fifth District.— Samuel D. Burchard. 
Sixth District,- Alanson M. Kimball. 
Seventh District. — Jeremiah M. Rusk. 
Eighth District.— George W. Cate. 

XLVth Congress, 1 877-79. 

First District.— Charles G. Williams. 

Second District. — Lucien B. Caswell. 

Thiid District. — GeorgeC. Hazelton. 

Fourth District. — William Pitt Lynde. 

hifth District.— Edward S, Bragg. 

Sixth District. — Gabriel Bouck. 

Seventh District. — Herman L. Humphrey. 

Eighth District.- Thaddeus C. Pound. 

X Died Jan. 1,1870, and David Atwoodelectedtoaiv4caqcy 
Feb. 15, 1870, 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



41 



XLVIth Congress, 1879-81. 
First District. —Charles G Williams. 
Second District. — Lucien B. Caswell. 
Third District. — George C. Hazeltou. 
Fourth District.— Peter V. Deuster. 
Fifth District. —Edward S. Bragg. 
Sixth District.— Gabriel Bouck. 
Seventh District.— Herman L. Humphrey. 
Eighth Diarict — Thaddeus C. Pound. 

XLVIIth Congress, 1881-83. 
First District. — Charles G. Williams. 
Second District. — Lucien B. Caswell. 
Third District. — George C. Hazelton. 
Fourth District. — Peter V. Deuster. 
Fifth District.— Edward S. Bragg. 
Sixth District. — Richard Guenther. 
Seventh District. — Herman L. Humphrey. 
Eighth District — Thaddeus C. Pound. 

XLVIIIth Congress, 1883-85. 
First District. — John Winans. 
Second District. — Daniel H. Sumner. 
Third District. — Burr W. Jones. 
Fourth District. — Peter V, Deuster. 
Fifth District. — Joseph Rankin. 
Sixth District — Richard Guenther, 
Seventh District. — Gilbert M. Woodward. 
Eighth District.— William T Price. 
Ninth District. — Isaac Stephenson, 

The first Legislature in joint convention, 
on the 7th of June 1848, canvassed, in accord- 
ance witli the constitution, the votes given on 
the 8th of May, for the State officers, and the 
two rejtresentatives in Congress. On the same 
day the State officers were sworn into office. 
The next day Gov. Dewey delivered his 
first message to the Legislature. The first im- 
portant business of the first State Legislature 
was the election of two United States senators; 
Henry Dodge and Isaac P. Walker, both 
democrats, were elected. The latter drew the 
short terra; so that his office expired on the 4th 
day of March, 1849, at the end of the thirteenth 
Congress; as Dodge drew tlie long term, his 
office expired on the 4th day of March, 1851, 
at the end of thirty-first Congress. Both were 
elected, June 8, 1848. Their successors, with 
the date of their elections, were as follows: 
Isaac P. Walker, Jan, 17, 1849; Henry Dodge, 
Jan. 20, 1851 ; Charles Purkee, Feb. 1, 1855; 



James R. Doolittle, Jan. 23, 1857; Timothy O, 
Howe, Jan. 23, 1861; James R. Doolittle, Jan. 
22, 1863; Timothy O. Howe, Jan. 24, 1867 ; 
Matthew H. Carpenter, Jan. 26, 1869 ; Timothy 
O. Howe, Jan. 21, 1873; Angus Cameron, Feb. 
3, 1875 ; Matthew H. Carpenter, Jan. 22, 1879; 
Philetus Sawyer, Jan. 26, 1881 ; Angus Cam- 
eron, March 10, 1881. 

The constitution vested the judicial power of 
the State in a supreme court, circuit court, 
courts of probate, and justices of the peace, 
giving the Legislature power to vest such juris- 
diction as should be deemed necessary in mu- 
nicipal courts. Judges were not to be elected 
at any State or county election, nor within 
thirty days before or after one. The State was 
divided into five judicial circuits, Edward V. 
Whiton being chosen judge at the election on 
the first Monday in August, 1848, of the first 
circuit, composed of the counties of Racine, 
Walworth, Rock and Green as then constituted; 
Levi Hubbell, of the second, composed of 
Milwaukee, W^aukesha, Jefferson and Dane; 
Charles H. Larrabee, of the third, composed of 
Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Marquette, 
Sauk and Portage, as then formed; Alexander 
W, Stow, of the fourth, composed of Brown, 
Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winne- 
bago and Calumet; and Mortimer M. Jackson, 
oi' the fifth, composed of the counties of Iowa, 
LaFayette, (xrant, Crawford and St Croix, as 
tl en organized ; the county of Richland being 
attached to Iowa comity ; the county of 
Chippewa to the county of Crawford ; and 
the county of LaPointe to the county of 
St. Croix, for judicial purposes. In 1850, a sixth 
circuit was formed. By an act, which took ef- 
fect in 1854, a seventh circuit was formed. On 
the 1st day of January, 185?', an eighth and 
ninth circuit was formed. In the same year 
was also formed a tenth circuit. An eleventh 
circuit was formed in 1864. By an act which 
took effect the 1st day of January, 1S71, the 
twelfth circuit was formed. In 1876 a thir- 
teenth circuit was "constituted and re-organ 



48 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



ized." At the present time John M. Went- 
worth is judge of the first circuit, which is com- 
posed of the counties of Walworth, Racine, and 
Kenosha; Charles A. Hamilton of the second, 
which includes Milwaukee county; David J. 
Pulling of the third, composed of Calumet, 
Green Lake and Winnebago; Norman S. Gil- 
son of the fourth, composed of Sheboygan, Mani- 
towoc, Kewaunee and Fond du Lac; (-Jeorge 
Clementson of the fifth, composed of Grant, 
Iowa, La Fayette, Richland and Crawford; 
Alfred W. Newman of the sixth, composed of 
Clark, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trem- 
pealeau and Vernon; Charles M. Webb of the 
seventh, composed of Portage, Marathon, Wau- 
paca, Wood, Waushara, Lincoln, Price, and Tay- 
lor; Egbert B. Bundy of the eighth, composed 
of Buffalo, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and 
St. Croix; Alva Stewart of the ninth, composed 
of Adams, Columbia, Dane, Juneau, Sank, 
M rquette; George H. My res, of the tenth, 
composed of Florence, Langiade, Outagamie, and 
Shawano; Solon C. Clough of tlie eleventh, 
composed of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, 
Chi |)pewa, Douglas, Polk, and Washburn; John 
R. Bennett of the twelfth, composed of Rock, 
Green, and Jefferson; A. Scott Sloan, ot the thir- 
teenth, composed of Dodge, Ozaukee, Washing- 
ton, and VVaukesha; Samuel D. Flastings of the 
fourteenth, composed of Brown, Door, Mainette 
and Oconto. 

The first Legislature provided for the re-elec- 
tion of judges of the circuit courts on the first 
Monday of August, 1848. By the same act it 
was provided that the first term of the supreme 
conn should be held in Madison, on the sec- 
ond Monday of January, 1849, and thereafter 
at the same place and on the same day, 
yearly ; afterward changed so as to hold 
a January and June term in each year. 
Under the constitution, the circuit judges 
were also judges of the supreme court. One 
of their own number under an act of June 29, 
1848, was to be, by themselves, elected chief 
justice. Under this arrangement, the following 



were the justices of the supreme court, at the 
times indicated: Alex. W. Stow, C. J., fourth, 
district, Aug. 28, 1848, to Jan. 1, 1851; Edward 
V. Whiton, A. J., first circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, 
to June 1, 1853; Levi Hubbell, A. J., 
elected chief justice, June 18, 1851, second 
circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 185-3; Charles 
H. Larrabee, A, J., third circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, 
to June 1, 1853; Mortimer M. Jackson, A. J., 
fifth circuit, Aug. 28, 1848, to June 1, 1853; 
Timothy O. Howe, A. J., fourth circuit, Jan. 
1, 1851, to June 1, 1853; Wiram Knowlton, A. 
J., sixth circuit, organized by the Legislature in 
1850, Aug. 6, 1850,to June 1, 1853. In 1853, the 
suj^reme court was separately organized, the 
chief justice and associate justices being voted 
for as such. The following persons have con- 
stituted that court during the terms indicated, 
since its separate organization: Edward V. 
Whiton, C. J., June 1, 1853, to April 12, 1859; 
Luther S. Dixon, C. J., April 20, 1859, to June 
17 1874; Edward G. Ryan, C. J., June 17, 1874, 
to Oct. 19, 1880; Orsamus Cole, C. J., Nov. 11, 
1880, (in office); Samuel Crawford, A. J., June 
1, 1853, to June 19, 1855; Abraham D. Smith, 
A. J., June 1, 1853, to June 21, 1859; Orsamus 
Cole, A. J., June 19,1855, to Nov. 11, 1880; 
Byron Paine, A, J., June 21, 1859, to Nov. 15, 
1864; Jason Downer, A, J., Nov. 15, 1864, to 
Sept. 11, 1867; Byron Paine, A. J., Sept. 11, 
1867, to Jan. 13, 1871; William P. Lyon, A. J., 
Jan. 20, 1870, (inofiice); David Taylor, A. J., 
April 18, 1878, (in office); Harlow S. Orton, A. 
J., April 18, 1878, (in office); John B. Casso- 
day, A. J., Nov. 11, 1880, (in office). 

The act of Congress entitled "An act to ena 
ble the people of Wisconsin territory to form a 
constitution and State government, and for the 
admission of such State into the Union," ap- 
proved Aug. 6, 1846, provided for one I nited 
States judicial district to be called the district 
of Wisconsin. It was also provided that a dis- 
trict court should be held therein by one judge 
who should reside in the district and be called 
a district judge. The court was to hold two 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



49 



terms a year in the capital, Madison. This was 
afterward changed so that one term only was 
held at the seat of the State government, while 
the other was to be held at Milwaukee. Special 
terras could be held at either of these places. 
On the 12th day of June, 1848, Andrew G. 
Miller was appointed by the President district 
judge. By the act of Congress of July 15, 1862, 
a circuit court of the United States was created 
to be held in Wisconsin. The district judge 
was given power to hold the circuit court in 
Wisconsin in company with the circuit judge 
and circuit justice, or either of them, or alone 
in their absence. Wisconsin now composes a 
portion of the seventh judicial circuit of the 
United States, Thomas Drummond being cir- 
cuit judge. He resides at Chicago. The cir- 
cuit justice is one of judges of the United States 
supreme court. Two terms of the circuit court 
are held each year at Milwaukee and one term 
in Madison. 

In 1870 the State was divided into two dis- 
tricts, the eastern and western. In the western 
district, one term of the United States district 
court each year was to be held at Madison and 
one at La Crosse; in the eastern district, two 
terms were to be held at Milwaukee and one at 
Oshkosh. On the 9th day of July, 1870, James 
C. Hopkins was appointed judge of the western 
district, Andrew G. Miller remaining judge of 
the eastern district. The latter resigned to 
take effect Jan. 1, 1874, and James H. Howe 
was appointed to fill the vacancy; but Judge 
Howe soon "resigned, and Charles E. Dyer, on 
the 10th of February, 1875, appointed in his 
place. He is still in office. Judge Hopkins, of 
the western district, died Sept. 4, 1877; when, 
on the 13th of October following, Romanzo 
Bunn was appointed his successor, and now fills 
that office. 

An act was passed by the first Legislature pro- 
viding for the election and defining the duties 
of a State superintendent of public instruction. 
The persons holding that office, with the tei'm 
of each, are as follows: Eleazer Root, from 



Jan. 1, 1849, to Jan. 5, 1852; Azel P. Ladd, 
from Jan. 5, 1852, to Jan. 2, 1854; Hiram A. 
Wriglit, from Jan. 5, 1854, to May 29, 1855; 
A. Constantine Barry, from June 26, 1855, to 
Jan. 4, 1858; Lyman C. Draper, from Jan. 4, 
1858, to Jan. 2, 1860; Josiah L. Pickard, from 
Jan. 2, 1860, to Sept. 30, 1864; John G. Mc- 
Mynn, from Oct. 1, 1864, to Jan. 6, 1868; Alex- 
ander J. Craig, from Jan. 6, 1868, to Jan. 3, 
1870; Samuel Fallows, from Jan. 6, 1870, to 
Jan. 4, 1874; Edward Searing, from Jan. 4, 
1874, to Jan 7, 1878; William C. Whitford, 
from Jan. 7, 1878, to Jan, 2, 1882; Robert Gra- 
ham, from Jan. 2, 1882, (now in office.) By the 
same Legislature, a State University was estab- 
lished. The school system of Wisconsin em- 
braces graded schools, to be found in all the 
cities and larger villages, the district schools, 
organized in the smaller villages and in the 
country generally, besides the University of 
Wisconsin, (located at Madison, the capital of 
the State). The university has three depart- 
ments: the college of letters, the college of arts, 
and the college of law. It was founded upon a 
grant of seventy-two sections of land made by 
Congress to the territory of Wisconsin. That 
act required the secretary of the treasury to set 
apart and reserve from sale, out of any public 
lands within the territory of Wisconsin, "a 
quantity of land, not exceeding two entire town- 
ships, for the support of a university within the 
said territory and for no other use or purpose 
whatsoever; to be located in tracts of land not 
less than an entire section corresponding with 
any of the legal divisions into which the public 
lands are authorized to be surveyed." The 
territorial Legislature, at its session in 1838, 
passed a !aw incorporating the "University of 
the Territory of Wisconsin," locating the same 
at or near Madison. In 1841 a commissioner 
was appointed to select the lands donated to 
the State for the maintenance of the university, 
who performed the duty assigned to him in a 
most acceptable manner. Section 6 of articU^ 
X of the State constitution provides that "pro- 



3 



60 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



vision shall be made by law for the establish- 
ment of a State University at or near the seat of 
government. The proceeds of all lands that 
have been or may hereafter be granted by the 
United States to the State, for the support of a 
University shall be and remain a perpetual fund, 
to be called the 'University fund,' the interest 
of which shall be appropriated to the support 
of the State University." Immediately upon 
the organization of the State government an 
act was passed incorporating the State Univer- 
sity, and a board of regents appointed, who at 
once organized the institution. 

The University was formally opened by the 
public inauguration of a chancellor, Jan. 16, 
1850. The preparatory department of the Uni- 
versity was opened Feb. 5, 1849, with twenty 
pupils. In 1849 the regents purchased nearly 
200 acres of land, comprising what is known as 
Uie "University Addition to the City of Madi- 
son," and the old "University Grounds." In 
1851 the north dormitory was completed, and 
the first college classes formed. In 1854 the 
south dormitory was erected. Owing to the 
fact that the lands comprising the original grant 
had produced a fund wholly inadequate to the 
support of the university, in 1854 a further 
grant of seventy-two sections of land was made 
by Congress to the State for that purpose. In 
1866 the University was completely re-organized, 
so as to meet the requirements of a law of Con- 
gress passed in 1862, providing for the endow- 
ment of agricultural colleges. That act granted 
to the several States a quantity of land equal to 
30,000 acres for each senator and representa- 
tive in Congress, by the apportionment under 
the census of 1860. The objects of that grant 
are fully set forth in sections four and five of 
said act. The lands received by Wisconsin 
under said act of Congress, and conferred upon 
the State University for the support of an agri- 
cultural college, amounted to 240,000 acres, 
making a total of 322,160 acres of land donated 
to this State by the general government for the 
endowment and support of this institution. Up 



to the time of its re-organization, the University 
had not received one dollar from the State or 
from any municipal corporation. In pursuance 
of a law passed in 1866, Dane county issued 
bonds to the amount of $40,000 for the pur- 
chase of about 200 acres of land contiguous to 
the University grounds for an experimental 
farm, and for the erection of suitable buildings 
thereon. The next winter the Legislature passed 
a law which appropriated annually for ten years 
to the income of the University Fund, $7,308.76, 
that being the interest upon the sum illegally 
taken from the fund by the law of 1862 to pay 
for the erection of buildings. 

In 1870 the Legislature appropriated !$50,000 
for the erection of a female college, which is 
the first contribution made outright to the up- 
building of any institution of learning in this 
State. In order to comply with the law grant- 
ing lands for the support of agricultural colleges, 
the University was compelled to make large 
outlays in fitting up laboratories and purchas- 
ing the apparatus necessaiy for instruction and 
practical advancement in the arts immediately 
connected with the industrial interests of the 
State, a burden which the Legislature very gen- 
erously shared by making a further annual ap- 
propriation in 1872 of $10,000 to the income of 
the University Fund. The increased facilities 
offered by improvements in the old and by the 
erection of a new college building proved 
wholly inadequate to meet the growing wants 
of the institution. In its report for 1874, the 
board of visitors said: "A hall of natural sci- 
ences is just new the one desideratum of the Uni- 
versity. It can never do the work it ought to do, 
the work the State expects it to do, without 
some speedily increased facilities." 1 he Leg- 
islature promptly responded to this demand, 
and at its next session appropriated $50,000 for 
the erection of a building for scientific pur- 
poses. In order to permanently provide for de- 
ficiencies in the University Fund income, and to 
establisli the institution upon a firm and endur- 
ing foundation, the Legislature of 1876 enacted 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



61 



"That there shall be levied and collected for 
the year 1876 and annually thereafter, a State 
tax of one-tenth of one mill for each dollar of 
the assessed valuation of the taxable property of 
this State, and the amount so levied and col- 
lected is hereby appropriated to the University 
Fund income, to be used as a part thereof." 
This is in lieu of all other appropriations for 
the benefit of this fund, and all tuition fees for 
students in the regular classes are abolished by 
this act. 

The fourth section of the act of 1876, to per- 
manently provide for deficiencies in the Uni- 
versity Fund income, is as follows: "From and 
out of the receipts of said tax, the sum of$3,000 
annually shall be set apart for astronomical 
work and for instruction in astronomy, to be 
expended under the direction of the regents of 
the University of Wisconsin, as soon as a com- 
plete and well equipped observatory shall be 
given the University, on its own grounds with- 
out cost to the State: Provided^ that such ob- 
servatory shall be completed within three years 
from the passage of this act." The astronomi- 
cal observatory whose construction was provided 
for by this act, was erected by the wise liber- 
ality of ex-Gov. Washburn. It is a beautiful 
stone building, finely situated and well fitted 
for its work. Its length is eighty feet, its 
breadth forty-two feet, and its height forty- 
eight feet. Over the door to the rotunda is a 
marble tablet bearing this inscription: "Erected 
and furnished, A. D. 1878, by the munificence 
of Cadwallader C. Washburn, and by him pre- 
sented to the University of Wisconsin; a tribute 
to general science. In recognition of this gift, 
this tablet is inserted by the regents of the 
University." The telescope has a sixteen inch 
object-glass. Tlie size is a most desirable one 
for the great mass of astronomical work. In 
1881 a students' observatory was erected and a 
wing was added to the east side of the Wash- 
burn observatory. 

In the fall of 1848 there was a Presidential 
election. There were then three organized 



political parties in the State — whig, democrat 
and free-soil, each having a ticket in the field ; 
but the democrats were in the majority. The 
successful electors for that year and for each 
four years since that date, were as follows : 

1848. Elected November 7. 

At Large — Francis Huebschmann. 

Wm. Dunwiddie. 
FirstDistrict— David P. Maples 
Second District — Samuel F. Nichlos. 

1852. Elected November 2. 

At Large — Montgomery M. Cothren. 

Satteiiee Clark. 
First District— Philo 'White. 
Second District — Beriah Brown. 
Third District — Charles Billinghurst, 

1856. Elected November 4. 

At Large— Edward D. Hoi ton. 

James H. Knowlton. 
First District— Gregor Mencel. 
Second District— -"Walter D. Mclndoe. 
Third District— Bille Williams. 

1860. Elected November 6. 

At Large— Walter D. Mclndoe. 

Bradford Rixford. 
First District — William W, Vaughan. 
Second District — J. Allen Barber. 
Third District — Herman Linderaan. 



1864. Elected November 8. 

AtLarge^William W. Field 

Henry L. Blood. 
First District — George C. Northrop. 
Second District — Jonathan Bowman. 
Third District— Allen Warden. 
Fourtlf District — Henry J. Turner. 
Fifth District— Henry F. Belitz. 
Sixth District — Alexander S. McDill. 



1868. Elected November 3. 

At Large— Stephen 8. Barlow. 
Henry D . Barron , 



52 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



First District— Elihu Enos. 
Second District— Charles G. Williams. 
Third District— Allen Warden. 
Fourth District— Leander F. Frisby. 
Fifth District— William G. Ritch. 
Sixth District— William T. Price. 



1873, Elected November 5. 

A.t Large — WUliam E. Cramer. 
Frederick Fleischer. 
First District — Jerome S. Nickles. 
Second District — George G. Swain. 
Third District— Ormsby B. Thomas. 
Fourth District — Frederick Hilgen. 
Fifth District— Edward C. McFetridge. 
Sixth District— George E. Hoskinson. 
Seventh District — RomanzoBunn. 
Eighth District — Henry D. Barron. 



1876. Elected November 7. 

At Large — William H. Hiner. 
Francis Campbell. 
First District— T D. Weeks, 
Second District — T. D. Lang. 
Tfeird District — Daniel L. Downs. 
Fourth District — Casper M. Sanger. 
Fifth District — Charles Luliug. 
Sixth District — James H. Foster. 
Seventh District- Charles B. Solberg. 
Eighth District — JohnH. Knapp. 



] 880. Elected November 2. 

At Jjarge- George End. 

Knud Langland. 
First District — Lucius S. Blake. 
Second District — John Kellogg. 
Third District— George E. Weatherby. 
Fourth District — William P. McLaren. 
Fifth District— C. T. Lovell. 
Sixth District — E. L Browne. 
Seventh District— F. H. Kribbs. 
Eighth District — JuhnT. Kingston, 

The popular vote cast for President at each 
of the Presidential elections in Wisconsin, and 



the electoral vote cast for each successful can- 
didate, were as follows : 



1848 
1852 
1856 
1860 

1864 
1868 
1872 

1876 
1880 



CANDIDATES. 



Zachary Taylor 

Lewis Cass , 

Martin Van Buren. . . . 
Franklin Pierce 

Winfield Scott 

John P. Hale 

James Buchanan 

John C. Fremont. . . . 

Millard Fillmore 

Abraham Lincoln 

John C. Breckinridge. 

John Bell 

. S. A. Douglas 

Abraham Lincoln 

Geo B. McClellan.... 
Ulyspes S. Grant 

Horatio Seymour 

Ulysees S. Grant 

Horace Greeley 

Charles O'Connor. . . . 
Rutherford B. Hayes. . . 

Samuel J. Tilden 

Peter Cooper 

G C. Smith 

James A Garfield . . . . 

Winfield S. Hancock. 

J. B. Weaver 

Neal Dow 

J B. Phelps 



o 



<i 

o 



65, 
83, 
65, 

108, 
84, 

104, 
86, 

130, 

123, 

1, 

144, 

114, 

7, 



747 
001 
418 
658 
240 
814 
843 
090 
579 
118 
888 
161 
021 
458 
884 
857 
707 
997 
477 
834 
668 
927 
509 
27 
398 
644 
986 
68 
91 



m 



10 



10 



10 



The act of the first Legislature of the State, 
exempting a homestead from forced sale on 
any debt or liability contracted after Jan . 1 , 
1849, and another act exempting certain per- 
sonal property, were laws the most liberal in 
their nature passed by any State in the Union 
previous to that time. Other acts were pas.sed 
— such as were deemed necessary to put the 
machinery of the State government in all its 
branches, in fair running order. And, by the 
second Legislature (1849) were enacted a num- 
ber of laws of public utility. The statutes were 
revised, making a volume of over 900 pages. 
The year 1848 was one of general prosperity to 
the rapidly increasing population of the State ; 
and that of 1849 developed in an increased 
ratio its productive capacity in every depart- 
ment of labor. The agriculturist, the artisan. 



I 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



53 



the miner, reaped the well-earned reward of 
his honest labor. The commercial and manu- 
facturing interests were extended in a manner 
highly creditable to the enterprise of the people. 
The educational interests of the State began to 
assume a more systematic organization. The 
tide of immigration suffered no decrease during 
the year. Within the limits of Wiscon- 
sin, the oppressed of other climes coHtinued to 
find welcome and happy homes. There were 
many attractions for emigrants from the Old 
World, especially from northern Europe — from 
Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark ; 
also from Ireland and England. 

The third Legislature changed the January 
term of the supreme court to December and or- 
ganized a sixth judicial circuit. The first 
charitable institution in Wisconsin, incorporated 
by the State, was the "Wisconsin Institute for 
the Education of the Blind." A school for 
that unfortunate class had been opened in Janes- 
ville, in the latter part of 1849, receiving its 
suj)port from the citizens of that place and 
vicinity. By an act of the Legislature, approved 
Feb. 9, 1850, this school was taken under the 
care of the Institute, to continue and maintain 
it, at Janesville, and to qualify, as far as might 
be, the blind of the State for the enjoyment of 
the blessings of a free government; for obtain- 
ing the means of subsistence; and for the dis- 
charge of those duties, social and political, 
devolving upon American citizens. It has since 
been supported from the treasury of the State. 
On the 7th of October, 1850, it was opened for 
the reception of pupils, under the direction of a 
board of trustees appointed by the governor. 
The other charitable institutions of the State 
are the State Hospital for the Insane, located 
near Madison, and opened for patients in July, 
I860; Northern Hospital for the Insane, located 
near Oshkosh, to which patients were first ad- 
mitted in April, 1873, and the Institution for 
the Deaf and Dumb, located at Delavan, in 
Walworth county. 



The entire length of the building of the Wis- 
consin State Hospital for the Insane, situated 
on the north shore of Lake Mendota, in Dane 
county, is 569 feet, the center building being 
65x120 feet. The first longitudinal wing on 
each side of the center is 132 feet, and the last 
on each extremity is 119 feet. 7 he transverse 
wings are eighty-seven feet long. This com- 
modious building is surrounded by ornamental 
grounds, woods and farming lands, to the extent 
of 393 acres, and is well adapted for the care 
of the unfortunate needing its protection. In 
1879, additional room for 180 patients was 
added, by converting the old chapel into wards, 
and by the addition of cross wings in front of 
the old building. The hospital will now accom- 
modate comfortably 550 patients. In 1870 a law 
was passed authorizing the erection of the build- 
ing for the Northern Hospital, on a tract, con- 
sisting of 337 acres of land, about four miles 
north of the city of Oshkosh on the west shore 
of Lake Winnebago. The necessary appropri- 
ations were made, and the north wing and central 
building were completed. Further appro] ri- 
ations were made from time to time for addi- 
tional wings, and in 1875 the hospital was corn- 
pleted according to the original design, at a 
total cost to the State of $625,250. The build- 
ing has been constructed on the most approved 
plan, and is suited to accomodate 600 patients. 

The land first occupied by the V\ isconsin 
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, comprising 
11 46-100 acres, was donated by Hon. F. K. 
Phoenix, one of the first trustees, but the 
original boundaries have since been enlarged 
by the purchase of twenty-two acres. The main 
building was burned to the ground on the 16th 
of September, 1879; but during the year 1880 
four new buildings were erected, and with the 
increased facilities provided, 250 children may 
be well cared for. The new buildings are a 
school house, boys' dormitory, dining-room and 
chapel, with a main or administration building. 
These buildings are plain, neat, substantial 
structures, and Avell fitted for the uses intended. 



54 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



The Institution was originally a private school 
for the deaf, but was incorporated by act of the 
Legislature, April 19, 1852. It designs to educate 
that portion of the children and youth of the 
State, who, on account of deafness, cannot be 
educated in the public schools. Instruction is 
given by signs, by written language, and by 
articulation. In the primary department few 
books are used, slates, pencils, crayons, pictures, 
blocks and other illustrative apparatus being the 
means employed. In the intermediate depart- 
ment the books used are prepared especially for 
the deaf and dumb; more advanced pupils study 
text-books used in our common schools. The 
shoe shop commenced business in 1867 ;the print- 
ing office in 1878, and the bakery in 1881. The 
law provides that all deaf and dumb residents 
of the State of the age of ten years and under 
twenty-five, of suitable age and capacity to 
receive instruction, shall be received and taught 
free of charge for board and tuition, but 
parents and guardians are expected to furnish 
clothing and pay traveling expenses. 

The taking of the census by the United 
State, this year, 1850, showed a population for 
Wisconsin of 305,391 — the astonishing increase 
in two years of nearly 95,000. Many, as already 
stated, were German, Scandinavian and Irish; 
but the larger proportion were, of course, from the 
Eastern and Middle States of the Union. The 
principal attractions of Wisconsin were the 
excellency and cheapness of its lands, its valu- 
able mines of lead, its extensive forests of pine, 
and the unlimited water-power of its numerous 
streams. In 1860 the population had increased 
to 775,881; in 1870 to 1,054,670, and in 1880 to 
1,315,480. By an act of the fourth Legislature 
of the State, approved March 14, 1851, the loca- 
tion and erection of a State prison for Wiscon- 
sin was provided for, Waupim, Dodge county, 
being afterwards the point selected for it. The 
office of State prison commissioner was created 
in 1853, but was abolished in 1874. During 
that time the following persons held the office: 
John Taylor, from March 28, 1853 to April 2, 



1853; Henry Brow'n, from April 2, 1858 to Jan. 
2, 1854; Argalus W. Starks, from Jan. 2, 1854 
to Jan. 7, 1856; Edward McGarry, from Jan 7, 
1856 to Jan 4, 1858; Edward M. MacGraw, from 
Jan. 4, J 858 to Jan. 2, 1860; Hans C. Heg, from 
Jan. 2, 1860 to Jan. 6, 1862; Alexander P. Hod- 
ges, from Jan 6, 1862 to Jan. 4, 1864; Henry 
Cordier, from Jan 4, 1864 to Jan. 3, 1870; 
George F. Wheeler, from Jan. 3, 1870 to Jan. 
4, 1874. The State (Law) Library had its 
origin in the generous appropriation of $5,000 out 
ot the general treasury, by Congress, contained 
in the seventeenth section of the organic act 
creating the territory of Wisconsin. At the 
first session of the teri'itorial Legislature, held 
at Belmont in 1836, a joint resolution was 
adopted appointing a committee to select and 
purchase a library for the use of the territory. 
The first appropriation by the State, to replenish 
the library, was made in 1851. Since that time, 
several appropriations have been made. The 
number of volumes in the library at the begin- 
ning of 1883 was 16,285. 

The fifth Legislature — the Assembly, whig, 
the Senate, democratic — passed an act authoriz- 
ing banking. This was approved by the gover- 
nor, L. J. Farwell, April 19, 1852. The ques- 
tion of "bank or no bank" having been sub- 
mitted to the people in November previous, and 
decided in favor of banks; the power was thereby 
given to the Legislature of 1852 to grant bank 
charters or to pass a general banking law. By 
the act just mentioned, the office of bank comp- 
troller was created, but was abolished by an 
act of Jan. 3, 1870, During the continuance of 
the law, the following persons filled the office, 
at the time given: James S. Baker, from Nov. 
20, 1852 to Jan. 2, 1854; William M. Dennis, 
from Jan. 2, 1854 to Jan. 4, 1858; Joel C. 
Squires, from Jan. 4, 1858 to Jan 2, 1860; Gys- 
bert Van Steenwyk, from Jan 2, 1860 to Jan. 6, 
1862; William H. Ramsey, from Jan 6, 1862 to 
Jan. 1, 1866; Jeremiah M. Rusk, from .Tan . 1, 
1866 to Jan. 3, 1870. The sixth Wisconsin 
Legislatui'e commenced its session, as we have 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



55 



seen, Jan. 12, 1853. On the 26tli of that month 
charges were preferred in the Assembly against 
Levi Hubbell,]' udge of the second ci rcuit court,f or 
divers acts of corruption and malfeasance in 
office. A resolution directed a committee to go 
to the Senate and impeach Hubbell. On the 
trial he was acquitted. By an act of the same 
Legislature, the State Agricultural Society was 
incorporated. Since its organization the society 
has printed a number of volumes of transactions, 
and has held, except during the civil war, 
annual fairs. Its aid to the agricultural interests 
of the State are clearly manifest. Farming, in 
Wisconsin, is confined at the present time to 
the south half of the State, the northern half 
being still largely covered by forests. The 
surface of the agricultnral portion is, for the 
most part, gently undulating, consisting largely 
of prairies alternating with "oak openings." 
The State is essentially a grain-growing one, 
though stock-raising and dairy farming are 
rapidly gaining in importance. Wheat, the 
staple product of Wisconsin, is gradually losing 
its prestige as the farmer's sole dependence, 
and mixed farming is coming to the front. 
About twenty bushels of wheat are raised 
annually to each inhabitant of the State. Much 
more attention is now paid to fertilizers than 
formerly, clover and plaster being looked upon 
with constantly increasing favor. While within 
the last ten years stock-raising has been a grow- 
ing interest, yet it has not been a rapid one; 
not so, however, with dairying — no other 
agricultural interest has kept pace with this. 
The principal markets for the farm products of 
Wisconsin are Milwaukee and Chicago. 

By an act approved March 4, 1853, the State 
Historical Society was incorporated, it having 
been previously organized. The society is 
under the fostering care of the State, each Leg- 
islature voting a respectable sum for its benefit. 
It has published a number of volumes of "Col 
lections" and of catalogues. Its rooms are in 
the capitol at Madison, where are to be found 
its library of historical books and pamphlets, 



the largest in the northwest. On the 2l8t 
of September, 1853, Timothy Burns, lieu- 
tenant-governor of the State, died at La Crosse. 
As a testimonial of respect for the deceased, 
the several State departments, in accordance 
with a proclamation of Gov. Farwell, were 
closed for one day, October 3. The year 1850, 
to the agriculturalist, was not one of much pros- 
perity in Wisconsin, owing to the partial 
failure of the wheat crop. The State was vis- 
ited during the year by cholera, not, however, 
to a very alarming extent. In 1851 the State 
was prosperous. In J 852 the citizens of Wis- 
consin enjoyed unusual prosperity. There were 
abundant harvests and high markets; an increase 
of money and a downward tendency of the rates 
of interest. The next year (1853) was also one 
in which every branch of industry prospered. 
There was an especial increase in commerce 
and manufactures. And here it might be said 
that next to agriculture the most important 
pursuit in Wisconsin is manufacturing; fore- 
most in this interest is lumber, of which the 
pineries furnish the raw material. The pine 
region extends through the northern counties of 
the State from Green Bay to the St. Croix river. 
The demand for lumber is constantly increas- 
ing, while the facilities for its manufacture are 
continually enlarging. Over one billion feet of 
logs are cut annually. The lumber mills have 
a capacity exceeding one and one-half billion 
feet. The products of these find their way to 
market, either by the Mississippi and its tribu- 
taries, by the various lines of railways, or 
through the great lakes. The other leading 
articles of manufacture are flour, agricultural 
implements and malt liquors. 

The fourth administration — William A. Bar- 
stow, governor — was signalized by a fugitive 
slave case, which greatly excited the people of 
Wisconsin. Sherman M. Booth, for assisting 
in the rescue of Joshua Glover, a fugitive slave, 
was arrested, but discharged by the supreme 
court. He was again arrested under an indict- 
ment in the United States district court, and a 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



second time discharged by the supreme court; 
but the supreme court of the United States 
reversed the action of the State court in its 
second discharge of Booth, and lie was re- 
arrested in 1S60; tlie sentence of the district 
court was executed in part upon l)im,when he was 
paM'doned by the President. The eighth Legis- 
lature of the State (Jan. 10 — April 2, 1855), 
passed an act very liberal in its provisions rela- 
tive to the rights of married" women. On 
the 27th of June, 1855, Hiiara A. Wright, 
superintendent of public instruction, died at 
Prairie du Chien. The State census, taken in 
this year (1855), showed a population of 552,- 
109. In 1865, the number had increased to 
868,325; in 1875, to 1,236,729. Industrial occu- 
pations in Wisconsin were prosperous during 
the years 1854 and 1855. The fifth administra- 
tion began with William A. Barstow in the 
executive chair, by virtue of a certificate from 
the board of canvassers, that he had been a 
second time elected governor by a majority (as 
previously shown) of 157. But this certificate 
was set aside by the supreme court, giving the 
oflice to Coles Bashford, not, however, until 
Barstow had resigned, and Arthur McArthur, 
acting, by virtue of his office of lieutenant-gov- 
ernor, as governor from March 21, to March 25, 
1856. A dry season during this year dimin- 
ished the wheat crop. The tenth Legislature of 
Wisconsin — Jan. 14 to March 9, 1857 — passed 
an act establishing at Waukesha a house of 
refuge for juvenile delinquents, afterwards 
called the State Reform School; now known as 
the Wisconsin Industrial School for boys. It 
was opened in 1860. The buildings are located 
on the southern bank of Fox river, in view of 
the trains as they pass to and from Milwaukee 
and Madison, presenting an attractive front to 
the traveling public, and furnishing the best 
evidence of the parental care of the State 
authorities for the juvenile wards within its 
borders. The buildings include a main central 
building, three stories high, used for the resi- 
dence of the superintendent's family, office 



chapel, school rooms, reading room and library, 
officers kitchen, dining room, and lodging, fur- 
nace room and cellar. On the east of the main 
central building are three family buildings, 
three stories higli, each with dining hall, 
play room, bath room, dressing room, hospi- 
tal room, officers' rooms, dormitory and store 
room. On the west of the main central 
building are four family buildings like those 
on the east in all respects, with the exception 
of the building at the west end of this line, 
which is a modern building with stone base- 
ment. In the rear of this line of buildings is 
the shop building, 38x258 feet, three stories 
high, which embrace boot factory, sock and 
knitting factory, tailor shop, carpenter shop, 
engine room, laundiy and steam dyeing room, 
bath rooms, store, store rooms, bakery and cel- 
lar. The correction house, 44i80 feet, (intended 
for the most refractory boys) and will accommo- 
date forty; a double family building 38x117 
feet for the accommodation of two families 
of boys of fifty each. There is on the farm, 
which consists of 233 acres of land, a com- 
fortable house, a stone carriage and horse barn 
two stories high, built in the most substantial 
manner. 

The constitution of the State, adopted in 1848, 
provides, "that the revenue of the school fund 
shall be exclusively applied to the following 
objects: "1st. To the support and maintenance 
of common schools in each school district, and 
the purchase of suitable libraries and appurte- 
nances therefor. "2d. That the residue of the 
income of the school fund shall be appropriated 
to the support of academies and normal schools, 
and suitable libraries and appurtenances there 
for." No effort was made to take advantage of 
this provision of the constitution for the endow- 
ment of normal schools until 1857, when an act 
was passed providing "that the income of twen- 
ty-five per cent, of the proceeds arising from the 
sale of swamp and overflowed lands should be 
appropriated to normal institutes and academies, 
under the supervision and direction of a " 'board 



I 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



51 



of regents of normal schools,' " who were to 
be appointed in pursuance of the provisions of 
that act. Under this law, the income placed at 
the disposal of the regents Avas distributed for 
several years to such colleges, academies and 
high schools as maintained a normal class, and 
in proportion to the number of pupils in the 
class who passed satisfactory examinations, con- 
ducted by an agent of the board. In 1865, the 
Legislature divided the swamp lands and swamp 
land fund into two equal parts, one for drain- 
age purposes, the other to constitute a normal 
school fund. The income of the latter was to 
be applied to establishing, supporting and main- 
taining normal schools, under the direction and 
management of the board of regents of normal 
schools, with a proviso that one-fourth of such 
income should be transferred to the common 
school fund, until the annual income of that 
fund should reach |200,000. During the same 
year, proposals were invited for extending aid 
in the establishment of a normal school, and 
propositions were received from various places. 
In 1866, the board of regents was incorpo- 
rated by the Legislature. In February, Platte- 
ville was conditionally selected as the site of a 
school, and as it had become apparent that a 
productive fund of about |600,000, with a net 
income of over $80,000, was already in hand, 
with a prospect of a steady increase as fast as 
lands were sold, the board, after a careful in- 
vestigation and consideration of the differeiit 
methods, decided upon the policy of establisli- 
ing several schools, and of locating them in 
different parts of the State. At a meeting held 
on the 2d day of May, in the same year, the 
board designated Whitewater as the site of a 
school for the southeastern section of the State, 
where a building was subsequently erected; and 
on the 16th permanently located, a school at 
Platteville, the academy building having been 
donated for that purpose. The school at Platte- 
ville was opened Oct. 9, 1866. The school at 
Whitewater was opened on the 2Ist of April, 
1868. 



A building was completed during the year 
1870 for a third normal school, at Oshkosh, but 
owing to a lack of funds, it was not opened for 
the admission of pupils during that year. The 
opening and the ceremony of dedicating the build- 
ing took place Sept. 19, 1871. A fourth normal 
school was opened in September, 1875, at River 
Falls, Pierce county. It is understood to be the 
policy of the board of regents to establish 
eventually, when the means at their disposal 
shall permit, not less than six normal schools, 
but several years must elapse before so many 
can go into operation. The law under which 
these schools are organized provides that "The 
exclusive purpose of each normal school shall 
be the instruction and training of persons, both 
male and female, in the theory and art of teach- 
ing, and in all the various branches that per- 
tain to a good common school education, and in 
all subjects needful to qualify for teaching in 
the public schools; also to give instruction in 
the fundamental laws of the United States and 
of this State, and in what regards the rights and 
duties of citizens." 

Subsidiary to the State normal schools are 
teachers' institutes, held annually in nearly 
every settled county, and the State teachers' 
association, which has been organized for a 
quarter of a century. Besides the public schools 
of the State, there are a number of denomina- 
tional and other colleges, the principal of which 
are Racine College, Beloit College, Milton Col- 
lege, Ripon College, Carroll College, at Wau- 
kesha; Lawrence University, at Appleton; St. 
John's College, at Prairie du Chien; Gale.sville 
University; Northwestern University, at Water- 
town; and Pio Nono College, at St. Francis 
Station, south of Milwaukee. There is also 
quite a large number of incorporated academies 
and seminaries, the more prominent ones being 
the Milwaukee Academy and St. Mary's Insti- 
tute, at Milwaukee; Kemper Hall, at Kenosha; 
St. Catharine's Academy, at Racine; Rochester 
Seminary, Lake Geneva Seminary, Fox Lake 
Seminary, Albion Academy, Elroy Seminary, 



58 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



Wayland Institute, at Beaver Dam, and Santa 
Clara Academy, at Sinsinawa Mound. There 
are also about 700 private schools in Wisconsin. 
The whole number of children in Wisconsin 
between four and twenty years of age is 483,07] ; 
the number of pupils in attendance in public 
schools, 299,019. The aggregate valuation of 
school property in the State is 15,297,678.24. 

The sixth administration, Alexander W. 
Randall, governor, was noted for its "long par- 
liament," the eleventh Legislature of the State 
having been in session 125 days. A report of 
commissioners previously appointed to revise 
the statutes, was acted upon during the session, 
the result being the publication, in one volume, 
of the "Revised Statutes of 1858." The 
twelfth Legislature (Jan. 12, to March 21, 1859) 
was, like the two previous Legistatures, republi- 
can. At the commencement of the seventh ad- 
ministration, Randall's second term as gov- 
ernor, that party not only had control of the 
thirteenth Legislature, butof all the State offices. 
The governor, in his message to the fourteenth 
Legislature, on the 10th of January, 1861, de 
clared that the right of a State to secede from 
the Union, could never be admitted. '■'■The gov- 
ernment mvst be sustained, the laws shall be en- 
forcedP'' An extra session of the Legislature 
was convened on the 15th of May, at which, no 
acts were passed except such as appertained to 
the military exigencies of tlie times. Mean- 
while a demand made upon the governor by the 
President, for troops to sustain the federal arm, 
met with a quick response. During the year, 
9,991 men, in ten regiments, for three years' 
service, and one regiment for three months 
service, of 810 men, were sent out of the State. 
The number of volunteers originally in the sev- 
eral military organizations, from Wisconsin 
during the war, were as follows: 

First Infantry, three months 810 

First Infantry, three years 945 

Second Infantry, three years 1051 

Third Infantry, three years 979 

Fifth Infantry, three years 1058 

Sixth Infantry, three years 1108 



Seventh Infantry, three years 1029 

Eighth Infantry, three years 973 

Ninth Infantry, * three years 870 

Tenth Infiinlry, three years 916 

Eleventh Infantry, threeyears 1029 

Twelfth Infantry, three years 1045 

Thirteenth InfantJ-y,* three years 970 

Fourteenth Infantry, three years 970 

Fifteenth Infantry, three years 801 

Sixteenth Infantry, three years 1066 

Seventeenth Infantry, three years. 941 

Eighteenth Infantry, three years 962 

Nineteenth Infantry, three years 973 

Tvyentieth Infantry, three years 890 

Twenty-first Infantry, threeyears 1002 

Twenty-second Infantry, three years 1009 

Twenty-third Infantry, three years 994 

Twenty fourth Infantry, three years 1003 

Twenty-fifth Infantry, three years 1018 

Twonty-sixtli Infantry, three j'^ears 1002 

Twenty-seventh Infantry, three years 865 

Twenty-eighth Infantry, three years 961 

Twenty-ninth Infantry, threeyears 961 

Thirtieth Infiintry, threeyears 906 

Thirty-first Infantry, three years 878 

Thirty-second Infantry, three years 993 

Thirty-third Infantry, three years 892 

Thirly-fourth Infantry, nine months 961 

Thirty-fifth Infantry, * threeyears 1066 

Thirty sixlli Infantry, three years 990 

Thirty-seventh Infantry, one, two and threeyears 708 
Thirty-eighth Infantry, one, two and three years. 913 

Thirty-ninth Infantry, one hundred days . 780 

Fortieth Infantry, one hundred days 776 

Forty-first Infantry, one hundred days 578 

Forty-second Infantry, one year 877 

Forty-third Infantry, one year 867 

Forty -fourth Infantry, one year 877 

Forty fifth Infantry, one year 859 

Forty-sixth Infantry, one year 914 

Forty-spyenth Infantry, one year 927 

Forty-eighth Infantry, one year 828 

Forty-ninth Infantry, one year 986 

Fiftieth Infantry, one year 1)42 

Fifty-first Infantry, one year 841 

Fifty-secondlnfantry, one year 486 

Fifty third Infantry, one year 380 

First Cavalry, three years 1 124 

Second Cavalry, three years 1127 

Third Cavalry, three years 1186 

Fourth Cavalry, three years 1047 

Milwaukee 83 

•Nov. 1, 1866. 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



59 



First Battery Light Artillery 155 

Second Battery Liglit Artillery 153 

Third Battery Light Artillery 1 70 

Fourth Battery Light Artillery 151 

Fifth Battery Light Artillery 155 

Sixth Battery Light Artillery 157 

Seventh Battery Light Artillery 158 

Eighth Battery Light Artillery 161 

Ninth Battery Light Artillery 155 

TenthBattery Light Artillery 47 

Eleventh Battery Light Artillery 87 

Twelfth Battery Light Artillery 99 

Thiiteenth Battery Light Artillery 156 

Battery A, Heavy Artillery 129 

Balteiy B, Heavy Artillery 149 

Battery C, Heavy Artillery 146 

Battery D, Heavy Artillery 146 

Battery E, Heavy Artillery 151 

Battery F, Heavy Artillery 151 

Battery G, Heavy Artillery 152 

Battery H, Heavy Artillery 151 

Buttery I, Heavy Artillery " 150 

Battery K, Heavy Artillery 148 

Battery L, Heavy Artillery 152 

Battery M, Heavy Artillery 152 

Sharp Shooters 105 

Gibbons' Brigade Band 13 

On the 10th of April, 1862, Gov. Louis P. 
Harvey, the successor of AlexanderW. Randall, 
started, along with others, from Wisconsin on 
a tour to relieve the wounded and suffering 
soldiers from this State, at Mound City, Padu- 
cah and !>avannah. Having completed his 
mission, he made preparations to return. He 
went on board a" boat, the Dunleith, at the 
landing in Savannah, and there awaited the ar- 
rival of the Minnehaha, which was to convey him 
and his'party to Cairo, 111. It was late in the 
evening of the 19th of April when the steamer 
arrived; and as she rounded to, her bow touched 
the Dunleith precipitating the governor into 
the river. Every effort was made to save his 
life, but in vain. His body was afterward re- 
covered and brought home for interment. 

Edward Salomon, lieutenant-governor, by 
virtue of a provision of the constitution of the 
State, succeeded to the oflSce of governor. The 
enlisting, organization and mustering into the 
United States service during Randall's adminis- 



tration of thirteen regiments of infantry — the 
First to the Thirteenth inclusive, and the march- 
ing of ten of them out of the Slate before the 
close of 1861, also, of one company of cavalry 
and one company of sharpshooters constituted 
the effective aid abroad of Wisconsin during 
that year to suppress the Rebellion. But for the 
year 1862, this aid, as to number of organiza- 
tions, was more than doubled. At the end of 
the year 1863 thirty-three regiments left the 
State — the Thirteenth regiment being the only 
remaining one of the thirty-four in Wisconsin. 
Tlie ninth administration, James T. Lewis, gov- 
ernor, saw the close of the Rebellion. On the 
10th of April, 1865, Lewis announced to the 
Legislature, then in session, the surrender of 
Gen. Lee and his army. 

Fifty-three regiments during the war were 
raised in Wisconsin, all, sooner or later, mov- 
ing south and engaging in one way or other in 
suppressing the Rebellion. Twelve of these 
regiments were assigned to duty in the eastern 
division, which constituted the territory on both 
sides of the Potomac and upon the seaboard 
from Baltimore to Savannah. These twelve 
regiments were: 

The First (three months). Second, Third, 
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Nineteenth, 
Twenty-sixth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh and 
Thirty-eighth. 

Ten regiments were assigned to the central 
division, including Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Northern Alabama and Georgia. These ten 
were; 

The Tenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, 
Twenty-fourth, Thirtieth, Forty-third, Forty- 
fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth and Forty- 
seventh. Added to these was the First (re-or- 
ganized). 

Thirty-one regiments were ordered to tlie 
western division, embraci- g the country west 
and northwest of the central division. 'I'hese 
were: 

Kighth, NintI', Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, 
Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, 



60 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-third, Twenty- 
fifth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty- 
ninth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-third, 
Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fiftli, Thirty-ninth, For- 
tieth, Forty-first, Forty-second, Forty-eighth, 
Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first, Fifty-second 
and Fifty-third. 

During the war several transfers were made 
from one district to another. There were taken 
from the eastern division the Thinl and Twenty- 
sixth and sent to the central division; also the 
Fourth, which was sent to the department of 
the gulf. The Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, 
Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Tw enty- 
fifth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second 
were transferred from the western to the cen- 
tral department. The other military orgai.iza- 
tions from Wisconsin had various assignments 
Recruiting ceased in the State on the 1.3th of 
April, 1865. It was not many months before 
Wisconsin's last soldier was mustered out of 
service. The State furnished during the war 
over 75,000 men, of which number nearly 11,000 
died in the service. 

Among all the noble women who gave them- 
selves to the sanitary work of the civil war 
perhaps few were more peculiarly fitted for 
forming and carrying out plans than Mrs. C. A. 
P. Harvey, widow of the late lamented Gov. 
Louis P. Harvey. She was appointed by Gov. 
Salomon one of the sanitaiy agents of the 
State. She soon procured the establishment of 
a convalesent hospital at Madison, Wis. The 
building when no longer needed as a hospital, 
JNirs. Harvey conceived the ideaof having it con- 
verted into a home for soldiers' orphans. On 
Jan, 1, IS66, the home was opened with eighty- 
four orphans, Mrs. Harvey at the head. The 
necessary funds had been raised by subscription; 
but it soon became a State institution, l^he or- 
phans were not only maintained but brought u|» 
to habits of industry. But it was not long be- 
fore the number of the inmates began to de- 
crease, owing to the fact that homes were found 
or many, while some were returned to their, 



mothers; none were kept in the institution after 
they had reached the age of fifteen. At length 
when the number had diminished to less than 
forty children, it was thought best to close the 
institution. Tiiis was in 1875. The whole 
number of or})hans cared for during the contin- 
uance of the heme was about 700. The Legisla- 
ture then transferred the building to the re- 
gents of the University of Wisconsin, who dis- 
posed of it; and a Norwegian seminary is now 
established therein. 

During the tenth administration, Lucius 
Fairchild, governor, the National Home for 
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, the northwest- 
ern branch of the National institution, was es- 
tablished in Wisconsin, three miles from Mil- 
waukee. It has a capacious brick building, con- 
taining accommodations for 1,000 inmates. In 
addition to this building which contains the 
main halls, eating apartment, offices, dormitory 
and engine room, are shops, granaries, stables 
and other out-buildings. The Home farm con- 
tains 410 acres, of which over one-half is culti- 
vated The remainder is a wooded park tra- 
versed by shaded walks and drives, beautifully 
undulating. The main line of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad runs through 
the farm, and the track of the northern division 
passes beside it. Soldiers who were disabled 
in the service of the United States in the War 
of the Rebellion, the Mexican War, or the War 
of 1812, and have been honorably discharged, 
are entit ed to admission to the Soldiers' Home. 

A law was passed in 1867 creating the office 
of insurance commissioner, the secretary of 
State being assigned to its duties. But, in 187S, 
it was made a distinct office, to be filled by the 
governor's appointment. It was, however, 
made elective in 1881. Philip L. Spooner has 
served since Aj^ril 1, 1878, and is still in office. 
The joint-stock tire insurance companies of Wis- 
consin are three in number, its mutual compa- 
nies also three. There is but one life insurance 
company in the State. A large number of file 
and life insurance companies located outside of 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



61 



Wisconsin transact business under State law 
within its borders. 

Early in 1870, during Gov. Fairchild's 
third term, was organized, and in March of 
that year incorporated, the "Wisconsin Acad- 
emy of Sciences, Arts and Letters," having 
among its specific objects researches and inves- 
tigations in the various departments of the ma- 
terial, metaphysical, ethical, ethnological and 
social sciences; a progressive and thorough 
scientific survey of the State, with a view of 
determining its mineral, agricultural and other 
resources; the advancement of the useful arts, 
through the application of science and by the 
encouragement of original invention; the en- 
couragement of the fine arts by means of hon- 
ors and prizes awarded to artists for original 
works of superior merit; the formation of scien- 
tific, economical and art museums; the encour- 
agement of philological and historical research; 
the collection and preservation of historic rec- 
ords and the formation of a general library, 
and the diffusion of knowledge by the public i- 
tion of original contributions to science, liter- 
ature and the arts. The academy has already 
published several volumes of transactions, un- 
der authority of the State. On the 3d day of 
July of that year A. J. Craig, superintendent of 
public instruction, died of consumption, and 
on the 13th of January following occurred the 
death of associate justice, Byron Paine, of the 
supreme court. At the twenty-fourth regular 
session of the Legislature (January 11 — March 
25, 1871,) a commissioner of emigration, to be 
elected by the people, was provided for. Tlie 
ofiice was abolished Jan. 3, 1876. During this 
time but two persons held the office — Ole C. 
Johnson, from April 3, 1871, to Jan. 5, 1H74; 
Martin J. Argard, from Jan. 5, 1874, to Jan. 3, 
1876. B7 an act of the Legislature, approved 
March 4, 1879, the board of immigration of the 
State of Wisconsin was created, to consist 
of five members, of which number two are 
ex-officio — the governor and secretary of State. 
The principal olfice is located in Milwaukee, 



with a branch office at Chicago. The object is 
to encourage imigration from Europe to Wis- 
consin. On the 23d of March, 1871, the State 
board of charities and reforms was created, to 
consist of five members to be appointed by the 
governor of the State, the duties of the mem- 
bers being to investigate and supervise the 
whole system of charitable and correctional in- 
stitutions supported by the State or receiving 
aid from the State treasury. This board have 
since reported annually to the governor their 
proceedings. The Wisconsin State horticultural 
Society, although previously organized, first un- 
der the name of the "Wisconsin Fruit Growers' 
Association," was not incorporated until the 
24th of March, 1871 — the object of the society 
being to improve the condition of horticulture 
rural adornment and landscape gardening. By 
a law of 1868 provision was made for the pub- 
lication of the society's transactions in connec- 
tion with the State Agricultural Society; but 
by the act ol 1871 this law was repealed and an 
appropriation made for their yearly publication 
in separate form. The society holds annual 
meetings at Madison. 

In October, 1871, occurred great fires in 
northeastern Wisconsin. The counties of 
Oconto, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Manitowoc, 
Outagamie and Shawano suffered more or less. 
More than 1,000 men, women and children pei'- 
ished. More than 3,O00 were rendered destitute. 
The loss of property has been estimated at $4,- 
000,000. Noother calamity so awful in its results 
has ever visited Wisconsin. A compilation of 
the public statutes of the State was prepared 
during the year 1871 by David Taylor (now 
associate justice of the supreme court), and 
published in two volumes, known as the "Re- 
vised Statutes of 1871." It was wholly a pri- 
vate undertaking, but a very creditable one. 

The Wisconsin Dairymen's Association origi- 
nated in a resolution offered in the Jefferson 
County Dairymen's Association, Jan. 26, 1872, 
to issue a call for a meeting of Wisconsin 
dairymen, to be held at Watertown, Feb, 15, 



62 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



1872. A few gentlemen met and organized the 
Wisconsin Dairymen's Association. The aim 
of the organization has been to secure improved 
methods of making butter and cheese and the 
best markets for shipment and sale. '1 he asso- 
ciation holds its annual meeting in January of 
each year for the discussion of the dairy inter- 
ests. Dairy fairs are held at each meeting. 
There is printed annually by the State printer 
2,000 copies of the transactions of the associa- 
tion. The Legislature receives 600 copies, the 
State Historical Society, Academy of Sciences, 
Arts and Letters, State Agricultural Society 
and Northern Wisconsin Agricultural Associa- 
tion receive forty copies each; the remainder 
are distributed to the members of the associa- 
tion and generally over the State to all who 
make application for them. The association 
receives its support from members who join 
each year, paying the sum of $1, and by 
appropriations from the State. Wisconsin won 
first i)remium on butter in competition with the 
world; the second premium on Cheddar cheese 
(the first going to Canada), and the second on 
fancy shaped cheese at the International Dairy 
Fair, held in New York city in December, 1877. 
To tlie Dairymen's Association belongs the 
credit of raising the reputation of Wisconsin 
cheese and butter from the lowest to the high- 
est rank. 

On the 23d of VFarch, 187:^, Lieut.-Gov. 
Milton II. Pettitt died suddenly and unex- 
pectedly. The Legislature this year passed an 
act providing for a geological survey of the 
State, to be completed within four years, by a 
chief geologist and four assistants, to be ap- 
pointed by the governor, appropriating for the 
work an annual payment of $13,000. An act, 
approved March 25, 1 853, authorized the gov- 
ernor to appoint a State geologist, who was to 
select a suitable person as assistant geologist. 
Under this law Edward Daniels, on the Istday 
of April, 1853, was appointed State geologist, 
superseded on the 12th day of August, 1854, by 
James G. Percival, who died in office on the 2d 



of May, 1856. By an act approved March 3, 
1857, James Hall, Ezra Carr and Edward Dan- 
iels were appointed by the Legislature geolog- 
ical commissioners. By an act approved April 
2, 1860, Hall was made principal of the com- 
mission. The survey was interrupted by a re- 
peal March 21, 1862, of previous laws promoting 
it. However, to complete the survey, ihe mat- 
ter was re-instated by the act of this Legisla- 
ture, approved March 29, the governor, under 
that act, appointing as chief geologist Increase 
A. Lapham, April 10, 1873.. On the 16th of 
Fel)ruary, 1875, O. W. Wight succeeded Lap- 
ham, but on the 2d of February, 1876, T. C. 
Chamberlain was appointed Wight's successor, 
and still holds the office. He has published 
four volumes of reports in a very able mannei, 
extending from 1873 to 1879, inclusive. Re- 
ports were also published by his predecessors. 

And just here it may not be inappropriate to 
say a word concerning the physical history of 
Wisconsin. "This can be traced back with 
certainty to a state of complete submergence 
beneath the waters of the ancient ocean, by 
which the material of our oldest and deepest 
strata were deposited. Let an extensive but 
shallow sea, covering the whole of the present 
territory of the State, be pictured to the mind, 
and let it be imagined to be depositing mud and 
sand, as at the present day, and we have before 
us the first authentic stage of the history under 
consideration. Back of that the history is lost 
in the mists of geologic antiquity. The thick- 
ness of the sediments that accumulated in that 
early period was immense, being measured by 
thousands of feet. These sediments occupied, 
of course, an essentially horizontal position, and 
were doubtless in a large degree hardened into 
beds of impure sandstone, shale and other sedi- 
mentary rock. But in the progress of time an 
enormous pressure, attended by heat, was 
brought to bear upon them laterally, or edge- 
wise, by which they were folded and crumpled 
and forced up out of the water, giving rise to 
an island, the nucleus of Wisconsin. The force 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



63 



•which produced this upheaval is believed to 
have arisen from the cooling and consequent 
contraction of the globe. The foldings may be 
imagined as the wrinkles of a shrinking earth. 
But the contortion of the beds was a scarcely 
more wonderful result than the change in the 
cliaracterof the rock which seems to have taken 
place simultaneously with the folding, indeed, 
as the result of the heat and pressure attending 
it. The sediments, that seem to have previously 
taken the form of impure sandstone and shale 
for the most part, underwent a change, in which 
re-arrangement and crystalizalion of the ingre- 
dients played a conspicuous part. By this met- 
amorphism granite, gneiss, mica schist, syenite, 
hornblende rocks, chloritic schists and other 
crystalline rocks were formed."* But to pur- 
sue further an inquiry into the geological struc- 
ture of the State would be foreign to this brief 
historical sketch of Wisconsin. The subject is 
ably treated of in the geological reports before 
referred to. 

The actual mineral resources of Wisconsin 
remain very largely to be developed, Its useful 
mineral material comes under the head of me- 
talic ores and non-metalic substances. Of the 
first class are the ores of lead, zinc, iron and 
copper; of the second class ar« the principal 
substances found in brick-clay, kaolin, cement 
rock, limestone for burning into quick lime, 
limestone for flux, glass-sand, peat and build- 
ing stone. In Wisconsin lead and zinc are 
found together ; the former has been utilized 
since 182(5, the latter since 1860. The coun- 
ties of La Fayette, Iowa and Grant — the 
southwestern counties of the State — are known 
as the " lead region." All the lead and zinc 
obtained in Wisconsin are from these counties. 
The lead ore is of one kind only — that known 
as galena. A large amount is produced yearly 
from the various mining districts in the lead 
region. The number of pounds raised from 
single crevices has often been several hun- 

* T. C. Chamberlain, State Geologist, In Illustrated Hist, 
Atlas of WiBconeUi, 



drod thousand. The zinc ores werelformerly 
rejected as useless, but their value is, beyond 
doubt, very great, and they will be a source 
of wealth to the lead region for a long time 
to come, as they are now extensively utilized. 
Iron mining in the State is yet in its infancy. 
Numbers of blast furnaces have sprung up in 
the eastern portion, but these smelt Michigan 
ores almost entirely. 'I'he several ores in Wis- 
consin are red hematites, brown hematites, 
magnetic ores and specular hematites ; the 
first are found in Dodge county ; the second 
in Portage, Wood and Juneau ; the two last 
in Bayfield, Ashland, Lincoln and Oconto 
counties. 

The thirteenth administration (C. C. Wash- 
burn, governor) ended with the year 1873, 
the republican party in the State being de- 
feated for the first time since the commence- 
ment of Randall's administration. The session 
of the Legislature of 1874 was a noted omh for 
the passage of the "Potter Law," limiting the 
compensation for the transportation of passen- 
gers, classifying freight, and regulating prices 
for its carriage on railroads within Wisconsin. 
Three railroad commissioners were to be ap- 
pointed by the governor ; one for one year, 
one for two years, and one for three years, 
whose terms of office should commence on the 
Nth day of May, and the governor, thereafter, 
on the first day of May, of each year, should 
appoint one commissioner for three years. Un- 
der this law the governor appointed J. II. Os- 
born, for three years ; George II. Paul, for two 
years ; and J. W. Hoyt, for one year. Under 
executive direction, this commission inaugura- 
ted its labors by compiling, classifying, and 
putting into convenient form for public use for 
the first time, all the railroad legislation of the 
State. In 1876 this board was abolished and a 
railroad commissioner, to be appointed by the 
governor every two years, was to take its place. 
This latter office was made elective in 1881. 
The commissioners who have held office under 
these various laws are : Joh» W, Hoyt, from 



64 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



April 29, 1874, to March 10, 1876; George H. 
Paid, from April 29, 1874, to March 10, 1876; 
Joseph II. Osborii, from April • 9, 1874, to 
March 10, 1876; Dana C. Lamb, from March 
10, 1876, to Feb. 1, 1878; A. J. Turner, from 
Feb. 1, 1878, to Feb. 15, 1882; N. P, Haugen, 
from Feb. 15, 1881, and now in office. The 
"Potter Law" was resisted by the railroad com- 
panies, but ultimately the complete and abso- 
lute power of the people, through the Legisla- 
ture, to modify or altogether repeal their char- 
ters was fully sustained by the courts both of 
the State and the United States. The necessity 
for railroads in Wisconsin began to be felt 
while yet it was an appendage of Michigan 
territory. Great advantages were anticipated 
from their construction. There was a reason 
for this. Explorers had published accounts of 
the wonderful fertility of Wisconsin's soil, the 
wealth of its broad prairies and forest o'^en- 
ings, and the beauty of its lakes and rivers. 
Frtim 1836, with the hope of improving their 
condition, thousands of the enterprising 
yeomanry of New England, New York 
and Ohio started for the territory. Ger- 
mans, Scandinavians, and other Nationnli- 
ties, attracted by the glowing accounts 
sent abroad, crossed the ocean on their 
way to the new world ; steamers and sail-craft 
laden with families and their household goods 
left liuffalo and other lake ports, all bound for 
Wisconsin. With the development of the 
agricultural resources of the territory, grain 
raising became the most prominent interest, 
and as the settlements extended back from the 
lake shore the difficulties of transportation of 
the products of the soil were seriously felt. 
IMje expense incurred in moving a load of pro- 
duce seventy or eighty miles to a market town 
on the lake shore frequently exceeded the gross 
sum obtained for the same. All goods, wares 
and merchandise, and most of the lumber used 
were hauled by teams from Lake Michigan. 
To meet the great want, better facilities for 
transportation, railroads were an indispensable 



necessity. Between the years 1838 and 1841, 
the territorial Legislature of Wisconsin char 
tered several railroad companies, but with the 
exception of the Milwaukee & Waukesha Rail- 
road Company, incorporated in 1847, none of 
the corporations thus created took any particu- 
lar shape. There are now in Wisconsin the 
following railroads, costing, in round numbers, 
1150,000,000: Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; 
Chicago & Northwestern; Chicago, St. Paul, 
Minneapolis & Omaha; Milwaukee, Lake Shore 
& Western; Wisconsin Central; Green Bay & 
Minnesota; Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul; 
Wisconsin & Minnesota; Chippewa Falls & 
Western; Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria; 
Prairie du Chien & McGregor; Milwaukee & 
Northern; Chippewa Falls & Northern, and 
Wisconsin & Michigan. Other lines are still 
needed, and present lines should be extended by 
l)ranch roads. The questions, as we have seen, 
upon which great issues have been raised 
between railway corporations in Wisconsin and 
the people, are now happily settled b}' securing 
to the latter their rights , and the]j former, 
under the wise and conciliatory policy pursued 
by their managers, are assured of the safely of 
their investments. An era of good feeling has 
succeeded one of distrust and antagonism. 
The people must use the railroads, and the rail- 
roads depend upon the people for sustenance 
and protection. 

In 1874 the Wisconsin commission for the 
j)ui))Ose of fish culture was organized. The 
iicxt year, by reason of State aid, the commis- 
sion was enabled to commence work. In 1876 
was completed the purchase of grounds, the 
erection of the buildings, and the construction 
of the ponds (seven in number) of the Madi- 
son hatchery, situated in the town of Fitch- 
burg, Dane county. A temporary hatching 
house was continued for some time in Milwau- 
kee, for the hatching of spawn of the white 
h'sh and lake trout. The commission was re- 
organized in 1878, the number of the members 
being increased from four to seven. Appro- 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



65 



priations by the Legislature have been con- 
tinued, and tlie work promises favorable results 
to the State. 

Under an act of I8l5 an Industrial School 
for girls was organized in Milwaukee, where 
buildings have been erected, capable of accom- 
modating 150 inmates. Its proper subjects are: 
(I.) Viciously inclined girls under sixteen, and 
boys under ten years of age; (2.) The stubborn 
and unruly, who refuse to obey their proper 
guardians; (3.) Truants, vagrants and beggars; 
(4.) Those found in circumstances of manifest 
danger of falling into habits of vice and im- 
morality; (5.) 'J'hose under the above ages who 
have committed any offense punishable by fine 
or imprisonment in adult offenders. Although 
the school was founded by private charity, and 
is under the control of a self-perpetuating board 
of managers, it is incorporated and employed 
by the State for the custody, guardianship, 
discipline and instruction of the aforenamed 
children. In default of responsible and efficient 
guardianship, they are treated as the minors 
and wards of the State, and by it are committed 
to the guardianship of this board of ladies 
during minority. 

The application of Miss Lavinia Goodell for 
admission to the bar of Wisconsin, was rejected 
by the supreme court at its January term, 1870; 
but as a law subsequently passed the Legisla- 
ture, making ladies eligib'e to practice in the 
several courts of the State, she was, upon a 
second application, admitted. 

By an act approved March 13, 1876, a State 
board of healtb was established, the appoint- 
ment of a superintendent of vital statistics pro- 
vided for, and certain duties assigned to local 
boards of health. The State board was organ- 
ized soon after, seven persons having been ap- 
pointed by the governor as its members. And 
here it is proper to say a word as to the health 
of Wisconsin. "When we compare the general 
death-rate of Wisconsin with that of the other 
States of the Union, we find that it compares 
most favorably with that of Vermont, the 



healthiest of the New England States. The 
United States census of 1850, 1860 and 1870, 
gives Wisconsin ninety-four deaths to 10,000 of 
the population, while it gives Vermont 101 to 
every 10,000 of her inhabitants. The census of 
1870 shows that the death-rate from consump- 
tion in Minnesota, Iowa, California and Wis- 
consin are alike. These four States show the 
lowest death-rate among the States from con- 
sumption, the mortality being thirteen to fourteen 
per cent, of the whole death-rate. Climatologic- 
ally considered, then, there is not a more healthy 
State in the Union than the State of Wiscon- 
sin. But for health purposes something more 
is requisite than climate. Climate and soil 
must be equally good. Men should shun the 
soil, no matter how rich it be, if the climate is 
inimical to health, and rather choose the cli- 
mate that is salubrious, even if the soil is not so 
rich. In Wisconsin, generally speaking, the 
soil and climate are equally conducive to health, 
and alike good for agricultural purposes."* 

There was in Wisconsin a general feeling of 
patriotism (if the acts of its citizens, both native 
and foreign born, are to be taken as an indica- 
tion of their attachment to their country), mani- 
fested throughout the centennial year, 1876. 
A board of State centennial managers was pro- 
vided for by the Legislature, to represent Wis- 
consin at the Philadelphia exhibition, and $20, 
000 appropriated for their use, to make there a 
proper exhibition of the products, resources and 
advantages of the State. Under a law of this 
year, three revisors, afterward increased to five, 
were appointed to revise the statutes of the 
State. The result was a large volume, ably col- 
lated, known as the Revised Statutes of 1878, 
which was legalized by act of the June session 
of the Legislature of that year. On the 19th of 
October, 1880, Chief Justice Edward G. Ryan 
departed this life, in the seventieth year of his 
age. He was buried in Milwaukee, with honors 
becoming the position held by him at the time 

*Dr. Joseph Hobbins, in Illustrated Historical Atlas of 
Wisconsin. 



66 



HISTORY OP WISCONSIN. 



o£ his death. Ilis successor, as previously 
slated, is Chief Justice Orsamus Cole. 

By an act of the Legislature of 1881, a board 
of supervision of Wisconsin charitable, re- 
formatory and penal institutions was founded. 
The boards of trustees by which these insti- 
tutions had been governed since their organi- 
zation were abolished by the same law. The 
board of supervision consists of five members, 
who hold their office for five years, and who 
are appointed by the governor, the Senate con- 
curring. Tlie board acts as commissioners of 
lunacy, and has full power to investigate all 
complaints against any of the institutions un'^er 
its control, to send for books and papers, sum- 
mon, compel tliH attendance of, and swear wit- 
nesses. The powers delegated to this board 
ai*e so extraordinary, and its duties so manifold, 
that a recital of them will be found of interest. 
They are as follows : 

(I.) To maintain and govern the Wisconsin 
State Hospital for the Insane, the Northern 
Hospital for the Insane, the Wisconsin State 
Prison, the AVisconsin Industrial School for 
Boys, the Wisconsin Institution for the Educa- 
tion of the Blind, and the Wisconsin Institution 
for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb ; and 
such other charitable and penal institutions as 
may hereafter be established or maintained by 
the State. (2.) To carefully supervise and 
direct the management and affairs of said in- 
stitutions, and faithfully and diligently promote 
the objects for which the same have been 
established. (3) To preserve and care for the 
buildings, grounds and all property connected 
with the said institutions. (4.) To take and 
hold in trust for the said several institutions 
any land conveyed or devised, or money or 
property given or bequeathed, to be applied for 
any purpose connected therewith, and faithfully 
to apply the same as directed by the donor, and 
faithfully to apply all funds, effects and property 
which may be received for the use of such 
institutions. (5.) To make on or before Octo- 
ber 1 in each year, full and complete annual in- 



ventories and appraisals of all the projierty of 
each of said institutions, which inventories and 
appraisals shall be recorded, and shall be so 
classified as to separately show the amount, 
kind and value of all real and personal property 
belonging to such institutions. (6.) To make 
such by-laws, rules and regulations, not incom- 
patible with law, as it shall deem convenient or 
necessary for the government of the said insti- 
tutions and for its own government, and cause 
the same to be printed. (7.) 'I'o visit and care- 
fully inspect each of said institutions as often 
as once in each month, either by the full board 
or by some member thereof, and ascertain 
whether all officers, teachers, servants and em- 
ployees in sucli institutions are competent and 
faithful in the discharge of their duties, and all 
inmates thereof properly cared for and governed, 
and all accounts, account books and vouchers 
properly kept, and all the business affairs 
thereof properly conducted. (8.) To fix the 
number of subordinate officers, teachers, ser- 
vants and employees in each of said institutions, 
and prescribe the duties and compensa'ion of 
each, and to employ the same upon the nomi- 
nation of the respective superintendents and 
wardens. (9.) To promptly remove or discharge 
any officer, teacher or employe in any of said 
institutions, who shall be guilty of any malfeas- 
ance or misbehavior in office, or of neglect, or 
improper discharge of duty. (10.) To annually 
appoint for the Wisconsin State Hosi>ital for 
the Insane and for the Northern Hospital for 
the Insane, for each, a superintendent, one 
assistant physician, a matron, a steward and a 
treasurer ; and for the Institution for the Edu- 
cation of the Blind, and the Institution for the 
Education of the Deaf and Dumb, and the In- 
dustrial School for Boys, for each, a superin- 
tendent, a steward, a treasurer, and all necessary 
teachers ; and for the State prison, a warden, 
a steward and a treasurer, who shall be the 
officers of said institutions respectively and 
whose duties shall be fixed by said board, 
except as herein otherwise provided. (11.) To 



I 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



67 



maintain and govern the school, prescribe the 
course of study and provide the necessary ap- 
paratus and means of instruction for the Insti- 
tution for the Education of the Blind, and for 
the Institution for the Education of the Deaf 
and Dumb. (12.) To prescribe and collect, 
such charges as it may think just, for tuition and 
maintenance of pupils not entitled to the same 
free of charge, in the Institution for the Educa- 
tion of the Blind and in tlie Institution for the 
Education of the Deaf and Dumb. (13.) To 
fi.v the period of the academic year, not less 
than forty weeks, and prescribe the school 
terms in the Institution for the Education of 
the Blind and the Institution for the Education 
of the Deaf and Dumb. (14.) To confer, in 
its discretion, upon meritorious pupils, such 
academic and literary degrees as are usually 
conferred by. similar institutions, and grant 
diplomas accordingly, in the Institution for the 
Education of the Blind and in the Institution 
for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb. 

On the 20th of April, 1883, a commissioner 
was appointed by the governor, for two years, 
in accordance with the provisions of an act 
passed by the Legislature of that year creating 
a bureau of labor statistics. The object of this 
office, now filled by Frank A. Flower, is to col- 
lect manufacturing and labor statistics, report 
violations of laws for beihefit of artisans, and 
generally to show the manufacturing condition 
and resources of the State. 

In her political divisions Wisconsin has 
copied, to a considerable extent, from some of 
her sister States. These divisions are counties, 
towns, cities and incorporated villages. The 
county government is in charge of a county 
board of supervisors, consisting of the chairman 
of each town board, a supervisor from each 
ward of every city, and one from each incorpo- 
rated village. The county officers are : .Clerk, 
treasurer, sheriff, coroner, clerk of circuit court, 
district attorney, register of deeds, surveyor, 
and one or two superintendents of schools, all 
elected biennially. There are sixty-five coun- 



ties in the State. The government of the 
towns is in charge of a town board of super- 
visors. The other officers are clerk, treasurer, 
assessors, justices of the peace, overseei's of 
highways and constables. The government of 
cities depends upon charters granted by the 
State Legislature. Generally, there is a mayor, 
common council, clerk, treasurer, attorney, chief 
of police, fire marshal and surveyor. Incorpo- 
rated villages are governed by a president and 
six trustees. The other officers are clerk, treas- 
urer, supervisor, marshal and constable, and 
sometimes a justice of the peace or police jus- 
tice. 

The constitution of Wisconsin, adopted by 
the people in 1848, is still "the supreme law of 
the State ;" but it has several times been 
amended, or had material additions made to it : 

(1 .) Article V, section 21, relating to the pay 
of the members of the Legislature. This was 
amended in 1867. 

(2.) Article VI, sections 5 and 9, relating to 
the salaries of the governor and lieutenant-gov- 
ernor. This w^as amended in 1 869. 

(3.) Article I, section 8, relating to grand 
juries. This was amended in 1870. 

(4.) Article IV, sections 31 and 32, relating to 
special legislation. These sections were added 
in 1871. 

(5.) Article XI, section 3, relating to munic- 
ij^al taxation. This was amended in 1874. 

(6.) Article VII, section 4, relating to the 
number and term of the judges of the supreme 
court. This was substituted for the original 
section in 1877. 

(7.) Article VIII, section 2, relating to claims 
against the State. This was amended in 1877. 

(8.) Article IV, sections 4, 5, 11 and 21, re- 
lating to biennial sessions, and a change in 
salaries and perquisites of members of the 
Legislature. These were thus amended in 

1881. 



68 



HISTORY OF WISCONSIN. 



(9) Article III, section 1, relating to resi- 
dence of voters in election districts some time 
before the election, and to registration of voters 
in cities and villages. Amended to this effect 

in 1882. 



(10.) Article VI, section 4, article VII, sec- 
tion 12, and article XIII, section 1, all relating 
to biennial elections. Amended to this effect 
in 1882.* 

*A. 0. Wright, in Exposition of the Constitution of the 
State of Wisconsin. 




HISTORY 



OF 



GREEN COUNTY, 

•VT-isconsrsiisr. 



CHAPTER I. 



AREA, POSITION AND SURFACE FEATURES. 



BEFORE entering upon a consideration of 
the history of Green county, past and pres- 
ent, it is a matter of importance to understand 
its area and geographical position; also, its gen- 
eral surface features. We begin with its 

AREA. 

Green is properly considered one of the aver- 
age counties of Wisconsin as to size, it having 
a total area of 578 square miles; or, to be more 
specific, it contains 370,360.99 acres of land. It 
lies in a square form, extending twenty-four 
miles east and west, and the same distance north 
and south. 

Green county contains sixteen congressional 
townships of land.* These townships are de- 
scribed by the United States surveys as follows: 

♦Properly speaking, a township is an area of about 36 
square miles (or sections of land) as stirveyed by the United 
States; while a town is an area of any designated extent, 
forming an organized civil division of a county. This dis- 
tinction should always be maintained in Wisconsin, and is so 
carried out in this history; although many are In the habit of 



Township 1 north, of range 6 east. Township 

2 north, of range 6 east. Township 3 north, of 
range 6 east. Township 4 north, of range 6 
east. Township 1 north, of range 7 east. 
Township 2 north, of range 7 east. Township 

3 north, of range 7 east. Township 4 north, of 
range 7 east. Township 1 north, of range 8 
east. Township 2 north, of range 8 east. 
Township 3 north, of range 8 east. Township 

4 north, of range 8 east. Township 1 north, of 
range 9 east. Township 2 north, of range 9 
east. Township 3 north, of range 9 east. 
Township 4 north, of range 9 east. 

The following are the number of acres of 
land in each surveyed township in Green 
county: 

calling a (ou'»is7h'p a (oic/i; and sometimes a tmvn is spoken 
of as a towiishi}!. 

Why the several townships are numbered as given in the 
text ("and as seen on all maps of Green county) will be fully 
explained In a subserient chupter of this history. 



70 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



SURVEYED TOWNSHIPS. 

Township 1 north, of range 6 east 2:^,460 -94 

Township 2 north, of range 6 east 23,025.58 

Township 3 north, of range 6 east 22,865.60 

Township 4 north, of range 6 east 23,169 80 

Township 1 north, of range 7 east 23,222.87 

Township 2 north, of range 7 east 23,691.50 

Township 3 north, of range 7 east 22,870.80 

Township 4 north, of range 7 east 22,663.47 

Township 1 north, of range 8 east 24,536.92 

Township 2 north, of range 8 east 22 945.56 

Township 3 north, of range 8 east 23.838.93 

Township 4 north, of range 8 east 21.825.81 

Township 1 north, of range 9 east 24.989 . 92 

Township 2 north, of rangf^ 9 east 22,7 1 72 

Township 3 north, of range 9 east 22,517.14 

Township 4 north, of range 9 east 23 025.43 

Total number of acres 870,360 99 

In each full township, as every reader knows, 
there are thirty-six sections of land. Now, as 
a section contains 640 acres, the whole number 
of acres in the county, if each section contained 
exactly its complement, would be 368,640; but, 
in the aggregate, they over-run 1,720.99 acres. 
Ten of the townships of the county, it will be 
noticed, contain less than the full number of 
23,040 acres in each; while six have more than 
that number in their several areas. 

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

Green county has a position immediately 
north of the Illinois line, it being in the South- 
ern tier of counties of the State. In this tier are 
the counties of Kenosha,Walworth, Rock, Green, 
La Fayette and Grant. Green county is bounded 
on the north by the county of Dane; on the 
east by Rock; on the south by the State of Illi- 
nois; and on the west by the counties of La 
Fayette and Iowa. Its eastern boundary line 
is, in a straight direction, eighty miles west of 
Lake Michigan; its western boundary line is 
due east of the Mississippi, at the nearest point, 
forty miles. Across the State line in Illinois, 
the counties that bound Green are Stephenson 
and Winnebago. 

SURFACE FEATURES. 

The entire county is rolling or undulating, 
and fully one-half is covered with timber, which, 
aside from the forests in the south and south- 
western part, is mostly openings, that were 
originally very beautiful and valued as choice 
farming lands. In the northwestern part, the 
surface is broken; and this is the roughest por- 



tion of the county. In the central, western, 
northern, eastern and southeastern parts exten- 
sive prairies exist. Originally, the southwest- 
ern part of the county was covered with heavy 
forests, abounding in black walnut, oak, maple, 
basswood and ash of the choicest quality for 
manufacturing purposes. To some extent, these 
forests have yielded to the advancing husband- 
man, but large quantities of valuable timber 
still remain. Nearly all the timber found in 
other parts of the county is burr oak and only 
useful for fuel. Occasionally, however, a square 
mile or so of heavy timber is found in various 
parts of the county, which yields valuable wood. 

PRINCIPAL STREAMS. 

The principal streams of Green county are 
the Sugar and Pecatonica rivers. Sugar river, 
in two principal branches, has its rise in Dane 
county. Its sources are in the towns of Verona, 
Cross Plains, Springdale, Blue Mounds and 
Primrose in that county The two main 
branches unite on section 28, in the town of 
Montrose, forming the main stream, which, 
after a southeasterly course of about three miles, 
leaves the county on section 35, in the town last 
mentioned and enters Green county on section 
2, in the town of Exeter. After passing through 
that section and those numbered 11, 14, 23, 24 
and 25, it crosses into the town of Brooklyn, at 
the southwest corner of section 19. Taking a 
southerly course through sections 30 and 31, in 
that town, it passes into the town of Albany 
near the center of the north line of section 6. 
Its course is now southeasterly to the center of 
section 16, through those numbered 6, 5, 8 and 
9. From the center of section 16, its general 
trend is southerly, draining sections 21, 28 and 
33, and leaving the town at the southwest corner 
of section 34.. Its ingress into the town of 
Decatur is on section 3, passing through that 
section and those numbered 10, 15, 14, 23, 26 
and 35, into the town of Spring Grove at the 
corner of section 3, whence it runs across sec- 
tion 2 into section 1; then, after touching 11, 
passes southeasterly through section 12 and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



71 



across the northeast corner of 13, leaving the 
town and county from that section and flowing 
into the county of Rock, on section 18, in the 
town of Avon. 

The course of Sugar river through Rock 
county is southeast, leaving it on section 36, in 
the town of Avon, when it crosses the State 
line into Illinois, in the county of Winnebago, 
discharging itself in that county, into the Peca- 
tonica river. The principal branches of Sugar 
river in Green county flow into the parent 
stream from the west. They are the Little 
Sugar river, Little Jordan creek, Reeder's 
Branch and Spring creek. These tributaries, 
with the main stream, and a number of small 
branches which flow into the river on the east 
side, carry off the superabundant waters from 
nearly two-thirds of the county, draining, as 
they do, the towns of New Glarus, Exeter, 
Brooklyn, Albany, Mt. Pleasant, Washington, 
Sylvester, Decatur, Spring Grove and the north- 
east portion of Jefferson. 

There is a ridge which passes east and west 
through Iowa county about on the line of 
Dodgeville, the county seat. This divide is 
known as the military road or ridge. All of 
that county lying south of this elevation, is 
drained by affluents of the Pecatonica. These 
affluents flowing southward from many points, 
form the main stream in the county of La 
Fayette. The river traverses the county last 
mentioned from northwest to southeast, nearly 
from corner to corner in a winding course 
through seven towns, until it crosses into the 
county of Green, on section 6, in the town of 
Cadiz. The Pecatonica has a serpentine course 
in this town, passing, respectively, in .greater or 
less distances, through sections 6, 5, 8, 7, 18, 17, 
16, 21, 20, 29, 28, 32 and 33, leaving the town 
and county from [the southwest corner of the 
last mentioned section and crossing into the 
State of Illinois, in the county of Stephenson, 
emptying, finally, into Rock river at Rockton, 
in Winnebago county. In the west, southwest 
and southern parts of the county, many streams 



have their sources all flowing in a west or south- 
west direction to the Pecatonica. These, with 
the main stream, furnish the drainage for a 
little over one-third the entire county. The 
names of the principal affluents of the Peca- 
tonica, in Green county, are Richland creek. 
Honey creek and Skinner creek. 

THE PECATONICA* COUNTRY, 
[By W. R. Smith, 1837.] 

A small branch of the Pecatonica runs through 
a ravine or narrow meadow at Mineral Point, 
in a southern course, receiving in its way many 
fine springs, until it unites about five miles be- 
low the town with the main branch of the same 
river, about two miles above the furnace and 
establishment of Richard McKirn, Esquire, to 
which he has given the name of New Baltimore. 
His smelting furnace, saw-mill, workmen's 
houses, and his mansion, are situate on the west- 
ern bank of the Pecatonica, which is here a con- 
siderable stream; a mile west of New Baltimore, 
flows another large branch, on which is built 
Kindle's grist-mill. The natural meadow at 
New Baltimore, and for several miles above, is 
unrivaled for fertility of soil, and beauty of 
scenery, not only in its own features, but in the 
general character of the hills and bluffs bound- 
ing the low land. The broad, deep and clear 
Pecatonica, winds its way through the wide ex- 
panse of low and level prairie or meadow, cov- 
ered with high grass, and composed of a soil 
which is complained of by cultivators as being 
too rich for any small grain, but which is un- 
rivaled for the production of corn, potatoes, 
pumpkins, and all esculents. This meadow ex- 
tends from the borders of Diamond Grove near 
Col. Bequette's, widening in its course south- 
eastward, and bearing the several branches of 
the Pecatonica on its bosom, as low down as the 
junction of the eastern branch, near the old In- 
dian town of "Wiota," in the neighborhood of 
the diggings of Col. William L. Hamilton, for- 
merly of New York, but for some years a Wis- 



*The writer of this article gives the name of the river as 
' 'Pecatonica o'* Pee-ke-tol-i-ka." 



1% 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



consin pioneer. From "Wiota the river, I am 
informed, in navigable, and indeed boats have 
been laden with lead and sent from New Balti- 
more, and from the Cedar Bluffs, about a mile 
below, by Mr. Charles Bracken. This is the 
most extensive range of fine meadow which I 
have visited; it is about thirty-five miles from 
Diamond Grove to the forks at Wiota, and a 
more delightfully beautiful and rich body of land 
is not to be desired, than the country through 
which the Pecatonica flows. 

In the immediate neighborhood of the Cedar 
Bluffs, about three miles from New Baltimore, 
is a small village called the Willow Springs. 
Here are three or four dwellings and the store 
of Mr. Dillon; an old smelting furnace is also 
here, now disused, as it was built on the first 
plan called "log and ash furnace." This crude 
manner of smelting lead by the earlier settlers, 
has given way to the improved cupola and oven 
furnace, and the blast furnace. 

A great public road from Mineral Point to 
Gratiots' Grove passes by the Willow Springs, 
and this will always be a main road through 
this part of the territory, in its principal direc- 
tion, with perhaps a few changes in pai'ts, where 
experience will correct early adoptions of con- 
venience. 

Leaving the Willow Springs, and passing in 
a northern direction over a high prairie with 
oak openings, about three miles, the country be- 
comes highly interesting. Here are to be found 
many farms in the best and most profitable state 
of cultivation. Farm-houses and barns and 
stables, with other out-houses, announce a good 
settlement, and that the farmer not only knows 
how to live, but does live well. The kindness 
and hospitality which I experienced during sev- 
eral days residence and excursions in this de- 
lightful section of the country, will be held by 
me in heartfelt recollection. I need only men- 
tion ihe names of Messrs. Charles and John 
Bracken, and Major John P. Sheldon, in whose 
families I found myself at home, to justify my 
feelings. Not only in their domestic circleS) in- 



telligent conversation, good collections of books 
and weekly receipts of news from the far east, 
did we find (Dr. Smith and myself) intellectual 
luxuries which were the more grateful because 
unexpected, but the readiness with which we 
were accompanied in our excursions through the 
country by these gentlemen, gave us not only 
the means and comforts of traveling, but the 
information, without which, as strangers, we 
should have been greatly deficient. 

On the subject of attentions and hospitalities 
received by my son and myself during our stay 
in the country, and in very many excursions 
through it, I should be wanting not only in cor- 
rect feelings of recognition of, but also in re- 
spect to, the many friends and acquaintances 
which we formed. 

Delicacy alone forbids me to speak publicly 
of the kindnesses we have at all times and in all 
places experienced. Prairie du Chien, Parish's, 
Messer Grove, Helena, Dodge's Grove, Mineral 
Point, New Baltimore, and other places, live as 
bright as bright spots on memory. The inhab- 
itants and the inmates of those places named 
will duly appreciate the motives by which I am 
actuated when I forbear to say more. 

It is worthy of remark that in all places 
where I have been in Wisconsin — in the com- 
fortable dwelling house in the town, in the 
snug and neat farm house, in the log cabin — I 
have always found books and newspapers — of 
books, many standard and historical works, to- 
gether with the new novels; of newspapers, 
those of New York, Baltimore, Washington and 
Philadelphia were common, and generally the 
State papers of the forme7^ home of the Wiscon- 
sin emigrant. Amongst the literary papers I 
often found the excellent publications of our 
friends Godey and Alexander, of Philadelphia; 
the Sattirday JVeics is much liked. 

From the farm of CMiarles Bracken the road 
to Mineral Point passes over a part of the ex- 
tensive prairie which reaches to the Blue 
Mounds, and on this road and near it there are 
numerous valuable lead diggings, particularly 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Y3 



those of Messrs. Bracken. South of Bracken's 
the main road to Dixon's Ferry, in Illinois, 
passes several excellent and well improved 
farms, particularly that of Major SheldonT A 
mile or two south of Sheldon's we enter a fine 
body of woodland, called the Indian Reserva- 
tions, surveyed for the half-breeds, but not, as 
it is said, in conformity with the treaty, and 
consequently the surveys will be lifted and re- 
located.* These tracts are in number, in this 
neghborhood, forty, of a mile square each, of 
course here is, in one body, 25,600 acres of the 
finest timber land and arable soil in the Wis- 
consin land district. This land will, no doubt, 
be in market shortly, and the farmer's attention 
deserves to be turned to this part of the country. 
Claimants by improvement are already making 
their locations in these reservations, but the 
land having been reserved and never offered 
for sale by the government, I think the existing 
pre-emption laws will not reach the cases of 
settlements on them made at this day, and such 
locations may be of no avail. 

Passing through this well timbered country 
for about seven miles, the union of two branches 
of the Pecatonica at a point of land high 
and covered with wood, overlooking the beauti- 
ful natural meadow before described, is located 
the village of Otterbourne. This location is 
excellent; the advantages of wood, water, pub- 
lic roads, most excellent land and delightful 
scenery give promise that Otterbourne will in 
time prosper — at any rate, it deserves to become 
a town; independent of the localities named, 
there is an excellent saw-mill and all convenient 
buildings within a few hundred yards of the 
newly laid out town. This saw-mill has fine 
water power and abundance of timber in the 
neighborhood. Water powers for a grist-mill 
can be easily obtained here, and as far as my 
judgment goes, nature has done as much for 
this mill site as for any I have seen in this dis- 
trict. 

*This has since been done by order of the Indian De- 
partment (1838). 



With such advantages, if a few good mechan- 
ics, blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, 
stone masons and laborers would seek their 
good, they may obtain town lots here at a very 
low rate, and the village of Otterbourne might 
thus spring immediately into life. 

About seven miles below Otterbourne, on 
the Pecatonica river, a beautiful and advanta- 
geous site has been selected for a town; it has 
been laid off in lots, and is called "Gratiot." 
At this point there is a saw-mill and small grist- 
mill, designated as Sheldon's mills, although 
the grist-mill was built by the late Col. Henry 
Gratiot. This location possesses many advan- 
tages, there being a large body of good prairie 
land near it yet unsold, and a considerable tract 
of timber land is also adjacent. This spot, by 
a great bend in the Pecatonica river, is ren- 
dered the nearest point on that river to Galena, 
to which place there is already an excellent 
road the whole distance to within three or four 
miles of Galena, being on a prairie ridge. The 
proprietors of the mills contemplate erecting, 
during the next year, a stone grist-mill in addi- 
tion to the one now in operation; the water- 
power for the works is furnished by Wolf 
creek, which empties into the Pecatonica at 
this place. 

The Pecatonica country is one of the best 
watered sections I have seen; the various 
branches traverse delightful prairies and rich 
bottom lands, over a wide extent of country. 
Fine water powers are numerous on these 
branches; and on the union of the east and west 
branches, a few miles below "Hamilton," at 
Wiota, the old Indian town of Winnoshek, a 
chief of the Winnebagoes, a noble river \% 
formed. This stream, after receiving Sugar 
river, empties into Rock river a few miles be- 
low the territorial line, in Winnebago Co., 111. 
The improvement of the rapids of Rock river, 
for which an appropriation of $100,000 has been 
lately made by the Illinois Legislature, will go 
far to render this river perfectly safe for steam- 
boat navigation. The general government 



14 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



owes this section of country efficient aid, as a 
matter of general importance more than of local 
appropriation. 

WATER-POWERS. 

A ridge divides Green county from northwest 
to southeast. The county is, in fact, supplied 
with a perfect net-work of streams, which reach 
out, like silver threads, to beautify, gladden, re- 
fresh and fertilize it, in all its parts. These 
creeks are not well supplied with fish, although 
their waters are pure and clear. They have 
sufficient fall to afford good water-powers, which 
have, to a great extent been utilized. These 
water courses are fed from springs which rise 
in the high grounds mostly. Over the entire 
county, on nearly every stream, water-powers 
of varied importance, exist, of which the early 
settlers availed themselves by erecting mills for 
sawing lumber, as early as 1840, in several parts 
of the county, followed soon after by flouring 
mills ; so that, from the early settlement of the 
county, its water-powers have been utilized to 
the extent demanded by its people. 

The Soil. — The soil of Green county, gener- 
ally, is a rich loam, with a clay subsoil, which 
gives ample security against leaching, and con- 
sequent loss of fertility. It is deep and endur- 
ing in the prairie, more shallow in the openings, 
and somewhat sandy in the northeastern part of 
the county. 

The foregoing being a general account of the 
surface features of the county, we close the de- 
scription and chapter with the following : 
I. 

Bird^s-Eye Views. — "While there are a con- 
siderable number of acres of level lands in the 
eastern and southern portions of the county, the 
surface, for the most part, is gently rolling, ris- 
ing, however, in the northern and western sec- 
tions of the county, into high and bluffy hills. 
In the southern and eastern sections, the soil is 
of a rich, black loam, with a large admixture of 
vegetable mould; however, on the extreme east- 
ern border, a narrow belt of laud is found where 



the soil is a light, sandy loam. The soil of the 
timbered lands in the west part is of a deep 
clay loam, and produces abundantly, when cul- 
tivated, all variety of crops. One of the great 
advantages of Green county, is the extent and 
distribution of timber — timber and prairie, prai- 
rie and timber, everywhere. The largest tracts 
are in the southern part, where is to be found 
maple, hickory, walnut, basswood, ash and many 
varietes of oak. The land being rolling, the 
whole county is almost without marshes." 

II. 
"The surface of the county is undulating. 
Prof. J. D. Whitney, in the State Geological Re- 
port for 1862, has called attention to the fact that 
while the whole northwest is characterized by 
three divisions of surface — the bottom land, the 
bluffs that shut it in, and the upland or prairie, 
the surface of the lead region has certain pecu- 
liarities of its own, which are principally due 
to erosion by its streams. There is, in this sec- 
tion, a rapid alternation of bluffs and valleys. 
The valleys^ branch again, and again, in every 
direction, and their width is usually in propor- 
tion to the size of the streams that wander 
through them. The conformations of surface 
in southwestern Wisconsin present, therefore, 
a marked contrast to the comparatively unbro- 
ken level of the southeastern part of the State. 
Green county partakes of the peculiarities of 
both regions, and may be regarded as the con- 
necting link between them. Near its western 
boundary the hills are many, and the valleys 
are narrow; but, in the interior of the county, 
the valleys along the small streams grow so 
much wider than those in the lead region that 
the bottom land of, Sugar river is as wide as 
that of the Mississippi ; and the undulations of 
the surface gradually grow longer and gentler, 
until, a little before the eastern border of the 
county is reached, the surface becomes a level 
prairie."* 

Helen M. IJinjfbam's Historj of Grccu County, Wisconsin, 
(1877), pp.9, 10. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



15 



CHAPTER II. 



TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. 



Lead has been found so far east in Green 
county that we may consider the whole of it as 
lying in the "Lead Region." It will be profit- 
able, in this chapter, to begin with 

I. TOPOGRAPHY. 

Unlike most regions which nature has selected 
for the reception of metallic ores and useful 
minerals, the Lead Region bears no evidences of 
any sudden disturbances,or violent action of phys- 
ical laws. The effects produced by igneous and 
eruptive agencies are wanting, i^aults and dis- 
location of strata are nowhere found. The only 
irregularities are slight upheavals, or bending 
of the strata (and these never of great extent) 
producing changes of but a few feet from the 
normal dip. 

Between the geological condition and the 
general surface contour of the country, there is 
no direct correlation. The existence of a hill 
or valley on the surface is not due to a subter- 
ranean elevation or depression of the surface, 
as is by many supposed; and whatever irregu- 
larities exist, must be chiefly attributed to the 
milder natural agencies now constantly at work, 
— such as running water, frost, winds, etc., 
acting through an immensely long period of time. 

Drainage. — The most marked and persistent 
feature of the Lead Region is the long dividing 
ridge, or water-shed, which, commencing near 
Madison, in Dane county, continues almost di- 
rectly west to the Blue Mounds, a distance of 
about twenty miles. Here it takes a slight bend 
to the southwest for fifteen miles until it reaches 
Dodgeville, where itresumesits westerly course 
until it terminates in the bluffs at the conflu- 



ence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. 
Its total length is about eighty-five miles. Two 
points are noticeable: one is, its gentle uniform 
directness of outline (it being subject to but few 
and unimportant flexures); and the other is its 
parallelism with the Wisconsin river so long as 
the latter holds an approximately westerly course 
— the summit of the ridge being always about 
fifteen miles from the river. 

The divide maintains an average elevation of 
about 600 feet above Lake Michigan and is sel- 
dom less than 500, or more than 700, except at 
the Blue Mounds, where it gradually rises east 
and west for several miles, until it attains an 
elevation at the west mound of 1,151 feet. This, 
however, is an extreme case, and in fact, the 
only marked exception to its general level. In 
the town of Mount Hope, Grant county, a slight 
decrease of elevation commences and contin- 
ues to the western end of the divide, where the 
elevation is about 430 feet, at a point within a 
mile of both the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. 

There are two main branches or sub-divisions 
.of the water-shed. Of these, the western is the 
ridge which separates the waters that flow into 
the Platte and Fever rivers from those which 
flow into the Pecatonica. It leaves the main 
divide in the town of Wingville, Grant county, 
and passing through the towns of Belmont 
and Shullsburg, in Iowa county, in a southeast- 
erly direction, passes out of the State in the 
town of Monticello, in the same county. Tliis 
ridge is not so conspicuous as the main water- 
shed either for the directness of its course or 
the uniformity of its elevation. The most e'en- 



16 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



spicuous points on it are the Platte Mounds, 
whicli appear from a distance very high, but 
are, in reality only relatively so — their actual 
elevation being only about 700 feet above Lake 
Michigan. The ridge appears to slope some- 
what, in its approach to Illinois — its average 
elevation tliere being about 500 feet. 

The easterly sub-division, and the one espe- 
cially of interest to the people of Green county, 
is that which separates the waters of the Peca- 
tonica and Sugar rivers. It may be said to be- 
gin at the Blue Mounds, or a couple of miles 
east of them, and pursuing quite a devious course 
through the town of Primrose, in Dane county, 
and of Washington and Monroe, in Green, it 
crosses the State line in the town of Jefferson. 
This ridge, which presents a conspicuous figure 
in the surface contour of Green county, is char- 
acterized by a much greater want of uniformity 
in its general course, and by its irregular eleva- 
tion. It is much narrower than either the main 
ridge or the western spur, already described, 
more abrupt in its slopes, and contains quite a 
large number of hills and low places, especially 
in the towns of Primrose and Perry, in Dane 
county and in those of York and New Glarus in 
the county of Green, in which towns, the 
streams head within comparatively short dis- 
tances of each other, on opposite sides of the 
water-shed. 

/Streams. — The present situations of the 
streams in the Lead Region was probably never 
modified or influenced by drift or glacial agen- 
ies. It follows then that the location of streams 
not only in Green county but in the others of the 
Lead Region, must have depended on the nat- 
ural configuration of the country, and the supe- 
rior advantages of certain strata in certain posi- 
tions, predisposing them to become the beds of 
streams. Other things being equal, surface 
waters would naturally form a channel first in 
the more soft and easily erosible strata lying 
along the line of strike of some soft formation 
and would cause a river to conform its channel 
to its out-cropping edge. Simultaneously, its 



tributaries would shape their channels, approxi- 
mately at right-angles to the river, under the 
following conditions: When the general slope 
and drainage of the country is not contrary to 
the geological dip of the formations; which, in 
the Lead Region, does not appear ever to have 
been the case. The tributaries on one side of 
the river thus formed, would conform them- 
selves to the natural dip of the underlying 
strata, sloping toward the main river, and would 
be found wherever there were depressions, or 
irregularities in the surface suitable to their 
formation. These would, at their inception, 
approximate to their final length and course, 
and future changes in them would be confined 
to the deeper erosion of their beds and widen- 
ing of their valleys; the formation of lateral 
branches; the division of the head of the stream 
into several smaller sources; and, finally, the 
gradual recession of all the subordinate parts. 

With the tributaries on the other side of the 
pi'incipal river, a different order would prevail, 
as regards their position and growth. They 
would at first be the merest rivulets and increase 
only from erosion; and their beds would lie 
across the edges of the strata. There would be 
only a very limited extent of country tributary 
to the river on this side — the great volume of 
its water being derived from the tributaries of 
the other side. The dividing ridge would thus 
be very near the river, and a second set of long 
streams, tributary to some other river, would 
here take their rise and flow away. 

In the course of time, the main river would 
slowly cut its way through the soft formation 
in which it had its original bed, into and 
through those which underlaid it. This might 
at first be accompanied by a slight recession 
parallel to the line of strike; such a movement, 
however, could not be of long duration, but 
would become less as the valley became deeper; 
because any such recession would necessitate 
the removal of all the overlying formations. 
Finally, the small streams flowing across the 
strata would cut their valley back from the river; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



77 



the dividing ridge would recede and their 
sources would, from the position of the strata, 
be in steep and precipitous ravines. Such in 
brief, appears to be the theory of the formation 
of streams in the Lead Region and of course in 
Green county, of which region the county forms 
a part. 

Dimimition of Streams. — In comparing the 
streams in Green county and in other counties 
of the Lead Region, at present, with those re- 
corded in the government surveys, it will be 
found that many of the smaller ones are entirely 
dry and others nearly so. Numerous springs 
which formerly furnished an abundant supply 
of water, are now dry and have been replaced 
by wells, sunk to obtain water from a deeper 
stratum. 

The larger streams of the Lead Region con- 
tain a much smaller amount of water than here- 
tofore. Some places can be found where mills, 
formerly operated by water-power, have been 
abandoned on account of a diminished supply, 
or absolute failure, of water. 

This diminution is not confined to surface 
water, springs, streams, and the like, but it is 
true, to a greater or less extent, of all the min- 
ing ground of the Lead Region. In many in- 
stances, this circumstance alone has led to the 
re-opening and profitable working of mines 
which years before had been abandoned on ac- 
count of too much water — with ore "going 
down" in the crevices. 

It is probable that cultivation of the land is 
the chief cause of this decrease, as a much 
greater amount of surface is thus exposed, and 
eraporation takes place more rapidly and in 
larger quantities. Removal of the timber is, 
without doubt, another cause of this decrease. 
The soil of the timbered land contains more 
moisture than that of the prairie; and, in all 
countries, the removal of the timber has always 
been followed by a marked decrease of the water 
supply. This was notably the casein the Harts 
mountains of Prussia after the fir and hemlock 
were removed. When the mountain sides were 



again covered by indigeous trees that had been 
planted by order of the government, their 
growth was found to be attended by an increase 
of water in the streams and springs.* 

Springs and Wells. — The Lead Region (and 
Green county as a portion of it) is one of the 
best watered tracts in the State. Springs are 
very numerous, both about the sources of the 
streams and frequently in their banks. They 
are found in all the geological formations. 

In such portions of the country as are not 
liberally supplied by nature with springs, water 
is easily and abundantly obtained by means of 
wells. Their average depth is about twenty- 
five feet; this, however, depends chiefly on the 
locality in which they are sunk — those on the 
ridges and prairies being deeper than the rest. 
Wells are sometimes obtained by drilling, such 
borings being chiefly confined to the prairies. 
They are then furnished with a wind-mill pump 
and supply an abundance of clear water for 
stock and farm purposes. 

Nearly all the water in the Lead Region, 
whether in springs or wells, holds in solution a 
small portion of lime and magnesia, and a still 
smaller quantity of sodium, iron^ alumina and 
silica. The presence of these salts usually 
gives the water what is called a hard taste, 
which is more noticeable in the limestone than 
in the sandstone springs, and not infrequently 
induces people to believe them possessed of 
medical properties. 

The following analysis, which is believed to 
be an average sample of the quality of the 
water in Green and the other counties of the 
Lead Region, is inserted to show thesmall amount 
of foreign substances found. The water ana- 
lyzed was taken from a well a short distance 
northwest of the incorporated village of Brod- 
head. One gallon, United States standard meas- 
ure, of this water, was found to contain of solid 
salts, 13.2720 grains, as follows: 

*The reader's attention is called to the chapter in this history 
on Climatology of Green county, for further illustration of 
this subject. 



18 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



GRAINS. 

Cloride of sodium 0.3248 

Sulphate of soda 0.1792 

Bicarbonate of soda 0.0280 

Bicarbonate of lime 6.6584 

Bicarbonate of magnesia. 4.8552 

Bicarbonate of iron 0. 2296 

Alumina 0.1288 

Silica 0.6888 

Organic matter 0.1793 

Total 13.2720 

Prairie and Forest. — The prairie^area of the 
Lead Region is comparatively small and seems 
to be chiefly a continuation of the great prairies 
of Illinois. The most extensive prairie is that 
found in the southern part of Grant and La 
Fayette counties, comprising the towns of 
Jamestown and Hazel Green in the first men- 
tioned county, and of Benton, New Diggings, 
Shullsburg, Seymour, Monticello and Gratiot, 
in the last. From this prairie, there is a branch 
extending in a northwestern direction (corre- 
sponding to the eastern sub-division of the 
water-shed previously alluded to), until it unites 
with the main water-shed; here it branches east 
and west. The western extension forms a prairie 
in the towns of Glen Haven, Patch Grove, 
Little Grant and some parts of Fennimore and 
Wingville, in the county of Grant. The east- 
ern prairie follows the main divide already de- 
scribed, the prairie being from six to ten miles 
in width. Between the east and west branches 
of the Pecatonica, there is a prairie, including 
most of the towns of Waldick, in Iowa county, 
and of Fayette and Wiota in La Fayette county. 
In Green county, the principal prairie is found 
in the towns of Monroe, Clarno, Sylvester and 
Washington. 

We have thus given, in brief, a description of 
the prairie land of the Lead Region, including 
Green county. There exist small, isolated patches 
of timber, in this area, as well as stnall prairies 
or openings in the remainder of the country 
under consideration — not included in the prairie 
area and which is mostly timbered land. The 
original area of prairie appears, from the gov- 
ernment surveys, to have been somewhat greater 
than what would be assigned to it at present. 



Now (1884), the original forests of large timber 
have been mostly cut down, except about the 
Wisconsin river bluffs, such timber as is now 
found being a second growth of black oak, 
white oak, burr oak, maple, hickory, poplar and 
elm, the trees being of small size, seldom more 
than a foot in diameter. 

II. — SURFACE GBOLOGT. 

Before entering upon a consideration of the 
geological formations of the Lead Region it is 
thought proper to call the attention of the 
reader to its surface geology. 

Soil and Subsoil. — The quality of the soil of 
the lead region (and, of course, of Green county, 
of which it is a part) is chiefly dependent on the 
character of the subjacent formations. The 
subsoil appears to be derived directly from the 
decay and disintegration of the strata, of which 
it is the residuum. South of the principal 
water-shed the subsoil is clay, almost without 
exception, having a thickness of from three to 
six feet, depending on the configuration of the 
underlying rock formation. This is the average 
thickness on comparatively level ground; on 
side hills it is usually much thinner, the greater 
part having been washed down into the valleys 
below. 

The amount of lime, magnesia and alkaline 
earths in the subsoil and soil, together with the 
vegetable mole in the latter, constitutes a soil 
which, in its virgin state, is unsurpassed for 
richness and fertility. The number of succes- 
sive wheat crops which, in years past, were 
raised without regard to rotation, on some of 
the prairie farms, attest its native strength; as 
also tlie marked decline in fertility of the soil 
when this has been done shows the inevitable 
retribution which follows the practice. The ex- 
ceptions to the clay soil in Green county will be 
hereafter mentioned; so also as to the transpor- 
tation of the component materials of the soils. 

Peat. — While on the subject of surface soil 
and subsoil, it is proper to mention two places 
— both in Green cotmty — which afford the only 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



79 



approach to peat yet known in the lead region. 
One of these is situated on Jordan creek, on the 
easthalf of sections 21 and 28, in township 2 north, 
of range 6 east (town of Jordan), and comprises 
from 150 to 200 acres. The other locality is on 
the Little Sugar river, near the center of section 
11, in township 8 north, of range 7 east (town 
of Washington). As the conditions under 
which they exist are similar, one description 
will answer for both. 

The turf is underlaid by an impervious stra- 
tum of blue clay, which holds the water and 
nourishes a vegetable growth about four feet 
thick, which, in this vicinity, is known as peat. 
When cut and dried it burns similarly to peat, 
but with so large a residuum of clay, sand and 
ashes as to render it unfit for economic purposes. 
Brick Clay. — Clay suitable for making brick 
is found in many parts of Green and adjoining 
counties; but, in the city of Monroe, there is 
found a clay having a peculiarity not noticeable 
elsewhere; two kinds of brick are made from 
the same kind of clay. One is a red brick simi- 
lar to all common red brick; the other is a cream 
colored brick of very handsome appearance, close- 
ly resembling the Milwaukee brick. The differ- 
ence in color is due to the difference in burning 
— the red color being caused by a greater and 
long continued heat. The origin of the clay of 
which the brick is made is a matter of some 
doubt. It does not have exactly the appearance 
of a drift clay; and, if not, its situation indicates 
that it must have undergone some subsequent 
re-arrangement. 

Glacial Drift. — The lead region is a driftless 
tract of country; not a single bowlder, pebble 
or clay of foreign origin being found within 
its limits, except in three or four isolated cases. 
The northern boundary line of the driftless re- 
gion lies far to the north of the lead region. 
The eastern line is in Green county; it com- 
mences on the west side of the Pecatonica river, 
crossing the State line at the southwest corner 
of the town of Cadiz, which is also the south- 
west corner of the county. From this point it 



proceeds almost in a straight line to the city of 
Monroe. Thence north, it runs along the divid- 
ing ridge between the Pecatonica and Sugar 
rivers, until about two miles south of New 
Glarus, where it takes a northeasterly course 
and passes out of the county about a mile west 
of Belleville, in Dane county. The course thus 
indicated is its present line, as shown by erratic 
bowlders lying upon the surface. If the drift 
deposits originally extended farther westward, 
no trace thereof now remains. East of the line 
described, bowlders are found in all parts of the 
county with more or less frequency. The boun- 
dary line, where bowlders are now found, does 
not appear to conform at all to the surface 
features, but crosses the valleys of the streams 
and the ridges between them with equal impar- 
tiality. 

The different kinds of rock found in the drift 
are so numerous that it would require quite a 
catalogue to enumerate them all. It will be 
sufficient to state that the great bulk of them 
are granite, metamorphic or trappean — the most 
frequent being the varieties of granite and 
gneiss, and next to them the trappean rocks. 
Chloritic rocks and those of a schistoze structure 
are also quite numerous. In addition to these, 
there are, in certain places, beds of gravel, sand 
and clay. 

The distribution of the bowlders does not ap- 
pear to be very regular in Green county; in fact 
the whole of the county verges 'so near the 
western boundary of the drift, that compara- 
tively small deposits were made here ; which 
are quite insufficient to exemplify any general 
laws of distribution. No difference is observ- 
able in their frequency between the eastern line 
of the county and the western line of the 
drift. The bowlders are of various sizes 
from a few inches to two or three feet in diam- 
eter and are always rounded and worn smooth. 
They are frequently found quite numerous in 
one place, and then scattered along at very dis- 
tant intervals, on the same kind of ground, but 



80 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



do not exhibit any distinctive morainic appear- 
ance. 

Gravel beds are not very frequent, although 
they are found in several places in the county. 
There is one situated very near the boundary 
of the drift, on the northwest quarter of section 
4, in township 1 north, of range 7 east (town of 
Clarno), where there is a bed ot gravel about 
eight feet thick, underlaid by a bed of stratified 
sand and clay about four feet thick. This sand 
is very tine, and has just enough clay mixed 
with it to make a good article of moulding sand 
for iron foundries; it would give a fine impres- 
sion and make a smooth <;asting. A similar bed 
is seen about two miles east of the preceding, 
on the southwest quarter of section 2, in town- 
ship 1 north, of range 7 east, (town of Clarno), 
where the drift sand and gravel have accumu- 
lated to a thickness of about twelve feet. An- 
other bed, like the other two, is in existence on 
the northwest quarter of section 2, in township 
1 north, of range 7 east, (town of Clarno). 
There are several other beds in various portions 
of the county. 

The amount of drift clay in this county is 
comparatively small, it probably having been 
dissolved out and washed away from the greater 
portion of the surface. It is to be found how- 
ever; and particularly on the northwest quarter 
of section 25, in township 3 north, of range 7 
east, (town of Washington), where a well has 
been sunk in the drift. There is here a thick- 
ness of about twenty feet of slate-colored clay, 
full of small pebbles. 

III. — GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS. 

The geological formations underlying Green 
county are : (I.) the Potsdam sandstone ; (II.) 
the Lower Magnesian limestone; (III.) St. Peters 
sandstone; (IV.) Trenton (Buff and Blue) lime- 
stone; and (V.) Galena limestone. It is pro- 
posed, in this connection, before describing the 
geographical boundaries, lithological character- 
istics and paleontology of these formations in 
Green county, to give a brief history of their 
origin: 



I. — Potsdam Sandstone. 
After the great Archaean upheaval, there fol- 
lowed a long period, concerning which very 
little is known — a lost interval in geological 
history. It is only certain that immense 
erosion of the Archaean strata took place, 
and that in time the sea advanced upon 
the island, eroding its strata and redepos- 
iting the wash and wear beneath its surface. 
The more resisting beds withstood this ad- 
vance, and formed reefs and rocky islands 
off the ancient shore, about whose bases the 
sands and sediments accumulated, as they did 
over the bottom of the surrounding ocean. The 
breakers dashing against the rocky cliffs, 
brought down masses of rock, which imbedded 
themselves in the sands, or were rolled and 
rounded on the beach, and at length were buried, 
in either case, to tell their own history, when 
they should be again disclosed by the ceaseless 
gnawings of the very elements that had buried 
them. In addition to the accumulations of 
wash and wear that have previously been the 
main agents of rock formations, abundant life 
now swarms in the ocean, and the sands become 
the great cemetery of its dead. Though the 
contribution of each little being was small, the 
myriad millions the waters brought forth, yielded 
by their remains, a large contribution to the ac- 
cumulating sediments. Among plants there 
were sea-weeds, and among animals, protozoans, 
radiates, mollusks and articulates, all the sub- 
kingdoms except the vertebrates. Among these 
the most remarkable, both in nature and num- 
ber, were the trilobites, who have left their 
casts in countless multitudes in certain locali- 
ties. The result of the action of these several 
agencies was the formation of extensive beds 
of sandstone, with interstratified layers of lime- 
stone and shale. These surrounded the Ar- 
ch;ean nucleus on all sides, and reposed on its 
flanks. On the Lake Superior margin the sea 
acted on the copper and iron-bearing series, 
which are highly ferruginous, and the result 
was the red Lake Superior sandstone. On the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



81 



opposite side of the island, the wave action was 
mainly upon quartzites, porphyries and granites 
and resulted in light-colored sandstones. The 
former is confined to the immediate vicinity of 
Lake Superior ; the latter occupies a broad, ir- 
regular belt bordering on the Archaean area on 
the south, and, being widest in the central part 
of the State, is often likened to a rude crescent. 
It will be understood from the foregoing de- 
scription, that the strata of this formation lies 
in a nearly horizontal position, and repose uncon- 
formably upon the worn surface of the crystal- 
line rocks. The close of this period was not 
marked by any great upheaval ; there was no 
crumbling or metamorphisra of the strata, and 
they have remained to the present day very much 
the same as they were originally deposited, save 
a slight arching upward in the central portion 
of the State. The beds have been somewhat 
compacted by the pressure of superincumbent 
strata and solidified by the cementing action of 
calcareous and ferruginous waters, and by their 
own coherence, but the original character of 
the formation, as a great sand-bed, has not been 
obliterated. It still bears the ripple-marks, 
cross-lamination, worm-burrows, and similar 
markings that characterize a sandy beach. Its 
thickness is very irregular owing to the une- 
venness of its Archaean bottom, and may be 
said to range from 1,000 feet downward. The 
strata slope gently away from the Archaean 
core of the State and underlie all the lat- 
ter formations, and may be reached at any 
point in southern Wisconsin by penetrating to 
a sufficient depth, which can be calculated with 
an approximate correctness. As it is a water- 
bearing formation, and the source of fine 
artesian wells, this is a fact of much impor- 
tance. The interbedded layers of limestone and 
shale, by supplying impervious strata, very much 
enhance its value as a source of fountains. 
II. — lower Miigiit'!<i((n Limestone, 
During the previous period, the accumulation 
of sandstone gave place for a time to the for- 
mation of limestone, and afterward the deposit 



of sandstone was resumed. At its close, with- 
out any very remarked disturbance of existing 
conditions, the formation of limestone was re- 
sumed, and progressed with little interruption 
till a thickness ranging from fifty to 250 feet was 
attained. This variation is due mainly to irreg- 
ularities of the upper surface of the formation, 
which is undulating, and in some localities may 
appropriately be termed billowy, the surface 
rising and falling 100 feet in some cases, within 
a short distance. This, and the preceding sim- 
ilar deposit, have been spoken of as limestone 
simply, but they are really Dolomites, or Mag- 
nesian limestones, since they contain a large 
proportion of carbonate of magnesia. This 
rock also contains a notable quantity of silicia, 
which occurs disseminated through the mass of 
rock; or, variously, as nodules or masses of chert; 
as crystals of quartz, filling or lining drusy cavi- 
ties, forming beautiful miniature grottoes ; as 
the nucleus of oolitic concretions, or as sand. 
Some argillaceous matter also enters into its 
composition, and small quantities of the ores of 
iron, lead and copper, are sometimes found, but 
they give little promise of value. The evidences 
of life are very scanty. Some sea-weeds, a few 
mollusks, and an occasional indication of other 
forms of life, embrace the known list, except at 
a few favored localities where a somewhat am- 
pler fauna is found. But it is not, therefore, 
safe to assume the absence of life in the depos- 
iting seas, for it is certain that most limestone 
has originated from the remains of animals and 
plants that secrete calcareous material, and it is 
most consistent to believe that such was the 
case in the present instance, and that the dis- 
tinct traces of life were mostly obliterated. 
This formation occupies an irregular belt skirt- 
ing the Potsdam area. It was, doubtless, origi- 
nally a somewhat uniform band swinging 
around the nucleus of the state already formed, 
but it has since been eroded bj^ streams to its 
present jagged outline. 



82 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



III. — St. Peter's Sandstone. 
At the close of this sandstone-making period 
there appears to have been an interval of which 
we have no record, and the next chapter of the 
history introduces us to another era of sand ac- 
cumulation. The work began by the leveling 
up of the inequalities of the surface of the Lower 
Magnesian limestone, and it ceased before that 
was entirely accomplished in all parts of the 
State, for a few prominences were left project- 
ing through the sand deposits. The material 
laid down consisted of a silicious sand, of uni- 
form, well-rounded — doubtless well-rolled — 
grains. This was evidently deposited horizon- 
tally upon the uneven limestone surface, and so 
rests in a sense unconformably upon it. Where 
the sandstone abuts against the sides of the 
limestone prominences, it is mingled with ma- 
terial derived by wave action from them, which 
tells the story of its formation. But aside from 
these and other exceptional impurities, the for- 
mation is a very pure sandstone, and is used for 
glass manufacture. At most points the sand- 
stone has never become firmly cemented and 
readily crumbles, so that it is used for mortar 
the simple handling with pick and shovel being 
sufficient to reduce it to a sand. Owing to the 
unevenness of its bottom, it varies greatly in 
thickness, the greatest yet observed being 212 
feet, but the average is less than 100 feet. Un- 
til recently, no organic remains had ever been 
found in it, and the traces now collected are 
very meagre indeed, but they are sufficient to 
show the existence of marine life, and demon- 
strate that it is an oceanic deposit. The rarity 
of fossils is to be attributed to the porous nature 
of the rock, which is unfavorable to their pres- 
ervation. This porosity, however, subserves a 
very useful purpose, as it renders this pre-emi- 
nently a water-bearing horizon, and supplies 
some of the finest artesian fountains in the 
State, and is competent to furnish many more. 
It occupies but a narrow area at the surface, 
fringing that of the Lower Magnesian limestone 
on the south. 



IV. — Trenton Limestone. 
A slight change in the oceanic conditions 
caused a return to limestone formation, accom- 
panied with the deposit of considerable clayey 
materia], which formed shale. The origin of 
the limestone is made evident by a close exami- 
nation of it, which shows it to be full of frag- 
ments of shells, corals, and other organic re- 
mains, or the impressions tiiey have left. Count- 
less numbers of the lower forms of life flourished 
in the seas, and left their remains to be com- 
minuted and consolidated into limestone. A 
part of the time the accumulation of clayey 
matter pi'edominated, and so layers of shale al- 
ternate with the limestone beds, and shaly 
leaves and partings occur in the limestone lay- 
ers. Unlike the calcareous strata above and 
below, a portion of these are true limestone 
with less quantities of other metals. The for- 
mation abounds in fossils, many of them well 
preserved, and, from their great antiquity, they 
possess uncommon interest. All the animal 
sub-kingdoms, except vertebrates, are repre- 
sented. The surface area of this rock borders 
the St. Peter's sandstone, but, to avoid too 
great complexity on the map, it is not distin- 
guished from the next formation to which it 
is closely allied. Its thickness reaches 120 feet. 

It it here appropriate to consider the geo- 
graphical boundaries, lithological characteris- 
tics, and paleontology of the several formations 
in Green county, in the same order as has been 
followed in giving the history of their origin. 

Potsdam Sandstone.* — This formation is not 
exposed anywhere in Green county; but south 
of the Wisconsin river, it is found as the bed 
rock of Otter, Mill and Blue Mounds creeks 
and their various tributaries, as far south as 
township 7, of the various ranges. Here it dis- 
appears owing to the southerly dip of the for- 
mation, and the sudden rise of the country to 

♦Because of the Potsdam sandstone being- an underlying: 
formation of Green county, thong-h not exposed anywhere, 
so far as Is known, within its limits, it is thought best to 
give its geographical boundaries, etc., in the Lead Region. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



83 



the south. This explains why it nowhere ap- 
pears in Green county. The valley of the Wis- 
consin river lies in this sandstone, forming a 
very level plain,from two to three miles wide and 
extending from Sauk City to a point about four 
miles above the mouth of the river. Good nat- 
ural exposures are seen in the bluffs on each 
side of the river, in which the various strata 
may be traced uninterruptedly for miles. 

The sandstone beds of the Potsdam are usu- 
ally composed of a very soft and friable sand, 
frequently crumbling readily between the 
fingers, especially if it is white. The upper 
beds are more frequently white than the others, 
although white beds are not uncommon in all 
parts of the formation. In general, the lower 
beds are yellow or brownish in color. The 
great inequality in the hardness of the several 
strata of the Potsdam is frequently the cause of 
the formation of terraces by erosion, which are 
often a conspicuous feature of the valleys in 
the vicinity of the Wisconsin river. 

South of the Wisconsin river, about the head- 
waters of Blue Mounds creek and Mill creek, 
the upper bed of the Potsdam consists of a red 
and very ferruginous sandstone, often contain- 
ing seams of iron ore andiron conci'etions. The 
coloring matter appears to be partially soluble, 
and, becoming washed out by the rain, colors 
the soil in some places to a considerable extent. 

The fossil remains of this formation seem to 
be chiefly confined to the calcareous strata and 
argillaceous shales. These remains consist chief- 
ly of Lijigula Aurora and Dicellocephelus Mia- 
nesotensis, — the former being quite small and 
usually having the shell remaining; sometimes, 
however, the shells have been ground up so that 
only a few fragments are found, disseminated 
through the shales. The trilobites are seldom 
or never found entire, but usually the cephalic 
portion, the pygidium, or still smaller fragments. 
The various sandstone beds of the Potsdam are 
usually unfossiliferous. The upper bed of sand- 
stone seldom contains anything but Scoltthus, 
which, in some localities, is very numerous. 



This fossil is also frequently found in all the 
sandstone beds. 

Lower Magnesian Limestone. — South of the 
Wisconsin river and north of the main water- 
shed, the Lower Magnesian limestone occupies 
a tract of land lying about the heads of all the 
smaller tributary streams, although seldom 
found so far back as their springs. Passing 
down any of the streams, we gradually pass be- 
low its surface, and its outcrops are seen gradu- 
ally higher in the hills, until, on reaching the 
Wisconsin river, it forms the cap of all the 
bluffs from Sauk City to Boscobel, usually ap- 
pearing in bold and rugged cliffs, lending a very 
picturesque effect to the scenery of the river. 
It forms also the valley of the Mississippi as far 
south as Glen Haven where it passes under the 
surface. Passing south of the divide which 
separates the waters which flow into the Wis- 
consin from the Pecatonica, it is found in the 
branches of the latter stream as far north as the 
north line of township 5, in ranges 5 and 6 east. 
Proceeding westward, it is not again encountered 
until the Platte and Grant rivers are reached, 
where it is found as the bed-rock of those 
streams; and, in township 5 north, of range 3 
west, it covers a large portion of the township. 

In Green county, there is but one exposure of 
the formation. It is in the valley of the Sugar 
river, about three miles above Brodhead. It 
commences a short distance north of the center 
of section 15, in township 2 north, of range 9 
east, (town of Decatur), where it has a width of 
about half a mile. In passing into township 3, 
in the same range (town of Albany) it widens to 
nearly two miles. It then becomes narrower; 
attains its greatest elevation above the river at 
the village of Albany; and finally disappears be- 
neath the surface of the river about a mile and 
a half above that place. 

After passing through the transition beds 
separating it from the Potsdam sandstone, the 
Lower Magnesian assumes all the qualities char- 
acterizing dolomite. It is very hard, compact, 
and close-grained, of a grayish-white color. 



84 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Beds of flint or chert are contained in all the 
strata, irrespective of geological position, differ- 
ing, however, considerably from the flint found 
in the Galena limestone, in that they are more 
regularly segregated, forming layers by them- 
selves, and are not so promiscuously distributed 
through the formation. 

The flint of the Lower Magnesian limestone is 
much whiter and more liable to decomposition 
than that of the Galena. There are also geodes 
and cavities lined with drusy quartz-crystals, 
which have never been seen in the Galena lime- 
stone, but are very abundant in the Lower Mag- 
nesian. The crystals are of many colors — 
white, yellow and rose color predominating and 
often affording beautiful cabinet specimens. 

The Lower Magnesian is a formation of ex- 
tremely variable thickness; the greatest known 
in the lead region is about 250 feet; this, how- 
ever, is seldom seen. This formation is charac- 
terized by the extreme rarity of its organic re- 
mains. The few fossils seen have been found 
imbedded in the drusy quartz with which the 
formation abounds and usually in the form of 
casts. Some, however, have been found in the 
limestone. 

St. Pete7'^s Sandstone. — The formation known 
as the St. Peter's sandstone is found in the val- 
leys of the Grant, Platte and Pecatonica rivers 
and their tributaries. In Green county, it forms 
the valley of the Sugar river and its branches, 
this valley being, in many places, as wide as that 
of the Mississippi. North of the dividing ridge 
it is found about the headwaters of the streams 
which flow into the Wisconsin, having its north- 
ern outcrop usually within two or three miles 
of the river and as far east as Boscobel forming 
a portion of the bluffs which inclose the river 
valley. 

'J'he St. Peters sandstone differs from the 
Potsdam sandstone in that it contains no beds 
of limestone or shales interstratified with it, 
but presents at any given locality a homo- 
geneous structure through its entire thickness. 
Its colof varies from snow white, through all 



the shades of yellow, to a very dark red, and 
in texture, from friable crumbling sand, to com- 
pact and fine-grained stone. Beneath the micro- 
scope, the particles of sand appear rounded and 
and water-worn. The same color and texture 
usually exist through the entire thickness at 
any given place. 

The St. Peters formation frequently impresses 
upon the surface of the country an appearance 
of terraces, although no traces of terraces, such as 
are formed in river valleys by changes of level, 
have anywhere been observed. This is most 
readily seen in those districts where it becomes 
the surface rock over any extended portion of 
country. 

The exposures of St. Peter's are very frequent 
in Green county, where, in addition to the con- 
tinuous exposures, small hills are frequently 
seen with flat tops, v^hich have been denuded 
nearly down to the formation under considera- 
tion. 

The varying hardness of the upper bed of the 
St. Peters, some portions, especially the white, 
being quite soft and friable, and others nearly 
as hard as quartzite, due, perhaps, to its greater 
or less impregnation with iron, appear to have 
caused an unequal resistance to disintegration, 
which has resulted in the formation of knobs, 
as they arc called. These are isolated pillars of 
sandstone, which shoot up in picturesque castel- 
lated forms, frequently exposing the entire 
thickness of the formation and forming very 
conspicuous objects in the landscape. 

The peculiarity of the hardness of the upper 
beds of the St. Peters proves of great assistance 
in tracing the outlines of the formation, in de- 
termining its thickness and in detecting irregu- 
larities in the surface contour. This formation 
differs very much in its thickness in different 
localities, although this does not appear to be 
the case so much in the Lead Region as near the 
northern outcrop of the formation, where it is 
in some places as thin as forty feet, and in oth- 
ers, not more than a mile or two distant, it is 
100 or even 150 fef^t thick, depending, seem- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



85 



ingly, on the varying thickness of the underly- 
ing Lower Magiiesian limestone. The layers 
consist of subordinate parts of very various 
lamination, dipping in various directions. 

There are several points in the lead region, 
where slight upheavals of the foi'mation appear 
to have taken place. The sandstone on the 
small branch on sections 35 and 36, in township 
2 north, of range 6 east, (town of Jordan, Green 
county), slopes gently toward Skinner creek, 
which appears to lie in a slight depression or 
synclinal valley. Passing over the ridge be- 
tween Skinner and Jordan creeks, a slight an- 
ticlinal ridge is seen by means of observations 
on the top of the St. Peters, which is exposed 
in numerous small dry runs. The top of the 
formation is found to be thirty feet higher on 
the ridge than at either of the creeks. Although 
disturbances of this kind are extremely rare and 
infrequent, yet in this case, as in a few others, 
the variations from the normal dip are too plain 
to be mistaken. 

The St. Peters sandstone seems everywhere 
to be perfectly destitute of orgaiiic remains. 
The only indication of metal seen in this for- 
mation is the presence of small conci-etions oi 
sandstone, cemented by a ferruginous substancf . 
This is due to the decomposition of iron pyrites 
or marcasite, as is proved by its existence in va- 
rious stages of decay. These concretions are 
not confined to any. particular part of the for- 
mation, but are much more abundant in the up- 
per beds. They are frequently perfectly 
spherical, and, when they occur in the dark col- 
ored sandstone, are often surrounded by a white 
ring about half an inch in width, from which 
the coloring matter seems to have been ab- 
sorbed. They have been noticed with more or 
less frequency in various places. They can be 
seen in abundance in the road near the center 
of section 3, in township 1 north, of range 6 
east (town of Cadiz, Green county). The 
lower bed is full of irregular cavities and small 
round holes about one-fourth of an inch in di- 
ameter. The upper bed of the sandstone is col- 



ored green by some salt of iron, and in it is a 
seam of green and ferruginous matter. 

It is a peculiarity of this formation that the 
stone hardens on exposure to the weather. In 
examining any natural exposure, it is found to 
consist of an outer indurated'shell and an inner 
and softer sandstone. This is a valuable qual- 
ity, causing it to be easily quarried and dressed, 
and enabling it afterward to withstand the in- 
fluences of the weather. In addition to this, it 
is easy to find almost any color that may be de- 
sired. • 

Trenton {JBnff and Blue) Limestones. — It will 
not be necessary to enter into a detailed descrip- 
tion of the ground covered by this formation. 
It is sufficient to say that it is always found be- 
tween the lowest bed of the Galena limestone 
(hereafter to be described) and the top of the 
St. Peters sandstone, and having an average 
thickness of about fifty feet. 

The Blue limestone is remarkable as being 
the purest in the Lead Region, and the nearest 
approach to the Trenton limestone of the east- 
ern States, both in its lithological and paleonto- 
logical characteristics. A very noticeable 
feature is its marked division into two parts; 
one very heavy-bedded, in layers of two or 
three feet thick, known as the glass rock, which 
constitutes the lower half; and the other, thin' 
bedded, in layers of two or three inches, gradu- 
ating sometimes without much change into thin- 
bedded Galena limestone above. It is at this 
point that the stratum of carbonaceous shale 
occurs, which is the line of demarkation be- 
tween the Blue and Galena limestones, and as 
such, is an unfailing guide. It varies very much 
in its thickness, being from a quarter of an inch 
to a foot ormoi'e, but wherever a good exposure 
of the two formations is seen, it has uniformly 
been found. 

East of range 8 east (that is, east of a north 
and south line drawn twelve miles west of the 
east boundary lines of the counties of Iowa and 
Lafayette) the presence of the Blue limestone 



86 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



is nowhere so clearly marked as west of this 
line. It is usually recognized by the outcrop- 
ping of a quantity of highly fossiliferous frag- 
ments scattered through the soil, having a worn 
and bleached appearance. East of range 3, the 
fossiliferous Blue limestone has not been found; 
hence, none has been discovered in Green 
county which lies still^farther eastward. It is 
replaced by a yellowish limestone, containing 
but very few fossils and in all respects similar 
to the Buff limestone. The thickness between 
the Galena limestone and St. Peters sandstone 
remains as usual about fifty feet. 

There are two exceptions to the foregoing 
general statement. A short distance south of 
the center of section 18, in township 1 north, of 
range 6 east (town of Cadiz, Green county), the 
Blue limestone re-appears in its full thickness, 
with all its characteristic fossils, but only cov- 
ering a small area of ground. The second ex- 
ception is situated on the southeast quarter of 
section 11, in township 3 north, of range 7 east 
(town of Mt. Pleasant, in Green county). It is 
known as the Marble Quarry, so named on ac- 
count of the fine polish which may be given to 
the stone. The Blue limestone has here the 
same thickness, both of the thin and thick beds, 
as in the western part of the Lead Region. All 
the characteristic fossils are present, and in 
short, it presents all the usual lithological ap- 
pearances. It appears to have been deposited 
in a basin-shaped depression, as the top of St. 
Peters is found to be much lower here than any 
where in the vicinity. Although separated 
many miles from other outcrop of the Blue 
limestone, it is evident that it was deposited 
under the same conditions, as in other localities. 
It makes a good article of burning-lime. * It 
takes a high polish, equal to marble, although 
large pieces can not be obtained. 

Tlie Blue and Buff limestone are the lowest 
formations in which any ores are found in suffi- 
cient quantities to repay mining in the Lead 
Region. Large bodies of lead ore have from 
time to time been taken from this formation, 



but it seems to be more especially productive 
of zinCjboth as carbonate and sulplmret. Organic 
remains are found in the greatest profusion 
and in a very fine state of preservation, the 
rock in many places being entirely composed of 
them. In the Buff limestone, they usually occur 
as casts. 

Galena Limestone. — The Galena limestone is 
by far the most important in respect to its me- 
tallic wealth of all the formations before con- 
sidered. In it are contained all the mines of 
the southern and western parts of the Lead Re- 
gion; and whenever mining has been carried 
on in the underlying Trenton limestones, lead 
is usually present in the overlying Galena. 
This limestone is the prevailing surface rock in 
the Lead Region. Its northern outcrop con- 
forms closely to the main water-shed, being 
parallel to, and always within a few miles north 
of it. Its surface area is given as follows for 
each range in the Lead Region: 

Range 1 West 176 Square Miles. 

"^ 2 " 137 



East. 



84 
94 
108 
45 
190 
179 
189 
164 
103 
144 



Total 1,613 

The Galena limestone is almost invariably a 
very compact, hard, crystalline rock, of a yel- 
lowish gray color, with numerous small cavities, 
sometimes filled with a softer material and 
sometimes lined with small crystals of calcite. 
The upper portion is usually thick-bedded and 
free from fiints, the layers being from one to 
four feet thick, while the lower portion almost 
invariably consists of several feet of layers 
from one to two inches thick. Good exposures 
of parts of this formation are frequently to be 
met with; it may be seen in cliffs and ledges on 
nearly all the streams in the Lead Region. It 
always weathers irregularly in these natural ex- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



8T 



posures, leaving the surface full of small cavi- 
ties due to the removal of the softer parts. 

The formation is characterized by layers of 
flints, which, however, are not constant in their 
occurrence in the same beds at different locali- 
ties. In some places, there are several beds of 
flints, which seem to be connected with the 
openings, and serve as a guide to them, while 
in others they are either entirely absent or oc- 
cupying very different geological positions. 
The flints are sometimes found in separate 
layers, deposited conformably in the rock and 
often in irregular pieces distributed through the 
strata. They seem to be confined principally 
to the middle and lower parts of the formation 
although not entirely absent from any part. 

The Galena limestone is, in many places suc- 
cessfully quarried as a building stone. This 
is chiefly the case in the southern and western 
parts of the region where the Bluff limestone 
or St. Peters sandstone cannot be obtained. The 
chief objection to it is the frequency of cavitie:- 
and soft places in it which render it difficult t( 
dress, and cause it to weather irregularly. Foi 
foundations, or any work where beauty of finish 
is not the chief object, it is a good and durabk- 
stone. The organic remains of the Galena lime- 
stone are quite abundant, but do not exist in 
such profusion as in the l>lue limestone. 

We have before remarked that the clay soils 
and sub-soils of the Lead Region appear to con- 
sist chiefly of those portions of the overlying 
Galena limestone and earthy Cincinnati shales 
which being insoluble in water were not re- 
moved by the gradual process of denudation. 

Exceptions to the clay soil, usually found in 
the country covered by the Galena limestone, 
are found in the eastern part of La Fayette, 
and frequently in Green county, where the soil 
is quite sandy, owing to the disintegration of 
calcareous sand layers frequently found there in 
that formation. A few localities are cited be- 



low where the saT;^d is so abundant that the 
formation might be considered a sandstone wei*e 
it not for the occasional outcrops of Galena 
limestone in place. In the western part of the 
town of Jordan, Green county, (township 2 
north, of range 6 east), on sections 2, 11 and 14, 
the ridges have a great deal of sand contained 
in the soil. The roads are frequently sandy, 
similar to those in a sandstone formation. Ly- 
ing entirely without the drift, this circumstance 
led to a search for and discovery of the original 
beds. 

At the village of Martin, on the southeast 
quarter of section 82, in township 1 north, of 
range 6 east (town of Cadiz, Green county), on 
the Pecatonica river, at the saw-mill, is a large 
stone quarry, of which the upper portion consists 
of Galena limestone in thin beds, containing 
considerable calcareous sand between the layers. 
The sand here is found in place. 

On the ridge near the quarter-post on sections 
29 and 32, in township 2 north, of range 6 east 
(town of Jordan), a great deal of sand is to be 
seen at an elevation of 150 feet above the top 
of the St. Peters; numerous concretions of iron 
are also to be found, similar to those usually 
found in the upper bed of that formation. East 
of the center of section 34, in township 3 north, 
of range 6 east (town of Adams), is another 
sandy ridge. 

The agencies of the glacial period do not ap- 
pear to have had anything to do with transport- 
ing the component materials of the soil; and, 
although a slight transportation has taken place, 
it is always merely local. For instance, in the 
valleys of the creeks which lie in the St. Peters 
sandstone, the soil is usually a rich clay loam, 
richer, in fact, than that of the adjacent ridges, 
because the best parts of the upland soils have 
been washed down and distributed over the 
surface of the valley. 



88 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ALTITUDES IN GREEN COUNTY. 

Above Above 

Pl'tces. Lake Mich. the Sea. 

Jordan 380 feet 858 feet 

Willett aiO " 888 " 

Farmers' Grove 540 " 1.118 " 

Bern 500 " 1,078 " 

Perry 4(50 " 1,038 " 

NewGlarusP. O H90 " 968 " 

Monticello 280 " 858 " 

Monroe Court House 440 " 1,018 " 

Clarno 857 " 935 " 

Twin Grove 410 " 988 " 

Juda 243 " 821 " 

Sylvester 287 " 865 " 

Diiyion 218 " 818 " 

Brooklyn 400 " 978 •' 

AtticaP.0 250 •' 828 " 

Albany 240 " 818 " 

Brodhead 220 " 798 " 

Oakley 340 " 918 •' 

LEAD MINES IN GREEN COUNTY. 

Moses Strong, in "Geology and Topography 
of tlie Lead Region," in Vol. II. of "Geology of 
Wisconsin," says: 

"These [near Monroe] are the most easterly 
diggings in the lead region, and are chiefly in- 
teresting for that reason. They are situated 
about three miles and a half north of the city 
of Monroe. At present only two parties are at 
work: 

" 7\ n. Whiie db W?dte.— Situated on the 
northeast quarter of section 14, in township 2 
north, of range 7 east [town of Monroe]. The 
ore is found here in a flat sheet, accompanied 
by pipe clay, about twenty-three feet below the 



surface. The general course of the sheet is 
northwest and southeast, and produces only lead 
ore. The ground is quite free from water. The 
present parties have been working here six 
years, during which period they have produced 
90,000 pounds of lead ore. 

^^Frmne c5 Company. — Situated on the south- 
east quarter of section 10, in township 2 north, 
of range "7 east [town of Monroe], on the land 
of Henry Wilber. This is an east and west 
range, about half a mile northeast of the pre- 
ceding. It was discovered in 1844, and has 
been proved for a distance of 700 feet. The 
lead ore is found in both vertical crevices and 
flat openings. There appear to be three princi- 
pal vertical crevices, connected in places by 
horizontal sheets. They were worked by John 
Monahan from 1870 to February, 1872, chiefly 
in the winter season, during which time he pro- 
duced 50,000 pounds. Mr. Frame took the 
ground in 1874, and produced 4,000 pounds in 
the first six months. The production since then 
could not be ascertained. The ground is quite 
dry, and the workings are about fifty feet below 
the surface. It is not probable that any exten- 
sive deposits exist in this vicinity. The ground 
appears rather to be such as, by careful work- 
ing, will afford moderate wages to a few per- 
sons."* 



*Mr. strong's observations were made in 1873. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



89 



CHAPTER III. 



ABORIGINES OF GREEN COUNTY. 



As early as the year 1615, Samuel Champlain, 
while among the Huron Nation, at the head of 
the Georgian bay, in Canada, had heard of a 
tribe of Indians living many leagues beyond 
Lake Huron called the Fire Nation, or more ac- 
curately the Prairie Nation, better known at a 
later date as the Mascoutins. Their homes were 
upon the Fox river, of Green bay (where they 
had a village); and their territory extended 
southeastward, it is believed, as far as the site 
of the present city of Chicago. Their most 
northern village is thought to have been located 
within what are now the limits of Green Lake 
Co., Wis. — somewhere on Fox river between 
the present Berlin and Lake Puckaway. The 
nearest tribe to the Mascoutins down Fox river 
was the Winnebago, whose ancient seat was on 
the borders of the lake which now bears their 
name. In the immediate neighborhood of the 
Mascoutins, but up the river as is supposed, 
were located the Miamis and the Kickapoos. So 
far as is known, the valley of the Wisconsin 
river below the "portage" (now Portage, Co- 
lumbia Co., Wis.) was without inhabitants. The 
time we are now speaking of was before the 
year 1634 — before any white man had set foot 
upon the soil of any portion of what is now the 
State of Wisconsin. It was a number of years 
subsequent to the date just mentioned, before 
the Sacs and Foxes made their appearance upon 
Fox river. Having thus described the inhabi- 
tants to the northward and northeastward of 
what is now Green county at the earliest known 
period, let us turn our attention to the tribe be- 



lieved to have been the occupiers of this imme- 
diate section of country, 'J50 years ago. 

There is a map extant, dated 1632, made by 
Samuel Champlain. On this ma]) a Nation is 
located where was "a quantity of buffaloes." 
This Nation is conjectured to have been the 
Illinois. These Indians occupied the country 
to the southward — the territory now constituting 
the State of Illinois; at least the northern por- 
tions of it, extending some distance into the 
present State of Wisconsin and including what 
is now Green county. The tribe of the Illini 
(or Illinois) was afterward driven beyond the 
Mississippi, but subsequently returned to the 
river which still bears their name. But their 
hold upon the territory so far north as the south- 
ern part of the present Wisconsin, was undoubt- 
edly very weak at that period, and doubtless 
was soon entirely lost. The Mascoutins and 
their kindred, the Kickapoos and Miamis, emi- 
grated south, and the whole region between the 
Fox and Wisconsin rivers on the north, and the 
Rock river on the south, including the present 
Green county, was taken possession of by 

I. THE SACS AND FOXES. 

The Sacs and Foxes came from the east to 
Fox river and then moved westward to the Wis- 
consin. Of all the tribes who have inhabited 
this State, they are the most noted. The Sacs 
were sometimes called Sauksor Saukies, and the 
Foxes were frequently known as the Outagam- 
ies. They are of the Algonquin family, and 
are first mentoned in 1665, by Father AUouez, 
but as separate tribes. Afterward, however. 



90 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



because of the identity of their language and 
their associations, they were and still are con- 
sidered one Nation. In December, 1 669, Allouez 
found upon the shores of Green bay a village of 
Sacs, occupied also by members of other tribes, 
and early in 1670 he visited a village of the 
same Indians located upon the Fox river of 
Green bay, at a distance of four leagues from 
its mouth. Here a device of these Indians for 
catching fish arrested the attention of the mis- 
sionary. "From one side of the river to the 
other," he writes, -'they made a barricade, plant- 
ing great stakes, two fathoms from the water, in 
such a manner that there is, as it were, a bridge 
above for the fishes, who by the aid of a little 
bow-net, easily take sturgeons and all other 
kinds of fish which this pier stops, although the 
water does not cease to flow between the 
stakes." When the Jesuit father first obtained, 
five years previous, a knowledge of this tribe, 
they were represented as savage above all 
others, great in numbers, and without any per- 
manent dwelling place. The Foxes were of 
two stocks — one calling themselves Outagamies 
or Foxes, whence our English name; the other, 
Musquakink, or men of red clay, the name now 
used by the tribe. They lived in early times 
with their kindred the Sacs east of Detroit, and, 
as some say, near the St. Lawrence. They were 
driven west, and settled at Saginaw, a name de- 
rived from the Sacs. Thence they were forced 
by the Iroquois to Green Bay; but were com- 
pelled to leave that place and settle on Fox 
river. 

Allouez, on the 24th of April, 1670, arrived 
at a village of the Foxes, situated on Wolf 
river, a northern tributary of the Fox. "The 
Nation," he declares, "is renowned for being- 
numerous; they have more than 400 men bear- 
ing arms; the number of women and children 
is greater on account of polygamy, which exists 
among them — each man having commonly four 
wives, some of them six, and others as high as 
ten." The missionary found that the Foxes 
had retreated to those parts to escape the per- 



secutions of the Iroquois. Allouez established 
among these Indians his Mission of St. Mark, 
rejoicing- in the fact that in less than two years 
he had baptized "sixty children and some 
adults." The Foxes, at the summons of De la 
Barre, in 1684, sent warriors against the Five 
Nations. They also took part in Denonville's 
more serious campaign; but soon after became 
hostile to the French. As early as 1693 tliey 
had plundered several on their way to trade 
with the Sioux, alleging that they were carrying 
arms and ammunitions to their ancient enemies, 
frequently causing them to make portages to 
the southward in crossing from Lake Michigan 
to the Mississippi. Afterward they became 
reconciled to the French; but the reconciliation 
was of short duration. In 1712 Fort Detroit, 
then defended by only a handful of men, was 
attacked by them in conjunction with the Mas- 
coutins and Kickapoos. However, in the end, 
by calling in friendly Indians, the garrison not 
only protected themselves but were enabled to 
act on the offensive, destroying the greater part 
of the besieging force. 

The Nation continued their ill will to the 
French. The consequence was that their terri- 
tory in 1716 had been invaded and they were 
reduced to sue for peace. But their friendship 
Avas not of long continuance. In 1718 the Foxes 
numbered 500 men and "abounded in women 
and children." They are spoken of at that date 
as being very industrious, raising large quanti- 
ties of Indian corn. In 1728 another expedi- 
tion was sent against them by the French. 
Meanwhile the Menomonees had also become 
hostile; so, too, the Sacs, who were now the 
allies of the Foxes, The result of the enterprise 
was an attack upon and the defeat of a number 
of the Manomonees; the burning of the wig- 
wams of the Winnebagoes (after passing the 
deserted village of the Sacs upon the Fox river), 
that tribe, also, at this date being hostile; and 
the destruction of the fields of the Foxes. They 
were again attacked in their own country by the 
French in 1730, and defeated. In 1734 both the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



91 



Sacs and Foxes came in conflict with the same 
foe; but this time the French were not as suc- 
cessful as on previous expeditions. In 1736 the 
Sacs and Foxes were "connected with the gov- 
ernment of Canada"; but it is certain they were 
far from being friendly to the Frencli. 

The conflict between France and Great Brit- 
ain, commencing in 1754, found the Sacs and 
Foxes allied with the former power, against the 
English, although not long previous to this time 
they were the bitter enemies of the French. 
At the close of that contest, so disastrous to the 
interests of France in North America, these 
tribes readily gave in their adhesion to the con- 
querors, asking that English traders might be 
sent them. The two Nations, then about equally 
divided, numbered, in 1761, about 700 warriors. 
Neither of the tribes took part in Pontiac's war, 
but they befriended the English. The Sacs had 
emigrated farther to the westward; but the 
Foxes, at least a portion of them, still remained 
upon the waters of the river of Green bay 
which perpetuates their name. A few years 
later, however, and the former were occupants 
of the upper Wisconsin; also to a considerable 
distance below the portage, where their chief 
town was located; also spreading over the re- 
gion now including Green county; so that this 
immediate country was peculiarly Sac territory. 
Further down the stream just mentioned was 
the upper village of the Foxes, while their low- 
er one was situated near its mouth at the site 
of the present city of Prairie du Chien. At this 
date, 1766, and even later, what is now Green 
county was within the territory claimed as 
theirs. Gradually, however, they retreated 
down the Mississippi until, before the close of 
the century, all their possessions in what is now 
Wisconsin was in the extreme southwest. They 
no longer had their hunting grounds to the 
northward of the Wisconsin river. Another 
tribe, had, as it were, crowded them out. 

During the War of the Revolution the Sacs 
and Foxes continued the firm friends of the 
English. In 1804 they ceded their lands south 



of the^Wisconsin river to the United' States; 
so that they no longer were owners of any lands 
within this State. From that date, therefore, 
these allied tribes cannot be considered as be- 
longing to the Indian Nations of Wisconsin. 
They were generally friendly to Great Britain 
during the War of 18 12-1 5, but they soon made 
peace with the United States after that contest 
ended. A striking episode in their subsequent 
history is the Black Hawk War, which will be 
narrated in a subsequent chapter. The exact 
date of the Foxes leaving the Wisconsin river 
country' is unknown. They sold the prairie at 
the mouth of that stream to some Canadian- 
French traders, in 1781, and subsequently va- 
cated their village. Probably about the begin- 
ning of the present century they had abandoned 
this region as their home, although they long 
after visited it for the purposes of trade. 
'Why the Fox Indians Left the Loioer Wisconsin. 

[By Jonathan Carver. 1 

On the 8th of October [1766] we got our ca- 
noes into the Ouisconsin [Wisconsin] river,which 
at this place is more than 100 yards wide and 
the next day arrived at the great town of the 
Saukies. This is the largest and best built 
Indian town I ever saw. It contains about 
ninety houses, each large enough for several 
families. These are built of hewn plank, neatly 
joined and covered with bark, so compactly as 
to keep out the most penetrating rains. Before 
the doors are placed comfortable sheds, in which 
the inhabitants sit, when the weather will per- 
mit, and smoke their pipes. The streets are 
regular and spacious, so that it appears more 
like a civilized town than the abode of savages. 
The land near the tow^n is very good. On their 
plantations, which lie adjacent to their houses, 
and which are neatly laid out, they raise quan- 
tities of Indian corn, beans, melons, etc., so 
that this place is esteemed the best market for 
traders to furnish themselves with provisions of 
any within 800 miles of it. 

The Saukies can raise about 300 warriors, who 
are generally employed every summer in mak- 



92 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ing excursions into the territories of the Illi- 
nois and Pawnee Nations, from whence they 
return with a great number of slaves. But 
those people frequently retaliate-, and, in their 
turn, destroy many of the Saukies, which I 
judge to be the reason why they increase no 
faster. 

Whilst I stayed here I took a view of some 
mountains, [Blue Mounds], that lay about fifteen 
miles to the southward, and abounded in lead 
ore. I ascended one of the highest of these, 
and had an extensive view of the country. For 
many miles nothing was to be seen but lesser 
mountains, which appeared at a distance like 
haycocks, they being free from trees. Only a 
few groves of hickory and stunted oaks, covered 
some of the valleys. 

So plentiful is lead here that I saw large 
quantities of it lying about the streets in the 
town belonging to the Saukies, and it seemed to 
be as good as the produce of other countries. 
On the 10th of October we proceeded down the 
river, and the next day reached the first town 
of the Outagamies. This town contained about 
fifty houses, but we found most of them de- 
serted, on account of an epidemical disorder 
that had lately raged among them, and carried 
off more than one-half of the inhabitants. The 
greater part of those who survived had retired 
into the woods to avoid the contagion. 

On the 15th we entered that extensive river, 
the Mississippi. The Ouisconsin, from the car- 
rying place to the part where it falls into the 
Mississippi, flows with a smooth but strong cur- 
rent; the water of it is exceedingly clear, and 
through it you may perceive a fine and sandy 
bottom, tolerably free from rocks. In it are a 
few islands, the soil of which appeared to be 
good, though somewhat woody. The land near 
the river also seemed to be, in general, excel- 
lent; but that at a distance is very full of moun- 
tains, where, it is said, there are many lead 
mines. 

About five miles from the junction of the 
rivers I observed the ruins of a large town, in a 



very pleasing situation. On inquiring of the 
neighboring Indians Avhy itwas thusdeserted, I 
was informed that, about thirty years ago, the 
Great Spirit appeared on the toji of a pyramid 
of rocks, which lay at a little distance from it 
toward the west, and warned them to quit their 
habitations; for the land on which they were 
built belonged to him, and he had occasion for 
it. As a proof that he, who gave them these 
orders, was really the Great Spirit, he further 
told them that the grass should immediately 
spring up on those very rocks from whence he 
now addressed them, which they knew to be 
bare and barren. The Indians obeyed, and soon 
after discovered that this miraculous alteration 
had taken place. They showed me the spot, 
but the growth of the grass appeared to be no 
ways supernatural. I apprehended this to have 
been a stratagem of the French or Spaniards to 
answer some selfish view; but in what manner 
they effected their purpose I know not. This 
people, soon after their removal, built a town 
on the bank of the Mississippi, near the mouth 
of the Ouisconsin, at a place called by the 
French Les, Prairies Les Chiens, which signifies 
the Dog Plains; it is a large town and contains 
about 300 families; the houses are well built, 
after the Indian manner, and pleasantly situated 
on a very rich soil, from which they raise every 
necessary of life in great abundance. I saw here 
many horses of a good size and shape. This 
town is a great mart, where all the adjacent 
tribes, and even those who inhabit the most re- 
mote branches of the Mississii)pi, annually as- 
semble about the latter end ol May, bringing 
with them their furs to dispose of to the traders. 
But it is not always that they conclude their 
sale here; this is determined by a general coun- 
cil of the chiefs, who consult whether ii would 
be more conducive to their interests to sell their 
goods at this place, or carry them on to Louisi- 
ana or Michillimackinac; according to the de- 
cision of this council, they either proceed far- 
ther or return to their different liQmes. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



93 



The Mississippi, at the entrance of the Ouis- 
consin, near which stands a mountain of con- 
siderable height,, is about half a n.ile over; but 
opposite to the last mentioned town, it appears 
to be more than a mile wide and full of islands, 
the soil of which is extraordinarily rich and but 
thinly wooded. 

CONCERNING THE FOX INDIANS. 
[By Schoolcraft, 1820. | 

The first wo hear of these people [the Foxes] 
is from early missionaries of New France, who 
call them, in a list drawn up for the government 
in 1736, "Gens du Sang" and Miskaukis. The 
latter I found to be the name they apply to 
themselves. We get nothing, however, by it. 
It means red earth, being a compound from 
inisk-wdu, red, and ankle, earth. They are a 
branch of the great Algonquin family. The 
French, who formed a bad opinion of them as 
their history opened, bestowed on them the 
name of Renouard, from which we derive their 
long standing popular name. Their traditions 
attribute their origin to eastern portions of 
America. Mr. Gates, who acted as my inter- 
preter and is well acquainted with their lan- 
guages and customs, informs me that their tradi- 
tions refer to their residence on the north banks 
of the St. Lawrence, near the ancient cataraqui. 
They appear to have been a very erratic, 
spirited, warlike and treacherous tribe, dwelling 
but a short time at a spot, and pushing west- 
ward as their affairs led them, till ihey finally 
reached the Mississippi, which they must have 
crossed after 1766, for Carver found them liv- 
ing in villages on the Wisconsin. At Saginaw 
they appeared to have formed a fast alliance 
with the Sauks, a tribe to whom they are closely 
allied by language and history. They figure in 
the history of Indian events about old Michilli- 
mackinac, where they played pranks under the 
not very definite title of Muscodainsug, but are 
first conspicuously noted while they dwelt on 
the river bearing their name, which falls into 
Green bay, Wisconsin.* The Chippewas, with 

*Thi8 name was first applied to a Territory in 1836. 



whom they have strong affinity of language, 
call them Outagamie, and ever deemed them a 
sanguinary and unreliable tribe. The French 
defeated them in a sanguinary battle at Butte 
de Mort, and by this defeat drove them from 
Fox river. 

Their present numbers cannot be accurately 
given. I was informed that the village I visited 
contained 250 souls. They have a large village 
at Rock Island, where the Foxes and Sauks 
live together, which consists of sixty lodges, and 
numbers 300 souls. One-half of these may be 
Sauks. They have another village at the mouth 
of Turkey river; altogether they may muster 
from 460 to 500 souls. Yet, they are at war 
with most of the tribes around them, except 
the lowas, Sauks and Kickapoos. They are en- 
gaged in a deadly and apparently successful 
war against the Sioux tribes. They recently 
killed nine men of that Nation, on the Terre 
Blue river, and a party of twenty men are now 
absent, in the same direction, under a half-breed 
named Morgan. They are on bad terras with 
the Osages and Pawnees, of the Missouri, and 
not on the best terms with their neighbors, the 
Winnebagoes. 

I again embarked at 4 o'clock a. m. (8th). My 
men were stout fellows, and worked with hearty 
will, and it was thought possible to reach the 
prairie during the day by hard and late push- 
ing. We passed Turkey river at 2 o'clock, and 
they boldly plied their paddles, sometimes ani- 
mating their labors with a song; but the 
Mississippi proved too stout for us, and some- 
time after night-fall we put ashore on an 
island, before reaching the Wisconsin. 

In ascending the river this day, I observed the 
pelican, which exhibited itself in a flock stand- 
ing on a low sandy spot of an island. This 
bird has a clumsy and unwieldy look, from the 
duplicate membrane attached to its lower 
mandible, which is constructed so as when 
inflated to give it a bag-like appearance. A 
short sleep served to restore the men, and we 
were again in our canoes the next morning (9th) 



94 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



before I could certainly tell the time by my 
watch. Daylight had not yet broke when we 
passed the influx of the Wisconsin, and we 
reached the prairie under a full chorus and 
lauded at 6 o'clock. 

Wcia between the Sacs and Foxes and the Sioux. 
[I.— By Mrs. H. S. Baird, of Green Bay.] 
During the first half of the present century, 
there existed between different Indian tribes of 
the north and west, a succession of sanguinary 
wars. The conflicts between the contending 
parties were marked by the characteristic traits 
of cruelty and ferocity of a barbarous race. 
The tribes engaged in these hostilities were the 
Sioux, Chippewas, Sacs, Foxes and Winneba- 
goes. Their battles were not always fought in 
their own country, nor on their own lands. 
Whenever and wherever a hostile party met, a 
contest was sure to be the result; and many 
incidents connected with this warfare were 
observed by the early settlers of Wisconsin, one 
of which I witnessed, and will relate. 

In the month of May, 1830, with my family, 
I visited Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi; 
we were guests of the late Joseph Rolette, 
then a trader, and agent of the American Fur 
Company. One evening, a few days after our 
arrival, we were startled by hearing the con- 
tinual and successive reports of fire-arms, ap- 
parently on the Mississippi below. The firing- 
continued for an hour or more, and was suc- 
ceeded by sounds of Indian drums and savage 
yells, with an occasional discharge of guns. 

The family having retired at the usual time, 
were aroused from their slumbers about mid- 
night by hearing foot-steps on the piazza, con- 
versation in the Indian language, and finally by 
knocking on the door and window shutters. 
Mr. Rolette immediately arose and went out to 
ascertain the cause of the disturbance, when he 
was informed that a bloody battle had been 
fought, and the visitors were the victors, and 
had called up their trader to inform him of 
their victory, and to obtain necessary spirit 



water to celebrate the glorious event in regular 
savage style. Their wants were supplied, of 
course, when they took their leave, but not to 
sleep; neither could we sleep, as the warriors 
kept up through the night a most horrible pow- 
wow, enlivened by savage yells, all plainly 
within our hearing. 

In the morning we heard the particulars of 
the savage fight, and during the day witnessed 
one of the most disgusting and revolting exhi- 
bitions that human beings could display. 

On the day before the battle, or rather mas- 
sacre, a war party of some twenty or twenty- 
five Sioux encamped on an island opposite 
Prairie du Chien. They were there joined by 
a few Menomonees, who volunteered to assist 
their friends, the Sioux. It appears that the 
latter had previously received information that 
on that day a party of Sacs and Foxes, their 
inveterate enemies, would leave their village, 
situated on the Mississippi, some distance below 
Prairie du Chien, intending to visit the latter 
place; and that they would encamp for the 
night at a regular camping ground, near the 
mouth of the Wisconsin river. 

In the afternoon of that day, the Sioux war 
party embarked in several canoes, and descend- 
ed the river. Arriving near the spot where 
they knew their intended victims would en- 
camp, they drew their canoes on land, and care- 
fully hid them in the thick woods, and then 
selected a spot covered with a dense growth of 
bushes, and within a short gun-shot of the 
lauding place on the camping ground. Here, 
with true Indian cunning, they lay in ambush, 
awaiting the arrival of the unsuspecting Sacs 
and Foxes. No fire was made, and the still- 
ness of death reigned in the forest. Nor had 
they long to wait for the arrival of their foes. 

Between sunset and dark, the party, in three 
or four canoes, arrived at the fatal landing 
place, and dis-embarkcd. It consisted of 
eighteen persons, one old chief, one squaw, one 
boy about fourteen years old and fi.Cteen 
warriors. Upon landing, the party commenced 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



95 



unloading the canoes. The concealed war 
party remained perfectly quiet, scarcely breath- 
ing, so that their victims might be completely 
surprised. After all had landed, and while 
carrying their effects on shore, leaving their 
guns and war-clubs in the canoes, the party in 
ambush bounded to their feet, with a horrible 
yell, and fired a murderous volley at the sur- 
prised party, by which all fell except one man 
and the boy. The former reached a canoe, 
seized a loaded gun, and discharged it, mortally 
wounding one of the Sioux; but the poor Sac 
was soon dispatched, and the only one of the 
eighteen who survived was the boy, who hap- 
pened to be in a canoe. He seized a paddle, 
pushed into the stream, and made his escape 
down the swift current of the river. 

After the massacre, all wlio yet breathed 
Avere dispatched, and horribly mutilated. 
Hands, feet, fingers, ears and scalps were cut 
off, and more horrible still, the heart of the 
aged chief was cut from his breast, and all 
taken by the victors as trophies of the bloody 
conflict. 

On the day succeeding the murder, the victo- 
rious party assembled, and accompanied by a 
few squaws, paraded the streets of Prairie du 
Chien, with the monotonous sounding drum 
and rattle, and displaying on poles the scalps 
and dismembered human fragments taken from 
the bodies of their victims. The whole party 
was painted with various colors, wore feathers, 
and carried their tomahawks, war-clubs and 
scalping-knives. Stopping in front of the 
principal houses in the village, they danced the 
war-dance and scalp-dance, ending with yells 
characteristic of incarnate devils. 

The mangled limbs were still fresh and bleed- 
ing; one old squaw had carried on a pole tlie 
entire hand, with a long strip of skin from tlie 
arm of one of the murdered men, elevated above 
her head, the blood trickling down upon her 
hair and face, while she kept up the death-song, 
and joined in the scalp-dance. After this exhi- 
bition, which lasted two or three hours, the 



warriors went to a small mound, about 200 yards 
from Mr. Rolette's residence, and in plain sight 
made a fire and roasted the heart of the old 
murdered chief, and then divided it into small 
pieces among the several warriors, who devoured 
it, to inspire them with courage, and "make 
their hearts glad." 

The whole scene was shocking and disgust- 
ing in the extreme, and such a one, we hope, 
never again will be witnessed in a civilized com- 
munity. 

The incidents just related occurred in a town 
containing a civilized (?) population of 600 or 
80t) inhabitants, under the walls of the U. S. 
garrison, and within musket shot of the fort. 
Neither civil nor military authorities made any 
effort to prevent the exhibition of the revolting 
and savage trophies of the sanguinary battle. 
In the afternoon, the party of Sioux warriors 
embarked in their canoes and ascended the Mis- 
sissippi, on their return to their own village, 
leaving on the minds and memories of those 
who witnessed these horrible and frantic orgies 
recollections not soon to be forgotten. 

II.— By James H. Lockwood. 

In 1830 a party of Sauks and Foxes killed 
some Sioux, on or about the head-waters of Red 
Cedar river, in the now State of Iowa; and the 
same season a band of Fox Indians, who resided 
about where Dubuque now is, had occasion to 
visit Prairie du Chien on business with the 
agent, whom they had previously informed that 
they would arrive on a certain day. An Indian 
called the Kettle was their chief. It was gener- 
ally believed that John Marsh gave the Sioux 
information of the coming of the Foxes, and of 
the time they were expected; and on the morn- 
ing of the day appointed for the arrival of the 
Foxes at Prairie du Chien, a small war party of 
young Sioux made their appearance here, and 
joined by a few of the Menomonee young men, 
proceeded down the Mississippi to the lower 
end of the Prairie du Pierreaux, some twelve or 
fifteen miles below Prairie du Chien, where a 
narrow channel of the Mississippi runs close to 



96 



HISTORY OF GREEI^ COUNTY. 



that end of the prairie, fringed with small trees, 
bushes and grass. They knew the custom of 
the Indians in going up stream to avail them- 
selves of all such side channels, as there was 
less current in them than in the broad river; 
and secreting themselves among the bushes, 
trees and grass, awaited their unsuspecting vic- 
tims. When the Foxes came within point 
blank shot, they all fired upon them, killing 
their chief Kettle and several others. The 
Foxes finding their chief killed, returned down 
the river to carry the news of their misfortunes 
to the tribe, while the Sioux and Menomonees 
returned home with the tidings of their victory 
and to dance over it. They passed through 
Prairie du Chien, and remained a short time 
here, but for some unaccountable reason no no- 
tice whatever was taken of it. 

The signs of several war parties of the Foxes 
were reported to have been seen on the opposite 
side of the river during the year; but they ef- 
fected nothing until sometime, I think, in June, 
1831, when a considerable number of Menomo- 
nees had collected at Prairie du Chien, and en- 
camped on an island near the eastern shore of 
the Mississippi, about one-fourth of a mile from 
the old Fort Crawford. They had obtained 
whisky enough for all to get socially drunk up- 
on — and it is rare to find a Menomonee who will 
not get drunk when he has a chance — and they 
had carried their revels far into the night, until 
men, women and children were beastly diunk. 
About two hours before day a Fox war parly, 
that had been watching their movements, fell 
upon them in that helpless state and killed 
about thirty of them. By this time some of the 
more sober of them were aroused, and com- 
menced firing upon the Foxes, who fled down 
the river, pursued a short distance by the Me- 
nominees. 

Thomas P. Burnett, the sub-Indian agent, 
was sleeping with me in my store. It being very 
warm weather, we had made a bed of blankets 
on the counter, when about two hours before 
daylight we were awakened by the cries of a 



Menomonee woman at the store door. We let 
her in, when she told us. of the disaster to the 
Menomonees. Mr. Burnett took my horse and 
went to inform Gen. Street, the Indian agent, 
who lived about four miles above this, and who 
arrived about daylight and gave the first infor- 
mation to the fort. Although there had been a 
great firing of guns and hallooing among the 
Indians, the sentinels had reported nothing of 
it to the officers; but on hearing of the aflPair, . 
the commandant immediately dispatched a com- 
pany of men in boats after the Foxes, but they 
did not overtake them. The government de- 
manded of the Sauks to deliver up the perpe- 
trators of this deed. The Foxes fled to the 
Sauks, and their chief. Kettle, being dead, they 
remained among and amalgamated with them, 
and have not since continued a separate Nation 
or tribe. I have always believed this to be the 
origin of the Black Hawk War. There were, I 
suppose, other causes of discontent, but I believe 
that this transaction was the immediate cause 
of the movements of Black Hawk. , 

III.— By John H. Fonda. 

The same year, 1830, the Fox and Sauk Indi- 
ans killed some Sioux, at the head of Cedar 
river, in Iowa. Capt. Dick Mason* started 
with a number of troops for the scene of dis- 
turbance, and 1 went along as guide. We ar- 
rived at the place of the fight, found every- 
thing quiet and all we did was to turn about 
and go back the way w^e came. 

Soon after, the Sioux and a numberof Menom- 
onees attacked a party of Sauks and Foxes at 
Prairie du Pierreaux and killed some ten Indi- 
ans, among whom was Kettle, the great Fox 
chief.f 

The Sauks and Foxes were coming up to a 
treaty unarmed, and the Sioux, made aware of 
this through their runners, got the Menomonees 



*Richiird B. Mason, a native of Virs-inia, was a 1st. leu- 
tenant in 1817, capiain in 1819; servotl in tlie Black Hawk 
War; major of dragoons i;i 1833, lieutenant-colonel in 1836 
an(i colonel in ]84fi. He com in untied tlie forces in California 
and was ex-offlcio g-over nor 1847-48; brevetted l)rig-adier-gen- 
eral anddled at Jeltorson Barracks, Mo., July 25, 1850. 

+This was in 1830. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



91 



and laid in ambush on the east shore. The 
unsuspecting Foxes were fired into from the 
ambuscade and their best warriors lost their 
scalps. 

After the fight the Manomonees and Sioux 
came up here to have a dance over the scalps. 
The Indians presented a horrid appearance. 
They were painted for war and had smeared 
themselves with blood and carried the fresh 
scalps on poles. Some had cut off a head and 
thrust a stick in the throttle and held it on high; 
some carried a hand, arm, leg or some other 
portion of a body, as trophies of their success. 
They commenced to dance near the mound over 
the slough, but Col. Taylor soon stopped that 
by driving them across the main channel on to 
the Islands, where they danced until their own 
scalps went to grace the wigwams of the Sauks 
and Foxes. 

In April, of 1831, I was in the hospital at 
Fort Crawford, when, through the influence of 
Col. Taylor and Dr. Beaumont, I got my dis- 
charge. When I was convalescent, which was 
about June, a war party of Sauk and Fox Indi- 
ans came up from their part of the country to 
the bluff north of Bloody Run, from where they 
watched the Menomonees, who were encamped 
on an island opposite Prairie du Chien, a little 
north of the old fort. One night the Menomo- 
nee camp was surprised by the Sauk and Fox 
war party, and all in the camp killed except an 
Indian boy, who picked up a gun and shot a 
Fox brave through the heart and escaped. Af- 
ter massacreing, scalping and mutilating the 
bodies, the Fox Indians got into canoes and 
paddled down the river past the fort, singing 
their war songs and boasting of their exploits. 
Soldiers were sent to punish them, but I believe 
they failed to catch them. In the morning I 
helped to bury those killed. There were twenty- 
seven bodies, all killed with the knife and tom- 
ahawk, except the Fox brave shot by the boy. 
They were buried in three graves on the land- 
ing below the present Fort Crawford, and until 
within a few years the spot was marked by a 



small muslin flag kept standing by ihe few 
Menomonees who lingered in this vicinity; but 
nothing is now left to preserve the graves from 
sacrilege, and soon the iron horse will course 
o'er the bones of those red men, long since gone 
to their happy hunting grounds. 

After the Menomonee massacre, a warrior of 
that tribe was found in the old Catholic grave- 
yard and buried. He had no wounds and it is 
thought that when the Foxes attacked the Indi- 
ans on the island, he got away and ran so fast 
that he had to lean against the wall to rest, and 
that he rolled over and died. 

The Indian agency was removed this year to 
Yellow River and the Rev. Mr. Lowrey ap- 
pointed agent. It was afterwards removed to 
Fort Atkinson, Iowa. The mission buildings 
can be seen now on Yellow river, about five 
miles from its mouth. 

II. THE WINNEBAGOES. 

The Nation which displaced the Sacs and 
Foxes upon the Wisconsin river and its contig- 
uous territory, including what is now Green 
county, was the Winnebago. It is now 250 
years since the civilized world began to get a 
knowledge of the Winnebagoes — the "men of 
the sea," as they were called, pointing, possibly, 
to their early emigration from the shores of the 
Mexican gulf, or the Pacific. The territory 
now included within the limits of Wisconsin, 
and so much of the State of Michigan as lies 
north of Green bay. Lake Michigan, the Straits 
of Mackinaw and Lake Huron were, in early 
time, inhabited by several tribes of the Algon- 
quin race, forming a barrier to the Dakotas, or 
Sioux, who had advanced eastward to the Mis- 
sissippi. But the Winnebagoes, although one 
of the tribes belonging to the family of the 
latter, had passed the great river, at some un- 
known period, and settled upon Winnebago 
lake. Here, as early as 1634, they were visited 
by John Nicolet, an agent of France, and a 
treaty concluded with them.* Little more was 



* C. W. Butterfield'8 History of the Discovei-y of the North- 
West, in 1634. 



98 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



heard of the Winnebagoes for the next thirty- 
five years, Avhen, on the 2d of December, 1669, 
some of that Nation were seen at a Sac village 
on Green bay, by Father Allouez. 

As early at least as 1670, the French were ac- 
tively engaged among the Winnebagoes trading. 
"We found affairs," says one of the Jesuit mis- 
sionaries, who arrived among them in September 
of that year, "we found affairs there in a 
pretty bad posture, and the minds of the savages 
much soured against the French, who were 
there trading; ill-treating them in deeds and 
words, pillaging and carrying away their mer- 
chandise in spite of them, and conducting 
themselves toward tliem with insupportable in. 
sciences and indignities. The cause of this 
disorder," adds the missionary, "is that they 
had received some bad treatment from the 
Frencli, to whom they had this year come to 
trade, and particularly from the soldiers, from 
whom they pretended to have received many 
wrongs and injuries. It is thus made certain 
that the arms of France were carried into the 
territory of the Winnebagoes over 200 years 
ago. 

The Fox river of Green bay was found at 
that date a difficult stream to navigate. Two 
Jesuits who ascended the river in 1670, liad 
"three or four leagues of rapids to contend 
with, when they had advanced one day's 
journey from the head of the bay, more diffi- 
cult than those which are common in other 
rivers, in this, that the flints, over which they 
had to walk with naked feet to drag their ca- 
noes, were so sharp and so cutting, that one 
has all the trouble in the world to hold one's 
self steady against the great rushing of the 
waters. At the falls they found an idol that 
the savages honored; never failing, in pass- 
ing, to make him some sacrifice of tobacco, or 
arrows, or paintings, or other things, to thank 
liim that, by his assistance, they had, in ascend- 
ing, avoided the dangers of the waterfalls 
which are in this stream; or else, if they had to 
ascend, to pray him to aid thorn in this perilous 



navigation. The missionaries caused the idol 
to be lifted up by the strength of the arm, 
and cast into the depths of the river, to appear 
no more to the idolatrous savages." 

The Winnebagoes, by this time, had not only 
received considerable spiritual instruction from 
the Jesuit fathers, but had obtained quite an 
insight into the mysteries of trading and traffic- 
ing with white men; for, following the foot- 
steps of the missionaries, and sometimes pre- 
ceding them, were the ubiquitous French fur 
traders. It is impossible to determine precisely 
what territory was occupied by the Winneba- 
goes at this early date, farther than that they 
lived near the head of Green bay. 

A direct trade with the French upon the St. 
Lawrence was not carried on by the Winneba- 
goes to any great extent until the beginning of the 
eighteenth century. As early as 1679, an advance 
party of LaSalle had collected a large store of 
furs at the mouth of Green bay, doubtless in a 
traflSc with this tribe and others contiguous to 
them; generally, however, the surrounding Na- 
tions sold their peltries to the Ottawas, who 
disposed of them, in turn to the French. The 
commencement of the eighteenth century found 
the Winnebagoes firmly in alliance with France, 
and in peace with the dreaded Iroquois. In 
1718, the Nation numbered 600. They had 
moved from the Fox river to Green bay. They 
were afterward found to have moved up Fox 
river, locating upon Winnebago lake, which lake, 
was their ancient seat, and from which they had 
been driven either by fear or the prowess of 
more powerful tribes of the west and south- 
west. Their intercourse with the French was 
gradually extended and generally peaceful, 
though not always so, joining with them, as did 
the Menomoneos, in their wars with the Iro- 
quois, and subsequently in their conflicts with 
the English, which finally ended in 1760. 

When the British, in October, 1761, took pos- 
session of the French post, at the head of Green 
bay, the Winnebagoes were found to number 
150 warriors only; their nearest village being 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



99 



at the lower end of Winnebago lake. They 
had in all not less than three towns. Their 
country, at this period, included, not only that 
lake, but all the streams flowing into it, espe- 
cially Fox river; afterward extended to the 
Wisconsin and Rock rivers. They readily 
changed their course of trade — asking now of 
the commandant at the fort for English traders 
to be sent among them. In the Indian outbreak 
under Pontiac, in 1763, they joined with the Me- 
nomonees and other tribes to befriend the 
British garrison at the head of the bay, as- 
sisting in conducting them to a place of safety. 

They continued their friendship to the Eng- 
lish during the revolution, by joining with 
them against the colonies, and were active in 
the Indian war of 1790-4, taking part in the at- 
tack on Fort Recovery, upon the Maumee, in 
the present State of Ohio, in 1 793. They fought 
also on the sidd of the British in the War of 
1812-15, aiding, in 1814, to reduce Prairie du 
Chien. They were then estimated at 4,500. 
When, in 1816, the government of the United 
States sent troops to take possession of the 
Green bay country, by establishing a garrison 
there, some trouble was anticipated from these 
Indians, who, at that date, had the reputation of 
being a bold and warlike tribe. A deputation 
from the Nation came down Fox river and re- 
monstrated with the American commandant at 
what was thought to be an intrusion. They 
were desirous of knowing why a fort was to be 
established so near them. The reply was that, 
although the troops Avere armed for war if nec- 
essary, their purpose was peace. Their response 
was an old one: "If your object is peace, you 
have too many men; if war, you have too few." 
However, the display of a number of cannon, 
which had not yet been mounted, satisfied the 
Winnebagoes that the Americans were masters 
of the situation and the deputation gave the 
garrison no further trouble. 

On the 3d of June, 1816, at St. Louis, the 
tribe made a treaty of peacn and friendship 
with the gpnpval gnvevnmpnt; but thoy con- 



tinued to levy tribute on all white people who 
passed up Fox river. English annuities also 
kept up a bad feeling. At this time a portion 
of the tribe was living upon the Wisconsin 
river, away from the rest of the Nation, which 
was still seated upon the waters flowing into 
Green bay. In 1820 they had five villages on 
Winnebago lake and fourteen on Rock river. 
In 1825 the claim of the Winnebagoes was an 
extensive one, so far as territory was concerned. 
Its southeast boundary stretched away from the 
source of Rock river, to within forty miles of 
its mouth, in Illinois, where they had a village. 
On the west it extended to the heads of the 
small streams flowing into the Mississippi. To 
the northward, it reached Black river and the 
Upper Wisconsin, in other words, to the Chip- 
pewa territory, but did not extend across Fox 
river, although they contended for the whole of 
Winnebago lake. 

This brings the narrative of this Nation down 
to 

'■'■The 'Winnebago 'War'''' 

During the winter of 1825-6, there were con- 
fined in the guard house of Fort Crawford, at 
Prairie du Chien, because of some alleged dis- 
honest act, two Winnebago Indians. In Octo- 
ber, 1826, the fort was abandoned and the gar- 
rison removed to Fort Snelling. The com- 
mandant took with him the two Winnebagoes. 
During the spring of 1827, the reports about the 
two Indians, around Prairie du Chien, was to 
the effect that they had beeii killed. It was 
soon apparent that a spirit of enmity between 
tlie tribe and tlie settlers in southwestern Wis- 
consin was effectually stirred up. In addition 
to this, were the daily encroachments of miners 
in the Lead Region; for these miners had, by this 
time, overrun the mining country fram Galena 
to the Wisconsin river. Finally the difficulties 
led to an open rupture. 

Munhr of (riK/uler and Lipcap. 

On the 2Sth of .Tune, 1827, two Winnebago 
Indians, Red IJird and We Knw,, and three of 
their conipanionf?, ei'tered the house of Rigeste 



100 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Gagnier, about two miles from Prairie du Chien, 
where they remained several hours. At last, 
when Mr. Gagnier least expected it, Red Bird 
leveled his gun and shot him dead on his 
hearthstone. A person in the building by the 
name of Lipcap, who was a hired man, was slain 
at the same time by We-Kaw. Madam Gagnier 
turned to fly with her infant of eighteen months. 
As she was about to leap through the window, 
the child was torn from her arras by We-Kaw, 
stabbed, scalped and thrown violently on the 
floor as dead. The murderer then attacked the 
woman, but gave way when she snatched up a 
gun that was leaning against the wall, and pre- 
sented it to his breast. She then effected her 
escape. Her eldest son, a lad of ten years, also 
shunned the murderers, and they both arrived 
in the village at the same time. The alarm was 
soon given; but, when the avengers of blood 
arrived at Gagnier's house, they found in it 
nothing living but his mangled infant. It was 
carried to the village, and, incredible as it may 
seem, it recovered. 

A Winnebago Dehcmch. 
Red Bird and his companions immediately pro- 
ceeded from the scene of their crime to the ren- 
dezvous of their band, Dnri)ig their absence, 
thirty-seven of the warriors who acknowledged 
the authority of Red Bird, had assembled with 
their wives and children, near the mouth of the 
Bad Ax river, in what is now Vernon county. 
They received the murderers with joy and loud 
approbations of their exploit. A keg of liquor 
which they had secured was set abroach, and 
the Indians began to drink and as their spirits 
rose, to boast of what they had already done 
and intended to do. They continued their 
revel for two days, but on the third the source 
of their excitement gave out — their liquor was 
gone. They were, at about 4 o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, dissipating the last fumes of their ex- 
citement in the scalp-dance, when they descried 
one of the keel-boats, which had a few days be- 
fore passed up the river with provisions for the 
troops at Fort Snelling, on her return, in charge 



of Mr. Lindsay. Forthwith a proposal to take 
her and massacre the crew was made and car- 
ried by acclamation. They coiinted on doing 
this without risk, for they had examined her on 
her way up and supposed there were no arms 
on board. But in this they were mistaken as 
the sequel shows. 

First Battle of Bad Ax. 

There were indications of hostilities on the 
part of the Sioux on the upper Mississippi, and 
the boats when they left Fort Snelling had been 
supplied with arras. In descending the river 
they expected an attack at Wabashaw, where 
the Sioux were dancing the war dance, and 
hailed their approach with insults and menaces, 
but did not offer to attack the boats, or obstruct 
their passage. The whites now supposed the 
danger over, and, a strong wind at that moment 
beginning to blow up stream, the boats parted 
company. So strong was the wind that all the 
force of the sweeps could scarcely stem it; and 
by the time the foremost boat was near the en- 
campment, at the mouth of the Bad Ax, the 
crew were very willing to stop and rest. One 
or two Frenchmen, or half-breeds, who were on 
board, observed hostile appearances on shore, 
and advised the rest to keep the middle of the 
stream with the boat, but their counsel was dis- 
regarded. They urged the boat directly toward 
the camp with all the force of the sweeps. 
There were sixteen men on deck. 

The men were rallying their French com- 
panions on their apprehensions, as the boat ap- 
proached the shore; but when within thirty 
yards of the bank, suddenly the trees and rocks 
rang with the blood-chilling, ear-piercing tones 
of the war whoop, and a volley of rifle balls 
rained upon the deck. Happily, the Winneba- 
goes had not yet recovered from the effects of 
their debauch, and their arms were not steady. 
One man only fell. He was a little Negro 
named Peter. His leg was dreadfully shattered 
and he afterward died of the wound. A second 
volley soon came from the shore; but, as the 
men were lying at the bottom of the boat, they 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



101 



I 



all escaped but one, who was shot through the 
heart. Encouraged by the non-resistance, the 
Winnebagoes rushed to their canoes with intent 
to board. The boatmen having recovered from 
their first panic, seized their guns and the sav- 
ages were received with a severe discharge. In 
one canoe two savages were killed with the 
same bullet and several wounded. ''J'he attack 
was continued until night, when one of the 
party named Mandeville, who had assumed 
command, sprang into the water, followed by 
four others, who succeeded in setting the boat 
afloat, and then went down the stream. 

Thirly-seven Indians were engaged in this 
attack, which may be called the first "Battle of 
Bad Ax;" the second being fought just below 
this point, five years after, between the Ameri- 
cans and Indians of another tribe, of which an 
account will be given in another chapter. Of 
the Winnebagoes seven were killed and four- 
teen wounded. They managed to put 693 shots 
into and through the boat. 1'wo of the crew 
were killed outiight, and four wounded — two 
mortally. I'he presence of mind of Mande- 
ville undoubtedly saved the rest, as well as the 
boat. Mr. Lindsay's boat, the rear one, did not 
reach the mouth of the Bad Ax until midnight. 
'J'he Indians Oj)ened fire upon her, which was 
piomptly returned. Owing to the darkness no 
injury was done to the boat, and she passed 
safely on. Considering the few that were en- 
gaged in the attack on the first boat and in its 
defense, the contest was indeed a spirited and 
sanguinary one. 

Great Alarm Upon T/te Border. 

Great was the alarm at Prairie du Chien 
when the boats arrived there. The people left 
their houses and farms and crowded into the 
dilapidated fort. An express was immediately 
sent to Galena and another to Fort Snelling, 
for assistance. A company of upwards of 
100 volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and 
the minds of the inhabitants were quieted. 
In a few days four imperfect companies arrived 
from Fort Snelling. The consternation of the 



people of the lead mines was great, and in all 
the frontier settlements. This portion of the 
country then contained, as is supposed, about 
5,000 inhabitants — that is south of the Wiscon- 
sin river and at Prairie du Chien, and extending 
into Illinois. A great many of these fled from 
tlieir homes. 

Arrival of Government Troojjs. 
On the 1st of September, 1827,Major William 
Whistler, witli government troops arrived at 
the portage (now Portage, Columbia Co., Wis.), 
and while there an express arrived from Gen, 
H. Atkinson, announcing his approacl', and di- 
recting him to halt and fortify himself and wait 
his arrival. The object of the joint exiiedition 
of Gen. Atkinson from Jefferson barracks below 
St. Louis, ajid of Major Whistler from Fort How- 
ard, at Green Bay, was to capture those who 
had committed the murders at Prairie du Chien* 
and put a stop to any further aggression. And 
this march of the two into the Winnebago coun- 
try from opposite directions was well calculated 
to over-awe the disaffected among the Winne- 
bagoes. These Indians were soon advised that 
the security of their people lay in the surrender 
of the murderers of the Gagnier family. Ac- 
cordingly, Red Bird and We-Kaw were surren- 
dered up to Major Whistler at the portage, and 
the Winnebago war was ended. The two In- 
dians were taken to Prairie du Chien for safe- 
keeping, to await their trial in the regular courts 
of justice for murder. 

Trial and Conviction of the Murderera. 
The next spring (1828), Red Bird, We-Kaw 
and another Winnebago prisoner were tried at 
Prairie du Chien, before Judge James Duane 
Doty, who went from Green Bay there for that 
purpose. They were found guilty and sen- 
tenced to death. Red Bird died in prison. A 
deputation of the tribe went to Wasliington to 
solicit from the President of the United States, 
John Quincy Adams, a pardon for the others. 
President Adams granted it on the implied con- 
dition that the tribe would cede the lands then 



102 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the possession of the miners,iii the Lead Region, 
to the General Government.* The Winneba- 
goes agreed to. this. Madame Gagnier was 
compensated for the loss of her husband and 
the mutilation of her infant. At the treaty 
with the Winuebagoes held at Prairie du Chieii 
in 1829, provision was made for two sections of 
land to her and her two children. The United 
States agreed to pay her the sum of |50 per an- 
num for fifteen years, to be deducted from the 
annuity of the Winnebagoes. 

De-Ka ii-Ray''s Imprisomnent. 
In closing this account of the "Winnebago 
War" we give an anecdote, which places the 
Winnebago character in an amiable light. The 
militia of Prairie du Chien, immediately after 
the affair of the boats at the mouth of the Bad 
Ax river, seized an old Winnebago chief named 
De-kau-ray and four other Indians. The chief 
was informed that if Red Bird was not given 
up within a certain time he and the others were 
to die in his place. This, De-kau-ray steadfastly 
believed. A messenger, a young Indian, was 
sent to inform the tribe of the state of affaiis, 
and several days had elapsed and no information 
was received of the murderers. The dreadful 
day was near at hand, and De-kau-ray, being in 
bad health, asked permission of the officer to go 
to the river and indulge in his long-accustomed 
habit of bathing in order to improve his physi- 
cal condition, upon which Col. Snelling told 
him that if he would promise on the honor of a 
chief that he would not leave town, he might 
have his liberty and enjoy all his privileges 
until the day appointed for his execution. Ac- 
cordingly he first gave his hand to the colonel, 
thanking him for his friendly offer, then raised 
both hands aloft, and, in the most solemn adju- 
ration, promised that he would not leave the 
bounds presciibed, and said if he had a hundred 
lives he would sooner lose them all than forfeit 
his word. He was then set at liberty. He was 
advised to flee to the wilderness and make his 



*Thi8 pai'don, copied from the original, will be found 
farther on in this chapter. 



escape. "Do you think," said he, "I prize life 
above honor?" He then complacently remained 
until nine days of the ten which he had to live 
had passed, and still nothing was heard of the 
murderers or of their being apprehended. No 
alteration could be seen in the countenance of 
the chief. It so happened that on that day 
Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troops from Jef- 
ferson barracks, and the order for the execu- 
tion was countermanded and the Indians per- 
mitted to return to their homes. 

Wm. J. Snelling on, the " Winueb«go TF«r." 
No tribe considers revenge a more sacred 
duty than the Winnebagoes. It was their an 
cient custom to take five lives for one, and it is 
notorious on the frontiers, that no blood of 
theirs has been slied, even in modern days, that 
has not been fully avenged. They used, too, 
to wear some part of the body of a slain enemy 
about them as a testimony of prowess. We 
well remember a grim Winnebago, who was 
wont to present himself before the whites, w-ho 
passed the portage of the Fox and Wisconsin 
rivers, with a human hand hanging on his breast. 
He had taken it from a Yankee soldier at Tip- 
pecanoe. 

It was not difficult to stir up such a people to 
hostility, and, moreover, circumstances favored 
the designs of the Dakotas. There is, or was, a 
village of Winnebagoes on the Black river, not 
far from the Dakota town of which Wa-ba-shaw 
is chief. The two tribes are descended from 
the same stock, as their languages abundantly 
prove, and the claims of common origin have 
been strengthened by frequent intermarriages. 
Now, it happened, that at the time when Too- 
pun-kali Zeze was put to death at Fort Snelling, 
the Red Bird was absent from his Winnebago 
village, on an expedition against the Chippe- 
was. He returned unsuccessful, and, conse- 
quently, sullen and malcontent. Till this time 
he had been noted among his tribe for his 
friendly disposition towards the "men with 
hats," as the Indians call the whites, and 
among the traders, for his scrupulous honesty. 



i 

I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



103 



However, this man, from whom no white per- 
son beyond the frontier would have anticipated 
injury, was easily induced to commit a bloody 
and unprovoked outrage. 

Certain Dakota ambassadors arrived at the 
Red Bird's village, with a lie in their moutlis. 
"You have become a by-word of reproacii 
among us," said they; "you have just given the 
Chippewas reason to laugh at you, and the Big 
Knives also laugli at you. Lo! wliile they were 
among you they dared not offend you, but now 
they have caused Wa-man-goos-ga-ra-ha, and his 
companion to be put to death, and they haA'e 
cut their bodies into pieces not bigger than the 
spots in a bead garter." The tale was believed, 
and a cry for vengeance arose throughout the 
village. It was decided that sometliing must 
be done, and the Dakota envoys promised to 
lend a helping hand. 

A few days before, two keel-boats had as- 
cended the river, laden witli provisions for the 
troops at Fort Snelling. They passed the mouth 
of Black river with a full sheet, so that a few 
Winnebagoes, wlio were there encamped, had 
some difficulty in reaching them with their 
canoes. They might have taken botli boats, for 
there were but three Hre-locks on board; never- 
theless tbey offered no injur}'. Tiiey sold fish 
and venison to the boatmen, on amicable terms, 
and suffered them to pursue their journey un- 
molested. We mention this trifling circum- 
stance, merely because it was afterwards re- 
ported in the St. Louis papers, that the crews of 
these boats had abused these Winnebagoes 
slianiefuUy, which assuredly was not the case 
Tiie wind died away before the" boats reached 
the village of Wa-ba-shaw, which is situated 
on the west bank of the Mississippi, twelve or 
fifteen miles above the mouth of the Black 
river. Here the Dakotas peremptorily com- 
manded them to put ashore, which they did. 
No reason was assigned for the order. Upwards 
of 500 warriors immediately crowded on board. 
A passenger who was well acquainted with the 
Dakotas observed that they brought no women 



with them as usual; that they were painted 
black, which signifies either grief or hostility; 
that they refused to shake hands with the boat- 
men, and that their speech was brief and sullen. 
He instantly communicated his observation to 
Mr. Lindsay, who commanded the boats, and 
advised him to push on, before the savages 
should have discovered that the party were 
wholly unarmed. Lindsay, a bold-liearted Ken- 
tuckian, assumed the tone of command, and 
peremptorily ordered the Dakotas ashore. They, 
probably, thought that big words would be sec- 
onded with hard blow's, and complied. The 
boats pushed on, several Indians pursued them 
along the shore for several miles, with speech 
of taunt and defiance, but they offered no fur- 
ther molestation. 

The Dakota villages higher up showed much 
ill-will, but no disposition, or rather no courage, 
to attack. Altogether appearances were so 
threatening that on his arrival at Fort Snelling, 
Mr. Lindsay communicated what he had seen 
to the commanding officer, and asked that his 
crew should be furnished with arms and ammu- 
nition. The request was granted; his thirty- 
two men were provided with thirty-two mus- 
kets, and a barrel of ball cartridges. Thus 
secured against attack, the boats commenced 
the descent of the river. 

In the meanwhile the Red Bird had cogitated 
upon what he had heard, every tittle of which 
he believed, and had come to the conclusion 
that the honor of his race required the blood 
of two Americans at least. He, therefore, got 
into his canoe with Wekaw, or the Sun, and 
two others, and paddled to Prairie du Chien. 
When he got there he waited upon Mr. Boilvin 
in the most friendly manner, and begged to be 
regarded as one of the staunchest friends of the 
Americans. The venerable agent admitted his 
claims, but absolutely refused to give him any 
whisky. The Winnebago chief then applied to 
a trader in the town, who, relying on liis gen- 
eral good character, did not hesitate to furnish 
him with an eight gallon keg of spirits, the 



104 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



value of which was to be paid in furs in the suc- 
ceeding autumn. 

There was an old colored woman in the vil- 
lage, whose five sons had never heard that they 
were inferior beings, either from the Indians 
or the Canadian French. Therefore, having 
never considered themselves degraded, they 
were not degraded; on the contrary, tliey 
ranked with the most respectable inhabitants of 
the place. We knew them well. One of them 
was the village blacksmith; the others were 
substantial farmers. Their father was a French- 
man, and their name was Gagnier. 

One of these men owned a farm three miles 
from Prairie du Chien, where lie lived with his 
wife, who was a white woman, two children 
and a hired man named Lipcap. Thither the 
Red Bird repaired with his three companions, 
sure of a fair reception, for Registre Gagnier 
had always been noted for his humanity to the 
poor, especially the Indians. 

Registre Gagnier invited his savage visitors 
to enter, hung the kettle over the fire, gave 
them to eat and smoked the pipe of peace with 
them. The Red Bird was the last man on earth 
whom he would have feared; for they were well 
acquainted with each other and had reciprocated 
good offices. The Indians remained several 
hours under Gagnier's hospitable roof. At last, 
when the farmer least expected it, the Winne- 
bago chief leveled his gun and shot him down 
dead on his hearth-stone. Lipcap was slain at 
the same instant by Wekaw. AJadame Gagnier 
turned to fly with her infant of eighteen 
months. As she was about to leap through the 
window, the child was torn from her arms by 
Wekaw, stabbed, scalped and thrown violently 
on the floor as dead. The murderer then at- 
tacked the woman; but gave way when she 
snatched up a gun that was leaning against the 
wall and presented it to his breast. !She then 
effected her escape. Her eldest son, a lad of 
ten years, also shunned the murderers, and they 
both arrived in the village at about the same 
time. The alarm was soon given; but when 



the avengers of blood arrived at poor Registre 
Gagnier's house, they found in it nothing living 
but his mangled infant. It was carried to the 
village, and, strange as it may seem, recovered.* 
The Red Bird and his companions immedi- 
ately proceeded from the scene of their crime 
to the rendezvous of their band. During their 
absence, thirty-seven of the warriors, who ac- 
knowledged the authority of Red Bird, had 
assembled, with their wives and children, near 
the mouth of Bad Ax river. They received the 
murderers with exceeding great joy, and loud 
approbation of their exploit. The keg of liquor 
was immediately set abroach, the red men began 
to drink, and, as their spirits rose, to boast of 
what they had already done, and intended to 
do. 'i'wo days did they continue to revel; and 
on the third the source of their excitement gave 
out. Ihey were, at about 4 in the afternoon, 
dissipating the last fumes of their excitement 
in the scalp dance, when they descried one of 
the keel-boats before mentioned approaching. 
Forthwith a proposal to take her and massacre 
the crew was made and carried by acclamation. 
They counted upon doing this without risk; 
for they had examined her on the way up, and 
supposed that there were no arms on board. 

Mr. Lindsay's boats had descended the I'iver 
together as far as the village of Wa-ba-shaw, 
where they expected an attack. The Dakotas 
on shore were dancing the war-dance, and hailed 
their approach with insults and menaces; but 
did not, nevertheless, offer to obstruct their 
passage. The whites now supposed the danger 
over, and a strong wind at that moment begin- 
ning to blow up stream, the boats parted com- 
pany. That which sat deepest in the water had 
the advantage of the under current, and, of 
course, gained several miles in advance of the 
other. 

So strong was the wind that all the force of 
sweeps could scarcely stem it, and, by the time 



*Gen. Smith, on the authority of Judge Doty, states that 
this trug'edy occurred on the ~8th of June, 1827; Judge Lock- 
wood says the 26th and Niiea Register says the 21th. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



105 



the foremost boat was near the encampment, at 
mouth of the Bad Ax, the crew were very will- 
ing to stop and rest. One or two Frenchmen, or 
half breeds, who were on board, observed hos- 
tile appearances on shore, and advised the rest 
to keep the middle of the stream; but their 
counsel was disregarded. Most of the crew 
were Americans, who, as usual with our country- 
men, combined a profound ignorance of Indian 
character with a thorough contempt for Indian 
prowess. They urged the boat directly toward 
the camp, with all the force of the sweeps. 
There were sixteen men on deck. It may be 
well to observe here, that this, like all keel-boats 
used in the Mississippi valley, was built almost 
exactly on the model of the Erie and Middlesex 
canal boats. 

The men were rallying their French compan- 
ions on their apprehensions, and the boat* was 
within thirty yards of the shore, when suddenly 
the trees and rocks rang with the blood-chilling, 
ear-piercing tones of the war whoop, and a vol- 
ley of riflo balls rained upon the deck. Hap|)ily, 
the Winnebagoes had not yet recovered from 
the effects of their debauch, and their arms were 
not steady. One man only fell by their fire. 
He was a little Negro named Peter. His leg 
was dreadfully shattered, and he afterwards 
died of the wound. Then Peter began to curse 

and swear, d g his fellows for leaving him 

to be shot at like a Christmas turkey; but find- 
ing that his reproaches had no effect, he also 
managed to drag himself below. All this 
passed in as little time as it will take to read 
this paragraph. 

Presently a voice hailed the boat in the Sac 
tongue, demanding to know if the crew were 
English? A half-breed Sac, named Beauchamp, 
answered in the affirmative. "Then," said the 
querist, "come on shore, and we will do you no 
harm, for we are your brethren, the Sacs." 
"Dog," retorted Beaucamp, "no Sac would at- 

*Tliis advance boat was the Oliver H. Perry, according- to 
Smith's History of Wisconsin . 



tack us thus cowardly. If you want us on shore, 
you must come and fetch us." 

With that, a second volley came from the 
shore; but as the men were now lying prone in 
the bottom of the boat, below the water line, 
they all escaped but one. One man, an American 
named Stewart, fell. He had risen to return 
the first fire, and the muzzle of his musket pro- 
truding through a loop-hole, showed some Win- 
nebago where to aim. The bullet struck hiui 
under the left arm, and passed directly through 
his heart. He fell dead, with his finger on the 
trigger of his undischarged gun. It was a hot 
day, and before the fight was over, the scent of 
the gunpowder could not overpower the stench 
of the red puddle around him. 

The Winnebagoes encouraged by the non- 
residence, now rushed to their canoes, with in- 
tent to board. One venerable old man endeav- 
ored to dissuade them. He laid hold on one of 
the canoes, and would, perhaps, have succeeded 
in retaining it; but in the heat of his argument, 
a ball from the boat hit him in the middle finger 
of the peace-making hand. Very naturally en- 
i-aged at such unkind treatment from his friends, 
he loosed the canoe, hurried to his wigwam for 
his gun, and took an active part in the remain- 
der of the action. In the meanwhile, the white 
men had recovered from their first ])anic, and 
seized their arms. The boarders were received 
with a very severe discharge. In one canoe, 
two savages were killed with the same bullet. 
Their dying struggles upset the canoe, and the 
rest were obliged to swim on shore, where it 
was sometime before they could restore their 
arms to fighting order. Several more were 
wounded, and those who remained unhurt, put 
back, satisfied that a storm was not the best 
mode of attack. 

Two, however, persevered. They were to- 
gether in one canoe, and approached the boat 
astern, Avhere there were no holes through which 
the whites could fire upon them. They soon 
leaped on board. One seized the long steering 
oar, or rudder. The other jumped upon deck, 



106 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



where he halted, and discharged five muskets, 
wliich had been left there by the crew, fled be- 
low through the deck into the bottom of the 
boat. In this manner he wounded one man verj^ 
severely. After this exploit, he hurried to the 
bow, where he seized a long pole, and with the 
assistance of the steersman, succeeded in 
oTounding the boat on a sand-bar, and fixing 
her fast under the fire of his people. The two 
Winnebago boatmen then began to load and 
fire, to the no small annoyance of the crew. 
He at the stern was soon dispatched. One of 
the whites observed his position through a 
crack, and gave him a mortal wound through 
the boards. Still, he struggled to get overboard, 
probably to save his scalp. But his struggles 
were feeble, and a second bullet terminated 
them before he could effect his object. After 
the fight wafB over, the man who slew him took 
his scalp. 

The bow of the boat was open, and the war_ 
rior there still kept his station, out of sight, 
excepting when he stooped to fire, which he did 
five times. His third shot broke the arm, and 
passed through the lungs, of the brave Beau- 
champ. At this sight, one or two began to 
speak of surrender. "No, friends," cried the 
dying man; "you will not save your lives so. 
Fight to the last; for they will show no mercy. 
If they get the better of you, for God's sake 
throw me overboard. Do not let them get my 
hair.'' He continued to exhort ihera to resist- 
ance as long as his breath lasted, and died with 
the words "tight on," on his li{)s. Before this 
time, however, his slayer had also taken his 
leave of life. A sailor, named Jack Mandeville, 
shot him through the head, and he fell over- 
board, carrying his gun with him. 

From that moment Mandeville assumed the 
command of the boat. A few had resolved to 
take the skiff, and leave the rest to their fate. 
They had already cast off the rope. Jack in- 
terposed, declaring that he would shoot the 
first man, and bayonet the second, who would 
persevere. They submitted. Two more had 



hidden themselves in the bow of the boat, out 
of sight, but not out of danger. After a while 
the old tar missed them, sought them, and com- 
pelled them by threats of instant death, enforced 
by pricks of his bayonet, to leave their hiding 
place, and take a share in the business in hand. 
Afterwards they fought like bull dogs. It was 
well for them that Mandeville acted as he did; 
for they had scarcely risen when a score of bul- 
lets, at least, passed through the place where 
they had been lying. 

After the two or three first volleys the fire 
had slackened, but it was not, therefore, the 
less dangerous. The Indians had the advant- 
age of superior numbers, and could shift their 
positions at pleasure. The whites were com- 
pelled to lie in the bottom of the boat, below 
the water mark, for its sides were without bul- 
warks. Every bullet passed through and through. 
It was only at intervals, and very warily, that 
they could rise to fire; for the flash of every gun 
showed the position of the marksman, and was 
instantly followed by the reports of two or three 
Indian rifles. On the other hand they were not 
seen, and being thinly scattered over a large 
boat, the Winnebagoes could but guess their 
positions. The fire, was therefore, slow; for 
none on either side cared to waste ammunition. 
Thus, for upwards of three hours, the boatmen 
lay in blood and bilge-water, deprived of the 
free use of their limbs, and wholly unable to 
extricate themselves. 

At last, as the night fell, Mandeville came to 
the conclusion that darkness would render the 
guns of his own jjarty wholly useless, while it 
would not render the aim of the Winnebagoes 
a jot less certain. He, therefore, as soon as it 
was dark, stoutly called for assistance, and 
sprang into the water. Four more followed 
him. The balls rained around them, passing 
through tlieir clothes; but they persisted, and 
the boat was soon afloat. Seeing their prey es- 
caping, the Winnebngoes raised a yell of min- 
gled rage and despair, and gave the whites a 
farewell vol lev. It was returned, with three 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



107 



hearty cheers, and ere a gun could be re-loaded, 
the boat had floated out of shooting distance. 

For half the night, a wailing voice, apj^arently 
that of an old man, was heai'd, following the 
boat, at a safe distance, however. It was con- 
jectured that it was the father of him whose 
body the boat was bearing away. Subsequently 
inquiry proved this supposition to be correct. 

Thirty-seven Indians were engaged in this 
battle, seven of whom were killed, and fourteen 
were wounded. They managed to put 693 balls 
into and through the boat. Two of the crew 
were killed outright, two mortally, and two 
slightly wounded. Jack Mandeville's courage 
and presence of mind undoubtedly saved the 
rest, as well ns the boat; but we have never 
heard tlial he was rewarded in any way or shape. 

Mr. Lindsay's boat, the rear one, reached the 
mouth of the Bad Ax about midnight. The 
Indians opened a fire upon her, which was 
promptly reluriied. There was a light on board, 
at which the first gun was probably aimed, for 
that ball only hit the boat. All the rest paf^sed 
over harmless in the darkness.'^ 

Great was the alarm at Prairie du Chien when 
the boats arrived there. The people left their 
houses and farms, and crowded into the dilapi- 
dated fort. Nevertheless, they showed much 
spirit, and speedily established a very effect- 
ive discipline. An express was immediately 
sent to Galena, and another to Fort Snel- 
ling, for assistance. A company of upwards of 
100 volunteers soon arrived from Galena, and 
the minds of the inhabitants were quieted. 

In a few days, four imperfect companies of 
the 5th Infantr}'^ arrived from Fort Snelling, 
The commanding officer ordered a march on the 
Red Bird's village; but as the volunteers re- 

*It is stated in Neill's Minnesota, that amouy the passen- 
gers on Lindsay's boat was .Joseph Snelline-, a talented son of 
the Colonel, who wrote a story of deep inti'rest, based on the 
facts narrated. This we presume wa'; William J. Siiellinir, 
the writer of this narrative. As for the date nf the attack on 
these keel boats. .ludg-e Lockwood trives it a< June 26th, wiiich 
Neill follows; Gen. Smith, on Judge Doty's authority, we 
pre.-iumc. says the iSOth. Whatever was the real date, one 
thinjr is quite certain, that the murder of Gasnier's family 
and the boat attack, transpired the same day, and the next 
day the first of the keel boats arrived at Prajrj^ d« Ohjen, in- 
crlE^asing the war pianic among the pedple. 



fused to obey, and determined to return home, 
he was obliged to countermand it. 

The consternation of the people of the lead 
mines was great. Full half of them fled from 
the country. Shortly after, however, when 
Gen. Atkinson arrived with a full regiment, a 
considerable body of volunteers joined him 
from Galena, and accompanied him to the port- 
age of Wisconsin, to fight with or receive the 
submission of the Winnebagoes. 

The Red Bird there appear(>d, in all the para- 
phernalia of an Indian chief and warrior, and 
surrendered himself to justice, together with 
his companions in the murder of Gagnier, and 
one of his band, who had taken an active part 
in the attack on the boats. They were incarcer- 
ated at Prairie du Chien. A dreadful epidemic 
broke out there about this time, and he died in 
prison. He knew that his death was certain, 
and did not shrink from it. 

In the course of a year, the people of the 
lead mines increased in number and in strength 
and encroached upon the Winnebago lands. 
The Winnebagoes complained in vain. The 
next spring, the murderers of Methode, and the 
other Indian prisoners, were tried, convicted, 
and sentenced to death. A deputation of the 
tribe went to W^ashington to solicit their par- 
don. President Adams granted it, on the im- 
plied condition that the tribe would cede the 
lands then in possession of the miners. The 
Winnebagoes have kept their word — the land 
has been ceded, and Madame Gagnier has been 
compensated for the loss of her husband, and 
the mutilation of her infant. We believe that 
slie received, after waiting two years, the mag- 
nificent sum of $2,000.* 

We will close this true account of life be- 
yond the frontier, with an anecdote which places 
the Winnebago character in a more amiable 
light than anything already related. The 



*At the treaty held at Prairie du Chien with the Winneba- 
goe-^, in 1''29, provision was made for two sections ot land 
to Therese Gagnier and her two children, Francois and 
Louise; and for the L'nit^J States to pay Therese Gaguier the 
sum of §50 per annunj for fifteen year?, to be dedticted from 
the annuity tb ^aid Indians. 



108 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



militia of Prairie dii Chien, immediately after 
the affair of the boats, seized the old chief De- 
Kau-ray — the same who has already been men- 
tioned. He was told that if the Red Bird 
should not be given up witliin a certain time, he 
was to die in his stead. This he steadfastly 
believed. Finding that confinement injured his 
health, he requested to be permitted to range 
the country on his parole. The demand was 
granted. He was bidden to go whither he 
pleased during the day, but at sunset he was 
required to return to the fort on pain of being 
considered an old woman. He observed the 
condition religiously. At the first tap of the 
retreat, De-Kau-ray was sure to present himself 
at the gate; and this he continued to do till 
Gen. Atkinson set him at liberty. 

An Incident of " The Winnebago TTrtr." 

The following incident, found in the IVestern 
Courier, published at Ravenna, Ohio, Feb. 26, 
1830, was read by the secretary at a meeting of 
the Wisconsin Historical Society, in December, 
1862: 

"There is no class of human beings on earth 
who hold a pledge more sacred and binding, 
than do the North American Indians. An in- 
stance of this was witnessed during the Winne- 
bago war of 1827, in the person of De-Kau-ray, 
a celebrated chief of that Nation, who, with 
four other Indians of his tribe, was taken 
prisoner at Prairie du Chien. Col. Snelling, of 
the 5th regiment of Infantry, who then com- 
manded that garrison, dispatched a young In- 
dian into the Nation, with orders to inform the 
other chiefs of De-Kau-ray's band, that unless 
those Indians who were the perpetrators of the 
horrid murders of some of our citizens, were 
brought to the fort and given up within ten 
days, De-Kau-ray and the other four Indians, 
who were retained as hostages, would be shot 
at the end of that time. The awful sentence 
was pronounced in the presence of De-Kau-ray, 
who, though proclaiming his own innocence of 
the outrages which had been committed by 
others of his Nation, declared that he feared I 



not death, though it would be attended with 
serious consequences, inasmuch as he had two 
affectionate wives, and a large family of small 
children, who were entii'ely dependent on him 
for their support; but, if necessary, he was 
willing to die for the honor of his Nation. 

"The young Indian had been gone several 
days, and no intelligence was yet received from 
the murderers. The dreadful day being near 
at hand, and De-Kau-ray being in a bad state 
of health, asked permission of the colonel 
to go to the river to indulge in his long- 
accustomed habit of bathing in order to 
improve his health. Upon which, Col. Snell- 
ing told him if he would promise, on the 
honor of a chief, that he would not leave the 
town, he might have his liberty and enjoy all 
his privileges, until the day of the appointed ex- 
ecution. Accordingh'^, he first gave his hand 
to the colonel, thanking him for his friendly 
offer, then raised both his hands aloft, and in 
the most solemn adjuration, ])roraised that he 
would not leave the bounds prescribed, and 
said if he had a hundred lives lie would sooner 
lose them all than forfeit his word, or deduct 
from his proud Nation one particle of its boasted 
honor. He was then set at liberty. He was 
advised to flee to the wilderness and make his 
escape. "But no," said he, "do you think I 
prize life above honor? or, tiiat I would betray 
a confidence reposed in me, for the sake of sav- 
ing m.y life?" He then complacently remained 
until nine days of the ten which he had to I've 
had elapsed, and nothing heard from the Nation 
witli regard to the apprehension of the mur- 
derers, his immediate death became apparent; 
but no alteration could be seen in the counte- 
nance of the chief. It so happened that on 
that day Gen. Atkinson arrived with his troops 
from Jefferson barracks, and the order for the 
execution was countermanded, and the Indians 
permitted to repair to their homes." 

GEN. CASS ON TIIK WINNEHAGO OUTBREAK, 1827 

In a speech, Gen. Lewis Cass, at Burlington 
Iowa, in June, 1855, made the following refer- 
ence to the Winnebaaro outbreak in 1827: 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



109 



"Twenty-eight years have elapsed," said the 
venerable statesman, "since I passed along the 
borders of this beautiful State. 'Time and 
ohance happen to all men,' says the writer of 
old ; and time and chance have happened to 
me, since I first became identified with the 
west. In 1827 I heard that the Winnebagoes 
had assumed an attitude of hostility toward the 
whites, and that great fear and anxiety pre- 
vailed among the border settlers of the north- 
western frontier, I went to Green Bay, where 
I took a canoe with twelve voyagers and went 
up the Fox river and passed over the portage 
into the Wisconsin. We went down the Wiscon- 
sin until we met an ascending boat in the 
charge of Ramsay Crooks, who was long a resi- 
dent of the northwest. Here we ascertained 
that the Winnebagoes had assumed a hostile 
attitude, aiid that the settlers of Prairie du 
Chien were apprehensive of being suddenly 
attacked and massacred. After descending 
about seventy miles further, we came in sight 
of the Winnebago camp. It was situated upon 
a high prairie, not far from the river, and as he 
approached the shore he saw the women and 
children running across the prairie, in an oppo- 
site direction, which he knew to be a bad sign. 
After reaching the shore he went up to 
the camp. At first the Indians were sul- 
len, particularly the young men. He talked 
with them awhile, and they finally consented to 
smoke the calumet. He afterwards learned 
that one of the young Indians cocked his gun, 
and was about to shoot him, when he was forci- 
bly prevented by an old man, who struck down 
his arm. He passed down to Prairie du Chien, 
where he found the inhabitants in the greatest 
state of alarm. After organizing the militia, he 
had to continue his voyage to St. Louis. He 
stopped at Galena. There were then no white 
inhabitants on (.-ither bank of the Mississij)pi, 
north of the Missouri line. Arrived at St. 
Louis, after organizing a force under Gen. Clark 
and Gen. Atkinson, he ascended the Illinois in 
his canoe, and passed into Lake Michigan with- 



out getting out of it. The water had filled the 
swamps at the head of Chicago river, which 
enabled the voyageurs to navigate his canoe 
through without serious difficulty. Where Chi- 
cago now is he fouiid two families, one of which 
was that of his old friend Kinzie. This was 
the first and last time he had been at Burling- 
ton. New countries have their disadvantages 
of which those who come at a later day know 
little. Forty years ago flour sold at $2 a barrel, 
and there were hundreds of acres of corn in the 
west that were not harvested. The means of 
transportation were too expensive to allow of 
their being carried to market." 

Gen. Dodge to Gen. Atkinson. 

Galena, Aug. 26, 1827. 

Dear General: — Capt. Henry, the chairman 
of the committee of safety, will wait on you 
at Prairie du Chien, before your departure from 
that place. Capt. Henry is an intelligent gen- 
tleman, who understands well the situation of 
the country. The letter accompanying Gov. 
Cass' communication to you has excited in some 
measure the people in this part of the country. 
As the principal part of the eflicient force is 
preparing to accompany you on your expedition 
up the Ouisconsin, it might have a good effect 
to send a small regular force to this part of the 
country, and in our absence they might render 
protection to this region. 

I feel the importance of your having as many 
mounted men as the country can afford, to aid 
in punishing those insolent Winnebagoes who 
are wishing to unite, it would seem, in common 
all the disaffected Indians on our borders. 
From information received last night, some 
straggling Indians have been seen on our fron- 
tier. 

Your friend and obedient servant, 

H. Dodge. 
To Gen. H. Atkinson, Prairie du Chien. 

There has repeatedly, durmg the past dozen 
or fifteen years, appeared in the papers an arti- 
cle purporting to be An Indian''s Race for Life. 
It stated, that soon after the Winnebago difli- 



no 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



culties in isa';, tliat a Sinnx Ii)diaii killed a 
Winnebago Indian while out hunting near the 
mouth of Root river; that the Winnebagoes 
were indignant at tlte act, and 2,000 of tliem 
assembled at Prairie du Chien, and demanded 
of Col. Taylor, commanding there, the procure- 
ment and surrender of tlie murderer. An officer 
was sent to the Sioux, and demanded the mur- 
derer, Avho was given up; and finally was sur- 
rendered to the Winnebagoes, on condition that 
he should have a chance for his life — giving 
him ten paces, to run at a given signal, and 
twelve Winnebagoes to pursue, each armed only 
with a tomahawk and scalping knife — but he 
out-ran them all and saved his life. 

H. L. Dousman and B, W. Brisbois, have 
alwaj'S declared that no such incident ever oc- 
cured there, and that there is "not one word of 
truth in the statement." This note is appended 
here that future historians of our State may un- 
derstand that it is only a myth or fanciful story. 

Daniel M. Parkinsou'' s Recollections of '■'■The 
Winnebago War.'''' 

In the year 1822 considerable excitement was 
created in relation to the lead mines near Ga- 
lena, and a number of persons went there from 
Sangamon county, among whom was Col. Ebe- 
nezer Brigham now of Blue Mounds, Dane Co., 
Wis. In 1826 the excitement and interest rela- 
tive to the lead mine country became consider- 
ably increased, and in 1827, it became intense, 
equalling almost anything pertaining to the 
California gold fever. People from almost all 
portions of the Union inconsiderately rushed to 
the mining region. 

W^ith Col. William S. Hamilton, James D. 
Brents and two others, I arrived at Galena on 
the 4th of July, 1827, and on the same day ar- 
rived also a boat from St. Peter's, which had 
been attacked b\' the Indians a short distance 
above Prairie du Chien, bringing on board one 
ni:in killeil and two men wounded. In the en- 
counter with the Indians they killed two of 
them. ******* 



Upon the reception of the alarming intelli- 
gence of the attack on this boat ami also upon 
some of the inhabitants near Prairie du Chien 
and the reports being spread over the countrj-, 
a scene of the most alarming and disorderly 
confusion ensued — alarm and consternation were 
depicted in every countenance — thousands 
flocking to Galena for safety, when in fact it was 
the most exposed and unsafe place in the whole 
country. All were without arms, order or con- 
trol. The roads were lined in all directions 
with frantic and fleeing men, women and chil- 
dren expecting every moment to be overtaken, 
tomahawked and scalped by the Indians. It 
was said, and I presume with truth, that the 
encampment of fugitives at tie head of Apple 
river on the first night of the alarm was four 
miles in extent and numbered 3,000 persons. 

In this state of alarm, confusion and disorder 
it was extremely diflicult to do anything; almost 
every man's object was to leave the country, if 
possible. At length a company of riflemen was 
raised at Galena, upon the requisition of Gov. 
Cass of Michigan, who arrived there on the sec- 
ond day after the alarm. This company was 
commanded by Abner Fields, of Vandalia, 111., 
as captain and one Smith and William S. Ham- 
ilton as lieutenants, and was immediately put 
in motion for Prairie du Chien, by embarking 
on board the keel-boat, J/ai(7o/'i^<??«'6 River. On 
our way up the river, I acted as sergeant of the 
company, and we made several reconnoitering 
expeditions into the woods near the river, where 
Indian encampments were indicated by the ris- 
ing of smoke. In these reconnoissances we run 
the hazard of some danger, but fortunately all 
the Indians that we met were friendly disposed, 
and did not in the least sympathize with those 
who had made hostile demonstrations. 

When we arrived at Prairie du Chien we 
took possession of the barracks, under the prior 
orders of Gov. Cass, aiul remained there for 
several days until we gave way to Col. Snell- 
ing's troops who arrived from Fort Snelling. 
While we remained there, a most serious difficulty 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Ill 



occurred between Col. Snelling, of the regular 
army, and Capt. Fields and Lieut Smith of our 
volunteers, which eventuated in Lieut. Smith 
sending Col. Snelling a challenge and Capt. 
Fields insisted upon doing so likewise, but Col. 
Hamilton and I at length dissuaded him from 
it. Col. Snelling declined accepting Lieut. 
Smith's challenge, and immediately sent a 
corporal with a file of men to arrest Mr. Scott, 
the bearer of Smith's communication. The 
volunteers refused to surrender Scott into the 
hands of the guard, but Col. Hamilton wrote a 
note to Col. Snellingstating, in effect, that Scott 
should immediately appear before him. Accord- 
ingly Col. Hamilton and I conducted Mr. Scott 
into the presence of Col. Snelling, who inter- 
rogated him as to his knowledge of the con- 
tents of Lieut. Smith's communication; and 
upon Mr. Scott's assuring the colonel that he 
was entirely ignorant of the subject-matter, lie 
was dismissed. 

Col. Snelling then addressed the volunteers 
in a pacific and conciliatory manner, which 
seemed to dispose of the matter amicably; but 
the colonel, nevertheless, refused to furnish us 
with any means of support or any mode of con- 
veyance back to Galena — as the boat in which 
we came, returned there immediately after our 
arrival. But for the noble generosity of Mr. 
Lockwood, who kindly furnished us with a boat 
and provisions, we would have been compelled 
to have made our way back to Galena on foot, 
or the best we could without provisions. During 
our entire stay at the garrison, we received the 
kindest treatment and most liberal hospitality 
at the hands of Mr Lockwood. At the time of 
our arrival at Prairie du Chien, the citizens had 
in their custody as hostages for the good con- 
duct of their N^ition three Indians, one of 
whom was the well-known chief De-Kau-ray 
He disclaimed oh the part of his Nation as a 
whole, any intention to engage in hostilities 
with the whites; he was, however, retained 
some time as a hostage before being released. 



During our absence, another volunteer com- 
pany was raised, commanded by Gen. Dodge, 
who was constantly in the field with his mounted 
force, keeping in check the approach of the 
enemy. During his rangings, he took young 
Win-ne-shiek, son of the chief Win-ne-shiek, 
who was detained as a hostage for some time. 
No farther disturbances of a serious character 
took place that season; and in the succeeding 
autumn. Gens. Atkinson and Dodge held a 
council or treaty with the Winnebagoes. After 
this we had no more Indian troubles till 1832. 
James II. LockicoocVs Account of '•'•The 'Win- 
nebago WarP 

In the winter of 1825-26, the wise men at 
Washington took it into their heads to remove 
the troops from Fort Crawford to Fort Snelling, 
and abandon the former. This measure was 
then supposed to have been brought about on 
the representation of Col. Snelling of Fort 
Snelling, who disliked Prairie du Chien for 
difficulties he had with some of the principal 
inhabitants. During the winter there were 
confined in the guard-house at Fort Crawford 
two Winnebago Indians, for some of their sup- 
posed dishonest acts; but what they were 
charged with, I do not now recollect. At that 
time, as already mentioned, our mails from St. 
Louis, tlie east and south, came via Springfield 
to Galena, and the postmaster at Prairie du 
Chien sent to Galena for the mails of that place 
and Fort Snelling. An order would frequently 
arrive by steamboat countermanding a previous 
order for the abandonment of the fort, before 
the arrival of first order by mail, and this mat- 
ter continued during the summer of 1826, and 
until October, when a positive order arrived, 
directing the commandant of Fort Crawford to 
abandon tlie fori, and proceed with the troops 
to Fort Snelling; and if he could not procure 
transportation, to leave the provisions, amnin- 
nition and fort in charge of some citizen. 

But a few days previous to this order, there 
had been an alarming report circulated, that the 
Winnebagoes were going to attack Fort Craw- 



112 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ford, and the commandant set to work repairing 
the old fort, and making additional defenses. 
During this time the positive order arrived, and 
the precipitancy with which the fort was aban- 
doned during the alarm was communicated to 
the Indians through the half-breeds residing at 
or visiting the place, which naturally caused 
the Winnebagoes to believe that the troops had 
fled through fear of them. The commandant 
took with him to Fort Snelling the two Winne- 
bagoes confined in Fort Crawford, leaving be- 
hind some provisions, and all the damaged 
arms, with a brass swivel and a few wall pieces, 
in charge of John Marsh, the then sub-agent at 
this place. 

The Winnebagoes, in the fall of 1826, ob- 
tained from the traders their usual credit for 
goods, and went to their hunting grounds; but 
early in the winter a report became current 
among the traders that the Winnebagoes had 
heard a rumor that the Americans and English 
were going to war in the spring; and hence 
they were holding councils to decide upon the 
course they should adojit, hunting barely 
enough to obtain what they wanted to subsist 
upon in the meantime. 

Mr. Brisbois said to me several times during 
the winter, that he feared some outrages from 
the Winnebagoes in the spring, as from all he 
could gather they were bent on war, which I 
ought to have believed, as Mr. Brisbois had 
been among them engaged in trade over forty 
years. But I thought it impossible that the 
Winnebagoes, surrounded, as they were by 
Americans, and troops in the country, should 
for a moment seriously entertain such an idea. 
I supposed it a false alarm, and gave myself 
very little uneasiness about it; but in the 
spring, when they returned from their hunts, I 
found that they paid much worse than usual, 
although they were not celebrated for much 
punctuality or honesty in paying their debts. 
It was a general custom witii the traders, when 
an Indian paid his debts in the spring pretty 
well, on his leaving, to let him have a little 



ammunition, either as a present or on credit. 
A Winnebago by the name of Wah-wah-peck- 
ah, had taken a credit from me, and paid me 
but a small part of it in the spring; and when 
I reproached him, he was disposed to be impu- 
dent about it; and when his party were about 
going, he applied to me as usual for ammuni- 
tion for the summer, and insisted upon having 
some, but I told him if he had behaved well, 
and paid me his credit better, that I would have 
given him some, but that he had behaved so 
bad that I would not give him any, and he went 
away in a surly mood. 

A man by the name of Methode, I think, a 
half-breed of some of the tribes of the north, 
had arrived here, sometime in the summer of 
1826, with his wife, and, I think, five children; 
and, sometime in March of 1827, he went Avith 
his family, up the Yellow or Painted Rock creek, 
about twelve miles above the Prairie, on the 
Iowa side of the Mississippi river, to make 
sugar. The sugar season being over, and he 
not returning, and hearing nothing from him, 
a party of his friends went to look for him, and 
found his camp consumed, and himself, wife 
and children burned nearly to cinders, and she 
at the time enciente. They were so crisped and 
cindered that it was impossible to determine 
whether they had been murdered and then 
burned, or whether their ca.np had accidently 
caught on fire and consumed them. It was 
generally believed that the Winnebagoes had 
murdered and burnt them, and Red Bird was 
suspected to have been concerned in it; but I 
am more inclined to think, that if murdered by 
Indians, it was done by some Fox war party 
searching for Sioux. 

In the spring of this year, 1827, while a Chip- 
pewa chief called Ilole-in-the-day, with a part 
of his band, visited Fort Snelling on business 
with the government, and while under the guns 
of the fort, a Sioux warrior shot one of the 
Chippewas. The Sioux was arrested by the 
troops, and confined in the guard-house. The 
Chippewas requested Col. Snelling to deliver 



[ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



113 



the Sioux to tbem, to be dealt with after their 
manner; to which he agreed, provided they 
wouhl give him a chance to run for his life. To 
this they acceded. The Sioux was sent outside 
of the fort, while the Chippewas were armed 
with tomahawks and war clubs. He was to be 
allowed a fair start, and at a signal started, and 
one of the swiftest of the Chippewas armed 
with a club and tomahawk after him, to overtake 
and kill him if he could, which he soon effected, 
as the Sioux did not run fast, and when over- 
taken made no resistance. The Winnebagoes 
hearing a rumor of this, got the news among 
them that the two Winnebagoes confined there 
[for the murder of Methode and family] had 
been executed. 

During the spring of 1827, the reports about 
the Winnebagoes bore ratlier a threatening as- 
pect; but, as I said before, situated as they 
were I did not believe they would commit and 
depredations. Under this belief, and having 
urgent business in New York to purchase my 
goods, I started for that city on the 25th of 
June; it then took about six months to go any 
return. Mine was the only purely American 
family at the Prairie, after the garrison left. 
There was Thomas McNair, who had married a 
French girl of the Prairie, and John Marsh, the 
sub-Indian agent, who had no family, and there 
were besides three or four Americans who had 
been discharged from the army. Without ap- 
prehension of danger from the Indians, I left 
my family, which consisted of Mrs. Lockwood, 
and her brother, a young man of between six- 
teen and seventeen years of age, who was clerk 
in charge of the store, and a servant girl be- 
longing to one of the tribes of New York civi- 
lized Indians settled near Green Bay. 

I started to go by way of Green bay and the 
lakes for New York, in a boat up the Wiscon- 
sin, and down the Fox river to Green Bay; 
thence in a vessel to Buffalo, and down the 
canal to Albany, and thence by steamboat to 
New York city. About 4 o'clock in the after- 
noon of the first day's journey up the Wiscon- 



sin, I cama to an island where were sitting 
three Winnebagoes smoking, the oldest called 
Wah-wah-peck-ah, who had a credit of me the 
fall previous and had paid but little of it in 
the spring; the other two were young men not 
known to me by name. They had some venison 
hanging on a pole, and we stopped to purchase 
it As I stepped on shore I discovered an ap- 
pearance of cold reserve unusual in Indians in 
such meetings, and as I went n\) to them I said, 
^l)on jour'' the usual French salutation, which 
they generally understood; but Wah-wali-peck- 
ah said that lie v^onld not say hon jotir to me. 
Upon which I took hold of his hand and shook 
it, asking him why he would not say, hon jour to 
me? He inquired wliat the news was. I told 
him I had no news. He told me that the Win- 
nebagoes corifined at Fort Snelling had been 
killed. I assured him that it was not true, that 
I had seen a person lately from that fort, who 
told me of the death of the Sioux, but that the 
Winnebagoes were alive. He then gave me to 
understand that if such was the case, it was well; 
but if the Winnebagoes were killed, they would 
avenge it. Isucceeded in purchasingthe venison, 
giving them some powder in exchange, and as 
1 was about to step on board of my boat, Wah- 
wah-peck-ah wanted some whisky, knowing 
that we always carried some for our men. 

I directed one of the men to give them each a 
drink, which Wah-wah-peck-ah refused, and 
taking up the cup that he had by him, he 
showed by signs that he wanted it filled; and 
believing that the Indians were seeking some 
pretense for a quarrel as an excuse for doing 
mischief, I thought it most prudent under the 
circumstances to com})ly. 

There were among the boats' crew some old 
voyageurs, well acquainted with Indian manners 
and customs, who, from the conduct of these 
Indians, became alarmed. We, however, em- 
barked, watching the Indians, each of whom 
stood on the bank with his gun in his hand. 
As it was late in the day, we proceeded a few 
miles up the river and encamped for the night. 



114 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



As soon as the boat left the island, the three 
Indians each got into his hunting canoe, and 
the two young Indians came up on either side 
opposite the bow of the boat, and continued 
thus up the river until we encamped while 
Wah-wah-peck-ah kept four or five rods behind 
the boat. They encamped with us, and com- 
menced running and playing with the men on 
the sand beach; and after a little the young 
Indians proposed to go hunting deer by candle- 
light, and asked me to give them some candies to 
hunt with, which I did, with some ammunition, 
and they promised to return with venison in 
the morning. After they had gone, Wah-wah- 
peck-ah proposed also to go hunting, and begged 
some candles and am^munition, but remained in 
camp over night. Morning came, but the young 
Indians did not return, and I saw no more of 
them. In the morning, after Wah-wah-peck-ah 
had begged something more, he started, pre 
tending to go down the river, and went as we 
supposed; but about an hour afterward, as we 
were passing on the right of the upjjer end of 
the island on which we had encamped, I saw 
Wah-wah-peck-ah coming up on the left. IJe 
looked verp surly, and we exchanged no words, 
but we were all satisfied that he was seeking 
some good opportunity to shoot me, and from 
the siiiguhir conduct of the Indians, I and my 
men were considerably alarmed. But about 9 
o'clock in the morning, meeting a band of In- 
dians from the portage of Wisconsin, who ap- 
peared to be glad to see me, and said they were 
going to Prairie du Chien, my fears with those 
of the men were somewhat allayed. I wrote 
with my pencil a hasty line to my wife, which 
the Indians promised to deliver, but they never 
did, as they did not go there. 

This day, the 26th of June, we proceeded up 
the Wisconsin without seeing any Indians until 
we came near Praii'ie du Baie, when an Indian 
alone in a hunting canoe, came out of some 
nook and approached us. He was sullen, and 
we could get no talk uut of him. We landed 
on Prairie du J-Jaie, and he stopped also; and a 



few moments thereafter, a canoe of Menomonees 
arrived from Prairie du Chien, bringing a brief 
note from John Marsh, saying the Winnebagoes 
had murdered a man of mixed French and Negro 
blood, named Rijeste Gagnier, and Solomon 
Lipcap, and for me, for God's sake, to return. 
I immediately got into the canoe with the Me- 
nomonees, and directed my men to proceed to 
the portage, and if I did not overtake them to 
go on to Green Bay. I proceeded down the 
river with the Menomonees, and when we had 
decended to the neighborhood where we had 
fallen in with the Indians the day before, we 
met Wah-wah-peck-ah coming up in his hunting 
canoe alone, having with him his two guns. 
He inquired if I was going to the Prairie. I 
told him I was. He then told me that the 
whisky at the Prairie was shut up, but did not 
tell me of the murders, and asked me that should 
he come to the Prairie whether I would let him 
have some whisky? I told him I certainly 
would if he brought some furs, not wishing then 
to make any explanation, or to enter into any 
argument with him. 

About this time, we heard back of an Island, 
and on the southern shore of the Wisconsin, the 
Winnebagoes singing their war songs and danc- 
ing, with which I was x'amiliar; and so well sat- 
isfied was I that Wah-wah-peck-ah was only 
seeking a favorable opportunity to shoot me, 
that if I had had a gun where he met us, I be- 
lieve that I should have shot him. After talk- 
ing with him the Menomonees moved down the 
river, and arrived at the mouth of the Wiscon- 
sin about dark without seeing any more Winne- 
bagoes. It was so dark that the Menomonees 
thought that we had better stop until morning, 
and we accordingly crawled into the bu.^lu's 
without a fire and fougiit mosquitoes all night, 
and the next morning, the 27th, proceeded to the 
Prairie. I went to my house and found it va- 
cant, and went to the old village where I found 
my family and most of the inhabitants of the 
Prairie, assembled at the house of Jean 15runet, 
who kept a tavern. Mr. Brunet had a quantity 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



115 



of square timber about him, and the people pro- 
posed building breast-works with it. 

I learned on my arrival at the Prairie that 
on the preceding day, the 26th; Red Bird, who 
when dressed, always wore a red coat and called 
hiinself English, went to my house with two 
other Indians, and entering the cellar kitchen, 
loaded their guns in the presence of the servant 
girl, and went up through the hall into Mrs. 
Lockwood's bed-room where she was sitting 
alone. The moment the Indians entered her 
room she believed they came to kill her, and 
immediately passed into and through the parlor, 
and crossed the hall into the store to her 
brother, where she found Duncan Graliam, who 
had been in the country about forty years as a 
trader,' and was known by all the Indians as an 
Englishman. He had been a captain in the 
British Indian department during the War of 
1812, and a part of the time was commandant 
at Prairie du Chien. The Indians followed Mrs. 
Lockwood into the store, and Mr. Graham by 
some means induced them to leave the house. 

They then proceeded to McNair's Coulee, 
about two miles from the village, at the lower 
end of Prairie du Chien, where lived Rijeste 
Gagnier; his wife was a mixed blood of French 
and Sioux extraction, Avith two children; and 
living with him was an old discharged American 
soldier by the name of Solomon .Lipcap. The 
Winnebagoes commenced a quarrel with Gagnier 
and finally shot him, I believe, in the house. Lip- 
cap, at work hoeing in the garden nea)- the 
house, they also shot. During the confusion, 
Mrs. Gagnier seized a gun, got out at the back 
window with her boy about three years old on 
her back, and proceeded to the village with the 
startling news. The cowardly Indians followed 
her a part of the way, but dared not attack her. 
On her arrival at the village a party went to 
the scene of murder, and found and brought 
away the dead, and the daughter of Mr. Gagnier, 
about one year old, whom the mother in her 
friglit had forgotten. Tlie Indians had scalped 
her and inflicted a severe wound iu her neck. 



and left her for dead, and had thrown her un- 
der the bed, but she was found to be still alive. 
She got well, and arriving at womanhood got 
married, and has raised a family of children; 
she is yet alive and her eldest daughter was but 
lecently married. 

The people had decided not to occupy the old 
fort, as a report had been circulated that the 
Indians had said that they intended to burn it 
if the inhabitants should take refuge there. 
During the day of the 27th, the people occupied 
themselves in making some breast-works of the 
timber about Mr. Brunei's tavern getting the 
swivel and wall pieces from the fort, and the 
condemned muskets and repairing them, and 
concluded they would defend themselves, each 
commanding, none obeying, but every one giv- 
ing his opinion freely. 

About sunset one of the two keel-boats ar- 
rived that had a few days previously gone to 
Fort Snelling with supplies for the garrison, 
having on board a dead Indian, two dead men 
of the crew and four wounded. The dead and 
wounded of the crew were inhabitants of Prairie 
du Chien who had shij)i)ed on the up-bound 
trip. They reported that they had been attacked 
the evening before, about sunset, by the Win- 
nebago Indians,* near the mouth of Bad Ax 
river, and the boat received about 500 shots, 
judging from the marks on its bow and sides. 
The Indians were mostly on an island on the 
west of the channel, near to which the boat 
had to pass, and the wind blowing strong from 
the east, drifted the boat towards the shore, 
! where the Indians were, as the steering oar had 
been abandoned by the steersman. During this 
time, two of the Indians succeeded in getting 

*Ex-Gov. Reynolds, of Illinois, in his volume of his Life 
ond rimes, thus states the immediate cause of this attack. 
That somewhere above Prairie du Chien on their upward trip, 
thev stopped at a large camp of Winnebajiro Indians, gave 
them some liiiuor freely and got them drunk, when they 
forced six or seven squaws, stupefied with liquor, on board 
the boats for corrupt and brutal purtjoses, and kept them 
durins- theivvoyage to Fort Snelling- and on their return. 
When the Winnebago Indians became sober, and fully con- 
scious of the injurv done them, they mustered all their 
forces amountingto several hundred and attacked the fore- 
most of the descending boats in which their squaw's were con- 
fined. But this story has since been proven to be without 
foundation. 



116 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



on board of the boat. One of them mounted the 
roof, and fired in from the fore part; but he was 
soon shot and fell off into the river. The other 
Indian took the steering oar and endeavored to 
steer the boat to the island. He was also shot 
and brought down in the boat whei-e he fell. 
During all this time the Indians kept up a hot 
fire. The boat was fast drifting towards a sand 
bar near the shore, and they would all have 
been murdered had it not been for the brave, 
resolute conduct of an old soldier on board, 
called Saucy Jack (his surname I do not remem- 
ber), who during the hottest of the fire, jumped 
over at the bow and pushed the boat off, and 
where he must have stood the boat was literally 
covered with ball marks, so that his escape 
seemed a miracle. They also reported that early 
the day before the attack, they were lashed to 
the other boat drifting, and that they had 
grounded on a sand bar and separated, since 
which time they had not seen or heard anything 
of the other boat, and thought probably that it 
had fallen into the hands of the_ Indians. 

This created an additional alarm among the 
inhabitants.- The same evening my boat re- 
turned, the men becoming too much alarmed to 
proceed. That night sentinels were posted by 
the inhabitants within the breast-works, who 
saw, in imagination, a great many Indians 
prowling about in the darkness; and in the 
morning there was a great variety of opinion as 
to what was best to be none for the safety of the 
place, and appearances betokened a great deal 
of uneasiness in the minds of all classes. 

On the morning of the 28th I slept rather 
late, owing to the fatigue of the preceding day. 
My brother-in-law awakened me and told me 
the people had got into some difficulty, and that 
they wished me to come out and see if I could 
not settle it. I went out on the gallery, and 
inquired what the difficulty was; and heard the 
various plans and projects of defense proposed 
by different persons. Some objected to staying 
in the village and protecting the property of 
the villagers while theirs, outside the village, 



was equally exposed to the pillage of the In- 
dians. Others were for remaining and fortify- 
ing where they were, and others still urged the 
repairing of the old fort. As the eminence on 
which my house stood overlooked the most of 
the prairie, some were for concentrating our 
people there and fortifying it. After hearing 
these different projects, I addressed them some- 
thing as follows: "As to your fortifying my 
house, you can do so, if it is thought best, but I 
do not wish you to go there to protect it; I have 
abandoned it, and if the Indians burn it, so be 
it; but there is one thing, if we intend to pro- 
tect ourselves from the Indians, we must keep 
together, and some one must command." 

Some one then nominated me as commander, 
but I said: "No, I would not attempt to com- 
mand you, but here is Thomas McNair, wlio 
holds from the governor a commission of cap- 
tain over the militia of this place and has a 
right to command; if you will agree to obey him 
implicitly, I will set the exan)ple of olt^dience 
to his orders, and will, in that case, furnish you 
with powder and lead as long as you want to 
shoot (I being the only person having those 
articles in the '>lace), but unless you agree to 
obey McNair, I will put my family and goods 
into my beats and go down the river, as I will 
not risk myself with a mob under no control." 
Upon this they agreed to acknowledge Mr. Mc- 
Nair as commander, and I was satisfied that he 
would take advice upon all measures undertaken. 
Joseph Hrisbois was lieutenant, and Jean Brunet 
was ensign, both duly comtnissioned by the 
governor. Capt. McNair ordered a move of all 
the families, goods, with the old guns, to the 
fort, and it was near sunset before we had all 
got moved there. 

About that time we discovered the skiff of 
the other keel-boat coming around a point of 
an island near Yellow river, about three miles 
distant; but we could not discover whether they 
were white men or Indians in the canoe, and of 
course it created an alarm, but in a few moments 
thereafter, the keel-boat hove in sijj^ht and the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



117 



alarm ceased. It soon arrived, reporting that 
they had received a few shots in passing the 
places where the other boat had been attacked, 
but had received no injury. On this boat Joseph 
Snelling, son of Col. Snelling, returned to 
Prairie du Chien. Joseph Snelling and myself 
acted as supernumeraries under Capt. McNair. 
The government of Fort Crawford was con- 
ducted by a council of the captain and those 
who acted under him. It was immediately re- 
solved to repair the old fort as well as possible 
for defense, and the fort and block-house were 
put in as good order as circumstances and ma- 
terials would admit. Dirt was thrown up two 
or three feet high around the bottom logs of 
the fort, which were rotten and dry, and would 
easily ignite. Joseph Snelling was put in com- 
mand of one of the block-houses, and Jean Bru- 
net of the other, with a few picked men in each, 
who were trained to the use of the swivel and 
wall pieces that were found and mounted there- 
in; and a number of barrels were placed around 
the quarters filled with water, with orders, in 
case of an attack, to cover the roof of the build- 
ing with blankets, etc., and to keep them wet. 
All the blacksmiths were put in requisition to 
repair the condemned muskets found in the fort, 
and, mustering our force, we found of men and 
women about ninety that could handle a musket 
in case of an attack. 

The next day after taking possession of the 
fort, J. B. Loyer, an old voyageur, was engaged 
to cross the Mississippi and go back through 
the country, now the State of Iowa, to inform 
Col. Snelling, commanding Fort Snelling, of our 
situation. For this sei'vice Loyer was prom- 
ised $50 and furnished with a horse to ride and 
provisions, and Duncan Graham was engaged 
to accompany him, for which he wast o receive 
$20, provisions and a horse to ride; and for 
these payments, I became personally responsi- 
ble. 

Gov. Cass, who had come to Butte des Morts, 
oa the Fox river, to hold a treaty with the Win- 



nebagoes, learned from rumor that there was 
dissatisfaction among them, and starting in his 
canoe, arrived -Bt Prairie du Chien on the morn- 
ing of the 4th of July. He ordered the com- 
pany of militia into the service of the United 
States, and appointed me quarter-master and 
commissary, with the request that I would use 
my own funds for the supply of the depart- 
ment, and that he would see it refunded; and, 
furthermore, assumed the debt for ammunition 
and provisions already advanced, and also the 
expense of the express to Fort Snelling, and di- 
rected me to issue to the troops a keel-boat load 
of flour, that I previously receipted for to one 
of the agents of the contractors for Fort Snell- 
ing, who feared to go farther with it. 

After these arrangements had been made, 
Gov. Cass proceeded in his canoe to Galena, 
and raised a volunteer company under the late 
Col. Abner Fields as captain, and assigned him 
to the command of Fort Crawford. Lieut. Mar- 
tin Thomas, of the United States ordinance de- 
partment, and then stationed at the arsenal 
near St. Louis, who happened to be at Galena, 
came up and mustered the two companies of the 
militia into the service of the United States; 
and contracted with Pliiiieas Black, of the vil- 
lage of Louisiana, in Missouri, whom he found 
at Galena, for a quantity of pork which was 
sent up by the boat that brought the volunteer 
company. Gov. Cass proceeded from Galena to 
St. Louis to confer with Gen. Atkinson, then in 
command of Jefferson barracks and of the 
western military department. This resulted in 
Gen. Atkinson's moving up the Mississippi with 
the disposable force under command at Jef- 
ferson barracks. During this time Col. Snell- 
ing came down the Mississippi with two com- 
panies of the 5th regiment of United States In- 
fantry, and assumed the command of Fort Craw- 
ford, and soon after discharged the Galena 
volunteer company, as they could not well be 
brought under military discipline. But the 
Prairie du Chien company was retained in ser- 
vice until some time in the month of August, 



8 



118 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



for wliich service, through the fault of some 
one, they never received anj' pay. 

Daring this time Gen. Atkinson arrived with 
the troops from Jefferson barracks, having on 
his way up dispatched a volunteer force under 
Gen. Dodge from Galena, to proceed by land 
to the portage of Wisconsin. When Gen. At- 
kinson, with great difficulty, owing to the low 
state of the water in the Wisconsin, arrived at 
the portage, he met old grey-headed Day-Kau- 
Ray, with his band, who, finding himself sur- 
rounded by the volunteers in the rear, and Gen. 
Atkinson's force of regulars in front, and a 
company of volunteers from Green Bay, con- 
cluded to disclaim any unfriendly feelings to- 
wards the United States, and disavowed any 
connection with the murders on the Mississippi. 
Gen. Atkinson, on these assurances of Day- 
Kau-Ray, returned, but ordered the occupation 
of Fort Crawford by two companies of troops. 
Notwithstanding these murders of our citizens 
and movements of troops, the wise men at 
Washington, witli about as much judgment as 
they generally decide upon Indian affairs, de- 
cided that this was not an Indian war. 

After the people had taken possession of the 
fort, and before the arrival of Gen. Cass, Indi- 
ans were see in the village, and a guard was 
sent out to take them and bring them to the 
fort. They made no resistance, but surrendered 
themselves and were brought to the guard 
house. One proved to be the famous Red Bird, 
who headed the party tliat murdered Gagnier 
and Lipcap; another was Wah-wah-peck-ah, the 
Indian I had met up the Wisconsin river, and 
whose conduct had so much alarmed me and my 
men; the other was a young Indian whose name 
I do not recollect. Tliere being no charge of 
crime against Wah-wah-peck-ah and the young 
Indian, after the United States troops were 
stationed at Fort Crawford, they were dis- 
charged; and Red Bird was retained in the 
guard-house, where he died before he was tried 
for the murder of Gagnier and Lipcap. 



Ati Interesting Event of ^^the Winnebago War.'''' 
On the 1st of September, 1827, Maj. Wil- 
liam Whistler, with government troops, arrived 
at the portage; and, while there, an express 
arrived from Gen. Atkinson, announcing his ap- 
proach, and directing him to halt and fortify 
himself, and await his arrival. The object of 
the joint expedition of Gen. Atkinson from Jef- 
ferson barracks, below St. Louis, and of Maj. 
Whistler, from Fort Howard, at Green Bay, 
was to capture those who had committed tlie 
murders at Prairie du Chien, and put a stop to 
any further aggression. The Winnebagoes 
were advised that the security of their people 
lay in tlie surrender of the murderers of the 
Gagnier family. While Major Whistler w\as at 
the portage, he received a call in a mysterious 
way. An Indian came to his tent and informed 
him that, at about 3 o'clock the next day, "they 
will come in." In reply to the question, "who 
will come in?" he said, "Red Bird and We- 
Kau." After making this answer he retired by 
the way he came. At 3 o'clock the same day, 
another Indian came and took position in nearly 
the same place and in the same way, when to 
like questions he gave like answers; and at sun- 
down a third came, confirming what the tw^o 
had said, adding, that he had, to secure that ob- 
ject, given to the families of the murderers 
nearly all his property. 

There was something heroic in this voluntary 
surrender. The giving away of property to the 
families of the guilty parties had nothing to do 
with their determination to devote tliemselves 
for the good of their people, but only to recon- 
cile those who "were about to be bereaved to the 
dreadful expedient. The heroism of the pur- 
pose is seen in the fact that the murders com- 
mitted at Prairie du Chien were not wanton, 
but in retaliation for wrongs committed on tliis 
people by the wh.itcs. Tlie parties murdered at 
the prairie \yqyq doubtless innocent of the 
wrongs and outrages of which the Indians com- 
plained; but the law of Indian retaliation does 
not require that he alone who commits a wrong 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



no 



shall suffer foi' it. One scalp is held due for an- 
other, no matter whose head is taken, provided 
it be torn from the crown of the family, or peo- 
ple who may have made a resort to this law a 
necessity. 

About noon of the day following there were 
seen descending the mound on the portage a 
body of Indians. Some were mounted and 
some were on foot. By the aid of a glass the 
Americans could discern the direction to be to- 
wards their position. They bore no arms, and 
no one was at a loss to understand that the 
promise made by the three Indians was about to 
be fulfilled. In the course of half ah hour they 
had appr(>ached within a short distance of the 
crossing of Fox river, when on a sudden singing 
was hoard. Those who were familiar with the 
air said, "It is a death song." When still 
nearer some present who knew him said, '"It is 
Red Bird singing his death song." The moment 
a halt was made, preparatory to crossing over, 
two scalp yells were heard. The Menonionee.'^ 
and other Indians who had accompanied thi 
troops were lying carelessly about the ground, 
regardless of what was going on; but when th( 
"scalp yells" were uttered, they sprang to theii 
feet as one man, seized their rifles, and were 
ready for battle. They were at no lo«stoknow 
what these yells were; but they had not heard 
with sufficient accuracy to decide whether they 
indicated scalps to be taken or given, but doubt- 
less inferred the first. 

Bargps were sent across to receive and an 
escort of military to accompany them within 
the lines. The white flag which had been seen 
in the distance was borne by Red Bird. 

And now the advance of the Indians had 
reached half up the ascent of the bluff on which 
was the encampment. In the lead was Car-i-mi- 
nie, a distinguished chief. Arriving on the 
level upon which was the encampment of the 
Americans, order being called, Car-i-mi-nie 
spoke, saying, "They are here. Like braves 
they have come in; treat them as braves; do 
not put them in irons," This address \yas made 



to Col. McKenney. The latter told him he was 
not the big captain. His talk must be made to 
Major Whistler, who would do what was right. 
Mr. Marsh, the sub-agent, Ijeing there, an 
advance was made to him, and a hope expressed 
that the prisoners might be turned over to him. 

The military had been previously drawn out 
in line. The Menomonee and Wabauckie 
(Oneida) Indians were in groups upon their 
haunches, on the left flank. On the right was 
the band of music, a little in advance of the 
line. In front of the center, about ten paces 
distant, were the murderers. On their right 
and left were those who had accompanied them, 
forming a semi-circle; the magnificent Red 
Bird and the miserable looking We-Kau,a little 
in advance of the center. All eyes were fixed 
on Red Bird. In height he was about six feet, 
straight, but without restraint. His proportions 
were those of most exact symmetry; and these 
embraced the entire man from his head to his 
feet. 

He and We-Kau were told to sit down. At 
this moment the band struck up Pleyel's hymn. 
Everything was still. Red Bird turned his eyes 
toward the band. The music having ceased, he 
took up his pouch, and taking from it kinnikin- 
nic and tobacco, cut the latter in the palm of his 
hand, after the Indian fashion, then rubbing the 
two together, filled the bowl of his calumet, 
struck fire on a bit of punk with his flint and 
steel, lighted and smoked it. All sat except 
the speaker. The substance of what they said 
was as follows: 

They were required to bring in the mur- 
derers. They had no power over any except 
two; the third had gone away; and these had 
voluntarily agreed to come in and give them- 
selves up. As their friends they had come with 
them. They hoped their white brother would 
agree to accept the horses, of which there were 
perhaps twenty; the meaning of which was, to 
take them in commutation for the lives of their 
two friends. They asked kind treatment for 
them, and earnestly besought that they might 



120 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



not be put in irons, and concluded by asking 
for a little tobacco and something to eat. 

They were answered and told in substance 
that they had done well thus to come in. By 
having done so they had turned away our guns 
and saved their people. They were admonished 
against placing themselves in a like situation 
in the future, and advised, when they were ag- 
grieved, not to resort to violence, but to go 
to their agent who would inform the Great 
Father of their complaints, and he would re- 
dress their grievances ; tiiat their friends sliould 
be treated kindly, and tried by the same laws, 
by which their Great Father's white children 
were tried ; that for the present Red Bird and 
We-Kau- should not be put in irons ; that, they 
should all have something to eat and tobacco to 
smoke. 

Having heard this, Red Bird stood up ; the 
commanding officer. Major Whistler, a few paces 
in front of the center of the line facing him. 
After a moment's pause and a quick survey of 
the troops, he spoke, saying : "I am ready." 
Then advancing a step or two, he paused, say- 
ing, "I do not wish to be put in irons ; let me 
be free. I have given away my life; it is gone" 
(stooping and taking some dust between his 
thumb and finger and blowing it away), "like 
that," eyeing the dust as it fell and vanished 
from his sight, adding, "I would not take it 
back, it is gone." Having thus spoken, he 
threw his hands behind him and marched up to 
Major Whistler, breast to breast. A platoon was 
wheeled backward from the center of the line, 
when, the major stepping aside. Red Bird and 
We-Kau marched througli the line, in charge of 
a file of men, to a tent provided for them in 
the rear, where a guard was set over them. 
The comrades of the two captives then left the 
ground by the way they had come, taking with 
them our advice and a supply of meat, flour 
and tobacco. 

We-Kau, the miserable looking being, the ac- 
complice of Red Bird, was in all things the op- 
posite of that unfortunate brave. Never were 



two persons so totally unlike. Tiie one seemed 
a prince, and as if born to command and worthy 
to be obeyed; the other as if he had been born 
to be hanged ; meagre, cold, dirty in his person 
and dress, crooked in form like the starved wolf; 
gaunt, hungry and blood-tliirsly ; his entire ap- 
pearance indicating the presence of a spirit 
wary, cruel and treacherous. The prisoners 
were committed into safe keeping at I'ra,irie 
du Chien to wait their trial in the regular courts 
of justice for murder. 

Last Act in ^'•The Winnebago TR/?-." 
John Quincy Adams, President of the United 

States of America. 
To all ^dJw shall see these 2^'>'ese)its, Greeting: 

Whereas, at a court of Oyer and Terminer, 
held at the village of Prairie du Chien, in the 
month of September, A. D. 1828. Wa-ni-ga, 
otherwise called the Sun, and Chick-hong-sic, 
otherwise called Little Beuffe, were convicted 
of the offense of murder in the second degree, 
and the said Chick-hong-sic, otherwise called 
Little Iseufi^e, was also convicted of another 
offense of murder in the second degree ; And, 
whereas, also it appears satisfactorily tome that 
the clemency of the exexutive may be extended 
to the said convicts without injury to the public; 
Now, therefore, I, Jolni Quincy Adams, Presi- 
dent of the United States of America, in con- 
sidei'ation of the promises, divers other good 
and sufficient causes me hereunto moving, have 
granted and do hereby grant to tlie said Wa- 
ni-ga, otherwise called the Sun, and to tiie said 
Chick-hong-sic, otherwise called Little Beuffe, 
my full and free pardon for the offenses afore- 
said. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 
scribed my name, and caused the seal of the 
United States to be affixed to these jjresents. 
Given at the city of Washington this third 
day of November, A. D. 1828, and of the In- 
dependence, of the United States the fifty- 
third. 

By the President, J. Q. Adams. 

H. Clay, Secretary of State* 

* Copied from the original pardon. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



121 



31rs. Coasm Cherrier {7iee Gagmer.)\ 
My father was born in St. Louis ; he came to 
Prairie du Chien about the time of the last war 
with England. 

My mother Theresa Chalefau, was born in 
Prairie du Chien ; her father came to Prairie 
du Chien from Canada, before the last war with 
England. 

I was born in this place (now called Frencli 
Town) Aug. 15, 1826. The following spring 
my father moved his family to a house on what 
is now known as the Ackerly place, a short dis- 
tance below the limits of "Lower Town. The 
house had only one room. It was there that the 
murder of father and Lipcap, and the terrible 
mutilation of myself occurred. 

I will tell the story as learned from my 
mother. June 10, 1827, my father visited the 
village of Prairie du Chien ; the afternoon of 
that day mother noticed there were skulking 
Indians on the bluff east of the house, partially 
concealed, and being accustomed to seeing In- 
dians almost daily, was not alarmed. Father 
did not return home until about noon of the 
next day, (June 1 1). He was accompanied by 
his half brother. Paschal Menoir, after dinner 
the family consisting of father, mother, Lipcap 
(an old man living with us) my brother Frank, 
three years old, myself, nearly ten months old, 
and Pasclial Menoir (visitor), were having an 
after dinner chat. Young Menoir was sitting 
in the open window on the west side of the 
house, facing the door. ]\[y father was sitting 
on a trunk against the wall, to the right of the 
window, and also facing the door. My mother 
had returned to the work of the day, family 
washing. My brother Frank was amusing 
himself. Lipcap had gone to his work in the 

+ The autobiographical account which follows was taken 
from the lips of Louisa Cherrier (nee Gag'nier) wife of Coasm 
(usually known as Comb) Cherrier. Mr. Cherrier, wife and 
children, reside in what is usually known as "French Town, " 
in the town of Prairie.du Chien. What Mrs. Cherrier relates 
is the story often told her by her mother, Theresa Gag-nier, 
wife of Kijeste Gag-nier. it will be noticed that the narra- 
tive differs in sonii' important inirticulars from that given 
previously in this chapter ; but there are so many adilit'ioiuil 
and exceedingly interesting- statements that, in the main, 
are doubtless correct, as to justify the insertion of this re- 
lation as a sequel to the so-called ' 'Winnebago War." 



corn patch not very far from the house. I had 
creeped to my father's feet and lifted myself by 
his clothing, and was standing with my hands 
on his knees. At this moment four Indians, 
who had reached the door unnoticed, entered 
the room. Mother placed four chairs and bade 
them be seated; they complied, the table being 
as left. Mother asked them to have dinner ; 
they replied : "We are not hungry, but thirsty." 
She satisfied their wants, and watching them 
closely, she said to father in P'rench : "These 
Indians mean to do us some harm." Father 
made no reply. My father's gun- was hanging 
in fastenings to a joist directly overhead ; three 
of the Indians had guns in their hands, the 
fourth, a chief, whose Indian name signified 
•'Little Sun," was seated the nearest to my 
father, with his side toward him. This Indian 
had, unknown to the family, a shorter gun con- 
cealed under his blanket, and it was held in 
such a position as to bring my father in range. 
One of the other Indians left his chair, and 
took down my father's gun. Father instantly 
rose, seized and wrenched the gun from him, 
and stood it by the trunk, then both were seated 
again. My father spoke to mother, saying : 
"Come take this little girl." At this moment, 
at a signal from one of the other Indians, "Lit- 
tle Sun" fired his concealed gun, the bullet en- 
tering the right breast of my father, who had 
not changed his position. At almost the same 
instant another Indian shot his gun at Paschal 
Menoir, who was still sitting in the window, 
but missed him. Young Menoir, with great 
presence of mind, fell backward, through the 
window. Pie was undoubtedly supposed b}^ the 
Indians to have been killed, atid was not imme- 
diately looked after. He made his escape into 
the timber, which stood close up to that side of 
the house. 

The house was filled with powder smoke ; 
my little brother was crying and calling for 
mother. Mother picked him up and ran out of 
the house. The Indians had preceded her, and 
leaped over the fence near the house. Mother, 



122 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



with Frank, made her way over the fence, and 
dropped directly in front of one of the Indians, 
who was crouching, unnoticed by her on that 
side. Dropping the child, she seized his gun, 
and with unnatural strength, wrenched it away 
from him, and instantly cocked it with the in- 
tention of killing him ; some irresistible im- 
pulse compelled her at the moment of firing, to 
give an upward inclination, sufficient to carry 
the bullet over the Indian's head. She threw 
the gun after the Indians, who had started to 
kill Lipcap. My mother then retuined to the 
house. I had creeped under the bed. The 
house was partially cleared from smoke. Father 
was not dead but could not speak or move, but 
made motions with his eyes, which she clearly 
understood assaying: "Make your escape." She 
then ran out, and through a picket fence, which 
divided their grounds from those of a man 
named Jose])h Lambeire, who was eating his 
dinner in his cabin which he occupied alone. 
He had heard the shots fired, but did not know 
their meaning. 

My mother who had not been to Prairie du 
Chicn since they moved to the place, did not 
even know the way. She hurriedl}^ told him 
what had occurred, and asked him to help her 
escape. Lambeire, whose horse was tied to a 
fence near by, told her to bring the horse. She 
did so, when he mounted and rode cowardly 
and rapidly away, without a word to her, who 
then returned to the house. Father, who still 
lived, again with expressive look, plainly sig- 
nalled "get away." Mother then with my little 
brother, made her way into the timber close to 
the house, into which Menoir had escaped. (All 
this occurred in a little time). NVhile doing 
this, she discovered that Lipcap was being 
chased by the Indians, and making his way to- 
ward her, shouting, "wait for me." In her 
flight, she noticed a large soft maple tree which 
had been blown down, and that the place where 
it had stood was surrounded by a" dense new 
growth of brush. She crept into this, and into 
the cavity made by uprooting the tree, placed 



Frank, and crouching low over him, remained 
almost breathless, until within twelve feet of 
her hiding place, the Indians overtook Lipcap 
and killed him with their knives, mutilating 
him and taking his scalp. My mother was not 
discovered. 

The Indians then returned to the house, Pas- 
chal Menoir, who from his place of concealment, 
had kept a close watch, noticing this, took the 
oppoitunity to make his way to the village. He 
reached exhausted, the house of Julian Lari- 
viere ; he there found Frank Dechuquette, who 
mounted his horse and alarmed the people, who 
turned out to the rescue en tnasse. 

My mother in the meantime, alive to the ne- 
cessity of making her escape, had left her hiding 
place, and unnoticed l)y the Indians, found 
father's horse, and with Frank had mounted, 
and was searching for the road to the village, 
when she saw the people coming to the relief. 
The Indians after killing Lipcap, made their 
last return to the house. I had creeped from 
under the l>ed, to the door. Of the brutal treat- 
ment of myself, "Little Sun," in his testimony 
given at the trial of himself and the chief, "Red 
Bird," for these murders said, "that he first 
gave the child a kick on the left hip, and then 
with his gun barrel in his hands, struck her 
with the breech of the gun on the right shoulder, 
and with his knife struck her across the back of 
the neck, intending to behead her, and carry the 
head away with him," at this moment the other 
Indians outside of the house shouted, that "peo- 
ple are coming." He said, "I then took her 
scalp and with it part of the skull," he then 
scalped my father, down whose dying face, he 
said the tears were flowing, at witnessing the 
horrid butchery of myself. 

When the people from the village reached the 
house, my father was dead. The Indians were 
gone. I was lying in a pool of my own blood, 
and supposed to be dead. Julian, son of Julian 
Lariviere, wrapped me in his handkerchief, 
and carried me to his father's house, where 
some hours later, when being washed prepara- 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



128 



tory to burial, I was first discovered to be alive, 
and by careful uursing and tender care, under 
kind Providence, was restored to health. 

The motives which actuated Ihe Indians to 
commit these terrible murders, are not fully 
understood. The family believed that an in- 
dignity received by "Little Sun," at the hands 
of Registe Gagnier, was the immediate cause. 
The facts on Avhich this belief is based, are told 
by Mrs. Cherrier, as follows : "In those years 
whenever a Catholic priest would visit Prairie 
du Chien, to celebrate mass, a procession would 
be formed by all of our Catholic people, and 
would march in line to the house devoted to the 
services of the day. Upon one of these occa- 
sions, among the lot)kers-on was the Winnebago 
chief, "Little Sun" intentionally or otherwise. 
He was in the line of march, and as the head of 
the j^rocession reached him, refused to move. 
Some confusion ensued. My father leaving his 
place in the line, advanced to the front, and 
seizing the chief, threw him one side with such 
force as caused him to fall to the ground. Aris- 
ing with a murderous look and tone, "Little 
Sun" said, "you have thrown me down, but 
when I throw you down, you will never get up 
again." 

My first husband's name was Moreaux. He 
died in 1855. By that marriage we had ten 
children, seven of whom are now [1884] living. 
I was married to Mr. Cherrier, March ], 1862. 
We have had three children — Magdalene, born 
Dec. 6, 1863; Felix, born Oct. 7, 1865; and Lou- 
isa, born Feb. 29, 1868. The last named died 
in infancy. 

]My mother married again in 1831. Her sec- 
ond husband's name was St. Germain. They 
had two children — David and Hattie. My 
mother died in 1836 with the small-pox. My 
step-father died in January, 1882, Pascal 
Menoir died in Prairie du Cliien, in 1882. 
The Winnehugo Exodus. 

In 1829 a large part of the territory of the 
Winnebegoes, southwest Wisconsin, lying be- 
tween Sugar river and the Mississippi, and ex- 



tending to the Wisconsin (including, of course, 
a great part of what is now Green county), was 
sold to the general government. In 1832 all 
the residue of the Winnebago territory south 
and east of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers of 
Green bay, was disposed of to the United States, 
by which sale they relinquished their right to 
the present county of Green east of Sugar river. 
Finally, in the brief language of the treaty 
between this tribe (which has become unsettled 
and wasteful) and the United States, of the 1st 
of November, 1837, "the Winnebago Nation of 
Indians ceded to the general government "all 
their lands east of the Mississippi." Not an 
acre was reserved. And the Indians agreed 
that, within eight months from that date, they 
would move west of 'the great river " This 
arrangement, however, was not carried out 
full)'; although all, save a few stragglers, left 
what is now Green county within the time stip- 
ulated. It ended forever the occupation of this 
immediate region by the Indians. In 1842 
there were only 756 at Turkey River, Iowa, 
•their new home, with as many in Wisconsin, 
and smaller bands elsewhere. All had become 
lawless and roving. Some removed in 1848; 
while a party to the number of over 800 left 
the State as late as 1873. The present home 
of the tribe is in Nebraska, where they have a 
reservation north of and adjacent to the Oma- 
has, containing over 100,000 acres. However, 
since their first removal beyond the Mississippi, 
they have several times changed their place of 
abode. The period of Winnebngo occupancy 
of Green county and the region of country con- 
tiguous thereto, properly began about the com- 
mencement of the present century, and ended, 
virtually, in 1838. There were two Winnebago 
villages within the present limits of Green coun- 
ty, when the first white men began to "mine" at 
the Sugar river diggings. These were Spotted 
Arm's village and VV'hite Breast's village. The 
first named was about eight miles north of the 
diggings just named, and the other between 
twelve and fifteen miles south. This exact loca- 



124 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



lion was afterwards determined by the United 
States surveyors.* The number of houses in 
each did not exceed ten.f 

Within the last two years steps have been 
taken toward paying such of the Winnebagoes, 
in Wisconsin, as miglit come forward to be en- 
rolled, at least a portion of the money due to 
them under the act of Jan. 18, 1881. It has 
been found by this enrollment that the whole 
number of Winnebagoes in Wisconsin at this 
time (1884) is about 1,200; while those in Ne- 
braska number about 1,400; so that the entire 
Nation now consists of about 2,600 souls. 

Concerning the removal of the Winnebagoes, 
John H. Fonda says: 

During the year 1848, just previous to the 
adoption of the State Constitution, the Win- 
nebago Indians were scattered through the 
country along the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, 
through the Kickapoo timbers, and the Lemon- 
weir valley. Orders came from the sub-Indian 
agent, J. E. Fletcher, to collect and remove 
them to their reservation, near Fort Atkinson, 
Iowa. 

In 1848, when orders were received at Fort 
Crawford to remove the Winnebagoes, several 
attempts were made to do so, but with poor 
success. Early in the same year I received the 
following official letter: 

Office Sub-India:^ Agent, ) 

Turkey River, Jan. 4, 1848. j 

Sir: — In answer to 3'our inquiry respecting 

the disposition to be made of the Winnebago 

Indians who may be found wandering about 

through the country, I have to say that I wish 

you to arrest them, cause them to be securely 

guarded, and report them to me as early as may 

be practicable. 

Very respectfully your obedient servant, 

J. E. Fletcher. 

To Lieut. , Lidian Agent. 

Commanding Ft. Crawford, W. T. 



*See Surveyors' Notes, in Chap. VI. 

tConsult Beouchard'8 Reminiscence, In Chap. VIIl. 



Upon receipt of the above I made all neces- 
sary preparation, and started With fifty men to 
collect the Indians. This attempt was quite 
successful, and several hundred were arrested 
and sent to Fort Atkinson, Iowa. It may ap- 
pear strange to some persons that such a hand- 
ful of men could take many hundred Indians 
prisoners, and guard them day and night as we 
travelled through a wild, unsettled country; but 
it was done, an-1 I have a list of names of those 
men who accompanied me on that expedition. 
My journal, kept during the time we were 
hunting the Indians, presents numerous inter- 
esting items, only one or two of which I will 
relate. 

In taking the Indians, great caution was 
necessary to enable us to approach them. When 
the scouts reported that Indians had been dis- 
covered, four or live of the men would start on 
ahead, enter the Winnebago camp, collect all 
the guns and take off the locks before the Indians 
were aware of their intention. Frequently a 
hunting party would come in while the men 
were un-locking the guns, and make a demon- 
stration of resistance, by which time our entire 
party would arrive, and prevail on them to sub- 
mit to the same treatment, telling them if they 
came along with us quietly no harm would be 
offered them. On the 10th of May we en- 
camped in a valley near the Baraboo, and three 
days after were on Dell creek. Here the scout- 
ing party captured a Winnebago Indian, who 
told me his part of the tribe were encamped at 
Seven Mile creek. I sent eleven men to the 
camp, which was very large and comprised many 
lodges. When the main body had come up to 
the Indian camp, we found the men had suc- 
ceeded in getting all the guns but one, which 
belonged to a young brave who refused to give 
it up. Fearing he might do mischief, the gun 
was taken from him. It was a fine rifle, of 
which he was proud; but in spite of his remon- 
strance, the lock was taken off and put in a bag 
with others. When the piece was rendered un- 
serviceable, they handed it back to the young 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



125 



Indian. He looked at it a moment, and then 
grasping the barrel he raised it above his head, 
and brought the stock down with such force 
against the trunk of a young sapling as to break 
it to splinters, and threw the barrel many rods 
from him. His sister, an Indian girl abont sev- 
enteen years old, picked up the barrel and handed 
it to him. The brother bent it against the tree 
and then hurled it over the bank into the creek. 

The addition of the Indians put us on short 
allowance, and I was obliged to send one of the 
wagons back to Baraboo for provisions and 
grain. Just before making camp on main ridge 
the loth of May, my horse was bitten on the 
nose by a rattlesnake. The horse's head was 
soon swollen to twice its natural size, and I 
thought him as good as dead, when an old 
Frenchman offered to make the horse well by 
the next morning. I turned the horse over to 
his care, and sure enough, the morning follow- 
ing the swelling had all disajDpeared, and the 
horse was as well as ever. I asked what he had 
put on to effect the sudden cure, he said he did 
not apply anything, but one of the men told me 
that he cured the horse by looking at and talking 
to it. This w^as the same man who cured one, 
Theo. Warner, now [1858] living in Prairie du 
Chien, when he was bitten by a rattlesnake. 
His name was Lim'mery, and a strange man he 
was; his eyes w^ere the smallest I have ever seen 
in the head of any human being, with a piercing 
expression that once seen could never be forgot- 
ten. He would never allow a snake to be killed 
if he could help it, and could take up the most 
venomous snake with impunity. I saw him 
take up a large moccasin snake Avhile we were 
in the Kickapoo bottoms, and it never offered to 
bite him, while it would strike fiercely at any 
other person who approached it. I could only 
attribute the strange power of this man to some 
mesmeric influence. 

We were fortunate enough to bring all the 
Indians to Prairie du Chien without accident, 
where they were delivered to a body of regulars 
from Fort Atkinson, who moved them to their 



reservation. That was the last of the Winne- 
bagoes in Wisconsin as a tribe. There are now 
a few stragglers loitering near the old hunting- 
grounds, in the Kickapoo and Wisconsin bottom 
lands, but altogether they no not exceed a hun- 
dred souls. 

The Winnehagoes in 1816. 

In 1816 the Menomonees inhabited the coun- 
try about Green bay, and their women occasion- 
ally married Winnebagoes, but not often. The 
Menomonees were a quiet and peaceful race, 
well disposed and friendly to the whites. To- 
mah, the acting chief of the Nation, was well 
spoken of by all the traders who knew him. 

The principal vilkges of the Winnebagoes 
were at the u})per and lower end of the lake of 
that name, with an occasional lodge along the 
Fox river. At the season that traders generally 
passed the Portage of Wisconsin, they would 
find old grey headed Day-Kau-Ray at the Port- 
age with his band. Their village was a short 
distance from theirs up the AVisconsin, and the 
Wiunebagoes had villages up the Baraboo river, 
and several small ones along down the Wiscon- 
sin to near its mouth and up the Mississippi. 
They w'ere estimated at that time by the traders 
best acquainted with them to be about 900 war- 
riors strong. Of the Day-Kau-Rays, there were 
four or five brothers, who w'ere all influential 
men in the Nation. One sister had a family of 
children by a trader named Lecuyer, who had 
married her after the Indian manner. Tradi- 
tion says that their fatiier was a French trader, 
who, during the time the French had possession 
of the country, married a Winnebago woman, 
the daughter of the principal chief of the Na- 
tion, by whom he had these sons and daughters; 
that at the time the country was taken pos- 
session of by the English, he abandoned them, 
and they were j'aised among the Indians, and 
being the descendants of a chief on the mother's 
side, when arrived at manhood they assumed 
the dignity of their rank by inheritance. They 
were generally good Indians, and frequently 
urged their claims to the friendship of the 



126 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



whites by saying that they were themselves half 
white. 

The Wintiebagoes in 1818. 

The locations of the different tribes of In- 
dians in the vicinity of Crawford county in 
1818, including also the homes of the Winneba- 
goes, is clearly pointed out in the narrative of 
Edward Tanner, published in the Detroit Ga- 
zette, of January 8 and 15, 1819. 

"The first tribe of Indians after leaving St. 
Louis is the Oyiwayes [lovvas]. This tribe live 
about 100 miles from the west side of the Mis- 
sissippi, on the Menomonee, and have about 
400 warriors. The next tribe are tiie Sauks, 
who live on the Mississippi, and about 400 miles 
above St. Louis. They emigrated from the 
Oisconsiri [Wisconsin] about thirty-five years 
ago. Their military strengtli is about 800 war- 
riors, exclusive of old men and boys, and are 
divided into two divisions of 40<) men. Eacii 
division is commanded by a war chief. The 
first are those who have been most distinguished 
for deeds of valor, and the second the ordinary 
warriors. Tliey have also two village chiefs 
who appear to preside over the civil concerns of 
the Nation. The next tribe is the t'ox Indians. 
This tribe have a few lodges on the east side of 
the Mississippi near Fort Armstrong and about 
four miles from the Sauk village. Thirty miles 
above this, at the mine De Bake [Dubuque], on 
the west side, they have another village, and 
another on Turkey river, thirty miles below 
Prairie du Chien. Their whole military strength 
is about 400 warriors. They are at this time in 
a state of war with the Sioux; and as the Sauks 
are in strict amity with the Fox Indians, and 
have the influence and control of them, they are 
also drawn into the war. This war was in con- 
sequence of depredations committed by the 
Fox Indians on the Sioux. 

"Prairie du Chien, on which the village of 
that name stands, is a handsome plain, about 
half a mile wide from the bank of the river to 
the bluff or commencement of the rising ground, 
and out of danger from inundations. In conse- 



quence of the serpentine course of the river, 
the plain widens above and below the village. 
The soil is a black sand about fifteen inches 
deep, appearing to be very productive. The 
foundation is gravelly, containing amber stones 
susceptible of a handsome polish. Timber is 
scarce. Tiie upland in the vicinity is very bro- 
ken, poor and nearly barren. In the settlement 
are about 1,500 inhabitants, exclusive of the 
military, who are principally Creoles. As a 
place of business, it now appears on the decline. 

"The river Ouisconsin [Wisconsin] is about 
half a mile wide — common depth, one to four 
feet — no falls, but generally a brink current. 
The channel is subject to change, from the nu- 
merous bars of sand which lie in it, and fre- 
quently alter their position. In the river are 
numerous islands, on which grow the principal 
timber of the country. The banks are gen- 
erally low and sandy — some plains lined with 
the common granite stone. The bordering 
counU'y is very broken, sandy and barren. In 
the interior the same description will answer. 
Barren, broken and destitute of vegetation, few 
places can be found that will admit of settle- 
ments. The Winnebago Indians inhabit the 
country bordei'ing on the tributary streams of 
both sides of the river. They appear to go 
abroad for their game, and have no conven- 
iences for dwelling, except a kind of lodge 
which they carry with them wherever they go. 
Their territory extends from the Mississippi to 
to the vicinity of Green bay, and the number of 
their warriors is 700." 

An Indian. Scare. 

In 1846 the citizens living contiguous to the 
Wisconsin river were treated to a genuine In- 
dian scare, and as the VVinnebagoes were liiu 
supposed enemies, an account in this connection 
is properly given of the event. 

In the winter of 1844-5, and while the Legis- 
lature of the Territory was in session at Madi- 
son, the capital, a rumor that an Indian war had 
broken out, came to the ears of the legislators 
with a thousand fearful forebodings, and pro- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



12Y 



ducing intense excitement. At this time the 
militia laws had all been repealed, probably 
with a view to counteract the supposed influ- 
ence of Gov. Doty, and the capital he might 
have made by the organization of the militia 
and the appointment of the officers from among 
his friends, the majorit}'- of the Legislature be- 
ing opposed to Doty. At this juncture, how- 
ever, a change in the administration of the gen- 
eral government had clianged governors, and 
Gen. Dodge was again at the helra of the Ter- 
ritory. But the law which abolished the militia 
service with a view to hamper and trammel 
Doty, was now, in a time of need, found to 
trammel and to hamper Dodge, for though 
great fear was excited, that plunder and mur- 
der would be, or were actually being committed 
by the Indians, the governor's hands were tied 
by the law, which he had himself approved. 
The representations of the Indian disturbances 
made to the governor he communicated to the 
Assembly. 

The emergency of the case was such as to 
call the two Houses together at an evening ses- 
sion, to receive the governor's message' on the 
subject, and to devise ways and means for the 
public defense. And while one Avas looking at 
another, at a loss to know what to do, a mem- 
ber penned and offered a bill to repeal the act 
by which the militia organization had been 
abolished, and to restore the former laws upon 
the subject. In offering the bill which con- 
tained only a few lines, he moved a suspension 
of the rules, so that the bill passed at once, and 
was sent to the council; and by the same pro- 
cess, it was passed there, and in about half an 
hour from the time it was first offered, the gov- 
ernor had approved of it, and the whole militia 
of the Territory was organized, officers and all, 
and measures were taken to call out a portion 
of it, to chastise the supposed marauders, Avhen 
a second communication to the governor showed 
that there was no occasion for it. The first re- 
port had grown out of exaggerated statements 
of some white hunters, who had come in con- 



tact with some Indians in the same pursuit, and 
who probably took some game which the whites 
would have been glad to have taken; and pos- 
sibly some pigs had been taken on the credit of 
the Indians, but this was never proven against 
them. 

By reference to the legislative journals, it 
appears that this matter happened on the last 
evening, Feb. 3, 1846. The governor commu- 
nicated the proceedings of a meeting of the cit- 
izens of Muscoda, on the Wisconsin river, in 
Grant county, dated Sunday night, Feb. 1, 
1846, stating as follows: "The citizens of this 
prairie and surrounding country, having been 
for the last several months annoyed and har- 
assed by the depredations of the Winnebago 
Indians, and submitted to their bullying and 
insults, have at length been forced to the dernier 
resort; to take up arms for our protection. This 
evening a skirmish took place between the In- 
dians and the citizens, in which four of the 
former were severely, if not mortally, wounded; 
and from the known character of the Indians, 
we may naturally expect more serious conse- 
(piences to ensue. A true and correct statement 
of the occurrences of the day is substantially as 
follows: A number of the Indians came down 
the north side of the Wisconsin river to t'apt. 
Smith's, and stole his canoe. He discovered 
them and called to them to bring it back, which 
they refused to do. The captain, with several 
other men, came over to tliis shore, found the In- 
dians who took his boat, and chastised one or two 
of them with a stick, and in the melee one of his 
men was severely hurt with a club in the hands 
of one of the Indians. The Indians then ran, 
and the citizens, a number of whom had by this 
time collected, followed them a little way and 
returned. In a short time the Indians came 
back also. All the citizens having by this time 
assembled, Capt. James B. Estes and Booth ad- 
vanced towards them, unarmed, and in a peace- 
able manner, making friendly manifestations, 
all of which time the Indians threatened, by 
drawing their knives, throwing off their blank- 



128 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ets, waving their guns in the air, and pointing 
them towards the wliites. Finding it impossi- 
ble to pacify or appease them thej' separated 
and in a moment tliey fired upon the citizens; 
the next moment tlieir fire was returned, and 
four of them fell. 'I'hey then add, that tlie In- 
dians have sent their runners to collect their 
scattered bands, and tiie whites have sent for 
aid; that they want the governor's assistance, 
and are determined to kill or drive every In- 
dian on the Wisconsin over the Mississippi; 
have upwards of forty men under arms, and 
have chosen James B. Estes for captain." 

Gov. Dodge recommended the adoption of a 
meinorial to the secretary of war, asking for a 
corps of dragoons to protect the frontier settle- 
ments. "In the course of half an hour," says 
the Madison Argus of that period, "resolutions 
were adopted to that effect, and the militia law 
of the Territory revived;" and on the adjourn- 
ment of theLegislature,they setout immediately 
for the scene of disturbance, but the excitement 
liad died away and no more trouble was appre- 
hended. 

TREATIES WITH THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS AND 
THE WINNEBAGOES. 

Twelve treaties were held at different times 
between the United States and the Sac and Fox 
Indians and the Winnebagoes, affecting, imme- 
diately or remotely, the territory now included 
within the limits of Crawford county as fol- 
lows: 

1. A treaty was lield at St. Louis Nov. 3, 
180+, between the Sacs and Foxes and the 
United States. William Henry Harrison was 
acting commissioner on the part of the govern- 
ment. By the provisions of the treaty, the 
chiefs and head men of the united tribes ceded 
to tlie United States a large tract on both sides 
of the Mississippi, extending on the east from 
the mouth of the Illinois to the head of that 
river, and thence to the Wisconsin, and includ- 
ing on the '.vest considerable portions of Iowa 
and Missouri, from the mouth of the Gasconade 
northward. In what is now the State of Wis- 



consin, this grant embraced the whole of the 
present counties of Grant and Lafayette and a 
large portion of Iowa and Green counties. The 
Lead Region was included in this purchase. In 
consideration of this cession, the general gov- 
ernment agieed to protect the tribes in the 
quiet enjoyment of their land, against its own 
citizens and all others who should intrude on 
them. The tribes permitted a fort to be built 
on the upper side of the Wisconsin river near 
its mouth, and granted a tract of land two 
miles square adjoining the same. The govern- 
ment agreed to give them an annuity of $1,000 
per annum. The validity of this treaty was de- 
nied by one band of Sac Indians, and this ces- 
sion of land became, twenty-eight years after, 
the alleged cause of the Black Hawk War. 

2. Another treaty was held at Portage des 
Sioux, now a village in St. Charles Co., Mo., on 
the MississipiJi river, Sept. 13, lbl5, with cer- 
tain chiefs of that portion of the Sac Nation 
then .esiding in Missouri, who, they said, were 
compelled since the commencement of the late 
war, to separate themselves from the rest of 
their Nation. They gave their assent to the 
treaty made at St. Louis in 1804, and promised 
to remain separate from the Sacs of Rock river, 
and to give them no aid or assistance, until 
peace should be concluded between the United 
States and the Foxes of Rock river. 

3. On the 14th of September a treaty was 
made with the chiefs of the Fox tribe, at the 
same place. They agreed that all prisoners in 
their hands should be delivered up to the gov- 
ernment. They assented to, recognized, re-es- 
tablished and confirmed the treaty of 1804 to 
the full extent of their interest in the same. 

4. A treaty was held at St. Louis, May 13, 
1816, with the Sacs of Rock river, who afhrmed 
the treaty of 1804, and agreed to deliver up all 
the property stolen or plundered, and in failure 
to do so, to forfeit all title to their annuities. 
To this treaty Black Hawk's name appears with 
others. That chief afterward affirmed that 
though he himself had "touched the quill" to 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



129 



this treaty, he knew not what he was signing, 
and that he was therein deceived by the agent 
and others, who did not correctly explain the 
nature of the grant; and in reference to the 
treaty of St. Louis in 1804, and at Poi'tage des 
Sioux in 1815, he said he did not consider the 
same valid or binding on him or his tribe, inas- 
much as in the tei-ms of those treaties, territory 
was described which the Indians never intended 
to sell, and the treaty of 1804, particularly, was 
made by parties who had neither authority in 
the Nation nor power to dispose of its lands. 
Whether this was a true statement of the case 
or otherwise, it is quite certain that the grant 
of lands referred to was often confirmed by his 
Nation, and was deemed conclusive and bind- 
ing by the government. The latter acted in 
good faith to the tribes, as well as to the set- 
tlers, in the disposition of the lands. 

5. A treaty of peace and friendship was made 
at St. Louis, June .3, 1816, l)etween the chiefs 
and warriors of that part of the Winnebagoes 
residing on the Wisconsin river. In this treaty 
the tribe state that they have separated them- 
selves from the rest of their Nation; that they, 
for themselves and those they represent, con- 
firm to the United States all and every cession 
of land heretofore made by their Nation, and 
every contract and agreement, as far as their 
interest extended. 

6. On the 19th of August, 182.5, at Prairie 
du Cliien, a treaty was made with the Sioux, 
Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, Winnebagoes, Ot- 
tawas and Pottawattamies, by which the bound- 
ary between the two first Nations was agreed 
upon; also between the Chippewas, Winneba- 
goes and other tribes. 

1. Another treaty was held Aug. 5, 1826, at 
Fond du Lac of Lake Superior, a small settle- 
ment on the St. Louis river, in Itasca Co., Minn., 
with the same tribes, by which the previous 
treaty was confirmed in respect to boundaries, 
and those of the Chippewas was defined, as a 
portion of the same was not completed at the 
former treaty. 



8. A treaty was made and concluded Aug. 1, 
1827, at Butte des Morts, between the United 
States and the Chippewa, Monomonee and Win- 
nebago tribes, in vvhich the boundaries of their 
tribes were defined; no cession of lands w^s 
made. 

9. A treaty was made at Green Bay, Aug. 
25, 1828, with the Winnebagoes, Pottawatta- 
mies and other tribes. This treaty was made 
to remove the diffculties which had arisen in 
consequence of the occupation by white men of 
that portion of the mining country in the south- 
western part of Wisconsin which had not been 
ceded to the United States. A provisional 
boundary was provided, and privileges accorded 
the government to freely occupy their territory 
until a treaty should be made for the cession of 
the same. This treaty was simply to define the 
rights of the Indians, and to give the United 
States the right of occupation. 

10. Two treaties were made at Prairie du 
Chien on the 29th of July, 1829, and Aug. 1, 
1829. At the first date, with the Chippewas, 
Ottawas and Pottawattamies, by which these 
Nations ceded all their lands which they claimed 
in the northwestern part of Illinois; and at the 
latter date with the Winnebagoes, by which that 
Nation ceded and relinquished all their right, 
title and claim to all their lands south of the 
Wisconsin river, thus confirming the purchase 
•of the lead-mine region. Certain grants were 
made to individuals, which grants were not to 
be leased or sold by the grantees. 

By this important treaty, about 8,000,000 acres 
of land were added to the public domain. The 
three tracts ceded, and forming one whole, ex- 
tended from the upper end of Rock river to the 
mouth of the Wisconsin, from latitude 41 de- 
grees 30 minutes to latitude 43 degrees 15 min- 
utes on the Mississippi. Following the mean- 
derings of the river, it was about 240 miles from 
west to east, extending along the Wisconsin and 
Fox rivers, affording a passage across the coun 
try from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan. The 



130 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



south part of the purchase extended from Rock 
Island to Lake Michigan.* 

11. At tlie conclusion of the Black Hawk 
War, in 1832, for the purpose«of clearing up the 
Indian title of the Winnebago Nation in the 
country, a treaty was made and concluded at 
Fort Armstrong, Sept. 15, 18.32. All the terri- 
tory claimed by thisNation lying south and east 
of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers of Green bay, 
was ceded to the United States, and no band or 
party of Winnebagoes was allowed to reside, 
plant, fish or hunt on these grounds, after June 
1, 1833, or on any part of the country therein 
ceded. 

12. The Winnebago Nation, by the chiefs 
and delegates, held a treaty with the govern- 
ment at vVashington, Nov. 1, 1837. That Na- 
tion ceded all their lands east of the Mississippi, 
and obligated themselves to remove, within 
eight months after the ratification of the treaty, 
to certain lands west of the Mississippi which 
were conveyed to them by the treaty of Sept. 
21, 1832. 

THE INDIAN TREATIES OF 1 829. 
[By Caleb Atwattr.] 
Galena stands on the land we afterwards pur- 
chased of the Indians, and is the largest town 
in Illinois. When we arrived there it had been 
settled about three years. It contained several 
taverns, a considerable number of stores, about 
a dozen lawyers, and four or five physicians, 
with little to do, as the country is healthy. 
There were three religious congregations in the 
place — Methodists, Roman Catholics and Pres- 
byterians. The town is built on the side hill, 
in the form of a crescent, on the north side of 
Fever river, and contains, perhaps, 1,000 in- 
habitants. It is a seat of justice of Jo Daviess 
Co., 111., and is situated in latitude about 42 de- 
grees 30 minutes north. It contained at all 
times very large quantities of lead, brought 
here either ;is rent to the government or for 
sale to the merchants. The superisitcndent of 
the mines and his assistant. Major Camj>bel], 

*For fi^rthej iTjfoi'mation as to the treatiep of 1839, see the 
nexttwb articles. 



live here. The latter gentleman and his amia- 
ble and interesting lady had been with us on 
our passage from St. Louis, and they were 
happy to find themselves at the end of as dis- 
agreeable a journey as was ever made on these 
waters. 

Numerous groceries appeared in the town, 
and two billiard tables were occupied by 
persons who wished to amuse themselves at 
billiards, 

Mr. James Barnes, formerly of Chillicothe, 
Ohio, kept an excellent boarding house, and I 
found many old acquaintances in the town, en- 
joying the best of health, and thej' appeared 
cheerful and happy. 

Here we learned that a large body of Indians 
had already been assembled at Prairie du Chien 
for some time, and were in readiness to meet us. 
Knowing the necessity of supplying them with 
food, that ours would not reach us for some 
time yet, and knowing this to be the last oppor- 
tunity we should find to purchase any food, we 
purchased 500 bushels of corn, and loading all 
we could convey, we left this beautiful town on 
the next day, and departed for our final destina- 
tion, where we arrived about the middle of 
July, 1829. 

As soon as we were discovered by our red 
friends, a few miles below the fort, opposite to 
their encampment, they fired into the air about 
1,500 rifles, to honor us. Our povvder had be- 
come wet, and, to our extreme mortification and 
regret, we could not answer them by our cannon. 
Having fired their arms, some ran on foot, some 
rode on their small hort^es furiousl}'^ along over 
the prairie to meet us where we landed. Amidst 
the motley group of thousands, of all ages, sexes, 
classes of society, colors and conditions of men, 
women and children, who met us on the wharf 
— Nawkaw and Iloochopekah, with their fami- 
lies, eagerly seized my hand, and I was happy, 
indeed, to meet them here. During twenty 
years I had seen them several times, and they 
recognized me in a moment among the crowd, 
and assured me of their friendship and good 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



131 



wishes. These chiefs of the Winnebagoes and 
their families pressed around me, and continued 
close by me until we reached the tavern where 
we went. There we entered into a long con- 
versation, and they introduced me to their red 
friends. I assured them of my ardent friend- 
ship, and that they and their people should be 
dealt with not only justly but liberally; that 
the President, their great father, was their 
friend, a warrior like them, and never would do 
them any injury; that I wished them all to re- 
member what 1 now told them, and when we 
finally parted, if ray solemn promises thus vol- 
untarily made to them had not been kept to the 
very letter, I wFshed them to publicly tell me 
so. Shaking me heartily by the hand, and 
assuring me of their friendshii), they then ap- 
pealed to Col. Menard, who heartily agreed with 
me in assuring them of our good intentions to- 
wards them. 

Dr. Wolcott, the agent for the Chippewas, 
Ottawas and Pottawattomies, here met us, and 
he had been at incredible pains to get his In- 
dians here, where they had been for nearly a 
month, perhaps. Mr. Kinzey, the sub-agent of 
the Winnebagoes, whose sub-agency is located 
at Fort Winnebago, had also come and with 
him all the principal persons of that Nation 
residing in that direction. 

All the Indians with whom we were sent to 
treat were represented on the ground, and all 
that was wanting to begin our councils we 
urged forward with all the energy that the offi- 
cers of the government and their numerous 
friends could muster. The next day, in com- 
pany with Gen. Street, the agent of the Winne- 
bagoes, resident here, several sub-agents and 
interpreters, I met the principal men of the 
Winnebagoes, and we impressed upon them the 
necessity of keeping their young men under 
subjection, and arrajiged with them the outlines 
of the manner in which our business should be 
conductccl. The talk was a long one and occu- 
pied the afternoon. Gen. Street was very zeal- 
ous in the service of the government. 



Gen. McNeil and his officers at the fort 
erected a council shade near the fort, and in 
about three days we were ready to hold a pub- 
lic council, when Dr. Wolcott's Indians in- 
formed me that they could not meet in public 
council until an Indian was buried, and inquired 
of me if I objected to the burial, to which 1 re- 
plied that I could not object to the burial, cer- 
tainly. On the next day, to my regret, I learned 
they would not assemble in council until the 
Indian was buried, and again inquired whether 
I was willing to have the person buried, to 
which question I replied in the affirmative, 
when I was informed that the relatives of the 
deceased would not consent to the burial of the 
murdered person until they had received a 
horse, as the compensation for his death. Un- 
derstanding the difficulty at last, the commis- 
sioners gave the horse, the deceased was buried 
and the Indians agreed to meet in council next 
day. 

I took some pains to get the murderer and 
the relatives of the deceased together in order 
to have a perfect reconciliation between them. 
They shook hands very cordially in appearance, 
but the relatives of the deceased person in- 
formed me privately afterwards that, as soon 
as the murderer got home with his horse and 
goods, they would kill him and take his prop- 
erty, which he could better keep than they 
could until then. If I am correctly informed 
they did as they assured me they would after 
their arrival in their own country. So that 
compounding for the murder only procrastinated 
for a time the punishment of tlie crime. 

When everything was in readiness for the 
opening of the council, the Indians of all the 
tribes and Nations on the treaty ground attended, 
and requested to have translated to them, sev- 
erally, what we said to each tribe, which being 
assented to on our part, the Winnebagoes, the 
Chippewas, Ottawas, Pottawattamies, Sioux, 
Snuks, Foxes and Monomonees, half-breeds, the 
officers from the fort, the Indian agents, sub- 
agents, interpreters and a great concourse of 



132 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



strangers from every city in tlie Union; and 
even from Liverpool, London and Paris, were in 
attendance. The commissioners sat on a raised 
bench facing the Indian chiefs; on each side of 
them stood the officers of the army in full dress, 
while the soldiers, in their best attire, appeared 
in bright array on the sides of the council shade. 
The ladies belonging to the officers' families, 
and the best families in the Prairie, were seated 
directly behind the commissioners, where they 
could see all that passed and hear all that was 
said. Behind the principal Indian chiefs sat 
the common people — first the men, then the 
women and children, to the number of thous- 
ands, who listened in breathless and death-like 
silence to every word that was uttered. 1 he 
spectacle was grand and morally sublime in the 
highest degree to the Nations of red men who 
were present, and when our proposition to sell 
all their country to their Father hai been deliv- 
ered to them, they requested an i xact copy of it 
in writi g; the request was instantly complied 
with and the council broke up. The next day 
we addressed the Winnebagoes, as we hid the 
Chippewas, etc., the day before, and at their 
request gave them a copy of our speech. 

After counseling among themselves, the Chip- 
pewas, etc., answore i favorably as to a sale, 
though tbey would do nothing yet until they 
had fixed on their terms. 

The Winnebagoes appeared iti council and 
delivered many speeches to us. They demanded 
the $20,000 worth of goods. "Wipe out your 
debt," was their reply, "before you run iji debt 
again to us." 

Our goods, owing to the low stage of the 
water, had not arrived yet, and the Indians 
feared we did not intend to fulfill Gov. Cass' 
agreement of he year before. When our goods 
did arrive and they saw them they then changed 
their tone a little; but in the meantime, great 
uneasiness existed, and I was often seriously 
advised by Nawkaw and other friends to go into 
the fort, as Gen. McNeil had done. Col. Men- 
ard's ill healtli had compelled him to leave the 



ground and go to Gen. Street's, five miles (the 
general calls it three) from the council house. 
Unless wcleft the ground, we were told by the 
Winnebagoes, that they "would use a little 
switch upon us." In plain English, tliey would 
assassinate the whole of us out of the fort. Two 
hundred warriors under Keokuk and Morgan, of 
Sauks and Foxes, arrived and began their war 
dance for the United States, and they brought 
word that thirty steamboats with cannon and 
United States troops, and 400 warriors of their 
own, were near at hand. The Winnebagoes 
were silenced by this intelligence, and by dem- 
onstrations, not misunderstood by them. 

When Keokuk arrived, he brought two de- 
serters from the garrison here, whom he had 
made prisoners on his way up the river. Quas- 
quawma and his son-in-law, Tia-na, came with 
Keokuk. It was a season of great joy with me, 
who placed more reliance on these friendly war- 
riors than on all our forces. Good as our officers 
were, our soldiers of the army were too dissi- 
pated and worthless to be relied on one moment. 
Taking Keokuk aside and alone, I told him in 
plain English all I wanted of him, what I would 
do for him and what I expected from him and his 
good officers. Ue replied in good English: "I 
understand you sir, perfectly, and it shall all be 
done." It was all done faithfully, and he turned 
the tide in our favor. 

The goods arrived and also our provisions; 
Col. Menard's and Gen. McNeil's health were 
restored aiid they appeared again at the council 
house and everythin^j wore a new aspect. They 
approved of all I had done in their temporary 
absence. 

On the 29th of July, 1829, we concluded our 
treaty with the Chi[)pewas, Ottawas and Potta- 
wattamies. 

On the 1st day of August a treaty was con- 
cluded with the Winnebagoes. 

So the treaties were executed at last, and about 
8,000,000 acres of land added to our domain, 
purchased from the Indians. Taking the three 
tracts, ceded, and forming one whole, it extends 




-^^^-C^;n^^^ir^i^^~~^d^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



133 



from the upper end of Rock Island to the mouth 
of the Wisconsin; from latitude 41 degrees, 30 
minutes, to latitude 48 degrees, 15 minutes, on 
the Mississippi. Following the meanderings of 
the river, it is called 240 miles from south to 
north. It extends along the Wisconsin and Fox 
rivers, from west to east, so as to give us a pas- 
sage across the country from the Mississippi to 
Lake Michigan. The south part of the pur- 
chase extends from Rock Island to Lake Michi- 
gan south of the Wisconsin, the Indians now 
own only reservations where they live, which, 
as soon as the white people settle on aU the 
ceded lands, will be sold to us, and the Indians 
will retire above the Wisconsin, or cross the 
Mississippi, where the bear, the beaver, the deer 
and the bison invite them. The United States 
now owns all the country on the east side of the 
Mississippi, from the Gulf of Mexico to the 
mouth of the Wisconsin. 

When I have crossed Rock river, after having 
passed over the interior of the ceded country, I 
will describe it more particularly. 

It remains for me to make a few remarks upon 
the country along the Mississippi from Fort 
Edwards upward, and briefly describe Prairie 
du Chien. 

Ascending the Mississippi, the country ap- 
peared to rise uj) out of the river at Fort Ed- 
wards, and the hills assume a greater elevation 
still, at Du Buque's mine and tomb not far from 
Galena. From thence upwards, the bottom lands 
are narrow, the river turns towards the north- 
west and becomes very crooked, bounded by 
high hills. Cassville, thirty miles below Prairie 
du Chien, stands on a narrow bottom, where an 
opening into the mineral country, in the direc- 
tion of Mineral Point, presents itself. This easy 
passage down to the river has located a town 
here of a few houses, consisting of a tavern, a 
storehouse for the lead, belonging to the United 
States; and here a government sub-agent to col- 
lect and receive the government's share of lead 
resides, Major Beal. 



Opposite the mouth of the Wisconsin stands 
Pike's hill, lofty and abrupt, and just above this 
place, on the eastern bank of the river, begins 
the low prairie ground on which Fort Crawford 
and the village ot Prairie du Chien stand. The 
town begins to show itself three miles above the 
Wisconsin, and extend* upwards about nine 
miles, where it ends. The river is full of islands, 
and w^hen at its highest altitude in a freshet is 
three miles in width, from hill to hill. Origi- 
nally settled by the French, it was once a place 
of some importance, as the remains of old cellars 
and chimneys show. That importance is no 
more, and probably never will be again. Over- 
flowed by high waters, and but little good land 
near it, without water-power, I see little induce- 
ment to build up a town here. On the north 
side of the Wisconsin there is no land on which 
a town can be located near the Wisconsin, and 
the south side is preferable for it, where one 
wall, one day, rise up. The town, though, is a 
seat of justice for a county of Michigan, and per- 
haps thirty families, besides those belonging to 
the garrison, reside here. No Indians reside near 
here, and there is no sort of need of nor pro- 
priety in having an agency, etc., here for the 
Winnebagoes, because Fort Winnebago is the 
proper place for the agency. 

Gen. Street, the agent and near relative of 
Mr. Barry, the postmaster general, is the pres- 
ent agent, and his residence, I consider to be 
about five miles above the fort, though I am 
aware that Gen. Street's estimated distance is 
only three miles. 

The water found by digging in this prairie is 
not always good, and that in our well was the 
worst I ever tasted, operating upon the bowels 
like glauber salts, and I suffered excessively 
from using it. Even the food cooked in it af- 
fected me seriously. The well in the fort is 
better, and some persons obtain water from 
springs in the river when it is low. The river 
covers all the town and where the fort is in 
high water. The Mississippi rising late in the 
season, and subsiding in the summer solstice, 



134 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



this, place must be sickly in summer every year, 
when a freshet takes such a time to appear. In 
1829 there was no such rise in the river, of any 
amount, and the place was healthy. 

The only Indians living on this river below 
this place and near it, are the Sauks and Foxes. 
The principal town of the former, on the east 
side of the Mississippi, is situated on the north 
side of Rock river, near its raouih, and in sight 
of the Mississippi. Not many years ago this 
town contained, it is said, 4,000 or 5,000 inhabi- 
tants. Tliey have sold all the country east of 
the river JMississippi, and are withdrawing from 
it to a new town some ten miles west of the 
old town, and about the same distance from 
Rock Island. 

The principal town of the Foxes is on the 
brink of the river near Du Buque's mine, and 
in sight of his tomb, which is erected on a high 
hill, where the cross on his grave can be seen 
from the river to a considerable distance from 
it. Du Buque was an Indian trader and lived 
and died here. 

The Fox town contains twenty wigwams or 
upwards, and I presume some 200 Indians. I 
saw but a few acres of poorly cultivated corn 
near the town, and the wigwams looked shabby 
enough. Morgan is the principal warrior of 
this village, as Keokuk is of the Rock river 
town. 

The Sauks and Foxes were so useful to us as 
auxiliaries, that I feel grateful to them and 
make a few remarks on their principal men who 
were with us. 

Keokuk, the principal warrior of the Sauks, 
is a shrewd politic man, as well as a brave one, 
and he possesses great weight of character in 
their national councils. He is a high-minded, 
honorable man, and never begs of the whites. 
While ascending the Mississippi to join us, 
at the head of his brave troops, he met, arrested 
and brought along with him to Fort Crawford, 
two United States soldiers, who were deserting 
from the garrison when he met them. I in- 
formed him that for this act he was entitled to 



a bounty in money; to which he proudly re- 
plied, that he acted from motives of friendship 
towards the United States, and would accept no 
money for it. 

Morgan is the principal warrior of the Foxes, 
and resides at Du Buque's mine on the western 
bank of the Mississippi. Though less versa- 
tility of talent belongs to him than Keokuk 
possesses, yet he is a brave man and fond of 
war. More than a year before we were in this 
country, this Indian general had gone to the 
Sioux country and killed a woman and three 
children of that Nation, which act produced the 
war, then raging between the two Nations. 
This act has since been dreadfully avenged by 
a large party, on some twenty individuals of the 
Foxes. 

Tiama, a principal civil chief of the sama 
tribe, is an excellent man, and son-in-law of 
Quasquawma. Their village is already noticed 
as being located on the west side of the river, 
opposite where we lay on an island, at the 
head of the lower rapids. 

Quasquawma was the chief of this tribe once, 
but being cheated out of the mineral country, 
as the Indians allege, he was degraded from his 
rank and his son-in-law, Tiama, elected in his 
stead. The iraprovisatori, whose name has 
escaped my recollection, is a shrewd wit and a 
very good man, certainly a very amiable and 
agreeable one. He is highly esteemed by all 
his people. 

Tom, a half-blood, is a great pet among the 
whites. He speaks prairie-wolf French and a 
little English, in addition to his knowledge of 
Indian languages. 

Of the above named individuals, and several 
others belonging to these brave and generous 
allies, I brought away with me as correct a like- 
ness as I ever saw drawn. Gratitude towards 
them was my motive for being at the expense 
of these beautiful paintings which have gone 
to London a year since. Like many other ex- 
penses I was necessarily put to, I have never 
received even one cent from the govex'nment 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



135 



towards them, nor have I received one cent, 
either for my expenses or my services at St. 
Louis, the lower rapids. Rock Island or Galena. 
I say this because it has been stated very dif- 
ferently, even on the floor of the House of 
Representatives. It is not true that all my ex- 
penses were paid by the United States; nor is 
it true that my services have been paid for by 
the government at all. In saying this, I do it 
in justice to myself as I would to do justice to 
any other injured individual, however humble 
in tlie Nation. I am even yet unpaid, but I 
never will condescend to beg for my pay at the 
doors of Congress. I did once expect very dif- 
ferent treatment from my country. 

SEQUEL TO THE INDIAN TREATIES OF 1829. 
[By Caleb Atwater.] 
On the day we delivered the goods to the 
Winnebagoes, after the Indians were all seated 
on the ground in rows, the chiefs on the highest 
spot in the center, on benches, clothed in the 
most sumptuous manner; where they could see 
and be seen to the best advantage; every tribe 
by itself; the half-breeds in one place; the full 
whites in another. As I passed through the 
open spaces between the ranks, my attention 
was forcibly drawn to a particular spot by a 
constant snarling, hissing noise of some miser- 
able human being, whom, on approaching her, 
I ascertained to be an Indian woman, shriveled, 
haggard and old, though remarkably neat in her 
person and dress. She appeared to be about 
sixty years of age, and scolded incessantly. 
Some of the goods placed before her, as her share 
of them, she complained of as being too fine; 
others as being too coarse; some cost too much, 
while others were quite too cheap, and none of 
them seemed to please her. Wishing, if possi- 
ble, to please all of them, and especially the 
ladies; actuated by the best of motives, I en- 
deavored by every argument in my power to 
satisfy her, that so far as I could do anything 
towards it, great care had been taken in the 
distribution to do justice to every individual. I 
told her that her great father, the President, 



had specially ordered me, so far as in me lay, 
to please all, and to see that no one went home 
dissatisfied. At that moment she returned upon 
me a volley of epithets too degrading to be re- 
peated, even though applied to myself, as I fell 
conscious of not deserving them. Turning 
around to some females who were politely sit- 
ting on the ground behind me, I learned the 
fault finder icas an old maid (unmarried men at 
sixty years of age I will call bacheloi's, but 
ladi<js never), and that the only distinguishing- 
mark of attention she had ever received from 
any man was a smart blow with a flat hand on 
her right ear. 

As there is no law regulating taste, and some- 
times no rational way of accounting for some 
of its freaks; and as some sights are the aver- 
sion of some persons, while the appearance of 
other objects is equally disagreeable to others; 
and as I never could endure the ideas conveyed 
to my mind by a rattlesnake, a heartless poli- 
tician, an iceberg and a cold hearted woman, I 
turned away from her in disgust, and never saw 
her more nor inquired her name, for fear I 
should remember it. She was the only person 
who left the treaty ground dissatisfied with the 
commissioners. To please her it was utterly 
impossible. 

Seated, as I said, upon rising ground, on 
benches, clad in blankets, either green or red; 
covered with handsome fur hats, with three 
beautiful ostrich plumes in each hat; dressed 
in ruflled calico shirts, leggins and moccasins, 
all jiew, and faces painted to suit the fancy of 
each individual, who held in his hand a new 
rifle, adorned too Avith silver broaches, silver 
clasps on every arm, and a large medal sus- 
pended on each breast; the chiefs, principal 
warriors and head men, to the number of forty- 
two, sat during the two hours after all the goods 
had been delivered to the Nation. 

Every individual of both sexes in the Nation 
had lying directly before the person on the 
ground the share of the goods belonging to the 
individual. Great pains had been taken to give 



136 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



each such, and just so many clothes as would be 
suitable for the owner to wear during the year 
to come. The clothes were cut so as to corres- 
pond exactly with the size of the owner. The 
pile of clothes for each pei'son was nearly two 
feet in thickness, the sight of which entirely 
overcame with joy our red friends, and they sat 
during two hours in the most profound silence, 
not taking off their eyes one moment from the 
goods, now their own. For the first time dur- 
ing my constant intercourse of several weeks 
with these interesting sons and daughters of the 
forest, as I passed repeatedly through their 
ranks, not an eye ajjpeared to see me, not an 
ear to hear my heavy tread, not a tongue, as al- 
ways heretofore, repeated the endearing name 
of "Oconee Kairake" (the good chief), whic)i 
their kind partiality had given me on my first 
landing at Prairie du Chien. Their minds were 
entirely overcome with joy. 

The day being far spent, and, as the loading 
of the canoes, in which they were about to de- 
part, would necessarily occupy some little time, 
I informed the chiefs and principal men that 
the time had arrived when we should pait to 
meet no more; that the great gun at the fort 
would soon be fired to do them honor. With 
one accord they all arose, and shaking me 
heartily by the hand, many of them shedding 
tears on the occasion, they one and all invited 
me to visit them at their respective places of 
abode. In a shrill tone of voice Nawkaw 
issued his orders for every individual to arise, 
take up his or her goods, and repair to the 
beach of the river near at hand, and there await 
the signal from the fort for their embarkation. 

In fifteen minutes they were all seated on the 
sands by the river's edge, where they all sat in 
breathless silence awaiting the signal, which 
was soon given. As soon as that was given 
each chief came forward, shook me again cor- 
dially by the hand, accompanied by the warm- 
est protestations of friendship. In a few mo- 
ments more they were off, covering a consider- 
able surface with their canoes, each one of 



which carried its flag of some sort floating in 
the gentle breeze, which ruflied the surface of 
the Mississippi. 

The Chippewas, Ottawas and Pottaraatta- 
mies had received their goods in the same man- 
ner as the Winnebagoes; had been treated pre- 
cisely in the same way, and three guns, one for 
each Nation, had given them signal to depart, 
and they had parted with me in the same kind 
and affectionate manner. 

After the departure of the above named In- 
dians, we had the Sauks and Foxes still with 
us, with whom we had orders to hold a council 
to ascertain from them "if they would sell their 
mineral lands, situated west of the Mississippi? 
— and if they would sell them, upon what 
terms?" 

Gen. M'Neil, who was in command as a mili- 
tary officer in this section of country, addressed 
these tribes and was answered by Keokuk on 
the part of the Sauks, and by Morgan for the 
Foxes. I regret that the injunction of secrecy 
rests on these speeches in the United States 
Senate; otherwise I should take great pleasure 
in laying them before the reader. Keokuk, in 
particular, made one of the best speeches lever 
heard, and it was admired as such by several 
members of the Senate. Keokuk, on the part 
of these Indians, complained to us of certain 
white men who had settled on the Indian lands 
along the Mississippi in order to supply per- 
sons navigating the river with necessaries, such 
as poultry, milk, butter, eggs, and above all, 
cordwood for the steamboats. He complained 
that the United States had cultivated lands as a 
garden for the garrison at Prairie du Chien — 
had erected a mill without leave, on Indian land 
— and had not fulfilled former treaties with 
them. 

Making them liberal presents, we naturally 
deferred the whole subject in discussion for the 
consideration of the government of the United 
States to act on it; and I take pleasure in say- 
ing the government has, since that time, done 
its duty to these sons of the forest. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



137 



After arranging all matters with them as well 
as we could, which occupied several days, they 
were dismissed in a very friendly manner, as 
all other Indians had been already; and they 
iran.ediately descended the river for their 
homes. 

Before leaving this place I wish to make a 
few remarks of a general nature. 

Though I neither am, nor ever pretended to 
be a military man, yet I venture a few remarks 
on some of the military establishments in the 
northwest. 

The fort on Rock Island is commanded by 
hills on both sides of it, and could not stand an 
hour against an enemy with cannon posted on 
the heights. 

Why this fort was placed here where it is, no 
man of sense can tell, if the Britijsh were to be 
the attacking enemy. If this work was intended 
to protect this frontier against Indians it is 
in so dilapidated a state that by crossing on the 
island above the fort, or gliding along in their 
canoes utider the western side of the island, 
which forms the outside of the fort, thelndiauf^ 
could in any dark )iight make themselves mas- 
ters of the garrison in fifteen mijuites. When- 
ever they please they can collect at this point 
in ten days 4,000 warriors, to contend with 400 
soldiers. There is no regular mail connecting 
this post with the United States, and war might 
be declared for three months, in some seasons 
of tlie year, without the garrison's knowing it. 

There is a postoffice established here, and in 
summer the officers sometimes go to Galena for 
their papers and letters, 100 miles above them 
— and sometimes they go to Springfield, in the 
Sangamo countrj^, a distance of seventy miles 
perhaps, for their letters. The officers must go 
themselves, as the soldiers, if permitted to go, 
would desert the service. Cut off from all the 
world, that is, the civilized world, during six 
months of the year, the officers and soldiers 
lead a life as dull as need be. The officers who 
have families have established a school for their 
children, which is doing very well. 



Ascending the Mississippi, 200 miles or more 
above Rock Island, we arrive at Fort Crawford, 
at Prairie du Chien. This post like that at 
Rock Island, stands near the Mississippi on its 
eastern shore, and is entirely and completely 
commanded by the hills on each side of the 
river. It enjoys, too, a situation so low that 
nearly every summer, during the dog days, its 
site is under water from six to ten feet in depth, 
from the overflowing of the river. 

This work is in so dilapidated a state that I 
presume it is now abandoned for another site 
somewhat more elevated but nearer the high 
hill that will forever command it, just east of 
it. Major Garland pointed out to me the spot 
where he supposed a new fort would be erected. 

There is a propriety in placing a military post 
somewhere, at or near the mouth of the Wis- 
consin, in order to form a line of posts situated 
on Green bay, where there is a fort — and in the 
interior, at the spot where Fort Winnebago is ; 
but what consideration could have induced the 
i,fovernraent to place a garrison at St. Peters, 
500 miles and more beyond a single white set- 
tlement — unconnected, too, with any other post 
in the very heart of the Indian country, I am 
unable to determine. If this post was intended 
to strengthen this frontier, it certainly weakens 
it to the amount of the force stationed there 
added to an amount of force enough to succor 
and defend it. If the object was to station a 
garrison where an intercourse with the Indians, 
for the pifrposes of trade, was sought, Lake 
Pepin, far below it, is the place where it should 
have been located. As it is, it so happens often 
that the officers and others who pass and repass 
between Prairie du Chien and St. Peters are 
taken prisoners on the route by the Indians. 
Unless some one wished to get a good govern- 
mental job by getting this post established, 
then I cannot account for this strange location, 
and I am equally at a loss to account for the 
continuance of this worse than useless estab- 
lishment where it is, 



138 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



All the officers in the Indian country, who 
have been there ten years, ought instantly to be 
relieved by others. Lieut-Col. Z. Taylor has 
been in the Indian country constantly with his 
family, about twenty years. Hei'e he and bis 
lady, who were bred in the most polished and 
refined society, have been compelled to rear, as 
well as they could, a worthy and most interest- 
ing family of children. Col. Taylor commnnds 
Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien. . Dr. Beau- 
mont and his amiable and accomplished lady ; 
Major Garland and his, belonging to this garri- 
son, are doing the same. It is an interesting 
sight to see such persons, located as they are, 
in a fort, on the very verge of civilized life, 
educating a family of young children. The 
situation of delicate females, belonging to some 
of the best families in the Nation, reared in 
tenderness, amidst all the luxuries and refine- 
ments of polished society, now living in a fort, 
calls for our sympathy and admiration of their 
foi'titude, which enables them to bear with all 
the ills, and overcome all the difficulties attend- 
ant on their mode of living. When I was very 
unwell, from exposure, miserable water, and the 
worst of cookery, and worn down too by fatigue 
of body and mental suffering, I always found 
sympathy, food that I could eat, and smiles and 
kindness which touched my heart, in the fami- 
lies I have named, nor can I ever forget the 
females belonging to the families of Mr. Rolette 
and of Judge Lockwood, at Prairie du Chien. 
Without their kindness towards me, I must 
have perished. I do not deny my fondness for 
woman, because 1 know that in cases of distress 
and suffering, her sympathy and cheering voice 
infuses into man new life, new vigor, and new 
fortitude, and he marches onward with redoubled 
energy, to climb over every alps that is placed 
in his way. Living as these ladies do, amidst 
dangers, in an Indian country, they are familiar- 
ized with them, and their animating voice is 
worth an army of men. I never can forget 
them, nor their families while I lire. Would 
jbhe gDTGrnracnt heal* "ij fcpble roice, such afH« 



cers would not be compelled, with their fami- 
lies, to spend all their days, in an Indian coun- 
try, while others who have known no suffering 
in the service, are attending levees and gallant- 
ing about the ladies at Washington City. 

There is something wrong in all this, that I 
hope will be rectified yet. 

At each of the militarj- posts, the officers have 
established a library and a reading room at 
their own expense. Their books consist of use- 
ful works, connected with their pursuits. His- 
tory, geography, mathematics, chemistry and 
scientific books, are in the library, and the offi- 
cers and their families are-well read in them all. 
Though they may be uninformed as to the pass- 
ing events, at the very moment they occur, yet 
at unequal periods, their regular files of all the 
best newspapers published in the United States, 
are received and read with care. The National 
Intelligencer^ National Gazette, all the literary 
periodicals, worth reading, are carefully pe- 
rused. 

The younger officers were all educated at 
West Point Academy, and whenever I met one 
of them, I always found a gentleman, and man 
of science, brave, active, vigorous, energetic, 
high minded, honorable, strictly honest and 
correct in all his deportment. He claimed all 
that belonged to him, and not one title more, 
of any one. These officers, belonging to the 
first families in the Nation, educated in the 
very best manner, are induced by their self- 
respect, to conduct themselves in the very best 
manner on all occasions. They fear nothing 
but disgrace, originating in their own bad con- 
duct, and they scrupulously avoid it ever)nvhere 
and at all times As officers, as gentlemen and 
as men, I feel proud of them as my countrymen. 

I pray them to accept this testimony in their 
favor, as a small payment towards a large sum 
justly due to them for their good conduct in 
every part of the Union where I have had the 
pleasure of mooting with them. My only re- 
gret is, that this honest, heartfelt approbation 
of them is all I have it in my jAiwdr to bfestt^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



upon persons so worthy. Those who are in 
actual service on the Indian frontier, deserve 
more pay than they receive, in a country where 
everything is so extravagantly dear. Congress 
ought to remember these worthy men, and make 
future provision for them, and to Congress I 
submit their case. While those who shine in 
every fashionable circle at Washington, under 
the eye of Congress, are well paid for their 
services, it is to be hoped that others, who un- 
dergo nothing but hardships, will not be for- 
gotten, as I know they will not be by the Senate. 
Having completed all our business of a public 
nature, so far as we could at this place, about 
the middle of August, as near as I now remem- 
ber we concluded to give our friends here a 
ball on the evening preceding our leaving them. 
It was attended by all the respectable part of 
the people in the garrison and in the village. 
It was a most interesting scene. Within the 
council house, where the civilized people were 
assembled, might be seen persons of both sexes, 
as polished and as refined in their manners, as 
well bred, and educated as well, too, as any per- 
son in the United States ; and at the same mo- 
ment might be seen on the outside of the house, 



at the doors and windows, looking on and occa- 
sionally dancing by themselves, by way of ex- 
periment, or to show what they could do as 
dancers in the open air, as motley a group of 
creatures, (I can scarcely call them human be- 
ings) as the world ever beheld. They are a 
race peculiar to those parts of the upper Missis- 
sippi, where settlements were originally made 
by the French, soon after the conquest of Can- 
ada by the English, under Gen. Wolf. They 
are of a mixed breed, and probably more mixed 
than any other human beings in the world ; 
each one consisting of Negro, Indian, French, 
English, American, Scotch, Irish and Spanish 
blood ; and I should rather suspect some of 
them to be a little touched with the prairie 
wolf. They may fairly claim the vices and 
faults of each and all the above named Nations 
and animals, without even one redeeming virtue. 

The reader will see that we were on the very 
confines of civilized and savage life. 

The officers and their families from Fort 
Crawford, and the best families in the Prairie, 
were all very happy, and we parted with them 
all in friendship, and retired to rest at about 
midnight. 



140 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER IV. 



FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. 



Among the questions which naturally in- 
terest the citizens of Green county of to-day is 
this: "Who were the first settlers within its 
limits a)id where did they locate? There is a 
cariosity always manifested by those who come 
after the pioneers, not only to learn their names 
and their place of settlement, but also the dates 
of their arrival. Especially is the time of their 
coming a matter particularly desirable to be 
known. The county itself, so far as the people 
constitute it, begins then, although its forma- 
tion and organization did not take place for 
some years subsequent to their arrival. The 
better to understand the first settlement of the 
county and the condition of things at that time 
in this region — let us first consider, in a general 
way. 

EARLY TIMES IN WISCONSIN. 

It is difficult, if not impossible, to convey to 
the present generation a correct impression as 
to the actual state of affairs in Wisconsin, even 
if we go no farther back than the existence of 
Wisconsin Territory; since, except among pio- 
neer settlers, there is nothing in its experience 
that furnishes a standard for comparison. The 
most it can conceive is a vast and fertile region 
as yet unsurveyed and scarcely penetrated by 
the white race, without settlements, roads, 
bridges or population, except in ' a few widely 
scattered and detached farms, hamlets and vil- 
lages, clustered generally about military posts. 
In 1830, the population west of Lake Michigan 
by census enumeration aggregated less than 
3,000, which in 1840 had only increased to 30,- 
^45.- When the capital was locRted rat Madison, 



what is now Green county, contained but very 
few permanent white settlers, and many others 
now teeming with industrious multitudes were 
then wholly unoccupied. Isolated communities 
was the rule, to which there was no exception, 
and lack of means and routes of travel scarcely 
permitted other than slow and most difficult 
communication. Gi'adually, however, mail 
service was secured, and the swell of incoming 
immigration brought the early settlements 
nearer and nearer to each other. The move- 
ment at first slow, yearly gained in intensity, 
until the waste places were nearly all absorbed. 
It was fortunate for Wisconsin that State-or- 
ganization did not take place until the financial 
affairs of the country had settled down upon a 
safe business basis, and wild and reckless enter- 
prises received no countenance. The bitter ex- 
perience of the States formed out of the old 
northwest territory served as a lesson and warn- 
ing, which was not lost when the essential fea- 
tures of our proposed constitution received a 
preliniinary discussion. At one period, these 
States can scarcely be said to have had either 
credit or resources, while their debts, incurred 
for works which even when completed scarce 
paid the cost of repairs, were out of all propor- 
tion to the assessed valuation of proj^erty. As 
late as 1843, the State of Ohio sold its bonds at 
fifty cents on the dollar to raise funds to meet 
obligations, while the bonds of Michigan, 
Indiana and Illinois were for several years 
quoted in market at from twenty to thirty cents, 
with few or no buyers. Such was the penalty 
paid for embarking the public credit in wild 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



141 



scliemes, without resources to meet even the 
ordinary expenses of local government. 

Except about military posts, and with slight 
other exceptions, permanent settlement first 
began in Wisconsin about 1826, in the Lead 
Region, or present southwest counties, and for 
many years, population pressed in by way of 
the Mississippi river, before the route by the 
great lakes was fairly opened. For a long 
period Galena was more of a commercial mart 
for supplies for the interior of Wisconsin ihan 
Milwaukee or other lake ports, while Chicago 
was scarcely known in that connection. The 
southern States were at first more numerously 
represented than the eastern. Lead mining 
had developed into a great leading industry on 
one side of the territory, while agriculture was 
commencing on the other. The two streams of 
settlers finally met about midway, but several 
years elapsed before the eastern current largely 
predominated. As a result, the diversity of 
interests, ideas and modes of thought between 
the two sections were much more striking in 
early times than at present. Time, which has 
obliterated so many pioneer landmarks, has not 
even yet effaced the peculiar characteristics of 
the two sections. 

Naturally, the first efforts of the pioneer era 
were directed to securing channels of commu- 
nication with the interior and outer world. 
Laws for surveying and marking out roads 
were among the first enactments of the territo- 
rial legislature. Canals were projected from 
several of the lake ports, among which may be 
mentioned one from Slieboygan to Fond du 
Lac; another from Milwaukee to Rock River, 
and thence by way of the Four Lakes to the 
Wisconsin; while the Fox and Wisconsin river 
route was universally believed destined to be- 
come the great central channel of commerce. 
To the buoyant imagination of the time all 
rivers of any size were deemed navigable, wliiie 
their branches were regarded as routes for 
future canals. So many village and city sites 
wbrfe laid out and platted, whose names eren 



are now wholly lost, that the present realization 
is almost a blank by comparison. It was a 
period of vast projects, limitless enterprises, 
and chimerical speculations which has had no 
parallel. All this, too, when the population 
imported most of its provisions, and, except the 
product of lead furnaces, exported nothing. 

Railroad projects received early attention, 
and charters were actually granted before even 
highways were laid out in many places from 
lake ports to the interior. Often the line and 
terminal points were not even indicated. 
Among the earliest efforts in this direction was 
a memorial to Congress, passed in 1840, asking 
for the survey and construction of a railroad 
from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi river. 
It was not until ten years later that any of our 
existing routes were definitely decided upon, 
companies really organized, and Avork of con- 
struction seriously commenced. 

The period from about 1830 to 1837 was one 
of great and almost limitless financial currency 
expansion. In that year, in the States east of 
us, it reached a natural culmination, followed 
by a crash that speedily carried down most of 
the banking institutions in the United States. 
The Banks of Green Bay and Mineral Point, 
the only ones within the Territory, ended in the 
same way, and for some years the early settlers 
had little or no currency other than the small 
sums brought in b}" newly arrived immigrants. 
In the southwest counties or Lead Region, citi- 
zens of all classes combined and refused to re- 
ceive or use anything but gold and silver as a 
measure of exchangeable values. Immigration, 
which had commenced coming in a flood soon 
after Territorial organization, was not only 
checked, but actually recoiled eastwai-d, and it 
was not until about 1843-4 that the current 
turned westward again, since which time it has 
known no abatement. 

Pioneer settlers in the Northwest, if they 
cannot be said to have witnessed the exodus of 
nations, liave certainly been spectators of the 
ifigrbss of multitudes so vast in number as to 



142 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 






well deserve that name. "Within the limits of 
a generation in point of time, they have seen 
almost limitless wastes of forest and prairie, in 
natural and normal wildness, changed from a 
desert to the home of teeming populations, pos- 
sessing every appliance of art, and every ad- 
vantage of moral and material improvement. 
Looking upon the mighty movement in gross, 
it might be said with truth that representatives 
of all Europe had marched upon western Amer- 
ica. But the invasion was peaceful — the march 
a silent one. The hosts encamped upon the 
waste places so quietly as scarcely to awaken 
surprise. Experience of the mighty change 
grew, indeed, to be habitual. . It was not until 
it ended in particular localities that it began to 
attract much attention. The frozen north 
equallj" with the semi-tropical south have been 
almost equally overrun — and yet the impulse has 
as yet scarcely known pause. It is to continue 
until the world's populations, productions and 
perhaps means of livelihood, reach an equilib- 
rium. Like the glacial era in geological records, 
it is the grand mixing of diverse peoples — the 
abrading force, grinding prejudice against prej- 
udice, religious system against religious sys- 
tem, nationality against nationality, until from 
the ultimate product there shall spring, as we 
believe, a higher development and nobler race 
to elevate the career of humanity. History 
furnishes no parallel to this wondrous move- 
ment. It will ever stand out single and isolat- 
ed as the greatest event in human annals. 

Pioneer settlers found and opened the way 
for the teeming multitudes that have followed. 
The early comers were almost exclusively of 
American birth and parentage. At the period 
of the conventions to frame a State constitu- 
tion, foreign emigrants composed but a small 
per cent, of the population. They had gained a 
foothold, indeed, but in were no part a controll- 
ing authority. Pioneer experience,therefore,wa8 
unique in its way — in all its conditions and sur- 
roundings, unlike the present. It could occur 
bfut dntte, and will bfe reprodntietl tu no future 



generation. It was a Golden Era, the twilight 
of the morning of the birth of mighty States, 
and must ever remain one of the most interest- 
ing chapters in our history. It is for this reason 
that its details, liardships, purposes and modes 
of life, hopes and expectations, interesting even 
now, will, as the years progress, be esteemed 
more and more valuable. They err sadly who 
think such records puerile, or of small value. 
The future will cherish and perpetuate them as 
the choicest gifts this generation can confer. 

Before entei'ing upon a consideration of the 
first settlement of Green county, we must pre- 
mise that this county was, when the first set- 
tlers came, for a short time a part of Crawford 
county, but soon became, most of it, a portion 
of Iowa county, and so remained for over seven 
years — the very years of the early settlement 
of not only the last mentioned county as it is 
now constituted, but of the present Lafayette as 
well. To correctly understand the history of 
the first settlement, thei'efore, of Green county, 
we must first take a birds-eye view of early 
times in the neighboring counties of Iowa and 
Lafayette; for the histories of the three coun- 
ties, as to their first settlements, are most in- 
timately blended. 

FIRST SETTLEMENT OF IOWA COUNTY. 

When the country south of and immediately 
adjoining the "Wisconsin river, but extending so 
far away from that stream as to reach the pres- 
ent State of Illinois (including all of what was 
Iowa county when it was first constituted by 
name and boundaries), was first visited by the 
whites, it was apparently a derelict region. la 
the middle of the eighteenth century, however, 
the Sacs and Foxes had taken possession of it, 
they having settled down on the Lower Wiscon- 
sin, from the Fox river countr3^ These, in 
time, gave way to the Wirinebagoes, who occu- 
pied this territory when pioneer settlers began 
to invade this region, and was recognized as 
their land by the United States government in 
sub^iequent treaties. 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



143 



By an act of the Legislative council of the 
Territory of Michigan, approved Oct. 29, 1829, 
to take eifect the 1st of January following, the 
county of Iowa was establislied, embracing all 
the present State of Wisconsin south of the 
Wisconsin river, and west of a line drawn due 
north from the northern boundary of Illinois, 
through the middle of the portage between the 
Fox and Wisconsin rivers; in other words, it 
included the whole of what was previously 
Crawford county lying south of the Wisconsin 
river. By the same act Samuel W. Beale and 
Louis Grignon, of Brown county, and Joseph 
M. Street, of Crawford county, were appointed 
commissioners to fix the county seat of the new 
county, and were required to perform the duty 
on or before Jan, 1, 1830, and tile their written 
decision with the county clerk. The place 
designated by them was to become the county 
seat. But should they not agree, or should they 
be prevented from performing said duty, then 
the county seat was, by this act, temporarily es- 
tablished at Mineral Point. Terms of the Ter- 
ritoral district courts were ordered to be holden 
on the first Mondays of June and December of 
each year. 

Mineral Point became the county seat; but 
prior to Wisconsin becoming a Territory the 
records give but little information as to the 
election or action of county officers. Commis- 
sioners and a sheriff were chosen, however, as 
is shown by the sheriff's bill for jailor of $85, 
at |15 per month, presented in 1831, which bill 
was rejected by the board as exorbitant. This 
year also the board selected a lot for a jail, and 
let the contract for building the same to John 
Brown for $538, to be completed by the first 
Monday of May, 1831, George B. Call going 
security on the contract. Economy seemed lo 
prevail in those early tiiues, as will appear in 
the fact that for copying original county records 
and furnishing a blank book for the purpose, 
M. G. Fitch received the sum of $i, and each 
member of the board received seventy-five cents 
a day for his services. Samuel W. Btale, who 



was appointed by the Legislature as one of the 
commissioners to locate the county seat, pre- 
sented a bill for $100 for forty days' services, 
and it was reduced to |65 and paid. 

By an act of the sixth legislative council of 
the Territory of Michigan, approved Sept. 6, 
1834, the eastern boundary of Iowa county was 
changed to "the principal meridian dividing the 
Green Bay and Wisconsin land districts." This 
took from Iowa county a strip of territory three 
miles wide on its eastern side, and made what 
is now the range line between ranges 8 and 
9 the boundary line on the east. In 1835 
the people of Mineral Point subscribed $575 for 
the purpose of building a court house, and the 
sheriff was directed to contract for its erection. 
The building was to be twenty-four feet square, 
two stories high, the lower story eight feet and 
the upper seven feet high; to be built of hewn 
oak logs, with oak floor one and one-fourth 
inches thick. The upper story was to be 
divided into four rooms, with plank partitions. 
Three rooms were to have one window each, and 
all the doors were to be hung with good butts 
and screws. The upper rooms were to be ceiled 
with one-half inch plank, dressed on the under 
side. The judge's bench was to be raised two 
feet, with steps leading to it.' There was to be 
one table, seven feet long and three feet wide. 
Seats for a jury were to be provided in both 
stories. The building was to be well stocked 
and painted with lime mortar, furnished with 
good and sufficient sash for the windows, with 
good glass put in with putty, and the shingles 
to be of pine, eighteen inches long and four 
wide. 

By an act of the Territorial legislature of 
Wisconsin, approved Dec. 8, 1836, Iowa county 
was, as already shown in this chapter, divided 
and re-organized. That portion lying west of the 
fourth })rincipal meridian was set off as Grant 
county. All that part lying east of the range 
line between ranges 5 and 6 east was made 
a part of Green and Dane coutities. The re- 
ranining part of the old county of Iowa cOnsti- 



144 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



tuted a new county retaining the old name. By 
the same act the county seat was established at 
the town of Mineral Point. 

By a treaty, concluded at Prairie du Chien, 
Aug. 1, 1829, the Witmebagoes ceded to the 
general government a tract of territory lying 
south of the Lower Wisconsin. This included 
the present county of Iowa, and opened the way 
to permanent settlements. Previous to tliis 
time a few had located here, being led hither 
by the reports of the lead diggings. The first 
actual settlement was made in the spring of 
1828, by John Hood, who, with his wife and son, 
three years of age, came from Missouri, and 
settled at Mineral Point, camping at first in a 
cabin made of poles covered with bark, until 
a sod house could be built, in which to live more 
securely. This sod house was ten by twelve 
feet on the ground, and in it was born their 
second son, on the 29th day of November, 1829, 
being the first white child born in the county. 
This child was named John Tlieophilus Lawson 
Hood. Mr. Hood at first engaged in labor for 
others who soon opened mines there, and at 
times prospected for himself, until, finally, he 
struck a rich "lead," which he worked until his 
death, in 1841. Mrs Hood is still living at Min- 
eral Point, on the ground they first occupied. 
Hood's family were here during the Black Hawk 
War. Hood was a lieutenant under Gen. 
Dodge, His wife, who was a dead shot, carried 
a rifle on her shoulder every time she stepped 
out of doors during the entire war. By taking 
the log houses, a log fort, called Fort Jackson, 
was built at Mineral Point; a cannon (six 
pounder) was procured, and forty-two women, 
with very few men to protect them, remained 
in this fort three months. No battles were 
fought in this locality, and all escaped injury by 
the Indians. At tlie same time a fort called 
Fort Union, was built at Dodgeville, into which 
during the hostilities, the women and children 
of that region were collected for safety and de- 
fense. 



In the spring of 1828, almost immediately 
after the family of Hood had settled in their 
bark house, Nat. Morris came to tiiis point, and 
soon struck a rich vein of mineral, the first dis- 
covery at this place, owing to which circum- 
stance, the locality was called Mineral Point, 
which name it has retained to the present time. 
By the month of August of that year, J. W. 
Blackstone had associated himself with Mr. 
Morris, and, as they employed two men to dig 
in their mine, it made seven persons at the 
Point at that time. During the summer and 
fall of 1828, Messrs. Gayond & Wright opened 
a store in a small log house. They Avere the 
first merchants in the county. A Baptist min- 
ister by the name of Roberts settled here with 
his family in 1828, and was the first preacher in 
the county; he failed, after years of efiiort, to 
organize a church society. D. M. Parkison 
built a log house of good size, in the fall of 
1828, which was kept as a hotel by John T. 
Sublet, and was tlie fii'st hotel in the county. 
At this house the fifty-third anniversary of our 
national independence was celebrated in 1829. 
John B. Terry settled here in 1828 for the pur- 
pose of mining, and afterwards built asmelting 
furnace, the first operated in the county. In 
1830 Mr. Terry farmed a little, two or three 
miles west of the Point. Dr. Manegan, from 
Missouri, settled here in 1828, and was the fir.st 
physician in the county. The second physician 
was Dr. Jestine, who came in 1829. A Mr. 
Miller settled liere in 1828, and afterwards built 
a mill a mile or two south of where the rail- 
road depot now stands. This was the first mill 
in the county. Miller ground grain into feed 
for animals, made corn meal, but no bolted flour. 
The grain ground at that time was hauled from 
Galena, as was flour and provisions. Before 
the winter of 1829, the settlement had swelled 
to considerable proportions, all, or nearly all, 
eager to plunge into the earth and bring up the 
wealth til ere buried. 

In 1829, Frank Kil^jatrick, Judge Monden and 
Daniel Moore settled in the southwestern part 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



145 



of the present county and commenced farming; 
all had their families, but Moore being a little 
in advance, his wife was the first white woman 
in this part of the county. 

In 1829, a Mr. Parish settled in the western 
section of the county with his family, consist- 
ing of his wife, five sons and two daughters. 
One daughter, America Parish, married Daniel 
Moore, and the other, Levi Sterling who was 
the first sheriff of the county. One of the sons, 
Thomas Parish, became a smelter, the other 
farmed; but it was not many years before the 
family became scattered. About this time, E. 
P. Goodsell found lead in this region and with 
others engaged in mining with good success. 
Soo!i after their labors commenced, Moses 
Meeker built a smelting furnace at this point. 
In the spring of 1832, Black Hawk with a party 
of Sacs and Foxes crossed the Mississippi from 
the other side and prepared to re-assert his 
claim to disputed territory. At the first wai'- 
whoop the miners and settlers from all this 
region hastened for some stockade or fort, and 
with them went the few inhabitants of this 
county; collecting at Mineral Point, Dodgeville, 
Blue Mounds, and other places of security. Al- 
though there were no "glorious victories," or 
"inglorious defeats" within the present limits 
of Iowa county, yet it was the scene of many a 
flying "Modoc," and pursuing "Jonathan." 
The Indians were soon vanquished. Black Hawk 
taken prisoner, and the war ended by the com- 
bined strategy and efforts of Gen. Henry 
Atchison and Col. Ilenr}'^ Dodge. As soon 
as hostilities were over, the settlers again looked 
up their scattered axes and picks and began 
anew tilling the soil and searching for lead. 

Prior to 1836 all the mining was done in 
shallow diggings, which amounted to little more 
than picking up surface lead; at least, the most 
extensive mines were but a few feet deep. Al- 
though the first "lead" was discovered 
in the county at Mineral Point, by iSlat. 
Morris, in 1828, still the mining was 
shallow, owing to the great abundance of 



lead near the surface, and the want of 
facilities for deep mining. In 1836 three "leads" 
were discovered two and one half miles north of 
Mineral Point, by Holmes, Martin and Ben- 
nett, by whose names they were known. These 
mines were not deep, but their yield was abund- 
ant. From this deeper mining commenced in 
and around Mineral Point, and up to 1840, in 
addition to the mines already mentioned, there 
had been opened Bracken's mine two and a half 
miles south of the Point, Fragasca's mine a lit- 
tle to the east, and the Terrill mines, Mc- 
Knight's mine, and the Irish mine at Mineral 
Point. As, at that date. Green county had been 
organized two years, it is unnecessary to pursue 
further a consideration of the Iowa county 
mines, or the history of that county itself. 

FIRST SETTLEMENT OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY. 

The county of Lafayette was, from the time 
of its first settlement, a part of Crawford, until 
1829, when Iowa county was formed. It was 
then a portion of Iowa until it was set off as a 
separate county, with its present name and 
boundaries, by the Territorial legislature of 
Wisconsin, Feb. 4, 1847. 

The project of separation by the formation of 
two counties out of Iowa, had been agitated 
for some years before it was effected. It was 
favored by the people at both extremities, 
north and south, but persistently opposed by 
those in the central portion, contiguous to the 
proposed line of division. It was put in motion 
in the fall of 1845, by a public meeting at New 
Diggings, at which a petition to the Legislature 
was prepared, and a committee appointed to 
circulate it for signatures. The Legislature re- 
sponded by the passage of. an act, Jan. 31, 
1S46, defining the boundaries of the proposed 
separate counties, and enabling the people to 
express their wish more fully upon the question 
ot division in the manner defined, by voting 
either for or against the proposition at the an- 
nual election in September, the Legislature en- 
dowed it with legal force and effect by the act 
of Feb. 4, 1847. 



146 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Under provisions of the same act, taking 
effect May 1, 1847, the county of Lafayette was 
fully organized for county and judicial purposes. 
It was also provided that all officers heretofore 
elected for the county of Iowa, residing within 
Lafayette, should be officers of the latter until 
their terms expired, and that the remaining of- 
ficers to which it was entitled should be chosen 
at a special election, on the first Tuesday of 
April, 1847. The county wa.s assigned to the 
first judicial district, and terras of court were 
directed to be held thereafter at the seat of 
justice, in September and April of each year. 

So much for the political history of Lafayette 
county. We now proceed to give a sketch of 
its early history, to understand which is so nec- 
essary to a just comprehension of that of the 
county of Green. 

Upon the first advent of miners and settlers 
to this region, it was occupied by the Winne- 
bago Indians, who gave the intruders frequent 
trouble by their unfriendly disposition until 
1828, when they threw open their territory to 
the United States, and the next year ceded all 
their land south of the Wisconsin and west of 
Sugar river to the general government by the 
treaty of Prairie du Chien, and withdrew to the 
northward and eastward 

The United States began the survey of public 
lands in this section by running the base line, or 
line between Wisconsin and Illinois, from the 
fourth principal meridian eastward to Lake 
Michigan, in 1833, and immediately thereafter 
proceeding with the sub-division into townships 
and sections of the territory embraced in this 
county, which was completed by 1835. In that 
year, the lands were brought into market at 
Mineral Point, but the mineral lands were re- 
served from sale, being worked under regula- 
tions elsewhere mentioned, until 1846, when 
they also were put upon the market. 

The early settlement of Lafayette county, 
was induced by the discovery of lead ore. Ga- 
lena was the "hub" of the Lead Region, from 
which point explorations were made iu all direc- 



tions. Wherever a discovery of mineral was 
made, there a settlement sprung up, composed 
largely of fortune hunters, who generally made 
but a temporary stay, but a portion of whom 
became permanent and influential residents. All 
were engaged in mining, or in accessory opera- 
tions. 

In 1824, the "new diggings" near Fever river, 
in the southwest part of the county, were dis- 
covered by a prospecting party from Galena, 
consisting of Duke L. Smith, George Ferguson, 
and Kve or six others, and were at once occupied. 
In 185G, Ferguson, and John and Cuyler Arm- 
strong, were the principal occupants of these 
mines, which proved to be immensely rich. 

In the towns of New Diggings and White 
Oak Springs, mining was commenced in 1827 
and 1823 by Amos Looney, Mr. Deering, J. W. 
Blackstone, James Collins, Samuel Scales, R. H. 
Champion, and others. 

The first white persons known to have made 
a permanent settlement in the county, were 
Henry and Beon Gratiot, two Frenchmen from 
St. Louis, Mo., who settled at what was called 
Gratiot's Grove, in the year 1826, and com- 
menced the business of mining and smelting 
lead. This point became famous as "Fort Gra- 
tiot" during the Black Hawk War in 1832, as a 
place of safety for families. It was about two 
miles south of the present village of Shullsburg. 
Henry Gratiot became Indian agent for the 
United States government, and had great influ- 
ence with the Winnebagoes, who inhabited this 
country. On the lotii day of February, 1827, 
James Woods, John Woods, William Chilton, 
Andrew Clarno, Thomas Chilton, Hugh Mc- 
Geary, and Augustus Chilton, left Springfield, 
111., on foot, with the view of settling or labor- 
ing in the "Lead Region" of Wisconsin. They 
traveled on foot, carrying their supplies on their 
backs, fording streams, wading through swamps, 
sleeping on the ground, with scant covering, and 
sometimes in the snow or rain, during a journey 
of twenty days, at the end of which they arrived 
at Gratiot's Grove, on the 7th day of March, 



I 



niSTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



147 



1827. From this point most of the party scat- 
tered to different points; some returned to Ga- 
lena and others to their homes in Illinois, but 
James and John Woods engaged to drive a team 
for the Gratiots, who wanted one man, and 
gave James Woods $12 a month with board, 
and his brother John, his board, so the two 
brothers became settlers at this point. Andrew 
Clarno afterward settled in what is now Green 
county. During the trip from Springfield to 
Galena, Clarno was taken sick, and it was neces- 
sary for his comrades to carry him, which they 
did faithfully until reaching Galena. Here they 
found James Kendall and family, also a Mr. 
Rendezbarger and family, whose son was an 
artist, and his son-in-law, a doctor, probably the 
first physician who ever saw this section of 
country. Rendezbarger and family were Swiss, 
highly cultured, and came here from the settle- 
ments of the Red river of the north. Those 
already mentioned, with a few laborers, consti- 
tuted the inhabitants of this region in the spring 
of 1827. GeorgeSkillinger, Anthony Miller and 
Crawford Million, with their families, came the 
same summer. Skillenger and Miller soon moved 
further east, and commenced farming in the 
present town of Wiota. 

Jesse Sliull settled near the Gratiots, and 
opened valuable mines. The village of ShuUs- 
burg was named in his honor. Absalom and 
Elijah Townsend and James H. Earnest, were 
other early settlers in this part of the county. 

Fortinetus Berry, from Sangamon Co., 111., 
Avith his family, settled at Gratiot's Grove, in 
the fall of 1827, and the year following com- 
menced farming, a little south of the settle- 
ment. One of his daughters was the first wife 
of Charles Lamar. 

William S. Hamilton, son of the celebrated 
Alexander Hamilton, settled in the presenttown 
of Wiota, in 1827, for the purpose of engaging 
in mining and smelting. lie built the first fur- 
nace in the county, except Gratiot's-, and did the 
first farming in his settlement. This settlement 
was known as "Hamilton's Fort," being a place 



of resort for the settlers when Indians were 
troublesome, especially during the Black Hawk 
War. Hamilton platted a village near the 
northeast part of the present town of Wayne, 
in 1827, and gave it the Indian name of Wiota, 
hoping to induce sufiicient sett'ement to be- 
come a village and hasten the improvement of 
that section, but as all wlio came to this region, 
at that time, thought only of making their for- 
tunes by mining, they settled where mineral had 
been found, and this early enterprise of Ham- 
ilton's failed, although the aboriginal name, 
Wiota, was retained for a village. 

In 1828, two men by the names of Collins and 
Kemp, settled near Hamilton, in the present 
town of Wiota, and opened a mine. Two 
brothers, Robert and Samuel Paxton, and Eli 
Shook, soon followed and commenced mining. 
George Carrol, Ezra Lamb and James Mc- 
Knight, had settled and commenced farming 
here, by 1830. 

Jameson Hamilton, from Indiana, settled on 
the banks of the Pecatonica, at the sight of 
Darlington, in 1827. He made a claim and 
farmed. He sold most of the present town site, 
or first town plat, in 1861. 

James and Dennis Murphy commenced min- 
ing in the southwestern part of the present 
county, in what is now the town of Benton, 
where still exist some of the most valuable 
mines. 

In 182S, a Mr. Eastman settled in the north- 
western part of the county, in the present 
town of Belmont, and commenced farming. 
The same year Col. Moore settled further east, 
at the present town of Willow Springs, where 
in 1831, his son Alphonzo was born, who was 
the first white child born in the county. Col. 
Moore afterward settled at Belmont and en- 
gaged in hotel keeping at the old capital, near 
the center of the present town of Belmont. 
John Ames settled about four miles south of 
Darlington, in 1828, and commenced mining, 
moving afterward to Iowa, in 1838, where he 
became quite a prominent public man. 



148 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Daniel M. Parkinson settled in the north 
part of the county in 1828, with his family. The 
settlement was called Willow Springs, and Mrs. 
Parkinson was the first white woman at this 
settlement. Parkinson was held in high esteem 
by the people of the county, who often elected 
him to offices of trust. He was repeatedly 
elected representative to the Territorial and State 
legislatures. John Ray and wife settled here 
in 1828, and Ray, with a Mr. Fretwell, engaged 
in keeping a hotel and grocery. Mrs. Ray was 
noted for her religious zeal. 

James Collins, John W. Blackstone, Samuel 
Scales, Capt. Funk, Mr. Deering, and Amos 
Looney, settled in the south and southwestern 
parts of the county, in 182V and 1828, all for 
the purpose of mining, in connection with which 
interest they became prominent. Blackstone 
was a lawyer, whose merits soonhecameknown; 
although he did not at first engage in the prac- 
tice of his profession, he was chosen to fill 
places of trust, both legislative and judicial. 
James Neagle, an Irish lavvyer, very eccentric 
and not a little audacious, settled here very early 
and commenced mining. He afterward engaged 
in his profession, however", and was noted for 
his quaint remarks in court, and a disposition to 
have the last word. At one time, he went so 
far in his peculiar style in Judge Dunn's court, 
at Mineral Point, that the judge, finding it im- 
possible to quiet him, imposed a sharp fine for 
contempt. This action broughttemporary quiet 
to the odd son of Erin, but presently he rose 
and said in broad Irish brogue: "May it please 
the court, I may be permitted to say, your honor 
is much more impregnated with dignity, this 
morning, than usual." 

The settlement of the present town of Fay- 
ette was commenced in 1828, by Mr. Duke, who 
opened the mine known as Duke's diggings, 
which for many years gave an abundant yield of 
lead ore. 

James McKnight and brother settled in the 
southeastern part of the county in 1829, and 



commenced farming; and were soon followed by 
many others. 

Daniel S. Hawley settled in the present town 
of Argyle, where he farmed, and afterwards 
built a mill and hotel, the first hotel and mill 
in this part of the county. In 1830 J. C. Sax- 
ton opened a store at the same place, and by 
1833, Joseph Shook, William Brazzell, a Mr. 
Cunningham and others, had commenced farm- 
ing. 

James Kendall, from Gratiot's, settled in the 
present town of Kendall, in 1829, and com- 
menced farming. He built a mill for grinding 
grain in 1833. This was the second mill built 
in the county, the first having been built in 
1835, on the Pecatonica, at the site of the vil- 
lage of Gratiot (a place entirely distinct from 
Gratiot's Grove), by a Mr. Curtis. Mineral was 
found here, and Robert C. Hoard built a smelt- 
ing furnace in the year 1851. 

Owing to the menaces of the Winnebago 
Indians, there was no rapid influx of population 
into this country for two or three years after 
the discovery of the lead mines. The unfriend- 
ly disposition of the savages culminated in the 
outbreak at Prairie du Chien in June, 1827. At 
the same time they threatened a murderous de- 
scent on all the frontier settlements, and con- 
sequently nearly all the miners located in this 
region precipitately abandoned these outposts 
and concentrated in Galena for safety. The 
troubles were quieted by the march of Gen. 
Atkinson's troops to the Wisconsin portage in 
August and September, when the miners re- 
sumed their occupation. At the same time the 
reports of the war and the return of the volun- 
teers under Atkinson to Illinois, had spread the 
fame of the lead mines far and wide, and men 
immediately flocked hither in great numbers. 
This and several succeeding years were noted 
as years of wild expectation and adventure, sec- 
ond only to the gold excitement in California, 

The Winnebagoes manifested great uneasi- 
ness from the first at the intrusion of the whites 
upon their mines, and the various difficulties 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



149 



with them between 1823 and 1828 are attribut- 
ed to that cause. These were quieted, how- 
ever, in 1828, when by treaty they gave the gov- 
ernment permission to occupy the mineral region 
for a compensation of $20,000, but did not cede 
these lands until the next year. This was the 
end of the VN'innebago trouble, but in 1832 a 
more serious danger threatened the destruction 
of the isolated settlements — the incursion of 
Black Hawk with his formidable band of Sacs 
and Foxes from the Iowa country into the lower 
valley of Rock river. The concentration of 
United States forces and Illinois volunteers 
from the south and east upon the rear and flank 
of this enemy, forced him back upon the Lead 
Region, but the resistance here offered, added to 
the pursuit in his rear, compelled him to seek 
safety in the timber and swamps of Jefferson 
county. The more important incidents of this 
struggle in Lafayette county may be briefly 
summarized. In April, 1832, information of 
Black Hawk's crossing into Illinois having 
reached the Lead Regions, Daniel M, Parkison 
was dis{)atched to Dixon's ferry, to ascertaii 
if his intentions were hostile. Returning will 
information confirming previous reports of dan- 
ger ahead, a volunteer force was organized, of 
which Col. Henry Dodge became commander. 
Defenses were constructed at Hamilton's place, 
Gratiot's Grove, VVhite Oak Springs, Shullsburg, 
Diamond Grove, Elk Grove, at the residence of 
D. M. Parkison (Fort Defiance), and at Seel- 
horst's at the southwest extremity of Elk Grove, 
all in Lafayette county, and elsewhere. Dur- 
ing the early part of June, matters became still 
more serious, Dodge's volunteers visited Rock 
river, and after an interview between its com- 
mander arid Gen. Atkinson, returned and were 
dismissed to their homes, with orders to be in 
readiness to re-assemble on a moment's notice. 
This occurred on the 14th. The same day the In- 
dians surprised a party of seven men at work 
in acorn field on Spafford's farm, near the mouth 
of the creek of the same name, a few miles 
southeast of Fort Hamilton, killing five, the 



other two making their escape by extraordinary 
activity. The alarm was instantly spread, and 
a detachment from Fort Defiance proceeded to 
the scene of action and buried the dead. On 
the morning of the 16th, Col. Dodge arrived at 
Fort Hamilton, where the volunteers had been 
ordered to assemble. A few moments after his 
arrival, a German named Apple was fired upon 
within a short distance of the fort by the In- 
dians in ambush, and instantly killed. The men 
at the foi't, twenty-nine in number, hastily 
mounted, under Dodge's orders, and galloped 
after the now retreating band of savages, who 
retired eastward toward the East Branch of the 
Pecatonica, about five miles distant, when, find- 
ing that they would be overtaken, they posted 
themselves within a horse-shoe bend of the 
stream under the banks of a small pond, and 
awaited the onset. After fording the river and 
approaching the position, the . men were dis- 
mounted, and leaving four in charge of the 
horses, four others were detached in different 
directions to watch the movements of the ene- 
my. Twenty-one advanced to the attack in open 
order, with trailed arms, and when within a 
few yards of the concealed enemy they received 
their fire, which, however, was not well directed, 
and only three men fell. A charge was in- 
stantly made, and before the Indians could re- 
load they were all shot down, seventeen in 
number, not one of them escaping. The loss of 
the assailants was three killed and one wounded. 
The Indians made no further hostile demon- 
strations, and a few days later Posey's Illinois 
detachment and the miners' battalion united 
their forces at Fort Hamilton, and proceeded 
from thence by way of the four lakes to join 
Gen. Atkinson and the main army at the foot of 
Lake Koshkonong. During this time Hamilton 
made a trip to Prairie du Chien, in order to se- 
cure Winnebago allies against Black Hawk, in 
which he Avas only partly successful, returning 
with a number of that tribe with whom he ac- 
companied the expedition previously mentioned. 
The conclusion of the Black Hawk War was the 
end of all Indian disturbances in this region. 



10 



150 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Tiie people now began to employ themselves 
in various kinds of business at the settlements 
or villages, and agriculture soon claimed its le- 
gitimate place among the industries of the 
county. 

In 1825 a superintendent was appointed for 
all the mines claimed by the United States in 
the upper Mississippi district, with authority to 
prescribe rules and regulations for the govern- 
ment of those engaged in working them. Under 
these regulations a lot 200 yards square was al- 
lowed to every two miners, and one in addition 
for every two hands employed. The miners 
staked off these lots at pleasure, on any unoccu- 
pied ground, and held them only during occu- 
pation; but, by giving a bond of $5,000, a 
miner's lease to a half section for three years 
could be obtained. They were allowed the free 
use of timber for building and fuel, and smelters 
were allowed sufficient to carry on their works; 
but no permission was given to use timber in 
any other manner. Miners were restricted to 
the sale of their ore to licensed smelters, but 
could obtain a smelter's license in the same 
manner as other persons, by entering into $10,- 
000 bonds to pay the government a tenth of all 
the lead manufactured. Farming was permitted 
free of rent wherever it did not interfere with 
the timber required for mining purposes. These 
regulations passed away when the lands were 
brought into market, and mining became the 
business of private individuals, companies or 
corporations, under the same general laws and 
regulations prescribed to other business. 

Among the first to give prominence to this 
industry in Lafayette county were J. W. Black- 
stone, Col. James Collins, Jesse Shull, Henry 
Gratiot, Samuel Scales, Amos Looney, Beon 
Gratiot, Buck Deering, Absalom and Elijah 
Townsend, James Earnest, James and Dennis 
Murphy, Robert and Samuel Paxton, M. Duke, 
a Mr. Kemp, and William S. Hamilton. After 
many years of varying success the mines in the 
eastern part of the oounty -^-cre measurably 
abandoned. 



Having thus considered the condition of the 
pioneers in Wiscot sin while the latter was a 
Territory, and having sketched briefly the early 
history of Iowa and Lafayette counties, let us 
now^ proceed to examine the cause w^hich first 
led adventurers to what is now the county of 
Green. The object of their coming was the 
newly discovered El Dorado — 

THE LEAD MINES, 

Undoubtedly the first miners in Green county 
were Indians of the Sac tribe; at least, it is not 
known that any mineral was taken out of the 
earth here before they came in possession of 
this part of the country — they and their kin- 
dred, the Foxes. There is no positive record 
left behind them of their having been visited in 
the region round about hereby white men while 
engaged in mining; but local traditions among 
the Winnebagoes, who followed them, fixed the J 
sites, in at least two places, within the limits of i 
the ])resent county of Green, as "Old Sac Dig- 
gings." One of these, it is quite certain, was 
on what was afterward (and still is) known as 
the south line of the southeast quarter of section 
27, in township 4 north, of range 8 east, in the i 
town of Exeter; the other was, probably, what ' 
was subsequently known as "Skinner^ Dig- 
gings," on the present section 3, in township 2 
north, of range 7 east, near the northeast corner 
of the northwest quarter of that section (in 
wliat is now^ the town of Monroe). 

Helen M. Bingham, in her excellent little 
work — "History of Green County" — says: 

"In the beginning were the lead mines. The 
Sauk, or Sugar River, Diggings, were situated a 
little over a mile southwest of the present vil- 
lage of Exeter." 

This, without explanation might convey the 
idea that the mines, when first discovered by 
the whiteSj were rcorAed by the Sacs; but the 
Winnebagoes had been in possession of this re- 
gion a number of years before the existence of 
the "Sugar River Diggings" became known to 
civilized miners, and had worked them in their 
crude tnannfer—though known tb them and to 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



151 



the first white miners as the "Old Sac Dig- 
gings."* 

"The sqnaws," says Miss Bingham, in her 
history before referred to, "were the first miners, 
but they had neither the knowledge nor the 
tools- to make their labor very profitable. With 
such instruments as they could make, they 
picked out the surface or float mineral; and 
when their excavations became too deep to step 
into, threw in a dead tree, on which they 
climbed up and down. When a vein ran under 
the rock, they dug it out as far as they could 
reach, built a fire in the hole thus made, and, 
when the rock was heated, cracked it by pour- 
ing on water." 

The author in the book just quoted from very 
truthfully and aptly describes the excitement in 
1826 and 1827 as to the lead mines. She says: 

"In 1826 there began to be a great deal of 
talk about the lead mines of southwestern Wi.'-- 
consin. In 1827 the interest in tliem was as 
general as the interest in the California gold 
mines in 1849; and there was such a rush 1o 
them from all parts of the country that somi - 
times the boats that came up the iMississip))! fr^n 
St. Louis could not carry half of those whe 
w\anted to come." 

GETTIN(4 KNOWLEDGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 

. The difficulty of correctly obtaining the fact? 
concerning the first coming of settlers to this 
county is very happily described by Miss Bing- 
ham in the preface to her history: 

"Before the days of newspapers in a new 
county, the county and family records are al- 
most the only means by which the dates of im- 
portant occurrences are preserved. Neverthe- 
less, when a country has been settled fifty years, 
each man, by reference to the dates set down in 
his family Bible, and to the year in which he 
came, is able to fix a great many other dates 
tlius: 'Barber and Newcomb had been here a 
year when I came, in 1837. Holland came the 

*They were also called, at an early rlay, "McNutt Dig- 
gin^rs," try the whites. They are so named on some of the 
early maps pi' the Gre'Q ounty region. But the narorf 
' '^ugarRiVefr Dig^iofeS" Awn fcWk tihJ -jflaVe cff tfc Wtoars. 



next spring. Smith came the year our baby 
died, and that was 1838. Brown must have 
come in 1837, for it was the description of the 
country, in his letters, that induced the Smiths 
to leave Illinois. Jones came the 10th of Sep- 
tember, 1839. That was the day Tom was born, 
and I remember Jones was camped right in 
front of my house, because some of his cattle 
had given out.' 

"Alas, that the good mother of the house 
must shake our faith in her husband's chro- 
nology in this way! 'No, Pa, that was the day 
Mary was born. I know, because Mrs. Jones 
said 'twas a pity she wasn't a boy, she had such 
a good head.' There is always a possibility that 
dates arrived at by the course just illustrated 
may be wrong; but usually there is also a great 
probability that they are right, and when the 
same dates are obtained in two or more families, 
the probability becomes almost a certainty. In 
proportion to their number, their correctness is 
disputed not nearly so often as the correctness 
of later dates which are verified by the news- 
papers of their time." 

THE FIRST SETTLERS. 

The first settlement within the limits of what 
is now Green county, was in the year 1827. The 
first settlers were Messrs. Boner and McNutt. 
They located at what was afterw^ard known as the 
"Sugar River Diggings," in the present town of 
Exeter — on the east line of the northeast quar- 
ter of section 34, of the government survey. 
Here they erected a log cabin. 

The sole object of these venturers was to 
trade with the Indians, and to that end they 
were provided with some goods, such as were 
prized by the savages, and with that necessary 
companion, an interpreter, whose name was Van 
Sickle. Here the Indians had mined for lead. 

It would be a reasonable supposition, that, 
where so few had penetrated the wilderness, 
with no opposing interests, a feeling of mutual 
friendship would prevail, to the extent that each 
individual would extend to each and every mem- 
ber of their little community all the pi-otectidn 



162 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



in liis power; foi' such has been the experience 
of so many primitive, frontier settlements. But 
in this case there was a tragical departure from 
this rule. McNutt, in 1828, maddened with 
whisky, entered his trading cabin, and without 
any known provocation, deliberately murdered 
his partner, Boner, with an ax; literally chop- 
ping him to pieces. Van Sickle, their interpret- 
er, paralyzed with fear, ran for his life, and 
while fleeing, was shot at repeatedly by McNutt, 
with a rifle. Van Sickle made his way to Blue 
Mound, a settlement about eighteen miles to the 
northwest, and gave information of what had 
occurred. Hardly had he arrived there, when 
McNutt made his appearance, on horseback, and 
delivered himself up, confessing the murder. 
The territory now constituting Green county, 
being at that time a part of the county of Craw- 
ford, with the county seat at Prairie du Chien, 
McNutt was taken to that place, tried, and ac- 
quitted. This was the first white man killed, 
so far as is known, in this county. Soon after, 
the few settlers assembled at the trading-house, 
and gave the mangled corpse of Boner as decent 
a burial as circumstances would permit. The 
grave was the first dug for a white settler in the 
county. 

The exact date of the killing of Boner, by 
McNutt, is unknown though it must have been 
in 1828 and before the 7th of July of that year; 
as is seen by the following extract from the 
records of the supervisors of the county of 
Crawford, Wisconsin: 

"Territory of Michigan, ) 
"County of Crawford. \ ^^' 

"At a session of the supervisors of the county 
of Crawford, and township of St. Anthony, held 
on the 7th day of July, 1828, present, John 
Marsh, John Sinipsoti and Dennis Courtois, su- 
pervisors of said township, was presented the 
account of Pierre Lembert of $1.50, which was 
allowed; and Dennis Courtpis, account of |l ; 
John Simpson, of $1; John Marsh, of |1, and 
Joseph Brisbois, of $2, which was allowed. 



"Upon the representation of the sheriff that 
the prison is insufficient for the safe keeping of 
D. McNutt, a prisoner confined on the cliarge 
of murder, a request was made to the command- 
ing officer of Fort Crawford to take the pris- 
ont-r into his custody for safe keeping. The 
court adjourned until the first Monday in Sep- 
tember next, at 10 o'clock a. m." 

In 1829 William Deviese built asmelting fur- 
nace near the Sugar River Diggings, which was 
afterwards held and used for some years by two 
men named Kemp and Collins. Deviese must 
be considered the first permanent settler in 
Green county. The date of his first arrival was 
Aug. 12, 1828. 

In 1830 Andrew Clarno took up a claim in the 
southwestern part of the county, about six miles 
from what is now the city of Monroe, but did 
not settle there until the spring of 1832. 

Around his pioneer home cluster many im- 
portant incidents. Joseph Payne and William 
Wallace became Clarno's neighbors, by erecting 
a cabin near by, and making their home therein. 
Thus a pleasant neighborhood had commenced 
to grow, when, in 1832, the Black Hawk War 
brought consternation to the little settlement. 
On the 5th of May, 1832, they all left their 
homes in great haste before the approaching In- 
dians. Hardly had they reached a safe distance 
when the smoke of their burning homes arose 
in curling volumes above the tree toj^s. A few 
hours later and they would have fallen a prey to 
the remorseless hate of the followers of Black 
Hawk. The first sad, dreary night they spent 
on the ground now occupied by the county seat, 
often startled by the whoop of the savage, in 
hourly expectatioji of falling victims to the 
prowling foe. Fortunately they were not de- 
tected. In the dim, gray light of morning they 
hastened away, and arrived at " Hamilton's 
Fort," now Wiota, where they tarried the sec- 
ond night. Thoy then made their way west- 
ward to "Fort Gratiot," where they remained 
in safety until the close of the war. When the 
tronblps had ceased they returned to their 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



153 



ruined homes, rebuilt their houses, and com- 
menced to lay the foundations of that prosperity 
which aftei:wards was the reward of their trials 
and industry. Clarno's home became the rest- 
ing place of many subsequent adventurers, who 
sought and obtained homes in that vicinity, and 
lielped to swell the population of the settlement. 
As is the case in all new settlements, each vied 
with the other in making every new comer wel- 
come, and in rendering all needed aid to the 
seekers of new homes, Clarno lived to a good 
old age, and was a leading man in the county 
until his death, and left a worthy family to en- 
joy the fruits of his enterprise. His son, O. H. 
P. Clarno, now (1884) owns valuable estates at 
the old settlement. Some of these early settlers 
have left the State, while the descendants of 
others are scattered through the county,engaged 
in varied pursuits. 

It should be borne in mind that it was over 
four years after the Black Hawk War before 
the county of Green was created; and that im- 
migration, which, immediately after that con- 
flict of arms ended, began to increase, was, dur- 
ing those four years, to Iowa county — of which 
the present Green county formed a part. In 
her -'History of Green County," Miss Bingham, 
in speaking of the Black Hawk War, says: 

"To the new comers, as to the earliest set- 
tlers, those who had participated in the war ever 
appeared as heroes. For years the one unfail- 
ing subject of conversation, the subject which 
never grew old and never was out of place, was 
the [Black Hawk] war. Every incident was 
told over and over again. There was a man 
named Bennett Million, who used to play the 
fiddle at the dances in Monroe. He, with a 
number of others, had been surprised by the 
Indians, somewhere near the Pecatonica, and 
chased by them. The fright made one of his 
companions insane, and several others were 
killed. Mr. Million saved himself by rolling in 
the mud until so covered by it that he could 
hide on the ground. His experience was inter- 
esting and exciting, and many a time, in later 



years, the gay company for whom he played 
bade him lay by the fiddle and the bow and tell 
them his story of the war." 

In the year 1834 Nicholas Cornelius, of Illi- 
nois, and Hiram Rust and Leonard Ross, from 
the State of New York, came to this county. 
Ross finally settled at Exeter, in the northern 
part of the county, and Rust took land in the 
vicinity of the present city of Monroe, where he 
lived engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
death. 

The same year John W. Deniston and Abner 
Van Sant came to this county, and settled about 
three miles southwest from Monroe, where they 
built cabins, and erected the first flouring mill 
ever operated in the county. About this time 
settlers began to arrive in greatei- numbers, and 
farms were opened up in many parts of the 
county. Many Avho had been led here with the 
hope of gaining speedy wealth by mining- 
operations found their labors amply rewarded 
iu the fruits of well-tilled soil. 

In 1834 George W. Lot, a Pennsylvanian by 
birth, came from the lead mines to the west- 
ward and made a settlement in the southwest 
c(«rner of what is now the town of Cadiz. 

In the spring of 1834 James Biggs and wife 
moved from Union Co., Ohio, to Wiota, in 
what was then Iowa county (now Lafayette). 
They staid there one year and then moved to 
what is now the town of Adams, Green county. 
This was the middle of June, 1835. They set- 
tled on section 8. They had not a neighbor at 
that time within ten miles. The first one who 
followed Mr. Biggs was William Brazel. Mr. 
Biggs was the first settler in Adams; and Mr. 
Brazel, the second. 

The town of Jefi^erson as now constituted 
had its first settler — Jonathan E. Clark — on 
section 32, in 1835. In the autumn of the next 
year he was followed by David C. Bridge, who 
built on section 20. 

What is now the town of Sylvester was first 
settled by Allen and William Woodle. This 
was in the spring of 183G. In the fall they were 



154 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



joined by another brother — Joseph. William 
and Joseph brought families with them. 

An Englishman, John Mitchel by name, was 
the first to locate in what is now the town of 
Mount Pleasant. The exact date of his coming 
is unknown, although it must have been before 
1837. 

It was probably in the early part of 1837 that 
Daniel Baxter settled in what is now the town 
of Spring Grove. Then followed, the same 
year, Eli Kline; these two were the first settlers 
there. 

The year 1837 saw settled in what is now the 
town of Jordan, Robert Brazel; and 1839, John 
Trotter and Joshua Chilton. 

During the month of November, 1837, Josiah 
Pierce moved into a cabin in what is now the 
town of Washington, and was the first settler 
within its limits. 

There was a claim made by John Moore, from 
Ohio, in 1839, on section 20 — the first in what 
was afterwards (and still is) the town of Deca- 
tur. Thomas Chambers, his son-in-law, fol- 
lowed him the following year; also John J. 
Dawson and Samuel Rowe. 

It was as late as 1840 before the present town 
of York rejoiced in any settlement. John 
Stewart was the first to locate there. 

It was in the year 1841 that the first location 
was made in the present town of Albany, by 
James Campbell. The next comers there were 
Hiram Brown and Samuel Mitchell. 

The year 1842 was the one in which, for the 
first time, a settler made his home in what is 
now the town of Brooklyn. The name of this 
first comer was W. W. McLaughlin. 

New Glarus was settled before 1845 by James 
Parkins and Daniel Morley, but these were not 
permanent settlers. As is well known, the first 
to settle there permanently were emigrants from 
Glarus, Switzerland. 

We have seen that between 1827 and 1845 
was the period of the first settlement of Green 
county — less than a score of years. By the 
time the Swiss had got a foot-hold in the coun- 



ty, every surveyed township had ocgupants and 
the county at large a considerable population. 
Says Miss Bingham: 

"Iowa county was partially surveyed before 
the war, much earlier than would have been 
necessary had not the lead mines brought it 
into notice. In 1835 the land was brought into 
market, and many settlers came to the county 
in 1835-6. Probably nine-tenths of those who 
came now or any time before 1840 came from 
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Vir- 
ginia. It is difficult to ascertain the States of- 
their nativity. A very large proportion of 
them came from Illinois, but they had gone 
there a few years before, when ' Eelinoise ' was 
the boundary of the civilized world. The In- 
diana immigrants were, many of them, born in 
Ohio, and many who came from Ohio had spent 
their earlier years in Pennsylvania or Virginia. 
At this time hardly any one came directly from 
New England, but some who were by birth the 
children of New England came from New York 
State. The settlers of 1835-6-7 endured priva- 
tions of all kinds. The nearest markets were 
Mineral Point, Galena and Fort Winnebago. 
The difiiculties of going to market were in- 
creased by the fact that the streams, which a 
few years later were shallow enough to be 
folded, were now so deep that teams were 
obliged to swim across them, and the banks 
were so steep that travelers carried shovels 
with which to cut them down. One might 
travel days at a time in southern Wisconsin 
wiihout seeing a house, and dismal prophets 
had foretold that this state of things must con- 
tinue," 

The same writer records, in lier interesting 
history, the following laughable incident of 
early times: 

"By 1844 one-third of the land in the county 
was entered. Soon after the land came into 
market, a great number of acres, including 
much timber land, were bought by New Eng- 
land speculators — a proceeding that the settlers 
regarded as iniquitous. All non-residents who 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



155 



owned land were called speculators, and oppo- 
sition to speculators was held to be an essential 
element of loyalty to the county. The usual 
form of opposition was stripping the timber 
from the land of the obnoxious class. To a 
great extent it was the speculators' timber that 
fenced the farms, and kept the cooking stoves 
and saw-mills running. Ordinarily, wood cut 
from any speculator's land was good enough; 
but a speculator owning land east of Monroe 
died, and (as though his death was an addition 
to his former indignity to the settlers), from 
that time until the timber was all used, his land, 
known as "dead man's land," was the favorite 
place of supply in this part of the county. Un- 
til 1844 the speculators made no effort to defend 
themselves, but in that year a number of them 
engaged J. A. Bingham to prosecute every one 
found cutting their timber,and for a time the old 
hatred of speculators was forgotten in the new de- 
sire to resist a citizen who dared to become a rep- 
resentative and defender of the obnoxious class. 
For a year or two it seemed as though the more 
the timber cutters were prosecuted, the more 
they developed a martyr-like persistency and a 
very un-martyr-like aggressiveness. These 
qualities might have reached the heroic, had 
not the courage of the choppers wasted away 
so rapidly that their conduct became the laugh- 
ing stock of the county. 

"A brother of Thomas W. Thompson once 
came from New York to visit him. At Mil- 
waukee he hired horses and a covered carriage 
for the remainder of the journey. Before his 
visit in Sylvester was over, he wanted to see 
the county town. He started, but lost his way. 
Presently he saw three men and three loads of 
rails standing in the road before him. Before 
he was near enough to askfor information, they 
all started. Two of the men had horse teams, 
and they soon disappeared. Mr. Thompson 
then called loudly to the man with the ox team 
to stop, but the more he called, the more the 
man pounded his oxen. Psychologists may 
well tell of the strange influence which, under 



favorable circumstances, a man who concen- 
trates his mind on one thing is capable of 
wielding, even if he does not utter a word. In 
this case the circumstances were favorable, and 
the concentration was perfect; and, in an in- 
credibly short time, both oxen and rails seemed 
to have been inspired with the belief that only 
a speculator would ride in such a fine carriage 
as that which was coming behind him. The 
oxen galloped, and the rails flew off at the 
sides, and the last Mr. Thompson saw of the 
driver he was clinging with both hands to the 
wagon, from which the last rail was gone, while 
the oxen were making time to which Mr. Thomp- 
son, in his amazed and bewildered condition, 
was entirely unable to bring his high-spirited 
horses." 

Many of the early settlers have passed away, 
but they have left a posterity who honor their 
names, and are doing their share towai'd build- 
ing up and sustaining the social fabric of the 
county. The pioneers who remain in "the land 
of the living" feel a commendable pride in the 
advancement and prosperity of their county, 
which, though less rapid in growth than some 
of its neighbors, has, nevertheless, moved for- 
ward to the goal of success with certainty. They 
can look back to the time when miles intervened 
between neighbors; and, following the widen- 
ing path to the present, can see that the popula- 
tion of that day has increased and multiplied 
many hundred times. They can rejoice that 
they are surrounded by a thrifty, upright, law- 
abiding people. 

GREEN COUNTY ON EARLY MAPS. 

There is no better way to bring before the 
mind's eye the general facts as to the history of 
any country, or portion of country, than to study 
old maps of the region under consideration. 
We give the result of such a study in so far as 
Green county is concerned, beginning with the 
first map ever published of this immediate local- 
ity, known as a "Map of the United States Lead 
Mines, on the Upper Mississippi River, 1829." 



166 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



On the map just mentioned, of course Green 
county is not laid down, as the county was not 
in existence for seven years thereafter. But 
within what are now its boundaries, are desig- 
nated two localities where there are lead mines 
— only one being named. That one is called 
"McNutt Diggings." There is a road leading 
off in a southeasterly direction from these "Dig- 
gings," called the "Chicago Trace," It crosses 
Rock river in the State of Illinois, where there 
is represented a Winnebago Indian Village. 
There are two Indian villages located within 
what are now the limits of Green county — botli 
Winnebago. One is called "Spotted-arm's vil- 
lage;" one is on the east side of Sugar river, 
some distance above the State line;* the other 
(Spotted-arm's village) is on the west side and 
farther up the stream on the trace leading from 
"Hamilton's" in what is now Iowa county, to 
Green Bay. There is a trace running up the 
east side of Sugar river through the whole ex- 
tent of the present county. The Pecatonica 
is given as "Peek-a-ton-oke." 

The next map examined is the one known as 
"Peck and Messenger's Map of Illinois, and 
Part of the Wisconsin Territory, 1835." On 
this map, all south of what is now Green county, 
Wisconsin is "Jo Daviess county," Illinois. The 
range lines in the Wisconsin Land District are 
given and also the township lines. The Peca- 
tonica is marked "Peekatonokee." 

The second map containing matters of inter- 
est, is that denominated the "Map of the Terri- 
tories of Michigan and Ouisconsin." By John 
Farmer, 18H0. On this map, two "diggings" 
within the limits of the present Green county, 
are denominated the "Old Sac Diggings." 

In 1835, "Sugar river" appears for the first 
time on any published map. There were two 
maps printed in the year just mentioned repre- 
senting what is now the county of Green along 

*Thi8 viUag-e was called "While Breast's village." its ex- 
act location (as well as that of ' 'Spotted-arm's village' ' ig 
given in Chap. VI. 



with the residue of the surveyed part of "Wis- 
consin Territory," although, at that time, there 
was, in fact, no such "Territory." From the 
Indian village on the east side of Sugar river 
on one of these maps, there runs a road north- 
easterly to Lake "Kushkanong;" anotlier north- 
westerly to "Blue Mounds;" and a third west 
to "Shullsburg.' The Pecatonica is named 
"Peekatonokee." 

Burr's "Map of the Territory of Wisconsin" 
1836, is interesting as containing a line of a 
"Proposed Rail Road from Wisconsin City to 
Mineral Point," running along from Rock river 
to Mineral P(nnt near the northern boundary of 
the present Green county. 

There are several printed maps of 1838 hav- 
ing "Green County" noted thereon. In each of 
these, the Indian village on the east side of 
Sugar river ("White Breast's Village") gives 
place to "Centreville;"* and "New Mexico" 
stands prominently forth as the county seat of 
the county. From "Centreville" one road leads 
southeast to Beloit; one northwest through 
"Livingston" to "Blue Mounds;" one west to 
"Hamilton" in Iowa county; and one south- 
westerl}'^ to "New Mexico," — where it branches, 
the north branch running through "Peekatono- 
kee" to "Wiota" in Iowa county, and the south 
branch to "Avon," and thence west to "Gra- 
tiot's Grove." 



*Concerning this "paper city," Miss Bingham says: 
"Upon the plat of Centreville, which was exhibited in Mil- 
waukee, Detmit, and the eastern cities, were represented 
steamboiits, churches, warehouses, and blocks of stoi-es. 
Thus pori rayed, the place was the cans • of many a yearning 
for a western home, ancl a brisk sa.eof hiyh-priccd business 
lots and four ac e out lots began. Careful, prosperous 
farmers and tadesmcn, wealthy speculators, and penuy- 
savins" laborers all embraced the oppoitunity to make a good 
investment, and purchased leal estate in what the agents 
called the growing, bustliny city of Centrexille. One by one 
the purchasers learned that they wt re the victims of a fraud, 
that their land was no better than mLuht have been bought 
at the .government price. And so undesiratile did it seem, 
when the unsettled static of the country was n)aiie known, 
that although their titles wei-e unquistionablj- good, yet, 
so far as can be asceitained, not one of the purchaser's of 
Centre\ille lots ever claimed a foot of the much lauded 
City, or ev'er settled within the limits ol Decatur township. 
Th(' pliu;e had indceJ been surveyed and divided, as the 
plat showed, but the red stakes marking these divisions were 
the only marks of their presence which white men had ever 
left in the so-called city. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



157 



CHAPTER V. 



THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 



To the people of Green county, the brief con- 
test between a portion of the Sac and Fox 
Indians and the Americans, in 1832, known 
from the name of the leader of the savages as 
*'The Black Hawk War," is of interest, for the 
reason that the present limits of the county were 
nearly the center of the region of conflict, and 
the few inhabitants here all left their homes for 
safety, nearly all having had their houses 
burned by the savages. Some afterward took 
an active part in the war. In the outline his- 
tory of Wisconsin, previously given, a brief 
sketch of the hostile movements of both parties 
engaged in the work of death, will be found; 
but, at this point, it is proposed to enter more 
into detail. 

Black Hawk's return from the west side of 
the Mississippi, and his moving up Rock river, 
caused the mustering into the service of the 
United States, in Illinois, of about 800 volun- 
teers, who vvere sent in pursuit. Gen. H. At- 
kinson, brevet brigadier-general in the United 
States army, followed the militia with his reg- 
ulars, but at too great a distance to afford sup- 
port. On the 12th of May the volunteers 
reached Dixon's ferry, where they were joined 
by 275 men from the northern counties of the 
State. The latter force, however, were imme- 
diately sent out on scouting dut5^ But the two 
battalions still moved along together until Still- 
man's run was reached ; the creek then being 
known as Kishwaukee, about thirty miles above 
the ferry. 



BATTLE OF STILLMAN's RUN. 

Black Hawk now made advances for peace, 
but two of his messengers being killed, the ne- 
gotiations were broken off. That chief at this 
time had but forty men under his immediate 
command, most of his party being some ten 
miles away; nevertheless, with his handful of 
warriors, he started back to meet his pursuers. 
Raising the war-whoop, he rushed in upon the 
volunteers and scattered them in every direc- 
tion. The fugitives, in their flight, did not 
stop until the ferry was reached. This was 
afterward known as "The Battle of Stillman's 
Run," of May 14, 1832. The governor of Illi- 
nois issued a proclamation immediately after, 
calling for an additional force of 2,000 mounted 
volunteers. These incidents caused throughout 
the west the greatest alarm. The loss of the 
Indians in this, the first battle of the war, was 
none. Of the volunteers, one major, one captain 
and nine of the rank and file were killed, and 
five men wounded. 

On the 17th of May, Gen. Atkinson reached 
Dixon's ferry with his regulars and a supph^ of 
provisions; and on the 19th, with 2,400 men, 
advanced up Rock river. On the 27th and 28th 
of the month, the volunteers were disbanded 
by the governor, leaving the defense of the 
frontiers in the hands of the regular troops and 
a few citizens who had volunteered temporarily. 
Meanwhile the savages were waging war in 
earnest against the exposed settlements. Their 
war parties were scattered from Chicago to 



168 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



GaLena; from tl'.e Rock river to the lead mines. 
It was a warfare in regular Indian style; there 
was success first on one side, then on tlie other; 
until on the 24tli of June, Black Hawk made an 
unsuccessful attack on Apple River Fort, near 
the present village of Elizabeth, 111, Mean- 
while the volunteers called out by the governor 
of Illinois were assembling and ordered to len- 
dezvous at Dixon's ferry, where they were mus- 
tered into the service of the United States and 
formed into three brigades. The contest now 
began to assume somewhat the appearance of 
regular war. But, before we proceed to narrate 
the aggressive movements of the Americans up 
the Rock river valley in pursuit of Black Hawk 
and his band, it is proper to more particularly 
describe the incident which occurred in various 
localities where the savages carried on their 
depredations previously. 

In the night of the 17th of June a volunteer 
company encamped near Burr Oak Grove, 
thirty-five miles east of Galena, was fired on by 
the enemy. The next morning they started in 
pursuit of the savages, and succeeded in killing 
all of them — four in number — with the loss on 
their part of only one man. However, later in 
the day they were attacked by the Indians in 
considerable force, losing two killed and one 
wounded; but they beat off the assailants and 
killed their leader. 

BATTLE OF PECATOJICA. 

On the 14th of June a party of men were 
attacked in a cornfield near the mouth of Spof- 
ford's creek, and five killed. Two days after. 
Col. Henry Dodge, with twenty-eight men, 
struck the trail of the savages, overtaking them 
on the bank of the Pecatonica in what is now 
Lafayette Co., Wis. The savages numbered 
seventeen, and all were killed. Dodge's loss 
was three killed. This was, all things consid- 
ered, the most spirited and effective fighting 
done during "the war." Capt. James W. Ste- 
phenson, at the head of the Galena volunteers, 
being on the lookout for Indians near the head 
of Yellow creek, lost three of his men and was 



obliged to retreat. This ended what may be 
called the irregular fighting of the campaign. 
We now return to Rock river, up the valley of 
which Black Hawk and his force had moved and 
the Americans just commencing pursuit. 

THE PURSUIT OF BLACK HAWK. 

A battalion of spies was the first body or- 
dered forward. They reached Kellogg's grove, 
and were infoimed on the morning of the 25th 
of June that a heavy trail was to be seen of the 
enemy not far away. Twenty-five men went 
out to reconnoitre, and were defeated, leaving 
five killed and three wounded, though the 
enemy's loss is said to have been nine killed. 
The enemy now retired up the tiver in the di- 
rection of Lake Kos<hkonong, in Wisconsin; and 
the fighti g in Illinois was ended. The first 
halt made by Black Hawk was at what was 
afterwards known as "Black Hawk Grove, "just 
outside of the present city of Janesville, Rock 
Co., Wis., where his forces remained some time 
in camp. It must not be understood that they 
were now at their former homes. This was not 
the case. It was not then tlie country claimed 
by the Sacs, but by the Rock River Winne- 
bagoes. 

Gen. Atkinson having arrived at the mouth 
of the Pecatonica, in pursuit of the savages, 
and hearing that the Sac chief was further up 
Rock river, determined to follow him with the 
intention of deciding the campaign by a gen- 
eral battle if possible. Black Hawk, judging 
of his intentions from the report of his spies, 
broke up his camp and retreated still further up 
the river, to the foot of Lake Koshkonong, 
where, on the west side of the river, in what is 
now the town of Milton, he again formed a 
camp. Here he remained some time, when he 
again moved, this time to an island in the lake, 
still known as Black Hawk's island. It is in 
the southeast corner of the town of Sumner, in 
Jefferson Co., Wis. Black Hawk afterwards 
made his way still further up tlie valley of Rock 
river. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



159 



But now let us return to tbe army under Gen. 
Atkinson, in its inarch from the mouth of the 
Pecatonica to Lake Kotshkonong, where he 
found the Sac chief had eluded liim. The re- 
cital is best given in the words of one who was 
in the army at the time and marched under At- 
kinson: 

"The 30th of June, 1832, we passed through 
the Turtle village [now the city of Beloit, Rock 
Co., Wis.,] which is a considerable Winnebago 
town, but it was deserted. We marcheil on 
about a mile and encamped on the open prairie 
near enough to Rock river to get water from it. 
We here saw very fresh signs of the Sac In- 
dians, where they had apparently been fishing 
on that day. Gen. Atkinson believed we were 
closH to them and apprehended an attack that 
night. The sentinels fired several times, and 
we were as often paraded and prepared to re- 
ceive the enemy, but they never came, though 
from the accounts given by the sentinels to the 
officers of the day, there was no doubt that In- 
dians had been prowling about the camp. 

"July 1. — We had not marched but two or 
three miles before an Indian was seen across 
Rock river at some distance off, on a very high 
prairie, which, no doubt, was a spy, and likely 
was one that had been prowling about our en- 
campment the night before. We proceeded a 
few miles further, and came to the place where 
the Indians, who had taken the two Misses Hall 
prisoners, had staid for several days [near the 
site of the present city of Janesville.] It was a 
strong position, where they could liave with- 
stood a very powerful force. We afterwards 
discovered they always encamped in such places. 
Wfr had not marched but a few miles from this 
place before one of our front scouts came back 
meeting the army in great haste, and stated that 
they had discovered a fresh trail of Indians, 
where they had just gone along in front of us. 
Major Ewing who was in front of the main 
army some distance, immediately formed his 
men in line of battle, and marched in that order 
in advance of the main army, about three- 



quarters of a mile. We had a very thick wood 
to march through, where the under-growth stood 
very high and thick; the signs looked very 
fresh, and we expected every step to be fired 
upon from the thickets. We marched in this 
order about two miles, not stopping for the un- 
evenness of the ground or anything else, but 
keeping in line of battle all the time, until we 
found the Indians had scattered; then we re- 
sumed our common line of march, which was in 
three divisions. Soon after we had formed into 
three divisions, the friendly Indians that were 
with us raised an alarm, by seven or eight of 
them shooting at a deer, some little in advance 
of the army. The whole army here formed for 
action; but in was soon ascertained that these 
children of the forest had been at what their 
whole race seems born for, shooting at the 
beasts of the woods. 

"We here encamped by a small lake [Storr's] 
this night, and had to drink the water, which 
was very bad, but it was all that could be found. 
Here a very bad accident happened. One of 
the sentinels, mistaking another that was on 
post, with a blanket wrapped around him, for an 
Indian, shot him just below the groin, in the 
thick of the thigii. At first the wound was 
thought mortal. I understood before I left 
the army that the man was nearly well. Here 
Gen. Atkinson had, on this night, breastworks 
thrown up, which was easily done, as we were 
encamped in thick, heavy timber. This was a 
precaution which went to show that he set a 
great deal by the lives of his men, and by no 
means was any mark of cowardice; for general- 
ship consists more in good management than 
anything else. 

"July 2. — We started this morning at the 
usual time, but went only a few miles before 
Major Ewing, who was still in front with his 
battalion (of scouts), espied a very fresh trail, 
making off at about a left angle. He dispatched 
ten men from the battalion, in company with 
Capt. George Walker and a few Indians, to 
pursue it and see, if possible, where it went to. 



160 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



He moved on in front of liis battalion a short 
distance further, when he came to the main Sac 
trail of Black Hawk's whole army, which ap- 
peared to be about two days old. 

"Capt. Early, who commanded a volunteer 
independent comi^any, and had got in advance 
this morning, called a halt; so did Major Ewing 
with his battalion. Then Major Ewing sent back 
one of his staff officers for the main army to call 
a halt for a few minutes. He, with Major Ander- 
son, of the infantry, Capt. Early and Jonathan 
H. Pugh, went a little in advance, when Major 
Anderson, with a telescope, took a view across 
the lake, as we had now got to Lake Koshko- 
nong. [The army entered what is now Jeffer- 
son county, very nearly where, in going noith, 
its south line is crossed by the Chicago & North- 
western Railway. The trail, after leaving the 
southeast quarter of section 35, in township 5 
north, of range 13 east, ran nearly due north to 
the southeast corner of section 26, in the same 
township and range, where the army reached 
the lake in what is now the town of Koshko- 
nong]. They then discovered three Indians ap- 
parently in their canoes. 

"Major Ewing went himself and informed Gen, 
Atkinson what discovery was made, and re- 
quested Gen. Atkinson to let him take his bat- 
talion around through a naiTow defile that was 
between two of those lakes, where we supposed 
the Indians were. ]ij this time our scouts, who 
had taken the trail that led off on our left, re- 
turned, bringing with them five white men's 
scalps. They followed the Indian trail until it 
took them to a large Indian encampment that 
they had left a few days before. They reached 
it; the scalps were sticking against some of the 
wigwams; some of them were identified; but I 
do not recollect the names of any, except one, 
which was said to be an old gentleman by the 
name of Hall. 

"Major Evvirig then marched his battalion 
about a mile, where the pass on the side of the 
lake appeared so narrow that he dismounted his 
men and had the horses all tied, and a few men 



left to guard them. The rest of us marched on 
foot about one mile thiougli a narrow defile on 
the [east] bank of the Koshkonong lake. This 
was considered a dangerous procedure, but Major 
Ewing, who was in front with Major Anderson, 
would have been first in danger. He now found 
that we were getting too far in advance of our 
horses; so Major Ewing sent a part of the men 
back for them. When we mounted our horses, 
we were joined by Capt. Early and his inde- 
l^endent corps. We then marched some distance 
around the [Koshkonong] lake and went in be- 
tween two of them, in a narrow defile until we 
found another deserted encampment. We now 
saw clearly that the Indians were gone from the 
Koshkonong lake; so, the next thing to be done 
was to find in which direction they had steered 
their course. 

"Geu. Atkinson having been re-enforced by 
Gen. Alexander, took up his line of march, ar- 
rivijig at the burnt village on the 6th of July. 
That evening. Gen. Posey's brigade, in company 
with Col. Dodge's squadron, joined Atkinson. 
Col. John Ewing and his regiment came within 
a mile and a half ^of the main army and en- 
camped. On the 10th, Gen. Atkinson sent Col. 
Ewing with his regiment down Rock river to 
Dixon's; Gen. Posey, with the rest of his brig- 
ade, was dispatched to Fort Hamilton; while 
Col. Henry and his brigade, Gen. Alexandei-'s 
brigade and Col. Dodge's squadron were sent to 
Fort Wint)ebago, now Portage, Columbia Co., 
Wis., for provisions. Atkinson dropped down 
a short distance from the burnt village and 
built a stockade fort, which he called Fort 
Koshkonong. , It was located on the south side 
of Rock river in the eastern outskirts of the 
present village of Fort Atkinson, Jefferson Co., 
Wis. Alexander returned from Fort Winne- 
bago by the direct route, while Dodge and 
Henry took a more easterly one, striking Rock 
river at a j)oint where there was a small Win- 
nebago village, now Iliistisford, Dodge county, 
which point was reached July 18. Informa- 
tion was here obtained that Black Hawk was 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



161 



at Cranberry lake, farther up the river. This 
was believed to be reliable, and an express was 
started down the stream at once, to inform Gen. 
Atkinson of the Sac chief's whereabouts. The 
express came very unexpected!}", at a distance 
not more than eight miles from the starling 
point, upon the trail of Black Hawk, making 
his way down the river. The express returned 
to the army w'ith the news, and the next morn- 
ing, July 19, the pursuit began." 

BLACK HAWK PURSUED TO THE WISCONSIN. 

In the march in pursuit of the enemy, the 
Americans crossed the Crawfish near what is 
now Aztalan, in Jefferson Co., Wis., and were 
of course soon in what is now Dane county. 
But the account of the march is best told by 
one who participated in the pursuit: 

"July 19, 1832.— This day we had for about 
twelve miles, the worst kind of a road. To 
look at, it appeared impossible to march an array 
through it. Thickets and swamps of the worst 
kind we had to go through, but the men had 
something now to stimulate them. They saw 
the Sac trail fresh before them, and the pros- 
pect of bringing our campaign to an end. There 
was no murmuring, no excuses were made, none 
getting on the sick report. If we came to a 
swamp that our horses were not able to carry 
us through, we dismounted, turned our horses 
before us and stepped in ourselves, sometimes 
up to our arm-pits in mud and water. In this 
way we marched with great celerity. In the 
evening of this day, it commenced thundering, 
lightning and raining tremendously. We 
stopped not, but pushed on. The trail appeared 
to be still getting fresher and the ground bet- 
ter, wiiich etill encouraged us to overcome every 
difficulty found in the way. It continued rain- 
ing until dark, and, indeed, until after dark. 
We now saw the want of our tents, a great 
■number of us having left this necessary article 
behind in the morning, in order to favor our 
horses. 

"The rain ceased before day, and it turned 
cold and chilly. In the niorniiig we rose early, 



at the well-known sound of the bugle, and pre- 
pared in a very short time our rude breakfast, 
dried our clothes a little, and by 1 o'clock, [July 
'20tli], were on the march at a quick pace. On 
this day some of our scouts took an Indian as a 
prisoner. On examination he was found to be 
a Winnebago. He stated that Black Hawk was 
but a little distance ahead of us; and that he 
had seen some of his party not more than two 
miles ahead. But it was a bad piece of conduct 
on our part that this Indian was not kept as a 
prisoner of war, but was set at liberty and let 
go, no doubt, that he might inform the Sacs of 
our pursuit. 

"We hailed and the order of battle was formed 
as we expected we would overtake them 
this evening. The order was as follows: 
Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing were to bring on 
the battle. Major Ewing was placed in the cen- 
ter with his spy battalion, Capt. Gentry and 
Capt. Clark's companies on our right, and Capt. 
Camp and Capt. Parkinson on our left. Our 
own battalion [Major Ewing's] was reduced to 
two companies [as Capt. Wells and his com- 
pany had been left at Fort Dixon]; Capt. Lind- 
say, of our own battalion, was placed on the 
right and Capt. Huston's company on the left ; 
Col. Fry and Lis regiment on the right, and Col. 
Jones, with his regiment, on the left, and Col. 
Collins in the center. In this order we marched 
in quick time, with all possible speed, in 
hope that we would overtake the enemy on that 
evening. We were close to the Four lakes (in 
what is now Dane Co., Wis.,) and w-e wished to 
come up with them before they could reach 
that place, as it was known to be a stronghold 
for the Indians; but the day was not long 
enough to accomplish this desirable object. 

"We reached tiie first of the Four lakes 
[now known as Lake Monona, or Third lake] 
about sun-down. Gen. Henry here called a halt 
and consulted with Pouquct [Peter Pauquette], 
our pilot, as to the country we were approaching. 
Pauquette, who was well acquainted with this 
country, told him he could not get through af- 



162 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ter night; that we had to march close to the 
margin of the lake for some distance, as the 
underwood stood so thick one man could not 
see another ten steps. Gen. Henry concluded 
to encamp here \\uU\ the break of day. Gen. 
Dodge sent Capt. Dixon on ahead with a few 
men to see if they could make any discovery of 
the enemy, who returned in a very short time 
and stated that they had seen the enemy's rear 
guard about one mile and a half distant. Gen. 
Henry gave strict orders for every man to tie up 
his horse, so as to be ready to start as soon as 
it was daylight. The order was strictly obeyed; 
and after we took our frugal supper all re- 
tired to rest except those who had to mount 
guard, for we liad marched a great way that 
day, and many were still wet by the rain that 
fell the preceding night; but being very much 
fatigued, we were all soon lost in sleep, except 
those on guard. 

"July 21, at the break of day, the bugle 
sounded, and all were soon up and in a few 
minutes had breakfast ready, and, after taking 
a little food, we mounted our horses and again 
commenced the pursuit. We soon found that 
the pilot had told us no lie, for we found the 
country that the enemy was leading us into to 
be worse, if possible, than what he told us. 
We could turn neither to the right nor left, but 
were compelled to follow the trail the Indians 
had made, and that, too, for a great distance at 
the edge of the water of the lake. We had not 
marched more than five miles before Dr. Pliil- 
leo came back, meeting us, with the scalp of an 
Indian. He had been on ahead with the front 
scouts, and came on this Indian, who had been 
left as a rear guard to watch our movements. 
There were several shots fired at him about the 
same time, and I suppose all hit him from the 
number of bullet holes that were in him; but 
Dr. Pliilleo had scalped liini, so he was called 
Philleo's Indian, which reminds me of the 
hunters: 'He who draws the first blood is en- 
titletj tt> the skin, and the remainder tt? the car- 



cass, if there are several in the chase,' which 
was the case at this time." 

Leaving our journalist for a moment, we will 
describe the particulars of the march from the 
time the Catfish creek, or rather the Yahara, as 
it is legally called, was reached until the army 
left the Fourth lake, the most northernly of the 
Four lakes, properly called lake Mendota. In 
the timber skirting the Yahara, the Americans 
overtook the rear guard of the flying foe, where 
an Indian was wounded, who crept away and 
hid himself in the thick willows, where he died. 
A scouting party of fourteen men was sent for- 
ward and preceded the main body about two 
miles. When they arrived at the point now 
the site of Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, 
an Indian was seen coming up from the water's 
edge, who seated himself upon the bank, appar- 
ently indifferent to his fate. In a moment after 
his body was pierced- with bullets, one of which 
passed in at the temple and out of the back 
part of his head. On examination it was found 
that he was sitting upon a newly made grave, 
probably that of his wife, who had perhaps died 
of fatigue, hunger and exhaustion, and her dis- 
consolate companion had resolved to await the 
advancing foe and die there also. The trail 
was followed around the southern end of Lake 
Mendota (or Fourth lake), passing a little north 
of what is now the Capital Park, and along the 
lake across the University grounds. A few 
miles brought them to what appeared an ad- 
mirable position for a battle field with natural 
defenses and places of ambush. It had been 
chosen by the enemy and here they had lain 
apparently the previous night. This spot was 
afterward laid out as the city of Four Lakes. 
It is about three-fourths of a mile north of the 
present village of Pheasant Branch, in Dane 
county. We now return to the journal, from 
nhich we broke off to relate these particulars. ■ 
"But I am not done with Dr. Philleo yet, I 
will show you that he is a good soldier, and 
something of an Indian fighter. The signs now 
began to get very fresh, and we mended Our 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



163 



pace very much. We had not proceeded more 
than ten or fifteen miles further before our 
fighting doctor ran afoul of two more Indians; 
he showed his bravery by assisting to kill them. 
I suppose he killed one and Sample Journey 
the other, so there was a scalp for each. But 
one of those miserable wretches sold his life as 
dear as possible. He, in the act of falling, after 
he was shot, fired and shot three balls into 
a gentleman who himself was in the act of shoot- 
ing at him. The balls were all small; one went 
through his thigh, one through his leg, and the 
other through his foot. I am sorry I have for- 
gotten the gentleman's name; he belonged to 
Gen. Dodge's squadron. 

"We now doubled our speed, all were anxious 
to press forward, and as our horses were nearly 
worn out, we carried nothing, only what was 
actually necessary for us to eat; camp kettles 
and many such articles were thrown away. 
The trail was now literally, in many places, 
strewn with Indian trinkets, such as mats, ket- 
tles, etc., which plainly told us that they knew 
we were in pursuit. We, too, saw from the 
face of the country that we were drawing close 
to the Wisconsin river, and our object was to 
overtake them before they reached it; so now 
we went as fast as our horses were able to carry 
us. But this was too severe for our poor horses; 
they began to give out. But even this did not 
stop a man. Whenever a horse gave out, the 
rider would dismount, throw off his saddle and 
bridle and pursue on foot, in a run, without a 
murmur. I think the number of horses left this 
day was about forty. The rear guard of the 
enemy began by this time [about 3 o'clock p. m.] 
to make feint stands; and as the timber stood 
thick, we did not know but what the whole 
army of Black Hawk was forming for action; 
in consequence of which we got down and 
■formed as often as twice, before we found out 
that their object was to keep us back until they 
could gain some strong position to fight from. 
Our front scouts now determined not to be de- 
c'ei^^ sttif mtkh] btit thb next they came to, 



they stopped not for their feigned maneuver, 
but pursued them to the main body of the 
enemy. They returned to us in great haste and 
informed Gen. Henry that the Indians were 
forming for action. 

"battle of WISCONSIN HEIGHTS. 

"We all dismounted in an instant. The line 
of battle was then formed in the same order that 
it had been laid off the preceding day, Gen. 
Dodge's corps and Major Ewing's spy battalion 
still in front. The horses were left and every 
fourth man detailed to hold them; which gave 
seven horses to each man to hold." We had 
scarcely time to form on foot before the Indians 
raised the war-whoop, screaming .and yelling 
furiously, and rushed forward meeting us with 
a heavy charge. Gen. Dodge and Major Henry 
met them also with a heavy charge, which pro- 
duced a halt on the part of the enemy. Our 
men then opened a tremendous volley of mus- 
ketry upon them, and accompanied it with the 
most terrific yells that ever came from the head 
of mortals, except from the savages themselves. 
They could not stand this. They now tried 
their well-known practice of flanking; but here 
they were headed again by the brave Col. 
Jones and his regiment, who were on our left, 
where he met them in the most fearless man- 
ner, and opened a heavy fire upon them. Col. 
Fry was placed on the extreme right. They 
tried his line, but were soon repulsed. Their 
strong position was on the left, or near the 
center, where Colonels Jones, Dodge and Ewing 
kept up a constant fire upon them for something 
like half an hour. 

"The enemy here had a strong position. They 
had taken shelter in some very high grass, 
where they could lie down and load and be en- 
tirely out of sight. After fighting them in this 
position for at least thirty minutes, during which 
time Col. Jones had his horse shot from under 
hitn, and one of his men killed and several 
wounded, Colonels Dodge, Ewing and Jones all 
requested Gen. Henry to let them charge upon 
them at the point of the bayonet, which Gen. 



164 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Henry readily assented to, and gave the order 
'Charge!' which was obeyed by both men and 
officers in a most fearless manner. All were in- 
tent npon the charge. We had to charge up a 
rising piece of ground. When we got on the 
top, we then Hred perfectly abreast. They 
could not stand this. They had to quit their 
hiding place and make good their retreat. 
When tliey commenced retreating we killed a 
great number. 

"Their commander, who, it is said, was 
Napope, was on a white pony on the top of a 
mountain in the rear of his Indians; he certainly 
had one of the best voices for command I ever 
heard. He kept up a constant yell until his 
men began to retreat, when he was heard no 
more. Col. Collins was kept, during the en- 
gagement, in the rear, as a reserve, and to keep 
the enemy from flanking and coming in upon 
us in the rear, which was a very good arrange- 
ment of Gen. Henr3\ It was now nearly sun- 
down, and still raining, as it had been all the 
evening, but so slow that we made shift to 
keep our guns dry. The enemy retreated 
toward the river with considerable speed. The 
ground they were retreating to appeared to be 
low and swampy, and on the bank of the river 
there appeared to be a heavy body of timber, 
which the enemy could reach before we could 
bring them to another stand. So Gen. Henry 
concluded not to pursue them any further that 
night, but remain on the battle ground until 
next morning, and then he would iiot be in dan- 
ger of losing so many of his men, knowing 
that in the dark he would have to lose a num- 
ber; for the Indians would have the timber to 
fight from while we would have to stand in the 
open prairie. [The battle ground was on the 
east side of the nortlieast quarter of section 24, 
in what is now the town of Mazomanie, Dane 
Co., Wis.] 

"Next morning, July '22, the troops were pa- 
raded and put in battle order on foot, except 
Col. Fry's regiment, and took up the line of 
march to the river, leaving T^ol. Collins' regi- 



ment to guard the horses and baggage, and take 
care of the wounded. We marclied down to 
the river, which was about one mile and a half 
off; but, before we reached the banks, we had a 
very bad swamp to go through, fifty or sixty 
yards on this side the timber, which stood very 
high on the bank of the river. We now saw 
that Gen. Henry had acted vt^y prudently. If 
he had attempted to follow them the evening 
before, he would have lost a great many of his 
men. When we got to the bank, we found they 
had made their retreat across the river during 
the night, leaving a great many articles of 
trumpery behind. We also saw a good deal of 
blood, where their Avounded had bled. We now 
returned to the camp, seeing there was no chance 
to follow them this day across the river. 

"We, in the battle (known in history as the 
Battle of Wisconsin Heights), were very fortu- 
nate indeed. We had only one man killed and 
eight wounded; and we have learned since the 
battle that we killed sixtj'-eight of the enemy 
(but Black Hawk declared afterwards that he 
lost only six), and wounded a considerable num- 
ber, twenty-five of whom they report died soon 
after the battle. We were now nearly out of 
provisions, and to take up the line of march 
against them, in the condition our horses were 
in, told us plainly that we would suffer for 
something to eat before we could get it. We 
buried the brave young man, ^ho was killed, 
with the honors of war. It was stated that he 
had just shot down an Indian when he received 
the mortal wound himself. His name was John 
Short, and he belonged to Capt. Briggs' com- 
pany from Randolph Co., III. He had a brother 
and a brother-in-law in the same company, wlio 
witnessed his consignment to the mother earth. 
The wounded were all well examined and none 
pronounced mortal. We continued this day on 
the battle ground and prepared litters for the 
wounded to be carried on. We spent this day 
in a more cheerful manner than we had done 
any other day since we had been on the cam- 
paign. Wc felt a little satisfaction for our toils. 



■md 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



165 



and thought we had, no doubt, destroyed a 
number of the very same monsters that had so 
lately been imbruing their hands with the blood 
of our fair sex, the helpless mother and un- 
offending infant. We dried our clothes, which 
then had been wet for several days. This day 
was spent in social chat between men and officers. 
There were no complaints made; all had fought 
bravely; each man praised his officers, and all 
praised our general. Late in the evening, some 
of our men, who had been out to see if there 
were any signs of the enemy remaining near us, 
returned and stated that they saw smoke across 
the river." 

From this time until the Wisconsin river was 
crossed there were not many incidents of im- 
portance worthy of record; so we leave the 
journal, from which we have been copying, to 
relate only such events as will preserve the 
chain of our narrative until tliat time. But, 
before doing so, it will, in this connection, be 
proper to introduce the following letter, proba- 
bly addressed to tJie commandant of Fort Craw- 
ford, at Prairie du Chien: 

"Camp Wisconsin, July 22, 1832. 

"We met the enemy yesterday, near the Wis- 
consin rive)-, and opposite the old Sac village, 
after a close pursuit for nearly 100 miles. Our 
loss was one man killed and eight wounded; 
from the scalps taken by the Winnebagoes as 
well as those taken by the whites, and tlie 
Indians carried from the field of battle, we must 
have killed forty of them. The number of 
wounded is not known; we can only judge from 
the number killed, that many were wounded. 
From their crippled situation, I think we must 
overtake them, unless they descend the Wis- 
consin by water. If you could place a field 
piece immediately on the Wisconsin that would 
command the river, you might prevent their 
escape by water. Gen. Atkinson will arrive at 
the Blue Mounds on the 24th with the regulars 
and a brigade of mounted men. I will cross 
the Wisconsin to-morrow, and should the enemy 
retreat by land, he will probably attempt cross- 



ing some twenty miles above Prairie du Chien; 
in that event the mounted men would want 
some boats for the transportation of their arms, 
ammunition and provisions. If you could pro- 
cure for us some Mackinaw boats, in that event 
as well as some provision supplies, it would 
greatly facilitate our views. Excuse great 
haste. 

"I am, with great respect, your obedient 
servant, "H. Dodge, 

"Cpl. Com. Michigan Mounted Volunteers." 
On the 23d of July the army was put in mo- 
tion, not in pursuit of Black Hawk, but to go 
to the Blue Mounds for supplies of provisions. 
And just here we must go back in our relation 
to the time when the army left the Rock river, 
July 19. On this day, the same express that 
had discovered the trail of Black Hawk the day 
previous, again started for Gen. Atkinson's 
camp, or Fort Koshkonong, where the general 
was with his infantry. That officer, as soon as 
he was informed that Black Hawk's trail was 
discovered, directed the same express to return 
at once to Gen. Henry with orders to the latter 
to pursue on the trail of the Sac chief until he 
could overtake him, and to defeat or capture 
him. However, before these orders had readi- 
ed Gen. Henry, they had been anticipated. 
Black Hawk had been pursued, overtaken and 
defeated, but not captured. Gen. Atkinson also 
notified Gen. Henry that he would start himself 
with the infantry and Gen. Alexander's brigade; 
that the rest of the volunteers who were with 
him would be left to guard the fort; and that 
he would go by way of Blue Mounds. He also 
directed Gen. Henry, if he got out of provis- 
ions, to go to that place for a supply. This ex- 
plains why the army, after the battle of Wis- 
consin Heights, marched for the Blue Mounds. 
Not only Gen. Henr\''s command, but also those 
of Gen. Atkinson, reached the Blue Mounds 
without any mishap ; so, also, a part of Gen. 
Posey's brigade from Fort Hamilton, who 
passed on to Helena, in what is now Iowa Co., 
Wis., where the Wisconsin river was to be 



11 



166 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



crossed by the whole army. By the 26th of 
June all the commands liad reached that place 
and preparations were made to cross the stream 
on rafts made for that purpose. 

BLACK HAWK PURSUED TO THE MISSISSIPPI. 

On the 27th and 2Hth of July, Gen. Atkinson 
with his select body of troops, consisting of the 
regulars under Col. 1'aylor, 400 in number, part 
of Henry's, Posey's and Alexander's brigades, 
and Dodge's battalion of mounted volunteers, 
amounting in all to 1,300 men, crossed the Wis- 
consin river and immediately fell upon the trail 
of the enemy. They were in wliat is now 
Sauk Co., Wis. Pursuing this trail first down 
the river, then to the northward, they finally 
struck off in a west-northwest direction through 
what is now Richland county, until the Kicka- 
poo river was reached near the present Soldier's 
Grove, in what is now Crawford county. 

Before entering upon the particulars of the 
march through what is now Vernon county, 
as given in the journal from which extracts 
have already been so liberally made, it will be 
well to glance at the route taken from the 
Kickapoo to the Mississippi. After the Kicka- 
poo was crossed. Black Hawk, followed closely 
by Gen. Atkinson, was soon in what is now 
Vernon county, passing, in a direction north 
of west, near the farm at present owned by 
Anson G. Tainter, in the town of Franklin ; 
thence across West Prairie to the brakes or 
ravines leading into the head of battle creek; 
thence down that creek through sections 2 
and 3, in township 11, range 1, in the town of 
Wheatland, to the point where he was overtaken 
and compelled to fight the Battle known in 
history as the battle of Bad Ax. Keep- 
ing this general description of the fight of 
the savages through what is now Vernon county 
and the pursuit of them by theAmericans in view, 
the following narrative will prove of interest to 
the reader: 

"About 12 o'clock tliis day (Aug. 1, 1832), 
we came to a small river called the Kickapoo. 
We here found tU^t the country was about to 



change. A short distance before we got to 
this stream, we came to a beautiful body of 
Pijie timber, which was tall and large. As 
soon as we crossed this stream, we found the 
mountains were covered with prairie grass. 
We here found the Indian trail was getting 
fresher. They had encamped at this creek. 
We had now been three days in these moun- 
tains and our horses had lived on weeds, except 
those that became debilitated and were left be- 
hind; for a great number had become so, and 
were left to starve in this dreary waste. We 
here for the first time in three days had an op- 
portunity of turning our horses out to graze. 
Accordingly we left them to graze for about an 
hour, which they made good use of and during 
which we took a cold lunch. About 1 o'clock 
we started, at a faster gait than usual. We 
found from the face of the country that we were 
not a great way from the Mississippi. The 
country was still hilly, but hills of a small size, 
and almost barren; so we could get along with 
more speed. It gave the men new spirits. We 
now saw that our horses would not have to 
starve, as we had begun to think it probable 
that they would. 

"On this evening, we came across tlie grave 
of an Indian chief, who was buried in the 
grandest style of Indian burials; painted and 
otherwise decorated as well as those wretched 
beings were able to do. He was placed on the 
ground, with his head resting against the root 
of a tree; logs were placed around him and 
covered over with bark; and on the top of 
which, green bushes were laid; so intended 
that we might pass by without discovering the 
grave. He was examined and found to have 
been shot. It was now late in the evening, and 
we had proceeded but a short distance from here, 
before some of our front spies came across an 
Indian that had been left behind from some 
cause or other. The spies interrogated him 
about Black Hawk and his band. He stated 
that they would get to the river that day and 
would cross over on the next morning. The 



ii 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



167 



old sinner then plead for quarters; but that be- 
ing no time to be plagued with the charge vlf 
prisoners, they had to leave the unhappy wretch 
behind; which appeared to be a hard case. But, 
no doubt, he had been at the massacre of a num- 
ber of our citizens, and deserved to die for the 
crimes which he had perpetrated in taking the 
lives of harmless and unoffending women and 
children. 

"We this day made a tolerable push, having 
marched until 8 o'clock at night before we 
stopped. We then halted and formed our en- 
campment. But it was for a short time only. 
Gen. Atkinson gave orders for all to confine 
their horses and be ready to march by 2 o'clock 
in pursuit of the enemy. We were now all 
tired and hungry and something to eat was in- 
dispensibly necessary. We had a long way to 
go after . water, and the worst kind of a preci- 
pice to go down and up to procure it. All was 
now a bustle for awhile, to prepare sometliing 
to sustain nature, and to do it in time to get a 
little rest before we would liave to march. Aboui 

9 o'clock the noise began to die away, so that bv 

10 o'clock all were lost in sleep out. the sentinel, 
who was at his post. 

"At the appointed hour [2 o'clock in the 
morning of August 2] the bugle sounded; all 
were soon up and made preparations for a march 
at quickstep, moving on to complete the work 
of death upon those unfortunate children of the 
forest. Gen. Atkinson this morning had the 
army laid off and arranged in the following 
manner: Gen. Dodge, with his squadron, was 
placed in front, the infantry next, the second 
brigade next, under the command of Gen. Alex- 
ander; the first brigade next, under the com- 
mand of Gen. Posey; the third brigade next, 
under command of Gen. Henry. 

"In this order the march had commenced. 
We had not proceeded more than four or five 
miles before there was a herald sent back, in- 
forming us that the front spies had come in 
sight of the enemy's rear guard [in reality their 
outpost]. The intelligence was soon conveyed 



tp-GefiT Atkinson, and then to all the command- 
ers of the different brigades. The celerity of 
tiie march was then doubled and it was but a 
short tim«* before the firing of the front spies 
commenced, about half a mile in front of the 
main army. The Indians retreated towards the 
Mississippi, but kept up a retreating fire upon 
our front spies for some time, until Gen. Dodge, 
who commanded, began to kill them very fast. 
The Indians then retreated more rapidly and 
sought refuge in their main army, which was 
lying on the bank of the Mississippi [which river 
they had, in fact, reached the day before]." 

BATTLE OF BAD AX. 

While Black Hawk and his band and their 
pursuers were traversing the rugged country 
across what is now Richland county into Ver- 
non, intelligence was conveyed to Prairie du 
Chien, by express, of the battle of Wisconsin 
Heights and of the retreat of the enemy across 
the Wisconsin river. The- commander of the 
American forces at Prairie du Chien at once 
came to the conclusion, that the savages would 
■<oon reach the Mississippi, and by crossing that 
stream escape the army in pursuit of them; so 
he engaged a steamboat, placed some regulars 
upon it and a six-pounder, with orders to cruise 
up and down the Mississippi to cut off the 
retreat of the Sac chief and his people. The 
steamer proving to be a slow one was with- 
drawn and a faster one armed in its place — the 
Wa7'7'ior. 

On the 1st of August, the IFan-tor discovered 
the Indians on the bank of the Mississippi 
where they had just arrived, not far below the 
mouth of the Bad Ax, making preparations to 
cross to the west side. A flag raised by Black 
Hawk was not respected by the Warrior, but a 
fire was opened from the boat upon the liidians 
with not only the small arms of the regulars 
but the six-pounder. The fire was returned by 
Black Hawk's party. The contest was kept up 
until the steamboat was compelled to drop 
down the river to Prairie du Chien for fuel. 
The loss of the enemy was twenty-three killed. 



168 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



On board the Warrior none were killed and 
but one wounded. But the presence of the 
steamboat and the firing of course wholly in- 
terrupted the preparations of the .savages to 
cross the river, while Atkinson and his army 
were marching rapidly upon their rear. 

It was the next morning, as we have already 
seen, that the Americans under Gen. Atkinson 
came in sight of what was supposed by them to 
be the rear guard of the Indians, but which 
was, in reality, one of their outposts. It ap- 
pears that the savages raised a white flag for 
the purpose of surrendering, which was either 
not seen or was not regarded, and the firing on 
both sides soon became spirited, the Indians re- 
tiring slowly to their main force on the bottom 
of the river, where the latter were busily em- 
ployed transporting their women and children 
and the aged and infirm across the Mississippi 
[the Wcorior not having returned to again cut 
off their retreat]. 

Let us now return to the American army in 
keen pursuit of the fugitives. It will be remem- 
bered that Gen. Henry had early in the morning 
been put in the rear, but he did not remain 
there long. Major Ewing, who commanded the 
spy battalion, sent his adjutant back to the gen- 
eral informing him that he was on the main 
trail; he at the same time formed his men in 
order of battle and awaited the arrival of the 
brigade which marched up in quick time. 
When they came up, Gen. Henry had his men 
formed as soon as possible for action; he placed 
Col. Jones and Major Ewing in front. Gen, At- 
kinson called for a regiment from Gen. Henry's 
brigade to cover his rear. Col. Collins formed 
on the right of Col. Jones and Major Ewing, 
when all were dismounted and marched on foot 
in the main trail, down the bluff into the bot- 
tom. Soon the fire was opened on the main 
force of the enemy, at which time Gen. Henry 
sent back an ofiicer to bring up Col. Fry with 
his regiment. Col, Collins was by this time in 
the heat of the action with his regiment. Capt. 
Gentry, from Qm, Dodge's corps, was by this 



time also up, and opened a heavy fire. He fell 
into the lines of Col. Jones and Major Ewing. 
Captains Gruer and Richardson, from Gen. 
Alexander's brigade, with their companies and a 
few scattering gentlemen from Gen. Dodge's 
corps, were also up; who all joined Gen. 
Henry and fought bravely. Col. Fry obeyed 
the call of his general and was soon where the 
conflict raged with his regiment. By this time 
the savages were falling rapidly. 

It was about half an hour after the battle 
commenced before Col. Zachary Taylor with 
his infantry and Gen. Dodge with his squadron 
got on the ground and joined in the battle. 
They had been thrown on the extreme right, by 
following the enemy's rear guard as was sup- 
posed, but which was, as already explained, 
their retreating outpost. Generals Posey and 
Alexander had been stationed up the river on 
the extreme right, in order to prevent the In- 
dians from making their escape in that direc- 
tion, so they did not participate in the slaughter 
of the savages. The victory, of course, with 
such overpowering numbers, was complete; but 
those of the Indians who escaped death from 
the Americans had most of them made good 
their retreat to one of the islands in the river, 
when, at an opportune moment for the attacking 
parties the Warrior appeared in the river and 
opened fire upon the fugitives with her cannon, 
at the same time sending her two boats to the 
shore to transport troops to the island, also, to 
attack the now distressed savages. Col. Taylor 
sent a detachment in the boats and the Indians 
were soon all killed on the island but one. 
There were of Black Hawk's entire force, be- 
sides a few who had succeeded in reaching the 
west side of the Mississippi, only himself and 
ten warriors with thirty-five women and chil- 
dren who made their escape. About 150 were 
killed. The loss of the Americans was twenty- 
seven killed and wounded. Such was the battle 
of J5ad Ax. Black Hawk was soon brought in 
a prisoner by the Winnebagoes, and the war 
was ended. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



169 



The day after the battle the following order 
was issued: 

Headquarters, 1st Army Corps of the ^ 
Northwestern Army, Banks of the Missis- [ 

sippi River, Near Bad Ax River. f 

Aug. 3, 1832. J 

Order No. 65; 

The victory achieved by the volunteers and 
regular troojjs over the enemy yesterday on this 
ground affords the commanding general an op- 
portunity of expressing his approbation of their 
brave conduct. The whole of the troops par- 
ticipated in the honor of the combat; some of 
the corps were, however, more fortunate than 
others in being thrown, from their position in 
order of battle, more immediately in conflict 
with the enemy. These were Henry's brigade. 
Dodge's battalion, the regular troops, Leach's 
regiment, of Posey's brigade, and the spy bat- 
talion, of Alexander's brigade. 

In order that individual merit and the conduct 
of the corps may be properly represented to the 
department of war, and the general command- 
ing the Northwestern Army, the commanding 
general of this division directs that command- 
ing officers of brigades and independent corps 
make to him written reports of the conduct and 
operation of their respective commands in the 
action. 

By order of 

Brig.-Gen. Atkinson. 
Alb. S. Johnston, 
A. D. C. and A, Adjutant-General. 
official report op the battle. 

Headquarters, 1st Army Corps, ) 

Northwestern Army, Prairie du Chien, :- 

Aug. 5, 1832. ) 

"Sir: — I have the honor to report to you that 
I crossed the Wisconsin on the 2Vth and 28th 
ult., witii a select body of troops, consisting of 
regulars under Col. Zachary Taylor, 400 in 
number; part of Henry Posey's and Alexander's 
brigades, and Dodge's battalion of mounted 
volunteers, amounting in all to 1,300 men. and 
immediately fell upon the trail of the enemy 
and pursued it by forced marches through a 



mountainous and diflicult country, till the morn- 
ing of the 2d instant, when he came up with his 
main body on the left bank of the Mississippi, 
nearly opposite the mouth of the Iowa, which 
we attacked, defeated and dispersed with a loss 
on his part of about 150 men killed and thirty- 
nine women and children prisoners. The pre- 
cise number of the killed could not be ascer- 
tained, as the greater portion were slain after 
being forced into the river. ■ Our loss in killed 
and wounded, which is stated below, is very 
small in comjjarison with the loss of the enemy, 
which may be attributed to the enemy's being 
forced from his positions by a rapid charge at 
the commencement, and through the engage- 
ment. 'J he remnant of the enemy, cut up and 
disheartened, crossed to the opposite side of the 
river, and has fled into the interior, with a view, 
it is supposed, of joining Keokuk and Wappilo's 
bands of Sacs and Foxes. 

"The horses of the volunteer troops being ex- 
hausted by long marches, and the regular troops 
without shoes, it was not thought advisa- 
ble to continue the pursuit. Indeed a stop to 
the further effusion of blood seemed to be 
called for, until it might be ascertained if the 
enemy would not surrender. 

"It is ascertained from our prisoners that the 
enemy lost in the battle of the Ouisconsin 
[Wisconsin Heights], sixty-eight killed, and a 
very large number wounded. His whole loss 
does not fall short of 300. After the battle of 
the Ouisconsin, the enemy's women and chil- 
dren, and some who were dismounted, attempted 
to make their escape by descending that river, 
but judicious measures being taken here by 
Capt. Loomis and Gen. Street, an Indian agent, 
thirty-two women and children, and four men 
have been captured, and some fifteen killed by 
the detachment under Lieut. Ritner. 

"The day after the battle on this river I fell 
down with the regular troops to this place by 
water, and the mounted men will join us to day. 
It is now my purpose to direct Keokuk to de- 
mand the surrender of the remaining principal 



170 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



men of the hostile party; which, from tlie large 
number of women and children we hold as 
prisoners, I have every reason to believe will be 
complied with. Should it not, they should be 
pursued and subdued; a step Major-Gen, Scott 
will no doubt take on his arrival. 

"I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of 
the regular and volunteer forces engaged in the 
last battle [Bad AxJ, and the fatiguing march 
that preceded it. 

"As soon as the reports of the officers of 
brigades and corps are handed in, they shall be 
submitted with further remarks. 

"I have the honor to be, with great respect, 
your obedient servant, 

H. Atkinson, 
B't. Brig.-Gen. U. S. A. 

Major-Gen. Macomb, 

Commander-in-Chief, Washington City." 

UP AND DOAVN THE MISSISSIPPI BEFORE THE BLACK 
HAAVK WAR. 

In May, 1831, Joseph M, Street, Indian agent 
at Prairie du Chien, left the agency in care of 
sub-agent, Thomas P. Burnett. The latter re- 
ported to Gen. William Clark, superintendent 
of Indian affairs, at St. Louis, on tiie 18th of 
that month, that "the Indian relations among 
the different tribes of this quarter, have not a 
very amicable appearance. The threatenings 
of the Sauks and Foxes, and occasional acts of 
mischief coiuiuitted by them against the whites 
in the vicinity of Rock Island, have doubtless 
been communicated to you before this time. 

"The Sioux chief, Wabashavv, and a consid- 
erable number of his tribe, are now here [at 
Prairie du Chien]. A small party of them who 
came across the country from Red Cedar, state 
that within their country north of the line of 
the purchase of last summer, they carue upon a 
war road of the Sauks and Foxes. They fol- 
lowed the trail leading out of the country sev- 
eral days, and from the signs remaining at their 
camps, they have no doubt that three or more 
of the Sioux had been murdered by the Sauks 
and Foxes. Among other appearances that 



confirmed them in this belief, was a painted buf- 
falo robe, such as no Indians in this quarter but 
the Sioux make or use, cut in pieces at one of 
their camps. They pursued their trail until 
they came upon their camp, a few miles north 
of the old Red Cedar fort; but finding them 
double their own number, did not make an at- 
tack. They say that they have made peace and 
promised to keep it, and will not in any case be 
the aggressors. 

"Col. Morgan informed me, two days since, 
that he had sent down to tlie Sauks and Foxes 
to send up ten or twelve of their men to see 
him, and have a talk with him. They were ex- 
pected here on yesterday, but have not yet ar- 
rived. The Sioux are waiting their arrival, and 
are, I believe, ready to meet them, either as 
friends or enemies. VVhen they were informed 
that the Foxes were coming, they put their a.iras 
in order. They say that if the Sauks and Foxes 
come and deport themselves peaceably, they will 
not molest them, but if they see any hostile 
manifestations, they will strike them. My own 
opinion is that if the Sauks and Foxes have had 
a war party out against the Sioux they will not 
come here upon Col. Morgan's invitation, know- 
ing as they do, that the Sioux always visit this 
place about this season in considerable num- 
bers." 

"A part of the Menomonees have been to see 
me since Gen. Street's departure. They renewed 
their promise not to go against the Chippewas 
for the present, but to wait a while longer to hear 
from their Great Father." 

The squally appearance of Indian affairs 
called for the watchful attention alike of agents 
and officers of the army. But it became a ques- 
tion of etiquette, which should take the lead in 
the matter. The military seems to have claimed 
that riglit, while the agents claimed at least to 
know what had been done in the premises, both | 
being then under the superintendence of the 
war department, the military considered the 
Indian department as subordinate to theirs. 
But i\Ir, Burnett thought otherwise, claiming 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



171 



that each branch of the public service had its 
appropriate duties with which the other should 
not interfere, while in case of necessity one 
should assist the other, both acting in unison. 
And as the Sauks and Foxes alluded to in his 
letter to Gen. Clark, did come to the place, with 
whom Col. Morgan held a council, Avithout the 
knowledge or co-operation of the agent, Mr. 
Burnett claimed to be informed of the nature 
and extent of the proceedings, and addressed a 
note dated May 23, 1831, to Col. Morgan, as 
follows: 

"Sir: — I was informed yesterday that you 
held, on the morning of that day, a council with 
a party of Sioux and a party of Fox Indians 
which you had assembled in the village of 
Prairie du Chien. As the acting Indian agent 
at this place, it properly concerns me to know 
what takes place at this post in relation to In- 
dian affairs. I should therefore be glad to he 
informed of the circumstances that required 
such council. The objects to be effected and 
the results accomplished; also the names of the 
chiefs or men of influence of either tribe, who 
were present. Will you please to communicate 
to me as early as may be convenient, the de- 
sired information, and likewise whether Gen. 
Street was apprised previous to his departure, 
of the contemplated meeting of those Indians." 

This brought from Col. Morgan the following 
tart reply, and raised the question of preroga- 
tive: 

"Sir: — I acknowledge in you no right to call 
on me to render an account of my proceedings 
to you, though if you will do me the favor to 
call at my quarters on my return from St. Peter's 
for which place I am just about to set out, I 
will explain to you the object of the council and 
tell you what passed. You were appi'ised your- 
self of the Foxes having been invited and you 
knew they had arrived. Whj- stay four or five 
miles off? I stated to the Indians that you 
should have been to the council if you had been 
there." 



Mr. Burnett informed Gen. Clark of the 
transaction of Col. Morgan, May 28, 1831: "In 
my letter of the 18th inst., I informed you that 
Col. Morgan had sent for the Sauks and Foxes 
to visit this post. On the 21st inst., about 
fifteen men of the Foxes, of Dubuque mines, 
arrived at the village, and on the next day Col. 
Morgan held a council with them and the Sioux, 
who were here. I presume that whatever took 
place at the council, or was affected by the 
meeting of the Indians, of any importance, Avill 
be communicated- to you through the proper 
channel, by Col. Morgan who acted alone in the 
measure. 

"Tlie Sioux had been waiting the arrival of 
the Foxes for several days. Tlie Foxes landed 
at the village on Saturday evening, not later I 
think than 4 o'clock. The council was opened 
the next morning, as I am informed, at 10 
o'clock; yet no intimation of either time or 
place of meeting, or that ray presence was at all 
desired, was given, although there was ample 
time to do so. Throughout the transaction, 
there has been no consultation had, or co-opera- 
tion had with the agency. The only communi- 
cation upon the subject previous to the council 
and departure of the Indians, was the simple 
fact that he liad sent for the Foxes, rf which I 
apprised you. I suppose that if anything oc- 
cuvrred of sufticient importance to found a re- 
port upon, he will communicate the facts, and 
in that case, it must appear that the measure was 
undertaken ajid carried through without any 
connection or co-operation with this agency. I 
have, therefore, given the above statement of 
facts to show that the absence of co-operation 
in this affair was not from neglect of duty or 
inattention on the part of this agency." 

The information that I have collected on the 
subject, is this: "Some fifteen Foxes from Du- 
buque mines, all young men except one or two, 
came up and had a talk with the Sioux and 
Col. Morgan, in which each expressed a de- 
sire to continue the peace which had been con- 
cluded between them the last year. The Foxes 



172 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



denied any knowledge of a war party having 
gone against the Sioux. They said they wished 
to be at peace, and would not do any act of hos- 
tility, but they could not answer for those be- 
low — they spoke for themselves only. They 
smoked and danced together and parted in ap- 
parent friendship and harmony.'" 

The extent of the frontier and the number 
of tribes within the agency kept up an almost 
incessant excitement as to their affairs, and to 
keep the government advised of all their move- 
ments, required constant vigilance and the writ- 
ing of numerous letters. Under date of June 
13, 1831, Mr. Burnett writes to Gen, Clark: "I 
have received since the last mail from this 
place information which I consider entitled to 
credit, that a war party of Sioux is now being 
organized among Wabasha's band to go against 
the Chippewas, by a warrior of some note in 
the band. I have also understood that there 
are a few Menomonees, relatives of those who 
were killed by the Chippewas in the fall and 
winter past, now with the band of Sioux, But 
I have not been able to learn whether they in- 
tend joining the Sioux in their expedition or 
not, but think it probable that some of them 
will do so." 

Under date of June 29 he wrote: "I am 
informed by Major Langham, who arrived liere 
from below a few days since, that the AVinne- 
bagoes of the Prophet's village on Rock liver, 
have united with the Sauks and Foxes. Tiie 
Winnebagoes of the Wisconsin and Upper Mis- 
issippi are still peaceable. They are most like- 
ly waiting to see the first results of the move- 
ments below,and intend to act afterwards accord- 
ing to circumstances. 

"Until within two or three weeks past, very 
few of those Indians have visited this place for 
a length of time, fewer, I am told, than usual 
at this season of the year. Lately a great many 
of them have been h'ere, the most of whom 
came down the Wisconsin and have gone up 
the Mississippi. A great portion of them are 
old men, women and children. They continue 



to pass by daily. Many rumors are in circula- 
tion as to their present disposition and inten- 
tion; very few of which are, perhaps, entitled 
to' implicit belief. They have served, however, 
to give considerable alarm to many of the in- 
habitants of the Prairie, and many of them be- 
gin to think themselves in dangfer. I have 
spared no pains to ascertain the disposition of 
the Winnebagoes here and have found no evi- 
dence of a disposition to hostilities on their 
part, unless their sending so many of their old 
men, women and children up the river and pur- 
chasing powder in larger quantities than usual 
for ordinary hunting, should indicate something 
of the kind. 

"I also learned a few days since that the one- 
eyed Decori had left his village at Prairie La 
Crosse and gone down to the Sauks and Foxes. 
Tliis was accidentally communicated to my in- 
formant by a Winnebago and is probably true. 
Decori was down about two weeks since and 
called to see me on his return home. His de- 
portment was as usual; I saw no change. In 
fact I have not discovered any change in the 
deportment or appearance of any of them that 
I have seen. They all appear to be perfectly 
friendly. None of the traders here think they 
have any hostile intentions, 

"Col. Morgan left the fort for Rock Island 
on the morning of the 27111 inst., with two com- 
panies from his post, and two more from Fort 
Winnebago, under Major Twiggs. He had pre- 
viously called in all fatigue parties and put his 
whole force under a course of training. Much 
alarm prevails in the mines. The people are 
arming and preparing for their defense.- I do 
not consider that there is any immediate dan- 
ger either here or in this vicinity. Much, how- 
ever, will doubtless depend on the result below. 
The Sioux and Menomonees are certainly 
friendly, and against the Sauks and Foxes, 
would willingly unite with the whites if per- 
mitted to do so. I have heard nothing since 
my last of a war party of those Indians against 
the Chippewas." 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



173 



In February, 1832, Mr. Burnett was in Ken- 
tucky, when Gen. Street wrote him that "the 
Menomonees and Sioux are preparing for a re- 
talitory war against the Sauks and Foxes in the 
spring. The Menomonees have made peace 
with the Chippewas, in order to have no fears 
from that quarter. The two tribes met above 
the mill on the Chippewa and made their peace. 
I have advised the superintendent so as to have 
the earliest interference, if any is intended. 
The Sauks and Foxes, I learn, expect retaliation 
and will be prepared to meet them. If the 
government is not early in stopping them, they 
will certainly go in considerable force, and a 
bloody contest may be expected." 

About the Ist of April Mr. Burnett received 
instructions, while yet in Shelbyville, to "pro- 
ceed to the agency at Prairie du Chien, by way 
of St. Louis, and call on Gen. Clark for the 
funds allotted to the agency for 1832, or such 
portion thereof as he shall determine to forward. 
The receipts will be forwarded to you at St. 
Louis as soon as a conveyance by steamboat 
shall occur." Mr. Burnett reached the agency 
about the 1st of May. At that time the Sauks 
and Foxes under Black Hawk were in hostile 
movements on Rock river, with Gen. Atkinson 
in pursuit. To aid in the defense of the country. 
Gen. Atkinson, from Dixon's ferry, May 26, 
1832, addressed Gen. Street as follows: 

"Sir: — I have to request that you send me at 
this place, with as little delay as possible, as 
many Menomonee and Sioux Indians as can be 
collected, within striking distance of Prairie du 
Chien. I want to employ them in conjunction 
with the troops against the Sauks and Foxes, 
who are now some fifty miles above us in a 
state of war against the whites. I understand 
the Menomonees, to the number of 300 warriors, 
who were with you a few days ago, are anxious 
to take part with us. Do encourage them to do 
so, and promise them rations, blankets, pay, etc. 
I have written to Capt. Loomis to furnish them 
some arms, if they can be spared, and ammuni- 
tion. If there are none at Prairie du Chien, I I 



must procure some in this quarter. Col. Ham- 
ilton, who has volunteered his services to lead 
tlie Indians to this place, will hand you this let- 
ter; and if the Indians can be prevailed on to 
come, will perform the duty. I have to desire 
that Mr. Marsh may be sent with Col. Hamilton 
and the Indians, and an interpreter of the Me- 
nomonee language." In accordance with this 
requirement, Gen. Street gave, on May 30, to 
Mr. Burnett the following instructions: 

"Sir: — You will please proceed with John 
Marsh, who goes express to the nearest Sioux 
village, and render him such aid as may be nec- 
essary in obtaining as many Indians as possible, 
to come down with you, and proceed under the 
command of Mr. Marsh to join Gen. Atkinson. 
The letter of Gen. Atkinson will be your guide 
in the business. Use every means to expedite 
the object; and hasten your return, as much 
depends upon the expedition." 

The nearest Sioux village was 130 miles up the 
river from the seat of the agency, which had to 
be ascended in canoes, there being no steamer 
then to be had. Yet in six days after receiving 
the order, Mr. Burnett made the following re- 
port to Gen. Street: 

"Sir: — In obedience to your order of the 30th 
ult., I set out immediately from this place, in 
company with Mr. Marsh, in a canoe, with eight 
hands, to visit the nearest village of the Sioux 
Indians. From recent indications among the 
Winnebagoes of the Upper Mississippi of a dis- 
position to engage in hostilities with the Sauks 
and Foxes, Mr, Marsh and myself thought best 
to call at their village on the river La Crosse, 
and invite so many as might be disposed to join 
us on our return, and go with the Sioux and 
Menomonees to join Gen. Atkinson's army on 
Rock river. We arrived at the Winnebago vil- 
lage on the evening of the next day after leav- 
ing this post, and tliat night had a talk with the 
chiefs and braves on the subject. Win-o-a-she- 
kan was opposed to the raeasux-e, and declined 
having anything to do with it. He said the 
Sauks had twice, this season, presented the red 



174 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



wampum to the Wiiinebagoes at Portage, and 
that they had as often washed it white, and 
handed it back to them; that he did not like 
that red thing, he was afraid of it. Waudgh- 
ha-ta-kan took the wampum, and said that he, 
with all the young men of the village, would 
go; that they were anxious to engage in the ex- 
pedition, and would be ready to accompany us 
on our return. 

"The next day we reached Prairie Aux Ailes 
[Wabasha], and found the Sioux extensively 
anxious and ready to go agiinst the Sauks and 
Foxes. They were intending to make a descent 
upon them in a few days, if they had not been 
sent for. They engaged with alacrity in their 
preparations, but we found it necessary to wait 
till Monday morning to give them time. We 
left their village on our return, at 9 o'clock in 
the forenoon, accompanied by the whole effect- 
ive force of the band, and at La Crosse were 
joined by twenty warriors of the Winnebagoes, 
the remainder of their village to follow the 
next day, and reached this place to-day, at 2 
o'clock p. M., with 100 warriors, eighty of whom 
are Sioux, and twenty, Winnebagoes. I think, 
from the disposition manifested by the Winne- 
bagoes, that fifty or sixty more of them will be 
here before the expedition leaves the Prairie, 
making a force of 130 or 140. The Indians 
with whom I have met appear well effected 
towards the whites, are in fine spirits and seem 
anxious to engage with the Sauks and Foxes. 

"I made the promise authorized to the In- 
dians of subsistence, pay, etc., and told them 
that their families should be supplied with pro- 
visions during their absence from home. The 
most of the families of the warriors have accom- 
panied them thus far to take a supply of pro- 
visions home with them, when the expedition 
shall have left this place. It is due to Mr. 
Marsh to say that he has displayed great zeal 
and energy in effecting the object of our visit, 
and that his exertions had the effect of bringing 
out the greatest possible force from the bands 
we have called upon." 



Mr. Burnett greatly desired and strongly 
urged Gen. Street to allow him to accompany 
these Indians and take part in the war. But 
the general thought his services were needed 
at and near the agency, and, therefore, declined 
to comply with the request. 

In the meantime the Sauks and Foxes re- 
treated from the Rock river to tlie Wisconsin, 
where they were routed, " horse, foot and 
dragoons." The news of this defeat of the In- 
dians soon reached Prairie du Chien, and it was 
thougiit probable that if the Sauks and Foxes 
could get canoes, or even rafts, that they would 
attempt to escape from their pursuers by de- 
scending the Wisconsin river. To prevent this, 
some volunteer troops were stationed on that 
river at the ferry, now Barrett's. But the In- 
dians took across the country towards Bad Ax. 

AN EPISODE OF THE BLACK HAWK WAR. 

As soon as it was ascertained that the hostile 
Indians under Black Hawk were wending their 
way to the Mississippi, after the battle of Wis- 
consin Heights, Joseph M. Street, Indian agent, 
wrote to Thomas P. Burnett, sub-Indian agent, 
with a view to adopt means to intercept the. 
savages, the following letter, on the 25th of 
July, 1832: 

"Sir. — You will proceed up the Mississippi 
to the Winnebagoes, twenty-five or thirty miles 
above this place, and inform them * * * of 
the crossing of tlie Sauks to the north side of 
the Wisconsin, and that their chiefs, Carramana 
and Decori, are here, and that I want all of the 
Winnebagoes to come down with you immedi- 
ately; tell them it is the wish of their chiefs 
also. One object of this is, to get them out of 
tha way with their canoes, to prevent their 
crossing the Sauks over the river. Send on 
word, if you can, to the upper villages, that the 
Sauks have been defeated, and have crossed the 
Wisconsin. And should the Winnebagoes hesi- 
tate, tell them if they do not come I will not 
pay the annuity to any who refuse. The time 
is now near and they will lose their money. 
Hasten back as soon as possible." 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



175 



The next day, July 26, Mr. ]:Jnrnett reported: 
"Sir: —In obedience to your order of yesterday, 
I set out from this place in a bark canoe late 
last evening to visit the Winiiebagoes, supposed 
to be encamped twenty-five or thirty miles 
above Prairie du Chien. This morning before 
day the steamboat Enterprise, with a military 
command, came by my encampment and took 
myself and crew on board. Before arriving at 
the place where the Indians had been encamped, 
we found that they had been gone for several 
days, and had removed some distance above. 

"We therefore continued on up a considerable 
distance, passing several lodges at different 
points, until we came to the principal camp, on 
the east side of the river, supposed to be sixty 
miles above Prairie du Chien. I communicated 
your message to all the Indians I saw on the 
way, who readily promised to obey your in- 
structions. 

"At the principal camp I found Washington 
Decori with a considerable part of the tribe 
from the Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers. 1 
immediately informed them of your request, and 
desired them to get ready as soon as possible 
and go to the agency. Tiiey manifested entire 
willingness to do so, but said some of their 
party were out hunting, and would be in at 
night, for whom they wished to wait, so that all 
might come together. TRey promised very 
positively that they would start as soon as the 
hunters should arrive, and would certainly see 
you by the middle of the afternoon to-morrow. 
After some conversation about their starting 
this evening, and their still objecting to do so 
until the hunters came in, Lieut. Abercrombie 
told them that he would wait until sunset for 
them to get ready, and if they did not start by 
that time, he would take all their canoes and 
bring them down with the steamboat. About 
two hours after this they coni-luded to start and 
let the hunters come on after them; and after 
seeing all the canoes move off, we started on 
our return, and reached this place at 9 o'clock 
this evening. The Indians whom I saw will be 



here to-morrow by 12 o'clock. They had not 
heard of the battle on the Wisconsin, but ap- 
peared to be highly gratified and pleased at the 
news." 

The next day, July 27, Gen. Street ordered 
Mr. Burnett to "proceed with Washington De- 
cori to La Crosse, and such other points as you 
may deem important, and tell the Winnebagoes 
I wish to see them at the agency. I wish Win- 
neshiek certainly to come. Much must be left 
to your own judgment in the case. The object 
is to get what information you can relative to 
the Sauks and Foxes, and to draw all the Win- 
nebagoes from the Upper Mississippi, and with 
them the means of passing the river. If you 
can, extend the news to the Sioux." 

Tiie following day Mr, Burnett reported to 
Gen. Street: "In obedience to your order of 
yesterday, I went on board the steamer Enter- 
prise last evening, and started for La Crosse. 
We arrived early this morning at the entrance 
of the lower mouth of Black river and found 
the Winnebagoes encamped on the shore. I 
took Wekon Decori, and went on shore immedi- 
ately to see the Indians. I found the one-eyed 
Decori, and the Little Thunder at the lodges, 
but found that most of the band had left the 
village sometime since. Winneshiek and Wau- 
marnarsar, with about fifteen men and their 
families, had been gone near a month to hunt 
and dry meat about fifty miles up La Crosse and 
Black rivers. The rest of the band were in the 
camp. I told them that you wished to see 
them immediately; that the Americans under 
Gen. Dodge had defeated the Sauks and Foxes 
on the Wisconsin, and after killing a great 
many, had driven them across the river; that 
the defeated Indians were endeavoring to make 
their escape to the Mississippi for the purpose 
of crossing it and regaining their own country; 
and that it was probable they would attempt to 
reach that point, that they might get the Win- 
nebago canoes to cross in, and that they must 
get away from that place before the Sauks and 
Foxes arrived. 



176 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



"They said they would come down immedi- 
ately on the return of the absent party; that they 
were afraid of the Sauks, and did not wish to 
leave a small part of their band behind, who 
were too few to resist if they would meet them. 
I then told them to send two of their best young 
men on horseback to bring in the hunting party. 
They very promptly complied, and in a short 
time the young men were mounted and on their 
way. I charged the express to carry to the ab- 
sent Indians the message I had delivered, and 
to tell Winneshiek especially, that his presence 
was required at the agency. The chiefs present 
told me that they thought they would all be here 
certainly in six days, and probably sooner. I 
told them it was of great importance to them to 
come as soon as possible, and bring all their 
canoes on the river; that if the Sauks should 
come to that point they were not strong enough 
to prevent them from taking their canoes (if 
they did not kill them), and crossing over the 
river; that should they effect a passage to the 
west side of the river, at any point above this 
place, within their country, they would be sus- 
pected of assisting them, and if it should be 
known that they had done so, they would lose 
their annuities and be treated as allies of the 
Sauks and Foxes. They promised to start for 
this place on the return of the absent party and 
bring all their canoes with them. From their 
apparent anxiety, I think they will be here in 
three or four days at the farthest, though they 
said it might be six. 

"The Sioux chief, L'Ark, who left this place 
on the evening of the 25th inst., passed Black 
river this morning before our arrival, and will 
reach his people with the news (which he re- 
ceived from here) to-day. Having done all we 
could, we left La Crosse at 10 a.m., and reached 
this i)lace at 3 p. m., making ninety miles in five 
hours." 

It was but a few days after this the 2d of 
August, 1832, that Gen. Atkinson over-hauled 
the broken fragments of Black Hawk's army, 
fatigued, hungry and dispirited, and attacked 



them on the bottoms of the Mississippi, a few 
miles below the mouth of Bad Ax river, about 
forty-five miles above Prairie du Chien, and 
totally defeated and scattered them, as related 
in a previous chapter. Black Hawk was soon 
after taken prisoner by a company of Winne- 
bagoes. 

Mr. Burnett met them soon after the capture, 
to whom Black Hawk gave a piece of red rib- 
bon which was tied to his hair. 

AFTER THE BATTLE OP BAD AX. 
[By Joha A. Wakefield, 1833.1 

As soon as the battle was over, all the wounded 
were collected to one place, and, with those of 
our enemy, were examined and their wounds 
dressed; there was no difference here between 
our men and our enemy. The different sur- 
geons did their best for both. They were no 
longer able to do us any harm, but were in our 
power and begging for mercy, and we acted like 
a civilized people, although it was with the 
worst kind of enemies, and one that had done 
so much mischief and had taken away so many 
of the lives of our fellow citizens. 

We had killed and wounded a great many of 
these wretched wanderers, that have no home 
in the world, but are like the wild beasts, more 
than man, wandering from forest to forest, and 
not making any improvement in the natural 
mind. All their study is how to proceed in the 
chase, or take scalps in time of war. But, 
although they are a miserable race of people, 
and live a wretched life, they are much fright- 
ened wlien they see death staring them in the 
face, which was the case at this time. When 
we came upon the squaws and children, they 
raised a scream and cry loud enough to affect 
the stoutest man upon earth. If they had 
shown themselves they would have come off 
much better, but fear prevented them, and in 
their retreat, trying to hide from us, many of 
them were killed, but contrary to the wish of 
every man, as neither officer nor private in- 
tended to have spilt the blood of those squaws 
and children. But such was their fate; some 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Ill 



of them were killed, but not intentionally by 
any man, as all were men of too much sense of 
honor and feeling to have killed any but those 
who were able to harm us. We all well knew 
the squaws and children could do us no harm 
and could not help what the old Black Hawk 
and the other chiefs did. 

The prisoners we took seemed to lament their 
ever having raised arms against the United 
States, and appeared to blame the Black Hawk 
and the Prophet for the miserable condition 
that their tribe was then in, but at the same 
time appeared to rejoice that they were pris- 
oners of war, which plainly showed that they 
had some faith in our humanity and that they 
would exchange the life they were then living 
for any other. They appeared to manifest 
every token of honesty in their examination. 
They stated that Black Hawk had stolen off up 
the river at the commencement of the battle, 
with some few of his warriors and a fp.w squaws 
and children. I think the number of warriors 
was ten, and thirty-five women and children, 
or, in other words, four lodges, which is the In- 
dian phrase, as they do not know how to count 
by numbers. They were examined respecting 
the first battle we had with them on the Wis- 
consin, and they stated that we killed sixty- 
eight on the field of action, and that twenty-five 
had died since from their wounds, making in 
all ninety-three that we are certain we killed in 
that battle, besides a number more that there 
is no doubt still lingered and died with their 
wounds. 

Putting together what were killed in the two 
battles, and all the little skirmishes, we must 
have destroyed upwards of 400 of these unhappy 
and miserable beings, which was occasioned no 
doubt by the superstitious ideas which were in- 
stilled into their minds by the Prophet. Al- 
though I have already stated that these unhappy 
wanderers make no improvement in the natural 
mind, they still, by instinct, believe in an over- 
ruling Providence, and are the most credulous 
people upon earth. They pay much attention 



to their dreams, and if one of their Nation 
dreams much, he soon takes the name of 
prophet, as they believe it to be a visitation of 
the Great Spirit. One morning I chanced to 
rise very early, and taking a walk through the 
encampment, accidentally wandered to where 
the Indians were encamped. It was just at 
the dawn of day, and they were just beginning 
their morning worship of the Great Spirit. I 
had often heard that these uninformed children 
of the forest believed that there was a God, 
and tried to worship Him, which made me call 
a halt to see if what I had heard respecting this 
unhappy people was true. They commenced 
by three of them standing up with their faces 
to the east; one of them commenced a kind of 
talk, as though he was talking to some person 
at a distance, at the same time shaking a goiard, 
Avhich from the rattling I should have taken to 
be full of pebbles or beans. The other two 
stood very still, looking towards the east; the 
others were all sitting around in the most perfect 
silence, when the old prophet, priest, or what- 
ever they called him, commenced a kind of 
song, which I believe is the common one sung 
by the Indians on all occasions. It was as near 
as I could make it out, in the following words: 
"ile-aw aw-he-aw-how-he-aw-hum," with a great 
many elevations and falls in their tone, and 
beating time with the gourd of pebbles. When 
this song was sung, they commenced a kind of 
prayer, which I thought the most solemn thing 
I had witnessed. It was a long monotonous 
note, occasionally dropping by a number of 
tones at once, to a low and unearthly murmur. 
When he had done he handed the gourd of peb- 
bles to one of the two that stood by him, who 
went, as near as I could ascertain throiigh the 
same ceremony, still shaking the gourd. When 
he had done he handed it to the third, who 
went through the same motions, and making 
use of the same words that the first two had 
done, which I suppose was a supplication or 
prayer to the Great Spirit to give them plenty 
to eat, and strength to conquer their enemies. 



178 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



It is stated by those who are acquainted with 
this race of people, that they are very much 
afraid of offending the Great Spirit. If they 
have bad luck in hunting, they think it is 
caused by their having offended the Great Spirit, 
and they make an atonement, by offering up or 
making sacrifice of something that they set 
mucli store by, such as burning their tobacco, or 
something else that they dote upon very much, 
but there is nothing in this world that they 
think more of than tobacco, as smoking they 
think is almost as indispensibly necessary as 

eating. 

I must now return to the battle ground with 
my subject. After the battle was all over, and 
the wounded all attended to, the prisoners and 
the wounded of both parties were put on board 
of the steamboat Warrior, and taken down to 
Prairie du Chien, where the wounded were taken 
to the hospital and the prisoners put in confine- 
ment. 

The boat returned to us the next morning. 
We are still at the battle ground, or near it; 
whilst we lay there our men were still picking 
up scattering Indians. They brought in an old 
chief who was wounded. He was very poor, 
between six and seven feet high, and what hair 
was on his head was gray, but that was not 
much, as the most of it was shaved off, just 
leaving enough for hand-hold to scalp him by, 
as these superstitious beings think it would be 
a mark of cowardice to cut off this tuft of hair, 
which they call their scalp. These superstitious 
beings believe that if they are maimed or dis- 
figured in this world they will appearHn the 
same form, which is the reason they scarcely 
ever bury their dead. If he should chance to 
lose his scalp they think that it would show in 
the next world that he had been conquered and 
scalped by an enemy which would go to show 
that he was not a great warrior. 

Gen. Atkinson now thought he had taken 
just retribution for the blood these Indians had 
spilt on our frontiers, and saw that it would be 
useless to cross the river in pursuit of those 



wretched beings for they were now scattered 
and hid in the swamps, so that it was an impossi- 
ble thing to take many of them. He finally came 
to the conclusion to drop down to Prairie du 
Chien and have a talk with the Winneba- 
goes, for it was now manifest that they had 
been allies to the Sacs and Foxes, for the prison- 
ers that we took in this action put all doubts to 
rest on this score. We had a long time be- 
lieved that they were acting treacherously and 
Gen. Atkinson now thought that it was time to 
bring them to an account for their conduct. He 
accordingly on the second day after the bat- 
tle, which was the 4th of August, took up the 
line of march for Prairie du Chien, but before 
Gen. Atkinson left the battle ground he provis- 
ioned a number of Sioux and some Winnebagoes 
and sent them in search of Black Hawk to see 
if they could not capture him, and bring him in 
as a prisoner, which the Sioux appeared to be 
anxious to do as the Sacs and they had been at 
' variance a long time and they saw that there 
was no chance of taking revenge for the many 
injuries the Sacs had done them. Gen. 
Atkinson and the infantry went down on the 
steamboat Warrior and reached Prairie du 
Chien the same day we started. The mounted 
men, baggage and all, went down by land and 
reached Prairie du Chien the next day, which 
was the 5th of August. On entering the settle- 
ment of Prairie du Chien we witnessed a very 
novel scene. The Menomonee Indians were re- 
joicing at the defeat of the Sacs and Foxes, and 
were expressing it by music and dancing. They 
had obtained several scalps, amongst which 
were some of the squaws, which they always 
gave to their squaws. They had given their 
squaws several of them and were making music 
for them to dance around them. It was, as 
near as I could observe, in the following way: 
The men all stood in a row with gourds in their 
hands, shaking them in a very regular order, 
while one old fellow was beating on the head a 
kind of drum, which is generally a deer skin 
stretched over a hollow gum, sawed to the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



119 



length of our drums. They never use but one 
stick and that very slow. The squaws were all 
paraded in front of the men, facing them, and 
the squaws, who were related to ' those whom 
the Sacs and Foxes killed in 1831, held scalps 
of the Sacs and Foxes squaws on long poles, 
and stood in the center between the two lines 
shaking them, while the other squaws and the . 
men danced around them, apparently trying to 
keep time with the rattling of the gourds and 
the sound of the drum and all at the same time 
singing the song usually sung by all Nations of 
Indians, consisting only of a few simple words 
that I have already repeated; but they rise and 
fall very singularly and always beat time to the 
song with their feet; when the song gets to the 
highest pitch they jump up very high and some- 
times stamp with their feet. They generally 
bend forward toward each other, sometimes 
with their noses so close as to touch. The 
squaws appeared to exert all the power they 
were master of in shaking the scalps, and using 
their feet at the same time with the drummer 
and the gourd sliaker, and from their coun- 
tenances tliey appeared to be perfectly happy. 
Gen. Atkinson, on the second day after we 
arrived at Prairie du Chien, had the princii)al 
chiefs of the Winnebagoes, and a few of the 
Menomonees, at Gen. Street's, the Indian agent 
at Prairie du Chien, and had a talk with them. 
He told them that they had given him reason 
to think they were not true to him, as he had 
caught them in many lies, which they tried to 
deny. He then accused Winneshiek of aiding 
the Sacs, and inquired of him where his two 
sons were. The answer of Winneshiek was, 
that he did not know where they were. Gen. 
Atkinson tlien asked him if they were not with 
Black Hawk. His answer was that one had 
been with him, but he did not know where he 
was then. Gen. Atkinson then ordered him to 
be put in prison until his sons could be pro- 
duced. He then had a talk with the Menomo- 
nees, who had never been at Avar with the 
United States, They professed all the friend- 



ship in the world for our government;and stated, 
that they had never done us any harm, and did 
not tell lies, and that if they wanted to do any 
haim now that they would not know liow. This 
was a little Menomonee chief, whose name I do 
not recollect. Gen. Atkinson talked very 
friendly to him and advised him to pursue the 
same friendly course towards the United States, 
and they would be well treated. When this 
chief was done he made a request of Gen. 
Atkinson, whom he termed father, to give each 
of his young men a pair of shoes, and stated 
that their feet were worn out with walking. 
He then went on to explain that when he said 
shoes he. meant horses, and stated that his 
young men had been promised a horse apiece, 
and had not got them. Gen. Atkinson promised 
that they should have them, or that he would 
see to it, I do not recollect which. On the next 
day, about 11 o'clock, Winneshiek's sons were 
brought in, both badly wounded, which went to 
confirm that he and his sons were allies to the 
Sics and Foxes. They had been wounded in 
the battle on the Mississippi. They were put 
in confinement August 7. 

Gen. Scott and suite arrived this morning in 
the steamboat Wan'ior, and assumed the com- 
mand of the whole army, to which station he 
had been appointed sometime previous, but was 
unable to come on sooner, in consequence of 
cholera breaking out in his army. He came 
past* several posts and discharged the men 
wherever he found them. 

Gen. Scott concluded to discharge the army 
(or the mounted volunteers) that were then in 
the field, and demanded Black Hawk, of Keo- 
kuk, as both men and horses were nearly worn 
out with fatigue. Accordingly, on the 8th day 
of August, we left the tented fields and took up 
our line of march to Dixon's, on Rock rivei', 
the place appointed for us to be discharged at 
(or mustered out of the service of the United 
Stales). All now were eager to press forward. 
We had turned our faces toward our respective 
homes, and notwithstanding that we. as well ns 



180 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



our horses, were nearly worn out with the fa- 
tiguing marches, through the swamps and over 
the mountains, yet all were cheerful, and every 
heart seemed to leap for joy, at the thought of be- 
ing free from the toils and hardships of a soldier, 
to return again to the embraces of a wife and 
children, or a father and mother, brothers and 
sisters, and to mingle once more in tlie walks 
and society of the fair sex, which appears to be 
a sovereign balm to man in all his aftlictions. 

On this day, just at night, we met about 300 
Menomonee Indians in company of an Ameri- 
can officer from Green Bay, coming to join in 
pursuit of the Sac and Fox Indians. We hap- 
pened to meet them in a prairie. The officer 
advanced and met us, or we certainly would 
have fired upon them. When we came up to 
them they appeared almost to lament that they 
had not got in before we had the last battle, in 
order that they could have had an opportunity 
of assisting us in the work of death to our com- 
mon enemy. For ihey are, as I have already 
stated, great enemies to the Menomonee In- 
dians. When they left us they seemed to press 
forward with more vigor, as it was their object 
to pursue the balance of the Sacs and Foxes, 
who had made their escape. 

On the next day we began to reach the set. 
tlements in the mining country. This was 
again a solemn scene. The farms had mostly 
been sown in grain of some kind or other. 
Those that were in small grain were full ripe 
for the sickle; but behold! the husbandman was 
not there to enjoy the benefits of his former 
labor by thrusting in the scythe and sickle and 
gathering in his grain, which was fast going to 
destruction. All appeared to be solitary, and 
truly presented a state of mourning. But as 
we advanced a little further into the more 
thickly settled parts we would occasionally see 
the smoke just beginning to make its appearance 
from the top of the chimneys, as some of the in- 
habitants thought it would be as well to risk 
dying by the tomahawk and scalping-knife as to 
lose their grain aijd die by famine, and others 



had received information that we had slain in 
battle their troublesome enemy, who had driven 
them from their homes and slain many of their 
neighbors. Whenever we approached a house 
there is no telling the joy it vi^ould give to the 
desolate man who had lately emerged from some 
fort, and had left his wife and children still in 
it while he ventured to his home to save some- 
thing for them to subsist upon. 

I must confess it filled my heart with grati- 
tude and joy to think that I had been instru- 
mental, with many others, in delivering my 
country of those merciless savages, and restor- 
ing those people again to their peaceful homes 
and firesides, there to enjoy in safety the sweets 
of a retired life, for a fort is to a husbandman 
what jail is to the prisoner. The inhabitants of 
this district of country had be shut up in forts 
for the last three months, through fear of be- 
coming a prey to Indian barbarity. 

Nothing very interesting occurred on our 
march to Dixon's. Lieut. Anderson, of the 
United States army, met us at this point, and 
by the iVth of August mustered us all out of 
the service of the United States. We sheathed 
our swords and buried our tomahawks and each 
man again became his own commander and 
shaped his own course toward his home, to en- 
joy the social society of his relatives and 
friends, in the pursuit of their different avoca- 
tions in life. 

CAPTURE OP BLACK HAWK AND THE PROPHET. 

After the battle of Bad Ax, when Black 
Hawk's band was totally defeated. Brevet Brig- 
adier-General H. Atkinson, of the United States 
army, and Joseph M. Street, agent for the Win- 
nebagoes at Prairie du Chien, told the principal 
chiefs of that Nation, that if they would bring 
in the Black Hawk and the Prophet, it would 
be well for them, and that the government of 
the United States would hold them in future as 
friends and treat them kindly, and that they 
would not, by so doing, be considered any longer 
the friends of the hostile Saos and Foxes. 




4 



%* 




Il 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



188 



On this declaration, the one-eyed chief, called 
the Decori, and Cheater took some of their 
men with them and went in pursuit of these 
Sac chiefs, in order, if possible, to take them 
prisoners and bring them and deliver them up 
to the Indian agent at Prairie du Ohien. On 
the 27th of August, these two Winnebago chiefs 
returned, bringing with them the Black Hawk 
and the Prophet, the principal movers and in- 
stigators of the war. The interview with them 
at Prairie du Chien, I have been told, was a 
very interesting scene. I will give the reader 
the substance of their talk with Indian Agent 
Street and Col. Zachary Taylor, which will go 
to show how vigilant and with what perse- 
verance these Winnebago chiefs acted to take 
tliese prisoners. They were upwards of twenty 
days gone, nf'ev they left Prairie du Chien, be- 
fore they returned with them. 

When they arrived, Black Hawk desired to 
speak to Ir.dian Agent Sireet, The amount of 
what he said was, that he was not the originatoi 
of the war; that he was going wliere he would 
meet Keokuk, and then he would tti'.l the truth; 
that he would then tell all al)out this war whici 
had caused so much trouble; that there were 
chiefs and braves of the Nation who were the 
cause of the continuance of the war; that he 
did not want to hold any council with him; 
that when he got where Keokuk was he would 
tfjl the whole of the origin of the difficulties 
and of tlio^e who committed it; that he wanted 
to surrender long ago, but others refused; that 
he wanted to surrender to the steamboat War- 
rior, and tried to do so until the second fire; 
that he then ran and went up the river and 
never returned to the battle ground; and his 
determination then was to escape if he could; 
that he did not intend to surrender after that, 
but that when the Winnebagoes came upon 
him, he gave up; and that he would tell all 
about the disturbance when he got to Rock ' 
Island. 

The one-eyed Decori and the Cheater both 
in like manner addr'essed Mr. Strf^t, whdm 



they term their father; which almost all the 
Indians do their agents. The one-eyed Decori 
rose first and addressed him in the following 
manner: 

"My father, I now stand before you. When 
we parted I told you we would return soon; but 
I could not come any sooner. We had to go a 
great distance [to the dales, dells, on the Wis- 
consin river above the portage]; you see we 
have done what you sent us to do. These are 
the two you told us to get (pointing to Black 
Hawk and the Prophet). We always do what 
you tell us to do, because we know it is for our 
good. My father, you told us to get these men, 
and it would be the cause of much good to the 
Winnebagoes. We have brought them, but it 
has been very hard for us to do it. That one — 
Macatamish Kakacky — was a great way off. You 
told us to bring them alive; we have done so. 
If you had told us to bring their heads alone, 
we would have done so; and it would have 
been less difficult for us to do, than what we 
have done. My father, we deliver these men 
into your hands; we would not deliver them 
even to our brother, the chief of the warriors, 
l)ut to yon, because we know you and believe 
you are our friend. We want you to keep them 
safe. If they are to be hurt, we do not wish to 
see it; wait until we are gone before it is done. 
My father, many little birds have been flying 
about our ears of late, and we thought the}- 
whispered to us that there was evil intended for 
us, but now we hope the evil birds will let our 
ears alone. 

"My father, we know you are our friend, be- 
cause you take our part; this is the reason w e 
do what you tell us to do. My father, you say 
you love your red children; we think we love 
you as much or move than you love us. Mj' 
father, we have been ])romised a great deal if 
we would take these men, that it would do much 
good for our people; we now hope to see what 
will be done for us. My father, we have oome 
in haste, and. are tired and hungry; we' now put 



12 



184 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



these men in your hands. We have done all 
you told us to do." 

Mr. Street, the agent of the Winnebagoee, 
then said: 

''My children, you have done well. I told 
you to bring these men to me, and you have 
done so. I am pleased at what you have done. 
I will tend to your good; and, for this reason, 
I am well pleased. I assured the great chief 
of the warriors that, if these men were in your 
country, you would find them and bring them to 
me; tiiat I believed you would do what 1 directed 
you to do. Now, I can say much for your good. 
I will go down to Rock Island with the prison- 
ers, iind I wish you who have brought these men 
especially to go with me, and such other chiefs 
and warriors as you may select. My children, 
the great chief of the warriors, when he left 
this place, directed me to deliver these and all 
other prisoners to the chief of the warriors, 
Col. Taylor, who is by my side. 

"Some of the Winnebagoes on the south side 
of the Wisconsin river have befriended the 
Sacs, and some of the Indians of my agency 
liave given them aid; this was wrong and dis- 
pleased the great chief of the warriors and your 
great father, the President, and was calculated 
to do much harm. My children, your great 
father, the President at Washington, has sent a 
great war chief from the far east. Gen, Scott, 
with a fresh army of soldiers, who is now at 
Rock Island. 

"Your great father has sent him and the gov- 
ernor of Illinois to hold a council with the In- 
dians at Rock Island; he has sent a speech to 
you; and he wishes the chiefs and warriors of 
the Winnebagoes to meet him in council on the 
10th of September next. I wish you to be 
ready to go along with me to Rock Island. 

"My children, I am well pleased that you have 
taken Black Hawk and the Prophet and so 
many others, because it will enable me to say 
much for you to the great chief of the warriors 
and your gi-eat father, the Presfident. I shall 
now deliver theise two JiK^u, Bl ick Hawk and 



the Prophet, to the chief of the warriors here, 
Col. Taylor, who will take good care of them 
until we start to Rock Island." 

Col. Taylor then said: 

"The great chief of the warriors told me to 
take the prisoners when you should brinpj them 
and send them to Rock Island to him. I will 
take them and keep them safe, but use them 
well, and will send them by you and Mr. Street 
when you go down to the council, which will be 
in a few days. Y^our friend, Mr. Street, advised 
you to get ready and go down sooti, and so do. 
I tell you again, I will take the prisoners and 
keep them safe, but will do them no harm. I 
will deliver them to the great chief of the war- 
riors, and he will do with them in such manner 
as he may be ordered by your great father, the 
President." 

Cheater, a Winnebago, said to Mr. Street, 
the agent: 

"My father, I am young and don't know liow 
to make speeches. This is the second time I 
ever spoke to you before the people. My father, 
I am no chief, I am no orator, but I 
have been allowed to speak to you. My father, 
if I shall not speak as well as others, still you 
must listen to me. 

"My father, when you made the speech to 
the chiefs, Waugh-kan-decorri, C/arimanee, the 
one-eyed Decorri, and others, the other day, I 
was there. I heard you. I thought wh.nt you 
said to them you also said to me. You said if 
these two (pointing to Black Havvk and the 
Prophet) were taken by us and brought to you 
there would never any more a black clou<l hang 
over your Winnebagoes. My father, your 
words entered into my ears, into my brain and 
into my heart. I left here that very night 
and you know you liave not seen me since, until 
now. My father, I have been a great wa}'. I 
had much trouble; but when I remembered 
what you said I knew you were right. This 
made me keep on and do what you told me. 
Near the dale [dells] on the Wisconsin river I 
took Black Hawk. No one did it but me. I 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



185 



say this in the ears of all present, and they 
know it; and now I appeal to the Great Spirit, 
our Grand Mother, for the truth of what I say. 
My father, I am no chief, but what I have done 
is for the benefit of my own Nation, and I hope 
for the good that has been promised us. My 
father, that one, Waboki-shick, is ray relation. 
If he is to be hurt I do not wish to see it. My 
father, soldiers sometimes stick the ends of 
their guns [bayonets] into the back of Indian 
prisoners when they are going about in the 
hands of the guard. I hope this will not be 
done to these men." 

DEATH OF BLACK HAWK. 

Black Hawk was sent as a prisoner from 
Prairie du Chien to Jefferson barracks, under 
charge of Lieut. Jefferson Davis — then in the 
United States array at Prairie du Chien, and 
thirty years later President of the Confederate 
States. lilack Hawk was kept a close prisoner 
until April, 1833, when he was taken to Wash- 
ington, together with some of his family and 
the Prophet. After an interview with Presi- 
dent Jackson, and being em])hatically told by hlni 
tliat the governraent would compel the red mei 
t(j be at peace, they were sent as prisoners tc 
Fortress Monroe, for "levying war," as Jeffer- 
son Davis was, thirty-two years later, for the 
same offense. On June 4, 1833, by order of the 
Piesident, Black Hawk and his fellow prisoners 
were liberated and sent home, under officers ap- 
pointed to conduct them through the principal 
cities of the Union, in order to impress them 
with a proper sense of the power of the whites. 
and of the hopelessness of any conflict on tlie 
part of the Indians with the government of the 
United States. Bltick Hawk ever after remained 
quiet. He died Oct. 3, 1 838, and was buried on 
the banks of the Mississippi, in the State of 
Iowa, near the head of the Des Moines rapids, 
where the village of Montrose is located. 

JOHN H. FOND.v's IJ'ARRATIVE. 

The Black Hawk War commenced this year, 
[1832]. Some of Dodge's recruiting officers 
were drumming arbinTid here, I met and got 



acquainted with one, named White, and enlisted, 
during the war. A quartermaster was up here 
buying horses. He purchased near 500 head, 
and I went with them down to the raouth of 
Rock river, where the army under Atkinson 
was encamped. 

I was under Dodge's command of Illinois 
volunteers, and a wilder, raore independent set 
of dare-devils I never saw. They had a free- 
and-easy, devil-may-care appearance about thera, 
that is never seen in the regulars, and Gen. 
Dodge of all others, was the officer to lead them. 
A number of Sioux, Winnebagoes and some 
Menomonees joined the forces on Rock river. 
I was in the ranks, and my opportunities for 
knowing and seeing the movements of the 
army, from the encampraent on Rock river to 
the Four lakes, and to the Wisconsin bluffs, 
were limited. 

Generals Atkinson, Dodge, Henry and Alex-' 
aiider, led the different commands. The force 
under Dodge, consisted of 200 or 300 raen, and 
we proceeded to the lakes, through the swamps 
towards Black Hawk's camp on Rock river. 
Gen. Dodge was impatient to engage the In- 
dians, and urged the men on; but orders came 
for our men to proceed to headquarters, where 
we immediately went. 

From Gen. Atkinson's camp we were marched 
to Fort Winnebago, from where we started in 
pursuit of the Indians, who there held the tv\o 
Hall girls prisoners, and were camped at Rock 
River Rapids. Gen. Henry's and Dodge's men 
reached the Rapids, but the Indians had retreated. 
Itiformation was received that the Indians were 
making westward, and getting on their trail, 
we followed them rapidly for two days; the 
scouts discovered many Indians on the second 
day about camp near the lake. The pursuit was 
renewed on the day after reaching the lakes, 
where one or more of the Indians was killed. 
Our men led the chase, next after the scouts, 
who were continually firing at the Indians. 
The Indians continued to retreat, until they 
' reached the Wisconsin river, where some made 



186 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



a Ktctnd and showed light, while the others 
crossed the river. Here we were fired on by 
the Indians, and one man was killed and several 
wounded. We returned their fire with effect, 
and then charged them, killing a good many, 
all of whom were scalped by the wild Sucker 
volunteers. 

Soon after the skirmish on Wisconsin bluffs, 
Gen. Atkinson came up, and the entire army 
crossed the river at Pine Bend, (Helena,) and 
took the trail on the opposite side, and followed 
it seven or eight miles, in the direction of 
Prairie du Chien. When it was discovered that 
tlie Indians were making for the Mississippi, 
Gin. Atkinson sent me with little Boiseley to 
carry a dispatch to Fort Crawford, that the in- 
li ibitants might be ready to prevent the Indians 
crossing in any canoes or boats belonging to the 
citizens. Boiseley and I traveled day and night, 
and arrived at the fort without seeing an Indian. 
Back Hawk and his people, with the army in 
])ursuit, had turned northward, intending to 
ford the Kickapoo high up. 

It was on the 1st day of August when Boise- 
ley and I reached the Sugar Loaf, at the south 
end of the prairie. As we were taking a look 
over the prairie, previous to starting for the 
fort, we saw the smoke and steam of a boat 
coming up the river, just off the mouth of the 
Wisconsin. We hastened on, and reached the 
fort as the steamer Warj^ior made ihe govern- 
ment landing. I reported myself to Capt. 
Loomis, and was directed to go up the river in 
the boat. I assisted to get a six-pounder from 
the fort on to the Warrior, which cannon was 
managed by five other persons and myself, and 
was the 07ily cannon tired at the Indians — if not 
the only one aboard. 

The steamboat JTorrfor was commanded by 
Thockmorton, and Lieut. Kingsbury was aboard 
willi a body of regulars. The cannon was placed 
on the forward part of the l)oat, without a de- 
fense of any kind; and 1 liave the names of the 
five persons who assisted to manage it, for they 
gtJt on at thfe Prairie when I di*l. 



The boat steamed up stream with all on board 
anxious to get a pop at the Indians. Just above 
where Lansing is, we picked up a soldier, who 
had been discharged from Fort Snelling, and 
was coming down the river in a canoe. He had 
come down the west channel, on the Minnesota 
side opposite Bad Ax, and, fortunately for him, 
he did not meet the Indians. We came in sight 
of the Indians south of the Bad Ax river; they 
were collected together on a bench of the land 
close to the Mississippi, and were making efforts 
to get their women across. 

Capt. Dickson's scouts had not come up yet, 
and the Indians raised a white flag and endeav- 
ored to induce the boat to approach the east 
shore, and succeeded in bringing her close 
enough to pour a shower of balls into her. The 
cannon sent a shower of canister amongst the 
Indians, which was repeated three times, each 
time mowing a swath clean through them. Af- 
ter dischargiiig the gun three times, (there were 
only three charges of canister shot aboard,) the 
Indians retreated to the low ground back from 
the shore, where, lying on their bellies, they 
were safe from us. 

A continual firing of small arms was kept up 
between the persons on board the boat and the 
Indians ashore, until the fire-wood gave out, 
when we were obliged to put back to Prairie du 
Chien to wood up — for there were no woodyards 
on the Mississippi as now. The village was 
roused to carry wood aboai'd, and we soon had 
a suflScient quantity of that article. A lot of 
Menomonee Indians were also taken on, and 
then, under a full head of steam, we put back 
to the scene of the battle. 

Before we rounded the island, and got within 
sight of the battle-ground, we could hear the 
report of musketry, and then it was that I 
heard Thockmorton say: "Dodge is giving them 
h — 11!" And he guessed right, for as we reached 
tlie scene of action, the wild volunteers under 
Gen. Dodge were engaged in a fierce conflict 
with the Indians. The Indians were driven 
down to the river edge; some of them under 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT F. 



187 



slielter of the bank were tiring at tlie volun- 
teers, who had command of the bh;flfs. The 
Suckers and Hoosiers, as we called them, fouglit 
like perfect tigers, and carried everything be- 
lore them. • 

The troops and Indians on board the Warrior 
kept up a brisk fire on the Indians ashore, who 
fought with a desperation that surpassed every- 
thing I ever saw during an Indian fight, and I 
have seen more than one. The Indians were 
between two fires; on the bluffs above them 
were Dickson and his rangers, and Dodge lead- 
ing on his men, who needed no urging; whi^e 
we kept steaming back and forth on the river, 
running down those who attempted to cross, 
and shooting at the Indians on shore. 

The soldier we picked up helped to man the 
gun, and during the engagement he was wounded 
in the knee by a rifle ball. The Indians' shots 
would hit the water or patter against the boat, 
but occasionally a rifle ball sent with more force 
would whistle through both sides. Sonje of the 
Indians, naked to the breech-cloth, slid down 
into the water, where they laid, with only their 
mouth and nostrils above the surface; but by 
running the boat closer in to the east shore our 
Menoraonees were enabled to make the water 
too hot for them. One after another, they 
jumped up, and were shot downi in attempting 
to gain cover on the bank above. One warrior, 
more brave than the others, or, perhaps, more 
accustomed to the smell of gun-powder, kept 
ills position in the water until the balls fell 
around him like hail, when he also concluded 
U) 2)ugh-a-shee* and commenced to creep up the 
bank. But he never reached the top, for Thock- 
morton had his eye upon him, and drawing up 
his heavy rifle, he sent a ball through the ribs 
of the Indian, who sprang into the air with an 
ugh/ and fell dead. There was only one per- 
son killed of those who came up on the Warrior, 
and that was an Indian. The pilot was tired at 



*Pu(jh-a-shee—he off— escape— is quite a common word with 
aevernl of the westerh Indian tribes. The Shawauoes used it. 



many times, but escaped unharmed, though the 
pilot house was riddled with balls. 

One incident occurred during the battle that 
came under my observation, which I must not 
omit to relate. An old Indian brave and his 
five sons, all of whoin I liad seen on the prairie 
and knew, had taken a stand behind a prostrate 
log, in a little ravine, midway up the bluff; 
from whence they fired on the regulars with 
deadly aim. The old man loaded the guns as 
fast as his sons discharged tliem, and at each 
shot a man fell. They knew they could not ex- 
pect quarter, and they sold their lives as deai- 
as possible; making the best show of fight, and 
holding their ground the firmest of any of the 
Indians. But they could never withstand the 
men under Dodge, for as the volunteers poured 
over ihe bluff, they each shot a man, and in 
return, each of the braves were shot down and 
scalped by the wild volunteers, who out with 
their knives, and cutting two parallel gashes 
down their backs, would strip the skin from 
the quivering flesh, to make . razor strops of. 
In this manner I saw the old brave and his five 
sons treated, and afterward had a piece of their 
hide. 

After the Indians had been completely routed 
on the east side, we carried Col. Taylor and 
his force across the river, to islands opposite, 
which we raked with grape and round shot. 
Taylor and his men charged through the islands 
to the right and left, but they only took a few 
prisoners, mostly women and children. Handed 
with the troops, and was moving along the 
shore to the north, when a little Indian boy, 
with one of his arms shot most off, came out of 
the bushes and made signs for something to eat. 
He seemed perfectly indifferent to pain, and 
only sensible of hunger, for when I carried the 
little naked fellow aboard, some one gave him 
a piece of hard bread, and he stood and ate it, 
with the wounded arm dangling by the torn 
flesh; and so ho roinained until the arm was 
taken off. 



188 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Old Wa-ba-shaw, with a band of his warriors 
and Menomonees, were sent in pursuit of those 
of Black Hawk's people who crossed the Mis- 
sissippi, and very few of the Sauk and Fox In- 
dians ever reached their own country. The 
Warrior carried down to the Prairie, after the 
tight, the regular troops, wounded men and 
prisoners; among the latter was an old Sauk 
Indian, who attempted to destroy himself by 
pounding his own head with a rock, much to 
the amusement of the soldiers. 

Soon after Black Hawk was captured, the 
volunteers were discharged, and I received a 
land warrant for my two months' service, set- 
tled down and got married. 

THE BLACK HAWK WAR IN GREEN COUNTY. 

In this connection the narrative of J. W, 
Stew^art,* in so far as it relates to the Black 
Hawk War in Green county, is of interest. In 
s])eaking,of Andrew Clarno, that writer says: 
"He was a man of a warm and generous heart, 
in whose company the writer has spent many 
pleasant hours, listening to his rude history of 
the times of the Black Hawk War. This war 
hroke out in 18.32, at which time Joseph Payne, 
whose name is familiar to all in this vicinity, 
liad just erected and moved into a cabin, to- 
gether with William Wallace, in the same 
neighborhood with Mr. Clarno; and, at the 
first outbreak of hostilities, on the 5th of May, 
they fled from their cabins with their families, 
and the same day their deserted houses were 
tired by the Indians. These fugitives camped 
the first night on the ground where [the city 
of] Monroe now stands. Here they spent a 
restless night, occasionally hearing the savage 
whoop of the blood-thirsty Indians, but were 
lucky enough to get off undiscovered, with a 
quick and light tread, in the morning, in the 
direction of Hamilton's settlement, where they 
staid next night, and thence to Fort Gratiot, 
where they remained till the close of the war." 

*See Chap. VIII, where Mr. Stewart's nairative is given in 
full. 



So much for the war, in its particular relation 
to the south part of what is now the county of 
Green; but we now call the attention of the reader 
to the present town of Exeter — to the northern 
portions of the county, that the effect of the 
breaking out of hostilities upon the few settlers 
may be well understood. Albert Salisbury, in 
1871, in writing of William Deviese, a Green 
county pioneer, says: 

"The settlers on the Sugar river knew nothing 
of the Black Hawk War until May of that year 
[1832], when the Winnebagoestold Dougherty's 
half-breed wife of the outbreak. At that time 
the Sacs and Foxes were about the mouth of 
the Kishwaukee, and the engagement at Still- 
man's Run had already taken place. ■ The in- 
formation was received about noon [by the set- 
tlers], and that evening all started for Galena 
by the only conveyance at hand — a broken 
down yoke of oxen and the running gear of an 
old buggy, — as all the teams happened to be on 
a trip to Galena with lead. Everything was 
left behind, including their tools, 30,000 pounds 
of lead, and Dougherty's merchandise. 

"Deviese went to Wiota and joined a militia 
company under Wm. S. Hamilton [son of Alex- 
ander Hamilton], and assisted in building the 
block house called Fort Plamilton. While they 
were forted here occurred the massacre of 
Spafford's farm, in which Omri Spafford, James 
Mcllwaine, Abraham Searles, and a man called 
John Bull, were killed by the Indians. They 
were attacked in a corn field; Spafford would 
not run, but stood at bay, and was killed in the 
field. Francis Spencer, who owned part of the 
field, escaped through a ravine, as did also an- 
other of the party. The other men swam the 
river and were shot, as it seems, while trying to 
get up the farther bank. The men at the fort 
were soon apprised of the affair, and when the 
body of the man called John Bull was fished 
out of the stream, his watch had not yet stopped. 
Spencer was found some days afterward, under 
the floor of an old stable or hog-pen nearly 
crazed with fright. A few days later, on the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



189 



morning of June 10 [1832], Henry Apple was 
killed near the fort, and Gen. Dodge rode soon 
afterwards into tlie fort and ordered all the 
mounted men in pursuit of the Indians. Col. 
Hamilton was absent, and had left llie fori in 
command of Capt. Harrison, a relative of Old 
Tippecanoe, as was Col. Hamilton of the dis- 
tinguished Alexander Hamilton. 

"The men sprang to their horses, and Deviese 
mounting Capt. Harrison's horse in his haste, 
was off with the rest. Major Kirkpatrick's dog 
took the trail, and in course of the day the Red- 
Skiiis were overtaken. After they were first 
seen they ran about two miles, and finally took 
shelter under the thicketted bank of a small lake 
or pond near the Pecatonica. They fired first, 
hitting in all four men. Dodge shouted, "charge 
them, G — d d — n them, every man sword in 
hand!" The amusing part of it was, there was 
not a sword in the whole command except his 
own. The horses had been left behind at the 
edge of the woods, in charge ^of a few men de- 
tailed for the purpose. After the Indian fire, 
Dodge's men charged and killed all but one, he 
thinks, at the first fire. That one was shot by 
Adjt. Woodbridge as he crawled up tlie oppo- 
site bank of the Jake. The Indians threw their 
arms into the water after their tire, not having 
time to re-load, and realizing, seemingly, that 
the game was up with them. Deviese thinks 
that when Dodge's men fired, the range was not 
more than twenty-five feet. After all was over, 
one of the party, who had succeeded in getting 
behind in some way, came riding up furiously, 
and "spoiling for a fight." The coat worn by 
Dodge in this fight, as in all others, was not 
really a coat at all, in the usual acceptation of 
the word, but a buck-skin liunting shirt. 

"After the battle of the Pecatonica, most se- 
vere rains set in, occasioning a delay in opera- 
tions for several days; after whicli they set out 
from Fort Hamilton and struck Rock river at 
the mouth of the Catfish. 'J'hey kept the west 
side of Lake Koshkonong, and camped half way 
up the lake to wait for the troops. 'I'he con- 



mand at this time consisted of about sixty men, 
besides a few friendly Menomonees. Gen. At- 
kinson overtook them at the mouth of Bark 
river, and built block-houses where the village 
of Fort Atkinson now stands. A force went up 
Bark river to the mouth of the Whitewater, but 
finding no trail returned. After some other_ 
fruitless searching, Gen. Dodge, with Generals 
Posey and Henry from Illinois, went across 
with several hundred men to where Madison 
now stands, and thence struck the Black Earth, 
following it down to its mouth, where the bat- 
tle of Wisconsin Heights occurred on the fourth 
or fifth day from Fort Atkinson. The Indians 
fired when Dodge was on the top of the bluff, 
but killed nobody. Dodge's fire killed eleven. 
The Indians plunged into the river and swam 
from island to island or hid in the tall grass. 
Dodge camped on the battlefield as night was 
just coming on. All that night shouting was 
heard from the opposite bluff. As they after- 
wards learned, it was Black Hawk calling in the 
Winnebago tongue to propose a treaty, he 
wi'ongly supposing that the white* had Winne- 
bagoes with them. 

"From here the troops dispersed to the set- 
tlements for supplies. Gen, Posey went to Fort 
Hamilton. Deviese then went on an express 
alone to Fort Atkinson and back. Gen. Atkin- 
son left Capt. Low* at the fort with thirty or 
forty men, and marched w-ith the rest to meet 
Dodge at Helena, where there w^as a ^mall set- 
tlement, and where they all crossed the Wis- 
consin. The Indians had followed the Wiscon- 
sin down to a point nine miles below Helena. 
The troops struck the trail at once, and followed 
to the mouth of the Bad Ax. 

"Deviese did not leave here until the com- 
mand had been gone for a day or two. That 

*Capt. Gideon Low, a native of Pennsylvania, was ap- 
pointed an Ensign in the first U. S. regiment of infantry, 
.lunol, 1><13, and served durina- the whole war with Great 
Mritaiii, having- been promoted first to a Second Lieutenant. 
an<l then to a First Lieutenant, and was disbanded, when the 
a'-nij was reduced, in June, 1815. In 1819, he re-entered the 
service as Second Lieutenant of Rifles, and serving in the 
line, and part of the time as Assistant ComraissHry of Sub- 
sistance. till August, 18:.'8. when he was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy, served through the Black Hawk War, resigned in Feb- 
ruary, 1840, and died at Fort Winnebago, in May, 1850.— Ed. 



190 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



part of the journey between Dodgeville and 
Helena he made during the darkest night that 
he ever saw. He thinks that the only time he 
ever really suffered from fear during the whole 
war, was that night, when he {)robably had least 
to fear, except the possibility perhaps of going 
astray. When a day's journey beyond Helena, 
he was obliged to camp alone, though so near 
the command that he heard the drums beat next 
morning. 

"The night before the battle of Bad Ax, 
when about four miles from the Mississippi, 
Deviese with another man named Marsh, went 
on an express to Prairie du Chi en. In the morn- 
ing they were somewhat alarmed by fresh trails 
in the dew, made probably by deer, but reached 
Prairie du Chien late that night. Capt. Loomis 
sent the steamboat Warrior up the river. De- 
viese left his horse and went up on the boat, 
reaching the battle-ground early next morning. 
Dodge had sixteen wounded, and none killed, 
though Capt. Bowman, one of the wounded, died 
on the trip down. The boat also carried down 
the wounded- Indians. 

" From Prairie du Chien, Deviese, though 
worn down and nearly sick, went on an express 
to Capt. Low, at Fort Atkinson, having for a 
companion young Dougherty, son of the trader. 
They went by the way of Dodgeville, and their 
own settlement at Exeter. They found every- 
" thing burned, building, goods and tools. De- 
viese thinks it was not done by the Indians, 
but by a Frenchman named Edward Beouchard, 
to spite Dougherty, with whom he was at disa- 
greement. This Beouchard was a boastful, re- 
vengeful and worthless fellow who iiad been 
for some time at Blue Mounds. At last ac- 
counts he was still living at Mineral Point.* 



* It is due to truth and charity to say, that 8uch men as 
Beouchard, who have seen much of frontier life and horder 
adventure, are apt to be thouyht as boastful, wh mi, in point 
of fact, their narratives, oftentimes straiifre and roniaiiiic, 
are nevertheless within the bounds of truth and piobabilitv. 
Beouchard was a native of Canada, and early engaged in tho 
fur trade, and went over to the Pacitic ocean. He returned 
by way of the Red river settlement, at a time when Lord Sel- 
kirk was on the way there in a half-starved 3oudiiion ; and 
Beouchard took a supply of dried meat, went, met and sun- 
cored him, and conducted him to the settlement. He was, 
in 1822, employed by Col. James Johnson in effecting the 



"Capt. Low sent messengers to Gen. Scott at 
Rock Island, while he himself went back to his 
old post at Fort Winnebago. Jefferson Davis 
was at this time a lieutenant under Capt. Low, 
both at Fort Atkinson at Fort Winnebago — 
"and as gentlemanly a man as I ever saw," adds 
Major Deviese. The men went on their errand 
and met Gen. Scott where Beloit now is, on his 
way from Chicago to the Lead Mines. Scott 
turned down Rock river to Rock Island. De- 
viese went ahead to Fort Dixon w here he was 
sick, and Scott sent him home. He was mus- 
tered out at Wiota, eventually receiving a dol- 
lar a day for the services of himself and horse 
during the war." 

In speaking of the Black Hawk War, Miss 
Bingham, in her History of Green County, very 
truthfully says: 

"Although this war lasted only three months, 
it must not, on that account, be passed by as un- 
important. It cost about 300 lives, whites 
and Indians, an<l even the great rebellion 
was not a greater source of anxiety, in its time, 
than was the Black Hawk War to the early set- 
tlers. Prior to the war, in October, 1829, the 
southern part of Crawford county, including, of 
course, the greater part of the future county of 
Green, was organized as Iowa county, of which 
Mineral Point was the county seat. Most of 
the depredations of the Indians during the war 
were committed in the mining districts of Iowa 
county. Hundreds of miners left the country 
and never returned. The movements of the 
Indians were so stealthy and so rapid that the 
settlers, separated by long distances from each 
other, were in the wildest alarm. Their thoughts 
when awake, their dreams when asleep, were all 
of the Indians. Finally they sought refuge in 
tlie forts, of which the more important were 
Fort Union, near Dodgeville; Fort Jackson, at 



purchase of the lead diggings of Old Buck, the Winnebago 
miner. During the Black Hawk War he was a trusted scout 
of Gen. Dodge Judge M. M. Cothren, Hon. Moses M. 
Strong, and Major Chailes F. Legate, for many years neigh- 
bors of Mr. Beouchard at Mineral Point, unite in testifying 
to his patriotism and kmdness of heart, and regard him as 
reliable in his historical statements, as the uncertain memo- 
ries of such aged men usually are.— Ed. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



191 



Mineral Point; Fort Defiance, five miles south- 
east of Mineral Point; Mound Fort, at Blue 
Mounds; Funk's Fort, near Gratiot's Grove; and 
Fort Hamilton, at Wiota. Other forts were at 
Plattville and White Oak Springs. Most of the 
forts were simply yards, with close fences made 
of upriglit, ten-foot slabs. There were houses 
in the yards to which settlers removed tiieir 
families and household goods. It is the opinion 
of O. H. P. Clarno that the worst of the 
war was inside the forts. The children of the 
various families Avere soon arrayed against each 
other in a struggle in which an armistice was a 
thing unknown, and the mothers, not only as- 



sisted them, but also engaged in such hostilities 
on their own account that a dispute as to the 
ownership of a frying-pan has sometimes been 
known to lead to the conversion of that pacific 
utensil into a weapon of war. * * * 

''Galena and all the villages of Iowa county 
furnished volunteers; and, after a few engage- 
ments, Black Hawk s forces were oveipowered, 
and he himself was taken prisoner before ihe 
arrival of Gen. Scott, who, in eighteen days (a 
rapidity of travel that was thought remarkable), 
had transported nine companies of artillery 
from the seaboard around the lakes to Cl)icaoro." 



192 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VI. 



UNI TED STATES LAND SURVEYS. 



The policy pursued by the general govern- 
ment after obtaining possession of the north- 
west from Great IJritain, in dealing with the 
various Indian tribes, has been to purchase of 
the savages their right to particular parts of the 
country, before presuming to enter upon a sur- 
vey of it. 

QUIETING THE INDIAN TITLE TO GREEN COUNTY 
AND CIRCUMJACKNT TERRITORY. 

The United States began to make treaties 
with the Wisconsin Winnebagoes, in 1816. On 
tlie 3d day of June of that year, they held a 
treaty with them at St. Louis. This one (held 
soon after the war witli Great Britain, in which 
the Winnebagoes engaged on the side of the 
British) was for peace only, — no cession of land 
on part of the Indians being made to the United 
States. 

In 1820, t)ie Winnebagoes had five villages 
on Winnebago lake and fourteen on Rock river. 
In 1825 the claim of this tribe was extensive, so 
far as territory was concerned. Its southeast 
boundary stretched away from the sources of 
Rock river to within forty miles of its mouth, 
in Illinois, where they had a village. On the 
west, it extended to the heads of the small 
streams flowing westward and southward into 
the Mississippi. To the northward, it reached 
as far as Bhick river and the Upper Wisconsin; 
in other word-!, to the Chippewa territory; but 
did not extcTid across Fox river of Green bay, 
although the tribe contended for the whole of 
Winnebago hike. Within their territory then, 
in 182.T, was the whole of what is now Green 
county. 



Early in 1829, a provisional boundary was 
established between the Winnebago lands, 
strictly such, and those belonging to, or expect- 
ed soon to be purchased by, the United States. 
By this line, white people could settle on all of 
the present area of Green county west of Sugar 
river. East of this still remained Winnebago 
territory. By a treaty held with that tribe at 
Prairie du Chien Aug. 1, 1829, all their land 
(and much moie) lying in what is now Green 
county west of Sugar river was relinquished 
to the United States. Three years later, at a 
treaty held at Fort Armstrong (Rock Island), 
the residue of the present territory of Green 
county (with a large anioutit besides) was ceded 
to the United States. This treaty was pro- 
claimed Feb. 13, 1833; and, on that day, all the 
title of the Winnebagoes to this county passed 
to the United Statest 

The first surveys by the general government 
of lands in Wisconsin were made south of the 
Wisconsin river and the Fox river of Green 
bay. The northern boundary line of the State 
of Illinois fixed April 11, 1818, on the parallel 
42 degrees 38 minutes north latitude, became, 
properly enough, the base line of these surveys 
(as indeed of all the surveys afterwards made 
by the United States in this State). A princi- 
pal north and south line, known as the fourth 
meridian, was run at right angles, of course 
with the base line, and extending from it to 
Lake Superior. This meridian line is west of 
all the territory in Green county. It extends 
nortli from the Illinois State line, along the 
east side of Grant countv, and then divides 



il 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



193 



Richland, cutting it into two equal parts. It 
then runs north through the eastern parts of 
Vernon, Monroe, Jackson, Clark and other 
counties; until it strikes Lake Superior a short 
distance to the westward of the mouth of 
Montreal river. 

Parallel lines to the fourth meridian were 
run ever}^ six miles on the east and west sides 
of it. The intervening six miles between lines 
are called ranges. Range 1 east, is the first six 
miles of territory east of the fourth meridian; 
range 2 east, is the second six miles, and so 
on, to Lake Michigan. However, on the west 
side of the fourth meridian, the ranges are 
numbered consecutively westward. Range 1 
west, is the first six miles of territory west of 
that line; range 2 west, is the second six miles, 
and so on, to the Mississippi river. 

HOW GREEN COUNTY WAS SURVEYED. 

Parallel lines north of the base line (the 
north boundary line of the State of Illinois) 
were run every six miles, which crossing the 
ranges at 'right angles, cut the whole into 
blocks six miles square, called townships. 
These townships are numbered by tiers going 
north, from the base line; the first tier being 
known as township 1 north, the second tier, as 
township 2 north, and so on until the extreme 
north boundary of the State (not covered by 
water) is reached, which is, of course, the ex- 
treme north side of the most northern of the 
Apostle islands, in Bayfield county. Now, if 
we begin, at the base line and count the tiers of 
townships so as to include tl)e whole of Green 
county, we discover that we have numbered 
four of them. 

Green county, then, lies in townships num- 
bered 1, 2, 3 and 4 north. If we begin on the 
west side of the county, and count the ranges, 
we find that the county also lies in ranges 6, 7, 
8 and 9 east; so we have in all sixteen equal 
blocks of territory, or sixteen townships of 
land, and these are numbered as follows: 

Township 1 north, of range 6 east; township 
2 north, of range 6 east; township 3 north, of 
range 6 east; township 4 north, of range C east; 
township 1 north, of range 7 east; township 2 
north, of range 7 east; township 3 north, of 
range 7 east; township 4 north, of range 7 east; 
township 1 north, of range 8 east; township 2 



north, of range 8 east; township 3 north, of 
range 8 east; township 4 north, of range 8 east; 
township 1 north, of range 9 east; township 2 
north, of range 9 east; township 3 north, of 
range 9 east; township 4 north, of range 9 east. 

OUTLINE OF GREEN COUNTY, 

According to the United States Survey. 

Kange6East. Range 7 East. Range 8 East. Range 9 East. 



T.4N., R.6E. 



T.4N.,R.7E. 



T 3N.,R.6E. T.3N.,R 7E 



T.2N.,R.6E 



T.1N.,R.6E, 



T.3N.,R. 7E. 



T.4N.,R.8E. 



T.3N.,R.8E. 



T.4N.,R.9E 



T.3N.,R.9E. 



T.3N.,R.8E 



T. 1 N.,R.7E. T.IN., R. BE 



T.3N.,R.9E. 



T.1N.,R.9E 



Base Line (Illinois State Line). 
After the several township lines were run, 
then each township was sub-divided into sec- 
tions ^nd quarter sections, called, in surveying 
language, "sectionized." As a section is a mile 
square, there is, of course, in every whole town- 
ship, thirty-six sections of land. For conven- 
ience, these are always numbered as follows: 



6 


5 


4 


3 


2 


1 


7 


8 


9 


10 


11 


12 


18 


17 


16 


15 


14 


13 


• 19 


20 


21 


22 


23 


24 


30 


29 


28 


27 


26' 


25 


31 


32 


33 


34 


35 


36 



194 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



In eacli wliole section, there are 640 acres; 
and, when a section is divitled into fonr parts, 
each quarter section contains 1 60 acres. It is 
usually in quarter sections tliat tlie land of the 
United States is disposed < f; although, if de- 



sired, it will be divided into eighty acre tracts, 
or even forty acres. 

Tlie following is a history of the survey of 
Green county, including townsliip lines and the 
subdivisions of townships : 



TOWNSHIl'S. 



ISV WHO.M SUKVEYKD. 



Township 1 North. KaugeG Lust ((.uilizi „ „ .. 

TowusUip Lines \S John Mulli tt 

) Lucius Lyon 

Subdivisi'iiis George W. Harrison. 

Township 1 North, Hange 7 East (Clarno and south part ofj 

City of M onroe) - - : — 

Township Lines 



Sul)divisions • •• • 

Township 1 North, llaiige 8 East (Jefferson) 
Township Lines 



J JohnMullett 

I Lucius Lyon 

Georg-e W. Harrison. 



Subdivisions ., 

Township 1 North, Range 9 East (Spring Grove). 
Township Lines 



JohnMullett 

, Lucius Lyon 

George W. Harrison. 



J John Mullett 
( Lucius Lyon. 



Subdivisions. 



Townships North, Range 6 East (Jordan) 

Townsliip Lines 

Subdivisions ^ ••, •■ • • 

Township :i North, Range 7 East (Townol Monroe and North 
part of City) 

Township Lines 

Subdivisions 

Township a North, Range 8 East (Sylvester) 

Township Lines 

Subdivisions 

Township 3 North, Range 9 East (Decatur and Brodhead Vil- 
lage) - 

Township Lines - 



E. ot Riv. G.\V.|Harrisou. 



John Mullett . 

Geijrge W. Harrison. 



John Mullett 

George W. Harrison. 



JohnMullett 

George W. Harrison. 



Subdivisions 



Township 3 North, Range 6 East (Adams) 

Township Lines 

Subdivisions 

Township 3 North, Range 7 East (Washington) 

Township Lines 

Subdivisions 

Township 3 North, Range 8 East (Mount Pleasant) 

Township Lines 

SubUvisit'ns - 

Township 3 Noith, Range 9 East (Town and Villagre of Albany 
and a small part of the Town of Brooklyn) 

Township Lines 



Subdivisions. 



Township 4 North, Range 6 East (York) 

Township Lines 

Subdivisions 

Township 4 North, Range 7 East (New Glarus) 

Tow nship Lines , • 

Snt)di visions. 

Township 4 North, Range 8 East (Exeterj 

Township Lines 

Subdivisions 



OATK OF CH)NT1{ACT. 



February 13, 1832. 



February 13, 1833.. 



Date Obliterated. 



October 10, 1831.. 
Date Obliterated. 



W. of Kiv. G.W.Harrison. February 13, 1833.. 



November 18, 1833. 



October 10, 1831 

February 13, 1833.. 



W. of Riv. John Mullett. 
E.of Riv Mullctt&Brink 
W.of Riv.G. W.Harrison 
E.of Riv. G. W.Harrison 



October 10, 1831... 
February 13, 1833. 



October 10. 1831. ... 
February 13, 1832.. 



October 10, 1831. . . 

July 9, 1833 

■ebruaryl3, 1833 .. 
November 18, 1833. 



JohnMullett 

George W. Harrison 



John Mullett 

George W. Harrison. 



John Mullett 

George W. Harrison. 



Wof Riv. John Mullett 
B ofRiv.Mu;iett&15rink 
W of Riv.G W Harrison 
E of Riv. G.W.Harrison 



John Mullett 

J. W. Stephenson. 



John Mullett 

J. W. Stephenson. 



Township 4 North, Range 9 East (Nearly all the Town of 

Urooklym . . . ., 

Township Fiixes 



Subdivisions 



John Mullett 

j Wof liivJWStephenson 
( E. of Riv Lorin Miller 

C W of Riv. John Mullett 
) Eof KivMulU'tt& Brink 
] Wof Kiv JWStephen<on 
i E. of Riv. Lorin Miller 



October 10, 1831... 
February 13, 1833. 

October 10, 1831... 
February 13, 1833.. 

October 10, 1831... 
Februa"yl3, 1833.. 



October 10, 1831... 

July 9, 183;3 

Fctiruary 13. 183?... 
November 18, 183:3.' 



WHEN 
SURVEYED. 



September 6, 1832.. 



September 6, 1832.. 



Sei>t("mber ti, 1833. . . 
November 18, 1833.. 



October 10. 1831 

Julv 9, 183;} 

September (i, 18.32. 
November 18, 1833. 



2d year 1833. 



3d year 1833. 



Date obliterated 

2d year 1833. 
Date obliterated 
1st year 18:«. 
ist year 1834. 



4th year 1833. 



2d year 1833. 

3d year 1833. 
3d year 1833 . 



2d y: ar 1833. 
3d year 1833. 
3d year 1833. 
1st year 1834. 

3d year 18 !3. 

4th year 1832. 

4th year ia32. 

3(1 year 1832. 
4th year ls33. 
Nov. 1833. 
Feb. 1834. 

1st year 18,33. 

1st year 18.J3, 



4th year 1832. 
Jan. 1834. 

3d year 1832. 
3d year 18;«. 
4th year 1833. 
4th year 1833. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



195 



WHAT IS TO BE SEEN ON THE GOVERNMENT PLATS. 

T. 1 N.,R. % E. (1833).* 
"Peekatolake" tor "Pecatonica," river (This 
stream is meandered). "Sitinner's creek" is noted 
by name. 

T. \ m, R.l E. (1833). 

"Trail from Galena to Wallace's," from the 
southwest corner of the township nearly in a 
straight line to the northeast corner of section 
3. "Pait's house"f is marked on the southwest 
corner of the northwest quarter of section 16. 

T. 1 iY., E. 8 E. (Date obliterated). 
Trail from Galena to Wallace's in a north- 
east direction throiigli sections 34, 35, 25 and 24. 
T. 1 JSr., R. 9 E. (1833 and 1834). 
Trail through sections 19, 20, 2J, 16, 15 and 
14 to section 11, south side of the southwest 

quarter. 

T. 2 N'., R. 6 E. (1832). 

Road to "Demunn's Trading House," on Su- 
gar river, through sections 12, 11, 10, 15, 9, 8 
and 7. 

T.2 N., R.I E.{\m2). 

"Skinner's Hnuse and Furnace" are located 
just north of the south line of the northeast 
quarter of section 10, about eighty rods west of 
the southeast corner of the quarter just named. 
The road to Demunn's Trading House on Sugar 
river runs tiirougli sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. 
A branch road runs from Skinner's House nearly 
north to "Skinner's Diggings," situated near the 
northeast corner of the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 3. "Diggings" are marked at the south- 
east corner of the northeast quarter of section 
3, and at tl e northeast corner and southeast cor- 
ner of tlie northeast quarter of section 10. 
T. 2 R., R. 8 E. (1832). 

Road to Demunn's Trading House on Sugar 
river, runs through sections 7, 8, 4, 9, 10, 1 1 and 
1-2. 

*Expr.ANATiON.— The dates given are those of the survey 
of each townshiv). into sections and quarter sections. These 
dates arc important, in this (ioimoction. Thus we see that, 
in !«;«, the Fctuitonica \va,s called "Peekatolake, " and that, I 
the same year, there is ii house in the present town of Clarno, ! 
noted by the surveyor as "I'ait's House" (ineaninjr, however, i 
' 'PaynQ's House," undoubtedly); and so on. \ 

i-Undbubt'Gdlvititon'ded fdr ' 'FaynW's H'dus'o"(Jo'geph Payne), j 
—Ed . 



T. 2 JV., R.9 E. (1832 and 1834). 

Road to Demunn's Trading House, on Sugar 
creek, runs through sections 7, 18, 17,20,21, 22 
and 23, into section 14. Demunn's Trading House 
is located on the west side of Sugar river, on 
the south half of the \yest half of the southwest 
quarter ofsection 14. A road runs from here 
up Sugar river on the west side. One runs east, 
crossing the river on the north half of the north- 
east quarter of section 23, where an Indian vil- 
lage* is located on the east side of the river. 
There is also an Indian village at Demunn's 
Trading House. Ti)e two villages are about 
three-fourths of a mile apart Sugar river is 
called "Sugar creek." 

T.H A^., R. 6 E. (1832). 

Trail runs northeast through sections 18, 7, 8, 
9, 4 and 3, leading on to "The Four Lakes." A 
road runs easterly through sections 30, 29, 28, 
27, 26, 23 and 24, to Davis' Diggins. 
T. 3 JSr., R. 7 E. (1832). 

Road running easterly across section 19, 
branches just at the east side of the section; — 
one road i-unning southeast to Skinner's Dig- 
gins — the other continuing on easterly to Dough- 
erty's. 

T. 3 N., R. 8 E. (1832). 

The road to Dougherty's House and Furnace, 
runs northeasterly through sections 19, 18, 7, 8, 
5 and 4, into section 3. Dougherty's is located 
near the south side of the northwest quarter of 
the northwest quarter of section 3. A road runs 
nearly south from Dougherty's througli the 
township. 

T. 4 K, R. 6 E. (1833). 

At the northeast corner, of tlie northwest 
quarte:- of the northwest quarter of section 2, 
the surveyor sa3^s his needle was attracted 3 
degrees east. 

T 4 iV., R. 7 E. (1833). 

At the northwest corner of the iiortiieast quar- 
ter of the northwest quarter of section 1, is 
marked "Old Indian village."* The huts ex- 
tend across the sectioii line nortli, into what is 



♦White Brekst's village."-r-ED. 



196 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



now Dane county. Trails run in various direc- 
tions tliroufi^h this township. 

T. 4 iV., Tt. 8 E. ( 18:^2 and 1834). 

"Old Diggings" are marked on the south line 
of the southeast quarter of section 27, and "Dig- 
gings" on the east line of the northeast quarter 
of section 34. 

T. 4 iV:, R. 9 E. (1832 and 1833). 

[There is nothing of note to be found on this 
plat]. 

THE COUiXTY INCLUDED IN TWO LAND DISTRICTS. 

By the end of 1833, a large amount of the 
public lands in Wisconsin, south and east of the 
Wisconsin and Fox rivers, had been surveyed. 
This fact being reported by the surveyor-gen- 
eral of the Umted States, two land districts 
were erected by an act of Congress, approved 
June 26, 1834. These districts embraced all 
the land north of the State of Illinois, west of 
Lake Michigan, south and southeast of the Wis- 
consin and Fox rivers, included in the then Ter- 
ritory of Michigan. The area was then divided 
by a north-and-south line, drawn from the base 
line to the Wisconsin river, between ranges 8 
and 9 east. This line divided the territory of 
what is now Green county, throwing all of the 
surveyed townships of range 9 east, on one side; 
and those of ranges 6, T and 8 ea«t on the other. 
All east of the line, in Wisconsin, was called the 
"Green l^ay Land District;" all west, the "Wis- 
consin Land District." 

From what has been said, it will be seen that 
the area now constituting the towns of Brook- 
lyn, Albany, Decatur and Spring Grove, and 
the incorporated villages of Albany and Brod- 
head, fell into the Green Bay district; while 
the residue of the territory now constituting the 
west three-fourths of tlie county was included 
in the Wisconsin district. Aland office for the 
eastern (Green 15ay) district was established at 
Green Bay; for the western (Wisconsin) dis- 
trict, at Mineral Point. 

Public sales of the surveyed lands it) the two 

districts were held, in 1835, at Green Bay and 

' « ... , , 

♦Spbttcd-arm's village— Ed. 



Mineral Point. Immediately after, the whole 
that remained unsold was open to private entry, 
at 11.25 an acre. 

By an act of Congress of June 15, 1836, the 
"Milwaukee Land District" was erected out of 
the southern portion of the Green Bay district, 
including all the land lying between range 8 
east and Lake Michigan, bounded on the south 
by the Illinois State line, and extending north 
ten tiers of townships (sixty miles). Of course, 
in this new district fell the townships in the 
present county of Green, lying in range 9 east, 
now the territory constituting the towns of 
Brooklyn, Albany, Decatur and Spring Grove, 
and the incorporated villages of Albany and 
Brodhead; — the same that, before that time, 
was in the Green Hay district 

The land office for the Milwaukee district 
was located at Milwaukee, where the first public 
sale of lands which had been surveyed after the 
other lands had been offered at Green Bay and 
Mineral Point, was held. But, as all the lands 
in the east one-fourth of what is now Green 
county had previously been offered at public 
sale at Green Bay, of course they were not 
again put up; but parties desirous of entering 
land in that part of the county had thereafter 
to go to Milwaukee instead of Green Bay !<> 
make their purchases from the general govern- 
ment. 

THE WISCONSIN LAND DISTRICT IN 1837. 
(By.Wm. R. Smith.*) 

The Wisconsin Land District is bounded 
westward by the Mississipi)i, east" by the Four 
Lakes and Sugar river, north by the Wisconsin 
river, and south by the Illinois State line, com- 
prising an extent of country about ninety miles 
from east to west, and about fifty miles from 
north to south, generally covered by the coun- 
ties of Iowa, Grant, Dane and Green. 'J he 
country east of this section is called the Mil- 
waukee Land District, and embraces all the re" 
niaining counties of the Territory, except those 
on the western side of the Mississippi river. 

♦See "Observations o a the Wisconsin Territory." Phil«- 
I dclphia: E. L. Curoy nlifT .\. H.irt, H'iS. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



197 



First impressions with regard to a new 
country, where everything appears different 
from what one has been accustomed to see, are 
alwa3^s apt to please, whether tlie country be 
wiki, rugged, rocky and mountainous, or com- 
posed of level plains, denuded sand-hills, and 
wide expanses of inland waters; such is the 
character of many parts of the great west; and 
even here, the first view pleases not only from 
its novelty of scenerj^, but abstracted from the 
idea of its utility to the various wants and oc- 
cupations of man; no country in a state of na- 
ture can be unpleasing to the reflecting mind; 
no object on which the e3^e may not for a mo- 
ment dwell satisfied, not even the coral rocks in 
the midst of the ocean. If sucli scenes may 
please, what then may you conceive first im- 
pressions to be with regard to Wisconsin, when 
I tell you that faiicy must fail in imagining a 
more lovely country? The agriculturist in vain 
might seek for a richer or more productive 
soil; the mineralogist fruitlessly explore the 
bowels of the earth to discover veins of lead, 
copper, (and from ma)iy specimens, I believe 
also of iron,) richer than in Wisconsin! This 
unqualified picture of wealth in the new coun- 
try, you may think is too strongly drawn; I 
cannot help it — such were my first impressions 
of the Territory; they have been the more 
realized, the more I have traveled in it, and the 
more information I have obtained. I appeal 
fearlessly to every person who has been three 
days in any quarter of the Wisconsin land dis- 
trict for the truth of my assertions. I believe 
from all that I have seen that there is not to be 
found ten acres in an}- 100 that is not fit for 
cultivation or for farmer's use. No one can 
say wliere mineral is not to he found; wherever 
it has been properly sought for, it has V)een ob- 
tained; and even around Mineral Point, where 
are the richest lead diggings, and as poor a soil 
as any that I have seen in the Territory, the 
land will produce equal to any land in Penn- 
sylvania with proper and equal cultivation. 
Mineral is alsb found iu the richest agricultural 



districts, and under the finest soil in the Ter- 
ritory. The disadvantages attending the farmer 
in such a rich agricultural countr^^ must of 
course be very few, and I shall point them out, 
I trust, with candor. 

In the first place there is a want of timber; 
in many sections of this country there is an 
abundance of timber for building, fencing, fire- 
wood, coaling and all other purposes, yet, gen- 
erally speaking, in the rich prairies, the groves 
of timber are small and scattered, not affording 
sufficient wood for more than one or two large 
farms, for many miles in extent. Yet this want 
of timber can easily be remedied by planting 
the yellow, the white, or the black locust, and 
the chestnut; these trees are not indigenous; 
the general forest trees are white oak, burr oak, 
hickory, black and white walnut, sugar maple, 
cherry and ash. I am told that locust and 
chestnut flourish well by planting the seed, 
and if the farmer on the prairies will turn his 
attention to throwing up of embankments and 
thereon planting thorn hedges, which in many 
places 1 have seen commenced, the want of 
fencing timber can scarcely be felt; as for tire 
wood, a sufficiency may always be readily ob- 
tained within a short distance of any farm, and 
if the annual fires on the praii'ies are prevented 
or subdued by the care and exertions of the set- 
tlers, the limber of the country is of the most 
rapid growth. Thus, tiie objection of the 
scarcity of timber has more force in name than 
in reality, when the rapid growths of planta- 
tions, the easy cultivation of hedges, and the 
spontaneous production of indigenous forest 
trees, where fire is excluded in the prairies, 
are properly reflected upon. 

But the objection presents itself with more 
force in regard to lumber for building purposes. 
As for oak, walnut, cherry and ash, and on the 
river the cotton wood, and in some parts the 
sugar maple, there is abundance for the heavy 
parts of buildings; but pine lumber is scarce, 
and of course dear; even the ordinary lumber 
of the country commands now ^2 per huu- 



108 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



dred feet at the saw-mills; this is owing to 
the sarciiy of saw-mills, and the consequent in- 
creased demand for the article. There is no 
pine timber in the country, except very higli 
up the Wisconsin ri^-er, above Fort Winnebago, 
and up the St. Croix river, and the other tribu- 
taries of the Upper Mississippi. Pine lum- 
ber is worth |6 per hundred feet at Prairie du 
Chien, Cassville, and Galena in Illinois; these 
towns may be called the chief shipping ports of 
this part of Wisconsin Territory. Pine lumber 
is brought down the Ohio river from the tribu- 
taries of the Allegheny above Pittsburg, as far 
up as the New York State line, and taken up 
the Mississippi by way of St. Louis; and in- 
stances have occurred of houses having been 
built altogether at Pittsburg, and at Cincinnati, 
and sliipped in 2Kirts a,ronnd. to the Territory, and 
placed on the ground cheaper than they could 
have been built by procuring lumber from the 
Wisconsin river or the Upper Mississippi. The 
late treaty made with the Chippewas, by which 
the pine region has been purchased by the 
United States, will liereafter insure a constant 
supply of building material, and greatly reduce 
its price in Wisconsin, and along the Mississippi 
to St. Louis, and even as far as New Orleans. 
Saw-mills are already being established within 
t'^e purchase. 

Another objection, and the main one to be 
considered is the climate; as I have not passed 
a spring or winter month here, I give such in- 
formation as I have obtained. The winter is 
long and severe, and yet the general tempera- 
ture of the atmosphere is not colder than it is 
amongst the mountains in western Pennslyva- 
nia. The utmost duration of winter may be 
considered as of five months; this will iticlude 
two months of wet and cold season in the 
spring and fall not properly called winter. 
From the beginning of May, until the end of 
October, the climate of this region to a Penn- 
sylvanian is delightful. I can say- for myself 
that I never experienced hotter weather than in 
some days in August in Wist^onsin; this is g'Gn>- 



erally the case in high northern latitudes. Dur- 
ing the greater portion of the summer months, 
however warm may be some days, yet the 
general character is that of a temperature of 
75 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Frost 
commences in the middle of Septeml)er gen- 
erally; vicissitudes of climate which bring 
frosts destructive to grain early in Sep- 
tember, are not uncommon in Pennsylvania in 
the same month; nay, as early as the 25th of 
August, in the northwestern part of that State, 
I have seen whole crops of corn and buckwheat 
destroyed. But the frosts of September seldom 
injure the corn crops iji Wisconsin. Corn is 
undoubtedly considered as more uncertain than 
any other crop here, and yet if attention were 
paid to the quality of the seed corn as regards 
nativity ^\n\ first ripening^ I have no doubt that 
this highly favored country may in time be as 
fine a corn growing region as any in our land. 
Understand me; as to nathnty, I mean tliat the 
seed corn should be brouglit from our middle 
and nort.herT) States, and not from Kentucky, 
Missouri, and the south part of Illinois and 
Indiana; and as to first ripening, the farmers 
chief care should be to select the earliest enrs 
for seed. By this mode of planting and select- 
ing, and in its continuance, I make no question 
that corn may be acclimated, improved, and 
rendered a certain crop. In some parts of the 
eastern district of Wisconsin, I have been in- 
formed that the corn crop has been matured in 
ten weeks from its being planted. 

Continuing my remarks on the winters, I un- 
derstand, that when the cold weather has fairly 
set in, the snows fall, although by no means 
deep; snows continue to fall at intervals, until 
the winter is about to break up; there is no 
rain of any amount known to fall from October, 
until March or April. The cold is severe and 
tlie weather dry; no melting of the snow, no 
rains injurious to cattle, no wet sloppy time oc- 
curs in the winter, to occasion wet feet and 
drenched clothes, to the farmer and traveler, 
with all hosts of cb'lds, cdughs, rheumatism aiid 




iUa <zt^^^^ 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



201 



consequent ills that attend on a variable winter. 
Winter is here, to be sure in earyiest, and yet 
not colder than in the same latitudes eastward ; 
and when his icy hand is lifted from the locked 
up land, you leap as with a bound at once into 
delightful summer. 

Spring wheat is here generally raised, and 
the reason given why the fall sowing does fiot 
equally prosper with the spring sowing, is the 
length and severity of the winter, and the want 
of protection for the grain on the prairies, over 
which the winds have almost unbounded sweep, 
and consequently drive the snow from its genial 
covering on the tender plant. Now, although 
this may be all true, yet remedies are to be 
found. Let us say to the farmer, sow your 
wheat early in September, and the plant will 
have gained sufficient strength to resist the 
evils complained of ; the custom of October 
sowing, as prevailing in Pennsylvania, will not 
do in Wisconsin. If it were necessary to pro- 
duce facts to prove a self-evident theory, I havi 
been informed of two or three simihir instance- 
which substantiate it. Winter wheat was stub 
bled in after a corn crop had been taken off ; 
the stalks of corn, some standing and some 
fallen, afforded such a protection as to retain 
the snow on the wheat during the winter; a fine 
crop was tiie result. But this may be called 
slovenly farming; early sowing is the remedy, 
or rather preventative, of the effect of severe 
winters. 

These appear to me as the prominent objec- 
tions to the agricultural interests in Wisconsin; 
want of timber, coldness of climate, and length 
of winter. I have merely suggested some hints 
of the manner in which these objections may 
be obviated. Personal feeling in the coldness 
of the counti'y is scarcely worthy of considera- 
tion; a family can be as easily kept most com- 
fortably warm, in winter, in Wisconsin, as in 
New York or Pennsylvania, and the absence of 
winter coughs and colds destructive to the 
human system will amply compensate for a 
thousand icy inconveniences. 



One further remark on the winter climate. 
The situation of this Territory being west of 
the great lakes of the northwest, the freezing 
and biting winds which prevail in parts of 
New York and Pennsylvania during the winter, 
deriving their character chiefly in passing over 
the immense waste of frozen lakes, have no 
effect in Wisconsin; and when the prairies be- 
come settled by farmers who will turn their 
attention to the planting and preserving of fruit 
and forest trees, I have no doubt that the 
climate will still more be ameliorated in every 
succeeding year, with the settlement of the 
country. 

The advantages of the agriculturist, now, at 
least, greatly overbalance all his inconveniences. 
His land is purchased at the government price 
of $1.25 per acre; land of the richest soil in the 
world. His prairie ground awaits immediate 
cultivation. His crops will yield him from 
thirty-five to fifty bushels of fall wheat per acre, 
and from twenty to thirty bushels of spring 
wlieat is calculated on as a sure crop; barley 
will yield from forty to sixty bushels, and oats 
from fifty to seventy-five bushels to the' acre; 
corn will produce from forty to sixty bushels, 
and potatoes, turnips, rutabagas and all garden 
vegetables yield most abundantly. Potatoes, of 
a quality and size superior to any I have ever 
tasted, yield from 800 to 500 bushels to the 
acre; and with regard to this vegetable, I ven- 
ture to predict that the time will arrive when 
the Wisconsin potato, 7J)ar excellence, will be- 
come an article of trade in the best demand in 
the southern markets. I am satisfied that this 
country is peculiarly adapted to the cultivation 
of the sugar beet; and add to all these advan- 
tages the certainty of a ready and high-priced 
market, and there is every inducement for agri- 
cultural pursuits. The only evil to be feared is 
that the farmer may strike his plow into a lead 
vein, and then adieu to the plough and the har- 
row, and loelcome the pick-ax and the crowbar, 
the windlass and the new smelting furnace; the 
prospect of a mineral fortune is opened to the 



13 



202 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



farmer at once, and he cannot resist the temp- 
tation of improving it. 

The mining and agricultural interests of this 
country must always depend greatly on each 
other; they must flourish together, their mutual 
interests require their mutual |)rotection. 'J"he 
mining interest always finds the farmer a ready 
market. Tlie miner attends to his own business 
exclusively; he does not meddle with the soil 
except to see what lies beneath it; he very sel- 
dom even cultivates a garden; this fact, and the 
constant tide of emigration creating a demand 
far exceeding, the supply every year, causes the 
price of produce to be astonishingly high, $1 
per bushel for oats, and the same for potatoes, 
corn, onions, turnips and beets was paid when 1 
■was at Mineral Point; I am informed that the 
prices are seldom twenty-five cents below this 
average. The high price of wheat all over llie 
Union for a year past is no general criterion, 
and yet flour is always high here, which is 
partly owing to the present scarcity of grist- 
mills. 

'I'he necessaries and the luxuries of life, the 
various articles of household furniture and 
every description of farming implements can 
be readily procured in the Territory, as the 
steamboats are daily arriving and departing, at 
the several points of shipment on the Missis- 
sippi, and the price of carriage is regulated ac- 
cording to the stage of the water and the 
number of the boats plying on the river. 

Enough, I hear you say, of this talk, desultory 
and conjectural concerning the farming of Wis- 
consin; let us hear more of the country; its 
general appearance, its waters, its hills, its 
woods and its valleys; its aboriginal remains, 
its towns and their population; its lead and its 
copper; and write to me like a traveler who 
journeys and wishes to impart what he has seen 
in a country so recently rescued by the enter- 
prise and valor of our hardy pioneers, from the 
wandering Indian, whose only occupation was 
to hunt deer and spear fish, although dwelling 
in a western Eden, 



Be it so: I will endeavor to comply with all 
you ask, but before I commence, an observation 
rises in my mind, to which I feel that I must 
give utterance. It is not inconsistent with the 
wise and bountiful orders and dispensations of 
our Creator to believe, whilst viewing this beau- 
tiful country, that its fertility of soil, and its 
facility of being cultivated, may have been 
adapted to the capabilities of its primitive in- 
habitants. Such a soil as we here find, would 
yield abundance to a people who might be igno- 
rant of the mechanical arts, and although I have 
no morbid sensibility on the subject of taking 
possession of a land which was in worthless 
hands, and under the dominion of roving sav- 
ages; and as I am of the opinion that the earth 
was given to man for his inheritance, and conse- 
quently that the general good will justify the 
means by which that inheritance is claimed, yet 
I cannot help seeing that if there is any coun- 
try on the face of the globe where a Nation 
might exist without the knowledge of the art of 
civilized life, a country capable of affording the 
greatest sustenance with the least labor, such a 
country is to be found in the valley of the Mis- 
sissippi, and such a country is now before me in 
Wisconsin! 

There is neither mountain nor forest,(properly 
so called,) in western Wisconsin, that is in the 
section which I have limited in my outset, in 
these remarks. The prairies may be passed over 
in any direction in a wheel carriage with ease 
and safety; the groves surrounding, and inter- 
lacing, and sprinkling, and dotting the vast 
ocean of open field can be treaded as easily with 
a carriage, as if you were driving through a 
plantation of fruit or forest trees, set or grow- 
ing irregularly. The undergrowth is generally 
of small bushes readily passed over; the black 
currant, the furred and smooth gooseberry, the 
red and white raspberry, the blackberry, the 
cranberry of the vine, and of the bush; the haw, 
the wild ])lum, and the crabapple; all these in- 
digenous fruits are found throughout the Ter- 
ritory; the strawberry literally covers the prai- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



203 



ries and groves; and touching ih size of tiiis 
delicious fruit, I send you a paragraph from a 
Mineral Point newspaper; the frait was meas- 
ured by IMajor John P. Sheldon, and is not by 
any means of uncommon size; the hazle, with its 
nut-laden branches is the most common bush in 
the country; acorns, black and white walnuts, 
and hickory-nuts, are as plenty as hosts of swine 
may for ages desire. Indeed it is not jjossible 
to find a district of country better calculated for 
the raising of this description of stock than 
here. 

If I can by any means, bring your imagina- 
tion to bear on the appearance of the country 
generally, I will endeavor to do so. Suppose 
for a moment that you were placed in the midst 
of the most fertile and best cultivated parts of 
Lancaster or Chester counties, in Pennsylvania; 
the houses were all removed; the fences and 
hedges all leveled with the general surface; the 
grain fields all set in luxuriant grass, the strij) 
of woodland interspersed amongst the farms, 
remaining as tliey are; suppose further, that tin 
most beautiful flowers variegated in colors, aiu1 
of countless descriptions, were waving their 
plumed heads, with every here and there the 
tall comjyriss plant or prairie sunflower, overtop- 
ping all; suppose such a scene in an area of 
tit'teon, twenty or thirty miles; such is Wiscon- 
sin, and such have I generally found it in va- 
rious rides and rambles, and excursions on foot, 
on horseback, and in JSfev; York fashionable built 
carriages through a country into which the ad- 
venturous white pioneer first made his entry 
nine years ago, and which has only been free 
from the tread of savage feet, and the depreda- 
tions of the Black Hawk War, within five years. 

The fiowers of the prairie are various and 
beautiful. I am not sufliciently a florist or bot- 
anist to class them, and generally speaking, 
they are not known in the eastern States as 
field flowers. Tlie blue, red, white and purple 
chrysanthemum are very common; a yellow 
flower waving and drooping like an ostrich 
feather, is also generally found; some varieties 



resembling the prince's feather are common; 
delicate snow-drops and violets, diamond sparks 
that "love the ground" form the carpet whence 
springs the plumed stem of many colors, inter- 
mingled with the masonic or mineral plant, and 
the compass or resin plant, or prairie sunflower. 
The mineral plant bears a bluish-purple flower, 
and is remarkable for the qualities attributed 
to its growth by the miners. It is said to in- 
dicate the presence of m,ineral. It sometimes 
spreads in spots over a large surface of ground, 
obscuring all but the grass beneath it; here the 
miner will dig with almost a certainty of strik- 
ing on a lead mine. Sometimes the range of 
the flowers growth is in a straight, a curved, or 
an irregular line, indicating the range of the 
crevice mineral in the strata beneath; these in- 
dications are believed in and relied on by many 
of the miners. If they be true, and the plant 
actually points out the location of the mineral 
(galena), then, as I have before observed, no 
one can say where mineral is not to be found, 
for this flowering plant is the most common in 
the country, and yet, as its growth on the dif- 
ferent parts of the prairies is so irregular in 
quantity and in direction, there may be some- 
thing in the peculiarities of soil covering min- 
eral which produces the plant; it is called by 
the miners masonic, perhaps in derision, as it 
discloses the secret mine. 

The resin or turpentine weed, or compass 
plant, deserves some notice. I have called it 
the prairie sunflower, from its near resemblance 
to the flower so called with us, except that the 
flowers and the seeds are much smaller; the 
largest one I saw was about four inches in di- 
ameter, exclusive of the surrounding yellow 
leaves. The stem of this plant rises to the 
height of five or six feet, and when broken in 
any part it exudes a white resinous fluid, which, 
on being exposed to the atmosphere, acquires a 
gummy consistence of the taste and smell of 
resin. But the strange peculiarity of the plant 
is, that its leaves invariably point north and 
south, In the wvitinge> of Dr. Atwater, who 



204 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



has visited some parts of tliis country, I remem- 
ber that he has noticed this flower, remarked 
its peculiarities, and lias given its botanical 
name as belongitig to the Helianthus tribe; I 
have not the book to refer to. The leaves are 
very large, firm and stiff; those nearest the root 
are largest, some of them about eighteen inches 
long and about one foot wide, palmated and 
deeply indented; from the root the leaves start 
out from the stem on two sides only, at irregu- 
lar distances, yet generally opposite each other, 
and these leaves invariably have a north and 
south direction. It is called the compass plant, 
because the Indians, in the absence of trees on 
the vast prairies, could at all times find a guide 
ill the leaves of the prairie sunflower; and its 
resinous qualities might render it a good sub- 
Hlitute for pine knots in giving light, and thus 
greatly enhance its properties to the benighted 
traveler. Horses and cattle eat this plant with 
avidity, bite at it in traveling over the prairies, 
and seek it out from amidst the hay in the sta- 
ble. It is remarked that the wild indigo always 
accompanies 'his plant. 

A remarkable and beautiful feature in the 
decorations of the prairies is, that the summer 
flowers, after having for a season displayed 
their gorgeous variety, and turned up their 
faces to receive the glowing beams of the sun, 
as soon as autumn puts on her sober brown, and 
the airs of heaven breaihe more mildly, they 
droop, die, and instantly give place to a new 
galaxy of fine and beautiful flowers, particu- 
larly all the varieties of the chrysanthemum, 
and a splendid drooping bush of flowei-s that 
looks as if it were covered with snowflakes; the 
autumn flowers are more delicate and less flar- 
ing than those of summer. 

I have said that there is no mountain in this 
district; extensive ranges of hills are found on 
the Wisconsin river, and in the northeast parts 
of the Territory, but the only hills in this quar- 
ter of the country are the Siiisinewa mounds, 
the seat of Gen. George Wallace Jones, dele- 
gaite to Congress, (these are nfear the Illinois 



State line) the Platte mounds and the Blue 
mounds. These mounds serve as landmarks to 
the traveler over the prairies. The Platte 
mounds and the Blue mounds are about forty- 
five miles apart ; the former comprising three, 
and the latter two hills. These hills, with the 
exception of the centre one of the Platte 
mounds, are from 200 to 300 feet high, well 
covered with timber and generally capable of 
being cultivated to the summit. They are seen 
from almost every part of the Wisconsin land 
district, and indepetident of their being of so 
much service to the traveler in the absence of 
roads and of other landmarks, they are objects 
of g^eat natural beauty ; for although the prai- 
ries are by no means a dead level, but on the 
contrary are most generally rolling and undu- 
lating, and in many instances may be termed 
hilly, yet these mounds very agreeably break, 
and diversify the otherwise monotonous view 
of prairie and grove, however luxuriant it may 
be in soil and vegetation. 

I am disposed to believ.e that the general base 
of this country is of limestone. I judge from 
the fact that limestone is abundant and found in 
all parts of the Territory wherel have been. It is 
discovered in small bodies of flat white stone 
lying on the surface of prairies, and at the 
points of the rolling hills, where the prairie 
dips into and unites with the natural meadow. 
Perhaps there is not to be found any region in 
the United States better watered than Wiscon- 
sin. The springs rise generally in the prairies, 
and their locality is always indicated by the 
gi'owth of the dwarf wilJow near and around 
the fountain head. The water is pure, cold and 
deliciously refreshing ; the springs after run- 
ning over the prairies and through small ra- 
vines, unite in some natural meadow from a 
quarter of a mile to a mile or more in width, 
and meander through the meadow in a stream, 
some three or four yards broad and two feet 
deep, until in the accumulation of several 
streams, a fine large and navigable river is 
formed. These natural meadows present the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



205 



most superb views of any part of the country. 
Interspersed with small groves, irregular in 
their course and shape, owing to the jutting 
points or hills of the prairie dipping into the 
meadow; the streams flowing in various direc- 
tions over and through the low ground until 
they combine in some broad and deep channel ; 
the high waving grass mingled with the field 
and meadow flowers, all afford a picture more va- 
ried and therefore more beautiful than the high 
prairie grounds. It is worthy of remark that 
the character of the streams is different from 
what might be expected in the deep rich soil of 
the meadows. The waters generally flow nearly 
full with the banks, and the firm sandy and 
gravelly bottom always allows a safe fording 
place. Fine trout, perch, bass, cat-fish, eels, 
buffalo, muskallonge and other excellent fish are 
found in all the waters. I have seen the buffalo, 
muskallonge and catfish of enormous size 
brought by wagon loads to Mineral Point; they 
had been caught in the Pecatonica, and many 
weighed from twenty to thirty pounds and up- 
wards. The white fish of the lake country is a 
delicacy which might well be desired by the 
gourmands of the east; its flavor needs no 
sauce, and its richness and fatness render but- 
ter or lard useless in dressing. 

Game throughout the whole country is abund- 
ant. The deer are often seen sporting over the 
prairies, and in the groves and oak openings; 
they are frequently aroused out of the high 
grass, and as the rifle of the hunter has not yet 
sufficiently alarmed them in their secret lairs, 
they are in a measure less wild than in parts 
more densely settled; I have often seen them in 
my rambles, quietly gazing at the traveler, un- 
til he passed by. Elks are still found, I am in- 
formed, on the wooded shores of the Wisconsin. 
The prairie hen, grouse or moor fowl, is an ex- 
cellent bird; they are very numerous and are 
found in families or broods; they are about the 
size of the common barn-door fowl, and I believe 
are the same bird as the Long Island grouse. 
Their flesh is delicious, juicy and fat; they fly 



heavily on the prairies and alight generally at 
a short distance, consequently they are easily 
bagged by the sportsman. Pheasants also are 
in great numbers, but the partridge or quail ic 
not often met with, I saw three or four near 
some farms, and as this bird always follows and 
attends cultivation, the flocks will certainly in- 
crease with the opening of farms, and the rais- 
ing of. grain. Wild turkeys, I am told, are also 
numerous in many parts of the Territory; I did 
not see any whilst there. 

Two species of wolf are found in the western 
part of the Territory; the gray wolf, which is 
common in the eastern States, and the prairie 
wolf; the latter is neither so large, nor so fero- 
cious as thegray wolf, but still very destructive on 
game and on the stock of the farmer. Yet in 
so open a country as this, these animals must be 
extirpated or driven into the distant forests as 
fast as the settlements increase. I met at dif- 
ferent times, in my little excursions, several of 
these prairie wolves; they appeared more 
alarmed than myself, and soon scampered off. 
Rabbits are also very numerous; indeed the 
abundance of fruit and of mast in this country 
affords ample subsistance to all kinds of game 
.known in the eastern States. 

Two kinds of rattle-snakes are found here; 
the brown and yellow rattle-snake, crotahis Jtor- 
ridus, is sometimes of great size. I came across 
one on the banks of the Pecatonica, lying in my 
path; it measured between four and five feet in 
length, and at least nine inches in circumfer- 
ence; fortunately it was dead, killed by a trav- 
eler an hour or so before. I saw it; I confess 
to an alarm at the time, as my feet were nearly' 
upon it before I discovered it. I saw several 
others in various parts of the country, but they 
are not more numerous here than in the western 
parts of Pennsylvania. It is well known that 
these snakes always re<?ede from cultivation, 
therefore there is no more danger to be appre- 
hended from them here than in any other new 
section of country. The small black rattle- 
snake of the i)rairie is also at this time common; 



206 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



these are said to be more dangerous than tlieir 
larger yellow brethren, as they are not so mag- 
nanimous as to give tlie preparatory warning 
before they strike; tlie same remarks, as to dis- 
appearance, before the improvements of the set- 
tler, applies to the black rattle-snake. 

Can the belief be sustained by argument 
founded on the general appearance of the coun- 
try, the burial mounds, so numerous and so ex- 
tensive in size, found in all parts of the Terri- 
tory, and the vestiges of art, rude as they are, 
found in them and in many other places, that 
this highly favored region was once inhabited 
by a powerful Nation, and even partially cul- 
tivated? It is not my inclination, neither is it 
in my powei', in the brief space of these re- 
marks, to enter into any discussion on the sub- 
ject; the question is merely made, and it is well 
worthy the most enlightened mind to make 
deep researches in respect ^o this interesting 
subject. One matter I state as worthy of ob- 
servation: In a ride which I made exploring 
the country on one of the head waters of the 
Sugar river, in company with my son, Dr. Wil- 
liam A. Smith, and our friend, John Messer- 
smith, we found two long parallel mounds, 
which measured about 250 paces in length. Mr. 
Messersmith, who resides about thirty miles 
from the place in question, and who had often 
been over the ground, informed me that a short 
distance from these mounds there was a piece 
of ground which had every appearance of hav- 
ing once been cultivated. We drove in his car- 
riage to this place, and as we passed over the 
soil through high grass which reached above 
the carriage wheels, the motion of the vehicle 
was similar to that of passing over the ridges 
of a corn field which had been for years out of 
cultivation, and on which sod had grown. We 
got out of the carriage and examined the 
ground; the ridges were parallel, as if they had 
been ploughed, or in some manner cultivated; 
they were very numerous, and constituted evi- 
dently an extensive range, in length and breadth; 
we rode several hundred yards over them, and 



the impression was irresistible that we were 
driving through an abandoned corn field; and 
this field, if such it was, a very large one. The 
land was bottom prairie, and a ledge of high 
land nearly encompassed it. Can these ridges 
have been caused by the action of water? Or 
where will the conjecture rest when such evi- 
dence of cultivation is apparent? I have re- 
lated the fact, and I leave the matter for future 
investigation, which I hope one day shortly to 
make. 

That the denuded state of the country has 
been caused by fire, originally, and the growth 
of timber kept down by the annual conflagration 
of the prairies, may be the truth; and yet it is 
also true, that in no part of the country, on the 
prairies, as far as I can learn, has any, even the 
slightest, appearance of charred wood been 
found. Surely, if this country had at any 
former period been well wooded, and the action 
of the fire had destroyed whole forests, where 
at this time are to be found immense districts 
of fertile prairie and meadow, why is it that no 
vestige or remains of a material so indestructi- 
ble as charred wood have been discovered? Not 
in the the very numerous diggings throughout 
the mineral region: not in the various cultiva- 
tions of the farmer, can any evidence be found 
of the roots of trees; not even the fibre of a 
root throughout the vast prairies! How is this? 
The fact deserves not only to be borne in mind 
by all writers, in investigating the early history 
of Wisconsin, but it appears to me a conclusive 
proof that the prairies were never covered with 
forest. It is true that the annual conflagrations 
of the high and dry grass, sweeping over whole 
districts of prairie and natural meadow, will, of 
course, prevent the spontaneous growth of young 
timber; it is also equally true from present ex- 
perience, that wherever the fire is kept out of 
the prairies, a young growth of hazel and ash 
commences immediately, and oak and cherry 
soon make their appearance. But this circum- 
stance only establishes the fact that the burning 
of the prairies keeps down the growth of timber; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



207 



it does not prove that the prairies were once 
covered witli wood. I repeat, that the total ab- 
sence in the prairies of roots of trees, and of 
any pieces of cliarred wood, must lead to the 
conclusion which I have thus drawn. 

A remarkable feature in this district is that 
no swamp, or accumulation of stagnant water in 
low places, is to be found, of an}' extent; indeed, 
I know of none which can be called sioanvp. 
The prairie is always undulating, not level; the 
springs rise on the high grounds, as well as 
at the points of hills, and in the meadows; the 
character of the country for throwing the water 
off is not only of the first importance with re- 
gard to health, but also of the highest recom- 
mendation to tbe agriculturist. In sucli a coun- 
try iniasma must be almost unknown, and in 
consequence, a host of disorders to which the 
inhabitants of the less favored eastern and 
southern States are subject, are here only known 
by name. Dr. Smith in his inquiries does not 
find that the professional services of a physi- 
cian are often required in this part of the Ter- 
ritory. This fact, of itself, even if it were not 
coupled with the generally acknowledged truth 
that the inliabitants of cold and dry northern 
regions are of longer life than other people, 
would speak volumes of recommendations for 
the settlement of Wisconsin; health is of the 
greatest value to the settler in a new country, 
and here, indeed, health is to be found. 

This country is well deserving of an immedi- 
ate influx of emigrants, and it is fast filling up. 
Nine years since, the foot of the white man had 
scarcely penetrated beyond the State line of Il- 
linois; five years since, the Indian depredations 
aroused the brave and hardy pioneers of the 
Lead Region of Wisconsin, and a band of vol- 
unteers, under the command of Col. Henry 
Dodge, took tbe field in defense of their new 
homes, their families and their hearths! 

The Black Hawk War was prosecuted, and 
finished after the victory of Bad Ax. No body 
of men in any country ever behaved with more 
bravery than did the mounted volunteers of 



Wisconsin, the miners, as they may with truth 
be called. They were commanded by a brave 
spirit, by o e whose experience in Indian war- 
fare and in Indian character deservedly gave 
him claim to the distinguished station of their 
leader. His conduct gained him the applause 
of his country, and his services in the regular 
array for some years afterwards, during which 
time he executed some arduous and im|)ortant 
expeditions amongst the Indian bands at the 
foot of the Rocky mountains, were highly beni- 
fic al to the interests of the general govern- 
ment. It would have been contrary to the feel- 
ings of brave and generous citizens if they did 
not give their full approbation to the act of 
President Jackson which made Henry Dodge 
governor of Wisconsin Territory; his civil life 
has justified the appointment. 

I have said all this happened within nine 
years, and now towns are springing up every- 
where; cultivation is advancing with a sure 
progressive step: the mineral wealth of the 
country is being brought effectually into opera- 
tion; railroads and canals are in projection, and 
comj)anies to form them have been incorpo- 
rated; banks have been established, but these 
may do more harm than good, in encouraging 
a speculation; colleges and schools are in their 
infancy as yet, but the citizens of such a coun- 
try as this cannot be long without the best in- 
struction for their children. A university lias 
been by law established at Belmont, and the 
public spirit of the citizens of the Territory in 
all their acts is highly praise-worthy. To close 
my remarks on the rap'd progress of settlement 
of this, so late, Indian country, I saw in the 
month of September, 1837, at Mineral Point, to 
my utter surprise, one morning, huge bills 
posted on the tavern houses, announcing the ar- 
rival of a troop of circus riders and a traveling 
menagerie! The caravans arrived, and during 
a three days' carnival the eyes of the good citi- 
zens of the neighboring country were feasted 
with the goodly exhibitions of the enterprising 
eastern travelers, and I asked myself in aston- 
ishment, "Am T in Wisconsin?" 

Thus much in general with regard to the 
Wisconsin lanJ district. 



208 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VII. 



PIONEER LIFE. 



Records of pioneer times are interesting, and 
they are not without their lessons of instruc- 
tion. By the light of the past, we follow in the 
foot-prints of the adventurous and enterprising 
pioneer. We see him, as it were, amid the 
labors and struggles necessary to convert the 
wilderness into a fruitful field. We sit by his 
cabin fire, partaking of his homely and cheerfully- 
granted fare, and listen to the accounts which lie 
is pleased to give us of frontier life, and of the 
dangers, trials, hardships and sufferings of him- 
self and others, in their efforts to make for 
themselves homes in regions remote from civili- 
zation. Through these pioneer records, we 
make our way along to the present. From 
small beginnings we come to the mighty 
achievements of industry, the complex results of 
daring enterprise, subduing and creative energy 
and untiring perseverance. 

Following on in the path of progress and im- 
provement, we see once waste places rejoicing 
under the kindly care of the husbandman; 
beautiful farms, with all the fixtures and ap- 
purtenanees necessary to make the tillers of the 
soil and their families contented and happy, are 
spread out before us; villages are built up as if 
by magic, and by hundreds human souls are 
congregated within their precincts; the marts 
of trade and trafiic and the workshops of the 
artisans, are thronged; common schools, unicm 
schools and high schools have sprung up; young 
and ardent minds — children of the rich ami the 
poor — may press forward together in the acqui- 
sition of science, literature and art; churches 
are built and a Christian ministry is sustained 



for the inculcation of religious sentiments and 
the promotion of piety, virtue and moral good- 
ness; the press is established, whence floods of 
light may emanate for the instruction and bene- 
fit of all; railroads are built to bring the pro- 
ducts of every clime, and the people from afar, 
to our doors, and the telegraph "upon the 
lightning's wing" carries messages far and 
near. Let the records of the pioneers be pre- 
served; in after years our children and our 
children's children will look over them with 
pleasure and profit. 

THE LOG CAI'.IN. 

The first important business of the pioneer 
settler, upon his arrival in Green county, was 
to build a house. Until this was done, some 
had to camp on the ground or live in their 
wagons- perhaps the only shelter they had 
known for weeks. So the prospects for a house, 
which was also to be a home, was one that gave 
courage to the rough toil, and added a zest to 
the heavy labors. The style of the home 
entered very little into their thoughts — it was 
shelter they wanted, and protection from stress 
of weather and wearing exposures. The poor 
settler had neither the money nor the mechan- 
ical appliances for building himself a house. 
He was content, in most instances, to have a 
mere cabin or hut. This was made of round 
logs light enough for two or three men to lay 
up. The house would generally be about 
fourteen feet square — perhaps a little larger or 
smaller — roofed with bark or clapboard, and 
floored with puncheons (logs split once in two 
and the flat side laid up). For a fire-place, a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



209 



wall of stones and earth was made in the best 
practicable shape for the purpose, in an opening 
in one end of the building, extending outward, 
and i)lanked on the outside by bolts of wood 
notched together to stay it. Sometimes a fire- 
place of this kind was made so large as to 
occupy nearly the whole width of the house. 
In cold weather when a great deal of wood was 
needed to keep the proper warmth inside, large 
logs were piled in the fire-{tlace. To protect 
the crumbling back wall against the heat, two 
back-logs, one on top of the other, were placed 
against it. 

For a chimney, any contrivance that would 
carry up the smoke would do. They were 
iisuall}" constructed of clay a,ud sticks. Imagine 
a cold winter's night when the storm of wind 
and snow was raging without, the huge fire 
blazing within, and the family sitting around! 
It might be cozy enough if the cold was not too 
intense; and, in reality, before those fi e-places 
there was often something of cheer, as the 
farmer sat smoking — if he had any tabacco; 
and the wife knitting — if she had any yarn and 
needles. 

For a door to his log cabin the most simple 
contrivance that would serve the purpose was 
brought into requisition. Before a door could 
be made, a blanket often did duty in guarding 
the entrance. But, as soon as convenient, some 
boards were split out and put together, hung 
upon wooden hinges, and held shut by a wooden 
pin inserted in an auger-hole. 

PIONEER FURNITURE. 

In regard to the furniture of the pioneer's 
cabin, it may be said that it varied in propor- 
tion to the ingenuity of the occupants, unless it 
was where settlers brought with them their old 
household supply, which, owing to the distance 
most of them had to come, was very seldom. It 
was easy enough to improvise tables- and chairs; 
the former could be made of split logs; the 
latter were designed after the three-legged stool 
pattern, or benches served their purpose. A 



bedstead was a very important item in the 
domestic comfort of the family; and the fashion 
of improvising them was as follows: 

A forked stake was driven into the ground 
diagonally from the corner of the room, and at 
a proper distance, upon which poles reaching 
from each side of the cabin were laid. The 
wall ends of the poles were either driven into 
auger-holes or rested in the openings between 
the logs. Bark or boards were used as a sub- 
stitute for cords. Upon this, the wife spread 
her straw tick; and if she had a home-made 
feather bed, she piled it up into a luxurious 
mound and covered it with her sheets and bed- 
quilts. Sometimes sheets were hung against 
the wall at the head and side of the bed, which 
added much to the coziness of this resting-place 
— this pioneer bed-room. The sleeping arrange- 
ment was generally called a "prairie bedstead." 

PRIMITIVE COOKERY. 

If the settler arrived in the early part of the 
season and had not time to plant, or had no 
fields prepared for that purpose, he could, at 
least, have a truck-patch, where a little corn 
was planted, also a few potatoes and turnips, 
and some other vegetables were put in the 
ground. Of course this was only to make his 
small supply, which he had brought with him, 
reach as far as possible. His meager stores 
consisted of flour, bacon, tea and coffee. But 
these supplies would frequently be exhausted 
before a regular crop of wheat or corn could be 
raised, and as game was plentiful, it helped to 
eke them out. But when the corn was raised, 
it was not easily prepared for the table. The 
mills for grinding were at such distances away, 
that every other device was resorted to for 
making meal. 

Some grated it on an implement made by 
punching small holes through a piece of tin or 
sheet-iron, and fastening it upon a board in 
concave shape, with the rough side out. Upon 
this the ear was rubbed to produce the meal. 
But grating could not be done when the corn 
became so dry as to shell off when rubbed. 



210 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Some used a coffee-mill for grinding it; and a 
very common substitute for bread was hominy, 
a palatable and wholesome diet, made by boil- 
ing corn in a weak lye till the hull or bran 
peeled off, after which it was well washed to 
cleanse it of the lye. It was tlien boiled again 
to soften it, when it was ready for use, as 
occasion required, by frying and seasoning it 
to the taste. Another mode of preparing 
hominy was by pestling. A moriar was made 
by burning a bowl-shajjed cavity in the end of 
an upright block of wood. After thoroughly 
cleaning it of the charcoal, the corn could be 
put in, hot water turned upon it, when it was 
subjected to a severe pestling by a club of suffi- 
cient length and thickness, in the large end of 
which was inserted an iron wedge, banded to 
keep it there. The hot water would soften the 
corn and loosen the hull, while the pestle 
would crush it. 

PRIMITIVE THRESHING. 

When breadstuffs were needed, they had to 
be obtained from long distances. Owing to 
the lack of proper means for threshing and 
cleaning wheat, it was more or less mixed with 
foreign substances, such as smut, dirt and oats. 
And as the time when the settlers' methods of 
threshing and cleaning may be forgotten, it 
may be well to preserve a brief account of 
them here. The plan was to clean off a space 
of ground of sufficient size, and, if the earth 
was dry, to dampen it, and beat it to render it 
somewliat compact. Then the sheaves were 
unbound and spread in a circle, so that the 
heads would be uppermost, leaving room in the 
center for the person whose business it was to 
turn and stir the straw in the process of thresh- 
ing. Then, as many horses or oxen were 
brought as could conveniently swing around the 
circle, and these were kept moving until the 
wheat was well trodden out. After several 
"floorings" or layers were threshed, the straw 
was carefully raked off and the wheat shoveled 
into a heap to be cleaned. This cleaning was 
sometimes done by waving a sheet up and 



down to fan out the chaff as the grain was 
dropped before it ; but this trouble was fre- 
quently obviated when the strong winds of 
autumn were all that was needed to blow out the 
chaff' from the grain. This mode of preparing 
the grain for flouring was so imperfect that it 
is not to be wondered at that a considerable 
amountof black soil got mixed with it, and un- 
avoidably got into the bread. This, with an 
addition of smut, often rendered it so dark as 
to have less the appearance of bread than mud; 
yet upon such diet the people were compelled 
to subsist for want of a better. 

GOING TO MILL. 

Not the least among the pioneers tribulations, 
during the first few years of the settlement, was 
the going to mill. The slow mode of travel by 
ox teams was made still slower by the almost 
total absence of roads and bridges, while such a 
thing as a ferry was hardly even dreamed of. 
The distance to be traversed was often as far as 
sixty or ninety miles. In dry weather, common 
sloughs and creeks offered little impediment to 
the teamsters; but during floods and the break- 
ing up of winter, they proved exceedingly 
troublesome and dangerous. To get stuck in a 
slough, and thus be delayed for many hours, 
was no uncommon occurrence, and that, too, 
when time was an item of grave import to the 
comfort and sometimes even to the lives of the 
settlers' families. Often a swollen stream would 
blockade the way, seeming to threaten destruc- 
tion to whoever would attempt to ford it. AVith 
regard to roads, there was nothing of the kind 
worthy of the name. 

When the early settlers were compelled to 
make these long and difficult trips to mi 1, if 
the country was prairie over which they passed, 
they found it comparatively easy to do in sum- 
mer when grass was plentiful. By traveling 
until night, and then camping out to feed the 
teams, they got along without much difficulty. 
But in winter such a journey was attended with 
no little danger. The utmost economy of time 
was, of course, necessary. When the goal was 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



211 



reached, after a week or more of toilsome 
travel, with many exposures and risks, and the 
poor man was impatient to immediately return 
with the desired staff of life, he Avas often 
shocked and disheartened with the information 
that his turn would come in a week. Then he 
must look about for some means to pay ex- 
penses, and he was lucky who could find em- 
ployment by the day or job. Then, when his 
turn came, he had to be on hand to bolt his 
own flour, as, in those days, the bolting ma- 
chine was not an attached part of the other 
mill machinery. This done, the anxious soul 
was ready to endure the trials of a return trip, 
his heart more or less concerned about the 
aft'airs of home. 

Those milling trips often occupied from tliree 
weeks to more than a month each, and were at- 
tended with an expense, in one way or another, 
that rendered the cost of breadstuffs extremely 
high. If made in the winter, when more or 
less grain feed was required for the team, the 
load would be found to be so considerably re- 
duced on reaching home that the cost of what 
was left, adding other expenses, would make 
their grain reach the high cash figure of from 
$3 to |5 per bushel. And these trips could not 
always be made at the most favorable season for 
traveling. In spring and summer, so much 
time could hardly be spared from other essen- 
tial labor ; yet, for a large family, it was almost 
impossible to avoid making three or four trips 
during the year, 

WILD ANIMALS. 

Among other things calculated to annoy and 
distress the pioneer was tlie prevalence of wild 
beasts of prey, the most numerous and trouble- 
some of which was the wolf. While it was 
true in a figurative sense, that it required the 
utmost care and exertion to "keep the wolf 
from the door," it was almost as true in a literal 
sense. There were two species of these ani- 
nuils, the black, timber wolf, and the smaller 
gray wolf that usually inhabited the prairie. 
At first, it was next to impossible for a settler 



to keep small stock of any kind that would 
serve as a prey to these ravenous beasts. Sheep 
were not deemed safe property until years after, 
when their enemies were supposed to be nearly 
exterminated. Large numbers of wolves were 
destroyed during the early years of settlement. 
When they were hungry, which was not uncom- 
mon, particularly during the winter, they were 
too indiscreet for their own safety, and would 
often approach within easy shot of the settlers' 
dwellings. At certain seasons their wild, plain 
tive yelp or bark could be heard in all direc- 
tions at all hours of the night, creating intense 
excitement among the dogs, whose- howling 
would add to the dismal melody. 

It has been found by experiment that but one 
of the canine species, the hound, has both the 
fleetness and courage to cope with his savage 
cousin, the wolf. AttemjDts were often made 
to capture him with the common cur, but tliis 
animal, as a rule, proved himself wholly unreli- 
able for such a service. So long as the wolf 
would run the cur would ollovv; but the wolf, 
being apparently acquainted with the character 
of his pursuer, would either turn ami place him- 
self in a coinbatative attitude, or else act upon 
tlie principle that "discretion is the better part 
of valor," and throw himself upon his back in 
token of surrender. This strategic performance 
would make instant peace between these two 
scions of the same house; and not infrequently 
dogs and wolves have been seen playing to- 
gether like puppies. But the hound was never 
known to recognize a flag of truce; his bay- 
ing seemed to signify "no quarters;" or, at least, 
so the terrified wolf understood it. 

Smaller animals, such as panthers, l}nxes, 
wildcats, catamounts and polecats, were also 
sufficiently numerous to be troublesome. And 
an exceeding source of annoyance were the 
swarms of mosquitoes svhich aggravated the 
trials of the settler in the most exasperating 
degree. Persons have been driven from the 
labors of the field by their unmerciful assaults. 

The trials of the pioneer were innumeiable, 
and the cases of actmal sufl^ering might fill a 
volume of no ordinary size. Timid women 
became brave through combats with real dan- 
gers, and patient mothers grew sick at heart with 
the sight of beloved children failing in health 
fiom lack of the commonest necessaries of life. 
The struggle was not for ease or luxury, but 
was a constant one for the sustaining means of 
life itself. 



212 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



PIONEER REMINISCENCES. 



I. BY HENRY F. JANES, 1855, 

I was born on the 12th of February, 1804, in 
Pendleton Co., Va., on Straight creek, one 
of the extreme head branches of the south 
branch of the Potomac. In 1819 my father 
moved to Ohio, and settled on the Scioto shore, 
at Chillicothe, where I remained till the 15tli 
day of April, 1825, when I left the parental 
roof, on an old one-eyed horse, with two shirts 
and |4 in my pocket, all told. 

At about the end of a week, I reached the 
vicinity where Lafayette, Ind., now stands. 
At that time Lafayette had no existence, except 
in name. There I married my wife, on the 15th 
day of March, 1827. I remained in tliatcounty 
till September, 1832, when I moved with my 
wife and two children, to Laporte Co., Ind. I 
remained in that county till April, 1835, when I 
moved to Wisconsin with my familv, and set- 
tled in Racine county, six miles due west from 
the city of Racine. The February previous, I 
went to Wisconsin to select a location, and 
found but one white family in Racine county, 
being that of a Mr. Beardsley.* There was not 
a house, nor any sign of civilization between 
Grove Point, twelve miles north of Chicago, 
and Skunk Grove, now Mount Pleasant, in Ra- 
cine county. We were at home wherever niglit 
overtook us; our fare was" rather hard, but the 
bills were not high at that time. 

Capt. Gilbert Knapp had some men at work 
in Racine, and I thir^k he had a log cabin built, 
or partly built, at the time I first saw the place 



*Elaiu Beardsley settled in Caledonia, Racine coiuitv, in 
January, 1835.— Ed. 



where the city now stands. I selected a situa- 
tion for a farm on a branch of a stream, to 
which I gave the name of Hoosier creek; and 
so far as I know, it retains the name yet. I 
landed on my claim with my family about the 
first of May, and went to work in good earnest. 
On the 1st day of August, 1835, my son, J. W. 
Janes, was born, and was the first white child 
born in Racine county; he is now grown, and is 
a hale and active young man. 

At that time there were no surveys of the 
land by the United States surveyors, and we 
all had to run the risk of the lines cutting 
us to advantage or disadvantage. Some time 
that fall the lines were run — that is, the town 
and range lines, and I ascertained that all my 
claim and improvements were on the 16th or 
school section This caused me to look around 
for a new location. By this time most of the 
choice claims were taken, or supposed to be 
taken; and I concluded to make a trip to Rock 
river, and started late in October in company 
with Levi Harness, a young man that I took to 
the country with me. We had little or no 
knowledge of the country, and started on foot 
as adventurers. 

We reached Prairie village,* on Fox river, 
the first day; and there learned that acompanyf 

♦Since Waukesha.— Ed. 

•(■Instead of late in October, it was probably in November, 
when Mr. Janes staited on this trip;t'or the eoiiipaiiy referied 
to. \yh(> li.id just before passed from Milwaukee, eonsistiiiir of 
John Inm-in. John Holmes, Thomas Holmes, William Holmes, 
Georg-e FoUmer and Milo Jones, .started from Mllwiiukee 
Nov. 15, 18;i5. with an ox team and wag-on, with provisions 
and fiirmiiui' tools; and on the ISthof the same moU' h, arrived 
at what was "Uh-equently known as the town of Kock, at a 
point on Ifoek river oppo'Jite the "Hiu- Uoek;" where they 
camped in their wa^'on until they built a log- c 'bin. This 
was the first seti lenient in Uoek'countv. See Guernsey's 
History of Kock County. pa3-es30 and U4;while on page 15tJ, 
October is given as thetime of this migration.— Ed. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



213 



had gone out from Milwaukee but a sliort time 
before, and were still not far ahead; so we 
pushed on in good spirits, and camped between 
Mukwanago and where Troy now stands. Hav- 
ing been misinformedabouttlie distance to Rock 
river at Prairie village, we supposed that we 
were not more than ten miles from the river. 
We started with light hearts as soon as we could 
see the Indian trail, (for there were no other 
roads in the country at that time,) one carrying 
our bed, consisting of a buffalo skin and 
blanket, and the other the gun, and knapsack 
with our grub. We ate no breakfast, expecting 
to be at the camp of our predecessors in two or 
three hours at the most. We had not got out of 
sight of our camp fire, uhen it commenced rain- 
ing, and by the time we arrived at the place 
where Troy now stands, every thing, including 
ourselves, was completely thatched over with 
sleet. In this condition we trudged on, expect- 
ing, on seeing each hill, that we would be sure 
to see the camp of our friends, but we were 
doomed to disa|)pointment. 

At length, cold, wet and fatigued, we reached 
the Rock Prairie, and seeing the trail struck 
into it, and concluded to camp, having eaten 
nothing all day. We tried to strike a fire and 
found that all our fire apparatus, like ourselves, 
was wet; even the powder in the horn would 
not ignite. In this dilemma we concluded to 
make one more effort to find the camp or river. 
Accordingly we started on the trail, and took a 
kind of dog trot, and kept it up till it got so 
dark that we lost the trail, and finally my man 
declared that he could go no further. I got him 
on his feet, and told him we must get to the 
brush for shelter, or we would perish with cold 
and hunger. We then' took the wind for our 
guide, and after some time reached the brush, 
where we sat down on the wet ground, and 
spread our blanket and buffalo skin over us. In 
this way I spent the first night I ever spent in 
Rock county. Uur camp, if such it may be 
termed, was some eight or ten miles east of 
Janesville, and near where D. A. Ricliardson 



lived when I left the city. The next morning 
found us in a bad fix — cold and wet — the ground 
frozen hard enough to bear a horse, and snow- 
ing beautifully. After holding a council, we 
concluded to retrace our steps to Rock river. We 
started, and in the afternoon reached Turtle lake, 
where after some three hours hard work, we 
succeeded in getting a fire and dried ourselves, 
and camped for the night. 

We reached home without accomplishing our 
object, and remained till some time in December 
of the same year. I started again in company 
with a Mr. Glen from Racine, and a man by 
the name of J. C. Kapp.* This time I took a 
horse, and we got through without any acci- 
dent worth noting, and found Samuel St. 
Johnf and W. A. Holmes, living in a log 
cabin on Rock river, one mile below Janes- 
ville. The ground was covered with snow some 
inches deep, and w^e could get nothing for our 
horses to eat; we therefore left them here, and 
explored the country on foot up to Fort Atkin- 
son and around Lake Koshkonong, and con- 
cluded to purchase the land at the outlet of the 
lake on the west side of the river, and marked 
out claims on the east side with a view of set- 
tling there. We accordingly returned, and in a 
few days I started in company with Alfred Cary, 
of Racine, for Green Bay. At that time there 
was not a house between Call's Grove and Rock 
river, and but one between Milwaukee and Green 
7)ay, and that was Farnsworth's mill, on the 
Sheboygan river. 

On the first day out from Milwaukee, we were 
overtaken by a young man of the name of Roark, 
who informed us that Dr. B. B. Cary had been 
shot the niglit previous, and wanted his brother 

*Perhaps Knapp.— Ed. 

+Mr. St". Jobn emigrated from Vermont with his wife and 
thive children, aud became the lir«t residents of what became 
Janesville, in November. 18:35. Mrs. St. John was the first to 
find a grave ia the n<'W settlement, in ,lune. 1836, caused by a 
decline of some months' continuiince. induced by the want of 
medi 'al attendance the previous winter, and the shelter ami 
care so necessaiT to the motber of an infant babe. Her gj-ave 
is marUed by a tombstone npon an eminence near the road 
le;uliniito Beloit. Mr. St. John survived her several years, 
and died while on a visit to his brother's, near town, and his 
remains were deposited on the eminence beside those of his 
wife.— Ed, 



214 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 






to rettivn. lie accordingly returned, and Roark 
and myself went on. In four or five days we 
reached our destination without aTiy accidetit 
woi-th relalinijj. We had plenty of snow to make 
a soft bed to sleep iti, and wolves enougii to 
liovvl us to sleep at all times of night. 

We found the members of the first legislature 
of Wisconsin, or the last Territorial legislature 
of Michigan, at Green Bay, waiting for Gov. 
Horner to put theni in motion; but that digni- 
tary was among the missing, and the whole 
matter ended in smoke. I found on exaniining 
the books at the town office, that all tlie land we 
had selected was sold, and I had m}^ trip for my 
pay. So after looking at the town of Navai-ino, 
Fort Howard, and the sights we thought worth 
seeing, we laid in a stock of crackers, cheese, 
ham and tobacco, not forgetting some of the 
"critter," made our adieu to Green Bay, and in 
due time landed safe at home. Having made 
two trips to Rock river, and one to Green Bay, 
for nothing, and thinking perhaps t\\e third one 
the charm; so I accordingly started the third 
time for Rock river in company with John Janes, 
a cousin of mine, wlio now lives in Bad Ax, 
now Vernon Co., Wis., and crossed Rock 
river somewhere near wliere Rochester now 
stands, and continued on and explored the coun- 
try north of Janesville, to near the mouth of 
Wliitewater; then turned down to St. John's 
and replenished our provisions; then explored 
the west side of Rock river up to the mouth of 
the Catfish, and up tliat to or near the First 
Lake; we then directed our course for Camp & 
Collins' Diggings, on Sugar creek, and made 
Mitchell's Grove in our route. We were some 
days traveling and exploring, and having run 
out of provisions, we concluded to repair to 
Camp & Collins' Diggings for supplies. Just 
at night we found the section, and quarter sec- 
tion, that we wrre informed they were on; but 
tliey were not there. 

It had become daik, and very cold, and we 
were tired and hungry; so we concluded to make 
to some timber and build up a fire, and do the best 



we could. After we reached the timber, and 
commenced dragging some limbs out of the 
snow, we saw a spark of fire rise, and after some 
circles in the air disappear. Soon after we saw 
others ascend in the same manner,and coticluded 
it was Indians, and that we would go and camp 
with them, rather than build a fire and lie in the 
snow all night, hungry and tired as we were. 
But judge of our surprise on reaching the place, 
to find it occupied by a white man, Michael 
Welch, who received us with all the hospitality 
with which a Wisconsin miner could receive a 
stranger; and any attempt on my part to de- 
scribe that, would be but a failure to do justice 
to that noble hearted class of the citizens of 
Wisconsin. We were now snugly ensconced in 
a warm cabin, by a roaring fire, and soon liad a 
stool placed between us, on which was a pyra- 
mid of potatoes, and a dish of pork swimming 
in a minature lake of gravy, and each a tin cup 
of coffee. Ye upper tens! How does your non- 
sense sink into utter insignificance when con- 
trasted with the pure, genuine hospitality of 
the frontier adventurer. Nearly twenty years 
have passed since the time of which I am now 
speaking, I do not know whether Mr. Welch is 
yet alive or not; but whenever I think of his 
kindness, it makes my heart throb with grateful 
pleasure. 

We then went over to where New Mexico 
was afterward laid out, exi)lored there two or 
three days, and then to Hamilton's Diggings, 
and finally back again to Rock river. I then 
selected the claim that Janesville is built on, 
and marked it as my claim, on the 15th day of 
February, 1836, By this time I had become 
snow-blind, and liad to lay by some ten days be- 
fore I could see to travel. My friend went to 
work for Mr. St. John, and as soon as I could 
see to travel I started for home. I took the 
line at the south end of Janesville and followed 
clear through to Call's Grove,* without seeing 
the face of a human being, or any trace of one, 
except the marks of the surveyors that had run 
the line that I was following. 

*Pincte chansrefl to Ives' Grove.— Ed. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



215 



Previous to leaving Rock river, I employed 
Mr. St. John to put me up a cabin, and on the 
19th day of May, 1836, about 4 o'clock in tlie 
afternoon, I threaded my way to my cabin 
along an Indian trail that passed up the river 
through the present city of Janesville. My 
family now made about the fourth family in the 
county. It may, and doubtless will, appear 
rather strange to some of the citizens of Janes- 
ville, that nineteen years and a half ago the 
whole city consisted of one family, and one log 
cabin, eighteen feet square, with the bark on 
the logs, and no floor in it, or shutter to the 
door-way. I had at this time not the least idea 
of ever building up a town; but in moving to 
Janesville I opened a track, and all the travel 
followed that route to Rock river. At that 
time, AVisconsin City, Rockport, and I know 
not how many more paper towns, were in exist- 
ence along Rock river. 

Sometime in the fall of 1836 I went to Camp 
& Collins' mines, and purchased two wagon 
loads of lead, and that completed a communica- 
tion from Racine to the Lead Mines by my 
house, and there was a constant throng of travel 
on it, and no way to cross the river only to 
swim the horses alongside of a canoe, and ci'oss 
wagons in the same way. The traveling com- 
munity were constantly besetting me to build a 
ferry-boat, and I at length concluded to do so; 
and built one at no small expense. After I got 
it done, I went to Belmont while the legislature 
was in session, to get a charter; and not dream- 
ing of any opposition, I took no pains to get a 
petition largely signed; and the proprietors of 
Rockport, Wisconsin City and Humes' Ferry 
united in a remonstrance. This then begun a 
war between the three points, I, by this time, 
concluded to lay out a town, and according did 
so. The next summer two of the other places 
found it was "no go" with them, and they com- 
promised as far at* Janesville was concerned, 
and dropped their towns, and took up a place 
they called St. George's Rapids, about half way 
between the other towns, and made common 



cause against me in general, and Janesville in 
particular. I attended the legislature at Bur- 
lington, Iowa, and at Madison, for some three 
or four 5'^ears, got al! the roads, mail routes, and 
all the legislation I asked for. But in getting 
the county seat located at Janesville, the county 
took a pre-emption on that, and swept it from 
under me.* And having expended all my 
means in trying to build up the place, and all 
my improvements wnth it; to use a California 
phrase, I was completely strapped, and on the 
24th day of August, 1839, I left the town to its 
fate. On the 15th day of May, 1838, my son 
Jasper was born in Janesville, the first male 
child born in the place. f 

II. BY SAMUEL F, CHIPMAN, 1856. 

The winter of 1842-3 was extremely severe. 
The first snow fell on the night of the 8th of 
November, and continued until the '7th of April, 
a period of five months with interrupted good 
sleighing. Much of the time was severely cold, 
with strong winds and drifting snow; which 
continued to increase until it had attained to a 
depth of nearl}^ two feet. Road tracks across 
the Prairie [in Rock Co., Wis.] would catch the 
drifting snow until thej' attained to an elevation 
of two to four feet, which very much endan- 
gered the safety of meeting teams, as in turning 
out tbe horse stepping from the path would 
often sink and plunge so deep that the mate 
would fall on to, or over him, and both be floun- 
dering for life in the deep snow, with more or 
less icy crusts to cut and maim them. Freeport lay 
some forty miles southwest of us, to which place 



*It may be seen in Guernsey's History of KocIj County 
tliat the county seat was est iblistiedupon Mr. Janes' location; 
and that much praise was awarded to aim for his diplomatic 
tact in ovir-rcoming- the obstacles which other local interestG 
had 1 St in his way. 

By a law of Congress the county could secure a pre- 
emption to the quarter section upon which the county seat 
would be located. Mr. Janes was ignorant of this, and found 
himself a tenant iii on lands belonging to the county. A 
compromise waseifeited by which iho county, for a nominal 
sum.ajirced to deed back portions of the laud to the original 
claimants and settlers. — Eu. 

tltis .'•tated by the Rev. H. Foote, in Guernsey's History 
of Uock Coujity, "that in January, 18;j6, there was an infant 
sou added to tlie family of t^arauol St. Sohii, who is supposed 
to be the tir^t wiiite child born in the I'pper Hock lUvir Val- 
ley. His uaiue was 8eih B. tt. Johtx, aud was living a few 
years siuce at Columbu?, in this St-.ite.— Ed. 



216 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



we used to go to get our corn and oats to feed, 
plant and sow. In a snow storm it was rather 
a hazardous route to travel. I may as well 
speak here of one of the many little incidents of 
that winter. 

On one clear, cold, frosty morning I started 
[from Rock county] for Freeport for a load of 
corn. On reaching the summit of the ridge of 
prairie above Bachelor's grove, that divides the 
waters of Bass creek and Sugar river, near what 
was then called the lone tree, T discovered a 
team and sleigh, loaded with men, driving in a 
direction to cross my track some distance ahead. 
We soon met. They anxiously enquired for 
the nearest house. I directed them to the 
house of John Call, a distance of some two 
miles. They had started from Monroe for Janes- 
ville, two days before, had missed their way 
and wandered over the trackless prairie for two 
days and nights without food for man or beast, 
and had (as they said to me at that time) just 
concluded, should they not find some other re- 
lief, to kill one of their horses and roast the 
flesh or eat it raw. In such a dilemma one 
would be led to suppose they were not very 
much displeased to discover a team ahead. 
There were four gentlemen I think in the 
sleigh. If I mistake not, three of them were 
brothers by the name of Hart; half brothers of 
Daniel A. Richardson, who was then trading 
in Janesville. The name of the other gentle- 
man I do not remember. Long will they re- 
member their cruise on the prairie. 

As an evidence of the severity of that winter, 
I will here state a fact with which most of the 
settlers of that day were familiar, which 
was, that coons were so emaciated that when on 
a pleasant day they ventured from their holes 
in the trees, in quest of food on the ground, 
they were unable to return for want of strength, 
an«l were frequently found by the hunters, fro- 
zen to death at the foot of the tree in which 
they had lived, thereby betraying the where- 
abouts of tiiose who had been more cautious, or 
unable to get out. In the fall of IS-tl, while 



looking for a piece of land that I might be sup- 
plied with fencing timber and firewood, I acci- 
dently run upon a dilapidated set of bogus tools 
in a small grove near the head of the south branch 
of Bass creek, southwest of my farm some three 
miles, 'i here was a casting press weighing some 
eighty pounds, an iron bar, used, perhaps, as a 
lever with which to turn the screw to make the 
impression in coining. Also a small hand-vice, 
a steel spring, and steel punch with which to * 
cut the pieces to be stamped; and German-silver 
plates cut into strips the width of half collars, 
a small box containing a meal bag and a buck- 
skin mitten, in which was found in an unfin- 
ished state thirty -nine half dollars. The effort 
was evidently a failure, owing either to inex- 
perience in the operators or the imperfection of 
their lools. The press I still have in my pos- 
session. It serves as an anvil whea I am dis- 
posed to do my own smithing. I have also the 
hand-vice, punch and spring, which I intend to 
preserve as pioneer mementoes. Thf lynching 
of black-legs at Rockford, 111., and vicinity, was 
going on while I was on the road through Indi- 
ana and Illinois from Michigan to this place. 
The Driscols were shot and the gang dispersed. 
Perhaps the camp that I found was connected 
with the Rockford gang, and routed by <-he 
lynching league. I gave the grove in which 
their tools were found the name of bogus, by 
which cognomen it is known to this day. 

III. BY J. W. STEWART, 1857. 

The region of country embracing the county 
of Green, as it is now bounded, was not i)eopled 
by white men, and no tradition relating to it 
has come to my knowledge, prior to the year 
1827. At tliat time we were attached to, or 
rather formed a part of, the county of Crawford, 
in the Territory of Michigan ; the county seat 
being at Prairie du Chien. The first white set- 
tlement in our limits, was at Sugar River Dig- 
gings, near the present village of Exeter. Two 
men by the name of Boner and McNutt, erected 
shanties for the purpose of trading with the 
Indians, at or about the p! ice where William 




a^e-^Z^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



219 



Davies' [Deviese's] furnace was afterwards 
erected — the same furnace wliich was after- 
wards held and used by Kemp & Collins, about 
one mile southwest of Exeter. This was in 
1828 [J 827]. Soon after, during the same year, 
J. R. Blackraore, William Wallace and William 
Deviese came to Sugar River Diggings, and 
commenced operations in mining for lead ore.* 
The Indians had been engaged for many 
years, judging from the heaps of dirt, over- 
grown with grass, weeds and brush, in raising 
this valuable mineral ; and their discoveries 
led the whites to that particular locality, where 
the first settlement in the county commenced. 
The persons above named, together with a 
Frenchman [Dutchman] by the name of Van 
Sickle, who acted as interpreter for the traders. 
Boner and McNutt, and two men who settled 
further south, in the fall of the year, by the 
names of [John B.] Skinner and [Thomas] Neal, 
formed the entire population of the county in 
the fall of 1828. We would at once think, that 
with that little population of white men, sur- 
rounded by the savages, and separated by several 
miles from otlier white settlements, peace aiul 
order would be in the ascendency. All provis- 
ions, that were obtained, were purchased at 
srreat cost and trouble at Galena, All shared 
and felt as one family. And the malicious hand 
of homicide, we would suppose, would never be 
raised to reduce that little number. But un- 
happily, the same cause which produces so 
many cases now, operated then to accomplish 
the same result. [Here follows an account of 
the killing of Boner by McNutt, as given in 
Chapter XII, of this history]. 

* ' 'It must not be supposed that [Ebenezer] Brigham was 
the first white man— the first Ameiicm— at the [Bhie] 
Mounds ; but, although this was not the facf, yet he was the 
first permanent settler. Before him, as already explained, 
the diggings had been worked. ' William Deviese went there 
in the spring just before Brigham's arrival [the arrival of 
the last mentioned was in the spring of 18:J8], where he found 
two men named Moore, who were trading a little, in whisky 
at least, and one John Duncan, a very large and powerful 
man. But on the l:Jth of August [182S] Deviese moved to 
Sugar River Diggings, leaving James Hawlhorn to continue 
the work there. So, it seems certain that ISrigham, upon 
his arrival, found miners .at work at tlie [Mine] Mounds, but 
none of them nuide a permanent slay. John B. Skinner 
had at one time a furnace there."— F;om C. ^V. Butterfleld's 
HMnry of Dane County, irisvonain, 1880, p. 34".— En. 



About the same time, and indeed some say the 
year before, 1827, Mr. John [B.] Skinner and 
[Thomas] Neal came to Skinner's creek, about 
five miles northwest of Monroe, and commenced 
mining, and erected a log smelting furnace, the 
first one in the county.* These men, together 
with those referred to at Sugar River Diggings, 
constituted the entire white population of the 
county for two or three years, and until the ag- 
ricultural settlement was commenced, by An- 
drew Clarno and others, in the sottth part of 
the county.f 

In 1829 William Davies [Deviese] built a 
furnace near the old trading house of Boner & 
McNutt, and the remains of this furnace, which 
are but a heap of ashes and cinders, overgrown 
with grass, in an open uncultivated prairie, form 
the only monument to mark the place of the 
tragedy we have narrated. The only Indian 
settlement in this county, at that time, was lo- 
cated near the present village of Dayton. 
There the Indians raised corn, and had an ex- 
tensive encampment in the summer season. 

In 18.30|. Andrew Clarno made a settlement 
on tlie old farm where his widow now resides, 
and which was the first agricultural improve- 
ntent in the county. His name is perpetuated 
in the name of the town where he settled, and 
in which he continued to reside till his death, 
which occurred some four or five years since. 
He was a man of a warm and a generous heart, 
in whose company the writer has spent many 
pleasant hours, listening to his rude history of 
the times of the Black Hawk War. This war 
broke out in 1832, at which time Joseph Payne, 
whose name is familiar to all in this vicinity, 
had just erected and moved into a cabin, to- 
gether with William Wallace, in the same 
neighborhood with Mr. Clarno, and at the first 
out-break of hostilities, on the 5th of May, they 
fled from their cabins with their families, and 



* This is undoubtedly a mistake as to the time of the com- 
ing of Skinner and Neal.. It was in 1830.— Ed. 

t This "agricultural settlement" began in 1832.— Ed. 

t This date should be 1833. He took a claim in 1830, but 
did not move on to it until two years after.— Ep. 



14 



220 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the same day their deserted houses were fired 
by the Indians. These fugitives camped the 
first night on the ground Avhere Monroe now 
stands. Here tliey spent a restless night, oc- 
casionally hearing the savage whoop of the 
blood thirsty Indians, but were lucky enough to 
get off undiscovered, with a quick and light 
tread, in the morning, in the direction of Ham- 
ilton's settlement, where they staid the next 
night,and thence to Fort Gratiot, where they re. 
mained till the close of the war. 

About the year 1834, several new settlers 
came into our confines, and among them Leon- 
ard Ross, late of Exeter, and Hiram Rust, of 
Monroe; also, John W. Dennison and Abner 
Van Sant, who located about three miles south- 
west of Monroe. These last named gentlemen 
erected the first flouring-mill in the limits of 
this county. During the year 1835 the lands of 
this county first came into market, and the set- 
tlers were enabled to procure undisputed titles 
to their farms. The privations and hardships 
of the first settlers can only be understood and 
appreciated, from the lips of those who pre- 
ceded us. Provisions bore an almost incredible 
price, and could not be obtained nearer than 
Galena, some fifty to seventy-five miles dis- 
tance. 

At the first session of the Wisconsin Ter- 
ritorial legislature, at Belmont, on the 9th of De- 
cember, 1827, the county of Green, detached from 
the county of Iowa, was established. The 
county of Iowa, of which we then formed a 
part, was represented in the Territorial legis- 
lature in part by William Boyles,* of Monroe; 
and to him, as the representative of the region 
of the newly proposed county, was left the se- 
lection of the name to be given it; and he se- 
lected the name of Green — indicative of the 
bright color of the vegetation of this region. 
Another member of that legislature, with whom 
I conversed some years since, suggested to our 
member that Greene would be a more appropri- 

* The name of this legislator e)jould be spelled ' 'Boyls"— 
tor so he wrote it.— Ei>. 



ate or inore honorable name in memory and honor 
of tlie distinguished Gen. Greene, of the revolu- 
tionary War; but the present name was pre- 
ferred by Mr. Boyles, and, through courtesy, 
the name remained as desired by our immediate 
representative. 

The act of the legislature, creating the county 
of Green, was passed, as already stated, at the 
first session of the Territorial legislature; and 
at the next session, held at Burlington, in what 
has since become Iowa, an act was passed, Jan. 
15, 1838, fully organizing the county of Green 
for judicial purposes, and declaring the new 
county indebted to the mother county of Iowa 
for a proportion of the old county indebtedness. 
Notwithstanding the solemnity and force of 
legislative law, the people of Green, although 
often sued in the courts of the State, have re- 
fused, (whether justly or not, I will not here 
digress to say,) to pay the whole, or any part, 
of said indebtedness. And this war with old 
Iowa is the only war in which we have partici- 
pated. Our miniature wars, as exhibited in per- 
sonal broils, have been numerous, but such as 
are common to all civilized countries. 

The first court of record ever held in Green 
county was the United States district court, 
Chief-Justice Charles Dunn pi'esiding, in April, 
1838. The first clerk was the late George Mc- 
P^adden, of Dane county, who was shortly after 
succeeded by M. Bainbridge, Esq. After the 
first term, the United States courts were for 
many years presided over by Hon. David Irvin. 

Although our growth, at the earliest stages of 
our existence as an independent county, was not 
so rapid as some others in the State, and conse- 
quently our influetice not so extensively felt in 
the Territorial and State governments, yet no 
county in Wisconsin has been, or is now, set- 
tled by a more industrious, enterprising and 
thrifty population. Tiie principle business of 
nearly her entire population has been, from the 
first, that of agriculture; and the consequence 
is, that her wealth is generously divided among 
all her citizens. Nearly the entire population 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



221 



have the means and the will to support them- 
selves. Pauperism and crime, the sure con- 
comitants of large commercial communities, 
have made no inroads within our borders; and 
taking into consideration the richness of our 
soil, the abundance of our timber, and the great 
number of our water-courses, we can certainly 
expect to rank as one of the best counties in 
our flourishing State. The county is about 
twenty-four miles square, having an area of 576 
square miles; traversed through its center by 
the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, from 
east to west, passing through Monroe, the 
county seat. The south and west parts of the 
county are nearly covered with a heavy growth 
of timber. Walnut, ash, oak, sugar tree and 
linn exist in great abundance, affording great 
facilities for building, and the manufacture of 
all kinds of wooden wares. The population of 
Monroe, the principal town, is about 2,000, 
while that of the county, by the census of 1655, 
was 14,727, which has since largely increased. 
Decatur, Brodhead, Albany and Dayton are 
flourishing villages. 

III. BY ALBERT SALISBURY, 1871. 

Moved by an interest in the early affairs of 
this, my native State, I spent a part of my last 
summer vacation in looking up and "interview- 
ing" some of the surviving pioneers of this por- 
tion of Wisconsin.* True, it is rather late to 
be seeking reminiscences, but "better late than 
never," especially since the men whom I have 
dug up, as it were, have thus far been almost 
wholly overlooked in all the many narratives 
that concern their times. A speciat interest 
attaches to them, moreover, from the fact that 
they have so long survived the events which 
made up the chief episodes of their lives. 
William Dev'iese. 

William Deviese was born March 16, 1793, 
near Huntersville, Pocahontas Co., Ya., of 
French and Scotch lineage. In March, 1826, at 
the age of thirty-three, he left Virginia, with a 
surveying party, bound for Arkansas; but on 

♦Written in Brodhead .—Ed. 



reaching the mouth of the Ohio, reports of the 
sickliness of the country caused him to turn 
aside into Illinois. At that time Cairo had 
hardly begun its existence, there being but a 
few "squatters" on or near its present site. 
Going on foot to Vandalia, he passed there the 
winter of 1826-7. There he saw Abraham Lin- 
coln in the legislature then in session, f In the 
early spring of 1827, Deviese went by wagon to 

St. Louis ; thence by steamboat to the Des 
Moines Rapids; thence on foot to ShuUsburg, 
Wis., stopping over night at Galena. At 
Vandalia he had made the acquaintance of 
James Hawthorn, who accompanied him on this 
journey and was his subsequent business part- 
ner. They reached ShuUsburg March 28, 1827. 
They found there a Dutch trader named Shull, 
and four or five cabins occupied by perhaps 
forty or fifty miners, mostly Irish. 

Deviese began mining about three-quarters of 
a mile east of ShuUsburg, selling his ore to 
smelters. After spending a year here, he went, 
in the spring of 1828, to Blue Mounds, leaving 
llavvthorn to continue the work at ShuUsburg. 
At the Mounds he found tw^o men named Moore, 
who were trading a little, in whisky at least, 
and one John Duncan, afterwards well known 
throughout the region, and whom he thinks to 
have been the largest and most powerful man 
he ever saw. 

Col. Ebenezer Brigham came to the Mounds 
soon after Deviese, and Jenkins and McCraney 
l)uilt a smelting furnace in the same year. It 
was while he was at Blue Mounds that the 
tragedy was enacted at Boner & McNutt's trad- 
ing post, near what was afterwards Exeter 
village.* He had known Boner and McNutt at 
ShuUsburg. They had been led to establish 
themselves near Sugar river by the same infor- 
mation which also led Deviese to go thither at a 
later day for mining purposes. A man named 
Burks, in attempting to cross the Territory, had 

+This must be a miFtake, as Mr. Lincoln, according to 
Barrett's Life of him, did not remove from Indiana to Illi- 
nois till 1830.— Ed. 

*The killing- of Koner by McNutt, as described in Chapter 
XII, of this history; see, also, Chapter III— Ed. 



222 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



become lost, and liad chanced upon the Indian 
diggings while making his way towards Shulls- 
burg, on horseback. Deviese, in his account of 
the Exeter affair, agrees substantially with that 
given by J. W. Stewart, in Vol. Ill, Wis- 
consin Historical Collections, except that he says 
that Van Sickle was not a Frenchman but a 
Dutchman — an excellent interpreter, but a great 
liar, * * * 

In July, 1828, Deviese went down to this old 
trading post to prospect the old Indian diggings 
already mentioned, and afterwards known as 
Sugar River or Exeter Diggings. Being suc- 
cessful in "prospecting," he returned to the 
Mounds, and on August 12, of the same sum- 
mer, he started to establish himself permanently 
on Sugar river, leaving Hawthorn to continue 
work at Blue Mounds, as he had before done at 
ShuUsburg. In the autumn, William Wallace 
and wife, and Josiah R. Blackmore, went down 
as employes. Blackmoi'e stayed two years. He 
is the man from whom Mr. Stewart chiefly de- 
rived his reminiscences of early da5's in Green 
county, and is .said to be still living at Warren, 
111. 

In the spring of 1 829, Deviese built a smelting 
furnace near the old stand of Boner & Mc- 
Nutt, one and a half miles west of Exeter. 
Other diggers had come down during the win- 
te»', and his smelting business became quite 
lively in the summer of 1829. That summer 
he broke and planted a turnip patch. In the 
fall he went to Fulton and Peoria counties, Illi- 
nois, and brought up a drove of hogs. The fol- 
lowing summer, 1830, he broke sixteen acres, 
and put in corn, pumpkins, turnips and oats. 

The lead smelted meantime was hauled to 
Galena, by oxen, sometimes as high as eight 
yoke being attached to a single wagon. It com- 
manded, generally, about eighty dollars a ton, 
but in the spring of 1829, it was very low, owing 
to the tariff excitement that accompanied the 
election of Andrew Jackson to the Presidency. 

In 1830, many miners were leaving, panic 
struck. He thinks it was in that year, instead 



of 1828, as stated by Mr. Stewart, that John B. 
Skinner and Thomas Neal commenced at Skin- 
ner's Diggings, a few miles north of Monroe.* 
Skinner had previously owned a furnace at Blue 
Mounds. Andrew Clarno was living with 
Skinner in 1830, and began on a farm in the 
town that bears his name, in 1831,f as Deviese 
thinks. 

Deviese had all along done something at trad- 
ing, besides his mining operations ; but in 1831, 
John Dougherty set up a trading stand on the 
present site of Exeter. This was a dull year, 
but Deviese kept on smelting with four em- 
ployes, and put in a crop in 1832. * * * 

[After the Black Hawk War was over, in 
which conflict Deviese took an active part,]* he 
went back to [what is now the town of] Exeter 
and began to re-build in the latter days of Au- 
gust or first of September [1832]. He found 
his oxen, cut hay, and re-established himself as 
best he could. He kept on smelting till the 
next year, when he sold his furnace to Dough- 
erty ajid went to mining exclusively, continuing 
at this until 1850. By 1835, he had become 
worth a considerable figure, but suffered severe- 
ly from the crash of 1837. It was estimated 
that during the time he was in the lead busi- 
ness, he made and spent (or lost) about $40,000. 
In 1835, Kemp & Collins bought out Dough- 
erty. [What was then the village of] Exeter 
saw its palmiest days in 1839, 1840, and 1841 
and was platted in 1843. In those days, a great 
deal of money was handled there, which is now, 
perhaps, the most forlorn hamlet in the State. 

Thus far Deviese — almost in his own words, 
and without addition or embellishment; but, of 
the years that follow, he does not wish to speak. 
Some particulars were added concerning the 



* See Mr. Stewart's stiiterufnt next procedins- this (ino of 
Mr. Salisbury, where he says : "About the same time 'that 
is, in IH:is|, aiul some say the year l)et'ore, ]83T, .Joliii [B.l 
Skinneraml [Tliomasl Xeal came to Skiimei-'s erei'k. about 
five mles northwest of Monroe." The idea Mr. Stewart de- 
sires to convey is, thflt "some say" they came in 18;7. IJut 
Mr. Deviese is undoubtedly correct as their not working in 
what Was afterward the "Skinner Dig'ging-s" until 18;J0. — Ed. 

•I-This, we have already seen (Chap. IV), was in the year 
1832.— Ed. 

*See chapter V, of this hi'^tory.— Kn. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTS. 



223 



state of society among the early miners, the 
method of making claims, etc.; but, to our in- 
terrogatories touching later years, he quietly re- 
plied, — "that is all that is worth telling." 
Though in his seventy-ninth year, he seems to 
have clear and definite recollections of the in- 
teresting times now nearly half a century gone 
by, but has little or none of the boastful garru- 
lity so often observed in men of his age and ex- 
perience. 

Since the Black Hawk War, he has but once 
been outside of [what are now] Green and Dane 
counties. A dozen years ago or more, he spent 
part of one summer in following up some indi- 
cations of lead that he had seen while scouting 
in the Bad Ax country [now Vernon county] in 
1832. For the past eighteen years he has been 
a member of the household of Hollis Crocker, 
residing tiiree miles west of Belleville, Dane 
county, whose wife, by the way, the mother of 
ten children, is a native of Wisconsin, having 
been born at Gratiot's Grove, Deviese has al- 
ways lived a bachelor. As he says, — at the 
time he ought to have been marrying, he was 
going out of the marrying world into the wil- 
derness. 

"His most noticeable infirmity is a partial 
deafness. Though not vigorous, he is still able 
to walk to church every Sunday morning, a 
distance of over a mile. It may interest the 
few who may have known him in the days of 
his^ reverses, to learn that for the last sixteen 
years he has entirely abstained from strong 
drink, and lived an exemplary member of the 
Methodist church. 

"Major Deviese has not been without some 
scanty and imperfect notice in the historical 
records of Wisconsin; but his name is always 
incorrectly given.*" 

James Hawthorn. 
"Uncle Jimaiy Hawthorn" was born Oct. 22, 
no?, in Orange Co., N. Y., and lived in that 
region up to the age of nineteen. When New 

*Mr. Deviese is Still (1884) alive— a resident of Dane Co., 
Wis. -Ed. 



York city was threatened in the War of 1812, 
though but a boy of sixteen, he was among the 
volunteers stationed at Brooklyn. Among his 
recollections of that time is that of seeing 
launched one of the earliest steamers on the 
North river. 

"A young man iiad no chance there," and so 
with a view to make his own opportunities, he 
went on foot to Pittsburg in 1817, carrying his 
total effects in a knapsack. From Pittsburg a 
flat-boat conveyed him to the mouth of the Sci- 
oto; thence he went by land to an uncle then 
living near Old Chillicothe. After working at 
Chillicothe a year, he went on a flat-boat to 
New Orleans, and thence took passage for New 
York in a brig, for it was before the day of 
ocean steamers. He paid |25 for his passage, 
boarding himself. 

After spending three years in his native 
county, he again clambered over the mountains 
to Pittsburg, and thence went on to Hamilton, 
Ohio. May 9, 1822, he started down the Big 
Miami on a flat-boat, loaded with flour, for New 
Orleans. He received $40 as wages for the 
trip. By this time there were several steam- 
boats on the Mississippi, and on one of these he 
returned from New Orleans, at a fare of $12; 
the passage to Louisville occupying twenty two 
days. 

.From Hamilton he next went to Edwards- 
ville, 111., where he worked at "carpentering" 
about two years. He then went to Vandalia, 
where he worked for another two years. Dur- 
ing the winter of 1826-7, he fell in with Wil- 
liam Deviese; and in March, 1827, they left 
Vandalia for the mining country. Going by 
wagon to St. Louis, they there took passage for 
Galena on a steamboat; but, on account of low 
water, were unable to get over the rapids near 
what was then known as Fort Edwards. The 
captain of the boat refunded half the passage 
money, and a party of about twenty went for- 
ward on foot. From Rock Island they got 
their provisions carried by teams that were go- 
ing uj). On Ap[)U' river they made a scanty 



224 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



breakfast of their last "grub," not knowing at 
that time anytliing about their distance from 
new supplies, but they reached Galena that af- 
ternoon. 

Hawthorn and Deviese began mining near 
ShulLsburg, where Hawthorn remained till Oc- 
tober, 1828, when he followed Deviese to Blue 
Mounds. 'J'here he found Col. Brigham, Jen- 
kins* and Thomas McCraney, and, he thinks, 
Esau Johnson also. He remained at the Mounds 
about two years, mining there while Deviese 
was on Sugar river. [Here follows an account 
of the trial and acquittal of McNutt for the kill- 
ing of Boner, as given in Chapter XII of this 
book.] 

Another trial which excited much interest, 
was that of two men for the killing of Clopton. 
Clopton and Van Meter were traders near 
Dodgeville, and had become involved in a dis- 
pute with one Wells and another man, over a 
mineral claim. Matters had gone so far that 
Clopton and Van Meter were approaching the 
claim with the avowed purpose of driving off 
the other claimants, when they were fired upon 
by them. One ball passed through Van Meter's 
leg and hit Clopton, as did also the other ball. 
Wells and his comrade escaped, but a reward of 
$2,000 having been offered for their apprehen- 
sion, they went into St. Louis, and got a lawyer 
named Bates, to deliver them up and take the 
reward as a fee for defending their case. Bates 
was the best lawyer in St. Louis, and, Hawthorn 
thinks, the same who was in later years Lin- 
coln's Attorney-General.* They were acquit- 
ted. 

At length Hawthorn and Deviese dissolved 
partnership, and Hawthorn went back to Shulls- 
burg, where he prospected through the summer 
of 1830. He then went into partnership with 

♦Probably Thomas .Tenkins, who participated In the battle 
of Pecatonica, June 15, 1832, and was severely wounded 
there. 

*Hon. Edwai'd Bates, who was born in Goochland Co., Va., 
Sept. 4, 179:5, and died at St. Louis, March ;:'■>, 18G9, was at the 
period referred to, one of the most eminent jurists in the 
west. He settled in St. Louis in 1814, and subsecjuently filled 
many important positions, including that of Attorney-tieneral 
of the United States. --Ed. 



John Armstrong, near Gratiot's Grove, where 
they worked a wet mine. They "ran up a water 
level," and cleared 13,000 in eighteen months. 
The mineral after smelting, was sent to Galena. 
A tax of one tenth was paid by the smelters to 
the government. 

In the summer of 1832, he "sauntered about," 
staying for awhile at Funk's Block-house, as he 
had an excellent rifle, whose services the in- 
mates of the Block-house were anxious to retain. 
In the autumn of that year, Hawthorn went to 
St. Louis, there bought a horse, and rode all 
the way to the Hudson river, a two months' trip, 
passing through Vandalia, Indianapolis and 
Chillicothe. He paid |65 for his horse, and sold 
it in Orange Co., N. Y., for $100. 

The next spring, 1833, he came by way of Buf- 
falo to Detroit. The stage then ran westward 
from Detroit only to St. Joseph, from which lat- 
ter place he got conveyance by wagon to Chicago 
and Ottawa. From Ottawa he went by steam- 
boat to St. Louis, and thenceto Dubuque, where 
the excitement over the new lead discoveries 
was then at its height. Dubuque then consisted 
of a few miners' shanties. Anticipations proved 
delusive. But little lead was found; cholera 
made its appearance, and as we may infer, a 
stampede ensued. In October, 1833, Hawthorn 
returned to Green county, and located the farm 
where he still lives, two miles south of what is 
now Monroe. 

He relates that in the ensuing winter, as he 
was one day coming in from making rails in the 
woods, he saw his cabin door standing open the 
wrong way. Some Indian guns were standing 
outside, which he might have got possession of, 
had he retained proper presence of mind. He 
first stood in the door with his ax drawn, but 
then sprang for his own rifle which was hang- 
ing inside. He did not see an Indian ])ass him, 
but when he got back to the door, the nearest 
one was standing some distance away, with gun 
raised ready to shoot. The others were out of 
sight. Thirty or forty dollars in silver were in 
his saddlebags, but the attention of the Red- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



225 



Skins had been so closely given to his stock of 
cold victuals that they had made no other 
plunder. 

Joe Paine, who afterwards killed a man and 
left the country, William Wallace and J. R. 
Blackmore, both formerly employes of Deviese 
at Exeter, and Andrew Clarno, were in the same 
vicinity before him. All had but twenty acres 
broke when Hawthorn came. Clarno broke his 
first land in 1830 or 1831. Hawthorn thinks 
wilh Deviese, that it was in 1830 that Skinner 
and Neal opened the diggings north of Monroe. 
After Hawthorn came Hiram Rust, Capt. Ross 
and others. 

The first marriage in the settlement was 
that of Blackmore to Wallace's daughter, 
in the fall of 1834. Hawthorn was mar- 
ried next, in 1836; and after him, Cameron. 
The first white child born in Green county was 
Charles R. Deniston, in 1834. 

"Uncle Jimmy" is still living on the farm 
that he opened in 1833, and, though not married 
till the age of thirty-nine, has raised thirteen 
children, some of whom are already pioneering 
in the far west. He is still a hale, jolly man — 
well-to-do in the world, and likely to remain 
therein for years to come.* 

French Lake. 

French Lake is, in the fullest accei^tation of 
the term, an original character. Pie is one ot 
nature's greatest successes in the line of oddi- 
ties. No connected narrative could be obtained 
from him, he was so fearful of getting into 
print. 

He is a Virginian by birth, having begun life 
in that part of the Old Dominion which was 
devastated by the Potomac army. He is still a 
Virginian; has visited his native region since 
the war; is as bitter over its ruin as any lover 
of the "Lost Cause" can possibly be; and "</o(?.<< 
not wish to be identified loith Wiscofisin at (ill,'''' 
tiiuugh a resident since May, 1828. " 



*lIo is now (1884) living with Thomas Millman, his son-iu 
law, in the town of Clarno, in good henlth, but with mind 
weiikcnod by age. — Eu. 



Woe betide the writer hereof, should this 
sketch ever come to the eyes of "old Lake." 
When I was first introduced to him on the 
street, a dozen men had gathered in the corner 
store to see what manner of reception I would 
meet. As I proceeded to make my wishes 
known, I was somewhat apprehensive, after all 
that I had been told, of his ample cowhide 
boots; but all went well until the idea of publi- 
cation began to develop, when, with an em- 
phatic and profane explosion, he bolted for the 
other side of the street. Nothing daunted, 
however, I gave pursuit, and the final result 
was a promise that if I could find my way out 
to his place some day he would talk over old 
times. 

He lives in "Spring Grove Woods," about 
eight miles southwest of Brodhead, and four or 
five miles southeast of Juda. Like all the old 
Virginian and Peimsylvanian settlers of this 
region, he had selected the close vicinity of a 
spring as the necessary place to build; and so I 
found him living close by the site of his original 
cabin, which is still standing, though built 
thirty-five years ago, and surrounded on all 
sides by heavy timber, with his nearest plow 
land nearly half a mile away. He owns, if I 
remember rightly, over 1,200 acres of land, all 
valuable timber or plow land. He raises large 
numbers of horses, sometimes keeping them 
strangers to the harness till eight or ten years 
old, refusing all offers, even though extravagant; 
while, on the other hand, a man that strikes his 
fancy may very likely get a team at half the 
real value. In all other traffic he is no less ec- 
centric. 

I obtained from him an account of the battle 
of the Pecatonica, which he had received from 
a young fellow called "Pony Fletcher," who 
was a participant; but after all that has been 
said about that little fight, it is hardly worth 
while to add yet another version. * * * 

Lake left Blue Mounds in the autumn of 1833. 
After the opening of the land office at Green 
Bay, he, with a few others, went thither to enter 



226 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



land. They went to Fort Winnebago, and fol- 
lowed down the Fox river, walking the wiiole 
distance except tlie last day's journey, for which 
they hired passage in a canoe. 

On his return, he, with another man, took a 
contract to furnish the troops at Fort Winnebago 
with hay, and spent the autumn in hay making 
upon the Portage marshes. They made well at 
it, earning from $:5 to |4 each per day — no small 
sum in those days. 

He settled at his present abode in May, 1836, 
living for many years a bachelor; but is now a 
widower, with growing sons and daughters. 
And, with all his peculiarities, the State has 
many citizens whom it could better spare than 
French Lake.* 

Y. BY EDWARD D. BEOUCIIARD, 1876.f 

I presume an old pioneer, who has resided in 
Wisconsin for fifty-seven years, will not appeal 
in vain to the State Historical Society for space 
to set aright his own services, and to vindicate 
the truth of history. 

I was born in Montreal, Canada, Oct. 4, 1804, 
and left there in the spring of 1816, for the 
Selkirk colony on Red river; went there in the 
canoes of the Hudson Bay Fur Company, and 
paid |>45 for my passage. While there, I was 
employed by the fur company to go on business 
through the Cariboo mountains to the Pacific 
coast. After many hardships and adventures, I 
returned to the Selkirk settlement; and, in the 
fall of 1819, went to Prairie du Chien. 

Dr. Moses Meeker, in his narrative, in the 
sixth volume of collections of the State Histor- 
ical Society, has stated that Col. James John- 

*Mr. Lake is styj ^884) living at his old homo. 
+In a sketch of several Greoil county pioneers, which was 
printed some years ago, retiection was made on the character 
of Mr. Beouchard, charging him with having burned the 
buildings, goods and tools of Wm. Dev.ese and .lohn Dough- 
erty at Sugar Kiver Diggings— this, apparently, in revenge, 
on account of some disagreement with Douglierty. It was 
added that Mr. Beouchard was a boastful, re\engeful, worth- 
less fellow. Also, several of the facts related in Dr. Beou- 
chard's narrative given in Smith's History of Wisconsin, 
were disputed and contradl'ted; and Mr. Beouchard was fur- 
ther spoken of disrfSpectfuliy. The sketch spoken of was 
that written by Albert Sa.isbury to be lound in this chapter; 
but the reflections upon Mr. Beouchard we have in this con- 
nection thought best to omit. Mr. Salisbury made them on 
the avithority and dictation of Mr. Deviese and French Lake. 
What these several allegations were will suflicieiitly appear 
in Mr. Beouchard's denial.— Ed. 



son came to Galena in 1822, I desire to set this 
error aright. I was, in that year, at Prairie du 
Chien, running a keel-boat on the Mississippi 
for Jean Brunet and one Disbrow. Col. Rich- 
ard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, was then stop- 
ping at Prairie du Chien — the same who had 
served at the battle of the Thames, and has 
since figured so prominently in public life. It 
was then that Old Buck, a Fox Indian, not a 
Winnebago,came to Prairie du Chien to sell some 
diggings he had on Fevre river, near Galena. 
Col. R. M. Johnson, in the fall of that year, 
hired the boat of the owners, Brunet and Dis- 
brow, and they sent me down with him, in 
charge of the boat, to Fevre river; and I had 
orders that if Johnson bought the diggings of 
the Indian, Old Buck, and wanted some help to 
put ixp cabins, to remain and assist him in the 
matter. He bought the diggings, and I aided 
in putting up three houses in 1822. Johnson 
then started for Kentucky, and left at the dig- 
gings Thomas January, Amos Farrar,one Ander- 
son, nick-named "Kentuck," myself, and two 
other Frenchmen, one of whom was named Tre- 
panere and the other Barney. I sent back the 
boat and hands to Brunet; and by request of 
Johnson, and consent of Brunet, I staid there 
that winter, Johnson never returned; but in 
June, 1823, James Johnson, his brother, came 
with provisions, tools and several Negroes. 

Major Legate mentions that Col. Johnson 
sent me with goods with which to buy old 
Buck's diggings. I only conveyed Col. R. M. 
Johnson from Prairie du Chien to Galena, with 
his goods, to buy them. I am certain that it 
is a mistake that anybody came to Galena in 
the fall of 1822 from (Cincinnati ; but a good 
many did come in the spring of 1823. During 
the winter of 1821-22, there were but the six 
of us there all winter, whom I have named. 

After Col. James Johnson's arrival, I quit 
working for the Johnsons, and engaged in the 
employ of A. P. Van Meter and David G. Bates, 
continuing with them until the spring of 1826, 
when I went to digging mineral on my own 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



22Y 



account. I, in comjDany with eight others, went 
prospecting, and discovered the New Diggings, 
and did well there. 

Sometime in August, 1828, in company with 
John Sweetslow and Major Adney as partners, 
I came from the mouth of Big Platte, to Sugar 
River Diggings, at Exeter ; my partners not 
liking the place, soon took their departure. 
About that time Mr. Deviese came there, and 
proposed to join me in digging mineral and 
trading with the Indians, and I accepted his 
offer, but he had no interest in the smelting 
business. We then sent to Galena for provis- 
ions and goods, and in the meanwhile put up 
cabins and went to work. The Indians troubled 
us a good deal. The Winnebago village of 
"Spotted Arm" was about eight miles north, 
and that of "White Breast" about twelve or 
fifteen miles south of our diggings, on Sugar 
river ; each of which had about eight or ten 
Indian houses. Now Mr. Deviese knew very 
well that he could not stop there, had I not 
been there myself to keep the Indians off. It 
is well known that Mr. Deviese and I had three 
houses at Exeter, near to each other, with a gar- 
den spot ; we built them as partners, and had an 
equal ownership in them. He says I burnt his 
place to spite a man by the name of Dougherty; 
now that man Dougherty had no property 
there at all, but he had a cabin about a mile and 
a half, east of us ; and I can prove in Mineral 
Point to tins day, that had I felt disposed to do 
so, I could have cow-hided that Dougherty any 
time that I chose. Had I wanted to injure such 
a man, is it reasonable to suppose that I would 
burn my own, and my partner's houses and 
property to sjjite him ? On the contrary, from 
Mr. Deviese's own statement, is it not reasona- 
ble to conclude that the Indians burned them 
during his absence that summer of the war? 

Mr. Deviese makes his statement as though 
I was not at Sugar river during all this early 
period. I was there, however, all the time, up 
to April, 1832, when I left. I did not sell or 
transfer my interest in the liouses and im- 



provements because I intended to return, 
but the war soon breaking out, I did not 
go back until May, 1833. When I departed 
from Sugar river in April, J 832, there was 
not, according to mj' judgment, 5,000 pounds 
of mineral at the diggings. From that time 
until May, 1833, the period during which 
the buildings and property at Exeter, on Sugar 
river, were burned, I state unequivocally that I 
was never nearer Sugar river than the Blue 
Mounds, Mineral Point and Col. William S. 
Hamilton's, at Wiota; I did not, and could not, 
have burned them. Messrs. Deviese and Lake 
have done me great wrong and injustice, to wait 
forty years, and then make such misstatements. 
I never heard of these accusations until I saw 
them published, and cannot imagine any reason, 
why Major Deviese should do so, never having 
had any disagreement him, and he having paid 
me a friendly visit, and spent several days at 
my house in Mineral Point, long since the oc- 
currence of these transactions. As to French 
Lake, it may be that he does it out of revenge ; 
for when I commanded the fort at the Blue 
Mounds, I was obliged several times to reprove 
him. 

The battle of the Pecatonica occurred on the 
16th of June, 1832. Mr. Deviese says that one 
man came up after the battle, "spoiling for a 
fight." He seems to refer to me, for I was the 
first who came. I had command of a party of 
friendly Winnebagoes on foot,* who, of course, 
could not travel as fast as Dodge's command on 
horseback, but I was not more than 400 yards 
behind. When I got up to the battle ground I 
was ahead of my Indian party. Adjt. Wood- 
bridge told me that he had shot one of the hos- 
tile Indians as he was rising the bank on the 
opposite side of the pond. By that time two 
or three of my Indians had overtaken me. I 
told them of the one Woodbridge had shot, 
when they went around the pond, found the 
dead Indian, and brought back his scalp. They 



* Forty-nine in number, as stated by Mr. Beouchard in his 
narative in Smith's History of Wisconsin. 



228 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



also searched in the water, and found the re- 
mainder, eleven in all, securing also the guns 
and lances of the defeated enemy. 

Mr. Deviese says tliat Col. Hamilton was ab- 
sent from his station, Port Hamilton, just after 
the fight was over, and the dead Indians and 
their guns and their lances were found; Col. 
Hamilton came up with his party of friendly 
Menomonees. My Winnebagoes now asked 
Col. Hamilton's Indians to take some scalps; 
they said: "No, the scalps don't belong to us, 
they belong to him" — pointing to Gen. Dodge 
— meaning that they, the Menomonees, were too 
proud to appropriate and display scalps from 
enemies whom they had not slain. 

We then went to Col. Hamilton's fort at Wi- 
ota, and started home. When we arived at the 
fort at Dodgeville, Gen. Dodge ordered me to 
go to the Wisconsin river and collect all the 
Winnebagoes that I could get to go with us to 
Rock river, after the Sacs and Foxes. On 
the 20th of June, 1832, I was ready to start; 
I was then at the Blue Mounds. My horse be- 
ing ready, and while taking leave of my friends, 
George Force and a man by the name of Green, 
started to ride out. Presently we heard the 
firing of guns; I spoke and said that they were 
Indian gutis. On looking in the direction of 
the gun reports, we saw Green running toward 
the fort, and a good many Indians after hi in. I 
threw the baggage off my horse, and started to 
meet him, but the Indians overtook Iiini before 
he got half-way to the fort. I saw a good many 
around him, perhaps fifteen or twenty. On 
reaching the fort, I told the people, and then 
started for Gen. Dodge's at the Dodgeville fort 
about half-past eight in the morning. I reached 
there at 10 o'clock, and gave the general intel- 
ligence of the presence and depredations of the 
Indians. I then returned to the Blue Mounds, 
and found that two men had gone after Thomas 
McCraney and his family, who were then living 
on their place between the Mounds and Peter's 
Grove, and I started after the body of Green, 



brought it into the fort, and we buried it the 
next day. 

Previously, on the 0th of June, when Capt. 
James Aubrey was killed, I started out from 
the fort by myself to get his body, and after I 
had gone a half mile or so, John Dalby and 
Jefferson Smith came after me on horse back to 
assist me, and we got the captain's body and 
brought it in. I had, on that occasion, asked 
Lieut. Force to go with me, to get Capt. Au- 
brey's body, but he refused to go, and I told him 
if he got killed, and was only six feet off, I 
would not go for his bod3^ When Force and 
Green were killed, on June 20, and I went and 
got Green's remains, and brought them to the 
fort, they asked me if I would hold, spite against 
a dead man. I replied that I would do what I 
said, whether a man was dead or alive, and 
Lieut. Force's body lay where it fell for four 
days. 

While at Gen. Dodge's, my orders about go- 
ing to the Wisconsin, to collect Winnebagoes, 
were countermanded. Four days afterward. 
Gen. Dodge and his troops came to the Blue 
Mounds fort, buried Lieut. Force, Col. Gratiot 
being present at the burial. Gen. Dodge told 
me that I would have to go with the army to 
pilot them to Rock river, and if need be, to act 
as interpreter. After preparations we started, 
and kept on until we got out of provisions; 
when we reached Fort Winnebago, my horse 
got lame, and I w\as sent back as express to 
Dodge's Fort. I remained there until the bat- 
tle of the Wisconsin, when I was ordered with 
a party of men to go to Helena to build rafts, 
on which to cross the army in pursuit of the 
fleeing enemy. 

The next morning after we got there, one of 
the guards told me that my horse and others 
were in the field of Mrs. Green. I jumped up 
and ran into the field, the grass and everything 
was wet, and I got wet up to my neck and by 
10 o'clock I was ahnost speechless. Gen. 
Dodge sent me back to his fort, with some other 
men, who had lame horses, or were themselves 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



229 



unwell. I remained there until after the battle 
of Bad Ax. After the capture of Black Hawk, 
I had to go to Rock Island to make my return 
to the commissioner, Gen. Winfield Scott, of 
my agency at the Blue Mounds, and of the de- 
livery to me, at the Mounds, of the captive Hall 
girls, by the Winnebagoes. When Capt. James 
Aubrey was killed at the Blue Mounds, I, as 
lieutenant, succeeded in command at the fort 
there. So soon as Gen. Dodge came, he ordered 
an election for captain, and I was beaten by 
one vote. Col. Gratiot, Indian agent, then ap- 
pointed me his sub-agent, to look after and care 
for the Winnebagoes about the Mounds. On 
my return to the Blue Mounds, I was ordered to 
Fort Winnebago, to receive four Winnebago 
Indians, who had joined the Sauks during the 
war. I staid there until they were brought to 
me, and I delivered them to Capt. Plympton, 
commander at that place, and there I was dis- 
charged, Nov. 19, 1832. 

Now, I do not want to speak of a man after 
he is dead; but for the sake of truth, I must 
say oiie thing about the rescue of the Hall 
girls, as given by John Messersmith in Gen. W. 
R. Smith's History of Wisconsin. Had I seen 
the account before, I would have given it a no- 
tice. Mr. Messersmith says that an express 
came to the Blue Mounds, and they found that 
the dispatch with which he was charged was on 
public business, and they prevailed on me to 
open it, as perhaps it would be of benefit to us 
all. 

In the first organization of the militia at the 
Blue Mounds, I was elected first lieutenant; Mes- 
sersmith, McCraney and some others did not like 
to be commanded, using a rough prefix to the 
word, by a "foreigner," and the same rude lan- 
guage was used at the election for captain, 
after Aubrey's death. 

Now I leave it to anybody that knows me, if 
I would go to men who were mj- enemies for 
informalion or instruction. No, sir: it is well 
known that at that time the commander, in ad- 
dition to his military duties, acted as postmas- 



ter; now this express arrived there after Capt. 
Aubrey's death, and I, as lieutenant, had suc- 
ceeded to the command. There were present 
Col. Ebenezer Brigham, Esau Johnson, John C. 
Kellogg, and others of my friends, who sup- 
ported me. Messersmith had no more to do 
with the letter or express than the man in the 
moon. On getting the letter, I spoke to Col. 
Brigham and others of ray friends, and by their 
advice opened and read it to the crowd; then 
sealed it up, and got a man by the name of 
Henry Starr to take it to Gen. Dodge, who was 
requested to send it on to Col. Gratiot; he did 
so, and Starr returned to the Blue Mounds. 

An old settler, wliom I do not now remem- 
ber, has said that Col. Hamilton went to Du- 
buque and got Menomonee and Sioux Indians 
to the number of 500 for the Black Hawk War. 
This is a mistake, so far as the Sioux are con- 
cerned, for the Sioux and Menomonees were al- 
ways at war; when they met at Prairie du 
Chien, or at other places, they always attacked 
each other. I only saw Col. Hamilton's Indians 
at the battle of the Pecatonica, and I think he 
had thirty or forty, possibly fifty or sixty, and 
all Menomonees; and my Winnebagoes were 
generally about fifty or sixty. But this seems 
to be the way in which history is too often 
written. 

In May, 1833, I returned to my old diggings 
at Exeter. Mr. Deviese was not there. After 
cleaning up what mineral I had there, I went 
to Dubuque and remained there until 1834, 
when I came to Mineral Point, where 1 have 
since resided. I was some time at Centerville, 
on Blue river, and some time at the New Dig- 
gings. 

I have no knowledge of Grant, who is said 
to have given name to Grant river, and since to 
the county of that name. Grant river was so 
called when I first came to Prairie du Chien in 
1819. 

I served as a private in Col. James Collins' 
regiment of Illinois volunteers, from August, 
1.S4T, to July, 1848. 



230 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



For forty-two years Mineral Point has been 
my" lionie, and I am satisfied that none of my 
old neighbors, those who have known me long- 
est and best, and for whose good opinion I care 
the most, will give any credence to unkind and 
unworthy reflections cast upon me. Those who 
know nie best, T am sure, will acquit me of all 
such charges and insinuations as foreign to ray 
character and nature. 

Mineral Point, September, 1876. 

VI. — BY ROBERT L. REAM. 

In the latter part of April, in the year 1838, 
I first visited Madison. I traveled there in 
company with Mr. Wells, who, with a two-horse 
team, was supplying the people of Madison with 
produce from his farm in Green county. 
Madison then consisted of not more than a 
dozen houses, built and in process of erection, 
counting every shanty and cabin within three 
miles of the capitol, and was the only market 
for Green county farmers. 

Mr. Wells and I left Monroe, then called 
New Mexico, in the morning, and reached 
Grand springs, near Sugar river, late in the 
afternoon, and camped there for the night. 
This was before the land there was entei-ed by 
Mr. McFadden,and the springs had not yet been 
named. We built a large log fire (to keep oS. 
the wolves, as Mr. Wells said), and fried our 
bacon and boiled our coffee. The aroma of 
our dainty dishes must have soon filled the at- 
mosphere; for the prediction of Mr. Wells was 
verified in an incredibly short space of time, by 
the surrounding of our camp with prairie wolves 
in droves. Then commenced such a snarling, 
fighting, barking and howling, as I never heard 
before or since. They made the " night hide- 
ous," and kept up the music with a thousand 
and one variations until morning's dawn. 
During the night we chopped down more trees, 
cut them into logs, and kept up a rousing fire, 
the roar and crackle of which made a splendid 
accompaniment to our opposition concert in 
camp, which consisted of Negro melodies and 
camp-meeting songs, which we had learned 



from Hoosier prairie-breakers in Green county, fl 
where it had been my good fortune to serve an 
apprenticeship at prairie-breaking. Thus we 
spent a sleepless night (my first night in Dane 
county). We struck camp early next morning, 
without bidding our recently made acquaint- 
ances a very formal adieu. 

We found the then traveled road very crook- 
ed and winding, and running at almost all 
points of the compass, and when within five or 
six miles of Stoner's Prairie, we halted and took 
observations. After determining the proper 
course to take in the direction of Madison, I 
went ahead with an ax, blazing trees. Mr. 
Wells followed with his team. We struck the 
prairie where George Vroman's farm was after- 
ward located. The road which I then blazed, 
was afterward adopted, by the public, and 
traveled for many years. After passing through 
the prairie, we followed the old trail to Madi- 
son, where we arrived the second day. * * * 

From Madison back to Monroe, there was no 
mode of conveyance, and I made this journey 
on foot, in one day. It was then fully forty 
miles by the meanderings of the road. There 
were no bridges, and I was obliged to wade 
Sugar river and its tributaries as well as sever- 
al large marshes, in some of which the track 
lay knee-deep under water, and I suffered se- 
verely with the rheumatism in consequence 
thereof. In the latter part of May, of the same 
year [1838], I made another trip to Madison, 
when I negotiated with Mr. Peck for the Madi- 
son House, and in the month of June removed 
ray family there and took possession as the land- 
lord.* 

Vll. BY HIRAM BROWN, 1884. 

I was born on the 23d of September, 1803, in 
the town of Sommers, in Holland county. State 
of Connecticut, and about twenty-two or 

*Says Mrs Koseliiie Peck : "The old log- house, which we 
used ns a hotel I'or over a year, thvu leased, or reiiti d t») K. 
L. Ueani, and by him kept as a house of entertaiiiiueiit un- 
til we left th'' place, has since been removed. Mi-. Ream 
was the taihtu' of Vinnio Id am, who was born in the cabin 
after we left it." It is hardly neeessaiy to say that A'innie is 
the famous American sculptor. She is the wife of Richard 
L. Hoxie.— En. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



'J31 



twenty-three miles in a northeast direction from 
the city of Hartford, in that State. When I 
was about three years old my parents moved 
into tlie State of New York and located about 
100 miles west of Albany, in the town of Madi- 
son, Madison county, on the Cherry Valley 
turnpike road, or thoroughfare from Albany to 
Buffalo. My parents lived there till the death 
of ray mother in 1837. My life up to near that 
time was occupied at least till I was about 
twenty-one years of age in assisting father in 
procuring the necessary things for our daily 
living — spiced with some little wanderings as 
to locality to near the time of my majority, but 
always with the knowledge and consent of my 
parents. A part of this time I was at work in a 
cotton mill at low wages (|1 per week, includ- 
ing board and washing) was supposed to be 
learning the trade of managing or overseeing 
the carding room; but they instructed me 
slowly, keeping me most of the time at clean- 
ing the cards. After one month's work at that, 
I could do it as well as the best and as quick 
also; but after some nine month's labor at that 
craft, I bid the cotton-mill good day and sought 
some more lucrative business and found it in 
being a farm hand. I soon was able to com- 
mand the wages of a common hand to-wit: $8 
per month, washing and mending thrown in. 
This was in the summer season ; in the winter 
I found work at threshing out grain with a flail 
and got every tenth bushel of wheat, and for 
rye and oats I sometimes got every eighth or 
ninth bushel. Sometimes this included my 
board. At other times I got an occasional job 
of cutting a few cords of wood at twenty-five 
cents per cord and boardbig myself, or twenty 
cents per cord and boarded. The timber was 
mostly beech, sugar and maple. In the spring 
of 1827, I started for Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 
some 250 miles from home ; and there I found 
work with an old school-mate at |10 per month 
and washing. That year, about the 1st of June, 
Gen. La Fayette passed through Fredonia on 
his way e:\st. The nulitary, in that vicinity, 



were all called out to give the general a recep- 
tion, and most nobly did they obey the call, 
thinking themselves highly honored to assist in 
the reception of a man who had assisted, both 
by his sword and purse, the colonies in their 
struggle for that freedom which they were then 
enjoying. 

The general, by special request, took the 
overland route from Cleveland to Fredonia, and 
thence three miles to Dunkirk, where a steamer 
awaited to carry him to Buffalo. It was ex- 
pected that he would arrive about 1 or 2 o'clock 
p. M., so, in order to have things ready at the 
proper moment, they improvised a sort of 
telegraphic communication for some fifteen 
miles above by putting trusty men on the 
housetops along the line with a flag which 
was to be raised as soon as the general arrived 
at the first station; and that was the signal for 
the man at the second station to raise his flag; 
and his flag raised was the signal for the next 
man to raise his; and so on to the last one. But, 
witl) delays and receptions, he did not arrive 
till between 1 and 2 o'clock in the night; then a 
reception-speech and answer, and the military 
passing in review, and each one shaking hands 
with him, detained him so long that it was not 
till sunrise that he reached Dunkirk, w^here the 
steamer was still in waiting to convey him to 
Buffalo. 

Fredonia was illuminated with a lighted can- 
dle at each light of glass in every front window 
and at Buffalo, there was a similar illumination. 

The next winter, by the aid of friends, I got 
a school in a back district, as teacher, at |8 per 
month, and boarded among the scholars. In the 
spring, or forepart of the summer, I attended a 
select school more particularly to get a better 
knowledge of grammar. The teacher was known 
as a good grammarian and a fair writer. These 
comprised most of his qualities as a teacher. 
The next winter I got a school at $ 1 2 per month, 
and the succeeding winter at ^13, atsame place. 
My health not being good, I found light work, 
atteiuling bar at a hotel or tavern, and other 



232 



HISTORY OF GREEN COFNTY. 



light work, till the fall of 1835, when I found 
myself some two and a half miles down the 
Susquehanna, below Wilkesbarre, where I kept 
a school for three terms. I then took a wife 
and started the same day, for Wisconsin, where 
my wife hac^a brother, John Inman. We took 
a steamer at Buffalo, for Michigan City, where 
my wife had several relations; but when we ar- 
rived at Chicago we were politely told if we 
would wait till they got ready they would take 
us there. 

We then took a stage and went to Michigan 
City, where, the next day, John Inman came. 

After a few days spent there in visiting, we 
started for Wisconsin where we arrived on the 
13th day of September, 1836, with provisions 
sufficient to last us five or six weeks, and be- 
tween $84 and $85 in money, without a stove 
or the first hoof of any stock. My wife, for 
some four years, had the charge of her brother's 
son, a lad then some ten or eleven years old. 
She boarded, clothed and schooled the lad for 
four years without any pay, though he supposed 
she was getting her pay quarterly. 

We moved into his (Mr. Inman's) house just 
below Janesville, mine making the eighth fam- 
ily in Rock county. The house was a log one, 
12x14 feet inside, with a fire-place about half in 
the house, and the other half out doors, and the 
chimney entirely outside. The house had one 
window by the side of the door, consisting of 
two lights of glass, 8x10 inches. The door was 
made of shakes nailed to two sticks, with a sort 
of wood hinge. There was a wood latch, the 
same being raised with a string. 

Mr. Inman got a team and went to 
CI)icago for some winter provisions, where 
he got some sour flour at $7 per barrel 
and two barrels of pork, at $20 cash. 
lie also got a few groceries such as coffee, 
tea and sugar with some rice. He there learned 
that his brother with a large family would be 
along in a few days. Finding his load of provis- 
ions heavy, he left one barrel of pork some 
twenty-five miles out from Chicago, which he 



afterward sold for $45. The pork we got was 
of a miserable quality, poor and scant of salt 
and soured. It consisted of heads and shanks, 
hardly affording fat sufiacient to cook itself in; 
but, bad as it was, what with all of us together 
it did not last till January. We could get fish all 
we wanted but we lacked any fat to cook them 
with. No butter, no milk, no grease of any 
kind. 

About Christmas Richard Inman moved on 
to his claim a little above Afton on the east side 
of Rock river. We (that is, my wife; her girl, 
say eleven years old; John Inman and his boy) 
by dint of good management, made our flour 
last until the middle of February, when I went 
to Rockford with one of my neighbors, — he to 
get grain for his horses and I to get flour. There 
had been a thaw the day before we started 
which made it difficult to cross ravines. Some- 
times we had to go up them and at other times, 
down. At Roscoe, we had to cross a small 
stream which was swollen. It was without a 
bridge and the water had washed off the snow 
and left the banks icy and very slippery. A 
person living on the opposite side told us to 
keep up as high as we could and we tried to 
cross according to his direction; but the current 
took both horses and wagon down stream, so 
that my neighbor jumped into the water and 
got hold of the horses bits but could not get 
them over. I then jumped into the water and 
got ahead of him and took hold of one of his 
hands to help him and the team out, but as I 
stood on smooth and slippery ground, I could 
help but little. The man living there then 
waded into the stream and took my hand, by 
which assistance we got the team and wagon 
out and across the stream, but we were wet to 
the middle. We went into the house to dry 
ourselves and finally staid there all night. We 
went to Rockford next day where I bought a 
barrel of flour at $16 offering to take two at $15 
each, which was refused. On our return, we 
passed through Rockton where we.foujid two 
barrels of flour at $15 each of which my neigh- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



233 



bor took one and I took the other. We left 
them there, with the understanding that I 
should take his team and get them home in two 
or three weeks. The Turtle creek atBeloithad 
then became impassable for teams to cross; but 
I got across by the help of some of the half- 
breeds living on the north side, who took me 
across in a canoe, and I made tracks for home. 
When this flour was gone I bought another 
barrel of Daniel Smiley, now living in Alba- 
ny, Wis., paying him |19 for it. When that 
was gone (which was not till after harvest) I 
went to Fox river above Elgin and got flour 
there. Along in April and May, when we had 
to live on flour and tish, we could hardly 
keep body and soul together. As to myself, I 
know I could hardly walk straight from mere 
weakness; but as vegetation came forward we 
got a few greens to boil, and seasoning them to 
some extent with wild onions, they certainly 
made a change of diet and little more relish. 
I also got an old Indian shot-gun about this 
time, and could once in a while get a duck, 
which made a sort of a feast for us. If it was a 
small one, it was better than none at all; but as 
we had some garden and a little corn, and in 
the summer raised some buckwheat, the next 
winter was passed quite comfortable. 

I, that winter, kept a school — the first one 
kept in Rock county, and had for one of my 
scholars Daniel Stone, now living at or near the 
mouth of the Catfish. 

In the spring of 1838 there was to be elected 
in the district then comprising Rock, Walworth, 
Racine and Kenosha counties, three county com- 
missioners and one assessor; — and as there were 
two sets of candidates, there was considerable 
strife as to which should be the successful party. 
As I had previously held some written communi- 
cations with the sheriff of this district, he and 
Fred. S. Lovell came to my house to enlist my 
services toward electing their favorites, in which 
I became a cheerful volunteer; and as I then 
knew every man in the county, it was supposed 
I might be worth to them more than a niere 



voter. As events turned, their friends were 
elected. 

I learned that the assessor could appoint as 
many deputies as he pleased. I made applica- 
tion for the place of deputy assessor for Rock 
county, which I obtained without difliculty; but 
it was necessary that I should go to Kenosha or 
Southport to be sworn into ofiice by the said 
Lovell, who had been appointed as clerk of the 
board of commissioners — distance sixty-five 
miles. This journey I made on foot, there and 
back, in three days. 

There were but few inhabitants at this time 
in Rock county, and none of them on the west 
side of Rock river, nor was there any land to 
assess in the district except on the west side of 
Rock river. After providing myself with plats 
from the land office at Milwaukee, showing the 
entries of lands, I proceeded to the assessment 
of that part of my district. At one time I was 
four days on the west side assessing, using the 
plats as best I could, endeavoring to find at 
night some wood and water near each other. I 
often, when thus assessing, thought what a 
laughable picture I should present to my fi-iends 
at the east, by representing me with a quilt on 
my back for a bed at night, my provisions in a 
sack, with a coffee-pot on the top of my pack to 
make ray coffee in, and a tin dipper to be used as 
occasion might require, — and myself examining 
my plats to see what I should assess. 

It was part of my duty to call to my aid two 
assistants whgn assessing city or village lots. 
There was at this time, no less than four cities 
or villages in each county to be thus assessed, 
some of which had been surveyed and staked 
out and others merely platted on paper. Lots 
were usually assessed at 25 to 30 cents each for 
corner ones, and for inside lots 15 to 20 cents 
each. 

As I passed along, I took something of a de- 
scription of the country for future use. The 
entries were mostly fractions on the river, or 
heavy timber in the interior, and were assessed 
from Si. 50 to S3 per acre. 



234 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



At the time I made ray assessment return to 
the board of coram issioners, the sheriff, Edgar 
R. Huganin, who was ex-officio collector of taxes, 
proposed to rae to collect the taxes in Rock 
county, but thinking it would not prove to be a 
lucrative business, I declined his offer, telling 
hira, however, that I thought I knew a person 
who perhaps would like the position. On in- 
quiry, I ascertained that I could get no one 
whora I would recommend, and so informed 
him by letter. In the latter part of August, or 
fore part of September, he came to Rock county 
to post up some election notices, when he again 
asked to take the collection of taxes in Rock 
county, but as my ideas were that I would not 
get much pay, I again declined. However, I 
made him the offer to do the collecting for fifty 
cents a day, but if I had to be away from home 
over night he should pay my bills. This offer 
he declined to accept ; but still urged me to 
accept the position, saying he would not ask me 
any bonus, and further said he had no doubt 
but that I could made more than fifty cents per 
day clear. He said he would not come there 
and collect the taxes for all he could get. He 
would sooner pay the personal property taxes 
himself than bother with them. 

As I felt under some obligation to him, I 
told him I would take the collection of the 
taxes as we had talked Jibout before, provided I 
could get bondsmen satisfactory. On his re- 
turn home, he sent me a blank bond except as 
to the amount, which I got some of my friends 
to sign, and I returned the same to hira. I 
shortly afterward got the appointment in due 
form to simply collect the taxes due from the 
residents of the county. This would not have 
paid me fifty cents per day, but I got some taxes 
paid by non resident holders of land on the west 
side of the river. 

I had to publish a notice of sale of lands for 
taxes due as delinquent, but as there was no 
newspaper published in either of these counties, 
I had to go to Milwaukee to have the i)ublica- 
tion made as required. When the time came to 



sell the lands, the sheriff was on hand to pay the 
taxes on some lands to the amount of some $30 
more or less. I had to open the sales how- 
ever, and I offered a few pieces of which were 
rapidly sold. I then stopped to take the taxes 
from individual owners of land who were 
present. I soon took in' over |100, and then 
again I coramenced selling, which was done as 
quick as I could call off the description of the 
land with the taxes and costs added. Bidders 
were so plenty that they sat around a large ta- 
ble and each took his turn in the bidding. 
When I finally closed the sale, I found I had 
averaged some $4 per day instead of fifty cents, 
and that after giving Mr. Hugunin the taxes 
which he was to pay me, a prouder fellow in 
rags than myself one did not often meet. 

The next season I bought on time, the land 
on both sides of Bass creek, near its mouth, 
and where Afton now stands; but after putting 
up a house and doing some fencing, I sold out 
the next season, and in the spring afterward re- 
moved to Green county. Two years after my 
settlement in Green county, I was elected as- 
sessor for the four east townships in the county, 
and was re-elected. I was then elected as county 
commissioner and subsequently was honored 
with a seat in the first Constitutional Conven- 
tion. Not far from this time Alvinza Hayward 
proposed to me to buy some law books with 
him and go into the practice of law, I told 
him it was ail proper for him to commence the 
study of law, but as to myself I was too old to 
undertake to study a profession. 

'J'he following winter after the suggestion of 
buying some law books by Mr. Playward, of 
which I have spoken, he went into the pinery 
on the Wisconsin river, and worked in a logging 
camp, and when the raft went out he went with 
it to St. Louis where the raft was sold and he 
was paid off. He then bought -il>130 worth of 
law books and came l)ack to his home in Exeter, 
where he again made the proposition to sell me 
one-half interest in the books, and both study 



^w^ ^^^ 





HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



237 



them as best we might, he keeping a part and I 
a part; we were to exchange as we might desire. 
It becoming known in that neighborhood that 
I had an interest in the books, and rather aspir- 
ing to make myself somewhat acquainted with 
law proceedings, I "was occasionally called upon 
to plead some plain cases, (as most clients have 
plain cases, any way) with Mr. Hayward as op- 
posing counsel. In one of the first suits tried, 
when we called a certain witness on the stand 
to give his testimony in the case, Mr. Haywai'd 
objected *to him, as he intended to impeach his 
testimony. My reply was, that possibly the 
witness might not state any thing objectionable 
to his case, and that, at least, he should wait till 
the witness gave in his testimony before he at- 
tempted to impeach it — to which he said he 
should not object. We were then, both of us, 
as ignorant of the rules of impeachment as we 
were of tli.e Bible, if not more so. After the 
witness had given in liis testimony, Mr. Hay- 
ward called on a man as an impeacliing vvitness, 
and after the iinppacliiiig witness was sworn, 
Mr. Hayward asked him if he was acquainted 
with such a man (witness to be impe.uhed). 
Answer, "yes." Second question: "Would you 
l)eli.eve him under oath?" Answer, "No, I 
would not." He then turned the M'itness over 
tome for cross examination. First question: 
"Has this man ever been convicted of crime, 
punishable by imprisonment for a length of 
time in the States prison, and not pardoned?" 
"No, I dont think he was ever in any States 
prison." Second qu(>stioti : "Do j'ou live near 
nim?" Answer: "Yes." Third question: "Is 
he a fair neighbor?" Answer: "Yes, one of 
the best I ever knew." Fourth question: "Well, 
if a good neighbor, and you have noktidwledge 
of his ever committing a crime, why would you 
not believe him under oath?" Answer: "I once 
heard him say that if he had a brother who had 
perhaps committed a crime (when in reality, 
the person injured was the aggressor), and the 
officers in pursuit should call on me to know if 
my brother was not there, (although I had in re- 



ality secreted him), I would deny it, as was done 
in a case that had occurred in the county some 
time previous — and under like circumstances, 
he would do as that other man had done." 

Counsel for defence asked if I had no other 
questions, as he liked the way I was doing. He 
had merely asked the witness if he would be- 
lieve the witness under oath — but that proved 
the reason why and thus strengthened the point 
beyond a cavil or doubt. In his remarks to the 
court and jury he said the plaintiff had no case, 
as the testimony of the impeached witness must 
be taken for nothing, and that being thrown 
out, we had no case (which was true). 

In answer to Mr. Hayward, I replied that he 
had not impeached our witness at all ; but, if 
there was any impeachment, the impeaching 
witness had impeached himself. He swears he 
would not believe him under oath, and yet he 
believes him some when not under oath, and 
could only make the case applicable when a 
paiallel case was under examination. Such was 
jiot the case then and there to be tried. I 
further stated this riddle for counsel and jury 
to unravel: When a man says he lies, does he 
lie or does he speak tlie truth. If he speaks 
the truth then he lies and if he lies he speaks 
the truth. The jury decided the suit by giving 
me the case, which proved to be a feather in 
my cap. 

Mr. Hayward was admitted to the bar in 
some twelve or fifteen months after, with honor 
to himself and the profession. Some eight or 
ten months after, I bought the other half of the 
law books, and he w^ent to California, and there 
became, in due time, a millionaire; since he 
went there, I have not seen him. 

Subsequently I was admitted to the bar, 
whether well-fledged or not. I have had cases 
when from both evidence and pleadings 
(proper), I ought to have had judgment for 
damages, but got none ; and, at other times, it 
has been the reverse, faithfully proving what a 
lawyer in Hartford, Conn., once told me when 
I went to him for counsel: "We lawyers say 



15 



238 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



that there is a glorious uncertainty in the law," 
which I have found literally true. 

In my peregrinations, I at one time found 
myself in Staffordshire, England ; this was in 
1854. I went there mostly at the request of 
Walter Tait, whose father's family then lived 
in England. It was thought he might have 
some money there belonging to him from en- 
tailed property. The property was entailed to 
Walter 'I'ait's oldest son — had Walter been the 
oldest legitimate son. His mother was married 
twice to the same man; and after some years 
from the first marriage when she had presented 
to her husband some two or three sons and 
some daughters, there was some talk that an- 
other branch of the family might get the en- 
tailed property, and they went over to Scotland 
and were there married again. Walter was the 
only male heir under that marriage. Now if 
he could show that the first marriage was not 
legitimate and thus make the children by the 
first marriage illegitimate (his father being 
dead), then he could inherit a fortune. But 
the law as declared by the highest authority 
(the Chancellor), said, if parties lived together 
as man and wife and were so known among 
their neighbors till one. of them died, they 
would be considered as lawfully married. An 
elder brother after his father's death had got the 
entail cast off, spent the money, and died. Hav- 
ing no further business there, I returned home, 
bringing with me two crates of crockery, which 
I sold in Albany, Green county, after keeping 
out enough to last our life-time, (wife and self) 
and we are now using it. 

VIII. — BY MARGARET m'cOY. 

It was a bright and sunny morning, with a 
pure atmosphere, that seemed to bathe all na- 
ture with gladness, when I left the "Cream 
City." " The world all before me," but not 
" where to choose," as my husband had preced- 
ed and located on a quarter section of town- 
ship 4 north, range 9 east, section 17, 
(now the town of Brooklyn). The warmth of 
the day made only light wraps necessary, and 



as the teamster had placed my baggage in the 
very bottom of the wagon, under a load of sun- 
dry merchandise, such as soap, salt, tea, coffee, 
etc, I was left without a chance to get at 
heavier garments. There were no railroads in 
those days, and it took some days to reach our 
destination. The next day was ushered in by 
a "sun burst," and we were in hopes of fine 
weather, but alas ! for our hopes, the scud- 
ding clouds indicated rain, and the blue mist 
made nature seem in a weeping mood, too soon 
it poured down, arid my situation perched on a 
salt barrel, with only an umbrella and a thin 
shawl as a wrap, was anything but envious. I 
was literally drenched. Soon the wind changed 
north and then froze, but when reaching the 
"Bale Tavern," I was in no need of the many 
inventions we have now-a-days to make clothes 
stiff", as mine were thoroughly so, by the 
process of freezing. I vividly remember my 
getting down from that barrel, and trying to 
induce circulation. Young reader, you who can 
travel in 1884, in your "Cushioned Pullman's," 
cannot realize the hardships of primitive travel- 
ing in 1848. 

After resting at the "Bale Tavern" all night, 
and feeling refreshed, our teamster started the 
third day with hopes of reaching our goal. We 
made as much haste as the horses and roads 
would permit, until within two miles of the 
now thriving town of Evansville, when one of 
the horses took sick. We had to dismount, and 
try to find some place to stay over night. I 
called at a house. I think the name of the 
owner was Foster. The lady of the house was 
at a neighbors, caring for some sick person, and 
had sent a young girl from there to take care 
of her children. I slept with that young girl. 
Next morning I learned from Mrs. Foster that 
my bed-mate was a squaw of the Mackinaw tribe, 
and was a clean, pleasant looking brunette. So 
on we go, through the "grove," as it was then 
called, with only a few houses and the Meth- 
odist church. We pass unheeded — through 
miles of prairie. We pause at a hut to inquire 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



239 



our way, and are told we are not on the riglit 
track. We retrace our steps for a mile and a 
half, when we reach "Father Egglestone's." 
There we stay for dinner, and make the ac- 
quaintance of his wife, a sweet, delicate Utile 
lady. There, also, we met two men to whom I 
had given a letter of introduction to my hus- 
band while in Milwaukee. lie helped them to 
locate on a quarter section. Soon we reach the 
log mansion secured by my husband from a 
widow, who had buried her husband and was 
going to Walworth county with her two chil- 
dren — one of w'hom is our present townsman, 
Mr. Roots. 

I well remember knocking at the door, and, 
"like patience on a monument," standing lean- 
ing against the rough portal (as I did not then 
enter), inquired where Mr. McCoy was. There 
were three women there; two were wives to 
those Fee brothers whom I met in Milwaukee. 
The third was a Mrs. Shell, whose husband had 
come from Poland with Mr. Root. One of the 
ladies sat in Ara\)ic fashion, as chairs were 
minus. 

I was told "he was off chopping, and the} 
did not know where, as they could nol 
cross the fence lot lest they would gel 
lost." I asked in what direction. "Oh, he 
goes by tlie back of the house." So by the 
back of the house I went, and took a straight 
line for the next settlement through the marsh, 
and at length reached a house where the lady 
was pulling up beets for the winter's use. Her 
husband sat beside her in the garden, on a chair, 
as he was in the last stage of consumption, and 
died in about three weeks afterwards. His 
name was Carpenter. In answer to my in- 
quiries he told me to turn an angle of his fence 
and I would come before long to where Mr. 
McCoy's lot was. I followed his directions, but 
soon "tired nature" asserted her rights, and I 
sat down to listen for the sound of an ax. Yes! 
there it was, as the echo reverberated through 
the Avoods; soon it ceased, and shortly after I 
espied a man in the distauoe, whose walk I 



knew, emerging from a tangled opening, with 
an ax on his shoulder, dressed in a swallow- 
tailed English broadcloth coat, pants of the 
same, fancy vest and a silk beaver stove-pipe hat, 
with seventeen blisters on his hands, his busi- 
ness suit being in our baggage, which I then 
brought. On reaching our future abode, the 
teamster deposited the freight, was paid, went 
his way, and I must here describe the interior. 
There was a cook-stove, two trunks belonging 
to the Fee's, and a bedstead in one corner, 
formed of poplar poles, which had been made 
by the lady who owned the house, for her hus- 
band had been an invalid and died a short time 
previously. By way of courtesy, the Fee's ex- 
temporized pallets "up chamber," and left me 
tiie bedstead. Our trunks served us for chairs, 
and a large "chest" which had seen "marine 
service," was a substitue for a table, rather out 
of character with the damask linens which 
sometimes covered it. When he went to Mil- 
waukee to buy lumber for our house he pur- 
chased cliairs, table, bedstead and a crib. The 
hunber was brought out by teams which hauled 
produce, etc. We lived in the log house the 
first winter, which needed no modern modes of 
habitation, I assure you. The great problem of 
housekeeping was now to be solved, and being 
a novice in that line, I had to gather informa- 
tion from every one who was within reach. My 
next neighbor, Mrs. Shell, was very kind on all 
occasions. Then there was Mrs. Gray, and 
Mother Stopp, who was verily a " Queen of 
Cuisine." I thought if others knew how, I 
could learn also. Here my first lesson in wash- 
ing linens was rather severe. Not having soft 
water, we had to "cleanse," and so I in my ig- 
norance put a tripple portion of lye in the hard 
water. Consequence, fingers stripped of the 
skin. I never repeated the operation. The 
winter was severe, but as our wardrobe was 
ample, we did not suffer. But there were rails 
to haul and a yoke of oxen were bought, and a 
Bled manufactured most primitively, -which de- 
serves a designation here. It was of sawed 



240 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



timber, generally done at "Winneshiek saw- 
mill," and having holes bored for four 
stakes at one (the back) end a chain fastened 
across, with a few boards on the bottom and one 
at each side, formed the box. When we "went 
to meeting" or visiting we threw a quilt over 
the chain, and thus formed a seat, protected 
from the wintry blast. I must not let our oxen 
pass unnoticed. Had I the genius of a Scott 
or a Dickens, they should be immortalized in 
histor}'^ or song, beyond a "Marda," or a "Linda," 
for many times they outstripped in speed the 
the horses of our neighbor on the road to Ex- 
eter meeting. As there were then no "excur- 
sions" or "picnics," or "apple parings," we had 
to depend on the wild grapes, currants, plums, 
etc., of Sugar river the winter was environed 
by "bees" of various nature, combining pleas- 
ure and profit. There were chopping, sausage, 
sewing, quilting, and many a kind mother was 
thus helped along. 

"Our neighborhood" then took in a circle of 
three miles or more, and in sickness every one 
outdone the next in "helping," and many were 
the social gatherings enjoyed. One I remem- 
ber well, held at Amos Kirkpatrick's, where 
John Dalrymple now resides. The elder ladies 
met to sew, the men to chop. The day was 
cold, but the thermometer stood high (had there 
been one there) under that hospitable roof. 
The young people staid to "trip the light fan- 
tastic toe" until "the wee sma' hours," but we 
sober matrons left early. After wrapping and be- 
ing seated in our model sled, I found I had for- 
gotten my furs, so Mr. McCoy returned to the 
house for them, which he had no sooner done 
than off went Buck and Bright like an arrow 
over the "spring run," up the hill, down to the 
dale, across the creek, dashed along heedless of 
any oxen lore I possessed, my whoas only ac- 
celerated their speed. At length, and in a short 
time too, they reached the gate. I got out, 
opened it, then very instinctively they turned 
around an angle and went straight for a hay 
stack. I then entered the "cabin," started a 



fire, put on the tea kettle, had it boiling when 
my husband came in, almost breathless after a 
run of two miles. We sometimes went with 
said oxen to the south corner of the township 
to meeting. At one time a humorous incident oc- 
curred, A man arose to clear a local preacher 
of the charge of stealing corn. He said he had 
a line from father, and that the bag, instead of 
corn, only had a beetle and wedges. Thus "the 
spice of life" kept ennui at a distance. Every 
one seemed hopeful, because they were young 
and had an object to work for. The spring of 
1849 came, and with it new work. We had our 
house to build, which was done by Mr. Lozin, 
and as we are fond of the antique^ we still reside 
in it, with some "additions" as the family needs 
increased. The lumber was hauled from the 
lakes. That year prices for produce were low; 
we bought our wheat at twenty-five cents per 
bushel, our pork at |2.50 dressed, flour |1.50 
per hundred-weight, potatoes twenty cents per 
bushel, corn eighteen cents per sixty pounds 
shelled, I remember a young man bringing a 
load of barley to Milwaukee, and after being 
seven days on the road came home with two 
cents, as the proceeds of his load. What an ar- 
gument in favor of railroads! 

We had to go five miles for our mail, to the 
village of Exeter; when oxen were busy on the 
farm had to walk. Exeter was notable for its 
mineral then, and also for there being a store, 
postofiice and tavern. Here we were waited on 
by the clerk in Mr. Safford's store, who has 
since made his mark in the county as merchant, 
banker, etc., and never forgets his early friends. 

I think our township was early an advocate 
of temperance. Once a "raising" was being 
held in a joint district, and, in the absence of a 
good meal, a whisky jug was introduced, when 
the men staggered around as if drunk, with it 
in their hands, until they broke it and spilled 
its contents on the ground. 

We were indebted to the visits of a colporteur 
for the books used in our Sunday-school, and as we 
had no stated ministry, we were from time to 



1 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



241 



time favored with preachers of widely different 
theological views — sometimes it was a Method- 
ist or a Congregationalist, or a Mormon/ or a 
Christian, a Universalist, etc. One I remember 
who still lives, made use of such "highfalutine" 
phrases that he appeared to belong to the "Par- 
tington" school. 

Time passed on in its course, town duties 
loomed up, and though the ladies never had 
"their say" in the business, yet I think there 
were many who did their share in the work, for 
instance, when the "braves" were in town coun- 
cil at dry prairie rendezvous, Mrs. Anderson, 
wife to Jerry, and his daughter, Mrs. H. Allen, 
made them many a rich repast, disdaining re- 
muneration, and in latter years, when our "un- 
pleasantness" called for husbands and sons, 
many resigned them to their Nation's need, one 
or whom bitterly remarked (who had lost her 
husband in camp), that she had a notion to erect 
a hospital for the lame or sick Yankees, and 
unnaturalized foreigners. 

The Flora of the woods in the spring was de- 
lightful to the vision. Many a time have I 
looked in rapture on their varied hues — the 
anemony, cowslip or shooting star, lupine, and 
bitter-sweet, woodbine, and so on, were the only 
sources of aesthetic enjoyment. Combined with 
the ornithology of the woods, we could study 
nature in the grandeur of its primitive state, 
before the rude ax desolated the forests — but 
tliere was more real, earnest work to do. The 
fields had to be formed by "breaking," stones 
dug up, "grubs" taken away and burned, fences 
made, etc., and then came the harvests rich in 
grain, but the "one man" had to "cradle," rake 
and bind, and do all the out-door chores alone, 
except when he was fortunate to be near a 
neighbor where he could "change work." 
Money was scarce — this was no Eldorado. Many 
had to keep tneir taxes long before, lest they 
could not find enough at the time. The coarsest 
garments were worn; at one time a lady asked 
in a store for to look at "poverty," meaning a 
kind of material which went by the name of 



"hard times." Many of our early pioneers had 
both energy and brains, and had there been the 
chances then there are now for making money, 
they would have been successful — but the dis- 
tance, to market, and financial depression in 
1848 were great drawbacks. 

Twenty-five of the men who voted at the first 
town meeting, held at Nelson Patterson's house, 
were voters in 1873. Now only ten remain in 
town, on the farms they first entered from Un- 
cle Sam. Their names are Anson Starkweather, 
Harvey Starkweather, James Eggleston, Frank- 
lin Patterson, William Smyth, Emery and Jona- 
than Smyth, Willis Hazeltine and James M'Coy— 
some have retired to towns, and many more are 
gone the way of all the earth. So time passes. 

IX. BY J. R. CROCKER, 1884. 

Uncle Tom Bowen, who lived south of Mon- 
roe on the State line one mile north of Oneco, 
111,, started with a double team of horses in the 
month of May, 1842, for Chicago to get his 
niece, her two children and your humble ser- 
vant and bring us to my uncle's, Stephen Estee, 
who lived over two miles east of Oneco. I 
came up the lakes with my aunt and her two 
children, Daniel and Abigail Estee, in the beau- 
tiful steamboat Great Western. In consequence 
of a heavy sand bar at the mouth of Chicago 
river our boat could not come up to the wharf, 
but remained outside until by the aid of two 
immense scows, she was unloaded of her goods 
to such an extent that she passed over the bar 
and alongside of the wharf about 3 o'clock p. m. 
All this time I was making good use of my 
eyes looking at the panorama. Old Fort Dear- 
born was in a dilapidated state, the palisades 
were broken down, but the block houses were 
well preserved. On looking up the river I could 
see a long line of low wooden buildings on the 
left hand bank, while on the right hand they 
were more scattered. I was not quite twenty- 
two, and as a consequence was unconscious of 
the flight of time, being very much absorbed in 
what was going on. Just at this critical junc- 
ture I heard my name shouted "Crocker." On 



242 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



looking around I perceived my aunt and her 
two children being hurried off on the double- 
quick by a large burly man who proved to be 
Uncle Tom Bowen. The next morning we 
were off early; I was seated on the top of dry 
goods boxes clinging to the ropes that fastened 
them to the wagon box to keep myself from being 
precipitated into the sloughy marshes under the 
wagon wheels. At the end of nine miles we 
struck hard ground; the horses were covered with 
mud and water and they panted severely. We 
were all of us glad to get off the wagon on to 
the ground and rest up. The journey the rest 
of the way was delightful. The prairie schoon- 
ers attracted my attention very much. They 
were large wagons covered with wliite canvas, 
filled with pork, bacon, white beans, and lead 
from the mines, drawn by oxen, from three to 
five yoke being hitched to a wagon. 

Finally, on the 19th of May, we landed at ray 
uncle's. We shoved the boxes on to the ground 
and Uncle Tom 'scud' for home. The next Sun- 
day we started on foot for Uncle Tom's (myself 
and uncle). The first thing that attracted my 
attention was a carding machine on Richland 
creek, where subsequently I played Paddy with 
a wheelbarrow fixing the dam. This carding mill 
was owned and run by Mr. Rossman and was 
in sight of Oneco village. Just across from the 
carding mill and somewhat up stream, lived 
Grandpa Winchell and family and his son-in- 
law George West, who was an own brother to 
my aunt, Armida Estee, with whom I had come 
up the lakes. As Winchell and West had been 
here some time they had quite a start for new- 
beginners. On passing up the valley to John 
K. Brewster's house, we met a tame deer with 
a large red band about his neck. As this was 
the first deer I had ever seen I was very much 
interested. On arriving at Brewster's I found 
as nice a man and woman as ever broke bread — 
no wonder they were universally popular. Bisil 
Belknap and wife and family lived in a house 
quite convenient to the same spring of water. 
Mr. Belknap afterwards helped me put up a log 



house just into Dane county. Here I was in- 
troduced to Author Smith, who was afterward 
murdered for his money, just below Monticello 
in the township of Mount Pleasant. The next 
house was Uncle Tom Bowen's. I found Aunt 
Eliza Bowen and family living right up to the 
handle and in a splendid condition. 

The year before Uncle Tom, his two oldest 
girls, Ann and Avis and Author Smith had 
raised on the farm 4,000 bushels of grain. 

Think of this ye boys and girls of to-day. On 
going out back I beheld a little village of corn 
cribs filled to their very summits with corn. 
At this time corn was but ten cents a bushel. 
Uncle Tom declared very emphatically that he 
would not take less than twenty-five cents a 
bushel for that corn and he would be d — d if 
he would take any more. I think the ensuing 
winter was called the "hard winter," and people 
came from far and near to him for corn, hence 
his place was called "Egypt." When asked 
why he did not take a dollar a bushel for his 
corn, he replied he had given his word and 
sealed it with an oath, that twenty-five cents 
was all he would take and that he would not 
peril his soul's salvation by taking more. I 
could tell a good many anecdotes of Uncle Tom, 
but one more must suffice. One day he had 
snapped his rifle three times at a deer before it 
run; Tom came to the house in high dudgeon. 
Sitting down before his fire-place he commenced 
warming the lock (it was a pill lock) and snap- 
ping it. After a while he sat down in a chair, 
laying the gun across his lap with the muzzle 
pointed across the room, and commenced snap- 
ping as before. His oldest girl, Ann, was op- 
posite at a chest of clothes. She had pulled out 
a pillow case, and, just as she let the lid fall 
back to its place, the gun went off, the ball pass- 
ing through both legs just above the knees, 
striking the chest lid in its descent, i)lunged 
into one corner of tiie chest and made a little 
mouse nest in its gyrations among the frag- 
I ments. In an instant Uncle Tom sprang, caught 
i her in his arms, laid her on the bed, straddled a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



243 



horse and shot like an carrow for the doctor. 
Dr. Bankston after a thorough examination of 
the wounds exclaimed, "Bowen you could not 
do that again if you should shoot a thousand 
times. The ball has not touched a bone nor a 
cord nor an artery. If the girl had been stand- 
ing up straight and firm the ball would have 
made serious work." As it was the wounds 
healed rapidly. 

Sometime in June, 1842, my uncle, Capt. Estee, 
Author Smith and myself, went "claim hunting," 
as it was called, up into Dane county. We 
stopped for dinner at Uncle John Porter's, who 
lived on the Camp and Collins' place. His 
daughter, Almida, did the honors of the occasion. 
After dinner we went into the village. It must be 
remembered that Old Exeter was a mining town 
and was filled with bachelors, old and young. 
They were discussing fast and furious (whisky 
was cheap in those days), which was the pret- 
tiest girl anywhere around. The balance was 
trembling between Old Durgin's girl and Miss 
Porter. We three cast our votes for Miss Porter 
— we would not go back on the girl that got us 
a good dinner. Miss Porter subsequently mar- 
ried John Ferguson and raised a large family of 
nice children, and she is so well preserved in 
form and features that it would be a sin to call 
her an old woman. 

On our way back to Oneco, we crossed Lii- 
tle Sugar river where Gillette's cheese factory 
now stands, and bearing southwest, crossing 
over high ridges. About noon we came to a 
man shingling a log house, on the top of a ridge. 
It proved to be Uncle Sylvester Hills. He said 
he could not let us have dinner, as his family 
had not moved up yet. He directed us to keep 
on the top of the ridge until we got to a certain 
point, when we should turn to the left, go down 
into a valley, where a young married couple by 
the name of Bragg, lived. He was very partic- 
ular to tell us that the maiden name was Noble, 
and a noble woman she proved to be, and she 
got dintier for us in forty minutes, baking bis- 
cuit, boiling potatoes and making tea. We ate 



with thankful hearts, paid our hostess in silver, 
returned many thanks and went our way. On 
the inside of three years ago, I rode to her house 
with Mr. Whitoomb, the music teacher. After 
awhile we sat down to dinner. It was a long 
extension table well supplied with the solid 
comforts of life, but above all it was surrounded 
with rosy cheeked girls and boys, to be a stay, 
a staff and support to them in their declining 
years. It so happened that I sat opposite Mrs. 
Bragg at the table. I says to her, "you have 
forgotten me." She did not recognize me even 
then. I recalled the facts to her. She laughed 
heartily and said the reason why she got dinner 
so quick, was that she was all alone and that she 
was as fraid as death of us, and got rid of us as 
soon as possible. She wanted to know what 
had become of the other two men. I told her 
that Smith was murdered, for his money, in less 
than two years, and that Capt. Estee, of com- 
pany H, of the Eagle regiment (the 8th), was 
severely wounded at the assault on Vicksburg, 
May 22, 1863, and died September following, 
and I alone was left to tell her. 

Coming back to Uncle Hills: He lived to a 
good old age and was gathered to his fathers. 
He raised a large family of nice children, hav- 
ing been married twice. One of his boys, a 
tow-headed youngster, went to school to me 
when I taught in the early forties in the Amos 
Sylvester district. Since then this boy has 
come to man's estate, has married the Hon. R. 
E. Davis' sister, and both, that is the sister and 
young Sylvester, are keeping the Nichols 
House in Albany, Green county, where you can 
be done up brown for |2 a day. We reached 
Oneco in due time. Shortly after this, Smith 
got Mr. Belknap's horse, mounted into the sad- 
dle, went to old Mr. Shock's, on Green's 
Prairie, and finally drifted into Dane county, 
and made three claims, one for each of us. We 
loaded up two ox teams and started back im- 
mediately. We hired a yoke of cattle of Capt. 
Leonard Ross and went to breaking on sections 
29 and 30, town of Montrose. By the next 



244 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



summer, Estee and Smith had altered ther no- 
tions. My uncle settled south of Belleville, in 
Green county, and Smith went on to section 17, 
the township of Mount Pleasant. 

Author Smith and I were together the most 
of the time until he moved below Monticello. 
We cut hay on Sugar river flats twenty days 
and laid on the soft side of a puncheon floor and 
ate boiled redhorse tish instead of meat. We 
bunched our hay with wooden forks and took a 
yoke of cattle and a wooden sled to haul the 
hay off' with. One day while engaged at this 
work old John Armstrong shrieked to us. We 
run up on a high bank and he showed us a very 
large white wolf. It was a monster in size, so 
much so that we thought it was an Indian pony. 
I have seen him once since. About three years 
ago Frank Smith and myself saw a white wolf 
on nearly the same ground — a very large one. 

The last of September my father and mother 
and two brothers came on from the town of 
Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. My father had 
not been with Smith more than ten minutes be- 
fore he found out that his father had been my 
father's old school teacher in Vermont. As 
you may suppose our entire family became very 
much attached to him. Smith boarded with us 
until he went below Monticello, and made an- 
other claim, and just before he was killed he 
was up to our house for seed potatoes and other 
things. He was the living embodiment of good 
health and robustness. He was above the me- 
dium height, well-built and heavy limbed, with 
black hair and eyes and rosy cheeks. He was 
very retiring and quiet in manner, but warmed 
up to intimate friends, and even after the lapse 
of forty years we feel wonderfully stirred when 
we think of him. 

The other day (Monday, April 28, 188-i,) 
while standing on the ground where he was 
foully murdered* my breast was torn with con- 
flicting emotions, the warm mist came to my 
eyes, and I would have restored him to life if 

* Three-fourth's of a mile southeast of Monticello, ou the 
Sugar river. The killing of Smith was in August, 1844.— Ed. 



possible. But I must hasten to the awful catas- 
trophe which ended his life. Smith had a log- 
cabin built on the north side of his claim, near 
the river bank. We let him have a spotted dog, 
the sole companion of his lonely hours, and if 
that dog could have talked, the murderer could 
have been found out. After Smith had made a 
certain amount of improvements, he took a no- 
tion to sell out his claim. Accordingly, some 
time the last of May, 1844, he sold out 
to Abrani Pratt for $200, in English sovereigns. 
These sovereigns were put down flatwise in a 
buckskin pouch until it was filled. This pouch 
was secreted in a pattern for pants, put into his 
trunk with other things and locked up, the said 
trunk being in his log house, this dog being the 
only one to watch it in Smith's absence. Right 
here I will say that the public don't know as 
yet who murdered him, but we sincerely hope 
that the real murderer can't die until he con- 
fesses. A great many men have been suspic- 
ioned. ***** 

After Smith was killed (I have consulted 
quite a number just recently) he lay about two 
weeks. After awhile old 'Squire Pierce's boys 
came across Smith's cattle in the yoke. Those 
boys were honest enough to kick up a dust about 
it. The whole country was alarmed and turned 
out en masse. One of the Pierce boys mounted 
a horse, alarmed Monroe and went down to 
Uncle Tom Bowen's. A crowd turned out, 
George West among others. Some went to 
dragging the Sugar river, others went hunting 
in the woods. When Joe Payne and his crowd 
came from Monroe they went to Smith's break- 
plow and after diligent search Smith's remains 
were found down a steep bank in wet ground 
and in tall grass. Then when his skull was 
found the horrible truth dawned on them that 
Smith had been murdered instead of being lost. 
The story was that he was lost. No one sus- 
picion ed that a peaceable, inoffensive man like 
Smith would be murdered, but when the crowd 
went to Smith's cabin and found the trunk 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



245 



broken open and the $200 in gold, gone, the 
whole truth flashed on them. 

A L-oroner's jury was impaneled to hold an 
inquest on the remains. Justice of the Peace, 
Major Downing, chose the following jurors: 
Robert Whitter, John Ferguson, Gabe Long, 
Lewis Nixon, old Mr. Foster and Leonard Ross. 
These two last names >ve are not so certain 
about. I will now state that Robert Whitter 
and Gabe Long tied handkercliiefs over their 
mouths and with the aid of long sticks rolled 
Smith's remains on a sheet and the whole was put 
into a box for interment. The skull was taken 
over to the tavern and also the ax. The jury 



after a short session at the house of Stedman 
adjourned over to the tavern, kept by Robert 
Whitter, in the village of Exeter. I was at 
this examination myself; it Avas at night. By 
this time suspicion had pretty well settled on 
William Boyls. His own testimony under oath 
confirmed the belief. He was tried down at 
Monroe, but nothing could be made out and he 
was set free. Soon after this he left the coun- 
try. Rumor has it that death bed confessions 
have been made in Missouri and California, but 
as to that we don't know. The remains of 
Smith were interred near to where he was killed 
and about three years ago he was taken up and 
re-interred in the cemetery at Monticello. 



246 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER IX. 



FIRST THINGS. 



The first school, with which Green county 
was favored, was taught by Ralph Hildebrand. 
This was a subscription school. Andrew Clarno, 
William Bowen, Bennett Nowlin and William 
Boyls, thinking it unwise not to provide for the 
education of their children, engaged Mr. Hil- 
debrand to teach them, and thus was formed a 
neighborhood school. Having at that time no 
school house, a small log building, set on a hill- 
side, on section 36, in what is now the town of 
Cadiz, the lower part designed for a root cellar 
and the upper part for a smoke-house, to which 
uses it had already been devoted, was taken, 
and the upper part converted into a school room. 
This was in the winter of 1836. The first school 
house in the county was built in the vicinity of 
Mr. Clarno's in the year 1837, on section 30. 
The second was built at New Mexico, in 1838. 
They were of logs and very rude structures. 

Tiie first preachers were Methodists. Daniel 
Harcourt and A. C. Delaj) came in 1836 and 
preached in the different settlements, using the 
cabins or the groves as meeting houses. Soon 
after came a Campbellite preacher by the name 
of William Blunt, who afterward went to Texas 
with the view of advocating his pro-slavery sen- 
timents. He was received there as a hypocrite 
and driven out. He returned to Green county 
somewhat changed in sentiment, and full of re- 
vengeful wrath. After this experience, he is 
said to have entertained some doubts as to 
slavery being a divine institution. He after- 
ward entered the Union army in the late war. 
He only got in by deception. In 1847, Rev. J. 
D. Stevens, a Congregationalist, settled at 



Monroe, and preached regularly at the school 
house. The first church in the county was built 
by the Methodists, in 1847, at Monroe. 

The first marriage celebrated in Green county 
took place at the Clarno settlement, in 1834, 
between Josiali Blackmore and Nancy Wallace. 
]^lackmore afterward moved to Warren, III. 
The second marriage was between James Haw- 
thorn and Massey Boyls, in August, 1836, near 
Monroe. 

The first frame house in the county was built 
in 1836, by Joseph Payne, a Mr. Billinger and 
O. C. Smith, at an expense of $1,500. The lum- 
ber for this building was brought from the Al- 
legheny, down the Ohio, and up the Mississippi 
to Galena, and from there hauled on wagons to 
New Mexico, where the house was erected. This 
house was used as a store. 

The first grand jury held their session in a 
log blacksmith shop, known as "Buckskin" 
Brown's shop. 

The first white child born in Green county, 
was Louisa Wallace — afterwards Mrs. Charles 
Thomas. But this must be considered construct- 
ively, as the child drew its first breath in Galena, 
111., Aug. 7, 1830, its parents having their 
home, at that date, in Exeter, Green county. 
The first white child actually born in Green 
county, was a daughter of Nicholas Hale and 
Eliza Hale, in the year 1834, at tlie house of 
Andrew Clarno. The next child born was 
Charles R. Deniston, son of John W. Deniston 
and Maria Deniston, in 1835. 

The first election in Green county for county 
officers was on the 5th of March, 1838, at the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



247 



house of Jacob Ly Brand, in what was then 
called New Mexico, now a part of the city of 
Monroe. Two liundred and thirty-one votes, 
were cast. Only county commissioners were 
elected. These were Daniel S. Sutherland, 
William Bowen and Daniel Harcourt. 

The first annual election was held in August, 
1838, when one commissioner of the county, one 
treasurer, one register, one coroner, one assessor, 
and one collector were elected; but no one re- 
ceived a certificate, as the election was held on 
the wrong day. Another, and this time a legal 
election, was held Sept. 10, 1838. 

The first county fair was held in November, 
1853, at the court house in Monroe —^100 being 
paid in premiums. 

The first regular physician who practiced in 
Green county was Dr. Baiikston, who lived just 
south of the State line in Illinois. The second 
was Dr. Peter Springstead who came soon after 
Dr. Bankston. 

John A. Bingham settled at Monroe in the 
year 1842, and was the first lawyer in the county. 
John W. Stewart was the second. 

The first hotel in the county was built in 
1837, by Payne, Billinger <fc Smith, at New 
Mexico. The building was two stories high, 
the main part 26x3G feet on the ground, with a 
wing 16x18 feet. This was a great step in ad- 
vance; and for a long time, the inhabitants 
looked with pride at the building as a grand 
affair. 

The first court of record held in Green county 
was the United States district court, in the 
month of April, 1838. It was presided over by 
Cliief Justice Charles Dunn; George McFadden 
(late of Dane county), clerk, who was succeeded 
by M. Bainbridge. After the second term of 
this court, David Irvin succeeded Judge Dunn, 
and continued to preside until the organization 
of the circuit court under the constitution and 
laws of the State of Wisconsin in 1848. 

The first election for members of Congress, 
and State officers, in which the people of Green 
county participated, was held on the second 



Monday of May, 1848. By the State constitu- 
tion the county of Green was assigned along 
with Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, 
Walworth and Rock, to the first congressional 
district, to elect one member. At this first 
election William Pitt Lynde was the successful 
candidate to represent the district in the 30th 
Congress. The county was by the same 
fundamental law made a part of the 8th sen- 
atorial district of Wisconsin. E. T. Gardner, 
of Monroe, Avas the choice of this district for 
senator. Green county at first constituted but 
one assembly district. Henry Adams, of Mon- 
ticello, was the first to represent the county in 
the assembly of the State. 

The first term of the circuit court held in 
Green county commenced its session on the 4th 
day of September, 1848, and was presided over 
by Judge E. V. Whiton. 

Tlie first election in Green county after Wis 
consin became a State, and under town organi- 
zation, was held Sept. 3, 1849, for the election 
of a county judge. John A. Bingham received 
448 votes out of the 702 polled, and was elected. 

The first homicide of a white man was the 
killing of Boner by McNutt, in what is now the 
town of Exeter in 1828. 

The first person tried by a jury was Daniel 
Harconrt. lie was charged with removing and 
destroying the boundaries of a lot of land. 
Verdict: "Not guilty." 

In October, 1839, Frederick Bedtner made 
the first declaration of intention to become a 
citizen. 

John Thorp, the first naturalized citizen of 
Green county, took the oath on the 14th day of 
April, 1841. 

The first court in Green county was held at 
the house of Jacob LyBrand. 

The first county seat was located about two 
and a half miles northeast of what is now the 
city of Monroe, and was named "Roscoe." 

The first public im|)rovement contemplated 
in any part of (Treen county was the making of 
a canal or slack-water navigation from Mineral 



248 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Point to the Illinois State line in the Pekatonica, 
by the "Pekatonica Navigation Company," 
This company was incorporated in 1839. It is 
needless to say that slack-water navigation of 
the Pekatonica was never accomplished. 

The first grave to receive a white settler was 
one dug by the pioneers, in what is now the 
town of Exeter, in 1828, to receive the mortal 
remains of Boner, who was killed by D. Mc- 
Nutt, at what was afterward called "Sugar 
River Diggings." 

The first deed ktiown to have been executed 
for land within the present limits of Green 
county, was the following, which conveyed title 
to "the west half of the northwest quarter of 
section 30, in township 4 north, of range 9 
east" (in the present town of Brooklyn), con- 
taining seventy-six and eighty-one hundredths 
acres : 

"This indenture made the fourteenth day of 
March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty six, between Thomas 
A. Holmes and Ursula, his wife, of Milwaukee, 
of the first part and Abraham Bolser of the 
same place, of the second part, witnesseth : 
That the said parties of the first part, for and 
in consideration of the sum of twenty-five 
thousand dollars to them in hand paid by the 
said party of the second part, the receipt where- 
of is hereby conferred and acknowledged, have 
granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, 
aliened and confirmed, and by these presents do 
grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien and 
confirm, unto the said party of the second part, 
and to his heirs and assigns forever, the one 
equal and undivided half of all that certain 
tract of land known and described on .the re- 
ceiver's certificate of the land office of Green 
Bay, to-wit : The southeast quarter of section 
No. 3 and lot No. 2 of section No. 27, in town- 
ship No. 4 north, of range No. 11 east, con- 
taining 198.66 acres; also the west half of the 
northwest quarter of section No. 30, in town- 
ship No. 4 north, of range No. 9 cast, contain- 
ing 76.80 acres. 

"Together with all and singular heredita- 
ments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, 
or in anywise appertaining ; and the reversion 
and reversions, remainder and remainders, 
rents, issues and profits thereof ; and all the es- 
tate, right, title, interest, claim or demand. 



whatsoever, of the said parties of the first part, 
either in law or equity, of, in, and to, the above 
bargained i)remises, with the same heredita- 
ments and appurtenances : To have and to hold 
the said premises as above described with the 
appurtenances, unto the said party of the second 
part, and to his heirs and assigns forever. 
And the said parties of the first part, for them- 
selves, their heirs, executors and administrators, 
do covenant, grant, bargain and agree to and 
with the said ])arty of the second part, his heirs 
and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing 
and delivering of these presents, they were well 
seized of tlie premises above conveyed as of a 
good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible 
estate of inheritance in the law, in fee simple, 
and that tlie above bargained premises, in the 
quiet and peaceable possession of the said party 
of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against 
all and every person or persons, lawfully claim- 
ing or to claim the whole or any part thereof, 
they will forever warrant and defend. 

"In witness whereof the said parties of the 
first part have hereunto set their hands and 
seals the day and year first above written. 

[-Q , -| "I'homas a. Holmes, 

L^^^'--! "Ursula L. Holmes. 

"Sealed and delivered in presence of 

"Philander Bird, 
"Albert Fowler." 
"Territory op Michigan, 
"County op Milwaukee. 

"Be it remembered that on the 14th day of 
March, A. D. 18:J(i, came personally before me, 
the undersigned, a justice of the peace, for said 
county, the within named Thomas A. Holmes 
and Ursula, his wife, to me known, and ac- 
knowledged the signiiig, sealing and delivering 
of the within deed to Abram Bolser for the use 
and purposes therein mentioned, and the said 
Ursula, wife of the said Thomas, being b}'^ me 
examined separate and apart from her said hus- 
band, confessed it to be her free act and deed 
without the fear or compulsion of her said hus- 
band. 

"Given under my hand the day and year 
above written. • 

"Albert Fowler, J. P." 

The first mortgage executed by a citizen of 
Green county was the following: 

"This Hndenture made this twelfth day of 
March, one thousand eight hundred and tiiirty- 
nine, between Joseph W. Smith, of the county 
of Green, and Territory of Wisconsin, of the 
one part, and Jacob Ly Brand, of the county 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



24ft 



and Territory aforesaid, of the other part, wit- 
iiesseth that tlie said Joseph W. Smith, for and 
in consideration of the sum of two hundred and 
live dollars to him in hand paid by the said 
Jacob Ly Brand, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and 
sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, 
sell, alien and conHrm unto the said Jacob Ly 
Brand and his heirs and assigns forever, all his 
interest (it being three-fourths) of that tract or 
parcel of land situate in the county of Green 
and Territory of Wisconsin, namely: Lots 
numbered five, six, eleven and twelve of sec- 
tion number four, in township number one, of 
range number seven east; to have and to liold 
the premises aforesaid with all the privileges 
and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in 
anywise appertaining unto him, the said Jacob 
Ly Brand and his heirs and assigns forever; 
provided, always that these presents are upon 
this express condition that, if the said Joseph 
W. Smith, his heirs, executors or administrators, 
shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the said 
Jacob Ly Brand, his heirs, executors, adminis- 
trators, or assigns, the sum of two hundred and 
and five dollars, in current lawful money, in 
twelve months from date, with interest from 
date, in manner, particularly specified in a cer- 
tain note or obligation bearing even date here- 
with, executed by the said Joseph W. Smith to 
the said Jacob Ly Brand, then and from thence- 
forth these presents and everything herein con- 
tained shall cease and be void, anything herein 
contained to the contrary notwithstanding. 

"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and seal, the day and year first above 
written. 

[Seal.] "Joseph W. Smith. 

"Sealed, signed and delivered in presence of 

"Joseph Kelly, 
"John Kelly." 
"Territory of Wisconsin, ) 
"Green County. )^^' 

"I, Joseph Kelly, a justice of the peace, in 
and for said county, do certify that Joseph W. 
Smith, whose signature appears to the fore- 
going deed and who is personally known to me 
to be the person described in and who executed 
the same, did acknowledge tlie same to be his 
free and voluntary act and deed for the uses 
and purposes herein mentioned. 

"Given under my liand and seal this twelfth 
day of March, one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-nine. 

[Seal.] ',' Joseph Kelly, J. P." 



first entries of land. 

Lots No. 3 and 4 in section 23, in township 2 
north, of range 9 east, containing 71.86 acres, 
were entered by Jesse Armstrong, Aug. 17, 
1835; and Lots No. 1 and 2, and northwest 
fractional quarter of same section, township and 
range, containing 230.39 acres, by Isaac Bron- 
son,- Aug. 21, 1835; also by the person last 
named, the northwest quarter of section 24, in 
the same township and range, on the 21st of 
August, 1835. 

The east half of the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 30, in township 4 north, of range 9 east, 
was entered by Burley Follett, Dec. 14, 1835; 
and the west half of the same quarter by 
Thomas A. Holmes, March 7, 1836. 

Township 1 north, of range 9 east, east half 
of section 9, May 9, 1836, by French Lake; also 
by the same, on the same day, the northwest 
quarter, the west half of the southwest quarter 
and west half of northeast quarter section 8, in 
same township and range. The next day he 
entered the east half of the northeast quarter 
and the northwest quarter of the northeast 
quarter of section 18, in same township and 
range. 

The east half of the southeast quarter and the 
southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of 
section 30, in same township and range, was 
entered by Darius Daniels, May 9,1836. There 
were many other tracts entered in what is now 
Green county, afterward during the year 1836. 
miscellaneous "first things." 

The first settlement in the county was in 
1827, at "Sugar River Diggings," in what is 
now the town of Exeter. 

The first people known to have mined for 
lead within what are now the limits of Green 
county were the Sac Indians. 

The first flouring mill erected in Green coun- 
ty was built by John W. Deniston and Abner 
Van San t. 

The first bounty offered by the county board 
for wolf scalps was in January, 1840. The sum 
specified was 13 for each scalp. 



250 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



The first court house in Green county was "a 
two-story frame house, 20x30 feet," and was 
built in "the town of Monroe," by James Camp- 
bell and J. Sutherland, in 1840. It was com- 
pleted and accepted by the county board No- 
vember 4, of that year. It soon was destroyed 
by fire. 

The first jail in the county was authorized to 
be erected by the county board in May, 1842. 

The first meeting of the county board of 
Green county was on the 26tli of March, 1838. 

The first business entered upon by the county 
board was the appointment of Hiram Rust as 
"clerk for the commissioners' court." 

The first account allowed by the commis- 
sioners of the county as a valid claim and or- 
dered paid by them was one to Jacob LyBrand, 
amounting to |4.25. 

The first election precinct formed included 
the whole county of Green — March 26, 1838. 

The first person who acted as district attor- 
ney for Green county was James Churchman. 

The first tavern license was issued under an 
order of the county board to Joseph Payne, and 
paid by him Jan, 7, 1839. 

Tlie first road supervisor in Green county was 
Bennett Nowlin. He was appointed by the 
county board Oct. 2, 1838. He refused to serve, 
and Andrew Clariio was appointed in his place. 

The first county seat was located "on the east 
half of the northeast quarter of section twenty- 
five (25), in town[ship] 2 north, of range 7 east, 
at a point designated by a stake," in the pres- 
ent town of Monroe. 

The first grand jury was composed of the fol- 
lowing named persons: Elijah Austin, Amos 
Harris, Mordecai Kelly, Joseph Woodle, Jarvis 
Rattan, Hiram Rust, Thomas Bowen, William 
Blunt, Peter Wells, John Blunt, Mathew Wells, 
Joseph Kelly, Jacob Andrides, Hanson Irion, 
Julius Austin and Augustus Chilton — Hiram 
Rust was appointed foreman. 



The following was the first civil suit begun 
in Green county. 
Volney R. Kimball and William^ 

Christmas, merchants and part- | 

ners trading and doing business | Amicable 

under the name and style of y Action of 

V. R. Kimball, | Assumsit. 

vs. I 

Robert L. Bean. J 

The first person admitted to the bar of Green 
county as an attorney was James Churchman. 
The date of his admission was April 2, 1838. 

The first clerk of the "district court of the 
United States" in Green county was George 
McFadden, who was appointed ji^ro tern. He 
only served one day. 

The first indictment by the grand jury — a 

"true bill" — was against Elizabeth Gage. The 

case was docketed as follows: 

The United States ) 

vs. > Adultery. 

Elizabeth Gage. ) 

T. S. Wilson was the first person who served 
in Green county as attorney for the Territory 
of Wisconsin. He was appointed by the court 
on the first day of the term (April 2, 1838). 
His was & pro tern appointment. 

The first court crier in Green county was 
John W. Deniston. He served during the first 
(April) term, 1838. 

The first deputy sheriffs of Green county were 
Alfred G. Houghton and Charles Boyls. 

The first person admitted to bail on a crimi- 
nal charge in Green county was Elizabeth Gage, 
charged with adultery. Her bail was fixed at 

lioo. 

The first company enlisted in Green county 
during the late War for the Union was company 
C, of the 3d Wisconsin regiment. 

The first railroad in Green county was known 
as "the Southern Wisconsin Branch of the Mil- 
waukee & Mississippi Railroad." 

The first school district "set oflf" in Green 
county was in 1840, and was called ''Roscoe." 

The first recorded village plat was that of 
"New Mexico," within what is now the city of 
Monroe. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



251 



The first meeting house commenced in the 
county was begun by the Methodists, on the 
land given them for that purpose in the then 
village of Monroe, in 1847. It was finished in 
1848. 

The first bridge built in the county was one 
erected in 1842, a little northeast of the site of 
what was afterward the village of Decatur, at 
the place where the river was crossed by the 
Indian trail from Sand Prairie to the northern 
part of the county, and by the Territorial road 
from Janesville to Galena. 

In August, 1852, H. C. Burchard, now super- 
intendent of the United States mint, held at 
the seminary, in Monroe, the first Teacher's In- 
stitue, in Green county. It continued several 
weeks. 

The first bank in the county was opened in 
Monroe, in May, 1854, by J. A. Bingham and 
A. Ludlow. 

Abner Van Sant and his son-in-law, John W. 
Deniston, built the first mill in the county. It 
began as a feed-mill but grew, finally, into a 
flour mill. It was located on Honey creek. 

A Methodist camp meeting, the first in the 
county, was held in the present town of Jeffer- 
son, in the summer of 1841. 

The first debating society organized in the 
county was in what is now the town of Sylvester, 
in the winter of 1839-40. 

The first out-spoken abolitionists in the 
county were Jacob Ly Brand and J. W. Rogers, 
of Monroe, and Hollis W. Button, of Jefferson. 



At the residence of Matthew Wells, Daniel 
Harcourt, in August, 1835, preached the first 
sermon ever listened to in Green county. 

The first religious society organized in the 
county was one by a Methodist minister — Rev. 
James McKane, who lived in the State of Illi- 
nois, and was connected with the Rock River 
Conference. The society thus organized was 
composed of the following members: Mat- 
thew Wells, his wife and daughter, Mrs. Maria 
Blunt and William Baird. 

The first coftin made in the county was for 
Mr. Patterson. The lumber of which it was 
constructed was brought from Galena by Mr. 
Hawthorn to make a cabin door. 

The first Norwegian who settled in Green 
county was Lars Lai'son. He located in the 
present town of Jordan. 

The first laid out Territorial road in Green 
county was one from Janes' Ferry (Janesville) 
in Rock county, through Rockport, on Rock 
river, to "Centreville" and New Mexico, in 
Green county, thence to White Oak springs and 
so on westward to the Mississippi. It was 
"blazed" in the woods and "staked" in the 
prairies in the spring of 1837, but nothing 
further done. 

The first public school taught in the county 
was by Daniel R. Howe, in the town of Clarno, 
the term commencing Dec. 1, 1839. Mr. Howe 
is now (1884) pastor of the Christian Church 
in Monroe. 



252 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER X. 



GREEN COUNTY FORMED AND ORGANIZED.— LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT. 



The first civilized claimants to the country 
now included within the boundaries of Wiscon- 
sin were the French, as already explained in this 
history. The whole of the northwest was 
claimed by France from 1671 to 1763, when it 
was by treaty surrendered to the British. By 
the "Quebec Act" of 1774, all of this region 
was placed under the local administration of 
Canada. It was, however, practically put under 
a despotic military rule, and so continued until 
possession passed to the United States. Be- 
fore the last mentioned event, and during and 
after the Revolution, the conflicting claims of 
Virginia, New York, Massachusetts and Con- 
necticut to portions of the country ^yere relin- 
quished to the general government. All these 
claims were based upon supposed chartered 
rights, — Virginia adding to hers the right of 
conquest, as she contended, of the "Illinois 
country" during the Revolution. 

As early as October, 1778, Virginia declared, 
by an act of her General Assembly, that all the 
citizens of that commonwealth who were then 
settled, or should thereafter settle, on the west- 
ern side of the Ohio, should be included in a 
distinct country, which should be called "Illi- 
nois." No Virginians were then settled as far 
north as the southern boundary line of what is 
now Wisconsin; and, as none thereafter located 
80 far north before Virginia relinguished to the 
United States all her rights to territory on the 
western and northern side of the Ohio, it fol- 
lows that no part of the country which subse- 
quently became Wisconsin "^i'crritory (now the 
State of Wisconsin) was ever included in "Illi- 
nois county" as a part of Virginia; nor did the 



last mentioned State ever exercise any juris- 
diction over any portion of what is now Wis- 
consin either civil or military, or make claim to 
it by right of conquest. It would be as im- 
proper, therefore, to say that what is now Green 
county was once a part of Virginia as to say 
that it was once a portion of New York, Massa- 
chusetts, or Connecticut. All laid claim to this 
region, but none ever exercised jurisdiction 
over it. 

Notwithstanding the passage of the ordinance 
of 1787, establishing a government over the 
country northwest of the Ohio river, Avhich 
region was acquired by the treaty of 178.3 from 
Great Britain, possession only was obtained by 
the United States of the southern portion, — the 
northern (and the larger) portion being held by 
the British government until 1796. Arthur St. 
Clair, in February, 1790, exercising the func- 
tions of governor, and having previously organ- 
ized a government for the country under the or- 
dinance just mentioned, established in what is 
now the State of Illinois, but then known as a 
part of the JNorthwestTerritory, a county which 
was named "St. Clair." But, as this county 
only extended north "to the mouth of the Lit- 
tle Mackinaw creek, on the Illinois," it did not 
include, of course, any part of the present State 
of Wisconsin, although being the nearest ap- 
proach thereto of any organized county up to 
that date. In 1796, Wayne county was organ- 
ized, which was made to include, beside much 
other territory', all of what is now the State of 
Wisconsin watered by streams flowing into Lake 
Michigan, But no part of the area now consti- 
tuting Green county came within its jurisdic- 





'.>>^ ^r:^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



265 



tion. This immediate region, therefore, al- 
though a part of the Northwest Territory, had 
not been erected into, nor did it form a part of, 
any county. 

From 1800 to 1809, wliat are now the limits 
of Wisconsin were within the Territory of In- 
diana, and, in the last year mentioned, passed 
into the Territory of Illinois. Previous to this 
time, the county of St. Clair had been extended 
north, including, beside much other territory, 
that which now constitutes Green county, but 
there was not a white settler within the present 
area of the last mentioned county for about a 
quarter of a century thereafter; meanwhile, two 
other Illinois counties took in this immediate 
region. They were, first, the county of Madi- 
son, erected Sept. 14, 1812; second, the county 
of Bond, organized Jan. 4, 1817. However, in 
1818, what is now Wisconsin became a portion 
of Michigan Territory and new counties were 
formed — the present county of Green becoming 
a part of a new county erected out of a portion 
of that Territory. 

By a proclamation of Lewis Cass, governoi 
of Michigan Territory, dated Oct. 26, 1818, the 
counties of Brown and Crawford were formed. 
Brown county originally comprised all of whal 
is now Wisconsin east of a line passing north 
and south through the middle of the portage 
between the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, except 
a small portion of the peninsula lying east of 
Green bay, which was included in the county of 
Michilimackinac. Tlie limits of the county ex- 
tended north into the territory of the present 
State of Michigan so far that its north line ran 
due west from the head of Noquet bay. 

An east-and-west line, passing near the north- 
ern limits of the present county of Barron, 
separated the county of Crawford from the 
county of Michilimackinac on the north; on the 
east, it was bounded by the county of Brown; on 
on the south, by the State of Illinois; and on 
west, hj the Mississippi river. 

By referring to any map of Wisconsin, the 

ader will readily see that what is now the 



county of Green fell into Crawford county, ex- 
cept a strip about three miles off its east side, 
which formed a part of Brown county. This 
strip included, of course, the east half of the 
present towns of Brooklyn, Albany, Decatur 
and Spring Grove, and the whole of what is 
now the incorporated village of Brodhead. 

By an act of the legislative council of the 
Territory of Michigan, approved Oct. 29, 1829, 
to take effect the first day of the year follow- 
ing, the county of Iowa was established, era- 
bracing all the present State of Wisconsin south 
of the Wisconsin river and west of Brown 
county; in other words, it included the whole of 
what was previously Crawford county lying 
south of the Wisconsin river; so that now, all 
of the area now constituting Green county, ex- 
cept a strip about three miles in width off its 
east side, constituted a part of Iowa county. 

On the 6th of September, 1834, the eastern 
boundary of Iowa county was fixed upon the 
line between the Green Bay and Wisconsin 
land districts. This line, as shown in another 
chapter of this history, was the one between 
ranges 8 and 9 east. By the same act, all that 
district of country before that time in Brown 
county lying south of a line drawn east and 
west at a distance of sixty-six miles north of 
the Illinois State line, was erected into a new 
county called "Milwaukie" (now written "Mil- 
waukee"). The territory now constituting 
Green county fell, by the passage of this act, 
into the counties of Iowa and Milwaukie; that 
it is to say, the tier of surveyed townships now 
constituting the towns of Brooklyn, Albany, 
Decatur and Spring Grove, and the incorporated 
villages of Albany aud Brodhead, were in the 
last mentioned county; while the territory now 
constituting the city of Monroe and the other 
towns, remained a part of Iowa county. This 
division continued until after the formation and 
organization of Wisconsin Territory. 

FORMATIOISr OF GKEEN COUNTY. 

Green county was formed and named by the 
following act of the legislature of Wisconsin 
Territory : 



16 



256 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



An act to divide the county of Iowa. 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Council 
and House of Representatives of the Territory 
of Wisconsin. That all that part of the county 
of Iowa, lying west of the fourth principal merid- 
ian, be and the same is hereby constituted a 
separate county, to be called Grant. 

"Section 2. Townships 1, 2, 3 and 4 north, 
of ranges 6, 7, 8 and 9 east, of the fourth prin- 
cipal meridian,* shall be and the same are 
hereby constituted a separate county, to be 
called Green, and the seat of justice is hereby 
established at the town of New Mexico, in said 
county. 

[Section 3 establishes the limits of Iowa 
county, and locates the county-seat. Section 4 
fixes the time for the organization of Grant 
county. Secti(>n 5 appoints commissioners to 
locate the couiity-seat of Grant county, perma- 
nently, and establishes it, temporarily at a point 
named. Section 6 provides for holding the dis- 
trict court in the county last mentioned.] 

"Section V. That all suits, prosecutions and 
other matters which are now, or shall on or be- 
fore the 4th day of March, next, be commenced 
oT" pending in the district courts of the United 
States, for the counties of Brown, Iowa, Craw- 
ford and Milwaukee, or in the county court for 
either of the said counties, or in the Supreme 
court of the Territory of Wisconsin, or in the 
District courts in any of said counties, or in any 
judicial district in said Territory, or before any 
justice of the peace in any of said counties, shall 
be prosecuted to final judgment and executioji 
before the same courts and in the same county, 
as they would have been if this act had not been 
passed; and the same proceedings shall be had 
in all such suits, prosecutions and other matters 
as would have been had if this act had not been 
passed. 



*For a diagram of the county, showing in outline, the va- 
rious towaships, which by this act were erected into the 
county of Green, see Chapter VI— "United States Land Sur- 
yeys,"— Ed, 



[Section 8 pi'ovides for payment of the com- 
missioners, to locate the county-seat of Grant 
county.] 

"Section 9. That this act shall be in force 
from and after the 4th day of March next. 

"P. H. Engle, 
"Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
"Henry S. Ba.ird, 
"President of the Council. 

"Ai:»proved, Dec. 8, 1836. 

"H. Dodge." 

The territory set apart by this act, as Green 
county, was again defined to be the proper area 
by the Revised Statutes of 1 849 (Chap. 2, Sec. 1 2), 
as follows: 

"The district of country included within the 
following boundaries shall form and constitute 
the county of Green, to-wit: 

"Beginning at the southeast corner of town- 
ship ] north, of range 9 east of the meridian 
aforesaid [fourth principal meridian], in the 
boundary line of this State; running thence 
north, on the range line between ranges 9 and 
10 east, to the northeast corner of township 4 
north, of range 9 east; thence west, on the town- 
ship line, to the northwest corner of township 
4 north, of range 6 east; thence south on the 
range line, to the southwest corner of township 
1 north, of range 6 east; thence east on the 
boundary line aforesaid, to the place of begin- 
ing. [Same in Revised Statutes of 1869 and 
1878]." 

By the peculiar wording of this act (Section 
7), it will be seen that after the 4th day of 
March, 1837, there was no provision for the 
commencing, by the inhabitants of Green counl}^ 
of suits in any courts of the Territory of Wis- 
consin. An amendment proposed to the act just 
recited, attaching this county to that of Iowa, 
for judicial purposes was postponed. After the 
date last mentioned. Green county was not only 
without any government or legal organization, 
but also outside the jurisdiction of any court 
in the Territory. It so continued until the 
county was organized. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



257 



At the time of the passage of the "act to 
divide the county of Iowa," one of the repre- 
sentatives of that county in the Territorial leg- 
islature, was Williatn Boyls. He was a resi- 
dent of wiiat is now the town of Cadiz. Con- 
cerning the origin of the name given to this 
county, Miss Bingham, in her history, says: 

"About the same time that Wisconsin was sep- 
arated from Michigan, Iowa county constituted 
with her portion of the future little Green one 
election precinct. Henry Dodge, the first gov- 
ernor of the new Territory, apportioned to each 
county its number of councilors and represent- 
atives, and the number allotted to Iowa county 
entitled her eastern election precinct to one rep- 
resentative. The election was held where Mon- 
roe has since grown up, at the blacksmith shoj) 
of a Mr. Brown (familiarly known, from the 
material of his clothes, as Buckskin Brown), and 
resulted in the election of William Boyls, of 
Cadiz. Other things tlian political affiliations 
determined a candidate's success in those days. 
There were very few young women in tlie coun- 
try, and it is said that every single man in llu 
precinct favored the election of M;-. Boyls, be- 
cause he had eight unmarried daughters. At 
the first session of the first Wisconsin legisla- 
ture, which convened at Belmont, Iowa county, 
in the fall of 1836, Mr. Boyls presented a peti- 
tion (nhich had been drawn up and circulated 
by Daniel S. Sutherland), asking for the organ- 
ization of a county which should have tlie limits 
of the present county of Green, and be called 
Richland. The petition was granted, so far as 
setting oft" a new county was concerned, but 
some one objected to the name because it was 
"too matter-of-fact," and Mr. Boyls was invited 
to select another. According to one account he 
selected Green, as indicative of the bright color 
of the vegetation, and refused to change it to 
Greene, in honor of Geti. Greene. Another ac- 
count says he selected Greene, and wlientheact 
of the legislature was printed, the final e was 
omitted by mistake. Be this as it may, for some 
years the name was usuallv written Greene " 



Iowa county, notwithstanding the act creat- 
ing the county of Green, claimed jurisdiction 
over the latter, — going so far as to appoint two 
of the residents within the limits of the last 
mentioned county, as justices of the peace — 
Daniel S, Sutherland and William Bowen. They 
were directed to cause an election to be held at 
the same time with that in other parts of Iowa 
county — for county officers; but the people were 
not desirous of recognizing the authority longer 
of the mother county; so the people, although a 
number assembled on the day designated, re- 
fused to vote. Very naturally this state of 
things could not long continue. The residents 
of Green made haste to have their county or- 
ganized, which was effected by the passage of 

" An Act to Organize the County of Green. 

" Section 1. Be it enacted by the Council and 
House of Representatives of Wisconsin Ter- 
ritory, That from and after the passage of .this 
act, the county of Green shall, to all interests 
and purposes, be and remain an organized 
county, and be invested with full power to do 
and transact all county business, which any 
regularly organized county may of right do ; 
and tliat for the purpose of electing the first 
county officers, the polls of election shall be 
opened at the house of Jacob LyBrand, in the 
town of New Mexico, and thereafter at such 
times and places as are or may be prescribed by 
law. 

"Seo. 2. Beit further enacted, that the in- 
habitants of the county of Green aforesaid, are 
hereby required to pay to the county of Iowa, 
according to the number of inhabitants, their 
equal proportions of the debts remaining unpaid 
by the county of Iowa. 

" Sec. 3. That the county treasurer of the 
county of Green shall audit and pay over to the 
sheriff of the county of Iowa, such sum as may 
become due to the county of Iowa, under the 
provisions of this act, out of the first monies 
that may come into the treasury of the said 
county of Green ; and the said sheriff is hereby 



258 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



required to pay the same into the treasury of 
the county of Iowa for the use of said county. 

" Sbc. 4. That tlie county of Green shall be 
attached to the first judicial district. There 
shall be two terms of the district court, held 
annually at the seat of justice in said county of 
Green. The said district court for the said 
county of Green, shall have and enjoy all the 
power, right and duties, which courts in the 
other counties of this Territory have and enjoy, 
and shall be subject to all the restrictions im- 
posed upon said courts by the act entitled " an 
act for establishing judicial districts and for 
other purposes," passed at the first session of 
the legislative assembly ; and that the courts 
hereby authorized to be held in the county of 
Green, shall be held at the town of New 
Mexico, until otherwise ordered by law. 

" Approved Jan. 15, 1838." 

It will be noticed that the first election for 
county officers under the organic act was to be 
held in the toicn of New Mexico. By this it is 
to be understood a village of that name ; as 
there was no town organizations at that date. 
The election was held "in the town of New 
Mexico" on the fifth day of March, 18.38, ac- 
cording to law, resulting in the selection of the 
following persons as county commissioiiers, no 
other county officers being voted for : 

Daniel S. Sutherland, 66 votes; elected. 

William Bowen, 72 votes; elected. 

Daniel Harcourt, 53 votes; elected. 

Jeremiah Bridge, 35 votes. 

William Woodle, 11 votes. 

The three first named, having been declared 
elected, took the oath of office and became the 
first county officers of Green county. 

These commissioners organized what they 
called a " Commissioner's Court," (equivalent 
to a county board of the present day, in its 
functions) on tlie 26th day of March, 1838. At 
the meeting of the electors, when these com- 
missioners were chosen, there were polled 231 
votes, indicating quite a population for Green 
county. Of course, there was but one voting 



place — the house of Jacob LyBrand — and the 
voters, some of them, had pretty long distances 
to travel, to exercise the right of suffrage. 
But, by the election and swearing into office of 
the three county commissioners, the wheels of the 
county government were not all set in motion. 
It needed that other officers should be chosen, 
and these were to be elected at the coming an- 
nual election to beheld in August — as the good 
denizens of the county supposed ; so, on the 
6th day of that month, they again assembled 
to enjoy the inestimable privilege of the elec- 
tive franchise — voting for the following officers, 
with results as indicated : 

Commissioner, Votes. 

James Riley 60 

Daniel Harcourt 19 

Treasurer, 
Jehu Chadwick 19 

Coroner, 

Jarvis Rattan — 10 

A. G.Houghton 2 

Assessor, 

Jabez Johnson 60 

David Davis 7 

Collector, 

Jabez Johnson 40 

Register of Deeds, 

Hiram Rust 39 

M. Bainbridge 37 

But there were "breakers ahead." By a 
special act of the Territorial legislature of June 
23, 1838, the general election before held in 
August, was postponed to the second Monday 
(the 10th) of September, but all this time the 
citizens of Green county had remained in bliss- 
ful ignorance of the fact. But now, luckily, it 
was discovered just in time to save the issuing 
of certificates to the gentlemen supposed to 
have been triumphantly elected in the previous 
August. 

At the next exercise by the electors of the 
right of suffrage, they, besides certain county 
officers to vote for, also cast their ballots for a 
a territorial delegate to Congress and for a 
member of the territorial council, and of the ter- 
ritorial house of representatives. Green countj'^, 
at this time, formed a portion of a territorial 
district, comprising the counties of Green, Dane, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



259 



Dodge and Jefferson ; all of wbich participated 
in the election of territorial officers. For dele- 
gates to Congress, Thomas P. Burnet had fifty- 
two votes, George W. Jones thirty-seven votes, 
and James D. Doty two votes. For the legis- 
lative council, Ebenezer Brigham received in 
Green county, ninety votes. He was voted for 
in the counties of Dane, Dodge and Jefferson, 
in addition to Green, and was elected to repre- 
sent them in that body. For representative D. 
S. Sutherland received in Green county eighty- 
two, and L, E. Boomer two votes. Sutherland 
was the successful candidate in the four 
counties just named, representing them in the 
legislative assembly. The county officers 
elected on the same day were A. G. Houghton, 
assessor; J. McCracken, treasurer; William 
Rittenhouse, recorder. James Riley and Daniel 
Harcourt were selected as county commission- 
ers, and A. Harris coroner. 

The " swearing in " of these county officers 
and the entering upon their respective duties, (a 
term of the district court of the United States 
having already been held in the county) set all 
the wheels of the counij' government in motion, 
and Green county was not only fully organized, 
but had proceeded to business. 

However, before dismissing the subject of the 
organization of Green county, it must not be 
overlooked that there was a matter closely con- 
nected with it which has not been considered. 
We therefore now call the attention of the 
reader to 

IOWA COUNTY vs. GREEN COUNTY. 

It will be remembered that by the second sec- 
tion of the act organizing this county, the in 
habitants were "required to pay to the county 
of Iowa, according to the number of inhabi- 
tants, their equal proportion of the debts re- 
maining unpaid by the county of Iowa." Here 
was an excellent chance for lawyers. How to 
make them pay that "equal proportion" was the 
question and for that matter it is still the ques- 
tion. But Iowa county soon took steps to bring 
the matter before her neighbor — Green county; 



but the latter did not respond by paying up. 
The ball was opened by a formal call upon the 
county commissioners by an attorney with the 
exact amount figured up claimed to be due from 
Green to Iowa. Just here, let us copy from the 
county records: 

"December 17, 1840. 

"The Board of County Commissioners of the 
county of Iowa, in the Territory of Wisconsin, 
by their attorney, Robert C. Howard, produced 
to this Board, a certified stat'-ment of debts 
against said Iowa county, up to March 4, IS-ST, 
in which said Iowa county demands of the said 
county of Green, her proportionable part there- 
of, under the act to organize the county of 
Green, approved Jan. 15, 1838, wliich amounts 
to $517 and fifty-three cents; and, after mature 
consideration, the adjustment of said claim is 
continued to the next January session of this 
Board." 

"January 7, 1841. 

"Upon an examination of the claim of Iowa 
Co., Wis., against Green Co., Wis., as exhibited 
to this Board by Robert C. Hoard, Esquire, the 
Board here being sufficiently advised of and 
concerning the same, is of the opinion that it 
belongs to the treasurer of Green county to 
audit and pay over the same if any due, to the 
sheriff of Iowa county, and that the Board 
here has not jurisdiction of the matter; and, 

^^ Ordered, That the Clerk of this Board 
transmit a certified copy of this order together 
with the said account on file against Green 
county, to the Clerk of the Board of County 
Commissioners of Iowa county." 

But the Treasurer of Green county would 
not audit and pay the claim, and Iowa county 
resorted to the courts for satisfaction. "But," 
says Miss Bingham, "though the claim was 
urged as late as 1850, and though the lawsuits 
to which it gave rise cost the people of little 
Green as much as the amount claimed, yet they 
always insisted that, as they had derived no 
benefit from the expenditures for which they 



260 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



were charged, the claim was unjust and .sliould 
not" be paid; and it never was paid." 

CIVIL DIVISIONS OF GREEN COUNTY. 

Green county was divided, by the Board of 
County Commissioners, on the lOLh and lltli of 
January, 1849, into the following towns: 

Cadiz, township 1 north, range 6 east. 

Clarno, township 1 north, range 1 east. 

Jefferson, township 1 north, range 8 east. 

Spring Grove, township 1 north, range 9 east. 

Decatur, township 2 north, range 9 east. 

Sylvester, township 2 north, range 8 east. 

Monroe, township 2 north, range 7 east. 

Jordan, township 2 north, range 6 east. 

Adams, township 3 north, range 6 east. 

^^'ashington, township 3 north, range "7 east. 

Mount Pleasant, township 3 north, range 8 
east. 

Albany, township 3 north, range 9 east. 

Brooklyn,, township 4 north, range 9 east. 

Exeter, township 4 north, range 8 east. 

York, township 4 north, range 7 east ; town- 
ship 4 north, range 6 east. 

The first change made after the erection of 
the county into the fifteen towns just named, 
was the setting off of the east half of the 
town of York into a ne^v one to be called New 
Glarus. This was done by the board of super- 
visors of the county, Nov. 16, 1849, On the 
20th of the same month, the north half of sec- 
tion 6, in township 3 north, of range 9 east, 
(town of Albany) was taken from the last men- 
tioned town and attached to, and made a part 
of the town of Brooklyn. Afterward (and in 
the interest of temperance) two several parts of 
sections 2 and 3, in the town of Clarno (both 
of which are now in the city of Monroe) were 
detached and added to the town of Monroe. 
Finally by a law approved March 25, 1882, the 
city of Monroe was incorporated, forming a 
new civil division, entirely independent of the 
towns of Clarno and Monroe, including the fol- 
lowing territory: 

"The east half of the northeast quarter of 
section 34, and the southeast quarter of section 



34, and tlie nortiieast quarter of the southwest 
quarter of section 34, and so much of the south- 
east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 
34, as is included [in] Scott's addition, and the 
southwest quarter of the northeast quarter and 
the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter 
of section 34, all of section 35, in town 2 north, 
range 7 east, and fractional lots No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 
5, 6, 11 and 12, of section 2, in town 1, range 7 
east, and fractional lots 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 
11, of section 3, town 1, range 7 east." 

The incorporated villages of Albany and 
Brodhead (the only ones in Green county at this 
date, 1884) are not wholly divorced from the 
towns in which they are located; but are gov- 
erned by both town and village laws. They 
arc civil divisions of the county only in a quali- 
fied sense; they have sei^arate repre'sentation on 
the county board. The village of Albany is in 
the town of Albany, and the village of Brod- 
head is in the town of Decatur. 

The civil divisions of Green county at the 
present time (1884) are included, therefore, in 
the surveyed territory described in the United 
States surveys as follows: 

Cadiz, township 1 north, range 6 east. 

Clarno and south part of city of Monroe, 
township 1 north, range 6 east. 

Jefferson, township 1 north, range 6 east. 

Spring Grove, township 1 north, range 6 east. 

Jordan, township 2 north, range 7 east. 

Town of Monroe and north part, of the city 
of Monroe, township 2 north, range 7 east. 

Sylvester, township 2 north, range 7 east. 

Decatur and Brodhead village, township 2 
north, range 7 east. 

Adams, township 3 north, range 8 east. 

Washington, township 3 north, range 8 east. 

Mt. Pleasant, township 3 north, range 8 east. 

Albany town and village and small part of 
the town of Brooklyn, township 3 north, range 
8 east. 

York, township 4 north, range 9 east. 

New Glarus, township 4 north, range 9 east. 

Exeter, townsiiip 4 north, range 9 east. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



2»jl 



Brooklyn (nearly all), township 4 north, 
range 9 east. 

PRESENT OUTLINE OF GREEN COUNTY. 
Range 6 East. Range 7 East. Range 8 East. Range 9 East. 



YORK. 



N. GLARUS. 



ADAMS. 



JORDAN. 



CADIZ. 



WASH'TON. 



EXETER. 



MT.PLEAS'T 



BROOKLYN. 



ALBANY. 



MONROE. 

City of 
Monroe, l— ' 

CLARNO. 



SYLVESTER 



JEFFERSON. 



DECATUR. 



SPRING GR, 



Base Line (Soutli Boundary Line of the State). 
LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT. 

The "town of New Mexico," mentioned in 
the act creating Green county, where the "seat 
of justice" was established, was a village laid 
out by Jacob Andrick ; but, at the date of the 
passage of tlfe law above mentioned, his plat 
had not been recorded. It was located within 
what are now the southern limits of the 
city of Monroe. As this was the point intended 
bv the law for the location of the county seat, 
it was believed by some of the pioneers that in- 
investments here " would pay." Among the 
number holding this belief w^as Joseph Payne. 
Indeed, he rather coveted half the prospective 
"seat of justice," and made proposals to "Judge" 
Andrick for its purchase, but this was refused. 

Mr. Payne not being successful in his endeav- 
ors to purchase an interest in "Judge" Andricks 
village, concluded to lay out a village of his 
own contiguous thereto. It was immedi- 
ately north of the "town of New Mexico," 
and extended so as to include both sides of 
that now occupied by the railroad track in the 
city of Monroe. But while the survey was go- 



ing on, he concluded to make a last effort to 
purchase an interest in Andrick's village ; but 
his visit to the "judge" was barren of results. 
"Mr. James Campbell, who was Mr. Payne's 
surveyor, remembers," says Miss Bingham, in 
her History, "that while they were surveying, 
Mr. Payne stopped work to make a last effort 
to purchase a share in New Mexico, and that he 
remarked on his return from his fruitless visit 
to Judge Andrick, ' New Mexico isn't recorded, 
and if the old fool won't let any one else have 
half the county seat, he shan't have any part 
of it himself.' " 

In order to accomplish his purpose, Mr. 
Payne resorted to a very cute "Yankee trick;" 
he finished the survey of his "town," named it 
when platted, "New Mexico," and then hastened 
to Mineral Point, the county seat (for Green 
county was not organized) to get it put on 
record. The news of this strategy reached the 
ears of the "judge" soon after Payne's depart- 
ure and he at once mounted a horse in pursuit 
with his "New Mexico" in his coat pocket. But 
he was too late. The last "New Mexico"— the 
one platted by Payne — was the first to go on 
record; and the "judge" was believed to be 
circumvented. But there is "many a slip be- 
tween the cup and the lip." The people now 
took the matter in hand. 

A petition was circulated to have so much of 
the law creating the county of Green as fixed 
the "seat of justice" at the "town of New Mex- 
ico" repealed, and to have commissioners ap- 
pointed to locate the county seat. The petition 
was not only sent to Mr. Sutherland, the mem- 
ber of the Territorial legislature, to be pre- 
sented to the House, but to induce him to exert 
himself, a large number of voters pledged them- 
selves to abide the decision made by the com- 
missioners should a law pass as requested set- 
ting aside "tlie town of New Mexico." Mr. 
Sutherland's efforts resulted in the passage of 
the following law: 

"An act to repeal so much of 'An act to di- 
vide the county of Iowa' as establishes the seat 



262 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of justice of the county of Grreen at New- 
Mexico, and to provide for the location of the 
seat of justice of the county of Green. 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by tlie Council 
and House of Representatives of the Territory 
of Wisconsin, tliat so much of the second sec- 
tion of an act entitled, 'An act to divide the 
county of Iowa,' as establishes the seat of jus- 
tice of the county of Green at New Mexico, be 
and the same is hereby repealed. 

"Sec. 2. James L. Thayer, J. F. Ostrander 
and George W. Hickox are appointed commis- 
sioners to looAte and establish the seat of jus- 
tice of said county of Green. 

"Sec. 3. The commissioners aforesaid, or a 
majority of them, shall meet at the dwelling 
house of Joseph Payne, in said county, on the 
second Monday of February next, or as soon 
thereafter as practicable, and before proceeding 
to the discharge of the duties assigned them by 
this act, shall severally take an oath before 
some person legally authorized to administer 
the same, to perform the duties of their ap- 
pointment faithfully, without fear, favor, affec- 
tion, or any reward or hope thereof; and if either 
of the commissioners shall violate the above oath, 
he shall be liable to all the pains and penalties 
of perjury. 

"Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of said com- 
missioners to make a careful examination of 
said county, having regard to its present and 
probable future population, and to locate the 
seat of justice of the same where, in their 
opinion, it will be for the best interest of the 
county. 

"Sec. 5. So soon as the said commissioners 
shall have made the location as aforesaid, it 
shall be their duty to make report of the same 
to the clerk of the board of county commis- 
sioners of the county of Green, who shall re- 
cord the same, and shall immediately certify to 
the governor of the Territory where the selec- 
tion of the seat of justice of said county has 
been made by the said commissioners, and the 
governor shall thereupon issue his proclamation 



declaring the place so selected to be the seat of 
justice of said county. 

"Sec. 6, The said commissioners are al- 
lowed $0 per day each, to l)e paid out of the 
treasury of f^aid county of Green, for every day 
so necessarily employed, 

"Approved Dec. 19, 1838." 

The commissioners appointed by this act took 
the oath prescribed, and proceeded "to make a 
careful examination of said county, having re- 
gard to its present and probable future popula- 
tion, and to locate the seat of justice of the 
same where, in their opinion, it will be for the 
best interest of the county." But, as the se- 
quel shows, they made a choice not at all ac- 
ceptable to the people. Their report was as 
follows: 

"To the clerk of the board of county commis- 
sioners of the county of Green: 

"We, the commissioners appointed by the 
legislative assembly of the Territory of Wis- 
consin to locate the county seat of the county 
of Green, agreeably to an act entitled, 'An act 
to divide the county of Iowa as establishes the 
seat of justice of the county of Green at New 
Mexico, and to provide for the lupation of the 
seat of justice of the county of Green,'* ap- 
proved Dec. 19, 1838, respectfully report, 

"That, after having discharged the duties re- 
quired by said act in examining said county, 
have unanimously agreed to locate, and have 
located the seat of justice of said county of 
Green on the east half of the northeast quarter 
of section twenty-five (25), in town[ship] 2 
north, of range seven (V) east, at a point desig- 
nated by a stake driven by us on said east half 
of the northeast quarter of said section twenty- 
five (25), — to which we have given the name of 
'Roscoe.' All w4iich is respectfully submitted. 
"Jared J. Ostbander, 
"James L. Thayer, 
"G. Hickox. 
"Roscoe, Green Co., Feb. 16, 1839." 

* The act that the commissioners here attempt to describe 
was the one just given— "An act to rt'pcal so much of 'An 
act to divide th(^ county of Iowa' as establishes the seat of 
justice of the county of Green at New Mexico, and to pro- 
vide for the location of the seat of justice of the county of 
Green." 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



263 



As already intimated, the place fixed upon by 
the commissioners was not acceptable to the 
people. So, upon representations made to the 
Territorial legislature, they passed the act which 
follows, submitting the question of the location 
of the county seat to the electors of the county: 

"An act to provide for [and] establishing 
the seat of justice of Green county. 

*'13e it enacted by the Council and House of 
Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin, 
as follows: 

"Section 1. For the purpose of permanently 
establishing the seat of justice of the county of 
Green, an election shall be held on the first 
Monday in May next, at which election, every 
free white male inhabitant who at the time of 
the passage of this act was an actual resident 
of the coixnty and is of the age of twenty-one 
years, shall be entitled to cast his vote for such 
place or point as he may choose for the seat of 
justice. 

"Sec. 2. The polls of election shall be opened 
at the usual places of holding elections in said 
county, and be conducted and the votes can- 
vassed in all respects as is prescribed by the law 
regulating general elections. 

"Sec. 3. The clerk of the board of county 
commissioners shall certify to the result of the 
election, which certificate shall within ten days 
thereafter he transmitted by the sheriff of the 
county to the governor of the territory, and if, 
upon examination, the governor shall find that 
any one point voted for, has a majority over 
all the places voted for, he shall issue his proc- 
lamation of that fact, and the place so having 
the greatest number of votes shall from the date 
of such proclamation be the seat of justice of 
said county. 

"Sec. 4. If upon examination of votes, the 
governor shall find that no one place has a ma- 
jority of the whole number of votes polled and 
returned to him, he shall issue a proclamation 
lor a new election in said county. 

"Sec. 5. The governor shall in his proclama- 
tion fix the time of holding said election and it 



shall be conducted and returns thereof made in 
the same manner as the first election, and if 
there is no decision by a majority of the votes, 
agreeing upon any one point, then the governor 
shall issue his proclamation for a third election, 
and so on from time to time until the question 
is decided. 

"Sec. 6. Before the governor shall issue such 
proclamation, declaring such place to be the 
seat of justice, the board of county commission- 
ers shall make and execute a deed re-conveying 
all donations which may have been made to the 
county at the present seat of justice, to the 
donor or donors, and any and all bonds which 
may have been executed in consequence of the 
present location shall be surrendered. 

"Sec. 7. This act shall take effect from and 
after its passage. Approved March 9, 1839." 

It would naturally be supposed that Mr. 
Payne's village, now that the votes of the peo- 
ple were to determine the question of the loca- 
tion of the seat of justice, would find strong 
supporters at least among his own friends, but 
an unforeseen obstacle now arose. It was a ques- 
tion of water supply. It would not do to under- 
take to build a county seat where water could 
not be obtained— at least by digging wells; but 
a well sunk to the depth of forty feet on Payne's 
site resulted in the finding of no water. This 
blasted his hopes. The pioneers would not 
consent to vote for so dry a spot. And, for 
some reason Mr. Andrick, too, abandoned the 
idea of making his "New Mexico" the county 
seat. So it was that "Roscoe" and the two 
"New Mexicos" were thrown overboard and 
other points fixed upon for competition in this 
interesting race for the seat of justice. 

Combinations were now formed. One was 
the "Andrick, Wilcoxon and Sutherland" com- 
bination, — these gentlemen bringing forward 
a site which they claimed ought to be the one 
where justice in the future should be meted 
out; another was the "Payne, LyBrand and 
Russell" combination, — these men, desiring the 
votes of the electors for the county seat at a 



264 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



difiFerent point — one considered by them as the 
champion location. 

The result of submitting the question of lo- 
cating the seat of justice to a vote of the peo- 
ple, is best described by giving from the county 
records the statistics as to the number of .votes 
polled and the descriptions of the places voted 
for, premising that three elections were held 
before the matter was finally settled; one on 
the 6th day of June, 1839; a second, on June 
18, 1839; and a third and last one, Aug. 5,1839. 

FIRST ELECTION. 

"An election was held at the house of Jacob 
Andrick in the town of New Mexico, Green 
county, on the 6th day of May, A. D. 1839, for 
the purpose of establishing the county seat of 
Green county. 

"There were three locations voted for— one 
of Andrick, Wilcoxon and Sutherland, which 
was described as follows: 'On the half-mile 
stake, south side of section No. 25, in township 
No. 2, of range No. 1 east' — sixty-eight votes. 

"The second site voted for was owned by 
Payne, Ly Brand and Russell, located on the 
■outh half of the northeast quarter of the south- 
west quarter of section 35 and the north half of 
the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter 
of section No. 35 and the north half of the west 
half of the southwest quarter of section 35, all 
of township 2 north, of range 7 east — which re- 
ceived sixty-seven votes. 

"The third place voted for was Roscoe, Avhich 
received one vote." 

SECOND ELECTION. 

"An abstract of votes given at an election 
held at the house of Jacob Andrick, in the 
town of New Mexico, in the county of Green, 
and Territory of Wisconsin, on the 18th day of 
June, A. D. 1839, for the purpose of establish- 
ing the seat of justice of Green county: For 
Andrick 'and Sutherland, south side of section 
No. 25, township 2 north, of range 7 east, had 
seventy-one (71) votes. 

"For Payne, Ly Brand and Russell, south 
half of northeast quarter of sou'hwest quarter 



of section 35; north half of southeast quarter of 
southwest quarter of section 35; ftorth half of 
west half of southwest quarter of section 35; 
east half of southeast quarter of section 34, of 
township 2, of range 7 east — had seventy (70) 
votes. 

"For Jacob Andrick, south part of west half 
of northwest quarter of section No. 2; south 
part of east half of northeast quarter of section 
No. 3, township 1 north, of range 7 east — re- 
ceived one (l) vote." 

THIRD ELECTION. 

"An abstract of votes given at an election 
held at the house of Jacob Andrick, in the town 
of New Mexico, in Green county, and 'I'erritory 
of Wisconsin, on the 5th day of August, A. D. 
1839, for the purpose of establishing the seat of 
justice of said Green county: 

"Payne, Ly Brand and Russell had seventy- 
nine (79) votes for county seat, on sections No. 
34 and 35, in township 2 north, range 7 east. 

"D. S. Sutherland and Andrick had seventy- 
four (74) votes for county seat on section No. 2, 
in township 2 north, of range 7 east." 

This gave the county seat, by a majority of 
five votes, to Ly Brand, Payne and Russell, and 
the county seat contest was ended. 

Before the last election came off the Ly 
Brand, Payne and Russell combination executed 
to the county the following bonds: 

"Know all men by these ])resents that I, 
Jacob LyBrand, as principal, and Hiram Rust, 
Andrew Clarno, Win. Blunt as sureties, are 
each and all of us firmly held and bound unto 
the county of Green, in the Territory of Wis- 
konsin in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars 
to the payment of which well and truly to be 
made, we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, 
executors, administrators and assigns firmly by 
these presents. Tlie condition of the above ob- 
ligation is such that if atan election to be holden 
on this day, August fifth, for the purpose of lo- 
cating the seat of justice of the said county of 
Green, the site which shall be chosen shall be 
the north half of the west half of the southwest 
quarter of section number thirty-five (35) in 
township number two (2) of range number 
seven (7) east, and the norih half of the east 



HISTORY OF GREEN. COUNTY. 



265 



half of the southwest quarter of section num- 
ber thirty -five (35) in township number two 
(2) of range number seven (7) east, and 
the east half of the southeast quarter of 
section number 34, in township number 
two (-2) of range number seven (7) east, then 
and in that case the above bounden James 
LyBrand shall in the course of twenty days 
from this date make or cause to be made a good 
and sufficient warranty deed for the north half 
of the west half of the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion number thirty-five (35) in township number 
two (2) of range number seven (V) east, con- 
taining forty acres more or less, to be applied 
to the erection of a court house and other coun- 
ty buildings, and ordinary county purposes, the 
above named Jacob LyBrand reserving the 
rails to be removed by him, also this year's 
crop, the said county of Green before offering 
any portion of the whole of the above described 
lauds for sale shall make a good and sufficient 
warranty (ieed to the said Jacob LyBrand for 
one building lot facing on the public square, 
which the said Jacob LyBrand may select, and 
five other building lots from any part of the 
town which shall be laid off on any part of the 
above described lands,except facing on the pub- 
lic square. The town to be laid off under the 
direction of the following named gentlemen or 
those among them who will attend, namely: 
Adam Starr, Daniel Harcourt, John Chryst, 
James Hawthorn and Allen Woodle, they con- 
stituting a committee appointed at a county 
meeting to select sites to be voted for the seat 
of justice. 

"In witness whereof the said Jacob LyBrand 
[Hiram Rust, Andrew Clarno and William • 
Blunt], have hereunto set our hands and seals 
this fifth day of August, one thousand eight 
hundred and thirty-nine. 

"Signed, sealed andl y u t t> j r n 
^"i- ' -, . Jacob LyBrand L. s. 

delivered in pres- rj- -d ^ r t 
e ^ Hiram Rust L. s. 

ence of r A 1 • n ■ r ■ 1 

James Hawthorn, tut-h- m . r^ * t 
o<. 1 rii„ VVilIiam Blunt L. s. 

• Stephen Clarno. J l j 

"Attest, William Rittenhouse, 

"Register." 
"Know all men by these presents that I, Jos- 
eph Payne, as principal, and Hiram Rust, An- 
drew Clarno and Stephen Clarno as sureties, are 
each all of us firmly held and bound unto the 
county of Green, in the Territory of Wiskon- 
siti, in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, to 
tlie payment of which well and truly to be 
made, we do hereby bind ourselves, our heirs, 
executors, administrators and assigns firmly by 



these presents. The condition of the above 
obligation is such, that if an election to be 
holden on this day, August fifth, for the pur- 
pose of locating the seat of justice of said 
county of Green, the site which shall be chosen 
shall be the north half of the west half of 
the southwest quarter of section number 
thirty-five(35) in township number two (2) 
of range number seven (7) east, and the 
north half of the east half of the southwest 
quarter of section number thirty-five (35) in 
township number two (2) of range number 
seven (7) east, and the east half of the 
southeast quarter of section number thirty-four 
(34) of township number two (2) of range num- 
ber seven (7) east, then and in that case the 
above bounden Joseph Payne shall in twenty 
days from this date make or cause to be made a 
good and sufficient warranty deed to the said 
county of Green for the following described 
land, namely, the north half of the east half of 
the southwest quarter of section number thirty- 
five (35) in township number two (2) of range 
number seven (7) east, containing forty acres 
more or less to be applied to the erection of a 
court house and other county buildings, and or- 
dinary county purposes. The public square to 
be placed in the center of the north half of the 
west half of the southwest quarter of section 
number thirty-five (35) in township number two 
(2) of range number seven (7) east. The above 
named Joseph Payne reserving the rails as also 
this year's crop for his use to be removed by 
him. 

"In witness whereof the said Joseph Payne, 
Hiram Rust, Andrew Clarno and Stephen 
Clarno have hereunto set our seals this fifth day 
of August, one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-nine. 

"Signed, sealed andl t i, -d r t 

-,",. 1 • Joseph Payne, l. s. 

delivered in pres- tt- ^ -d * r t 
-. ^ Hirara Rust. l. s. 

ence of Y \ a /^iri 

v\7--iT T?i .. I Andrew Clarno. l. s. 
- William Blunt, o*^ i /^>ii r t 

n *i ixT-n • Stephen Clarno. L. s. 

Cutlar Wilkins. J ^ ^ -* 

"Attest Wm. Rittenhouse, Register." 
"Know all men by these presents that I, Wil- 
liam S. Russell, of Winslow, in the county of 
Stephenson and State of Illinois, am firmly 
bound unto the county of Green, Wisconsin 
Territory, in the penal sum of ten thousand 
dollars, and do by these presents bind myself, 
my executors, administrators and assigns, to 
the payment thereof well and truly to be made. 
The condition of the above obligation is such 
that if at an election to be liolden on the fifth 
day of August, Anno Domini eighteen hundred 



266 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and thirty-nine, for the purpose of locating the 
seat of jusiice for said county of Green, the 
site whicli shall be cho«en therefor shall be the 
north half of the west half of the southwest 
quarter of section number thirty-five, in town- 
ship number two of range number seven east, 
or the north half of the east half of the south- 
west quarter of section number thirty-five, in 
township number two of range number seven 
east, or the east half of the southeast quarter of 
section thirty-four, township number two of 
range number seven east, then the above boun- 
den VVm. S. Russell shall in the course of four 
months from this date or sooner if conveniently 
may be, execute a good and sufficient deed of 
the last described tract or parcel of land, name- 
ly, of the east half of the southeast quarter of 
section number thirty-four, in township number 
two of range number seven east, containing 
eighty acres of land more or less. The south 
part of said described land, namely, forty acres 
thereof to be applied to the erection or estab- 
lishment of a seminary of learning adapted to 
tlie wants of s lid county, whenever the citizens 
of said county may consider it expedient so to 
apply the same, and the north part of said tract 
to be applied, namely, forty acres thereof to the 
erection of suitable county buildings for the 
transaction of county business and other ordi- 
nary county purposes. 

"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and seal this third day of August, 1839. 
"Signed, sealed and^ 

delivered in pres- Ktt o td h r 
enceof V Wm: S. Russell, [s 

Wm. Boyls. J 

"Attest, William Rittenhouse, Register." 

The number of votes polled at the first elec- 
tion was 130; at the second, 142; at the third, 
153. As the eastern portion of section 34, and 
the western portion of section 35, in township 
2 north, of range Y east, was definitely fixed 
upon as the future capital of Green county, it 
only needed that the "Ly Brand, Payne and 
Russell" combination should execute to the 
county their proposed gifts. This was done by 
the following deeds: 

"This indenture, made and entered into this 
twenty-fourth day of August, one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-nine, between Jacob 
Ly Brand, of the county of Green, in the Ter- 
ritory of Wiskonsin of the first part, and the 
county of Green in the Territory of Wiskonsin 



[seal] 



of the second part:. Witnesseth, that the said 
Jacob Ly Brand of the first part, for and in 
consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand, 
paid by the said county of Green, the receipt 
whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged, 
and in consideration of the benefits and advan- 
tages derived, and to be derived in consequence 
of the liind hereinafter described, being part of 
the lands selected as the site for tlie erection of 
the court house and other county buildings, and 
ordinary county purposes, and in consideration 
of the said county of Green making a good and 
sufficient warranty deed to the said Jacob Ly 
Brand for one building lot facing on the public 
square, and five other building lots not facing 
on the public square, the said Jacob Ly Brand 
to make such a selection as he may think proper; 
(the town to be laid off under the direction of 
the following named gentlemen, or those among 
them who will attend to the same, namely: 
Adam Starr, Daniel Harcourt, John Chryst, 
Jauies Hawthorn and Allen Woodle). Have 
given, granted, bargained, dedicated, aliened, 
remised, released, conveyed and confirmed, and 
by these presents do give, grant, bargain, dedi- 
cate, alien, remise, release, convey and confirm 
unto the said county of Green, in the Territory 
of Wiskonsin, the following tract or parcel of 
land, situate, lying and being in the said county 
of Green, in the I'erritory of Wiskonsin; known 
and described as the "north half of the west 
half of the southwest quarter of section num- 
ber thirty-five (35), in township number two (2) 
of range number seven (7) east," containing 
forty acres more or less, together with all and 
singular the hereditaments and appurtenances 
thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, 
and the reversion and reversions, remainder and 
remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof, 
and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or 
demand whatsoever of the party of the first 
part either in law or equity, either in possession 
or expectancy of, in, and to the above bargained 
premises and their hereditaments and appurte- 
nances; to have and to hold the afoi-esaid de- 
scribed tract of land unto the said county of 
Green, or unto the seat of justice thereof, 
by whatsoever name it may be called; and 
the said Jacob Ly Brand, for himself, his heirs, 
executors and administrators, do covenant,grant, 
bargain and agree to and with the said county 
of Green, and to and with the said seat of jus- 
tice thereof, by whatsoever name it may be 
called, that at the time of the ensealing and de- 
livering of these presence, that he was seized of 
the ]ji"emises above conveyed as of a good, sure, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



261 



perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of in- 
heritence in the law, in fee simple, and that the 
above bargained premises in the quiet and peace- 
able possession of the said party of the second 
part, against all and every person or persons, 
lawfully claiming, or to claim the whole or any 
part thereof, he will forever warrant and defend. 
"In witness whereof, the said party of the 
first part has hereunto set his hand and seal, the 
day and year first above written. 
"Signed, sealed and de-^ 

livered in pre^^ence of I j^^^^ LYBRAND[seal.] 
"Hiram Kust, Charles •- -^ 

DuGLAS Hart. J 

"Wisconsin Terrirort, 

"Green County, 

This day personally came before me, the un- 
dersigned, a justice of the peace in and for said 
county, Jacob LyBrand, whose name appears to 
the foregoing deed, and who is personally known 
to me, to be the real person who executed said 
deed, and who then acknowledged that he signed 
sealed and delivered said deed, freely and vol- 
untarily for the uses and purposes therein men- 
tioned. Given under my hand and seal, this the 
24th day of August, A. I). 1839. 

Hiram Rust, J. P.. [seal.] 

Attest: William Rittenhouse, 

"Register." 

"This Indenture made the seventeenth day of 
August, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-nine, between Joseph 
Payne, of the county of Green, and the Territory 
of Wisconsin, and Rosa, his wife, of the first part, 
and the county of Green, in said Territory, of the 
second part : Witnesseth, that the said party 
of the first part, for and in consideration, of 
the sum of one dollar in hand paid by the said 
party of the second part, the receipt whereof is 
hereby confessed and acknowledged have given, 
granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, al- 
iened and confirmed, and by these presents do 
give, grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, convey 
and confirm unto the said party of the second part 
forever, the following described tract of land, to- 
wit : The northeast quarter of the southwest 
quarter of section thirty-five (35) in town two 
(2) of range seven (7) east of the fourth princi- 
pal meridian, containing forty acres ; together 
with all and singular, the hereditaments and ap- 
purtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise 
appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, 
remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and 
profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, 
interest, claim or demand whatsoever, of the 



said party of the first part, either in law or 
equity, either in possession or expectancy of, in 
and to the above bargained premises and their 
hereditaments and appurtenances ; To have 
and to hold the said premises, as above described 
with the appurtenances unto the said party 
of the second part forever ; and the said party 
of the first part for themselves, their heirs, 
executors and administrators, do covenant, grant, 
bargain and agree to and with the said party 
of the second part, that at the time of the en- 
sealing and delivering of these presents, they 
are well seized of the premises above conveyed, 
as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute and inde- 
feasable estate of inheritance in the law, in fee 
simple, and that the above bargained premises, 
in the quiet and peaceable possession of the 
said party of the second part, and against all 
and every person or persons lawfully claiming 
or to claim the whole or any part thereof, they 
will forever warrant and defend. 

"In witness whereof, the said party of the 
first part have hereunto set their hands and 
seals the day and year first above written. 

"Signed sealed and^ 
delivered in presence of j 

Geo. Beatty, I Joseph Payne, [seal.] 



P. V. Thomas, 
Jacob Ly Brand, 
Hiram Rust. 



Rosa Payne, [seal.] 



"Territory of Wisconsin, ) 
County of Iowa. f 

"Be it remembered that on the seventeenth day 
of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-nine, before me the 
subscriber, a notary public in and for said 
county, came the within named Joseph Payne, 
and acknowledged the foregoing indenture to 
be his act and deed, and desired that the same 
might be recorded as such according to law. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and affixed ray private seal the day and 
year above written. 

Geo. Beatty, (seal]. 

"Territory of Wisconsin, [ 
Green County. \ 

"Be it remembered that on the twenty-third 
day of August, in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight liundred and thirty-nine, before 
me the undersigned, a justice of the peace in 
and for said county, came the within named 
Rosa Payne, and acknowledged the foregoing 
written indenture to be her free act and deed. 



268 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and desired that the same might be recorded as 
such according to law. 

"Signed, sealed and delivered 
in presence of 

II i ram Rust, 

Jacob Ly Brand. 

"Given under my hand and seal the year and 
day above written. 

[Seal.] Hiram Rust, J. P. 

"Attest, William Rittenhouse, Register." 

"This indenture made the second day of Sep- 
tember, in the year our Lord, eighteen hundred 
and thirty-nine between William S. Russell, of 
Stephenson county, in the State of Illinois, and 
Mary W. Russell, wife of the said William, of 
the first part, and the county of Green, in the Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin, of the second part, witness- 
eth, that for and in consideration of a certain 
bond executed by said Russell, dated in August 
last, binding him to convey unto said county of 
Green a certain tract or parcel of land on cer- 
tain conditions named in said bond, the said 
party of the tirst part, do hereby give, grant, 
sell and convey and confirm unto the said 
county of Green, forever, a certain tract or par- 
cel of land situated in said Territory of Wis- 
consin, and known and described as the east 
half of the southeast quarter of section thirty- 
four, in township number two, of range number 
seven east, containing eighty acres, more or 
less, provided, nevertlielesss, that said land 
above conveyed, or the proceeds thereof 
sliall be applied by said county of Green, 
in the following manner, namely : The north 
part of said tract or parcel of said land shall be 
applied to the erection of suitable county build- 
ings on some one or more of the tracts or par- 
cels of land selected by tlie citizens of said 
county as the seat of justice therefor, at an 
election held for that purpose on the hfth day of 
August last, and for the payment of other county 
expenses. And the other half of said tract, 
namely, the south half thereof, shall be applied 
to the establishment of some suitable seminary 
of learning for the use and benefit of said 
county of Green. To have and to hold the 
above described premises with the privileges 
and ai)purtenances thereto belonging unto the 
said county of Green, forever. And the said 
party of the first part, for themselves, their 
heirs, executors and administrators do covenant 
with the said county of Green that they are 
lawfully seized in fee of the above granted 
premises that they are free from all incum- 
brance, that they have good right to sell and 



convey the same, to the said county of Green, 
as aforesaid, and that they will, and their heirs, 
executors and administrators shall warrant and 
defend the same to the said county of Green, 
against the lawful claims of all persons. 

"In witness whereof, the said party of the first 
part have hereunto set their hands and seals the 
day and year first above written. 

"Executed and de-1 
livered in presence of ( Wm. S. Russell, [seal. 

John S. Hayward, [Mary W.Russell, [seal. 

Chas. Holmes, Jr. J 
"Commonwealth of Massachusetts, } 
Plymouth. \ 

"Personally appeared before me, the under- 
signed. Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, for 
the county of Plymouth and the highest court 
of record within said Commonwealth of Massa- 
chusetts, Wm. S. Russell and Mary W. Russell, 
the wife of said William, personally known to 
me as the same persons who signed the forego- 
ing deed of conveyance, who acknowledged that 
they had signed, sealed and delivered the same 
for the uses and purposes therein mentioned, 
and after having examined the said Mary W. 
Russell, separate and apart from her husband 
and made known to her the centents of said 
conveyance she acknowledged that she had 
executed the same without fear or compulsion 
of her said husbmd and does not wish to re- 
tract. 

"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and aflftxed the seal of the Supreme Judi 
cial court this fifth day of September 1839. 

W. W. Thomas. 

"Attest, William Rittenhouse, Register." 

On the lands thus donated there was platted 
by the district surveyor, William Grifiith, a vil- 
lage, to which was given the name of Monroe. 
The plat was certified to by the surveyor on the 
23d of December, 1839. The forty acres donat- 
ed by Jacob Ly Brand occupied the central 
one-third of the village ; that given by Joseph 
Payne, the east one-third ; and that deeded by 
William S. Russell the west one third. Allen 
Woodle, Adam Starr, John Chryst, Daniel 
Harcourt, and James riawthorn were made a 
committee to receive the title to these lands, 
and to superintend the platting of the same; 
and on the Sth day of January, 1840, they cer- 
tified to the platting as reported by the survey- 
or ; and on the 21st day of April, 1840, made 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



269 



acknowledgment to the certificate before James 
Riley, justice of the peace. On the 18th day 
of May, 1840, William Bowen, James Riley 
and William Boyls, county commissioners, ac- 
knowledged the receipt of the plat for the uses 
for which it was donated, before Hiram Rust, 
justice of the peace. So the county seat of 
Green county was permanently located at what 
is now the city of Monroe. 

What remained now to be done to complete 
the whole matter connected with the locating of 
the county seat at Monroe was the selection of 
the lots in that village, by Jacab Ly Brand, 
which, the reader will recollect, he reserved the 
privileges of selecting, viz : six town lots for 
himself, from the forty acres which he deeded 
to the county; and before the public sale of 
lots in Monroe, by the commissioners of the 
county, he was requested by them to make 
choice of the same ; as fully appears by the 
following entry in the record of their proceed- 
ings : 

"May 18, 1840. 

"Whereas, Jacob Ly Brand reserved to him- 
self the choice of six town [village] lots in the 
town [village] of Monroe, in his deed to Green 
county, dated 24th day of August, A. D. 1839, 
be it ordered that said Jacob Ly Brand be noti- 
fied that the town plat of the town of Monroe 
is acknowledged and tiled in the I'egister's ofiice 
for record, and that the said Ly Brand make 
choice of said lots as aforesaid in said deed, 
and that the sheriff serve on the said Jacob Ly 
Brand, a copy of this order and make due re- 
turn thereof." 

But the "said Jacob Ly Brand" seemed in 
no hurry to make his selection ; so the board 
proceeded to pass the following oi-der on the 
1st day of June, 1840 : 

"Whereas, Jacob Ly Brand was notified on 
the 18th day of May, 1840, to make choice 
of six town lots, reserved by him in a deed ex- 
ecuted to the county of Green, dated August 
24, 1839, which notice was returned by the 
sheriff, duly served ; and whereas, no 



specified time is designated for the 
selection of said lots, and suflicient time 
having been given to the said Jacob Ly Brand 
to make such selection as by him provided in 
said deed ; and whereas, he has hitherto neg- 
lected, and, by so neglecting, refused, and by 
so doing, waived his right to make such choice; 
and whereas, provision is made in the above 
named deed that Green County, before offering 
any portion of the town of Monroe for sale, 
shall make a deed to said Jacob Ly Brand of 
six building lots, in said town, as provided in 
said deed ; now be it 

" Ordered, That the following lots be selected, 
to-wit : lot No 1, facing on the public square, 
and lots Nos. 80, 88, 89, 97, 74, being lots not 
facing on the public square ; and that a deed be 
executed to the said Jacob Ly Brand for said 
lots on the part of said Green county, and 
tendered to the said Jacob Ly Brand by the 
sheriff, and return thereof made and tiled in the 
office of the clerk of this board." 

Mr. Ly Brand would not receive the deed 
tendered by the commissioners, and the sheriff 
made his return in accordance with the facts. 
Here the matter rested until the 8th day of 
October, when the public sale of the Monroe 
lots was to take place, when the matter was ar- 
ranged, Mr. Ly Brand having before that date 
made a selection of the lots and the commis- 
sioners thereupon deeding the same to him, as 
appears from the following record of their pro- 
ceedings : 

"October 8, 1840. 

" Whereas, A deed was executed to Jacob 
Ly Brand, by this board, for six building lots 
in the town of Monroe, and presented to him 
by the sheriff of Green county, in pursuance of 
an order by this board, at the July session 1840; 
and, 

" Whereas, The said Jacob Ly Brand refused 
to accept said deed, and chose other six lots in 
said town, to-wit : lots numbers one (I), twenty- 
three (23), twenty-four (24), and twenty-five 



270 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



i 



(25), being lots on the land donated to Green 
county by Jacob Ly Brand ; also lot number three 
(3) on the land donated to said county by Wil- 
liam C, Russell ; also lot number seven (V), on the 
land donated by the said Jacob Ly Brand, and 
facing on the public square in said town. 

" Ordered, That a deed of conveyance be exe- 
cuted to the said Jacob Ly Brand by this boai-d, 
on the part of Green county, for the aforesaid 
described lots and tendered to the said Jacob 



Ly Brand, by the sheriff, who is requested to 
make return thereof forthwith to this board. 

The sheriff returned into court the following 
return, to-wit : ' I hereby certify that I this 8th 
day of October, 1840, presented a deed from 
Green county to Jacob Ly Brand for certain 
lots in the town of Monroe, and the said Jacob 
Ly Brand accepted the same.' 

" [Signed] J. W. Deniston, 

" Sheriff." 








\si^''^)Xi'''^' 






yiy(J~Cf-~^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



2<3 



CHAPTER XI. 



TERRITORIAL, STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION. 



The settlers who located in what is now 
Green county beioie the year 1836 were, of 
course, citizens of Michigan Territory, and were 
I'epresented in its legislative council at Detroit 
as residents — first of Crawford county and after- 
wards of Iowa county. As the first occupants 
of the soil of the present Green county came 
herein 1827, it follows that they were repre- 
sented in Congi-ess from that date to 1836 by 

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES I'EOM MICHIGAN TER- 
EITOET. 

XXth Congress, Austin E. Wing, 1827-29. 

XXIst Congress, John Biddle, 1829-31. 

XXIId Congress, Austin E. Wing, ] 831-33. 

XXIIId Congress, Lucius Lyon, 1833-35. 

XXIVth Congress, GeorgeW. Jones,*! 835-37. 

As the greater part of Green county formed 
a portion of Iowa county from the erection of 
Wisconsin Territory in 1836 until 1838 (so far 
as its representation in the Territorial legisla- 
iiire was concerned), we nin.st look to the mem- 
bers of the latter county for those who repre- 
sented Green county for these years — that is to 
s.iy, until the first session of the second legisla- 
tive assembly, which convened in Madison, Nov. 
26, 1838. 

.MICAIBKRS OF THE COUNCIL OF WISCONSIN TERRI- 
TOKY WHO REPRESENTED GREEN COITNTY. 

I- — lotoa^ County (including Green), 
lirst Session, First Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Urigham, John B. Terry, James R. 

Vineyard; 1836. 

* Was a delegate until Michigan became a State, with his 
residence in Wisconsin, which was then a portion of the Ter- 
ritor.T of Michigan. His biography is given hereafter, in this 
chapter. 



Second Session, First Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigham, John B. Terry, James R. 
Vineyard; 1837-38. 

Special Session, First Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigham, John B. Terry, James R. 
Vineyard; 1838. 
IL — Dane, Dodge, Green andJeJferson Counties. 

First Session, Second Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigliam; 1838. 

Second Session, Second Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigham; 1839. 

Third Session, Second Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigham; 1839-40. 

Fourth (extra) Session, Second Legislative 
Assembly: Ebenezer Brigham; 1840. 

First Session, Third Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigham; 1840-41. 

Ill- — Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson and SauJc 
Counties. 

Second Session, Third Legislative Assembly: 
Ebenezer Brigham; 1841-42. 

First Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: 
Lucius I. Barber; 1842-43. 

Second Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: 
Lucius I. Barber; 1843-44. 

Third Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: 
John Catlin; 1845. 

Fourth Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly : 
John Catlin; 1846. 

U^. — Dane, Green and Sauk Counties. 

First Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: 
Alexander L. Collins; 1847, 

Special Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: 
Alexander L. Collins: 1847. 



17 



274 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Second Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: 
Alexander L. Collins; 1848. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

James H. Vineyard. 

James R. Vineyard was born in Kentucky in 
1804, from whence lie moved at an early date to 
the Lead Region of Wisconsin, and adopted the 
occupation of a miner. Plis after public career 
was in many respects unhappy, even if brilliant 
and useful. In 1833 he was elected a member 
of the Territorial council, in which he served 
until 1842. Most unfortunately, on the 11th of 
February of that year, in an altercation with 
Charles C. P. Arndt, of Brown county, which 
occurred in the hall of the House, he shot and 
killed his opponent. The melancholy event 
created wide-spread sensation and horror in 
most portions of the west, but on trial he was 
acquitted by a jury. In 1846 he was elected a 
member of the Constitutional Convention from 
Platteville, Grant county. Not reaching the 
capital until some days after the session had 
commenced, he was not appointed upon any of 
the standing committees, and took no important 
part in any of the proceedings. In 1849 he 
was elected a member of the assembly, but the 
event that clouded his life was a bar to special 
prominence. In 1850 he moved to California, 
and was elected to its State Senate for several 
terms, and also acted as Indian agent for several 
years. He died about 1872. 

Mr. Vineyard possessed great energy and 
force of character, was distinguished for his 
abilities, and ever enjoyed great personal popu- 
larity at his home. An act done in a moment 
of passion not only horrified the people of the 
Territory, but was ever after a source of keen- 
est remorse to himself. Under different and 
more favorable circumstances, he might have 
become one of the most prominent men in Wis- 
consin. His good qualities as a friend and citi- 
zen were generally and widely appreciated; but 
nothing could efface the memory of his gi-eat 
offense. It still lingers in the minds of all 
pioneer settlers, 



Ebenezer JBrigham. 
Ebenezer Brigham was born at Shrewsbury, 
Worcester Co,, Mass., April 28, 1789. In 1818 
he came to Olean Point, in the State of New 
York. The Allegheny river was then the only 
channel known through western New Y'ork, 
and that was only navigated by canoes, rafts, or 
skiffs. He came through in a canoe, and at 
Pittsburg took a flat boat down the Ohio river. 
The villages on the river were all small. During 
the journey down he saw but one steamboat. On 
arriving at Shawneetown he landed and walked 
through to St. Louis. There was nothing at 
that place but a small French settlement, not 
more than three or four brick houses in the 
town. In 1822 he followed up the Mississippi, 
on horseback, to Galena, where he found James 
Johnson, a brother of Richard M. Johnson, who 
was just opening the mines. Galena then con- 
sisted of one log cabin completed, and another 
under way, which he assisted in finishing. He 
subsequently returned to Springfield, 111. In 

1827 he started for Wisconsin with an ox team, 
seeking the Lead Region again. At that time 
there was a large emigration to the southwest- 
ern part of the Territory, as lead ore was 
abundant and the price remunerative. He re- 
mained awhile with a small party on what is 
now the Block House branch of the Platte 
river, about four miles south of the present vil- 
lage oF Platteville, in Grant county, for the pur- 
pose of prospecting for mineral. From this 
point the party retreated in haste to Galena, 
owing to the commencement of hostilities by 
the Winnebago Indians. In the spring of 

1828 he removed to Blue Mounds, Dane county, 
where, at some abandoned diggings on section 
7, he soon discovered a valuable body of min- 
eral, as lead ore was then and still is called by 
the minei's in the Lead Regions. The lode dis- 
covered by him had previously been worked by 
the Indians and white men. The only source 
of food supply was from Galena. On his ar- 
rival he erected a cabin, the first house in M'hat 
is now Dane county, built by a permanent 
American settler. Its location was on the south- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



275 



westquarter of the southwest quarter of section 
5, as afterward (in 1833) surveyed by the United 
States surveyors. It was east of south of the 
East Blue Mound, and distant from it nearly 
half a mile. Soon after he had raised his 
cabin, he took a trip, with two companions, to 
Fort Winnebago, to ascertain whether food 
could not be more easily obtained at that point. 
The route taken was north of Lake Mendota, 
on the line of the military road afterward laid 
out. He obtained a supply of salt pork, hard 
bread, powder and some other things of a set- 
tler, not loading heavily, and on the return struck 
south, striking the old trail that formerly ran 
between Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, fol- 
lowing it up the hill where the State House in 
Madison now stands, where he encamped over 
night. Intercourse with the Indians had made 
known to him the distance of the lake region 
before he started. From the enclianting view 
of the spot, he predicted that a village would 
be built there, probably be the future capital 
of the Territory. The isolated condition of 
Mr. Brigham, where he settled, will be appar- 
ent from the statement of a few facts: The 
nearest settler was at what is now Dodgevilli'. 
Mineral point, and other mining places where 
villages have since grown up, had not lieen dis- 
covered. On the southeast the nearest house 
was on the Des Plaines river, twelve miles west 
of Chicago. On the east Solomon Juneau was 
his nearest neighbor, at the mouth of the Mil- 
waukee river, and on the northeast Green Bay 
was the nearest settlement. 

Shortly after locating at the Mounds, Mr. 
Brigham, in company with William S. Hamil- 
ton, Mr. Gratiot and some others, visited Green 
Bay, in order to settle on certain boundaries 
between the whites and the Indians. The line 
was fixed u])on and the Indians blazed the trees 
along this line, notifying the whites not to 2)ttss 
it — a prohibition not at all effectual, as any one 
would readily conclude. 

For several years after his coming, the sav- 
ages were plentiful around the Four Lakes; a 



large Indian village stood near the mouth of 
Token creek; another stood on the ridge be- 
tween Lake Waubesa and Lake Monona and 
their wigwams were seen at different points 
along the streams. 

Soon after his settlement he was honored 
with the appointment of magistrate from Lewis 
Cass, governor of the Territory of Michigan, 
of which Territory Wisconsin was then a part. 
He held this commission for four years, and all 
the duty he performed during that time was to 
marry one couple. He often related an anec- 
dote of being called upon to go some thirty 
miles to marry a couple, but, on arriving within 
a short distance of the place, word had been 
left there that the fair lady had changed her 
mind, and he must not come any farther. Mr. 
.Brigham, however, went on and introduced an- 
other friend, who succeeded in making a con- 
tract, and the next spring he was called upon 
to ratify it; this was the only official act of a 
four year's term of justice of the peace. 

The principal object of his location at the 
Blue Mounds, as before stated, was mining for 
lead. His first diggings were on the section 
line between sections 7 and 18, but his furnace 
was immediately west of his house. The loca- 
tion of his diggings was a mile and a quarter 
from his house, in a southwesterly direction. 
The military road ran east and west, between 
the house and his mine. 

Brigham, however, cultivated the soil in a 
small way, having his fields near his house. 
One of the "leads" on his laiul was "proved" 
before his death to the depth of over seventy 
feet, when the workmen were prevented by 
water, from going deeper. 

Upward of 4,000,000 pounds were taken from 
this mine with no other machinery than the 
common Avindlass, rope and tub. His lead was 
hauled to Green Bay, Chicago and Galena. On 
his first trip to Chicago, there was not a house 
or wagon-track between that place and Blue 
Mounds. He was fifteen daj^s in reaching his 
destination fording with his oxen and load of 



276 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



lead the Rock and Fox rivers, and the smaller 
streams on tlie route. On this expedition, he 
was accompanied by a favorite dog, for which 
he was offered in Chicago, a village lot, which 
was situated where now is the most valuable 
property in that city. In those days, the whole 
site of the town could have been purchased for 
a few hundred dollars. 

Brigham,at the organization of the Territorial 
government, was elected a member of the 
council, and was re-elected, serving nine terms, 
from 1836 to 1841. When the State govern- 
ment was organized, in 1848, he was elected a 
member of the assenibly. He died at the 
residence of his niece, Mrs. H. G. Bliss, at 
Madison, Sept. 14, 1861, aged seventy-two years. 
He was never married. 

It must not be supposed that Brigham was 
the first white man — the first American at the 
Mounds; but, although this was not the fact, 
yet he was the first permanent settler. Before 
him, as already explained, the diggings had 
been worked. William Deveise went there in 
the spring, just before Brigham's arrival, where 
he found two men named Moore, who were 
trading a little, in whisky at least, and one 
John Duncan, a very large and powerful man. 
But on the 12th day of August, Deveise moved 
to Sugar River Diggings, leaving James Haw- 
thorn to continue the work there. So it seems 
certain that Brigham, upon his arrival, found 
miners at work at the Mounds, but none of 
them made a permanent stay. 

John B. Skinner had had at one time a fur- 
nace there. However, it is certainly known 
that, at the date of the survey of the lands at 
the Mounds, which was in 1833, there was left 
but one resident in the vicinity, and that one 
was Ebenezer Brigham. 

It may be mentioned in this connection, that 
Brigham, at an early day, kept many articles for 
sale to the miners and pioneer farmers. The 
prices current in those times were different 
from now. An examination of an old day- 
book shows that," on the 28th day of June, 1828, 



he sold to Samuel Carman, one barrel of flour, 
charging for the same $8, and four pounds of 
sugar at twenty cents a pound. 

On the ]7th day of July, of the same year, 
Duncan & Proctor were sold a half bushel of 
salt, for which they were charged 11.25. Labor 
was cheap in those days. Thomas Jones was 
credited on the 28th day of June, of the same 
year, with four days work at seventy-seven cents 
a day. On the 6th of February, 1830, Wallace 
Rowan is charged for one pair of moccasins, 
fifty cents; for one pint of whisky, twenty-five 
cents; for one bushel of corn, fifty cents. 

Mr. Brigham, on the 23d of October, 1830, 
agreed with W. J. Medcalf, to winter eight head 
of beef cattle, from the 1st of December, until 
the 1st of April, 1831, for $48, and also to de- 
liver 100 bushels of corn at the portage, (Fort 
Winnebago) for $70. Indeed, from the start, it 
is evident that "Brigham's Place" was one of 
business; for, during the year 1828, he had ac- 
counts with John Murphy, Thomas Jones, Down- 
ing Lot, Samuel Carman, John White, Mr. Kel- 
logg, Kirkpatrick & Brigham, Mr. Wentworth, 
James Cloyd, Duncan & Proctor, Noah M.King, 
Mr. Dinwiddy, Terwan & Elington, Fish & 
Kellogg, Mr. Rader, Alexander Wilson, Soward 
Blackmore, Thomas H. Price, Andrew Orr, 
William Fulton, George Spangle, Elijah Slater, 
Slater & Brigham and Mr. Fish. It will be seen 
therefore, that, although Mr. Brigliam had lo- 
cated at the extreme eastern diggings of the 
Lead Region, he did not lack for laborers, or 
for customers. It was not long after his location 
at the East Blue Mound, before the road from 
Prairie du Chien to Fort Winnebago, (this fort 
being erected in the fall of 1828, the very year 
of Brigham's arrival) was laid out, and already 
along the old Indian trail, between these points, 
was considerable ti^avei. . Tiu-n followed the 
road from Milwaukee to the Mississippi by his 
place, so that by the time emigration began to 
set in pretty briskly in this region, the Blue 
Mounds presented the air of a lively place. In 
1836, Mr. Brigham was appointed postmaster, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the first person receiving that appointment 
within the present limits of the county. 

The following anecdote, related by Ebenezer 
Childs, illustrates the "cuteness" of Mr. Brig- 
ham. I left Carrollton, 111., about the middle of 
May, [1827], passed through Jacksonville, where 
there were a few houses; the next place was 
Springfield, which had a population of about 
200. Thence I went to Sangamon, where I met 
Ebenezer Brigham, from Worcester Co., Mass. 
He was the first live Yankee that I had seen 
from my native county, since I had left there, 
in 1816, and I was the first he had seen from that 
county. I had a yoke of blind oxen, that gave 
my men a great deal of trouble to drive. As 
Brigham had a tread-mill, I thought my blind 
oxen would do as well for that purpose as though 
they could see, so I proposed to the gentleman 
from Worcester county to exchange my oxen for 
a horse. He said that, as we were both from 
Worcestei- county, he would try and accomodate 
me, I told him my oxen were a little blind, but 
I thought they could do him good service. After 
it became a little dark, I took him to see my 
oxen. He liked them very well. He then took 
me to see his horse. It was by this time quite 
dark. I did not examine him much, but he ap- 
peared to be a fine-looking animal. We had ex- 
changed honorably, as we were both from the 
same native region; in a word, wefelt and acted 
like brothers. But the next morning, when 
I joined the drove, I found that my new horse 
was as blind as a bat, and I do believe he had 
not seen for ten years; and he appeared older 
than the ancient hills around us. But it was all 
right, as friend Brigham and I were both 
from Worcester county. We have many a 
time, since, laughed heartily over our early trade. 

From "a Geneological Register of the decend- 
ants of several Ancient Puritans by the name of 
Grout, Goulding and Brigham," published iu 
Boston, in 1859, is found the following concern- 
ing the first settler of Dane county. 

He [Ebenezer Brigham] is the proprietor of a 
large tract o!" land, rich in agricultural and min- 



eral resources, and one of the original proprie- 
tors of the city of Madison, the capitol of Wis- 
consin, now hardly twenty years old, yet con- 
taining in 1859, a population of 12,000 souls. 
Mr. Brigham depends not on his wealth, nor on 
this humble record to i)reserve his history. He 
is extensively and advantageously known, and, 
when the whole of his character shall come to 
be written, the reader must feel that a good 
name is emphatically better than riches, and 
constitutes the value of a posthumous memory." 
Mr. Brigham is buried in the beautiful ceme- 
tery of Forest Hill, near the city of Madison, 
where a fine monument is erected to his mem- 
ory. 

John Catlin 
was born Oct, 13, 1803, at Orwell, Vt. His 
genealogy has been successfully traced back 
through six generations to Thomas Catlin, who 
resided at Hartford, Conn., more than two and 
a quarter centuries ago. Plis father was John 
B. Catlin, and his mother's maiden name Rosa 
Ormsbee, daughter of John Ormsbee, of Shoi'e- 
ham, Vt. John Catlin came of excellent Ameri- 
can stock, as both his paternal and maternal 
grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers, and 
conspicuous for their patriotic zeal in the war 
which resulted in the consummation of Ameri- 
can independence. 

In his paternal grandfather's family there were 
seven brothers, all of whom shouldered the 
Revolutionary musket and joined the ranks of 
the patriotic army. They were all of them fine 
specimens of stalwart manhood, standing full six 
feet high, heavy, muscular and well propor- 
tioned. His mother's father held a lieutenant's 
commission in the Continental army, and con- 
tinued in the service until the close of the war, 
when he received an honorable discharge, to- 
gether with the sum of $1,400, the amount of 
his pay. The currency of the country was 
somewhat inflated at that time, as on his return 
to his home in Massachusetts, Lieut. Ormsbee 
paid IGO of hi-i money for a single bushel of corn. 



21S 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



John Catlin's father was engaged in the mer- 
cantile business until 1812. At the beginning 
of the war which broke out that 3'ear, lie aban- 
doned his mercantile vocation and took up his 
residence in the town of Bridport, Addison 
Co., Vt. Having purchased a farm border- 
ing on Lake Chaniplain, he became a tiller of 
of tlie soil. Tlie subject of our sketch was then 
about nine years of age; and in tliat place and 
vicinity he began and ended the scholastic train- 
ing which was to prepare him for the business 
of life. His educational advantages were quite 
limited, being only such as the common district 
school afforded, with the exception of one year 
which he spent in Newton Academy, located 
at Shoreham. At the age of eighteen he quit 
school and resorted to the vocation of teaching 
as a temporary means of livelihood. He fol- 
lowed this occupation for nine successive win- 
ters, devoting his summers to self-culture and 
to the study of law in the office of Augustus C. 
Hand, of Elizabethtowu, N. Y. In 1833 he 
was admitted to the bar at the age of thirty. 

In 1836 he joined the comparatively small 
band of early pioneers who were following the 
"course of empire" westward. At that time em- 
igrating as far west as Wisconsin was no holiday 
excursion as now. The pioneer of 1836 had no 
palace car furnished with luxurious accommoda- 
tions, in which he could repose at his ease, 
reading the latest paper or magazine, or. sleep 
away the swift hours, rolling him over the iron 
track at the rate of 400 miles a day. The emi- 
grant of forty years ago was compelled to travel 
by the slow stage coach, dragging its weary way 
over muddy roads, at the rate of thirty to fifty 
miles a day, or by the tedious canal-boat with 
its scanty accommodations, or the ill-provided 
lake steamer, laboring against opposing weaves 
to make six miles an hour, and, even when the 
wished-for destination was reached, the traveler 
found himself encompassed witli difficulties, 
dangers and privations. 

Mr. Catlin first settled at Mineral Point, 
where he formed co-partnership with Moses M. 



Strong in the business of his chosen profession. 
He, however, remained there but two years; for, 
the capital of the Territory having been located 
at Madison, and he h;^ving received the ap- 
pointment of postmaster at that place, in the 
spring of 1 838, he removed there with a view 
of making it his permanent residence. He held 
the position of postmaster until the election of 
Gen. Harrison as President, when he was removed 
to make way for a political antagonist; but, 
upon the accession of John Tyler to the Presi- 
dency, he was re-instated and continued to hold 
the office until 1844, when he was elected a 
member of the Territorial council representing 
the counties of Dane, Dodge, Green, Jefferson 
and Sauk, and tlie two offices being incompat- 
ible under the law, he resigned his postoffice ap- 
pointment. 

In the fall of 1836, Mr Catlin was appointed 
clerk of the Supreme Court. He was also chosen 
clerk of the Territorial House of Representa- 
tive in 1838, and was I'e-elected to that position 
for eight successive years. He was the first 
district attorney of Dane county, and on the 
removal of George C. Floyd from the office of 
secretary of the Territory, in 1846, he was aj)- 
pointed his successor, and continued to hold ml 
that position until Wisconsin was admitted iiito 
the Union, in 1848. A bill was introduced into 
Congress by Morgan L. Martin, the delegate of 
Wisconsin, to organize a Territorial govern- 
ment for Minnesota, including the district left 
out on the admission of Wisconsin as a State. 
The citizens of what is now Minnesota, were 
very anxious to obtain a Territorial govern- 
ment; and two public meetings were held — one 
at St. Paul, and the other at Stillwater — advis- 
ing and soliciting Mr. Catlin, who was secretary 
of Wisconsin, to issue a proclamation, as the 
acting governor, for the election of a delegate. 
After some consideration Mr. Catlin repaired 
to Stillwater, and issued the proclamation. H. 
H. Sibley was elected; and he did much toward 
hastening the passage of a bill for organizing a 
Territorial government for Minnesota. Mr. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



279 



Catlin was afterward elected county judge of 
Dane county, an office whicli he resigned in 
order to accept a position of President of the 
Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Company, 
His appointment to this position necessitated 
his removal to Milwaukee. 

In the discharge of the duties of the import- 
ant position of President of the primitive rail- 
road of Wisconsin, Mr. Catlin displayed great 
energy and skill. 

He procured the passage of a law which made 
the first mortgage bonds of this railroad, to the 
amount of lifty per cent., a foundation for 
banking. This feature appreciated the obliga- 
tions of the company to such an extent that he 
was enabled to effect a loan of $600,000, which 
give to the road the first great impulse, and the 
work of construction was vigorously begun and 
as vigorously prosecuted. He was president of 
this road for five years, or until 1856, when he 
declined a re-election. His retirement was 
made the occasion of a highly complimentary 
resolution, adopted by the board of directors, 
thanking liim for liis eminent services in behalf 
of the road. 

In 1857 the company failed, and Mr. Catlin 
was once more induced to accept the position 
of president, and lie proceeded to re-organize 
tlie association. He continued his official con- 
nection witli that corporation until it was sub- 
sequently consolidated with the Milwaukee & 
St. Paul Railroad Company. 

Mr. Catlin was married on the 19th day of 
September, 1843, at Rochester, N. Y.,to Clarissa 
Bristol, daugliter of Charles Bristol, once a 
prominent wholesale merchant of New York 
city. The fruit of this marriage was one child, 
a daughter. 

Among the pioneers of Wisconsin, John Cat- 
lin held a conspicuous place. The various im- 
portant official positions which, as we have 
seen, he was called upon to fill, furnish sufficient 
proof in confirmation of this statement. He 
was chosen secretary of the Territory; was the 
first postmaster of Madison; first clerk of the 



Supreme Court, and of the Territorial House of 
Representatives; first district attorney of Dane 
county; its first county judge; was president of 
the first railroad company; and a member of 
the Territorial legislature. 

His energetic character and practical ability 
peculiarly fitted him for the work of aiding in 
the building up the fabric of a new State, All 
enterprises that promised to promote the growth 
and prosperity of Wisconsin found in him a 
zealous supporter and a determined advocate. 
In its infancy he became a life member of the 
State Historical Society, and to the time of his 
death he was one of its most active and inflexi- 
ble friends. His efforts and influence contrib- 
uted in no very slight degree toward the collec- 
tion of literary treasures which now fill one 
wing of the capitol, forming a library of which 
the State is justly proud. Mr. Catlin's friend- 
ship for the Historical Society was not impulsive 
or spasmodic, but a continuing regard which 
lasted throughout his active life. It is perhaps 
but just in this connection to allude to the liberal 
bequest which he made of a section of land 
in the State of Texas, for the benefit of the 
society. 

John Catlin was pre-eminently a self-made 
man. He owed but little of the success which 
he achieved to the gifts of fortune, or to extra- 
ordinary natural endowments. His intellectual 
parts were more solid than strong; more useful 
than ornamental. His aim was success, and he 
sought it in the slow, but sure and solid, path- 
ways of industry and perseverance. 

He knew the race was not always to the 
the swift, nor the battle to the strong. He saw 
the prize of victory in the far distance, waiting 
for all who would labor to achieve it; and he 
entered upon the pursuit, not with the impulsive 
flights of genius, but with the steady gait of 
practical common sense. 

It may be said that Mr. Catlin's intellectual 
character was neither illustrated nor marred by 
any of the faculties or the faults of genius. He 
laid no claim to the natural gifts which are essen- 



280 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



tial attributes in the character of the successful 
advocate; and yet, liad he devoted his life ex- 
clusively to the duties of his chosen profession, 
lie would doubtless have gained distinction at 
the bar. He was a kind and faithful husband, 
and indulgent parent and a most exemplary 
citizen. He died Aug. 4,1874, in Elizabeth, N. J. 

REPRESENTATIVES OF WISCONSIN TERRITORY WHO 
REPRESENTED GREEN COUNTY IN THE LEGISLA- 
TURE. 

I. — loxiKi County, (including Green). 

First Session, First Legislative Assembly : 
William Boyls, George F. Smitli,Daniel M.Park 
inson, Thomas McKnight, Thomas Shanley, 
James P. Cox; 1836. 

Second Session, First Legislative Assembly : 
William Boyls, Thomas McKnight, Thomas 
Shanley, James P. Cox, George F. Smith, Daniel 
M. Parkinson; 1838-8. 

Special Session, First Legislative Assembly: 
William ]>oyls, Thomas McKnight, Daniel M. 
Parkinson, Thomas Shanley, James P. Cox, 
James Collins* ; 1838. 
II. — Dane, Dodge, Green and Jejfcrson Counties. 

First Session, Second Legislative Assembly: 
Daniels. Sutherland; 1838. 

Second Session, Second Legislative Assem- 
bly : Daniels. Sutherland; 1839. 

Third Session, Second Legislative Assembly: 
Daniels. Sutherland; 1839-40. ^ 

Fourth (extra) Session, Second Legislative 
Assembly: Daniel S. Sutherland: 1840. 

First Session, Third Legislative Assembly : 
Lucius I. Barber and James Sutherland ; 1840-1. 
III. — Dane, Dodge. Green, tTefferson and tSauk 
Counties. 

Second Session, Third Legislative Assembly: 
Lucius I. Barber and James Sutherland; 1841-2. 

First Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly : 
Isaac H. Palmer, Lyman Grossman and Robert 
Masters; 1842-3. 

Second Session, Fourth Legislative Assem- 
bly : Robert Masters, Lyman Grossman and 
Isaac H. Palmer ; 1843-4. 



*Iii place of Georpe F. Smith, resigned. 



Third Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: 
Charles S. Bristol, Noah Plielps and George II. 
Slaughter; 1845. 

Fourth Session, Fourth Legislative Assembly: 
Mark R. Clapp, William M. Dennis and Noah 
Phelps; 1846. 

IV. — Dane, Green and Sauk Counties. 

First Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly : 
Charles Lurn, William A. Wheeler and John 
W. Stewart; 1847. 

Special Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: 
E. T. Gardner, Alexander Botkin and John W. 
Stewart ; 1847. 

Second Session, Fifth Legislative Assembly: 
E. T. Gardner, John W. Stewart and Alexan- 
der Botkins; 1848. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Daniel 8. Sutherland. 
D. S. Sutherland is a son of Arich and Re- 
becca (Stanley) Sutherland, natives of Vermont. 
They are now dead and buried in Edgar Co., 
111., where they removed in 182-2. He (D. 
S. Sutherland), was born in Onondago Co., 
N. Y., June 13, 1802. In 1885 he first 
came to Green county, on a prospecting tour, 
and being delighted with the country, resolved 
to make it his permanent abode, and the follow- 
ing year took up his residence on section 25, of 
the town of Monroe. He had all the hardships 
and disadvantages of pioneer life, to contend 
with. At that time there was not a house be- 
tween his place and Monroe, and on the east, 
Janesville was the nearest place of human abode. 
Their nearest market was at Galena, 111., 
and the nearest mill at a place in Lafayette 
county called Wolf Creek. He came here from 
Edgar county, with six yoke of oxen and two 
wagons, being on the road from Ai)ril 30, to 
May 21. He erected a log cabin, 16x20 
feet, with a puncheon floor, in which 
they lived during the summer and fall, then 
moved into a new cabin one and a half stories 
high, the shingles for which they hewed out. 
The first season he broke ten acres and sowed 
it to oats, in June. The family lived in the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



281 



second cabin ten years, when their present 
house, the first frame house in Monroe, was 
erected. Mr. Sutherland owned at one time, 
560 acres ; 240 acres on section 25, and 160 
acres on section 36, in the town of Mon- 
roe, and eighty acres on section 30, and eiglity 
acres on section 31, in the town of Sylvester. 
He has sold, and given land to his sons, until he 
now owns 147 acres. He was, from the first, 
until he was disqualified for business, always a 
useful citizen, taking an active interest in every 
enterprise for the public good. He was the first 
chairman of both town and county boards ; has 
also been chairman of the county board several 
terms since. He served two years in the 
State legislature, and was influential in having 
this county set ofl; from Iowa county, draw- 
ing up the petition for that purpose. Mr. 
Sutherland was married March 27, 1826, to 
Louisa Nobles, a native of Connecticut, but at 
the time of her marriage, a resident of Edgar 
Co., 111. They had seven children — Emery G., 
living in Monroe ; Fanny E., wife of John 
Stearns, of Monroe ; Mary A., deceased ; Isa- 
bella, widow of David Hodge ; Daniel W., 
who was drowned in Sugar river, June 6, 1874, 
in endeavoring to rescue one of his compan- 
ions, on a fishing excursion ; Richard B., living 
in Kansas and a soldier during the late war ; 
and Germane, deceased. 

Jam es Suth erla )id, 
an old settler of Green county, was born at 
Rutland, Vt. in 1795. He went toSalina, N. Y. 
with his parents, after which he removed to 
Genesee county when it was a wilderness. It 
being at the time of the War of 1812, when 
eighteen years of age he joined the American 
arn^y and participated in a skirmish at Bufiialo. 

He was married in Genesee county to Lois 
Sutherland. She died in 1833. I>y this union 
there were seven children, five sons and two 
daughters — Andrew J., Martin C, John T., 
Solomon, Catherine, Esther J. and James. 

He again married. His second wife was 
Esther Sutherland. She was born in Rutland, 



Vt. in 1806. Mr. Sutherland, in his younger 
days worked at farming, and received a com- 
mon school education — the greater part at home 
before the fire place. He moved to Dariati on 
the "Holland Purchase," where he engaged in 
the harness trade for a short time. About this 
time he was elected magistrate, which office he 
held about ten years. He took an active part 
in politics and was one of the electors that 
placed Gen. Jackson in the Presidential chair. 
In politics he was a staunch democrat and an 
admirer of Thomas Benton, after whom he 
named one of his sons. He was also identified 
with the military history of the State; having 
held the positions of captain, major and col- 
onel; he went by the latter name until his death. 

In November, 1838, he arrived in Green 
county. He made this trip by way of Buffalo 
and to Toledo; from there by wagon to Chicago, 
on to Belvidere, III. After remaining near 
Monroe about four years, he moved on section 
15, northeast quarter, town of Sylvester, 
where he lived until his death. 

After coming to the county he took an active 
part in politics. He was elected and served as 
representative in the Territorial legislature in 
the sessions of 1840-41 and 1841-42. He 
took an interest in educational affairs and 
and was anxious that his children should be edu- 
cated. He had two children by his last mar- 
riage — Francis C. and Thomas B. He died in 
1843. His second wife died in November, 1860. 
This family is of Scotch extraction and they 
trace their ancestors back to sometime in 1600, 
to the Duke of Sutherland, when three brothers 
by that name crossed the ocean and settled on 
the Atlantic coast. 

Alexander Botkin. 

Alexander Botkin was born in Kentucky in 
1801. At an early age he removed to Ohio and 
thence to Alton, 111., in 1832. He was a justice 
of the peace at the time of the Lovejoy riots, 
and took an active part in preserving law and 
order. He came to Madison, Wis., in 1841, as 
assistant secretary of the Territory, and was. 



282 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



for awhile a law partner of Alexander P. Field. 
He was a member of the Territorial House of 
Representatives in 1847-8, representing, along 
with E. T. Gardner and John W. Stewart the 
counties, as we have seen, of Dane, Green and 
Sauk, during the special session of the fifth leg- 
islative assembly, in October, 184'7, and the 
second session of the same assembly, in Feb- 
ruary and March, 1848. Mr. Botkiii was a 
State senator in 1849-50 and a member of the 
assembly in 1852. He was a candidate for the 
first constitutional convention (which convened 
in 1846), but was defeated by John Y. Smith. 
He was voted for by the Whigs in 1849 for 
United States senator, against Isaac P. Walker, 
the successful candidate. He died suddenly at 
Sun Prairie, in Dane county, March 5, 1857, 
aged fifty-six years. 

MEMBERS WHO REPRESENTED GREEN COUNTS IN 
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. 

The first constitutional convention assembled 
at Madison on the 5th day of October, 1846, 
and adjourned on the 16th day of December, 
1846, having framed a constitution, which was 
submitted to a vote of the people on the first 
Tuesday in April, 1847, and the same was re- 
jected. The members of this convention from 
Green county were: Davis Bowen, Noah 
Phelps, William C. Green and Hiram Brown. 

The second convention assembled at Madison 
on the 15th day of December, 1847, and ad- 
journed on the 1st of February, 1848, having 
framed a constitution, wliich was submitted to 
a vote of the people on the second Monday in 
March following, and the same was adopted. 
Green county's representatives in this (the sec- 
ond) constitutional convention were: James 
Biggs and William McDowell. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

JVoah Phelps. 
Noah Phelps is a descendant of Obadiah 
Phelps and Lucy, his wife, who was a daughter 
of Nathan Pelton, of E;ist Windsor, Hartford, 
Co., Conn. He was born in the town of Turin, 
Lewis Co., N. Y., May 21, 1808, and after re- 



ceiving a common school education, became by 
profession a surveyor, in which occupation he 
was employed in surveying government lands 
in the present counties of Dane, Green and 
Rock, in the then Territory of Michigan, in the 
years 1833 and 1834. Jan, 5, 1835, he married 
Adelia Antoinette Hoyt, and in 1838 settled 
permanently in this county. In 1841 he was 
elected county surveyor; in 1842 collector of 
taxes, and re-elected in 1843. In 1844 he was 
elected a member of the Territorial house of 
representatives, and re-elected in 1845, the dis- 
trict then embracing Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, 
Sauk and Green counties. 

In 1846 he was elected to the constitutional 
convention from this county, and served in that 
body on the committee on banks and banking, 
and took a somewhat active part in the general 
proceedings. In 1848 and 1850 he was elected 
and re-elected clerk of the circuit court, and 
has since held many local offices of usefulness 
and importance. He is a gentleman of great 
natural abilities, genial as the sunshine, affable, 
courteous and greatly esteemed by all who 
know him. He is a man of sterling worth, 
strict integrity, and large and varied educa- 
tional attainments. 

Davis Doioen 
was the seventh and youngest son of his parents, 
Samuel and Sarah (Davies) Bowen. He was 
born on the 25th of May, 1795, in Fayette Co., 
Penn. His father was one of the early settlers 
of that locality, then supposed to be a part of 
Virginia; but which on running "Mason and 
Dixon's line," fell to Pennsylvania. He emi- 
grated from Delaware, his native State, in 1770. 
He claimed to be of Welsh descent, and was 
widely known as "Capt. Bowen." He took an 
active and conspicious part in the long and 
bloody Indian wars in the valley of the Monon- 
ghahela river. He never seemed to care about 
accumulating a large fortune, yet he left a good 
and comfortab'e house for his family who sur- 
vived him. Like most of the frontier settlers 
he was noted for his hospitality; and it was 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



283 



said — "No one ever left his door hungry." He 
was highly respected, and lived and died on the 
old Bowen farm, lying in the locality known as 
*-The Forks of Cheat." After the death of their 
father, John and Davis, the two younger sons, 
owned and occupied the old homestead until 
the fall of 1836, when they sold out, and in the 
spring of 1837, started west. Davis settled in 
Wisconsin where he soon became a leading • 
man in his locality, and helped organize the 
State of his choice. He was an old-time demo- 
crat, and was a firm believer in Thomas Jeffer- 
son and Gen. Jackson. He was a member of 
the Baptist church, believed in immersion, true 
repentance, cleanly and good works. He was 
respected by all who knew him. He was 
elected to fill the following offices: Member of 
the convention in 1846; county commissioner, 
collector, and justice of the peace. At the age 
of twenty-six years he was married to Rachel 
Lane Brown, of Kingwood, W.Va. This union 
was blessed with several children, but only two 
survive their parents — James E. and Anna M., 
wife of Reuben Fleek, of Brodhead. Mr. Bowen 
died May 6, 1867; his wife died Sept. 7, 1877, 
aged eighty-seven years. They are resting side 
by side in the cemetery at Juda. Mr. Bowen 
came to Green county in April, 1837, and on the 
2d of May, entered 160 acres of land on section 
27, in what is now the town of Sylvester. He 
erected a cabin and had ten acres of land broke 
up that summer. In the fall he returned to 
West Virginia for his family, they having re- 
mained there with relatives until he found a 
home for them. He remained in West Virginia 
until in March, 1838, when he started for his 
western home, arriving there on the 22d of 
April. He settled on the farm he had opened 
up the year before, and lived there until his 
death. Davis Bowen was chairman of the first 
town meeting, which organized and elected 
ofiicers for the town. J. I. Bowen and E. T. 
Fleek, of Decatur are nephews of Davis Bowen, 
and are old settlers and respected citizens of 
the county. 



Hiram Brown. 

Hiram Brown was born in Connecticut in 
1803, and by profession is a farmer. He was 
elected from Exeter, this county, to the first 
constitutional convention, in 1846, and served 
in that body on the committee on revision and 
adjustment of the articles of the constitution 
adopted by the convention. He was noted 
among his associates for sterling qualities of 
manhood, careful attention, and an intelligent 
appreciation of the work in hand. In the chap- 
ter on Pioneer Reminiscences has already been 
given what may be termed an autobiography of 
of Mr. Brown. He is now (1884) a resident of 
Orleans, Neb., and is over eighty years of age, 
William McDowell. 

William McDowell, a prominent citizen of 
this county, was born in Newton, Virginia, 
March 27, 1805, His father was a native 
of Ireland, who emigrated to America soon 
after the close of the Revolutionary War, land- 
ing at Charleston, S. C, where he had a brother 
in the mercantile business. Shortly after his ar- 
rival, under the impression to do so was a duty, 
he engaged in preaching the Gospel as an 
itinerant minister of the M. E. Church, which 
vocation he followed for a period of seven years, 
during which time he became acquainted with 
Rachel McClintick, a member of the Methodist 
Church, and the acquaintance growing into 
affection, they w-ere married in the year 1793, 
at her father's home in Carlisle, Penn., the place 
of her birth. Soon after their marriage they 
left for Savannah, Ga., and engaged in the 
mercantile business; remaining there about 
three years. From Savannah, they removed to 
Petersburg, Va., where he was postmaster and 
did business as a merchant. The next move 
was to Newtown, Virginia, where merchan- 
dising and farming occupied his time and 
attention until his removal in 1807 to Chil- 
licothe, Ross Co., Ohio, where he continued 
business as a merchant; but, personally dislik- 
ing a mercantile life, he left the store in the 
bands of his eldest son and brother-in-law, 



284 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



James McClintick, and removed to a farm 
(eleven miles distant) with the other members 
of the family. The winter of 1SJ2 he spent at 
Philadelphia, Penn., in studying medicine and 
attending the lectures of Benjamin Rusli, and 
Physic, both of whom were eminent in tlie 
blood-letting jiractice of those days. Return- 
ing home, he engaged in the physicians calling 
and in a short time had considerable business 
and was quite successful; but desirous of edu- 
cating his children and the facilities of doing 
so wanting in the country, induced him to leave 
the farm and return to Chillicothe in 1815, 
where he remained with but little interruption, 
until he passed away from earth in November, 
1841, at the mature age of eighty years; surviv- 
ing his wife about eleven years, she being sixty 
years old at the time of her decease. The 
bodies of both were buried in one of the ceme- 
teries of Chillicothe, leaving behind them a 
family of six adult children and many friends to 
cherish their memory, and follow their good 
examples. The subject of this sketch attended 
the schools as were then taught and acquired a 
rudimentary knowledge of the branches, both 
of the English and Latin languages; but it can- 
not be said that he was not a "breeching scholar, 
in the schools;" and now laments lost opportu- 
nities and negligence in his studies when young. 
In the eighteenth year of his age he was sent to 
Portsmouth, Ohio, where his eldest brother 
lived and was in the mercantile business, to 
prosecute the study of medicine, for whicli \nir- 
pose, he became a student of N. W. Andrews, 
a popular physician of Portsmoulh; but as 
often happens, "man may propose, but, God 
disposes" and again "There's a divinity that' 
shapes our ends; rough hew them as we will;" 
so, in this case, the services of our subject were 
frequently required by his brother in the store; 
tluis so interfering with his medical studies, 
that, after a lapse of a few months, they were 
given up and exchanged to the duties of a 
counter-hopper and shi|)per of merchandise. 
Becoming a i)artner of his brother, he 



expected to make that the business of his 
future life, but here again he had reck- 
oned without his host ; for, meeting with a 
maiden fair, wlio resided in the country near 
Portsmouth, and being susce])tible to the charms 
of a lovely female, the old, old story was whis- 
pered in her ear and found a 'ready welcome 
there, which, consummated in a mariiage, Jan. 
5, 1830, changing her maiden name, Ann E. 
Clingman, to that of A. E. McDowell. This act 
of his, although no fault could be laid lothegirl 
of his choice, who was of a good family and of 
an unblemished character, gave offense and 
found opposition in a quarter which would make 
the business relation existing between the broth- 
ers very unpleasant. The partnership was, 
therefore, immediately dissolved. This new 
turn of the wheel of fortune so sudden and un- 
expected, brought him to face the question, 
"what now?" Having muscle and brains he 
rolled up his sleeves and went to work on a farm 
and earned the bread for himself and wife, by' 
the sweat of his brow; and although the resolve 
involved much hard labor, it was carried into 
successful practice by the subject of this article, 
who in the spring of 1830, engaged in the call- 
ing of a tiller of the soil, on a farm owned by 
his father, eleven miles distant from Chillicothe 
after residing on which for three years, it was 
sold, and its occupant with his little family of 
wife and one child, removed to Portsmouth, 
where he went into the lumber trade, which was 
given up a few months later for what appeared 
a more lucrative business, the manufacture of 
soap and candles, at Chillicothe, which was com- 
menced in 1833, under the firm name of .Mc- 
Dowell & Aston. The last named gentleman 
losing his wife, by death shortly after, the 
partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, 
leaving to Mr. McDowell the burden of meeting 
and canceling the debts against the firm; which 
by pluck and enei'gy of self and wife, was fully 
accomplisheil, and the term "mud-sill and greasy- 
mechanic" invented and facetiously, or other- 
wise, applied, by southern politicians to the free 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



285 



laborers of the northern States, could now be 
regarded as appropriate, when applied to him, 
for he had been both, a farmer, soap and candle 
maker. Here again new trials arose and cast 
dark shadows on the green and bright spots, 
which at length had began to appear scattered 
here and there on the pathway of our friend's 
life-journey, as if to try his virtue and let pa- 
tience perform her perfect work. His father, 
wlio had reached the age of seventy-three years, 
had become a victim to the seductive influence 
of morphine, which, at first, was taken in small 
doses to alleviate suffering from pain of body. 
These doses had so increased in size and fre- 
quency as to cause a state of the mind equal to, 
if not worse at times, than delirium tremens; 
such being the case, the soap factory was dis- 
posed of, and '"or six or seven years, thereafter, 
the time was mostly devoted to the care of an 
invalid parent, which ended only when that 
father ceased to live on earth. In May, 1842, 
•with his wife and four children, he undertook 
the arduous task of reaching his present location 
with a two-horse team and wagon. He had only 
traveled about fifteen miles from the starting 
point, when he came to a bridge which spanned 
a brook; near the edge of this bridge there was 
a hog-wallow, into which, the off-wheel of the 
wagon plunged, throwing the horse on that side 
over the embankment; there he lay on his side, 
feet and legs upwards, back and head downwards, 
unable to rise or extricate himself. Fortunately 
the horse on the near side of the wagon kept on 
his feet and was quiet until both of the animals 
were detached from the wagon. Had it been 
otherwise, ]>robably the whole family would 
have been instantly killed or terribly wounded. 
Soon after this frightful occurrence a gentleman 
with whom our adventurer was acquainted, and 
who lived not far off, came riding up and a 
trade of horses was made, also a part of the 
load was loft, which enabled our emigrants to 
resume their hazardous journey, which was yet 
to be attended with many obstacles ere they 
reached its end — obstacles of such a painful 



and trying nature that if they could have been 
foreseen, it is certain our travelers, instead of 
attempting to go forward, would have turned 
their faces about and adopted some other means 
of coming west. 

But they persevered in their efforts, until they 
reached a point near Richmond, Ind., and 
then learning that the roads were still worse 
further west, they concluded to return to Cin- 
cinnati, take a steamer and come as far as prac- 
ticable by water, which was done. Before ar- 
riving at Cincinnati, however, all or most of the 
children broke out with the measles. Their 
situation was now bad in the extreme, yet would 
have been much worse were it not that kind 
and Christian friends were at hand and ready 
and willing as far as they could, to sweeten 
the cup of sorrow. The mother of those sick 
children had a lady cousin, the wife of David 
K. Cady, living in the city, who, upon learning 
of the condition of things, immediately went to 
work and prepared an upper room of his store, 
where they might remain until means of get- 
ting away could be had ; their dwelling house 
would have been thrown open if it were not 
that their own cliildren would have been ex- 
posed to the contagion. As soon as possible a 
passage to St. Louis on a steamer was secured. 
At first two staterooms were allowed to be oc- 
cupied, but when the boat reached Louisville it 
became so crowded with passengers that one of 
the rooms had to be given up, which made the 
trip very unpleasant. On arriving at St. Louis, our 
pioneer family with their household goods and 
teams were transferred to another boat which 
was ready to leave for Peru, one of the towns sit- 
uated on the Illinois river. On reaching this 
point the horses were again harnessed and at- 
tached to the wagon, and soon moving north- 
ward. Tlie parents full of sorrow and anxiety 
on account of the condition of their youngest 
child, whose appearance plainly indicated that 
death would very soon take from them all that 
was mortal of their loved one. They were not 
mistaken, nor were tl eir fears groundless, for 



286 



HISTOET OF GREEN COUNTY. 



on the last day of their long and weary journey, 
about twenty miles from the home of the child's 
grandparents, it was conveyed to a brighter home 
than earth can ever furjiish, and its little bod}^ 
was sorrowfully buried out of sight the next 
day after their arrival at the residence of George 
W. Clingman, near Cedarville, Stephenson Co., 
111. After spending some days among kind 
and sympathing friends and relatives they were 
again on the road and a half day's travel brought 
them to their future home and farm located in 
the town of Clarno, Green county, where the 
subject of this sketch, now in the eightieth year 
of his age, still lives, with his youngest daugli- 
ter, Mrs. A. E. Anderson, and family. At one 
time lie owned nearly a half section of land 
which has been disposed of in various ways, 
with the exception of forty acres which is nicely 
situated, of excellent quality of soil, well tim- 
bered, and free from any incumbrance. He owes 
not a dime that he is aware of, never was sued, 
and never sued any one, and says that were it 
in his power he would abolish all law for the 
collection of debts. Politically, he is a green- 
backer and anti-monopolist, and is happy to 
know that the late decision of the Supreme 
Court .of the United States sustains him in his 
views of the money question. He has held 
different offices of trust and honor in the county 
and township where he lives; was a member of 
the convention which framed the ratified con- 
stitution of the State. For a period of several 
years he has taken no active part in politics fur- 
ther than to cast his ballot, which he holds to 
be a duty. It can scarcely be said of him that 
he is a member of any religious denomination, 
true that more thiiii forty years ago he joined a 
small society of the New Church, or better 
known by the name of Swedenborgians, in 
Chillicotlie, Ohio; but since coming to this State 
he has met but few of the same faith. In his 
isolation and seclusion, he claims that the theo- 
logical and philosophical teachings of the Swe- 
dish scribe have done much to reconcile him to 
his lot and strengthen him to bear the misfor- 



tunes and ills of life. He still retains to a re- 
markable degree, his eyesight, and reads and 
writes without the aid of glasses ; his hearing 
is quite defective, otherwise he is very sound 
and vigorous for one of his age, and bids fair 
to live many more years. He and his wife have 
four children living — Washington C, living at 
Washington, Iowa ; Charles, who resides in 
Monroe, of this county ; Mary Gorham, living 
at Winnebago, III., and Annie E. Anderson, of 
Clarno. 

James JBUjfjs. 

James Biggs was born in 1799, in what was 
then the Northwest Territory, now the State of 
Ohio. Me was married in what was at that 
time Delaware Co., Ohio, to Mary McDonald. 
Of this marriage there were three children 
born. • He was married the second time, after 
the death of his first wife, to Angeline Robin- 
son. This event took place Dec. 8, 1833, in 
Milford, Union Co., Ohio. The next spring 
they moved to Iowa Co., Wis., settling first al^ 
Wiota and in June, 1834, moving to what is now 
the town of Adams, in Green county, where 
Mr. Biggs died, June 27, 1870. He had five 
children by the second marriage, all of whom, to- 
gether with Mrs. Biggs, ai-e now (1884) living. 
Mr. Biggs was postmaster twenty-three years at 
Walnut Springs, .in the town of Adams. He 
finally resigned and the office was discontinued. 

Mr. Biggs during all his residence in Green 
county was a farmer. He Avas a member of the 
second constitutional convention, but took no 
important part in the proceedings of that body, 
but nevertheless ranked among its most worthy 
and intelligent members. He was a'gentleman 
of fine culture and first class abilities, well read, 
of large and varied frontier experience, a sound 
adviser, and steadfast friend. Ill health alone 
[)revented his taking a conspicuous position. 

MEMBERS OF THE STATE SEXATE WHO HAVE REP- 
RESEXTED OREEN COUNTY. 

I.— Eighth District. 
E. T. Gardner, 184.S; E. T. Gardner, 1849; W. 
Rittenhotise, 1850; W. Rittenliouse, 18nl; T. S. 
Bowen, 18.52. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



287 



II. — Twenty-fourth District. 

T. S. Bowen, 1853; Francis H. West, 1854 
Francis H. West, 1855; George E. Dexter, 1856 
George E. Dexter, 1857; John H. Warren, 1858 
John H. Warren, 1859; John W. Stewart, 1860 
John W. Stewart, 1861; Edmund A. West, 1862 
Edmund A. West; 1863; Walter S. Wescott 
1864; Walter S. Wescott, 1865; Henry Adams 
1866; Henry Adams, 1867; Henry Adams, 1868 
Henry Adams, 1869; John C. Hall, 1870; John 
C. Plall, 1871. 

III.— Twelfth District. 

Orrin Bacon, 1872; Orrin Bacon, 1878; Har- 
vey T. Moore, 1874; Harvey T. Moore, 1875 
Joseph B. Treat, 1876; Joseph B. Treat, 1877 
Joseph B. Treat, 1878; Joseph B. Treat, 1879 
J. W. Blackstone, 1880; J. W. Blackstone, 1881 
A. N. Randall, 1882; A. N. Randall, 1883. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Thomas 8. Boxoen. 

[From the Monroe Sentinel, Oct. 31, 1883.1 

, Thomas. S. Bowen, a well to do farmer, died 
at his residence in the town of Clarno Oct. 20, 
1883, after a lingering sickness, which confined 
him to his bed for two years and six monihs. 
He was gradually passing away during this long 
length of time. He was bora in Vermont, Ben- 
nington county. May 1, 1808. He came to this 
State in 1836, four years after the close of the 
Black Hawk War. He selected a 'farm in 
Clarno, on the line which divides this State 
from Illinois. There were but six houses in 
the township. They were built of logs, the 
chimneys of sticks and mud. There were no 
roads except Indian trails. God gave him suffi- 
cient length of days to see railroads take the 
place of those trails, and his adopted State of 
Wisconsin emerge from an Indian hunting 
ground to take high rank as an agricultural 
State. When the things of this world were 
fading before him, lie had the pleasure of know- 
ing he had done his share of this work of im- 
provement. For integrity arad probity be stood 
without a rival, and was as fixed in his principals 
as the everlastin<r hills. He was noted for his 



honesty in his business relations. Miss Bing- 
ham, in her History of Green County, relates 
the following incident: 

"Corn was everywhere so scarce that winter 
[1842-43] that men came to Green county from 
a hundred miles away to buy, and many cattle 
died of starvation. After a time, only three 
men in the county had corn to sell. They sold 
for twenty-five cents a bushel; but one of them, 
a very sanctimonious man, said, 'Let us charge 
fifty cents.' 'No,' said one of the others, 
lengthening his sentence with strong Anglo- 
Saxon expletives, 'that may do for you, but as 
for me, I have a soul to save, and sliall charge 
only twenty-five cents.' Speculators wanted to 
buy all this farmer's corn, but, as the grateful 
customers of Thomas Bowen still remember, he 
refused to sell to any one more than one load 
at a time." 

Mr. Bowen was conscientiously an honest and 
honorable man, and held many offices of trust. 
He was elected State senator for 1852-53. The 
second year of his term he was called home on 
account of his wife's illness. She died in April 
of that year. He was left with a family of 
eight children Seven years later he married 
his second wife, who now survives, and by 
whom he had two children. He was an indom- 
itable worker. In 1866, finding his health was 
failing, he left his farm to his sons to manage, 
and removed to Monroe, where he resided 
twelve years, then went back to his farm. He 
is now buried beneath its sods. He leaves a 
wife and nine children to mourn his loss, besides 
many acquaintances, who extend their sympathy 
to his family. 

Walter S. Wescott. 

Walter S. Wescott came to Green county in 
1843. He was born in Wetherfield, Wyoming 
Co., N. Y. His parents, John and Eunice 
(Reed) Wescott, were natives of the same State, 
and are both now deceased, and buried in .Mon- 
roe. Walter S. Wescott first settled in the 
town of York, where he owned a farm. He af- 
terwards removed to the town of Adams, and 



288 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



in 1864, to the farm he now occupies on section 
26, of Monroe. It contains 480 acres. He also 
owns other land in this county, and an exten- 
sive cattle ranch in Nebraska, where he spends 
the greater part of the time in looking after 
his interests there. His family resides upon the 
farm in this county. Mrs. Wescott was form- 
erly Thankful B. Cleveland, daughter of James 
Y. and Edith C. Cleveland, well known citizens 
of (Treen county. James Y. Cleveland is de- 
ceased, but his widow is living in Monroe with 
her son, H. G. Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Wes- 
cott have three children — Ida M., who is now 
living at home; Eva M., wife of Charles D. 
Bragg; and John J., who resides at home. Mr. 
Wescott is, politically, a republican, and has 
held various offices of honor and trust. He was 
elected to the assembly in 1859 and again in 
1862. In 18G3 he was elected to the office of 
State senator. He has taken an active interest 
in public affairs in the county, and is a useful 
and highly respected citizen. 

Henry Adams. 
Henry Adams, a pioneer of Green county, 
was born in Bedford Co., Penn., April 30, 1811, 
He was married to Sarah Mills, a native of the 
same county, born Dec, 13, 1813, After mar- 
riage they remained in Bedford county a few 
years, then removed to Ohio and settled in 
Coshocton county, where they lived until 1845, 
In that year they came to Wisconsin, He en- 
tered a farm of 1 60 acres in what is now the 
town of Mount Pleasant. He was a man of 
good education and ability and soon became 
prominent in public affairs. He was a member 
of the Territorial legislattire. After the organ- 
ization of the town, he filled offices of trust in 
the town. In 1 866 he was elected to represent 
his district in the State Senate, and re-elected 
in 186'?, He improved a good farm in Mount 
Pleasant and lived there until 1 868, then sold 
and went to Hardin Co., Iowa. He afterwards 
returned to Green county and settled in Mon- 
roe, where he resided until the time of his 
death, July 13, 1871. Mrs. Adams now lives in 



Nebraska. Ten children were born to them, 
eight of whom are now living. 

Orrin Bacon. 

Orrin Bacon, proprietor of the Monticello 
Mills, is a native of the Bay State, born at Barn- 
stable, Oct. 4, 1822. When he was twelve 
years old his parents removed to New York 
and settled in Monroe county, where his father 
purchased a farm. Here he spent his youth, ob- 
taining his education in the district schools. 
He remained with his parents until 1843. In 
that year he came to the Territory of Wiscon- 
sin and settled in Roc^ county, where he pur- 
chased a half section of land near Janesville. 
He engaged largely in raising grain and stock. 
His health failing, he returned east and re- 
mained there until 1854. He then came back 
and bought the mill property at Monticello of 
Mathias Marty, and immediately commenced 
building the present mill. Since that time he 
has continued to reside in Monttcello, where he 
has a fine residence on the south side of the 
river. Mr. Bjicon has been twice married. His 
first wife was Mary A. Flegler, who was 
born in Pleasant Valley, Duchess Co., N. Y., 
and died Dec. 17, 1871, leaving two children — 
Emily and Edgar O. He was again married 
May 20, 1873, to Alda M., daughter of T. Z. and 
Lncia W. Buck. They have one child —Sturgis 
C. Mr. Bacon represente.l the first assembly 
district of Green county in tlie legislature in 
1871. He was elected to the State Senate in 
1872 and 1873. 

Joseph B. Treat. 
J. B. Treat was born in Penobscot Co., 
Maine, Dec. 30, 1836. He is a son of Nathaniel 
and Mary (Parker) Treat. He received an 
academic education in his native State, and in 
1860, removed to this county and engaged in 
the mercantile business. He was elected to 
the State Senate from 1875 to 1879. In January 
1850, he was married to Priseilla Gould, daugh- 
ter of N, Gould, a nalive of Lisbon, Maine. 
The result of this union was two sons — Charles, 



i 




y^x 



CjayL<^^^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



291 



a graduate of West Point, in the "class of 
1882," and Harry W. 

John W. Blackstone, 
of Shiillsbiirg, Lafayette Co., Wis., was born at 
White Oak Springs, Dec. 22, 183o. He was 
count}^ judge from 1862 to 1868, and was dis- 
trict attorney from 1873 to 1875. He was elect- 
ed to the assembly in 1878, and State senator 
in 1879. He represented the 12th senatorial 
district, composed ^ of Lafayette and Green 
counties, for the years 1880 and 1881. He is a 
graduate of Platteville Academy. He entered 
Beloit College in 1855, and at the middle of the 
sophomore year went to Brown University, 
Providence, R. I., where he remained one year 
taking special studies. Returning home in 
1857, he began the study of law in the office of 
John K. Williams, of Shullsburg, AVis., and 
entered into partnership with liim after two 
years of study. The partnership continued two 
years, at tiie end of which time, he was elected 
county judge of Lafayette county, seiving for 
four years. He was re-elected, serving frcim 
1862 to 18GS. Mr. Jilackstone was married 
June 20, JSiil, to Ellen E. Hardy, of 
Platteville, Wis., by whom he has four children, 
two boys and two girls. After leaving the Sen- 
ate in 1881, he entered the United States pen- 
sion office, at Washington, and was soon detailed 
as a special examiner, in which service he le- 
mained two and one-lialf years. Resigning his 
clei'kship in the pension office, lie began the 
practice of law in Shullsburg, Wis., October 
1883. He now resides there, engaged in farming, 
mining, and the practice of law. 

MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY WHO HAVE REPRESENTED 
CxREEN COUNTY. 

Henry Adams, 1848 , John C. Crawford, 
1819 ; William C. Green, 1850; Julius Hurlbut, 
1851; Freeman J. Spofford, 1852; Thomas 
Fenton, 1853 ; Abner Mitchell, 1854 ; Amos D. 
Kirkpatrick, 1855; Martin Flood, 1856; Martin 
Flood, 1857 ; James E. Vinton and William 
G. Brown, 1858; Albert H. Pierce and Ed- 
mund A. West, 1859; Walter S. Wescott and 



Martin Mitchell, 1860; James Campbell and 
Obadiah J. White, 1861 ; Calvin D. W. 
Leonard and Harvey T. Moore, 1862; Walter 
S. Wescott and Ezra Wescott, 1863 ; Willia'm 
W. McLaughlin and Frederick B. Rolf, 1864 ; 
William W. McLaughlin and David Dunwid- 
die, 1865; Daniel Smiley and Egbert E. Carr, 
1866 ; Lucius W. Wright and David Dunwid- 
die, 1867 ; Albert H. Pierce and Jacob Mason, 
1868; J. F. Wescott and Thomas A. Jackson, 
1869; C. D. W. Leonard and Thomas A 
Jackson, 1870 ; Orrin Bacon and Marshall H. 
Pengra, 1871 ; Marshall H. Pengra, 1872 ; 
John Luchsinger, 1873 ; C. R. Deniston, 1874; 
C. R. Deniston, 1875; John Luchsinger 1876 ; 
Franklin Mitchell and John Luchsinger, 1877 ; 
John Luchsinger and Franklin Mitchell, 1878 ; 
Fordyce R. Melvin and Franklin Mitchell, 
1879; Cyrus Troy and Burr Sprague, 1880; 
Cyrus Troy and Burr Sprague, 1881 ; Hiram 
Gabriel and John Bolender, 1882; Hiram 
Gabriel and John Bolender, 1883. 
0. J. White. 
O. J. White has been a resident of Green 
county since 1835. He was born in Connecti- 
cut, March 26, 1814, and is a son of Obadiah 
and Electa (Phelps) White. The former is 
buried in Vincennes, Ind., the latter in Rich- 
land Co., Wis. O. J. White left his native State 
wlien five years old, and went to Franklin, Del- 
aware Co., N. Y., where he remained four years, 
then went to Crawford Co., 111. and from thence 
to Danville, Vermilion county, in Che same 
State, after which he came to Green Co., AVis. 
and settled on section 30, Clarno township, 
where he resided till 1844. He then moved to 
his present home, on section 31, of which he 
owns the east half of the northwest quarter, 
and the west half of the northeast quarter. He 
has altogether, 392 acres, and one of the finest 
farms in the county with substantial and ele- 
gant im[)rovements. Mr. White was married 
in 1844 to Sarah A. Fisher of Stephenson Co., 
111., daughter of John and Mary (Wilt) Fisher, 
who died in 1878, and is buried at Rock Grove, 



IS 



292 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Stephenson Co., 111. They had three sons — Fran- 
cis F., Eugene A. and Joseph W. Mr. White 
is a republican and has been prominent in polit- 
ical affairs of the town and county. lie was 
elected to the legislature in 1860, and served 
one terra; was a member of the town board 
several terms, in former years, and was chair- 
man of the board in 1881. Mr. White's son, 
Joseph W., carries on his father's farm. He 
was married Nov. 28, 1879, to Villa C. Schrack, 
of Orangeville, Stephenson Co., 111. They have 
one child — Clarence J. 

David Duntoiddie. 
David Dunwiddie of Brodhead, is one of five 

brothers, who settled early in Green count}^ 
several of whom still survive and are prominent- 
ly known as representative citizens. The broth- 
ers of Mr. Dunwiddie are Isaac (deceased), Jude 
Brooks Dunwiddie, Hiram (deceased) and 
Daniel a resident of the town of Spring Grove. 
The subject of this sketch was born in Green 
Co., Ohio, in 1823, and was reared to agricultu- 
ral pursuits. He came to this county in 1845 
locating near Juda. He also took up land in 
the town of Decatur. He resided for many 
years on his farm and became prominently 
known as a successful farmer and stock raiser. 
In 1873 he removed to Monroe and engaged in 
merchandising, which he continued two years. 
In 1875 he came to Brodhead, and engaged in 
the live stock business. He is now doing an ex- 
tensive business in the firm name of Dunwid- 
die & Son. He has held a number of official 
positions. He was a member of the legislature 
of Wisconsin during the sessions of 1865 and 
1867. His wife was formerly Cynthia Mitchell, 
who has also resided in the county since 1845, 
her parents coming two years later. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dunwiddie have five children— Benjamin 
F., of Janesville; Alice, wife of Joseph Humph- 
rey; Isaac Foster, who is associated with his 
father in business; Flora, and Laura, wife.of T. 
W. Golden, clerk of the court of Green county. 
Marshal U. Pengru. 
Marshal H. Pengra was born in Daricn, 
Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 18, 1819. Jle is a 



son of Moses B. and Sarah (Johns) Pengra. 
The father is a native of Bennington, Vt., born 
March 25, 1797. The mother is a native of 
Wales, born Jan. 11, 1799. Her parents emi- 
grated to the United States in 1801, and located 
in Genesee Co., N. Y., where she was reared to 
womanhood. She was married March 27, 1818, 
rearing a family of five children — Marshal H., 
being the eldest. The father died Oct. 1, 1835, 
and the mother in 1848. On the death of his 
father. Marshal H. took charge of the family 
and removed to Erie Co., Penn., where he was 
married April 16, 1840, to Elvira Lyon, born in 
Franklin Co., Mass., Oct. 23, 1819. Mr. Pengra 
lived in Pennsylvania, until the spring of 1844, 
when he removed to Rockford, 111. In 1845 he 
.removed to this county, and settled on the west 
half of tliQ west half of section 23, where he 
has since resided. Coming to the county in 
limited circumstances he had to put up with all 
the trials and hardships of pioneer life; but by 
hard labor and industry he has accumulated a 
nice property. His farm contains 276 acres. He 
has been largely identified with the political 
history of the county. Until he came to Green 
county he had been acting with the democrats-, 
but since the organization of the republican 
party he has acted with that party. He was 
elected a member of the General Assembly in 
1871, and re-elected in 1872. He was also 
elected a member of the board of county com- 
missioners, serving one term. Fie has always 
taken an active part in town affairs, serving as 
clerk twelve years, chairman of the board eight 
terms; assessor and justice of the peace. Mr, 
and Mrs. Pengra have raised a family of six 
children— Marshal P., Delia E., Winfield S., 
Mary R., Moses B. and Charles F. 
Jo?m Luchsinger. 
John Luchsinger, county treasurer, was born 
in Canton Glarus, Switzerland, June 29, 1839. 
In March, 1845, his parents emigrated to 
America, settling for a short time at Syracuse, 
N. Y. The fall of the same year they removed 
to Philadelphia, where John received his early 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



293 



education in Jefferson Grammar School. He 
witli his parents came to Wisconsin and located- 
at New Glarus, this county, in 1856. In 1872 
he was elected to the State legislature, and was 
re-elected in 1875, 1876 and 1877, serving with 
honor to himself and satisfaction to his con- 
stituency. He has been a member of the county 
board for a number of years and was chairman 
of that body in 1879. Was admitted to the 
bar in 1884. He is at present treasurer of 
Green county. In 1868 he was married at New 
Glarus to Elsbeth Kundert, by whom he has 
five sons and two daughters — John, Henry E., 
Samuel C, Thomas W., B. Frank, Elsbeth and 
Barbara. Mr. Luchsinger has always taken an 
interest in educational matters and is at present 
a member of the board of education. He is a 
man of more tlian ordinary ability, and is the 
author of some excellent articles on the dairy 
business and of the history of the Swiss 
colony of New Glarus. He is ;i member of the 
Swiss Reformed Church. 

Charles JL Dejustoii. 
Charles R.Deniston, now aresident of Clarno, 
was born in that town July 31, 1835, being the 
first white male child born in Green county. 
His father, John W. Deniston, settled in Clarno 
with his family in the fall of 1833. John Den- 
iston was a native of Ohio, born in 1800. His 
parents died when he was a child and he went 
to Missouri where, when a young man, he was 
married to Ann M. VanZant, a native of that 
State. He came to Green county in company 
with his father-in-law, Abner VauZant. They 
settled on the same piece of land and were in 
partnership until the death of Mr. VanZant in 
February, 1847. They built a grist mill in 
Clarno in 1835, the first mill built in that town. 
The two families settled in Cadiz in 1846, where 
John W. Deniston died March 23, 1848. His 
widow lives in Nebraska with her youngest son, 
William R. John Deniston had seven children, 
five of whom are living. Charles R. Deniston 
was a resident of the town of Cadiz, from 1846 
to 1884, when he returned to Clarno, He lias 



been twice married. His first wife was Susan 
Coryell, who died in March, 1873. His present 
wife was Hattie M. Bramhall, a native of New 
York. There were three children by the first 
union, and by the latter, two. Mr. Deniston 
has been town clerk, assessor, postmaster, chair- 
man of the town board and member of the as- 
sembly, serving in the latter capacity in 1874 

and 1875. 

John JBolander. 

John Bolander, president of the Citizens 
Bank of Monroe, Wis., was born in Union, now 
Snyder Co., Penn., March 5, 1837. He was a 
son of John and Catharine (Stees) Bolander, 
natives of the same county. In 1840 his father 
with the family emigrated to Stephenson Co., 
111. His father was a life long member of the 
German Reformed Chui'ch, and his niother of 
the Lutheran. He was one of a family of 
twelve children, ten of whom lived to an adult 
a^e. His father was a man of more than ordi- 
n try ability, and had a large circle of friends. 
Jttiiii, the subject of this sketch, was three years 
ol I when his parents settled in Stephenson 
county, where he was brought up and educated. 
Wiien nineteen years old he was employed as 
clerk by David Witmer at Rock Grove. Two 
years later he came to Juda where the stock had 
been removed. In 1863 he engaged in the gro- 
cery business in Monroe. In 1865 the firm was 
changed to Bolander & Ball, and continued 
until 1867; from that time up to 1873, J. Bolan- 
der, when the firm was changed to J. Bolander 
& Co., and also changed the business to dry 
goods. Mr. Bolander is among the oldest busi- 
ness men in the city. In 1861, he was married 
to Sarah E. Hosier a native of Ohio. By this 
union there were four children — Kittie, Freder- 
ick, Charles and Edna. Mr. Bolander is a 
staunch republican and was a member of the 
county board for ten years, and four years chair- 
man. He wasin 1882 elected to the general as- 
sembly, re-elected in 18o3. 

Frankliit, Mitchell. 

Franklin Mitchell lives upon section 6, land 
purchased by his father, Hon. Abner Mitchell, 



294 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



who came here in 1847, accompanied by his 
wife and five children, of whom Franklin was 
the eldest. Five other children had preceded 
them in coming to Green connty. James 
Mitchell, the father of Abner and grandfather 
of Franklin Mitchell, was a commissioned offi- 
cer in the American array during the Revolu- 
tionary War. After the Revolution he served 
as a volunteer, without pay, in a caraj^aign 
against the 'Logan" Indians, of whom, in one 
engagement, as a sharp shooter, he was cred- 
ited with having sent six to their "happy hunt- 
ing ground." The five sons and daughters of 
Abner Mitchell who preceded him in this county 
were — Joseph, Cynthia, Jesse, Benjamin and 
Washington. Joseph was a tailor, and came 
in 1846 to Monroe. He afterwards lived in 
Juda, where he died in 1875. Cynthia came 
with Joseph, and is now the wife of David 
Dunwiddie, of Brodhead. Jesse, one of the 
pioneers of Sylvester, came in 1836. Benjamin 
settled in Sylvester in 1837, and Washington, 
in Decatur, in 1845. The five children who 
came here with their parents were — Franklin, 
Louisa, Naomi, Ralph and Judson. Franklin 
remained with his parents; Louisa was married 
to J. C. Chadwick, of Juda; Naomi was married 
to George Lyman, and died in Sylvester in 
1881. Ralph settled in Juda: Judson enlisted 
in the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and 
joined Sherman's army. He was captured at 
Bentonville and confined at Libby prison a 
short time, then exchanged, rejoined his regi- 
ment and was in line at the grand review at 
Washington in June, 1865. His regiment was 
the first to enter Atlanta and raise the "flag of 
the Union." Hon. Abner Mitchell was one of 
the prominent men of Green county. He was 
for many years justice of the peace, and was 
always a peace maker in law, and in the neigh- 
borhood. Acting in the capacity of magistrate, 
he would state both sides of the case, and labor 
for a settlement whenever possible, throwing in 
his costs to facilitate it. He represented Green 
county in the State legislature iii 4854. He 



died Oct. 8, 1874, that day being his eighty- 
fourth birthday. His wife died in August, 1863. 
Franklin Mitchell, in 1.858, removed to section 
31, of the town of Decatur, where he had pur- 
chased government land in 1848. He was mai- 
ried Oct. 6, 1857, to Jane McVean, a native of 
Fulton Co, N. Y., and daughter of one of the 
early settlers of Newark, Rock Co., Wis. Mr. 
and Mrs. Mitchell have four children — Edward, 
born in September, 1858; Abner, born in No- 
vember, 1860; Elizabeth, born in February, 
1863, and Louisa, born in February, 1868, all of 
whom are living with their parents. Mr. 
Mitchell resides upon the homestead farm for- 
merly owned by his father, where he has a fine 
residence. He still owns and works all but 
forty acres of his Decatur farm. He repre- 
sented his county in the State legislature of 
1877-8-9, and has served as president and vice- 
president of the Green County Agricultural So- 
ciety. 

F. R. Melvin. 

F. R. Melvin was born in the State of Ohio, 
July 23, 1832. He came to Green county with 
his parents in 1851, and has since been a resi- 
dent of this county. May 20, 1861, he enlisted 
in company D, 2d Wisconsin regiment, Volun- 
teer Infantry, and remained in the service until 
the following August, when he was discharged 
on account of physical disability. Filled with 
a love of country, having in a measure regained 
his health, he enlisted a second time in com- 
pany K, 24th regiment. New York Volunteers. 
At the Second Battle of Bull Run he had both 
arms pierced with bullets, and on account of 
consequent disability, was again discharged in 
November, 1862. In 1770 he was elected treas- 
urer of Green county, which office he held six 
years. In 1879 he represented his district in 
the assembly. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a 
good citizen, a trusty friend, and an efficient 
officer whenever called upon to perform any 
public duty. Politically he belongs to the re- 
publican i)arty. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTS. 



295 



Ephraini Sowen. 
Ephraim Bowen, a prominent and representa- 
tive man of Green county, is a native of Evans, 
Erie Co., N. Y., and was born Jan. 14,1824. 
His parents were Pardon and Maria (Marvin) 
Bowen. His father was a native of Rhode 
Island, and cleared a farm on the "Holland 
Purchase," in western New York, where he 
reared a large family. Ephraim Bowen lost his 
mother when he was eiglit years old, and was 
bereft of his father at the age of fifteen. He 
managed the farm for one year after his father's 
death, and then engaged as a farm hand for 
three years; working the two first years for 
110.50, and the third year for 111 per month. 
At the expiration of this time he spent one 
year traveling, as a dealer in patent rights, re- 
ceiving for his services $18 per month. Having 
a desire for mercantile life, at the age of twenty 
years, with a capital of $300, he came to Wis- 
consin and located in the town of Exeter, in 
this county, where he engaged as clerk in a 
store at $15 per month. Subsequently he be- 
came a partner in the business, and after six 
years of successful trade, found himself in the 
possession of $3,000. With this sum he re- 
moved to Albany in 1853, erected a building 
and established himself in the mercantile and 
produce business, and also engaged to a consid- 
erable extent in real estate operations. At tliat 
point he conducted his business successfully un- 
til 1867, when he purchased at Green Bay 2,000 
acres of pine land in connection with a mill, 
and conducted a successful lumber trade for a 
number of years, and added largely to his al- 
ready ample fortune. Subsequently he was 
largely instrumental in establishiiig the First 
National Bank of Brodhead, a full history of 
which appears elsewhere in this volume. Of 
this institution he was president and largest 
stock-holder. He also erected a fine residence, 
surrounded it with comforts and luxuries, and 
now lives in the enjoyment of the fruits of a 
successful and honorable business life. As a 
business man Mr. Bowen possessed remarkable 



financial ability, and he is widely known for his 
shrewdness, cautiousness, and for his decided, 
vigorous and confident action. In political af- 
fairs he holds decided views, and though an 
earnest worker, has no desire for ofticial honors. 
He was formerly a whig, but is now a republi- 
can. Mr. Bowen was married June 8, 1853, to 
Mary Ann Pearsons, of Sheldon, Wyoming Co., 
N. Y. Mrs. Bowen has contributed largely to 
her husband's success in business, and is a lady 
of culture and superior intelligence. They 
have had three children, two daughters and one 
son. The eldest, Ella Amanda, died in Septem- 
ber, 1864, at the age of ten years. The two 
living are Jennie M. and Myron P. 

MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE FROM 

WISCONSIN. 

[A complete list of United States senators 
from Wisconsin, with the date of the election 
of each, has already been given in this History.] 

WISCONSIN TERRITORIAL DELEGATES AND MEMBERS 
OF CONGRESS WHO HAVE REPRESENTED GREEN 
COUNTY. 

The act of Congress approved April 20,1836, 
organizing the Territory of Wisconsin, con- 
ferred upon the people the right to be repre- 
sented in the National Congress by one dele- 
gate, to be chosen by the votes of the qualified 
electors of the Territory. Under this authority 
tliere were elected the following 

Wisconsin Territorial Delegates. 

George W. Jones, elected Oct. 10, 1836; James 
D. Doty, elected Sept. 10, 1838; James D. Doty, 
elected Aug. 5, 1840;* Henry Dodge, elected 
Sept. 27, 1841; Henry Dodge, elected Sept. 25, 
1843; Morgan L. Martin, elected Sept, 22, 1845; 
John II. Tweedy, elected Sept. 6, 1847. 

George W. Jones 
was born in Vincennes, Ind., and graduated 
at Transylvania University, Kentucky, in 1825. 
He was bred to the law but ill-health prevented 
him from practicing. He was clerk of the 
United States district court, in Missouri, in 



*Dotv afterward resigned, he having' been appointed gov- 
ernor of the Territory by President Tyler, Sept. 13, 1841. 



296 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1826 and served as an aid-de-camp to Henry 
Dodge in tlie Black Hawk War, He was cliosen 
colonel of militia the same year (1832), and 
subsequently major-general. He was at one 
time judge of the county court of Grant county. 
In 1835, as we have seen, he was elected a dele- 
gate to Congress from the Territory of Michi- 
gan, and served two years. In 1839, he was 
appointed by President Van Buren surveyor- 
general of the northwest. He was removed 
for political considerations in 1841, but was re- 
appointed by President Polk and remained in 
that office until 1849. In 1848, he was elected 
a United States senator from the State of Iowa 
for six years, and re-elected in 1852 for the 
same length of time; — officiating as chairman 
of the committees on Pensions and on Enrolled 
Bills, and as a member of the committee on 
Territories. At the conclusion of his last term, 
he was appointed by President Buchanan min- 
ister to New Grenada. In 1861, he was charged 
with disloyalty and imprisoned in Fort War- 
ren. 

Henry Dodge. 
Foremost among the names enrolled in the 
pages of the early history of Wisconsin, is 
that of Henry Dodge. Born Oct. 12, lV82, at 
Vincennes, in the present State of Indiana, 
he removed to that portion of Louisiana 
Territory afterward set apart as Missouri, 
where, in 1808, he became sheriff of Cape 
Firardeau county. Early in 1812, he entered 
the military service as captain of a mounted 
rifle company; later the same year, he was com- 
missioned a major of Louisiana militia, and sub- 
sequently a lieutenant colonel. During the 
war he was employed in many active duties on 
the western frontier, the most important of 
which was in 1814, when he commanded an ex- 
pedition up the Missouri river, for the purpose 
oC holding in check the Indian tribes of that 
region, and ascertaining their condition and 
numbers. He took a prominent part in the 
affairs of Missouri until 1827, when he removed 
to the present limits of Wisconsin, and engaged 



in the business of lead raining near the present 
location of Dodgeville, where he is said to have 
erected the first smelting furnace north of the 
Illinois line. 

When, in the summer of that year, the miners 
were obliged by the outbreak of the Winneba- 
go Indians to collect in Galena for safety, 
Dodge was chosen commander of a corps of 
mounted men,, organized for the defense of the 
place. On the breaking out of the Black Hawk 
War in 1832,he was chosen commander of the sev- 
eral companies of mounted volunteers enrolled in 
the mining settlements, holding a commission 
as colonel from the governor of Michigan Terri- 
tory. He displayed remarkable energy and 
efficiency in maintainig the defense of the ex- 
posed mining district until sufficient forces 
were gathered from the south and east to take 
the offensive, making two expeditions in the 
face of the enemy, to Rock river, to communi- 
cate with Gen. Atkinson, commander of the 
approaching forces, and one to the Four Lakes 
to quiet the Winnebagoes. On the 16th of 
June, with twenty-eight men, he pursued a party 
of seventeen of the hostile Sacs, from the vicin- 
ity of Fort Hamilton, now Wiota, Lafayette 
county, until they were compelled to come to 
stand, selecting for that purpose a strong posi- 
tion in a bend of the Pecatonica. Here posting 
a few scouts and leaving another detail with 
the horses. Col. Dodge, at the head of the main 
body, twenty-one strong, advanced to attack 
them, and received their tire from their hiding- 
place at pistol-shot range, at which three men 
fell. Instantly a charge was ordered, and exe- 
cuted in so impetuous a manner that not one of 
the savages escaped to tell the tale. 

Col. Dodge with his mounted battalion soon 
afterward joined the array of Gen. Atkinson at 
Lake Koshkonong, and greatly distinguished 
himself in the pursuit and destruction of Black 
Hawk's forces, which followed leading the 
charges in the engagements at Wisconsin 
Heights and Bad Ax. In March, 1833, when 
the first United States Dragoons was organized, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



297 



he was made its colonel, and, in 1835, led his 
command on an expedition to the Rocky moun- 
tains. He resigned his commission, upon the 
organization of Wisconsin Territory, to accept 
the office of governor thereof and superin- 
tendent of Indian affairs by appointment 
from President Jackson, dated April 30, 
1836. He occupied that position until super- 
seded by James D. Doty, in Sej^tember, 1841, 
on account of a political change in the adminis- 
tration. At the election of that year he was 
chosen delegate in Congress, and was re-elected 
in 1843, continuing in that office until re-ap- 
pointed governor by President Polk, April 8, 
1845, which position he held until the admission 
of Wisconsin as a State in 1848, being, there- 
fore, its first and last Territorial executive. He 
was elected one of the two first senators in Con- 
gress from the new State, and, his term expir- 
ing in 1851, he Avas re-elected for six years. 
At the end of his senatorial cai'eer, in 1857, he 
retired from public life, and passed the remain- 
der of his days partly at Mineral Point, and 
partly at the home of his son, Augustus C. 
Dodge, in Burlington, Iowa, where his death 
occurred June 19, 1867. 

Morgan L. Martin. 

Morgan L. Martin was one of the most con- 
spicuous and distinguished among that band of 
pioneer settlers who early gave a national repu- 
tation to Wisconsin. He was born in Martins- 
burg, Lewis Co., N. Y., March 31, 1805, and 
graduated at Union College, New York, in 1824, 
following the same by a thorough legal educa- 
tion. In 1826, he removed to Detroit, Mich., 
and the next year settled at Green Bay, where 
he has ever since resided. 

In 1831, he was elected a member of the leg- 
islative council of Michigan, serving until 1835. 
In 1838, he was elected to the Territorial council 
of Wisconsin, and served continuously through 
all sessions to 1844, In 1845, he was elected as 
Territorial delegate to Congress for two years. 
On the failure of the first constitution to be rat- 
ified by popular vote in 1846, he was elected a 



member of the constitutional convention in 1847, 
and was chosen president of that body. As he, 
in this position, appointed all committees in con- 
nection with other duties, his record is less 
marked in some respects than that of some oth- 
ers; and yet the part he took in debate and upon 
the floor, was in the highest degree creditable, 
and materially guided the deliberations and con- 
clusions of the convention. His remarks on ex- 
emption, internal improvements, banking, pub- 
lic lands, judiciary, boundaries and miscella 
neous provisions are especially noticeable for 
-vigor, directness, profound legal learning, 
personal knowledge of the subject matter of 
debate, and natural bearing upon the future of 
the new State. He was especially distinguished 
in presiding, for uniform dignity and courtesy, 
and merited, as he received, the highest testi- 
monials of respect from all his associates. 

In' 1855, he was elected a member of the as- 
sembly, and in 1858, to theSenate. In 1861, he 
was appointed paymaster United States Army, 
serving until the suppression of the rebellion 
in 1865. In 1873, he was again elected to the 
assembly. 

Thi'oughout a public career of great and un- 
usual length, covering much more than the 
whole period of Wisconsin's local annals, Mr 
Martin has borne an eminent and distinguished 
part, and it is but faint praise to say, as the 
united testimony of all, both associates and cit- 
izens, that it has been one of honor, uprightness 
and dignity, — reflecting the highest credit not 
only upon himself but upon those so ably repre- 
sented. To great natural abilities, he added the 
matured results of profound research, and a wide 
range of intellectual culture, enriched by a per- 
sonal experience which few indeed, even among 
pioneers, had opportunity to enjoy. Although 
representing a party, he was never a partisan, 
and it is a pride to record, was ever more of a 
patriot than politician. His military services, 
although less showy, were in no sense less im- 
portant than his civil career, even if forgotten, 
as is the case with so many others who periled 



298 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



health and life in defense of national union. At 
home among personal acquaiutances, no citizen 
ever stood higher in public estimation, or had 
warmer friends. His whole career has been 
above suspicion as above reproach. Old age 
finds hira surrounded by universal respect and 
reverence for years and wisdom,— the bene- 
factor of multitudes, the friend of all. That he 
may long survive to witness the maturing work 
in large part of his own genius and labors, is 
the earnest liope of all, and especially of those 
who have enjoyed his more intimate acquaint- 
ance. 

John II. Tweedy. 
John H. Tweedy was born in Danbury, Conn., 
Nov. 0, 1814. After a preliminary education, 
he entered and graduated at Yale College, and 
adopted law as a profession, in the practice of 
which he speedily obtained high distinction. 
As a public man and prominent citizen he has 
been widely known from the beginning of Ter- 
ritorial government. He located in Milwaukee 
in October, 1836, and has ever since resided 
there. In 1841 and 1842, he was elected a mem- 
ber of the Territorial council. In 1846, he was 
elected to the constitutional convention from 
Milwaukee county, serving in that body on the 
committee on the Constitution and Organization 
of the Legislature, and also took a conspicuous 
part in the general proceedings. In 1847, he 
was elected Territorial delegate to Congress, 
being the last incumbent in that position. After 
State organization he was the first whig candi- 
date for governor, but as the democratic party 
was then largely in the majority, he was de- 
feated by Nelson Dewey. In 1853, he served 
as a member of the assembly. Since that time, 
Mr. Tweedy has retired from public life, and, 
unless locally, has taken no special part in polit- 
ical affairs. 

During his whole career, Mr. Tweedy lias 
been noted for great and conspicuous abilities, 
profound learning, sterling integrity and unsel 
fish interest in all enterprises for the promotion 
of the general welfare. Naturally a student, of 



retiring disposition and modest merit, lie has 
usually preferred quiet and retirement to pub- 
licity, and only exercised his great powers of 
oratory and persuasion, on pressing and impor- 
tant occasions. Wisconsin has had no worthier 
or more upright citizen. 

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS OF WHICH GREEN 
COUNTY HAS BEEN A PART. 

By the constitution adopted when the Terri- 
tory became a State, in 1848, two representa- 
tives in Congress were provided for by dividing 
the State into two congressional districts. The 
first district was composed of tlie counties of 
Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Wal- 
worth, Rock and Green. The second district 
was composed of Washington Sheboygan, 
Manitowoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebago, Fond 
du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Columbia, 
Dodge, Dane, Iowa, Lafayette, Grant, Richland, 
Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe. 
Under this authority, an election was held May 
8, 1848, and William Pitt Lynde was 
elected member of Congress for the 
first district; Mason C. Darling, of Fond du 
Lac, for the second district. The people, there- 
fore, then living in Green county, were repre- 
sented in the 30tli Congress by William Pitt 
Lynde. 

In 1849, the number of districts were increased 
to three. Rock, Green, Lalayette, Grant, 
Iowa, Dane, Sauk, Adams, Portage, Richland, 
Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe 
counties constituted the second congressional dis- 
trict of Wisconsin. 

In 1861, the State was divided into six dis- 
tricts. Green, Lafayette, Iowa, Grant, Craw- 
ford, Richland and Sauk counties, were formed 
into the third congressional district. 

By an act of the legislature of Wisconsin, of 
April 4, 18*72, the following counties were formed 
into the (new) third congressional district • 
Grant, Iowa. Lafayette, Green, Richland and 
Crawford, 

The State was again re-districted by an act 
of the legislature. By this act Green county 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



299 



fell again into the third district, composed now 
of the counties of Dane, Green, Lafayette, 
Iowa and Grant. 

From (and including) the first election for 
representatives in Congress from Wisconsin, 
there have been chosen in the several districts 
in which Green county has fallen, the follow- 
ing 

Members of Congress: 
I. — First District. 

XXXth Congress, William Pitt Lynde, elect- 
ed 1848. 

II. — Second District. 

XXXIst Congress, Orsamus Cole, elected 
1849. 

XXXIId Congress, Ben C. Eastman, elected 
1851. 

XXXIIId Congress, Ben C. Eastman, elected 
1853. 

XXXIVth Congress, C. C. Washburn, elect- 
ed 1855. 

XXXVth Congress, C. C. Washburn, elected 
1857. 

XXXVIth Congress, C. C. Washburn, elect. 
ed 1859. 

XXXVIIth Congress, L. Hanchett (died) 
elected 1861, W. D. Mclndoe, elected 1862. 
III.— TJdrd District. 

XXXVIlIth Congress, Amasa Cobb, elected 
1863. 

XXXIXth Congress, Amasa Cobb, elected 
1865. 

XLth Congress, Amasa Cobb, elected 1867. 

XLIst Congress, Amasa Cobb, elected 1869. 

XLIId Congress, J. Allen Barber, elected 
1871. 

1 v.— Third District. 

XLIIId Congress, J. Allen Barber, elected 
1873. 

XLIVth Congress, Henry S. Magoon, elected 
1875. 

XLYth Congress, George C. Hazelton, elect- 
ed 1877. 

XLVIth Congress, George C. Hazelton, elect- 
ed 1879. 



XLYIIth Congress, George C. Hazelton, 
elected 1881, 

v.— Third District. 

XLVIIIth Congress, Burr W. Jones, elected 
1888. 

William Pitt lynde 
was born in Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y,, 
Dec. 16, 1817; he graduated at Yale College in 
1838, and emigrated to Wisconsin in 1841, set- 
tling in Milwaukee the same year. In 1844 he 
was appointed attorney-general of the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin. He also received the ap- 
pointment in 1845 of United States district 
attorney of Wisconsin Territory, holding the 
position until the admission of the State into 
the Union. In 1848, Mr. Lynde was elected a 
representative to Congress in the first district of 
which Green was one of the counties as already 
noted in this chapter. In 1860 he was elected 
mayor of Milwaukee. He was a member of the 
State assembly in 1866 and elected a State sena- 
tor in 1868. In 1874 he was elected a repre- 
sentative to the 44th Congress, from the 
fourth congressional district. He is now (1884) 
a practicing lawyer in Milwaukee, 

Ben C. Eastman 
was born in the State of Maine in the year 1812. 
He settled in Wisconsin in 1840. He was clerk 
of the Territorial council of Wisconsin. He 
also prepared reports of the old Supreme Court 
of Wisconsin. He served in Congress as al- 
ready indicated in this chapter from 1851 to 
1855. He died at Platteville, Wis.,Feb. 2,1856. 

Cadwallader C. Washburn.* 
The Washburn ancestry is traceable back, on 
both sides, to the early settlement of New Eng- 
land by the Puritans. John Washburn was sec- 
retary of the Plymouth colony in England. He 
came to this country in 1 631, and settled in wliat 
was then known as the "Eagle's Nest," in Dux- 



*This sketch of Hon. Cndwallader C. Washburn, who. for 
three successive terms, represented the second congrression- 
al district of Wisconsin, of which Green was one of the 
counties, was prepiircd by C. W. Huttertiekl, of Madison, 
for the yorthircst /?('i'iVi('( larjrelv from a number of nienio- 
rial addresses on Washburn's lit'.- imd character (particularly 
one bv David Atwoud, of Madison, Wis.) delivered before 
the Historical Society of that State, July 2-5, 1882. 



300 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



bury, Mass. He w;is a very prominent man in 
his day; an extensive farmer, and the proprie- 
tor of a large iron furnace in Raynliam, Mass. 
He was for many years a representative in the 
geneial court. Israel, a son of John Wash- 
burn, was a resident of Raynham, served in the 
Revolutionary War, was a member of the Mas- 
sachusetts convention that ratified the Consti- 
tution of the United States, and was repeatedly 
chosen to represent his people in the general 
court — the New England name for legislature 
in early days, and sometimes used at the present 
time. 

Israel's son and namesake was born in Rayn- 
ham, Nov. 18, 1784. He moved to Maine in 
1806, stopping a brief time in several places, 
teaching school and following his trade as ship- 
builder. In 1809, he purchased a farm and 
store in Livermore, where he continued in trade 
till 1829, when he gave up his mercantile pur- 
suits and spent the residue of his years on his 
farm — "The Norlands." He represented his 
town in the legislature in 1815, 1816, 1818 and 
1819. At this time Maine was a province of 
Massachusetts. He died Sept. 1, 1876, at the 
advanced age of ninety-two years. 

John Benjamin, who arrived in this country 
on the ship Lio)i, in 1632, was a proprietor of 
Cambridge; but at an early day settled at Water- 
town, where, in the fifth generation, Samuel 
Benjamin was born, Feb. 3, 1753. He became 
the fourth settler in Livermore, in 1783, where 
he continued to reside until his death, April 
14, 1824. He married Tabitha Livermore, 
of Waltham, Mass., Jan. 16, 1782, and 
they raised a family of ten children of 
whom Martha, born Oct. 4, 1792, became the 
wife of Israel Washburn, second, on the 30th 
of March, 1812, and died May 6, 1861. Their 
issue is the celebrated "Washburn family," of 
seven sons,'four of whom have occupied seats 
in Congress from four different States, while 
two of these have been governors, and a like 
number have represented the Nation at foreign 
courts. 



The brothers who have been members of 
Congress are Israel, from Maine; Elihu B., 
from Illinois; Cadwallader C, from Wisconsin, 
and William D., from Minnesota. The two 
governors were Israel, of Maine, and Cadwalla- 
der C, of Wisconsin. The two that have been 
ministers to foreign countries are Elihu B. and 
Charles A. 

The subject of this sketch — Cadwallader 
Colden Washburn — was born in Livermore, 
Maine, April 22, 1818. He was, as a boy, noted 
for his quiet manners, never in trouble, and 
liked by every one who knew him. He was 
observing, studious and persistent. He lived 
mostly at home until 1835, working on his 
father's farm — "The Norlands" — and attending 
the town school. He was apt to learn, fond of 
reading, and possessed of a retentive memory. 
He left his parents during the year last men- 
tioned, commencing an independent career of 
life at the early age of seventeen. 

The first employment of Cadwallader after 
leaving home was clerking, sometimes in a store, 
at other times in the postoffice, at Hallowell, at 
that date one of the most considerable trading 
towns in Maine. While here he enjoyed oppor- 
tunities for study and observation until late in 
December, 1838, when he engaged to teach 
through the winter the principal school in the 
town of Wiscasset. And here it may be said 
that the youthful Cadwallader had not only 
received a good common school education in 
his native town of Livermore, but afterward 
attended a private school that had been estab- 
lished there, in which was taught the higher 
bi-anches of education. He also devoted some 
time to the study of" the classics under the in- 
struction of his uncle, Ruel Washburn. Well 
grounded in substantial business and moral 
qualities, with excellent health, he, in accord- 
ance with a long-cherished intention, left his 
native State in the year 1839, to seek a new 
home in the west. He was now just arrived at 
the age of twenty-one. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



301 



Young Washburn made bis first stop at Daven- 
port, then a small village in the then newly or- 
ganized Territory of Iowa. For three months, 
he kept a private school, and then took a posi- 
tion on the geological survey of Iowa under 
David Dale Owen. This survey bad been 
ordered by Congress. Subsequently, be made 
his residence at Stevenson, near Rock Island, 
where he entered upon the study of the law, in 
the office of Joseph B. Wells. He was elected 
surveyor of the county of Rock Island in 1840. 
He brought his law studies to a close in 1842, 
in Stevenson (then become Rock Island), and 
settled in Mineral Point, Wis., when on the 29th 
of March of that year, he was admitted to the 
bar, at a session of the United States district 
court, at Lancaster, Grant county. He at once 
opened a law office at Mineral Point, and soon 
secured the confidence of the people by the 
promptitude and scrupulous fidelity with which 
he attended to whatever was entrusted to his 
care in a business way. He had a successful 
practice, largely in the line of collections. In 
August, 1844, he entered into partnership with 
Cyrus Woodman, and the firm had an extensive 
and lucrative business. It was here that the 
foundation was laid that resulted in the accu- 
mulation of a large fortune by Mr. Washburn. 

The firm of Washburn & Woodman gradually 
abandoned the law, and engaged largely in the 
entry of public lands for settlers. The partners 
also purchased large quantities of pine lands, 
and mineral and agricultural lands, in their own 
right. After the State banking law of 1852 
went into operation, they established the 
Mineral Point Bank, which stood the test of all 
financial reverses, and never suspended specie 
payment. When its affairs were wound up, 
every dollar of its liabilities were paid in specie. 
The partnership was dissolved March 1, 1855, 
Mr. Woodman retiring from it, and Mr. Wash- 
burn assuming the responsibility of its entire 
business. Leaving, at this point, for some time, 
further mention of his pi'ivate affaii's, it is here 



proper to bring before the reader the commence- 
ment of Mr. Washburn's career as legislator. 

The home of Mr. Washburn was in the 2d 
congressional district of Wisconsin, compre- 
hending an extended territory. His name, in 
1854, was suggested as a candidate of the anti- 
Nebraska party for Congress in his district; 
and, at the convention, he received the nomina- 
tion without any effort on his part or even 
desire. The result was, hei was elected to the 
34th Congress. His colleagues were Daniel 
Wells, Jr., from the first district, and Charles 
Billinghurst, from the third, there being at that 
time but three congressional districts in Wis- 
consin. He was re-elected as a republican in 
1857, and again in 1859. After serving six 
years in Congress, he declined another election, 
and soon after the expiration of his third term 
he changed his residence from Mineral Point to 
La Crosse, Wis., his home at the time of his 
death. 

In entering upon his first term in the National 
legislature, Mr. Washburn brought into its halls 
a thorough knowledge of the State he repre- 
sented, and was instrumental in securing 
much legislation of value to its people. In 
the Congress he served as chairman of the 
committee on Private Land Claims, and as a 
member of the special committee of thirty-three 
on the State of the Union. In January, 1861, 
he introduced a resolution declaring "that the 
provisions of the constitution" were "aruple for 
the preservation of the Union, and the protec- 
tion of all the material interests of the coun- 
try"; that it needed to be obeyed rather than 
amended; and that the extrication of the conn- 
try from the difficulties then impending was "to 
be looked for in efforts to pi'eserve and protect 
the public property and enforce the laws, rather 
than in new guarantees for particular inter- 
ests, or compromises, or concessions to unrea- 
sonable demands." In support of this resolu- 
tion, he closed his remarks by declaring that if 
the Union was to be dissolved, "whether by 
peaceable secession or through fire and blood 



302 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and civii war," there would be left to those who 
survived it the consolation of knowing that they 
would be, what they never had been, "inhabit- 
ants of a free country." Mr. Washburn was 
ever true to the cause of liberty, and the slave 
found in him an able advocate and staunch 
friend. 

In the Civil War which immediately followed 
his retirement from Congress, Mr. Washburn 
took an active part. He was commission colonel 
of the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry, Oct. 10, 1861 ; 
reported for duty the same day, and was mus- 
tered into the United States service Feb. 6, 
1802. He left Wisconsin with his regiment 
March 24, following, and served in tbe army 
under Gen. Curtis, in Arkansas, to the next July, 
Col. Washburn was appointed brigadier-general 
of United States volunteers on the 16th of that 
month, and major-general, November 29, there- 
after. 

Gen. Washburn commanded a cavalry brigade 
in Arkansas, and also the post of Helena, that 
State, from July to October, 1862; and of cav- 
alry forces there to November of the same year. 
His commands for the next twelve months were 
of a division in the Army of the Tennesse to 
February, 1863 ; of a cavalry division in the 
13th Corps, to April 9 ; of cavalry in West 
Tennessee, to June 8 ; of two divisions of the 
16th Corps, at Hyane's Bluff, Miss., to July 
28 ; of the first division, 13th Army Coips 
to August 1 ; of the 13th Corps, to September 
15; of the first division, same corps, to October 
20; of the same corps to October 23 ; and of 
the first division of same corps to December, 
1863. Gen. Washburn was in command of the 
troops at Matagorda Peninsula, Texas, from the 
last mentioned date to Jan. 13, 1864, and 
was then on leave of absence to March 29, fol- 
lowing. He was under orders from that time 
to April 23, when he took charge of the district 
of West Tennessee, continuing there to Novem- 
ber. He was then transferred to the command 
of the district of Vicksburg, where he remained 
till March 4, 1865. The general then assumed 



direction of affairs in the district of West Ten- 
nessee, continuing there until his resignation. 
May 25, 1865 Such is the chronological record 
of his various commands as colonel, brigadier- 
general and major-general. But before dis- 
missing him as a military commander, it may 
not be amiss to recount some prrticulars con- 
cerning the capacity and bravery exhibited by 
him in the army. 

At the breaking out of the war, Mr. Wash- 
burn raised the regiment of cavalry of which 
he was commissioned colonel. At the time 
Gen. Grant made a movement south for the 
capture of Vici^sburg, the colonel had been pro- 
moted to major-general, and with 2,000 cavalry- 
men, he dislodged a force prepared to obstruct 
the progress of the army at the crossing of the 
Tallahatchie. In February the general con- 
ducted an expedition which opened the Yazoo 
Pass. At the battle of Grand Coteau, La., he, 
with his command saved the fourth division, un- 
der Gen. Burbridge, from annihilation by an 
overwhelming force of the enemy. On Nov. 
29, 1863, Gen. Washburn landed on the coast of 
Texas with 2,800 men, and compelled the evac- 
vation of FortEsperanza. This movement gave 
the Union forces control of the entire coast of 
Texas, from Matagorda bay to the Rio Grande, 

•'During the war, in the year 1862," says a 
Congressional associate of Mr. Washburn,* "I 
first met the general in Washington. He had 
been assigned to duty in the department of the 
gulf, under Gen. Grant, It was at a time when 
the cause of the Union seemed to be enveloped 
in a dark clould, 'i'he most courageous were 
despondent, and the minds of all were filled 
with grave doubts as to the future. At such an 
hour, I shall never forget how refreshing it was 
to meet such a strong, brave man, fresh 
from the field of conflict. He inspired all 
with whom he mingled with new hope and 
courage, and allowed no one for a mo- 
ment to doubt the ultimate triumph of our 
cause. He impressed you, at first, as a man 

* Ex-Gov. Wni. B. Washburn, of Mstssachusetts. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



303 



of indomitable will and energy, determined 
to show the sincerity of his convictions by his 
deeds, and ready to risk, if need be, everything 
he possessed, in order that victory might be 
ours. He remained in the army until he saw 
his predictions in regard to the ultimate triumph 
of the Union arms fullj'^ verified." 

The next year after the return of Gen. Wash- 
burn to civil pursuits, he was elected a repre- 
sentative in Congress from the sixth district of 
Wisconsin, and was re-elected in 1868. In 
the 40th Congress he served on the committees 
of Foreign- Affairs, and on Expenditures of 
Public Buildings; and, in the next Congress on 
the committees of Appropriations, on Private 
Land Claims, on Causes of the Reduction of 
American Tonnage, and was chairman of the 
special committee on the Postal Telegraph. 
"He did not labor to make himself conspicuous 
by the frequent sound of his voice, but rather 
by wise counsel and faithful service to guard 
the interests of his constituents, and to promote 
the welfare of the State. He was rarely absent 
from his post of duty, and seldom, if ever, found 
recorded upoti the wrong side of any of the 
great questions of the day. He was affable and 
courteous, frank and generous in his intercourse 
with his fellow-members, and thereby gained a 
wide and powerful influence, to secure the suc- 
cess of any important measure in which he 
might become interested. He always guarded 
with jealous care the rights of the people, and 
was ever on the alert to secure the passage of 
such measures as, in his view, would specially 
promote their welfare." 

In the year 1871, at the close of his last term 
in Congress, he was nominated by the repub- 
lican convention of Wisconsin for the office of 
governor, and was elected. He was inaugurated 
as chief executive of the State on the first Mon- 
day in January, 1872. In the year 1S73 he was 
re-nominated for the same office, but was de- 
feated. Gov. Washburn's official career in the 
gubernatorial chair of Wisconsin was one of 
marked success. His great executive ability. 



his energy, his strong practical sense, and his 
long and successful business experience, gave 
him much power, and he exercised it in doing 
good work for the State. "As governor," says 
one who knew him well, and was a close ob- 
server of his official acts, "he assumed no 
doubtful executive powers, and he was content 
to do his full duty within the requirements of 
the Constitution. He treated all offices as pub- 
lic trusts to be administered solely for the pub- 
lic good, and not for his own aggrandizement 
and cheap glory. He was even greater than the 
office which he filled, and honored it more than 
it honored him. His strict impartiality to his 
friends and enemies, both personal and politi- 
cal, and his almost captious particularity in 
official business, in matters small as well as 
great, his rigid scrutiny into the subordinate 
public service, and his selection of the best only 
to fill the offices within his own appointment, 
made him unpopular with those who look only 
to the profits of political friendships, and expect 
dishonest rewards to be paid out of the public 
treasury for political services. From his subor- 
dinates he exacted no personal or political loy- 
alty to himself, but only obedience to law and 
a strict discharge of duty."* 

With the close of Gov. Washburn's single 
term in the executive chair of Wisconsin, ended 
his official life. Previous to this, a laudable 
ambition had awakened in him a desire to be- 
come a member of the United States Senate. 
His first candidacy for that office was in 1861, 
when, at the start, he was the strongest candi- 
date before the State legislature. However, in 
the end, the choice fell upon Timolhy O Howe, 
the present postmaster general. Again, in 18Gf > 
he was, at the outset, the leading candidate for 
the same position, but was defeated finally, (he 
majority of the votes of the legislature being 
given to Matt. H. Carpenter, who became sena- 
tor. In 1875 he was asc-'i'" brouijfht forward as 



♦Memorial Addi-ossof Hon. Harlow S. Orton, one of the 
iissociate justices of the Supreme Couit of Wisconsin, July 

■1% 1882. 



304 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



a candidate; but, as he did not receive the can- 
cas nomination, his friends refused to vote for 
the regular nomiTiee, and Angus Cameron was 
elected by their uniting for that ])urpose with 
the democratic members in the legislature. 

After the expiration of Gov. Washburn's 
term of office, on the first Monday of January, 
1874, he at once directed his entire attention to 
the management of his private business. In 
the manufacture of lumber and flour, he accu- 
mulated a largo portion of an ample fortune. The 
success of his early investments in pine lands 
demonstrated his far-seeing sagacity; so, also, 
those in the water-power at St. Anthony's falls, 
he becoming the principal owner of the west 
side power. Here, being interested in the man- 
ufacture of flour, he erected, in 1876, an im- 
mense mill — the "Big Mill," of Minneapolis, 
Minn. At 7 o'clock in the evening of May 2, 
1878, an explosion occurred in this mill, at- 
tended with great loss of property and that of 
a number of lives. There were fourteen men 
ill the mill at the time, every one of whom 
perished. The building had first caught fire, 
and the flames had come in contact with the 
dust of the mill, which, it is said, mingled with 
the air, made it of an explosive character; 
hence the disaster. The destruction was not 
confined to the "Washburn uV — called, as we 
have seen, the "Big Mill," it being 100x138 
feet on the ground, seven and a half stories 
high, filled with tlie most approved machinery, 
and having forty-one run of stone. Six mills, 
in all, were destroyed, and five more damaged; 
among the latter was the "Washburn 1>," which 
was badly shaken n\>. The number of lives lost, 
in and out of the mills, in Minneapolis, by 
reason of this fire and explosion, was eighteen; 
the total loss of property was estimated at 
nearly $1,000,000. 

This terrible ami unusual calamity did not 
have the effect to discourage the indomitable 
Washburn. He proceeded at once to tiie work 
of rebuilding liis mills on a still larger scale, 
and with improved machinery. The massive 



"A" mill has been described as the largest mill 
in America, and the most complete one of its 
size iu the world. It is twice the size of the 
old "A," and covers a ground s{)ace of 100x240 
feet. Its height is eight stories above the canal. 
The full capacity of the mill is 3,000 barrels of 
flour a day. The "B" was built in 18(36, is 
60x90 feet on the ground; three stories high in 
front, and five iu rear. Its daily ca[)acity is 500 
barrels. The "C" ranks next to the "A," cover' 
ing ground of 95x145 feet; is five stories high; 
its capacity is 1,250 barrels a day.* Mr. 'Wash- 
burn was the first man in the United States who 
introduced what is known as the "patent pro- 
cess" in the manufacture of flour, and the 
"Hungarian roller system." He visited Europe 
for the purpose of investigating all the improved 
pi'ooesses for making flour, determined to secure 
the very best. His efforts, though attended 
with much expense and hard labor, were crowned 
with success. It may be said that Mr. Wash- 
burn was the champion miller of the United 
States. No man in this country was so thor- 
oughly versed in milling, or possessed so com- 
plete a knowledge of every detail in the manu- 
facture of flour, as he. Besides the interest al- 
ready spoken of as engaging his attention, Mr. 
Washburn was one of the early projectors and 
builders of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Rail- 
road. He was interested also in a number of 
other enterprises, requiring skill and energy to 
manage. Indeed, it may be said that nearly all 
of his life was full of activity and hard work, 
indicating large will-power and a capacity for 
great physical and mental endurance. 

The career (and a noble and successful one it 
was) of Mr. Washburn was nownearing its end. 
During the year 1880 he frequently complained 
of indisposition, and of a sense of weariness 
and lassitude; still, his attention to business 
and his activity were unabated; but a dreadful 
malady (Bright's disease) was seizing hold of 
his powerful frame. On the last day of Janu- 



* History Ilenuopin County, Minn., pp. 391, 393, 304, 3U5. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



305 



ary, 1881, he left Washington for La Crosse 
passing the 2d of February at the home of his 
brother, E. B. Washburne, in Chicago. Here 
he complained of feeling quite ill; however, he 
continued his journey, reaching La Crosse next 
day. In a few hours after his return, he was 
stricken down with paralysis, the result of the 
progress of the malady before mentioned, which 
was tightening its grasp upon its unfortunate 
victim. He rallied, however, from this first 
pronounced attack of illness, and, as soon as he 
was able to travel, he went to the Hot Springs 
of Arkansas, receiving some apparent benefit 
while there. In May he went to Europe, hop- 
ing the journey would be an aid to his recovery; 
but he returned in November Avorse than when 
he left the United States. 

Mr. Washburn now put himself under the care 
of an eminent physician of Philadelphia, but 
with no favorable results. He then went to At- 
lantic City, in hopes tlie climate there might 
prove beneficial to him; but, instead of improv- 
ing he grew worse. He next tried the waters 
of the Eureka Sj^rings, in Arkansas. In about 
two weeks after his arrival there, he began to 
improve, and soon became hopeful, and even 
cheerful, under the apparent change for the bet- 
ter. As his health now seemed to be on the 
mend, he commenced taking up the threads of 
his business interests, with which, for some 
time, he had not occupied himself. Everything 
now came within the grasp of his powerful fac- 
ulties. He called to him, from their distant 
homes, his partners, his chief engineer, as well 
as his business agent, for consultation. Noth- 
ing escaped him. But it was the last of gigan- 
tic efforts. On April 22, 1882, he did not 
feel well; and in three days thereafter he went 
to his meals for the last time. . His days were 
numbered. He gradually failed, and on May 
14 he breathed his last. 

The remains of the departed were embalmed, 
and then started, accompanied by sorrowing 
relatives and sympathizing friends, for their 
last resting place, in Oakwood Cemetery, La- 



Crosse. They were met, upon their arrival in 
Chicago, by a committee from Wisconsin, com- 
posed of the governor and others of its distin- 
guished citizens. A special train was placed at 
the disposal of the party by Alexander Mitchell, 
president of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad, and all taken to the last home of the 
deceased. Besides this, free transportation was 
tendered by the same liberal hearted railway oflEi- 
cial to friends from all points in Wisconsin, and 
from Minneapolis, in Minnesota, who desired 
to attend the funeral ceremonies. The proces- 
sion which followe'd the body to its last rest on 
May 18, 1882, was a long one, and presented a 
remarkable scene of love and respect for the 
departed. 

Champion of right! But from Eternity's far shore 
Thy spirit, will return to join the strife no more. 
RiiSt, statesman, rest! Thy troubled life is o'er. 

Cadwallader C. Washburn was a philanthro- 
pist. Tlie gift to the University of Wisconsin 
of an astronomical observatory, fully supplied 
with the best apparatus obtainable; to the Do- 
minican Sisters, of his charming suburban villa 
at Madison, Wis., as a school for girls; of a 
public library to the city of LaCrosse; and of 
an orphan asylum to the city of Minneapolis, 
Minn.; all attest the generosity of his nature. 
Private benefactioiTs, also, were by no means 
wanting, either in his lifetime or by his will. 
In view of the many important services ren- 
dered by him to education in Wisconsin, the 
legislature of the State by law made him a life 
regent of the university, an honor never befoi-e 
conferred upon any of its citizens. That insti- 
tution in 1873, gave him the degree of doctor of 
laws, a distinguished mark of respect very wor- 
thily bestowed. In his religious views there 
was no bigotry. He accepted earnestly the 
fundamental truths of Christianity. He was 
liberal in his opinions and charitable toward all. 
His public spirit prompted him to make fre- 
quent and valuable contributions to the Histori- 
cal Society of Wisconsin, of which institution 
he has been president since Jan. 3, 1878. 



306 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



In early manhood Mr. Washburn married 
Jeanette Garr, a most inteligent and estimable 
young lady; but in a few years she became in- 
sane, and for more than thirty years have the 
family been deprived of her presence and cheer- 
ing influence. In all this period she has been 
tenderly cared for. Nothing that money could 
procure has been omitted to alleviate her terri- 
ble malady. The husband in his will made 
the most ample provision for lier future support. 
Mr. Washburn leaves two daughters, both mar- 
ried; the eldest, to A. W. Kelsey; the youngest, 
to C/harles Payson, late United States minister 
to Denmark. 

Ziuthtr Hanchett 
was bora in Portage Co., Ohio, Oct. 25, 1825. 
He received a good education at Fremont. He 
studied law and commenced the practice when 
twenty-one years of age. He moved to Wis- 
consin in 1849. For some time he was engaged 
in the lead and lumbering business. He was 
for four years district attorney for Portage 
county, in his adopted State. From 1856 to 
1860 was a member of the Wisconsin Senate. 
In 1860 he was elected to the 37th Congress 
(1861-3). He died at Madison, Wis., Nov. 26, 
1862. 

^Yalter D. Mclndoe 
was born in Scotland March 30, 1819. He emi- 
grated to New York city in his fifteenth year. 
He was clerk in a large mercantile house. "He 
followed the same pursuit in Charlesion, S. C, 
and in St. Louis, Mo. He subsequently settled 
in Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness. He served in the Wisconsin legislature 
in 1850, 1854 and 1855. He was a Presidential 
elector in 1856 and 18^, and was elected to 
Congress, as before noted, in place of Luther 
Hancliett. deceased. He was re-elected to 38th 
Congress and also to the 39th — representing the 
sixth congressional district during these three 
terms. 

Amaaa Cobb, 
was born in Crawford Co., 111., Sept. •_'?, 1823. 
He r(!ceived a common school education and 



moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1842. He 
spent five years in the lead-mining business and 
served in the Mexican war as a private soldier, 
— during which lime he occasionally read law, 
and at the end of the war he began to practice 
the legal profession. In 1850, he was elected 
district attorney in lowacounty, and served four 
years. In 1854, he was elected to the State 
Senate, aiid served one term, of two years. In 
1855, he was appointed adjutant-general of the 
State, and again in 1857. He was elected to 
the State legislature in 1860, re-elected in 1861, 
and chosen speaker. In 1861 and 1862, Mi". 
Cobb served as a volunteer — being colonel of 
the 5th Wisconsin regiment. He was elected, 
as before stated in this chapter, to the 38th Con- 
gress (1863-65), from the third congressional dis- 
trict, of which district. Green was one of the 
counties, and was re-elected for three successive 
terms, — closing his career in Congress in 1871. 
During the recess of Congress, he was commis- 
sioned a second time, colonel. He raised the 
43d Wisconsin regiment and commanded it 
un il July, 1865. He was brevetted for gallant 
services at Williamsburg, Golding's Farm and 
Antietam. He afterward moved to Nebrask.i, 
where he was elected to the Supreme bench. 
Joel All('i> Barber. 
Joel Allen Barber, was the son of Joel :uhl 
Aseneth (Melvin) Barber, and was born in 
Georgia, Franklin Co., Vt , Jan. 17, 1800. His 
father was from Etigiand, and his mother w:is 
of Welsh descent. Her father was a captain in 
the Revolutionary army, and served till the 
close of the war. J. Allen Barber worked on 
a farm till he was eighteen years of age, when 
he entered the Georgia Academy, and fitted for 
college, and entered the University of Vermont 
in 1829, where'he remained two and a half years. 
He then began the study of the law with Hon. 
George P. Marsh, of Burlington. He taught 
school two years in Maryland, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1834, in Prince George's county, 
in that State. He returned to Vermont, and 
commenced the practice of his profession at 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



309 



Fairfield, where he remained till 1837, and in 
September of that year, he located at Lancaster, 
Wis., which village has ever since been his place 
of residence, and where he has constantly prac- 
ticed his profession for nearly forty-two years, 
at times mingling land operations with his prac- 
tice. He is deemed a sound and able lawyer, 
holding a high place as a criminal lawyer, and 
is an honor to the profession. 

A large portion of the time, since he has been 
a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. Barber has held 
some official position. He has been many years 
a member of the county board of supervisors, 
and was five years its chairman; was four years 
county clerk, and district attorney three terms. 
In 1846, he was a representative from Grant 
county, in the constitutional convention, and 
served on the committee on the Organization and 
Functions of the Judiciary. He was an able, in- 
dustrious member, and performed valuable ser- 
vice in the convention. He was a member of 
the assembly, in the years 1852, 1853, 1863 and 
1864. In the assembly of 1863, he was speakei- 
of that body. He was a member of the State 
Senate, in the years 1856 and 1857. He was 
ever an able, watchful and faithful member of 
the legislature. He was two terms a member 
of Congress, commencing on the 4th of March, 
1871. In the House, he served on the commit- 
tees or War Claims and on the Revision of the 
Statutes. He was an industrious and influential 
member of Congress; not a frequent speaker, 
but pointed and clear when he did address the 
House. 

Mr. Barber was a whig, until the organiza- 
tion of the republican party, when he united 
with it, and has been a member of that party 
ever since. 

In 1842, he was married to Helen Van Vleck, 
of Jamestown, in Grant county. Mrs. Barber 
died in about one year after marriage; and in 
1847, he was again married to Elizabeth Ban- 
till, of Lancaster. They have four children 
living, two sons and two daughters. 



Henry S. Magoon 
was born in the town of Monticello, Lafayette 
Co., Wis., Jan. 31, 1832. He entered the Rock 
River Seminary at Mount Morris, 111., in 1848, 
and there remained most of the time until June, 
1851, devoted to classical and other studies. In 
1851, he entered the Western Military College 
at Drennon, Ky., where he graduated in 1S53. 
He afterward attended the Montrose Law School 
at Frankfort, Ky., and in 1855, was appointed 
Professor of ancient languages in Nashville 
University, Tennessee. Here he remained 
till 1857, when, resigning, he returned to Wis- 
consin and began the practice of the law. He 
was elected a district attorney in Lafayette 
county, in 1858, and was a member of the State 
Senate in 1871 and 1872. He was the first na- 
tive of Wisconsin elected to the State Senate 
or to Congress. He was elected, as already in- 
timated, to the 44th Congress from the 3d 
congressional district, in November, 1874. 

Geor(je G. Hazelton 
of Boscobel, was born in Chester, Rockingham 
Co., N. H., Jan. 3,1833; graduated at Union 
College, Schenectady, N. Y., in 1858; studied 
law ; was admitted to the bar in the State of 
New York, and settled in Boscobel, Wis., in 
1863, where he has since practiced his profes- 
sion ; was elected district attorney of Grant 
county in 1864, and re-elected in 1866 ; in 1867 
was elected State senator, and chosen president 
pro tern, of the Senate, and was re-elected to the 
Senate in 1869. He was elected to the 45th 
Congress as a republican. Re-elected to the 
46th Congress, receiving 11,695 votes against 
11,603 for Owen King, greenbacker. He was 
re-elected to the 47th Congress, receiving 16,- 
236 votes against 12,941 votes for M. M. Coth- 
ren, democrat. 

T>nrr IF. Jones, 
of Madison, was born in the town of Union, 
Rock Co., Wis., March 9, 1846; received a col- 
legiate education, graduillng at the Wisconsin 
State University in 1870, and in the law depart- 
ment in \'?1^ ; is a lawyer by profession ; re- 



19 



310 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



sided near Evansville until about eighteen years 
of age; after finishing his law course, he com- 
menced practice at Portage in the winter of 
1871, but returned to Madison in the spring of 
1872; was elected district attorney of Dane 
county in 1872, and re-elected in 1874; was 



elected to the 48th Congress in 1882 as a demo-, 
crat, receiving 13,035 votes against 7,924 for 
George C. Hazelton, republican ; 3,791 for E. 
W. Keyes, republican ; 3,152 for S. D. Hast- 
ings, prohibitionist, and 444 for P. W. Matts, 
green backer. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



311 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE COURTS OF GREEN COUNTY. 



It lias been shown in previous chapters that 
the first settlers came to what is now Green 
county in 1827 and 1828, and that the region 
they located in was, at that date, a part of Craw- 
ford county, in Michigan Territory. These 
first settlers were under the jurisdiction, until 
Iowa county was organized, of the 

" CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 
COUNTY OF CRAWFORD." 

There was a county court of Crawford county 
during tlie period just mentioned; but why this 
court lost jui-isdiction will now be explained. 
However, in this connection, it will be neces- 
sary, ill the first place, to give a history of the 
"Circuit Court of the United States for tl e 
County of Crawford." 

No sooner had the three counties of Brown, 
Crawford and Michilliraackinac been organized 
and their county courts established, than it was 
felt to be a great draw-back to the prompt admin- 
istration of justice that, in all civil cases of over 
81, 000, and in criminal cases that were capital, as 
well as in actions of ejectment, in the allowance 
of writs of error, and mandamus, recourse must 
be had to the Supreme Court atDetroit;the latter 
place being the seat of government of Micliigan 
Territory. Therefore, in January, 1823, an act 
of Congress provided for a circuit court, and 
for the appointment of a judge for these coun- 
ties. This court had concurrent jurisdiction, 
civil and criminal, with the Supi-eme Court of 
the Territory, in most cases, subject, however, 
to have its decisions taken to the hitter tribunal 
by a writ of error. The law provided for hold- 
ing otiG term of court in each yeaf) in each of 



the counties named in the act; so, at last, there 
was to be a speedy administration of justice at 
home, and the people were to be relieved from 
all military arbitrations, which frequently had 
been imposed upon them. James Duane Doty 
was appointed judge of this court at its organi- 
zation. Appeals were taken from the county 
court to the "circuit court of the United States 
for the county of Crawford," as Judge Doty's 
court was called. A May term was held in 
Prairie du Chien; a June term in Green Bay; a 
July term in "the borough of Michillimackinac," 
in each year. In ] 824 Henry S. Baird, of Brown 
county, was appointed district attorney. Doty 
leld the office of judge until May, 1832, when 
lie was succeeded by David Irvin. The new 
circuit included all of Michigan not in the pen- 
insula, the now State of Wisconsin, and the 
country north of St. Croix river and east of the 
Mississippi to latitude 49 — now under the gov- 
ernment of Minnesota. In the winter or spring 
of 1823, Doty was appointed by President 
Monroe the additional judge. At the session 
of 1823-4, Congress changed the tenure of 
office of the judges of Michigan for "good be- 
havior" to the term of four years, and Judge 
Doty's x'e-appointment was announced in Nile's 
Register of Feb. 28, 1824. The first term of 
Judge Doty's court was held at Mackinaw, in 
July, 1823. 

James Duane Doty. 

James Duane Doty was born at Salem 

Washington Co., N. Y., in the year of 1799. 

lie received a common school education, 

and then devoted liimself to the stttdy of 



312 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



law. In 1818, he removed to Detroit, in the 
Territory of Michigan, where, in the following 
year, he was admitted to the bar. He early at- 
tracted attention, and, in 1820, accompanied 
Gov. Cass on one of his extensive tours, and was 
present when the governor hauled down the 
British flag displayed by the Chippewas on the 
American side of the straits of Mackinaw, de- 
spite their menaces. In the winter of 1821, 
while visiting Washington, Doty was admitted 
to the bar of the United States Supreme Court. 
A year later, upon the passage of the act form- 
ing northern Michigan into a judicial district, 
he was selected by President Monroe to occupy 
the bench. In the fall of 1823 Judge Doty, 
with his wife — he had recently married a daugh- 
ter of Gen. Collins, of Oneida Co., N. Y., — re- 
moved to Prairie du Chien for the purpose of 
entering upon his duties ; but, the following 
spring, because the traders did not manifest a 
very friendly spirit, and believing that Green 
Bay was a healthier place, established his home 
there. During this year the organization of the 
courts was completed, and thereafter he held 
his terms with strict regularity until 1832, 
when he was succeeded by Judge David Irvin. 
Thus relieved of official duties, he made re- 
peated tours over the then unsettled territory, 
became thoroughly acquainted with its natural 
resources, and contributed not a little towards 
obtaining the good-will of the Indian tribes to- 
ward the government. In 1831-2, he was one 
of the commissioners who surveyed the United 
States military roads from Green Bay to Chi- 
cago and Prairie du Chien. In 1834 he was 
elected to the Territorial council of Michigan, 
in which he served two years with distinction. 
In that body he introduced the proposition for 
the formation of a State government, and the 
separate Territorial organization of Wisconsin, 
which prevailed in 1836. Meanwhile, at the 
Green Bay land sales of 1835-6, he was in- 
trusted with large suras of money for invest- 
ment in eligible locations, and many flourii^hing 
tillages now st^ud on sites df his selection. He 



was chiefly instrumental, at the Belmont ses- 
sion of the Wisconsin legislature, although not 
a member, in securing the location of the seat 
of government at the Four Lakes, now Madison. 
In 1838, he was elected delegate in Congress 
from Wisconsin Territory, serving until 1841. 
He became governor, by appointment from Pres- 
ident Tyler, in September, 1841, which office he 
held until June 1844, being the second Terri- 
ritorial governor of Wisconsin. He was a mem- 
ber of the first convention chosen to draft a 
State constitution in 1846. He was elected to 
Congress from the third or Green Bay district, 
in 1848, and re-elected in 1850. At the close 
of his term, 1853, he retired to ];rivate life. 
His last residence in Wisconsin was at Mena- 
sha, on Doty's island, of Lake W^innebago. In 
1861 he was appointed superintendent of Indian 
affairs by President Lincoln, and subsequently 
governor of Utah, holding this position until 
his death, which occurred June 13, 1865. He 
was emphatically one of the most eminent pio- 
neers of Wisconsin, and his important public 
services entitle him to lasting honor. 

Holding Court Tinder Difficulties. 

To reach Prairie du Chien from Green Bay, 
Judge Doty had to travel the distance in a bark 
canoe, by way of the Fox and W^isconsin rivers. 
Annual journeys were undertaken between the 
two points, from 1825 to 1828, by the judge a- d 
district attorney, Henry S. Baird, in one canoe. 
It was usually manned by seven Indians, and the 
trip each way occupied about seven days. Baird 
took his family along. Mrs. Baird, wlio is now 
(1884) still living, relates the journey was ren- 
dered very enjoyable by its sociability and 
novelty. It was through a wilderness, on wild 
waters, and no while inhabitant found along its 
entire course. 

In 1829 Morgan L. Martin came to Green 
Bay, and was subsequently admitted lo the bar 
by the court. In May, of the same year, he and 
Judge Doty, and the district attorney (Baird), 
with a Mennmonee Indian for a guide, traveled 
on horsbback from Green Bay to Prairie dti 



A 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



318 



Chien and back. It took them seven days each 
way. During the journey, they saw no white 
man. Their course led through what is now 
Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Madison, Blue 
Mounds and Dodgeville ; crossing the Wiscon- 
sin river six miles above its confluence with the 
Mississippi. 

In those early days, courts were held in rooms 
in log dwellings, log school houses, and barns, 
in an emergency, as was the case at the May term, 
1826, at Prairie du Chien, when the site of the 
village was inundated by the Mississippi. "It 
would naturally be imagined that, under such 
circumstances [as the flood], court could not be 
held. But not so ; a large barn, situated on 
dry ground, was fitted up for the occasion. The 
judge [Doty] and the attorneys occupied the ex- 
tensive threshing floor, and tlie jurors the mows. 
When the latter retired to make up a verdict, 
they were conducted by an officer to another 
barn or stable." 

In a previous chapter (III), in an account of 
the so-called "Winnebago War," mention is 
made of the murder of Gagnier and Lipcap, at 
Prairie du Chien. It was thought advisable to 
try the Indians for that murder, in Judge 
Doty's court, that is, in the "Circuit Court of 
the United States, for the county of Crawford," 
instead of the county court of Crawford 
county. But, in order to give the court fir«t 
mentioned jurisdiction, and at the same time net 
to bring it in conflict with the county court, thr 
following acts were passed : 

An Act to restrict the jurisdiction of the 
county courts of the counties of Michillimacki- 
nac, Brown and Crawford. 

Be it enacted hy the Leyislative Council of the 
Territory of Michigan, that from and after the 
first day of July next ensuing, it shall not be 
lawful for the county courts, in the counties of 
Michillimackinac, Brown and Crawford, to take 
or to hold, or entertain jurisdiction of the trial 
of any civil or criminal cause ; nor shall it be 
lawful for the clerks thereof, as such, to issue 



any venire whatever, for any jury or juries, re- 
turnable at the said county courts, or either of 
them. 

Sec. 2. That all its suits, indictments, recog- 
nizances, process, writs, appeals and all other 
matters and things whatsoever, relating to 
causes civil and criminal, pending in or return- 
able to the said county courts, are hereby trans- 
ferred and made returnable to the circuit court 
of the United States, to be held in each of the 
said counties where the same are pending ; and 
the circuit court is hereby authorized and re- 
quired to liear, try, and determine all such suits, 
indictments, recognizances, process, writs, ap- 
peals and other matters and things aforesaid, 
according to law, and in like manner as the said 
county courts would have been required to 
hear, try and determine the same, if this act 
had not been passed. 

Approved June 18, 1828. 
[II.] 

An Act to provide for holding a special ses- 
sion of the circuit court of" the county of Craw- 
ford. 

Be it enacted by the Legislative Qouncil of the 
Territory of Michigan, That " the additional 
judge of the Michigan Territory, in the counties 
of Michillimackinac, Brown and Crawford," be 
and he is hereby authorized to hold a special 
session of the circuit court for the county of 
Crawford, at such place in the borough of Prai- 
rie du Chien, as he may appoint, on Monday, 
the twenty-fifth day of August next, and so 
long a time thereafter as may be necessary for 
the trial of all such criminal cases as shall then 
and there be moved and prosecuted in the said 
court; and the clerk of said court shall issue veni- 
ries for fifteen grand, and twelve petit jurors to 
attend the said session. 

Sec. 2. That the jurors aforesaid shall be free 
white males of this Territory, above the age of 
twenty-one years, and shall have resided therein 
one year previous to the said twenty-fifth of 
August, and, no other qualification shall be re- 
quired by the court, of the said jurors; and if 



314 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



any juror is subpoenaed as a witness in any 
criminal case, to be prosecuted as aforesaid, or 
does not possess a full knowledge of the Eng- 
lish language, he- shall not be discharged for 
such cause alone. 

Sec. 3. That no person, indicted for any 
crime at the said session, shall be allowed by 
the court to challenge peremptorily, and without 
cause, more than twelve jurors of the said panel, 
anything contained in any law to the contrary 
notwithstanding: Provided^ That any deliciency 
in said panel, from any cause whatever, shall 
not operate to prevent the court from causing a 
sufficient number of jurors to complete the 
panel aforesaid, to be summoned from among 
the neighboring citizens. 
Approved June 3, 1828. 

According to the provisions of this last act, 
Judge Doty convened his court on the 25th of 
August, 1828. On the first day of September, 
Chickhonsic, or the Little Boeuf, and Waniga, 
or the Sun, were indicted for murder, as ac- 
complices of Red Bird, in the killing of Gag- 
nier and Lipcap, in June of the preceding year, 
as related in chapter III, of this history. The 
two Indians (Wiiinebagoes) just mentioned 
were convicted and sentenced to be hung on the 
26th of December following; but, before that 
day, they were as already related, pardoned by 
the President of the United Stales. Two other 
Indians, charged with the murder of Methode 
and family were at the same term discharged 
under a nolle prosequi. 

The two acts of the Michigan Territorial 
council before given, remained in force until 
the last day of July, 1830; so that all cases, 
civil or criminal, in Crawford county, were 
triable in Judge Doty's court between the 1st 
of July, 1828, and that date instead of in the 
county court. Now, it so happened that in 
August, 1828, a man was killed within the 
limits of that county in that part now the 
county of Green. The slayer was, of course, 
properly tried in Prairie du Chien, and in 
Judge Doty's court. It was the ease of a trader 



among the Winnebagoes by the name of Mc- 
Nutt, who killed another trader named Boner. 
From a published account of this affair, in 
1857, by J. W. Stewart, we have the following 
particulars: 

"Boner and McNutt were both in the habit 
of partaking two freely of spirituous liquors, 
which they kept to sell to the Indians [at a 
place about one mile southwest of what was 
afterward Exeter, in the present Green county]. 
One night during the month of August, [it was 
earlier, probably in June] 1828, whilst no one 
was about their premises except the two part- 
ners and Van Sickle, their interpreter, one of 
them — McNutt — without having had any previ- 
ous quarrel, dispute, or provocation known to 
any one, under the effects of intoxication, came 
into the house with a common ax in his hand 
and deliberately killed Boner and cut him into 
pieces, in the presence of Van Sickle. The 
latter, without interference, fled to Blue Mounds 
on foot, and gave the information. As Van 
Sickle left the cabin, in his fright, McNutt, the 
murderer, laid hold of his rifle and shot after 
him, the ball striking the door check. A few 
minutes after Van Sickle's arrival at Blue 
Mounds, McNutt arrived there on horseback and 
surrendered himself to the officers, who took 
him to Prairie du Chien. Mr. Blackmore, who 
is my informant, was away from home the day 
of ihe murder, but was there the next day, and 
assisted in burying Boner, who occupied the 
first grave of a white man within [what are 
now] the limits of the county. After eighteen 
months confinement in jail at Prairie du Chien, 
]\[cNutt was acquitted." 

An account of the killing of Boner given to 
Albert Salisbury, in 1871, by William Deviese, 
differs from the foregoing in a few particulars. 
It is as follows: 

"After the murder of Boner, McNutt fled to 
Blue Mounds and was lying drunk at Moore's 
wlien the news reached the Mounds. He was 
tied by Deviese, Duncan and others, and deliv- 
ered up to the officers from Dodgeville. Mc- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT i'. 



315 



Niitt made no resistance, being in fact too 
drunk, but denied all knowledge of the mur- 
der, and said if he killed Boner he knew noth- 
ing of it, as may have been the case. He was 
kept in jail in Prairie du Chien for a year and 
a half, and then acquitted." 

In a sketch of James Hawthorn, of the same 
date, Mr, Salisbury has some additional infor- 
mation concerning McNutt. He says: 

"Hawthorn was called to Prairie du Chien in 
the spring of 1827 as a juryman to the United 
States district court. There were twenty in- 
dictments for murder, resulting in but one con- 
viction — that of a soldier who had killed his 
lieutenant. Sixteen different persons were in- 
dicted who had participated in a charivari, 
which resulted as so many of those things do. 
The two ring leaders broke jail and left for 
Canada. At Green Bay, they got a job of mak- 
ing shingles and having been supplied by their 
employer with provisions, blankets, etc., it need 
not be said that they did not stay long in their 
shingle camp. 

"At this term of court, McNutt was tried for 
the murder of Boner on Sugar river. Van 
Sickle, the interpreter, being the only witness 
for the prosecution, his veracity was impeached 
by the defense, and McNutt was acquitted. 
Hawthorn laughs over a remark which he heard 
Van Sickle make after the trial — that 'they 
brought in that bloody Jake Plunter to swear 
against me, and he's as d — d a liar as I am my- 
self.' " 

It is proper here to mention that the 
jurisdiction of the county court of Crawford 
county was afterward restored, although in no 
wise affecting the settlers who then lived in 
what is now Green county ; as they had, by the 
organization of Iowa county, passed under the 
jurisdiction of the "circuit court of the United 
States for the county of Iowa." The act re- 
storing the jurisdiction of the Crawford county 
court was as follows: 

An Act to restore the jurisdiction and powers 
of the county court of the county of Crawford. 



He it enacted by the Legislative Council of the 
Territory of Michigan. That it shall hereafter 
he lawful for the county court of the county of 
Crawford, to take and entertain jurisdiction of 
all causes, civil and criminal, that may arise in 
said county, and to direct the issuing of all 
necessary process for carrying the same into 
effect, in as ample a manner as was possessed 
by said court, previous to the passage of the 
act entitled "An Act to restrict the jurisdiction 
of the county courts of the counties of Michilli- 
mackinac, Brown and Crawford, approved June 
18, one thousand eight hundred and twenty- 
eight, or as said court would have possessed, 
provided the act aforesaid had not been passed. 

Sec. 2. That there shall be one term annu- 
ally of said court, to be held on the first Mon- 
day of November, in each and every year. 

Approved July :31, 1830. 

While Judge David Irvin, the successor of- 
Judge Doty, was holding his office, it was 
thought best to better provide for the publica- 
tion of all legal notices in the counties of Brown, 
Iowa and Crawford; so the following act was 
passed, applicable, however, to both circuit and 
county courts: 

An act to provide for the publication of all 
legal notices in the counties of Brown, low^a 
and Crawford. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative 
Council of the Territory of Michigan, that when 
notice of any application to any court or judi- 
cial officer in any of said counties of Brown, 
Iowa and Crawford, of any proceeding in any 
court, or before any judicial officers, in either 
of said counties, is required to be published in 
any newspaper, the said notice shall be pub- 
lished by posting one copy of it on the door of 
tlie house where the circuit court was last held, 
in the county in which said application is made 
or proceeding had; and the court or judge may 
order a further publication, if, in their discre- 
tion, the nature of the case shall require it, by 
inserting a coi)y thereof in a newspaper. 



316 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Sec. 2. TIjo provisions of the foregoing sec- 
tion shall not effect any application made or 
proceeding had as aforesaid, previous to the 1st 
day of June next. 

Approved Feb. 1, 1833. 

The Territorial ciicuit court, with IXavid 
Irvin as judge, continued until abrogated by the 
organization of the Territory of Wisconsin. 
iJdij'ul Trvin. 
David Irvin was born in Albemarle Co., Va., 
in 1794, and was of blended Scoth and Irish par- 
entage. His father was a Presbyterian minister 
and a teacher of the ancient languages of mucli 
local reputation. Young Irvin was educated for 
a lawyer and started in life in the Shenandoah 
valley. As he did not meet with much success 
there, he applied to his old school-mate, William 
C. Rives, who was at that time in high favor 
with President Jackson, to get him an office. 
Mr. Rives suggested a judgeship. The to'm of 
office of Judge Doty, as judge of the additional 
district for Michigan Territory, ha\^ing expired, 
[1832), that position was tendered Irvin and 
accepted. Upon the organization of the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin, he was appointed associate 
justice of the Supreme Court by President 
Jackson. 

Being a bachelor, Judge Irvin's residence was 
not necessarily confined to any locality. He 
always preferred southern society ; and as soon 
as his last office was ended, he went to St. 
Louis, where he remained some length of time. 
He subsequently became a citizen of Texas 
and a wealthy man. 

Though only thirty-six years old when he 
first came to what was afterwards the Territory 
of Wisconsin, Judge Irvin seems never to have 
been regarded by the people as one of their 
number. He was free from the vices which 
too often, in those days, injured or even ruined 
some of the most promising men in the west. 
He was generally regarded as a fair and up- 
right judge, of respectable ability. The pecu- 
liarities of his character, and his entire with- 
drawal many years ago from all connection with 



the State of Wisconsin, have led to numerous 
attempts, on the part of early settlers, to de- 
scribe him. "Judge Irvin," says one who knew 
him well, "was about six feet in height, very 
erect and well proportioned. His hair was 
auburn, eyes blue, features narrow. He was 
not a laborious judge, but was attentive to duty, 
honest and upright in every particular. He 
was candid, and without intrigue or deception. 
For integrity and moral principle, he enjoyed 
general confidence. He was fond of a horse 
and a dog ; always esteeming his horse and dog 
the finest and best. Being a bachelor, these 
animals seemed to be the especial objects of his 
care and attention. He was fond of hunting, 
particularly for prairie chickens. Upon these 
excursions he would frequently take members 
of the bar with him. He was very economical, 
but scrupulously just in all his dealings. He 
indulged in acts of kindness to his relatives, 
but did not show much sympathy for others. 
While he treated all with urbanity and respect, 
he did not form particular attachments for 
strangers." 

A description of Judge Irvin, by the late 
Judge C. M. Baker, of Walworth Co., Wis., is 
interesting : 

"He [.ludge Irvin] was a Virginia gentleman 
of the old school. Social, kind-hearted, aristo- 
cratic, as became a Virginian of the F. F's, he 
was a bachelor with his whims and peculiarities. 
He was a great lover of hunting, particularly of 
prairie hens, in the shooting of which he was 
an expert. On this he prided himself ; and no 
one must excel him, if he would keep in his 
good graces. He was also learned in the knowl- 
edge of horses and dogs, as well as in the law. 
His ^own house, Pedro, and his dog, York, to 
whom he was much attached, and whose supe- 
rior blood often formed the theme of his con- 
versation, were as well known to the bar as the 
judge himself. They were necessary append- 
ages to the judge and the court. It was said 
by the wags that, if one wanted to win his case 
before the judge, he must praise his dog and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



31' 



his horse. But of truth it can be said of him 
that he was a lover of justice, detested mean- 
ness, was well grounded in the principles of the 
law, and was possessed of very respectable 
perceptive and reasoning powers. He seldom 
consulted law books, with which the bar of 
those days was poorly supplied ; but on the 
whole, for the times, was a fair and respectable 
judge." 

TSREITOKIAL DISTRICT COURT. 

The act of Congress which provided for the 
organization of Wisconsin Territory, declared 
that the judicial power therein should be vested 
in a Supreme Court, district courts, probate 
courts and justices of the peace. Charles Dunn 
was commissioned chief justice and David Irvin 
and William C. Frazer, associate judges. The 
act of Congress before mentioned required that 
the Territory of the Wisconsin should be divided 
in three judicial districts. The three judges of 
the Supreme Court were district judges. The 
counties of Crawford and Iowa (a great part of 
what is now the county of Gi'een being in the 
latter) were constituted by the Wisconsin Ter- 
ritorial legislature, the first district, to which 
was assigned Chief Justice Dunn. He also, 
upon the organization of Grant county, held 
court therein ; so, also, upon the organiza- 
tion of Green county, he presided at its courts, 
until, in 1839, it was made a part of a new dis- 
trict. 

The record of Judge Dunn's court in Green 
county is as follows. : 

At a district court of the United States begun 
and held in the county of Green, in the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin, at the court house in the 
town of New Mexico, on the second day of 
April (it being the first Monday in said month), 
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and 
thirty-eight. 

Present: The Hon. Charles Dunn, judge; 
George McFadden, clerk 'pro tern. 

On motion of T. S. Wilson, Esq., James 
Churchman, Esq., was admitted as an attorney 



and counsellor of this court, and thereupon took 
the oath prescribed by law. 

Ortlered by the court that James Churchman, 
Esq., be and is hereby appointed district attor- 
ney 2^^o tern in and for the county of Green. 

Oixlered by the court that T. S. Wilson, Esq., 
be and is hereby appointed attorney />ro ^em for 
the Territory of Wisconsin. 

Ordered by the court that Mortimer Bain- 
bridge be and is hereby appointed clerk of this 
court ^^'''O tern, vice George McFadden, who de- 
clines serving further. 

Ordered that court adjourn until to-morrow, 
nine o'clock. 

Charles Dunn, 
Chief Justice and Pres. in Green D. C. 

The court met pursuantto adjournment. 

Present: The Hon. Charles Dunn, judge; 
and M. Bainbridge, clerk. 

Tiie sheriff produced in court his bond, with 
Abner Van Sant, William Bowen, Hanson Ivon 
and Alfred G. Houton, securities, which was 
approved of by the court, and thereupon said 
Jolin W. Deniston as sheriff took the several 
oaths of office prescribed by law. 

The sheriff returned unto court the following 
panel of grand jurors, to wit: Elijah Austin, 
Amos Harris, Mordecai Kelly, Joseph Woodle, 
Jarvis Rattin, Hiram Rust, Thomas Bowen, 
William Blunt, Peter Wells, John Blunt, 
Mathew Wells, Joseph Kelly, Jacob Andrix, 
Hanson Ivon, Julius Austin and Augustus Chil- 
ton, who, being elected, tried and sworn, re- 
tired to consider the matter given them in 
charge. The court appointed Hiram Rust fore- 
man of the grand jury, who took the foreman's 
oath. Andrew Clarno, Bennet Noland, Joel 
Decamp, James Hawthorn and Peter Webb, 
who were returned in the panel by the sheriff 
as having been duly summoned, on being called 
c^^me not, but made default, whereupon, on the 
motion of the district attorney it is ordered 
that a summons issue against the said delinquent 
grand jurors, returnable to the next term of this 
court to shew cause why they should not be 
fined for a contempt of court. 



318 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Onlered that Mortimer Baiiibriclge be, and 
lie is hereby, appointed clerk of the district 
court of Green county, Wisconsin Territory, 
who gave bond, with Charles Dunn, Francis 
Gehon, John W. Deniston, Jacob LyBrand and 
T. S. ^Vilson, securities, in the sum of two thou, 
sand dollars, and took the several oaths of 
office. 

The said bond was approved by the court. 
The sheriff returned unto court the following 
]>anel of petit jurors, to wit: J. Whitcouib, 
Stei)hen Clarno, Henry Ator, James Campbell, 
William Brown, James Chilton, Robert Kirken- 
dall, Calvin Hale, Joseph Smith, Daniel Suther- 
land, S. F. Brown, Amos Bradley, .Joseph Mc- 
Cracken, G. W. Reeder, Isaac Wells, William 
Draper and John Chadwick. 

Joseph Payne was excused from serving on 
the petit jury, upon cause shewn. 

William Bowen was excused from serving on 
the petit jury, upon cause shewn. 

David Sutherland was excused from serving 
on the petit jury, upon cause shewn. 

William Bryant, Daniel Harcourt and Jona- 
than Roberts, who were returned by the sheriff 
as having been duly summoned as petit jurors, 
on being called came not, but made default, 
whereupon, on the motion of the district attor- 
ney it is ordered that a summons issue against 
the said delinquent petit jurors, returnable to 
the next term of this court to shew cause why 
they shall not be fined for a contempt of court. 

The grand jury returned into court the fol- 
lowing indictments as true bills: 
The United States ) 

vs. >• Adultery. 

Elizabeth Gage. ) 

On tlie motion of tl\e district attorney it is 
ordered that a capias issue to the sheriff of 
Green county against Elizabeth Gage, returna- 
ble forthwith. 

The United States ) 

vs. ■ >■ Adultery. 

Andrew Clarno. ) 

On the motion of the district attorney it is 

ordered that this cause be continued until the 



Amicable 
\ action of 
assumpsit. 



next term of this court, and that a ccqnas issue 

Yolney R. Kimbal and William^ 

Christmas, merchants and 

partners trading and doing 

.business under the name and 

style of 

Y. R. Kimball & Co., 

versus 

Robert L. Ream. 

This day came the plaintiffs by T S.Wilson, 
Esq., their attorney, as also the defendant by 
James Churchman, Esq., his attorney, and the 
said Churchman, attorney as aforesaid, by virtue 
of a power of attorney for that purpose to him 
directed, appeared in open court, waived pro- 
cess, accepted a declaration and confessed a 
judgment in favor of the said plaintiffs and 
against the said defendant for the sum of ninety 
dollars and sixty-nine cents, the amount due 
upon the promissory note in said power of at- 
torney mentioned, including interest from the 
time the same became due, as also for costs of 
suit, with stay of execution until the first day 
of the next term of this court. Thereupon it 
is considered and ordered by the court that the 
plaintiffs recover of the said defendant the said 
sum of ninety dollars and sixty-nine cents, to- 
gether with their costs by them in this behalf 
expended, and that they have execution therefor 
from and after the first day of the next term of 
this court. 

Yolney R. Kimball ^ * • -ui a i- • a 

•' f Amicable Action in As- 

rs y 

o 1 . T 1? i sumpsit. 

Robert L. Ream. ) ^ 

This day came the plaintiff by T. S. Wilson, 
Esq., his attorney as also the defendant by 
James Churchman, Esq., his attorney, and the 
said Churchman attorney as aforesaid, by virtue 
of a i^ower of attorney to him directed, appeared 
in open court, waived process, accepted a dec- 
laration and confessed a judgment in favor of 
the said Kimball and against the said Ream for 
the sum of one hundred and seventeen dollars, 
two dollars and forty-six cents the amount of 
interest on the first mentioned sum, from the 
10th Nov. A. D., 1837, as by said power of at- 
torney authorized, together with costs of suit, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



319 



with stay of execution until the first day of the 
next term of this court, thereupon it is consid- 
ered and adjudged by the court that tlie plain- 
tiff recover of and from the said defendant, the 
sum of one hundred and twenty dollars and 
twenty-two cents, as also his costs by him in 
this behalf expended, and that he have execu- 
tion therefor after the first day of the next 
term of this court. 

The court adjourned until tomorrow morning, 
nine o'clock. 
Charles Dunn, Chf. Jus. and Pres. Dis. G. C. 

Wednesday morning, April 4, 1838. The 

court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, 

the Hon. Charles Dunn, Judge; M. Bainbridge, 

Clerk. 

The United States ) 

vs. > Adultery. 

Elizabeth Gage. ) 

This day came the United States by their at- 
torney, as also defendant by T. S. Wilson, her 
attorney, who moved the court to quash the in- 
dictment for the following reasons, viz: 

1st. The indictment is uncertain. 

2d. The section of the law under which the 
defeiidaiit is indicted (sec 11 page 446 Michi- 
gan laws) does not contemplate the crime of 
adultery. 

3d. If adultery is contemplated in said sec- 
tion the charge is not sutficiently set forth. 

4th. And for other errors and insufficiencies 
which motion was overruled. 

On motion of this, district attorney ordered 
that this cause be continued until the next term 
of this court. 

Ordered that T. S. Wilson, Esq., attorney jt>ro 
tetn for the United States, be allowed for ser- 
vices during the present term as follows, to wit: 

For three days attendance at court at five 
dollars per day, fifteen dollars. Traveling to 
court one hundred miles at five cents per mile 
for going, the same for returning, ten dollars; 
making in all twenty-five dollars. Ordered that 
the above allowance be certified. 



Ordered that Francis Gehon, Esq., marshal 
for the Territory be allowed for services during 
the present term as follows, to wit: 

For three days attendance at court at five 
dollars per day, fifteen dollars; for traveling to 
court one hundred miles at five cents per mile 
for going and the same for returning, ten dol- 
lars, making in all twenty-five dollars. Ordered 
that the above allowance be certified. 

Ordered that M. Bainbridge, clerk of the 
court be allowed for services during the present 
term of this court as follows, to wit: For three 
diys attendance at court at five dollars per day, 
fifteen dollars; traveling to court seventy miles 
at five cents per mile for going and the same 
for returning from court, seven dollars, making 
in all twenty-two dollars. Ordered that the 
above allowance be certified. 

Ordered that John W. Deniston, crier to the 
court be allowed as follows, to wit: For three 
days services at two dollars per day, six dollars. 
Ordered that the above allowance be certified. 

Ordered that James Churchman, Esq., be al- 
lowed as follows, to wit: For services as dis- 
trict attorney during the present term fifty dol- 
lars. Ordered that the above allowance be cer- 
tified. 

Ordered that John W. Deniston, sheriff be 
allowed for three days service during the pres- 
ent term; that Alfred G. Houghton, deputy 
sheriff be allowed for three days service during 
the present term, and that Charles Boyles, dep- 
uty sheriff be allowed for two days service dur- 
ing the present term, and that the above allow- 
ance be certified. 

United States ) 

vs. y Adultery. 

Elizabeth Gage. ) 

Ordered by the court that the defendant be 
admitted to bail in the sum of one hundred dol- 
lars, with two sureties in the sum of fifty dol- 
lars each, before any two justices of the peace 
in tins county. 

Ordered that the court adjourn until court in 



course. 



Charles Dunn, 
Chf. Jus. and Pres. in Green, D. C. 



320 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



*\ 



AUGUST TERM, 1838. 

At a district court of the United States be- 
gun and held in the county of Green in the 
Territory of Wisconsin, at the court house in 
the town of New Mexico, on the twenty-seventh 
day of August (it being the fourth Monday in 
said month) in the year of our Lord, one thou- 
sand eight hundred and thirty-eight. 

Present — The Hon. Charles Dunn, chief jus- 
tice. M. Bainbridge, clerk. 

The sheriff returned into court the following 
panel of the grand jury, viz: Josiah Vv'hit- 
conib, William Draper, II. Irion, James Camp- 
bell, John Budge, Joseph McCrasken, Jesse W. 
Shull, G. W. Reeder, Stephen Hale, Augustus 
Chilton, Horace Griffin, Matthew Wells, Calvin 
Hale, William Woodle, Joseph Kelly, D. C. 
Bridge, Thomas Bo wen, Adam Starr, William 
Rittenhouse, Joseph- Woodle, James Hawthorn, 
John Chadwick, Julius Austin and Henry Mi- 
nor, and the court appointed William Ritten- 
house foreman, and the said jury on being sworn 
and charged, retired to consider of present- 
ments and indictments. 

Ordered that A. G. Houghton, deputy sheriff, 
in and for the county of Green, do attend to 
said grand jury and obey their lawful com- 
mands. 

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 1838. 

The United States 

vs. }• Adultery. 



Andrew Clarno. 

This day came the defendant and moved 
to quash the indictment herein for reason filed 
and the said motion is continued until tomorrow 
morning. 

The United States ) 

vs. ■ Contempt. 

Andrew Clarno. ) 

The United States ) 

vs. r Contempt. 

Bennett Nowline. j 

The United States ) 

vs. > Contempt. 

Joel Decamp. ) 



The United States ) 

vs. [ Contempt. 

Peter Webb. ) 

The United States ) 

vs. > Contempt. 

William Bryant. ) 

The United States ) 

vs. > Contempt. 

Daniel Ilarcourt. ) 

Monday August 2'7th 1838. 
The United States ) 

vs. y Contempt. 

Jonathan Roberts. ) 

This day came the defendant in the seven 
above entitled causes and uj^on their oaths 
purged themselves of the supposed Contempt, 
alleged against them. It is therefore ordered 
by the court that they be severally executed and 
go hence without day. 

The sheriff returned unto court the following 
panel of the petit jury, who were severally 
called and appeared to-wit: Joel White, James 
Chilton, Jlubert Kirkendall, John Blunt, Jona- 
than Roberts, Isaac Wells, Joab Enos, Stephen 
Bone, William Wells, Mordecia Kelly, Joseph 
Payne, Thomas Woodle, S. F. Brown, John 
Christ, Peter Webb, Peter Wells, William East- 
man, Jar vis Rattan, William Beard, Amos Harris, 
II. W. Hays, Christopher Andrick and Joseph 
Smith. 

On the motion of T. P. Burnet Esq., N. F. 
Hies, Esq., was enrolled and attorney of this 
court. 

Ordered that F. J. Dunn Esq., be and is here- 
by appointed United States attornes for the 
Territory of Wisconsin pro-tem. 

Ordered that Wm. H. Banks Esq., be and is 
hereby appointed District Attorney for the 
county of Green jijro-ifem. 

Monday, August 27, 1838. 

I. D. Jenkins presented the appointment of 
Deputy Marshal for Wisconsin Territory from 
Edward James Esq. Marshal of the Territory. 

Ordered that court adjourn until nine o'clock 
to-morrow morning. 

Charles Dunn, 
Chf. Jus. andPres. in G. D. C. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



321 



Tuesday, August 28th. 

The court met pursuant to adjournraent — 
present. 

The Hon. Charles Dunn Chief Justice; M. 
Bainbridge clerk. 

The United States ) 

vs. r Adultery. 

Elizabeth Gage. ) 

On motion of the District Attorney this case 

was continued till the next term of this court. 

George McFadden "] 

assignee of J. W. Smith, I 

vs. f 

Jacob Benningei". j 

This day came the plaintiff by F. J.Dunn his 
Attorney, and on his motion the defendant was 
three times solemnly called came not but made 
default and on the further motion of said attor- 
ney ordered that this cause be continued till the 
next term of this court. 
United States ) 

vs. y Adultery. 

Andrew Clarno. ) 

This day came as will the district attorney 
as the defendant in his OAvn proper person and 
the motion made herein on yesterday to quash 
the Indictment for reasons filed was solemnly 
agreed, and after mature deliberation thereof 
it was ordered and adjudged by the court that 
the said motion be sustained, the indictment 
quashed and the defendant go hence M'ithout 
day. 
United States ) 

vs '- Contempt. 

James Hawthorn. \ 

This day came the defendant .James Haw- 
thorn and upon oath purged himself of supposed 
contempt herein, whereupon it was ordered 
and adjudged by the court that the said defend- 
ant go hence without day. 

Ordered that J. D. Jenkins deputy raarshall 
be allowed for three days attendance on this 
court and for traveling forty miles. Ordered 
that above allowance be certified. 

Oi'dered that F. J. Dunn Esq., attorney for 
the Tevv'itoty pro4(!m be dlldwed for three days 



attendance on this court and for traveling forty 

miles. Ordered that the above allowance be 
certified. 

Ordered that court adjourn until eight o'clock 
to-morrow morning. 

Charles Dunn, 
Chf. Jus. and Pres. in G. D. C. 
Wednesday, August 29th, 1838. 
The court met pursuant to adjournment — pres- 
ent the Hon. Charles Dunn Judge; M. liain- 
bridge clerk. 

Ordered that Wm. H. Banks Esq., be allowed 
as follows, to-wit: For services as district at- 
torney during the present term twenty dollars. 

Ordered that the above allowance be certified. 

Ordered that M. Bainbridge be allowed for 
services during the present term of this court 
as clerk, as follows: For three days attendance 
upon this court at five dollars per day, fifteen 
dollars. Ordered that the above allowance be 
certified. 

Ordered that J. W. Deniston crier be allowed 
for three attendance on the court. 

Ordered that the above allowance be certified. 

Ordered that A. G: Houghton constable be 
allowed for three days attendance on this and 
on the grand jury. Ordered that the above 
allowance be certified. 

Ordered that John W. Denniston sheriff be 
allowed for three days attendance on this court. 
Ordered the above allowance certified. 

Ordered that court adjourn until court in 
course. 

Charles Dunn, 
Chf. Jus. and Pres. in G. D. C. 

diaries Drnin. 
Charles Dunn was born Dec. 28, 1799, at Bul- 
lett's Old Lick, Bullett Co., Ky., which is about 
sixteen miles from Louisville. He was the eld- 
est of a family of five sons and four daughters, 
and at the age of nine was sent to school at 
Louisville, where he remained a number of 
years, when he was called homo and sent on a 
business tour to Virginia, Maryland and Wash- 
ington. Upon his return l\ome lie read law a 



322 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



short time with Worden Pope, a distinguished 
lawyer of Louisville. He afterward proceeded 
to Frankfort and continued his law reading for 
about two years with the eminent John Pope, 
tlien secretary of State, and who was the first 
law professor in the Transylvania University, 
at Lexington. 

Mr. Dunn, in May, 1819, went to Kaskaskia, 
at that time the capital of Illinois, where he 
completed his studies under the direction of 
Nathaniel Pope, district judge of the United 
States. In 1820 he was admitted to the bar, 
Sidney Breese being admitted at the same time. 
He then commenced practice at Jonesboro, 
Union Co., 111. In 1821, he married Mary E. 
Shrader, daughter of Judge Ostro Shrader, who 
had been a United States judge in Missouri Ter- 
ritory. He remained in practice at Jonesboro 
for several years, anjl then removed to Gol- 
conda, Pope Co., 111. 

For two years Mr. Dunn was engrossing clerk, 
during two sessions of the House of Represent- 
atives of the Illinois legislature, and for five 
years its chief clerk. In 1829 he was appointed, 
by Gov. Ninian Edwards, acting commissioner 
of the Illinois and Michigan canal, and with his 
associates on the commission, Edward Roberts 
and Dr. Jane, surveyed and platted the first 
town lots of Chicago. The first town lots of 
this embryo metropolis were sold by the coru- 
raissioners on behalf of the State in the 
latter part of 1S29, and the sales continued 
in 1830 and in 1831, during which years the sur- 
vey of the canal and railway line was made and 
reported. 

In the early part of 1832 Indian troubles com- 
menced and a requisition was made upon the 
State authorities of Illinois for troops to engage 
in service against the Indians led by Black 
Hawk. Three brigades responded to the call, 
and .Mr. Dunn entered the service as captain of 
a company he had raised in Pope county, whore 
he then resided. His conipan}'^ was assigned to 
the 2d regiment, which was commanded by Col. 



John Ewing, and attached to the first brigade, 
under Gen. Alexander Posey. 

Soon after, in an engagement with the Indians 
(what engagement is unknown) Capt. Dunn be- 
came the victim of a blundering mistake on the 
part of a sentinel, by which he was severely, and 
at first it was thought mortally, wounded.* On 
approaching the sentinel he was severely 
wounded by him in the groin, of course through 
the mistake of the soldier. Dunn was taken 
back to Fort Dixon, where he was confined by 
his wound until after the war was ended by the 
battle of Bad Ax. 

As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, Capt. 
Dunn returned home, and in the spring of 1833 
acted as assistant paymaster in paying off the 
first brigade. During that year he resumed the 
practice of his profession. In 1835 he was 
elected a member of the House of Representa- 
tives of the State legislature, from Polk county, 
and was chairman of the committee on the 
Judiciary during the session. LTpon the recom- 
mendation of the Illinois delegation in Congress, 
and the delegate of the Territory of Wisconsin, 
George W. Jones, he was appointed by Presi- 
dent Jackson, in the spring of 1836, chief justice 
of Wisconsin Territory. He arrived at Mineral 
Point, July 4, 1836, and was then and there 
sworn into oftice, which he held until the organ- 
ization of the State judiciary. The last term of 
his court was held at Mineral Point, in October, 
1848. 

Judge Dunn was a momlter of the second con- 
stitutional convention of the State from Lafay- 
ette county, and was chairman of the committee 
on the judiciary of that body. He took a lead- 
ing part in framing what afterward became and 
still is, the constitution of Wisconsin. Subse- 
quently, he was elected State senator for the 
district composed of the county of Lafayette. 
He served in that capacity during the sessions 
of that body in 1852 and 1853, and was chair- 



*It has found its wav into print that this accident hap- 
pened in what is now the town of Dunu, hence the name, Imt 
this is an crroh— Ed. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



323 



mau of the committee on the judiciary during 
both of those years. 

On the expiration of his term of office as chief 
justice, Judge Dunn engaged in the practice of 
the law in Lafayette and adjoining counties. He 
was regarded one of the most eminent among 
those who were or had been in the profession, 
in Wisconsin. Wiiile chief justice, his judicial 
studies were especially onerous, as, during the 
greater portion of the time he was on the bench, 
his district, as circuit judge, was the most pop- 
ulous and important in the Territory, and pro- 
duced, it is believed, the greatest amount of 
litigation. His judicial and official duties were 
performed with rare ability, fidelity and integ- 
rity; and, although he had a few enemies (who 
has not?), he always commanded during his resi- 
dence of thirty-five years in Wisconsin, both in 
public and private life, the confidence and 
esteem of a very large proportion of the people. 
To near the time of his death, in 1872, at the 
advanced age of seventy-two, he continued in 
the vigorous practice of his profession at Bel- 
mont, and was, at that time, the oldest lawyer 
in the State. 

William Hull says of him: "As a lawyer, 
Judge Dunn ranked as one of the best. As a 
judge, he was as honest and impartial as a man 
of his temperament could possibly be. A good 
pleader himself, he held us all to the strict tech- 
nicalities of the common law practice, which 
then prevailed, and, although at times prone to 
give way to the violence of his personal feel- 
ings, he was geneially liked and respected by 
the members of the bar in his district and ter- 
ritory. He could never forget his dignity on 
the bench; on the road traveling from court to 
court;.atthe stopping-places for the night; and 
during the sessions of the courts; he was, with 
his friends, at all times courteous and a gentle- 
man; to those whom he did not like, he could 
and did occasionally i)reserve a different course. 
This trait in the judge's character can only be 
accounted for by premising that, like all other 
descendants from the first familiefs of Tirginia, 



the Dunns claimed to have the royal blood of 
Powhattan flowing in their veins, through his 
daughter, the historical, abused Pocahontas. 

"In all places and at all times Judge Dunn 
never put off his dignity. One instance of this 
ruling trait will bear to relate. Game of all 
kinds was very plentiful in those early days 
and deer-hunting was a common pastime. Af- 
ter the fall terras of the courts had terminated, 
on one occasion the judge, his brother Frank, a 
henchman of Frank's, Abe Fields, a gentleman 
now prominent in an adjoining State, and Mr. 
Hull, of La Crosse, were in camp on the Kicka- 
poo river, near Wayne's mill. The judge, for 
some cause, did not, as had been observed, take 
much interest iti the unnamed gentleman. The 
second day of the hunt, the judge, a true sports- 
man, had killed a magnificent buck, and it had 
been brought into camp. The deer was hung 
up for dressing. Judge Dunn, with coat off, 
sleeves rolled up and knife in hand, had com- 
menced work. After a few cuts with the knife 
had been made, the gentleman wishing to make 
some remark to the judge, spoke loudly — 
'Dunn!' As quick as a flash Judge Dunn stopped 
his work, turned facing the gentleman, and with 
piercing black eyes flashing lightning, re- 
sponded, — 'Judge Dunn, if you please, sir!' After 
this explosion there was silence in the camp for 
awhile." 

Although Judge Dunn continued chief jus- 
tice of Wisconsin Territory and judge of the 
first district therein until the Territorial dis- 
trict court was abolished by the admission of 
Wisconsin as a State, still there was a veiy 
strong effort made during his incuml)ency to 
have him ousted from oftice by certain citizens 
of the first district, who circulated the follow- 
ing petition : 
To his Excellency^ James Jx. Polk, President of 

the United States. 

The undersigned, citizens of the first judicial 
district, composed of the counties of Crawiord, 
Grant and Iowa, in the Territory of Wisconsin, 
would most respectfully represent to your e.\- 



324 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



cellency, that many persons in this jiulicial dis- 
trict, whose practice or business brinc^s them in 
contact with our court, complain that Charles 
Dunn, cliief justice of the Territory, and presid- 
ing judge of our district, is in the constant 
habit of favoring the practice and clients of his 
brother, Francis J. Dunn, a practicing law- 
yer in said district, in all rules of court, pleas, 
.motions and points of law, made by him, to the 
injury of those persons who may be so unfortu- 
nate as to have Mr. Dunn retained against them. 
Your petitioners are aware that charges of this 
nature cannot be sustained otherwise than by 
circumstantial evidence. Tlie circumstance, 
therefore, on which they would rely to convince 
your excellency of the truth of this charge, is, 
that the docket of the district court of the 
county of Iowa alone contains over 250 causes, 
set for trial at the last term of court, and the 
brother of Judge Dnnii, a very young lawyer, is 
retained in fully one-half of these causes. Not- 
withstanding the lucrative and successful prac- 
tice of young Mr. Dimn in the circuit of his 
brother, the murmurs and complaints of the 
members of the bar and their clients, at this 
state of things, might pass unheeded if 
Francis J. Dunn possessed talents to warrant 
such success. 15ut with abilities not above me- 
diocrity, there is nothing to justif)'^ so great and 
lucrative a practice, over older and better law- 
yers, but the fact of his being the brother of the 
judge. 

Your petitioners would also represent to your 
excellency, that the said Charles Dunn, has, in 
violation of the laws of the Territory, presided 
in suits at law wherein his brothers have eitlier 
been plaintiffs or defendants, which the records 
of our courts will show, in numerous instances. 
We would particularly call the attention of your 
excellency to the case of Dunn vs. Marsh, in 
the Crawford district court. Tiie notorious Jef- 
fries, in the corrupt reign of Charles II, could 
not have been guilty of a more shameful prosti- 
tution of justice to subserve his master, than 



this act of Judge Dunn to put money in the 
pocket of his brother. 

Your petitioners would further represent to 
3'our excellency, that the said Charles Dunn, 
acting as judge of the first judicial district, did, 
in the year 1841, on the complaint of one John 
Dowling, of Oxalena, in the State of Illinois, now 
deceased, grant an injunction against the I^ank 
of Mineral Pointr, appointing his brother, 
John Dunn, and two others, his personal friends, 
receivers to close the affairs of said bank. It 
is a matter of some notoriety that one of the 
receivers, thus appointed, boasted that they 
would each make at least 1 10,000 out of the 
pickings of the bank. 

About the time this injunction was granted, 
the cashier of the bank absconded. He was pur- 
sued and overtaken by John Dunn, one of 
the receivers, and Dr. William Davidson, who 
took from him acceptances and bills of exchange 
to the amount of 170,000 or $80,000. In a news- 
paper publication made about the time of the 
arrest of the cashier, to satisfy the public mind, 
the receivers state that the assets taken from 
the cashier and other officers of the bank, inde- 
pendent of the bonds, notes, l)anking house and 
other property of the bank, amounted to nearly 
$100,000 ! In the meantime Dowling, the 
complainant against the bank, dies, and 
Francis J. Dunn obtains the administratorship 
of his estate in this Territory, being at the same 
time agent and attorney for the receivers. Act- 
ing thus for the plaintiffs and defendants, he 
holds the keys of the front and back doors of 
the bank ; and having at the same time associ- 
ated with him, in the practice of the law, 
D. Walter Jones, the president of the bank at 
the time of its failure, and having further 
cemented that partnership by the marriage of 
that person into the family, the door has been 
effectually cjlosed to all inquiry, and the affairs 
of the bank have been wrapped in mystery now 
for over four years. 

During that time no expose of the condition 
of the bank has been made, although frequent- 




John A. Brant 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



327 



ly required by public meetings and otherwise, 
and no dividend has been made, except a 
private one of about $3,000, which was divided 
among a very small number of bill-holders, at 
the rate of fifty cents on the dollar, to the ex- 
clusion of a large body of creditors of the 
bank, who were not advised of the terms and 
condition on which that dividend would be 
made. 

However, before this partial and private divi- 
dend was made there was a payment made out 
of the assets of tlie bank to Dr. William 
Davidson, of Grant county, one of the persons 
who assisted in arresting the cashier, and who 
held the bills of the bank to a considerable 
amount. It is alleged that Hr. Davidson ob- 
tained this payment by threats that he would 
make an expose of certain illegal acts of the 
receivers or their agent. Be that as it may, it 
is the opinion of legal men that the payment to 
Davidson, and tlie partial division shared by a 
few of the bill-holders, is a violation of the 
condition of the bond given by the receivers, 
and that the creditors of the bank could recov- 
er from the receivers and their securities, if not 
the full amount of their claims, at least the 
same late of dividend which their agent liad 
paid lo others. 

But to seek justice before the presiding judge 
of the district, when* it is known that he did 
not emigrate to the Territory with a character 
like Ciesar's wife, who is openly accused of pre- 
siding in cases wherein his brothers were 
parties, which is in direct violation of the laws, 
would be adding another act to the farce of jus- 
tice which has so frequently been enacted in 
this district. 

If the conduct of Judge Dunn, in any public 
capacity in which he has acted through life, was 
such as to place hira above the suspicion of 
doing a dishonoiabie act, tlie murn)urs ami com- 
plaints against him would not have the "Wciglit 
with us they otherwise possess. 

But it is asserted that, he did, while a mem- 
berof the legislaturcof the Statcof Illinois, in. the 



year 1839, receive from a certain Samuel Wig- 
gins a fee or bribe of 1200, to procure the pas- 
sage of an act through the legislature, known as 
the "Wiggin's Loan;" a more corrupt and 
swindling act never having been passed by any 
legislative body in the Union ! 

This rumor considered, your excellency will 
not be surprised that the man against Avhom the 
broad charge is brought, true or false, that he 
sold himself as a legislator, may on slight 
grounds render himself obnoxious to the suspi- 
cion that he is corruptible as a judge ! But 
there are other and graver charges against 
Judge Dunn, which are not based on suspicion. 
The proofs to sustain them are tangible and can 
be produced before any competent 'ribunal. 

These proofs must serve to convince your ex- 
cellency that, under any circumstances, Charles 
Dunn, chief justice of this Territory, is un- 
worthy and unfit to fill his present high and re- 
sponsible office. They are first — 

"That while hoMing court in the county of 
Iowa, at the spring term of said court, in the 
year 1838, Judge Dunn was intoxicated during 
the whole term of court. That during the said 
term a certain McCuraber was indicted and tried 
for the murder of George C. Willard, a nephew 
of Gen. Dodge. The defendant, owing to the 
charge of the judge to the jury, was convicted 
of manslaughter, and received the sentence of 
the law, although from the testimony it was 
clearly a case of self-defense. These facts can 
be established by the testimony of W. W. 
Chapman, late United State's district attorney, 
Iowa Territory ; John Catlin, Esq., Madison; 
IVIoses M. Strong, Esq., Iowa county ; Thomas 
P. Burnett, Esq., Grant county; J. D. Selhorst, 
late sheriff, Iowa county ; I. T. Lathrop, late 
postmaster. Mineral Point; F.Gheon,late mar- 
shal Wisconsin Territory, and Thompson Camp- 
bell, Esq., secretary of State, Springfield, 111. 

"Second. — That at the October term of the 
Grant circuit court, held at Lancaster in 1838, 
Edward C. Oliver was indicted for the mr.rder 
of John Russell, at .Cassville. In the trial of 



20 



3-28 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



this case, after hearing the testimony, the jury 
retired and remained out all night. Having 
disagreed as to the testimony of John Allen, 
the principal witness for tlie prosecution, they 
came into court, and at their request tliis wit- 
ness was recalled. At his previous examination 
Allen was intoxicated ; on being recalled into 
court, he was still more so. During his re-ex- 
amination by the jury, the prisoner was not in 
court, nor had lie been ordered in for that pur- 
pose ! The testimony of Allen on his re-ex- 
amination, was stronger against the prisoner 
than it had previously been. "^I'lie juiy again 
retired, and immediately returned into court 
with a verdict of guilty, against the prisoner. 
The counsel for Oliver then moved the court for 
a new trial. One of the grounds on which 
this motion was based, was that a witness for 
the prosecution had been recalled at the request 
of the jury, and was re-examined in court with- 
out the prisoner being present. This motion 
was overruled by the court, and sentence of 
death was pronounced on him ! A bill of ex- 
ceptions was then drawn up and tendered to 
the judge, who suffered the prisoner to be exe- 
cuted with this bill of exceptions in his pocket! 
During the whole term of this court the judge 
was intoxicated ; after its adjournment he was 
attacked with delirium tremens, jumped out of 
his chamber window, and was thereby disquali- 
fied from attending to his official duties in Craw- 
ford county, which court immediately succeeded 
that at Lancaster. The witnesses to this out- 
rage on law and decency, are John S. Horner, 
Esq., register of the land office at Green Bay ; 
Hon. Thomas S. Wilson, judge of United States 
district court, Iowa Territory ; Mortimer Bain- 
bridge, Esq., Dubuque ; John S. Fletcher, G. 
M. Price, J. Allen Barber, Nelson Dewey, 
Thomas P. Burnett and John II. Rountree, 
Esqs., Grant coutity. 

"Tniun. — That at a previous term of the Grant 
circuit court, Judge Dunn was intoxicated dur- 
ing the term of the court, and was attacked 
with mania a potn. The witnesses rirc Dr. Wood, 



John 8. Fletcher, Clovis Le Grand, Thomas P. 
Burnett, J. A. Barber, G. M. Price and Nelson 
Dewey, Grant county ; W. .W. Chapman, Par- 
ley Eaton and Moses M. Strong, Esqs., Hon, 
Judge Wilson and Joseph P. Hoge, member of 
Congress from Galena, 111. 

"Fourth. — That at a special chancery term 
appointed by Judge Dunn to be held at Mineral 
Point, in January, 1840, he was so much intoxi- 
cated as to disqualify him from holding the said 
term of court. The witnesses are Moses M. 
Strong, Parley Eaton and I. T. Lathrop, Esqs., 
and James H. Gentry, late sheriff, and John 
Bracken, late under sheriff of Iowa county. 

"Fifth. — That while holding a court at Prai- 
rie du Chien, in Crawford county, for the trial 
of Ciie-ge-wais-cum, a Chippewa Indian, indicted 
for the murder of Mr. Akins, an Indian trader. 
Judge Dunn was intoxicated during the whole 
term of the court. The witnesses are, the Hon. 
Judge Wilson, James Churchman, Esq., Galena, 
111.; Thomas P. Burnett, D.*G. Fenton, clerk of 
the court, William Wilson, J. H. Lockwood and 
H. Dousman, Prairie du Chien. 

"Sixth.— That on the 23d of February, 1843, 
Judge Dunn having become intoxicated at a 
ball, spent the day in Platteville, playing cards 
in a grocery, with James R. Vineyard, indicted 
for the murder of C. C. P. Arndt, a member of 
the legislative council, whom he had recently 
had before him on a writ of habeas corinis, and 
released from the jail of Dane county, on bail. 
Witnesses: Alonzo Piatt, William Davidson, 
Dr. Bevans, John Morrison, J. M. Gordhue and 
B. C. Eastman, of Grant county; and J. H. Gen 
try, of Iowa county. 

"Seventh. — That at a late term of the circuit 
court, for the county of Crawford, at Prairie du 
Chien, Judge Dunn was again intoxicated dur- 
ing the term of the court. The witnesses are 
Moses M. Strong, B. C. Eastman, Thomas P. 
Burnett and D. G. Fentc»n, Esqs., and Ira Brun- 
8on, Esq., postmaster, Prairie du Chien." 

In presenting to your excellency charges of 
So serious and deccrading a nature aarainst the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



329 



chief justice of our Territory, your petitioners are 
aware that they ought to be sustained by the 
accompanying depositions of the witnesses 
named, but as a majority of the witnesses are 
raerabeis of the court over wliich Judge Dunn 
pi'osides, many causes operate on them to pre- 
vent their giving their voluntary testimony 
against him. We would, therefore, most re- 
spectfully request that you cause the records of 
our courts to be examined and the testimony of 
the witnesses natned to be procured, and if 
they should sustain the charges herewith made 
against Judge Dunn, that you will, in con- 
formity to the opinion of the late attorney-gen- 
eral, the Hon. Felix Grundy, remove him 
from office. If, however, you should not con- 
cur in that opinion, and question your power to 
remove a Territorial judge for an open violation 
of the laws, and for drunkenness on the bench; 
then we would further request you to lay this 
petition before the Congress of the United 
States. 

How extensively this petition was circulated 
ajid signed is unknown ; neither has it trans- 
pired as to whether it ever reache 1 the eye of 
the President; one thing is certain, however, if 
the attention of the chief executive of the Na- 
ion was called to it, he gave it no hecnl. 

JUDGE IRVIN's court IN GREEiSr COUNTY. 

In so far as Green county was concerned, the 
administration of justice by Judge Dunn 
ceased, as we have seen, Aug. 29, 1838. From 
July of the next year, until Wisconsin became 
a State, the county of Green, along with those 
of Walworth, Rock and Dane, formed the 
second district of the Territory, over the courts 
of which Judge David Irvin (of whom a bio- 
graphical sketch has already been given) 
presided. 

The "district court of the United States" for 
the county of Green, Judge David Irvin pre- 
siding, held its first session in which that judge 
was present, on the 1 4th of October, 1839, at 
the house of Joseph Payne, ("b}'^ order of the 
judge, there being no courthouse at the county 



seat,") in the town of New Mexico. Judge 
Irvin held his last term of court in June, 1848, 
the last day of the last term was June 28, of 
that year. 

THE UNITED STATES VS. JAMES R. VINEYARD. 

By far the most important and exciting 
criminal trial before .Judge Irvin while he sat 
as judge of the "district court of the United 
States" for the county of Green, was that of 
James R. Vineyard for the killing of Charles 
C. P. Arndt, brought to this court on change of 
venue, from Dane county, mention of which 
homicide has already been made in a brief 
biography of Vineyard, given in the previous 
chapter (XI). The circumstances, in a few 
words, were these: 

On the nth of February, 1842, Arndt, a 
member of the legislative council from Brown 
county, had, in the council chamber, in the capi- 
tol, in Madison, some angry words with Vine- 
yard, who represented Grant county. A dis- 
cussion had arisen in the council on a motion to 
re-consider a vote by which the nomination of 
E. S. Baker, as sheriff of Grant county, was 
rejected a few days before. Arndt, conceiving 
himself to have been insulted, approached Vine- 
yard, after the adjournment, for the purpose of 
seeking an explanation, when the latter drew a 
pistol from his pocket and tired. Arndt reeled 
for a few paces, then sank on the floor and 
almost instantly expired, having been shot 
through the heart. It was an awful termina- 
tion of a long and intimate friendship. Funeral 
services were held at the council chamber and 
the remains taken to Green Bay for burial. 
Vineyard surrendered himself to the sheriff of 
Dane county, waived an examination, and was 
committed to jail. After a brief confinement, 
he was brought before the chief justice of the 
Territory on a writ of haheas corjms and ad- 
mitted to bail. Immediately after the killing 
of Arndt, Vineyard sent his resngnation to the 
council, which refused to receive it or even 
have it read. He was at once expelled. He 
was indicted for manslnnghter and a change of 



330 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



venue taken to Green county. The affair caused 
great excitement throughout the Territory as 
Arndt was a great favorite with the people. 

We copy from the court records in this county, 
the entries made relative to the trial: 

Tuesday, October 10, 1843. 

The United ^^^^^^ h,,^',^tmej.t iovM^n- 

r -o^'^tV- 1 i slaughter. 

James K. Vineyard. ) => 

Now comes the district attorney, J. W. 
Stewart, Esq., who for tlie United States prose- 
cuteth, and moves the court for assistant counsel, 
which motion being considered by tlie court it 
is ordered that said motion shall not be sus- 
tained. 

Also appeared the said James R. Vineyard 
by his counsel, Strong, Field & Botkin, and 
moves the court for compulsory process for 
absent witnesses; the said motion having been 
argued by tlie counsel of the parties and the 
court not being sufficiently advised of and con- 
cerning said motion took time to consider. 

Ordered that court adjourn until 9 o'clock to- 
morrow morning. David Irvin, Judge. 
Wednesday, October 11, 1843. 

James R. Vineyard 

advs. 
The United States. 

Now at this day,comes, as well the district at- 
torney, J. W. Stewart, who for the United States 
prosecuteth, as the defendant, .Tames R. Vine- 
yard, by his attorneys. Field, Strong & Botkin, 
Esqs. And the court being sufficiently advised 
of and concerning the motion made herein for 
compulsory process, heretofore tiled, doth over- 
rule the same. And the said defendant by his 
attorneys aforesaid, moved the court for leave 
to withdraw the plea of "JVot Guilty,'''' and file 
a demurrer to the bill of indictment, which mo- 
tion having been considere<l, is overruled by 
the court. On motion of tiie counsel for the 
defendant for a continuance of this cause, for 
reason set forth in affidavit of defendant on file, 
it is ordered by the court that said motion be 
overntlod, (o which decision of the coui-t the 



On indictment for man- 
slausfliter. 



counsel for the defendant took exceptions, and 

filed in court their bill of exception. Ordered 

that court adjourn until eight o'clock to-morrow 

morning. David Irvin, Judge. 

Thursday, October 12, 1843. 

The United States i t t * * ^ 

f Indictment tor raan- 

T TD XT- J ( slaughter. 

James R. Vineyard. ) f 

This day comes as well J. W. Stewart and A. 
L. Collins, Esqs., who 'for the United States 
prosecuteth, as the said James R. Vineyard, the 
defendant, by Field, Strong & Botkin. And 
the defendant for trial puts himself upon the 
county, and the prosecution doth the like. 
Thereupon came a jury, to-wit: Thomas B. 
Sturges, Lewis Morton, Thomas J. Bragg, Ste- 
phen Mackey, Christopher Minert, Thomas L. 
Summers, Asa Richardson, Alexes Vanormin, 
James Rattan, Thomas Hinton, Peter S. Rut- 
ledge and William Blunt, twelve good and law- 
ful men elected, tried, sworn and charged well 
and truly to try the issue between the United 
States and the said defendant. 

Ordered that court adjourn until eight o'clock 

to-morrow morning. David Irvin, Judge. 

Friday, October 13, 1843. 

The United States ) t t <- 4- t 

f Indictment tor man- 

T T> Vt- a \ slaughter. 

James R. Vineyard. ) * 

Now comes the parties to this prosecution by 
their respective counsel, and the jury herein 
impaneled having taken the box, and the evi- 
dence of the parties having been examined. 
The court directed the sheriff to take charge of 
the said jury and return them into court at eight 
o'clock to-morrow morning. 

Ordered that court adjourn until eight o'clock 
to-morrow morning. David Irvin, Judge. 
Saturday, October 14, 1843. 
The United States 



vs. 



Indictment for man- 
slaughter. 



James R. Vineyard. 

Now comes the parties by their repective at- 
torneys, and the jury herein having been by the 
sheriff conducted to the box, and the jurors of 
the jury aforesaid, after having beard the t'e^ti- 



HISTuRY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



331 



mony as well on the part of the United States 
as of the said defendant and the argument of 
the counsel therein, and having been instructed 
in the law by the court, retired to tlieir chambei- 
to deliberate on their verdict. Thereupon the 
jurors of the jury aforesaid came in court, and 
on their oaths do say: "We, the jury, find the 
defendant not guilty as charged in the indict- 
ment." 

It is therefore considered and adjudged by 
the court here, that the said James R. Vine3^ard 
of the charges in the indictment be discharged, 
and that he go hence. 

Miss Bingham, in her excellent history, has 
this to say with regard to tlie Vineyard trial: 

"1843 is memorable, in the annals of Monroe, 
as the year in which James R. Vineyard, a State 
senator, was tried here for the niui'der of C. P. 
Arndt, also a senator, or councilor, as the name 
was then. An account of the murder reads like 
a telegram from Texas. An altercation arose 
during a session of the council, and, immedi- 
ately after the adjournment. Vineyard shot his 
antagonist in the council chamber. The jury 
acquitted him, and the 'acquittal was the signal 
for great rejoicing. Mr. Vineyard received his 
friends at the new Monroe House, and enter- 
tained them so well that they rose almost to a 
level with those men of Shakspeare's, 

So full of valor that they smote the air 

For breathiug in their faces, beat the ground 

For k ssing ot their feet. 

and when the question, were you ever intoxi- 
cated, is propounded to the most temperate of 
the old settlers, it is likely to elicit the reply, 
'Yes, when Vineyard was acquitted.' " 

The first divorce granted in Green county was 
one obtained by Leroy Wait from his wife, 
Ellen Wait. The court record as to this di- 
vorce is as follows: 

Thursday, April 14, 1842. 

Leroy Wait ) t i 

•' I In chancery. 

vs. ^ ■' 

Ellen Wait 



For Divorce. 



Upon petition of divorce in the above entitled 
cause, it having been made to appear to the 



satisfaction of the court that notice of said pe- 
tition and of the time of hearing the same has 
been given to the said Ellen Wait, the above 
named defendant, at least thirty days, and itbe- 
ing made furthei" to appear to tlie satisfaction 
of tlie court that tlie matt-ers alleged against 
the said Ellen Wait in said j)etitioii are true. 
Upon hearing had before the judge of said 
cotirt at chancerj'', there having been no issue 
made up to l)e tried by a jury, it is hereby or- 
dered and decreed by the court that the prayer 
of said petition be granted, and by virtue of 
the power vested in the said court, said court 
does hereby decree that the bonds of matrimony 
heretofore existing between them, the said Le- 
roy Wait and the said Ellen Wait, be, and the 
same hereby are, dissolved to every intent and 
purpose. 

CIRCUIT COURT OF GREEN COUNTY. 

The constitution of the State of Wisconsin 
vested the judicial power of the State in a Su- 
preme Court, circuit courts, courts of probate 
and in justices of the peace. Circuit courts 
were to have general original jurisdiction in 
all matters civil and criminal, not exclusively 
cognizable by a justice of the peace or some 
other inferior court. They were to have all the 
powers according to the usages of courts of kiw 
and equity necessary to the full and complete 
jurisdiction of the causes and parties, and the 
full and complete administration of justice. 
Their acts and proceedings were made subject 
to a re-examination by tlie Supreme Court, as 
provided by law. 

The constitution divided the State into five 
judicial circuits, and provided for the election 
of a judge in eacli. The first circuit comprised 
the counties of Racine, Walworth, Rock and 
Green; the second circuit, the counties of Mil- 
waukee, Waukesha, Jefi:erson and Dane; the 
third circuit, the couiities of Washington, Dodge, 
Columbia, Marquette, Sauk and Portage; the 
fourth circuit,the counties of Brown, Manitowoc, 
Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winnebago and Calu- 
met; and the fifth circuit, the counties of Iowa, 



332 



lliyTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



Lafayette, Grant, Ci'awford and St. Croix; the 
county of Richland being attached to Iowa 
county, Chippewa to Crawford, and LaPointe 
to St. Croix, for judicial purpi)ses. 

The first election for circuit judges was held 
in Wisconsin on the first Monday of August, 
1848. At this election the judge elected for 
the first judicial circuit (which, as we have just 
seen, included Green coutity) was Edward V. 
Whiton. Green county continued in the first 
judicial circuit until Jan. 1, 1871, when, by an 
act of the legislature of 1870, Green, Rock 
and Jefferson counties were erected into the 
twelfth judicial circuit; and in that circuit it 
still (1884) remains. The act spoken of was as 
follows: 

"An Act to constitute and re-organize the 
twelfth judicial circuit; to change the limits of 
the first and ninth judicial circuits; and to 
change the time for holding the terms of the 
circuit court for the county of Jefferson. 

The people of the State of Wisconsin, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as fol- 
lows: 

"Section 1. The counties of Rock and Green 
are hereby detached from the first judicial cir- 
cuit, and the county of Jefferson from the 
ninth judicial circuit, and said counties of Rock, 
Green and Jefferson shall constitute a judicial 
circuit, which shall be known and designated 
as the twelfth judicial circuit. 

"Section 2. The terms of the circuit court 
in said counties of Rock and Jefferson shall be 
held at the time now provided by law for hold- 
ing the same, and the terms of said court for 
said county of Green shall commence in 
each year on the fourth Monday of February, 
the fourth Monday of September and the sec- 
ond Monday of July. 

"Section 3. No jury shall be summoned for 
either of the terms of the circuit court to be 
held in the months of June, July and August, 
but said court shall have power at such terms 
to transact any business or do any act which 
may be lawfully transacted or done at a general 



term of the circuit court, without the interven- 
tion of jury. 

"Section 4. An election for judge of said 
twelfth judicial circuit, for the term of six years, 
shall be held in the several towns and wards 
therein, on the first Tuesday in April next, 
which election shall be conducted, and the 
votes given thereat shall be canvassed and re- 
turned in all respects in accordance with exist- 
ing laws providing for the election of circuit 
judges, and the term of oflice of the person who 
shall be chosen judge of said circuit at such 
election, shall commence on the first day of 
January, A. D. 1871. No notice of such elec- 
tion is required, and the same shall not be held 
invalid for want of any notice thereof. 

"Section 5. This act shall take effect on the 
first day of April next, but the several counties 
comjjosing the said twelfth judicial circuit shall 
for the judicial purposes, remain a part of the 
several judicial circuits to which they have been 
heretofore attached until the end of the thirty- 
first day of December next. 

"Section 6. All acts or parts of acta contra- 
vening the provisions of this act are hereby re- 
pealed. 

"Approved March 16, 1870." 

Judge Whiton continued to discharge the 
duties of circuit judge of the first circuit, until 
the April term, 1853, when, having been elected 
chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State, 
he resigned to accept that position. Wyraan 
Spooner, of Walworth county, Avas appointed to 
fill the vacancy until a successor could be 
elected. In September, 1853, James R. Doolit- 
tle, of Racine, was elected, and entered ujjon 
the discharge of the duties of judge of the first 
judicial circuit. He resigned the oflice in 
March, 1856, and Charles M. Baker, of Geneva, 
Walworth county, was appointed to fill the 
vacancy until a new election, which occurred in 
April following, when John M. Keep, of Beloit, 
was elected. 

Judge Keep was obliged to resign on account 
of failing health. He died in the spring of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



333 



1861. He held the office about three years and 
was succeeded by David Noggle, who served 
first by appointment and then was elected in 
April, 1859, continuing as judge until January, 
1866, when he was succeeded by William Peini 
Lyon, of Racine, now of the Supreme Court. 

Judge Lyon held the office of judge of the 
first judicial circuit, as it was then constituted, 
until April 1, 1871, when, by a law of the leg- 
islature which took effect at that date, the 
counties of Rock and Green were detached 
from the first circuit and, with Jefferson, whicli 
was detached from the ninth circuit, constituted 
the twelfth judicial circuit. Harmon S. Conger, 
of Janesville, was elected on the first Tuesday 
in April, 1870, judge of the new circuit, his 
term of office beginning Jan. 1, 1871. This 
position he continued to fill until the time of 
his death, 1882. 

John R. Bennett, of Janesville, having been 
elected the successor of Judge Conger, lie was 
appointed by the governor to fill out the few 
remaining month's of the official term of the 
latter, upon the expiration of which he entered 
upon the full term for which he had been 
elected and is now (188-1) in office. 

The first term of the circuit court was held 
in Green county, Sept. 4, 1848, Judge E. V. 
Whiten, presiding, "at the court house in the 
town of Monroe." 

The second terra was held in March, 1849, by 
Judge Mortimer M. Jacksoiu A special term 
was held by Judge Whiton, July 12th of that 
year. The last term held by Judge Whiton, 
was the March term, 1853, the last day March 
11, ot that year. 

Judge Wyman Spooner held his first and only 
court in September, 1853, in Green county. 
The first day of the session was the 6th of that 
month; the last day, Sept. 10, 1858. 

Judge James R. Doolittle's first term in this 
county, was in March, 1854, the first day of his 
holding court was the 6th of that month; his 
last term was in March, 1856. 



At the September term, 1856, Judge M. M. 
Cothren presided in the Green county circuit 
court. 

Judge John M. Keep held a special (and his 
first) term in Gieen county Sept. 26, 1856. His 
last term was March, 1858. 

Judge David Noggle sat on the bench for the 
first time in the county of Green, at the Sep- 
tember term, 1858; his last, September, 1865. 

Judge W. P. LyOn held his first term in this 
county, in March, 1866. He held his last court 
in the county, Oct. 5, 1870. 

Judge H. S. Conger held his first term in 
Green county, in March, 1871; his last term 
was in June, 1882. 

Judge John R. Bennett held his first term 
in this county, in March, 1883 and is now 
(1884) in office; 

The Asiatic cholera, that dreadful scourge of 
Nations, which had 

"Left its home in the sultr\' east 
With foreign blood to enrich its feast," 
made its appearance in Green county. This 
fact led to this entry in the record of the circuit 
court, Sept. 3, 1850: "It having been made to 
appear that a mortal sickness is now prevalent 
at Monroe, where this court is now sitting, it is 
therefore ordered that this court do now 
adjourn." 

But three persons, in Green count}', have 
been convicted of murder in the first degree, 
and sentenced to the State prison for life. 

On the 19lh day of June, 1878, Frederick 
Ohrnz Sr., was shot and killed by his son, Fred- 
erick Ohriiz Jr., in the town of Sylvester, in this 
county. He was prosecuted by P. J. Clawson, 
district attorney of Green county ; and defend- 
ed by Brooks Dunwiddie and A. S. Douglas, 
attorneys at law. His trial commenced Octo- 
ber 14, 1878, before the following named jury- 
men : George Bray, Frank Wagner, J. Wilcox, 
David C. Day, L. F. Moore, S. R. Eldred, 
Piiilip Wackman, Nelson Bussy; John Gillett, 
Alonzo Edwards, Silas McCreedy and E. N. 
Thayer. They found the defendant guilty. 



834 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



He was, after his attorneys had argued a mo- 
tion for a new trial, which was overruled by 
the court, sentenced to the State prison for life, 
on the 31st of October, 1878. The judgment 
of the court in this case was reversed by the 
Supreme Court on the 11th day of May, 1880. 
The defendant, who had been in prison, was re- 
turned to the keeping of the sheriff of Green 
county. 

The defendant was tried the second time at 
the March term, 1881, in the circuit court of 
Green county, and found guilty, and was again 
sentenced for life to the Slate prison. He is 
now serving out his life sentence. 

On the 5th day of November, 1882, Burckhard 
l>ram shot and killed, in the town of New 
Glarus, Henry Sleussy. He was arraigned for 
murder in the first degree, March 7, 1883, ami 
plead "not guilty." He was prosecuted by 
District Attorney, P. J. Ciawson ; defended by 
A. S. Douglas, attorney at law, assigned to that 
duty by the court. He was tried at the March 
term, 1883, of the circuit court of Green county, 
found guilty and sentenced to the Stale prison 
for life, March 20, 1883. He is now serving out 
his sentence. 

On the 7th day of March, 1883, Margaret 
Steussy was arraigned as accessory before the 
fact in the killing of her husband, Henry 
Steussy by Burckhard Bram, and plead not 
guilty. She was pi'osecuted by P. J. Ciawson, 
district attorney, assisted by A. S. Douglas ; 
and was defended by Brooks Diinwiddie, Colden 
W. Wright and Alexander Wilso)i, attorneys 
at law. She interposed a plea of insanity at 
the October term, 1883, but was not tried on 
that plea until the March term of 1884. She was 
adjudged sane, and was then i)ut upon trial as 
being accessory to the crime committed by 
Bram. She was found guilty and sentenced 
to the Stale prison for life, and is now serving 
Jier life sentence. 



lUOCUAl'IIICAL SKK'J'(;ilKS OK CIKCUIT COURT 
.rUOGKS. 

JRdvuird Vernon W/iiton 
was the son of Gen. Joseph Whiton, of Massa- 
chusetts, a soldier of the Revolution and of the 
War of 18! 2, and was born at South Lee, Berk- 
shire Co., jNlass., on the 2d of June, 1805. Dur- 
ing the first thirty years of his life he continued 
to reside in his native town, whence he at length 
removed to the then Territory of Wisconsin, to 
take part in the great and glorious battle of life 
in that new field of development — the great 
West. He settled there when the present site 
Janesville and its neighborhood was almost a 
wilderness, and lived for some time the life of 
a pioneer in a cabin on the broad prairie. He 
was elected a member of the House of Repre- 
sentatives for the first session of the legislative 
assembly at Madison. At the next session he 
was elected speaker of the House. During 
tliose sessions, he was a frequent participant in 
debate, and took an active part in enacting the 
(irst Territorial code. Up to that time, the laws 
of Wisconsin consisted of the Territorial stat- 
utes of Michigan, and the laws of the Wiscon- 
sin legislature, passed at the sessions at Bel- 
mont and Burlington. The Revised Statutes 
which became of force on the 4th of July, 1839, 
were jjublished under his supervision. In 1847 
he was a member of the constitutional conven- 
tion which framed the constitution of the State. 
On the organization of the State goverment in 
1848 he was elected circuit judge, and under 
the then system, became a judge of the Supreme 
Court. He occupied this position until 1853, 
when the "separate Supreme Court" was estab- 
lished, when he was elected chief justice, and 
re-elected in 1857, and continued to hold the 
oflice until he was compelled to leave it 
it by the disease of which he died. Chief Jus- 
tice Whiton was thoroughly identified with al- 
most every prominent event in the history of 
Wicsonsin, both as a Territory and as a State. 
Throughout the whole pL'iiod of his residence 
in Wisconsin, his life was a public life, and he 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



335 



filled the political aiul judicial stations succes- 
sively with such ability and integrity that the 
people, exalted him from place to place until 
lie had received the highest honors in their gift; 
and the positions with which he Mas honored 
were ennobled by the lustre of his conduct and 
character. Amid all tlie conflicts of party, both 
in the means by which he attained and the 
manner in which he discharged the duties of 
office, the purity of his character was ever un- 
sullied by the slightest breath of reproach, or 
even suspicion, I)i the early part of the year 
1859j his health began to fail, and it became 
manifest to his associates upon the bench that 
his system was suffering from some malady 
which, it was hoped, would be but temporary in 
its effects, and would yield to the invigorating in- 
fluences of relaxation and home exercises, where 
the cares and anxieties of official responsibility 
would not intrude ; accordingly, his associates 
upon the bench, after much persuasion, induced 
him to retire, as all hoped, for a short season 
only, in order to recruit his energies for the 
approaching term, as well as to complete the 
unfinished business still remaining. He left the 
bench, as was supposed, in the confident expec- 
tation of returning to it again after a short re- 
spite at home. Insidious disease, how.evei", had 
obtained too strong a hold in his system, and 
about noon on the 12th day of April, 1859, he 
died at his residence in Janesville, in the house 
of his own construction, loved and mourned as 
to few men it lias been vouchsafed to be loved 
and mourned. 

Among those officially and professionally con- 
nected with him, as well as among liis private 
circle, his death called forth the deepest expres- 
sions of sincere regret and sorrow, at meet- 
ings of the bar of the Supreme Court and of 
the Milwaukee bar, as well as those held at the 
county seats of the several counties of the 
State, resolutions were adopted indicative of the 
great general loss felt by the people, as well as 
the exalted estimation in which the deceased 
judge was most deservedly held by bench and 



bar. The president of the Milw^aukee bar, in 
the course of a touching tribute to his virtues 
and ability said of him; "Were I to name any 
one sphere of action in his life in which he was 
most eminently distinguished, and for which he 
had a peculiar adaptation, I should say it was as 
a legislator. His varied information, strict in- 
tegrity, eminent conservatism and finely bal- 
anced mind all combined to make him a ready 
debater and a high-minded and patriotic legis- 
lator. But it is useless to name any one sphere 
when all the positions he ever occupied were 
filled so ably and perfectly," and another of his 
intimate associates said: "On this melancholy 
occasion, I can hardly trust myself to speak. 
For years. Judge Whiton has been to me, as it 
were, an elder brother. Our relations have 
been so harmonious, so uniformly genial, so en- 
tirely fraternal, that we have scarcely thought 
of official relation. During our long associa- 
tion in deliberation upon matters of the gravest 
concernment, while discussion has been most 
free and unrestrained, never an unkind word, 
nay, not even a petulant expression has been 
uttered. All through his official career, he pre- 
served a strictness of propriety which can 
scarcely be equaled, a conscientiousness which 
never wavered, a depth of thought, and com- 
prehensiveness of the subject-matter ever 
present, commanding without force, controlling 
without intrusion, clear and unassuming in his 
high office, great when he least thought of 
greatness, but great only wherein man can be 
truly great, because he was wise and good." 

Wyman Sj^ooner 
was born in Hardwick, Mass., July 2, 1795. He 
spent many years in conducting a newspaper 
and was admitted to the bar in 1833. He set- 
tled in Wisconsin in 1842, and was elected 
judge of probate in 184(j, He was appointed 
judge of the first judicial circuit of Wisconsin 
by the governor in 1853, upon the resignation 
of Judge Whiton, serving until the election 
and qualifying of Judge Doolittle. He was 
member of the assembly of the State for the 



33tj 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



years 1850, 1851, 1857 and 1801, liaving been 
speaker in 1857. He was State senator for the 
)'ears 1862 and 1863, and was three times elected 
lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin. He was a 
member of the first boar^^l of trustees of the 
Deaf and Dumb Asylum. He died in Lyons 
in Walworth Co., Wis., on the ISth of Novem- 
ber, 1877. 

James Ji. DoolUtle 
was born in Hampton, Washington Co., N. Y., 
on the 3d day of Januarj^ 1815. He graduated 
at Geneva College in 1834. He adopted the 
profession of law, and was admitted to the Su- 
preme Court of New York in 1837. Mr. Doo- 
little was district attorney for several years, of 
Wyoming Co., N. Y. He removed to Wiscon- 
sin in 1851, and was elected judge of the first 
judicial circuit in 1853, but resigned the office 
in 1856. The next year he was elected a United 
States senator by the legislature of Wisconsin, 
for the term of six years. He served as chair- 
man of the committee on Indian Affairs, and as 
a member of the committees on Foreign Affairs, 
Commerce and Military Affairs. He was also 
a member of the Peace Congress of 1861. In 
1863 he was re-elected to the Senate for the 
term ending in 1869, as will appear by reference 
to the chapter in this History on "Congressional 
Representation." During the summer recess of 
1865, as a member of a special committee of 
the Senate, he visited the Indian tribes west of 
the Mississippi river. He was also a delegate 
to the Philadelphia "National Union Conven- 
tion" of 1866, taking an active part in its pro- 
ceedings and officiating as president. Mr. Doo- 
little is now doing business in Chicago. 
Charles M. Baker. 
At Morristown,N. J., during the exciting titnes 
of the Revolution, were born James Baker and 
Elizabeth Prince, the ))arents of Charles M. 
Baker. The father became a master l)uilder in 
New York city, where the subject of this sketch 
was born, Oct. 18, 18U4. In 1805 he rem(»ved 
to Addison Co., Vt., where, until twelve years 
of age, the son, Charles, enjoyed the privileges 



of a neighborhood school. He then devoted all 
his spare • time to preparation for a higher 
sphere, and in August, 1822, entered Middlebury 
College; but the severe study lo wliich his thirst 
for knowledge incited him produced a dyspep- 
sia, which compelled him to abandon the course 
near the close of his first year. Several months 
were then devoted to the recovery of his health, 
and in the fall of 1823 he obtained the position 
of assistant in a school for young ladies, 
at Philadelphia, where he remained for two 
years. In 1826 he entered the law office of S. 
G. Huntington, at Troy, N. Y., where he studied 
for three years, and was then admitted to the 
bar. In September, 1829, he was married to 
Martha W. Larrabee, of Shoreham, Vt. Hav- 
ing formed a partnership with Henry W., a 
brother of the late Marshall M. Strong, of Ra- 
cine, he removed, in the spring of 1830, to 
Seneca Falls, N. Y,, and engaged in the practice 
of his profession, with excellent success, until 
1834,when close application brought on a relapse 
of dyspepsia with such force that he relin- 
quished his practice and returned to Vermont, 
with little hope of surviving. Here his health 
so far improved that he was enabled to engage 
in trade, which he followed until 1838, when, 
selling his mercantile stock, he set out in Sep- 
tember of that year for Wisconsin, located land 
about Geneva lake, Walworth county, and be- 
came a resident of Geneva village, then in its 
infancy. Here he was first employed in public 
position by appointment as district attorney of 
of the newly organized county, in 1839. He 
was a member of the Territorial council for the 
counties of Walworth and Rock for four years, 
commencing in 1842, and also of the first con- 
stitutional convention, in 1846. In 1848 he was 
appointed by the governor one of the three 
commissioners to revise and codify the statutes 
of Wisconsin, and in March, 1849, was elected 
by the legislature to superintend the printing of 
the volume, whicl was done at Albany, N. Y., 
in the fall of that year. In 1856 he was ap- 
pointed by the governor to the bench of the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



33^ 



circuit court, upon the resignation of Judge 
Doolittle, but, upon the expiration of the terra, 
could not be induced to become a candidate for 
election. He did not hold a term of court in 
Green county. During the war, he was a com- 
missioner under Provost Marshal Bean, in the 
first district. 

Plis wife having died, lie was married, in 1844, 
to Eliza Holt. His children by his first wife 
were two sons and a daughter. One of the 
sons is Hon Robert H. Baker, a well known 
and prominent citizen of Racine. He died of 
apoplexy, at his home in Geneva, Feb. 5, 1872. 

Judge Baker lent earnest and faithful assist- 
ance to every work for the advancement of the 
public welfare. He was prominent among the 
able men who laid well and wisely the founda- 
tions of society in the formations of the institu- 
tions of the young commonwealth; one whose 
high character, personal and professional integ- 
rity, superior ability and enlarged public spirit 
thus employed, have left a deep and lasting im- 
pression, although he shunned the arena of pub- 
lic life, and preferred rather its peaceful though 
less conspicuous councils. 

John M. Keep, 

The subject of this sketch, who was the 
second son of Gen. Martin Keep, was born at 
Homer, Cortland county, in the State of New 
York, on the 26th of January, 1813. His parents 
were both from New England, and among the 
first settlers of Cortland county. After obtain- 
ing the rudiments of education at the district 
school, he, at an early age, entered the Cortland 
Academy at Homer, where he pursued the usual 
routine of academic studies, and prepared him- 
self for college. He entered the Hamilton Col- 
lege in 1832, and graduated in 1836, and was 
one of the first members of the Alpha Delta 
Phi society in that institution. The same year 
he commenced his legal studies, with Augustus 
Donnelly, a distinguished counselor at law, at 
Homer, N. Y., and completed them with 
Horatio Seymour, Esq., at Buffalo. He was 
duly admitted to the bar, and commenced prac- 



tice at Westfield, N. Y., and, in the year 1845, 
he removed to Beloit, in the State of Wiscon- 
sin, then a mere settlement, where he continued 
to reside until his death. Here he engaged not 
only in a large law practice, but also took a 
very active part in all the enterprises that 
promised to promote the growth of the place 
and enhance the welfare of society, the pur- 
chase and sale of lands, in the erection of 
buildings, in the promotion of institutions of 
learning and the construction of railroads. He 
took an important part, and in many of these 
enterprises, was the animating spirit. 

His mind seemed to grasp every subject, and 
his enterprise embraced every occupation. 
Though a lawyer by profession, and otherwise 
engaged in a variety of pursuits, agriculture 
did not escape his attention, or want his foster- 
ing care, for he knew that upon it depended the 
wealth, independence and morality of his adopt- 
ed State. Whatever was good or useful, what- 
ever tended to elevate human nature or amelior- 
ate the condition of mankind, was sure to find 
in him cordial support and efticient aid. The 
value of his labors is to be estimated chiefly 
by tlie results flowing from his great and active 
mind — a mind rich in the possession of every 
moral and intellectual quality. In the young 
and growing State and city, of which he was a 
resident, no man impressed his name on more 
enterprises of private munificence or public 
utility. 

In the spring of 1856, he was elected with- 
out opposition, judge of the first judicial cir- 
cuit of the State of Wisconsin, but at the end 
of two and a half years, he was compelled to 
resign this laborious oftice on account of the 
loss of health, and the pressure of his private 
business. It soon became evident that consump- 
tion had fastened itself upon him, and from 
this timf, the wasting of his bodily powers 
went on gradually, although he retained to the 
last moment of his life, the full vigor of his 
mind. 



338 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



Upon the deatli of Judge Keep, meetings of 
the bar were held at Belolt, Janesville, and 
also of the first judicial circuit, and appropriate 
resolutions passed, and eulogies pronounced 
upon the life and services of the deceased. At 
the meeting of the bar of the circuit, the Hon. 
H. S. Conger, the present presiding judge, on 
taking the chair, said : " Ju<lge Keep, however 
regarded, was no ordinary man. Asa citizen, 
he was generous, benevolent and public spirited; 
of great firmness of character, untiring resolu- 
tion and indomitable energy. He was bold, 
fearless and independent in thought and action; 
more resolute in the accomplishment of what- 
ever he regarded his duty than solicitous to 
win praise or favor at any sacrifice of principle 
however small " 

As a lawyer appreciating the responsibilities 
and duties of the profession, no man had a 
higher regard for its honor or reprobated more 
earnestly its prostitution to base purposes. 

Elected circuit judge in 1856, and holding the 
office for two years, until impelled to resign on 
account of the pressure of his own private busi- 
ness, he carried to the discharge of the impor- 
tant duties of that office great ability, unwearied 
industry and honesty and integrity never 
assailed. In the language of another who knew 
him well: "He dignified the bench, rather than 
received digjiity from it." Tiie death of Judge 
Keep was a great loss, not only to the profession, 
but to the community at large. Calm, coura. 
geous, hopeful and trustful, he died as he lived, 
confiding in a faith that had never forsaken 
him, resigned to that Providence in whom was 
his trust, in the full possession of his mental 
faculties, vigorous even in death, and meeting 
the great change with the courage of a philoso- 
pher and the hope of the Christian. As much 
as there was in his life to emulate, there is in 
his death found instruction equally valuable. 
In religion, Mr. Keej) was a Congregationalist, 
having united with that denomination at the age 
of sixteen years, and, like it, he was liberal and 
tolerant respecting the tenets of other denomi- 



nations. He would tolerate every class of sin- 
cere professors, and protect them in their ideas 
of divine Avorship. In all the relations of life 
and the connections which he formed with va- 
rious classes of the people, he preserved un- 
blemished his Christian character. His chari- 
ties more than kept pace with his ability, and 
his pecuniaiy aid and legal advice were ever at 
the service of the poor and unfortunate. Per- 
haps no better perspective of his life and char- 
acter can be given than is contained in the fol- 
lowing extract from a letter of recent date, 
from the pen of Hon. S. J. Todd, of Beloit, a 
long and intimate friend of Judge Keep: "As 
long as liis health would permit, his life was a 
very busy one, and, unlike most men of active 
habits and whose mental processes are rapid, he 
had the faculty of steady, untiring perseverance. 
When he began to do anything, he never re- 
linquished it until he had completed it, oi', until 
it became impossible. This faculty I have 
usually found to exist only in slow men, which 
John M. Keep was not. When I first knew 
him he had been a resident of Beloit for six 
years. During this time he was engaged in the 
practice of law and in the purchase and sale of 
real estate; consequently, a very large number 
of men in Rock county and the adjoining coun- 
ties of Boone and Winnebago, 111., were living 
upon lands which they held under contract of 
purchase from him, and very many of these 
men, I think a majority of them, were always 
in arrears in the payment of principal and in- 
terest. He never declared a contract forfeited, 
and never brought suit against one of these 
purchasers so long as they stayed ui)oii the 
laiid and exhibited a willingness to pay; but, 
on the other hand, whenever they had been un- 
fortunate from the loss of crops or sickness, 
they were sure of substantial sympathy, which 
did not consist wholly of kind words, and he 
had the rare faculty of being charitable with- 
out assuming the air of patronage. These 
charities were large and manifold, yet they 
were jriven with so little ostentation that no 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



339 



one, however proud or sensitive he might be, 
was ever embarrassed or humiliated by receiv- 
ing aid at his hands; and, more than this, he 
never spoke of these things. And this reminds 
me of another peculiarity in his character. He 
was the most reticent, self-reliant, self-controlled 
and the bravest man I ever met, without a sin- 
gle element of fear or diffidence, and, at the 
same time he was the most truly modest man I 
have ever known, never exhibiting vanity or 
egotism, and consequently no man ever heard 
him exalt or speak boastingly of himself, or 
what he had done or intended to do. In this 
regard, he came fully up to Curran's description 
of Grattan, in his reply to Lord Erskine's ques- 
tion: 'What does Henry Grattan say of him- 
self?' 'My lord,' says Curran, 'Henry Grattan 
never speaks of himself. You could not draw 
an opinion out of him on that subject with a 
six-horse team.' Further, as a rule, he never 
spoke of his enemies nor of his controversies 
with them. No matter what the" gravity or 
magnitude of their charges or accusations 
might be, he was too indifferent to them, or too 
proud, to condescend to make any reply or ex- 
planation. The consequence was that he some- 
times suffered in the public's estimation, and 
his best friends were often embarrassed by the 
contemptuous silence with which he treated the 
ground of the accusations. It is hardly neces- 
sary to speak of him a§ a judge, a position he 
filled with such eminent ability. As I remem- 
ber him, he nearly realized my idea of a circuit 
judge. There, as elsewhere, he was composed, 
patient and impartial, always easy of approach 
by every one, quick in his perception of every 
case presented for his decision, and never too 
proud to re-consider his own decisions when he 
found that he was in the wrong. He died with 
the same steady composure that characterized 
him through life, thoughtful and considerate of 
those about him, until his last moment of life, 
when he closed his eyes in death 

'Like one who wraps the dmpcr.r of his Ctiuch about 'aim 
Att'd lids itt^ti t'd plda'saiit drbsitns ' " 



That Mr. Keep had enemies, no one is asked 
to doubt. All public men must have them, and 
the greater the man, the more bitter and power- 
ful his enemies, as a rule. The collision of 
claims and the collision of interests, an ardent 
zeal on one side or the other of the question, 
political antagonisms — all conspire to create 
opposition, denunciation and ill-will. He was 
not one of those who feared to do anything 
lest he might do something wrong. He acted 
from principle, and when fully persuaded of 
the correctness of his position, never wavered 
or faltered in his course. If difficulties in- 
creased, his energy and resolution increased 
with them. If the circle of his confidential 
friends was contracted, it was not because he 
discarded friendships when they ceased to be 
profitable, but because he was reticent and self- 
engaged. He was never very compromising or 
conciliatory in his deportment. There was 
austerity as well as frankness in his manner 
that sometimes made him bitter opponents, but 
he had the. happy faculty of retaining through 
life a host of warm friends, v^'hose ardent love 
was proof of his private worth — more honorable 
to his character than even the prominence of 
his great abilities. 

As a writer, he was clear, terse and didactic. 
FTis great endowments of disciplined thought 
imparted to his hastiest compositions elaborate 
force and the grace of perfection. Bold in his 
propositions, clear in his stateinents, rapid in 
execution, complete in demonstration, he was 
inexorable in his conclusions. Grant him his 
premises, and the result was as inevitable as 
fate. He did not fatigue himself with delicate 
metaphysical abstractions, nor bewilder his 
mind with speculative theories, but like an ar- 
row impelled by a vigorous power, he shot di- 
rectly to the mark. In all his qualifications as 
a judge, it may be said without questioning, 
that he had few equals, and no superior in the 
Slate. The dignity of the circuit court, while 
he presided over it, is still spoken of as a model 
of evcellr'nce. and his judicial opinions have 



340 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



established for him the reputation of an able 
lawyer. 

As a public speaker, he was direct and logical, 
addressing himself to the reason and under- 
standing, rather tlian to the passions and pre- 
judices of men, and his conversational powers, 
when interested, were of the highest order. 
Before a deliberative body he was a man of 
great influence, but he was too much of a mat- 
ter-of-fact man to indulge in popular harangues. 
His early political preference and party associa- 
tions were with the whigs, and later, with the 
republican party; but he displayed at all times 
great independence and high-mindedness, never 
yielding his own deliberate judgment to popu- 
lar applause, or sacrificing his own convictions 
to the prevailing sentiments of the day, nor was 
he ever a candidate for any political office. 

During his last days the excitement growing 
out of the disloyal and belligerent position of 
the Southern States became more and more in- 
tense, yet, notwithstanding his enfeebled con- 
dition, he watched with unusual interest all the 
proceedings in Congress until his feelings were 
roused with all the ardor of intense patriotism, 
and he frequently expressed a great desire to 
be restored to health, that he might participate 
in the impending struggle on the part of the 
Union. 

In person, Mr. Keep was tall, erect and rather 
slender; his manner dignified and graceful; his 
eyes large, black and penetrating, and his whole 
countenance expressive of great energy and de- 
termination. His speech was pleasant, and all 
his motions seemed to partake of the increasing 
activity of his mind, and the most casual glance 
upon him in action or repose never failed to im- 
press the beliolder with an instinctive sense of 
his superiority. 

He was married in 1S39 to Cornelia A.Reyn- 
olds, daughter of John A. Reynolds, of West- 
field, N. Y , a lady of rare culture and Christian 
virtues, who still survives him. 

In the family circle, the place of all others to 
test genuine worth, Mr. Keep was tender and 



affectionate, very anxious for the welfare of his 
children, and j)articularly solicitous aboiit their 
education. 

He left four children, two sons and two 
daughters. He died on the 2d of March, 1861, 
aged forty-eight years, and, although but in 
middle life, few men have left such a record of 
private worth and public usefulness. 

His death was a very remarkable one. In 
fact, deatii in its usual form never came near 
him. As said by Judge Conger, his end was 
indeed that of a philosopher, and his death the 
death of a Christian. 

For two years, his strength wasted gradually 
until he had not sufficient left to draw a breath, 
and so he ceased to breathe. The morning on 
which he died he was dressed and occupied his 
easy chair, on which he had reposed during his 
sickness, looked over some papers from his safe, 
gave directions in regard to their disposition, 
conversed with his friends and neighbors, and 
the several members of his family separately, 
taking affectionate leave of each, but still, 
though his pulse had long ceased to beat, he 
was not ready to go, for he was waiting the ex- 
pected arrival of his sister from Janesville, 
Mrs. Graham, who had been summoned to his 
side, and looking at his watch and noting the 
time of the arriving of the cars, he remarked, 
"I fear she has not come ;" but watching the 
window, in a moment lie said, "Indeed she has 
come." After a few minutes conversation with 
his sister, he said, "1 am now ready to depart," 
and 

' 'Death broke at once the vital chain 
Aud freed his soul the nearest way." 

This brief sketch of John M. Keep will be 
barely sufficient to give the reader a bird's-eye 
view of the excellency of his life, but the more 
secret and minute peculiarities which most en- 
dear him to his friends, can never be known, I 
save to those whose personal relations to iiim 
were such as to enable them to form adequate 
estimates of his private virtues. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



341 



His chief qualities of natural greatness were 
moral courage, great energy, ready decision and 
an indomitable will. Few men possess these 
quAlities in so remarkable a degree as John M. 
Keep, because few men are so profusely en- 
dowed with the omnipotence of genius. Sys- 
tematic in the employment of his time, he was 
capable of doing rapidly and well what most 
persons could not perform without much time 
and labor. Bred to the bar, his mind was too 
original and of too broad a cast to be bound by 
those narrow and confined views which find the 
mere lawyer to former precedents and adjudged 
cases; he combined the more noble properties 
of justice with legal adjudications commingling 
the principles of equity with legal rule, thus 
mitigating the too oft severity of legal des- 
potism. 

David Noggle. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Frank- 
lin, Penn., on the 9th of October, 1809. His 
father belonged to that class known as Pennsyl- 
vania Dutch; and his mother was of\lrish 
descent. At the age of sixteen, he came to 
Greenfield, Ohio, and with his father, engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. The hardships which 
he experienced at this period, disciplined him 
for the struggles of after life. His educational 
advantages were limited. A few weeks only 
in the winter of each year were spent at the 
district school, where he manifested a taste for 
intellectual pursuits, and, at the age of twelve, 
he expressed a desire to reach the legal profes- 
sion, but, because of the limited means of his 
parents, he received but little encouragement. 
At the age of nineteen, the young man started 
in search of more remunerative employment, in 
which he succeeded. In 183.3, he returned to 
Ohio, to his father, who was embarrassed be- 
cause of debt ; whereu.pon he and his brother 
took the land and relieved their father of further 
anxiety. In lft34, they improved a water 
power on the farm, by building a mill, which 
proved a grand success. On the 13tli of Octo- 
ber, 1835, David was married to Ann M. Lewis, 



of Milan, Ohio. About a year afterward, they 
started with ox teams for Winnebago Co., 111., 
where they settled. 

The new farm of the young married couple 
began to show marks of imiDrovoment, while at 
the same time the husband was looking forward 
with hopes of entering the legal profession. It 
is said that, during these days "he studied 
Blackstone in the cornfield," which is literally 
tiMie ; and, in 1838, he was admitted to the bar 
by the Supreme Court of Illinois — he never hav- 
ing spent a day in a law office. 

In 1839, Mr. Noggle sold his land claim and 
moved into Beloit, where he opened an office 
and. fully entered upon the practice of the law, 
doing business in Winnebago and Boone 
counties; Illinois, and in Rock, Walworth, Jef- 
ferson and Green, in the Territory of Wiscon- 
sin. His efforts in court proved him to be a 
man of power. In 1846, he was a member of the 
constitutional convention of Wisconsin ; and, 
though young and inexperienced in legislation, 
was soon recognized among the leaders of that 
body. He stood with the progressive elements 
of the convention in favor of homestead ex- 
emption, elective judiciary, the rights of mar- 
ried women, and opposed to banks and 
banking. In 1854, he was a member of the 
legislature of Wisconsin from the Janesville 
district, having some years before removed from 
Beloit to that place ; he at once took a promi- 
nent and leading position in the legislature. 

In 1856, Mr. Noggle was again elected to the 
legislature, and was tendered the speakership 
of the assembly by more than a majority of that 
body, but being compelled, from temporary 
lameness to go on crutches, which would greatly 
inconvenience him in discharging the duties of 
a presiding officer, he declined the offer. He 
was emphatically the leader of the House in this 
legislature, and in the contest for the election 
of United Stales senator, in which J. R. Doo- 
little was first chosen. 

Subsequently the subject of this sketch 
was judge of the first judicial district of Wis- 



342 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



consin, composed of the counties of Kenosha, 
Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green. He dis- 
charged his duties as judge with great accept- 
ability. After he retired from the bench, he 
moved to Prairie du Chien and practiced law in 
Crawford county two years, at the end of which 
time, he moved back to Janesville, and was soon 
after appointed United States district judge of 
the 'J"'erritory of Idaho. His health failed 
under the exposure of frontier life and the 
duties of his office, and he resigned, and returned 
to Janesville, but he never rallied, and died 
with softening of the brain a year or two after 
coming back to Wisconsin. Judge Noggle 
possessed a large and powerful physique and a 
massive brain ; and, although he had but a 
limited literary education, he was a brilliant 
orator and a very able advocate. He was a 
man of strong impulses and decided convic- 
tions, and hence was a steadfast friend and a 
bitter enemy. 

Williatn Penn lyyon. 
William Penn Lyon, of Madison, was born Oct. 
28, 1822, at Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y. His 
parents were members of the religious Society 
of Friends, commonly called Quakers, and he was 
brought up in that faith and still clings to its 
cardinal doctrines. He attended an ordinary 
country district school until eleven years of age, 
when he was taken from school and placed as 
clerk in a sn\all store kept by his father in his 
native town. After this he attended select 
schools at intervals, a few terms, amounting in 
all to about one year. These were the only 
school advantages he ever enjoyed. But with 
these, and a reasonable use of his leisure time, 
he acquired, for those days a fair English edu- 
cation, including a limited knowledge of alge- 
bra, geometry, Latin and natural philosophy. 
At the age of fifteen years he taught a district 
school with indifferent success in his own esti- 
mation. He freely admits that school teaching 
was not his forte. From fifteen to eighteen 
years of age he was mainly employed as a clerk 
in ft frrocery store in the city of Albany. Dur- 



ing that time he spent most of his leisure hours 
in attendance upon the courts and the legisla- 
ture — his tastes leading him strongly, in those 
directions — and eagerly listened to arguments 
and speeches made by such men as Erastus 
Root, Samuel Young, Judge Peckham, Judge 
Harris, Ambrose L. Jordan, and numerous oth- 
ers whose names have since become famous. 
He was always greatly impressed with the can- 
dor, dignity and impartiality of Luther Bradish, 
then the lieutenant-governor of the State and 
president of the Senate. 

In 1841, when in his nineteenth year, lie emi- 
grated with his father and family to Wisconsin, 
and settled in what is now the town of Lyons, 
Walworth county, where he resided until 1850. 
With the exception of two terms of school 
teaching he worked on a farm until the spring 
of 1844, when he entered the office of the late 
Judge George Gale, then a practicing lawyer at 
Elkhorn, as a law student. But before this he 
had read Blackstone's and Kent's commentaries 
quite thoroughly. He remained a few months 
with Judge Gale, but returned home to work 
through harvest. He was soon after attacked 
with acute inflamation of the eyes, and was there- 
by incapacitated to read or teach for nearly a year. 
That year he worked on the mill at Lyons, then 
in process of erection, and in the races leading 
to and from the same, at %Vl per month, earn- 
ing $100. In the fall of 1S45 he entered the 
law office of the late Judge Charles M. leaker, 
at Geneva, as a student, and remained there ,, 
until the spring of 1846, when he was admitted I 
by the district court of Walworth county as an 
attorney. Having been chosen one of the 
justices of the peace of the town of Hudson, ; 
now Lyons, he at once opened an office at 
the village of Lyons, and commenced the 
practice of the law, but in a very small way. 
His receipts for professional and otlicial business 
the first year were $60, the Vecond ^180, the 
third $100, Tind fourth |500. His income had 
increased so Jargely that during the second year, 
which was 1847, he married and thus bpcamc 



\s^ 






■4 



■-<»^ 



/ 



-^- 




4 



\\ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



846 



the head of a family. But rent, fuel aiul pro- 
visions were cheaper in those days than they 
now are, and liis income proved quite ample for 
their siij)port. 

In 1860 he formed a partnership with the late 
C. P. Barnes, of Burlington, in Racine county, 
and removed to that place where he remained un- 
til the spring of 1855, when he removed to the 
city of Racine, where he continued in the active 
practice of his profession until the breaking 
out of the war in 1861. He was district attor- 
ney of Racine county from 1855 to 1858 inclu- 
sive. He was chosen a member of the Lower 
House of the Wisconsin legislature of 1859, and 
was made speaker. It is a very unusual pro- 
ceeding for one who has never been a member 
of a legislative body to be thus caUed to the 
delicate duties of presiding officer, but in this 
case the choice was abundantly justified by the 
coiis[)icuously capable manner in which the du- 
ties were discharged. He was re-elected a 
member of llie assembly the following year, 
and was again chosen speaker without a con- 
test in the caucus of republican members. H( 
letired from his second term in that position at 
the age of thirty-eight, with the wai-in friend- 
ship of the members without distinction of 
pirty, with an enviable reputation throughout 
the State, and willi the promise, which has been 
fully realized of a useful and honoi-able public 
career. 

Judge Lyon is i)eculiarly one for whom the 
"pomp, pride and circumstances of glorious war" 
could have had no seductions; but when the 
call of ))atriotic duty reached him, it fell upon 
no dull ear. One hundred splendid citizen 
soldiers enlisted under him, and he was com- 
missioned capt;iin of compnny K, of the 8th 
Wiseonsin Infantry. Entering the military 
service in September, ISOl, lie ri'inained thereisi 
four years, having been, at the close of the war, 
mustered out in Texas in September, 1865. He 
had seived one year as captain of company K, 
8th Wisconsin, and the remainder of the time 



close of the war was breveted a brigadier- 
general. His military career, he thinks, was 
not particularly brilliant, but he claims to have 
discharged his duty with reasonable fidelity. 

In the summer following the close of the war 
there was a splendid pageant at Madison, on the 
occasion of the formal presentation to the State 
of the battle flags of the several regiments that 
Wisconsin had sent into the field. Gen. Lyon 
was chosen to deliver the address, and pro- 
nounced an oration of impressive eloquence. 

Before Gen. Lyon had been mustered out of 
the military service he was chosen judge of the 
first judicial circuit, comprising the counties of 
Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Rock and Green. 
He entered upon the duties of that position on 
Dec. 5, 1865, and served for five years with a 
degree of ability that won unqualified com- 
mendation from all. In 1870 he was made the 
icpui liean candidate for Congress in the fourth 
di.^trict of Wisconsin, but was defeated at the 
polls by Alexander Mitchell. 

The death of Byron Paine having created a 
\ ; cancy on the bench of the Supreme Court of 
^Vi scon sin in January, 1871, Judge Lyon was 
aj)pointed by Gov. Fairchild associate justice, 
he having continued to exercise jurisdiction 
over the first circuit after its Territorial limits 
had been changed until this time. In the April 
following he was elected for the unexpired 
term, and for the full term succeeding. In 
1877 he was re-elected, without opposition, for 
a term which expired in 1884, and is now serv- 
ing on his third full term. The people of Wis- 
consin have been almost ur.iformly happy in the 
constitution of their highest judicial tribunal. 
And theie have been none more deserving of 
confidence than he who now sits as senior asso- 
ciate justice. Hisknowledgeof lawis thorough 
and his instinct of equity perfect, his mind has 
an equipoise that the scales of the blindfolded 
goddess cannot surpass, and his integrity is such 
as to class him with those into whose presence 



as colonel of the 13th Wisconsin, and at the corruptionists dare pot venture. 



21 



346 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



His wife is Adelia C, daughter of the late 
Dr. E. E. Duncomb, of St. Thomas, Ontario, 
Canada. They have two surviving children — 
Clara, born in 1857, and William Penn, Jr., 
born in 1861. 

Harmon S. Conger, 
formerly judge of the twelfth judicial circuit, 
was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., where he read 
and practiced law until he came to Janesville, 
in 1855. While a resident of Cortland county 
he took a lively interest in political affairs, and 
while ])ursuing his legal studies he purchased 
the Cortland County Whig, which he edited 
with ability and earnestness for six years; at the 
expiration of this period the young editor sold 
it out and gave his entire time and energies to 
his profession. Shortly after his admission to 
the bar, much to his surprise, he was nominated 
to Congress by the whig convention in 1846. 
Owing to the political complexion of the dis 
trict, many believed that the nomination was 
only an empty honor; but, contrary to general 
expectation, Mr. Conger was elected to the 30th 
Congress, and was re-elected in 1848, although 
his opponent was his old preceptor, and one of 
the ablest and most popular men in the district. 
After serving two terms in Congress he gave 
his undivided attention to his profession, allow- 
ing nothing to divert him from the pursuit of 
his life. After twenty-five years' experience as 
an attorney, a ripe scholar, a well trained law- 
yer, an honest man, he was elected judge of 
this circuit in 1870; re-elected in 1876. 

Free from obnoxious partisanship as it is pos- 
sible for a man to be, he proved to be a most 
satisfactory and capable judicial officer. He 
died on the 22d day of October, 1882, in Janes- 
ville, Wis. 

John R. Bennett, 
present judge of the twelfth judicial circuit, 
was born at Rodman, Jefferson Co., N. Y., on 
the 1st day of November, 1820 ; he was the 
second son and third child of Daniel Bennett 
and Deborah Lec>ds Bennett, whose maiden 
uamo was Spicer ; his father and mother were 



descendants from English Puritan ancestors, who 
settled in the State of Connecticut about the 
year 1640. His father was born in the town of 
Stonington, in that State, on the 16th day of 
February, 1793. The fourth son of David 
Bennett and Rebecca Bennett, whose maiden 
name was Miner and David, was the son of 
Stephen and Mehitable Bennett. His mother 
was the daughter of William Spicer and Han- 
nah Spicer, whose maiden name was Han- 
nah Leeds, being the daughter of Gideon Leeds, 
of the city of Leeds, England. His father 
being a farmer in comfortable circumstances, 
the son worked at home on the farm, attending 
the common district school until the fall of 
1839, when he commenced attending the Black 
River Literary and Religious Institute, located 
at Watertown, N. Y., and prepared for teach- 
ing school, which he engaged in that fall, and 
from that time until the month of April, 1844, 
continued attending this school at Watertown, 
and teaciiing district and select schools. He 
then entered upon the study of law in the office 
of Western W. Wager, at Brownsville, Jeffer- 
son Co., N. Y., reading with him about six 
months. On the 28th day of November, 1844, 
at Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., N. Y., he was mar- 
ried to Elsie L. Holloway, the daughter 
of Charles and Chloe Holloway, whose sweet 
gentle influence has ever tended to lead 
him in the proper and j)leasant paths of life, 
and to be under the guidance of the better 
angel of his nature ; the purity of her life, the 
wisdom of her counsel and the comfort of her 
society, are still continued to him by a bene- 
ficient Providence, and are the sources of his 
greatest happiness. In the month of April, 
1845, he commenced reading law in the office of 
Dyre N. Burnham, of Sacketts Harbor, N. Y., 
and continued reading with him until the 8th 
day of May, 1848, when he was admitted to 
practice in all the courts of that State. On the 
2d day of October, 1848, he started for the west, 
reaching Janesville, Wis., October 13, where he 
located, and has since practiced his profession ; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



347 



he has no children, but has adopted two sisters, 
Minnie and Kilty Parry, who have assumed his 
name and have been with him now over twenty- 
years, and are the liglit and joy of liis home ; 
they have been with him since they were re- 
spectively, four and two years of age. Mr. 
Bennett's practice, which has gradually in- 
creased from its commencement at Janesville, 
is confined mostly to Rock, Walworth, Jeffer- 
son and Green counties, and the Supreme Court 
of the State. From 1863 to 18&3, he held the 
office of district attorney of Rock county, and, 
in I860, was a delegate to the National repub- 
lican convention, held at Chicago, which nomi- 
nated Abraham Lincoln for President ; without 
being a candidate, he was nominated, in 1875, 
by the republican State convention for attorney- 
general, but was defeated with the rest of the 
ticket, with the exception of Harrison Luding- 
ton, the candidate for governor. In religious 
belief he is a New Churchman, or Swedenbor- 
gian, as the members of the denomination are 
more frequently called ; they hold that the 
Sacred Scriptures, unlike all human composi- 
tion, contain witliin the letter a spiritual sense 
as far above the literary sense in beauty, bright- 
ness and power, as the immortal soul exceeds 
the perishable body, in which it "groans in this 
life, being burdened ;*" he counts it a fortunate 
circumstance that his ancestors, so far as he has 
any knowledge of them, were deeply religious ; 
and for the pious instructions received from his 
parents, who now, he trusts, occupy the ever- 
lasting abodes of the blessed, he is under a 
debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. 

The counties in the twelfth circuit, the times 
of holding court in each, and the places where 
they are held, are set forth in the following 
tabular statement: 

TWELFTH CIRCUIT. 

Judire— JOHN R BENNETT— Janesville. 
Term expires first Monday nf January, 1889. 



rounties 



Hock . . . 



Green. 



Terras. 



4th Monday in January.. 1 

4tli Monday in April I 

Wednesday after 1st Men- f 
day in November J 

1st Tuesday in Mar h 

3d Tuesday in June 

1st Tuesday in Oetob>'r. . . 



Jefferson 1st Monday in February 
2d Tuesday in June 
1st Monday in Septembc 



••1 

?r ) 



Where 
held. 



Janesv'e 



Monroe 



Laws. 



Sec. 2424, R. S. 



Sec. 2424. U. S. 



Jcffeis'n Sec. 2424, R. S. 



No jury shall t>e summoned tor either of the terms in this 
circuit appointed to be he'd in the irionths of January and 
•'uno. Evfiry term in thjij circuit $hall also be a trpecial term 
lor the whole juliicial circuit.— Section 241M, Revised Statulxe. 



COUNTY COURT OF GREEN COUNTY. 

The act of Congress which provided for the 
organization of Wisconsin Territory, declared 
that the judicial power therein should be vested 
not only in a Supreme Court, district courts 
and justices of the peace, but also in probate 
courts, the last named being the same courts 
now denominated county courts. During the 
continuance of Wisconsin Territory the judges 
of these last mentioned courts were called 
"probate judges;" and prior to 1843, they were 
appointed by the governor, although none was 
appointed for this county. 

County c(>urts were established in Wisconsin 
by chapter 86 of the Revised Statutes of 1849; 
and the jurisdiction and powers previously ex- 
ercised by probate courts were transferred to 
them. Civil jurisdiction was to a limited extent 
V'sted in them, but was soon after taken away. 
Probate and County Judges. 
{Probate Judges.) Vm--*^ 

D. S. Sutherland, 1843 ; Asa Richardson, 
1 S44; S. P. Condee, 1846; D. Smiley, 1848. 
{County Judges.) 

J. A. Bingham, 1849; J. A. Bingham, 1853 ; 
1>, Dunwiddie, 1857; B. Dunwiddie, 1861 ; B." 
Dunwiddie, 1865; B. Dunwiddie, 1869; B. 
Dunwiddie, 1873; B. Dunwiddie, 1877; B. 
Dunwiddie, 1881. 

The first letters of administration granted in 
the probate court of Green county is set forth 
in the following record: 
Probate Court, Green County, Aug. 13, 1841. 

Personally appeared before this court, Robert 
Hopkins, of Vigo county and State of Indiana, 
and after being duly sworn said that Caleb 
Hopkins, late of this county, died on or about 
the first day of December, 1840, in Honey 
Creek township,Vigo county and State of Indi- 
ana, and that the said Caleb Hopkins was his 
lawful brother, and that he left no widow or 
children to heir his estate known to him from 
tlie best of his knowledge, and that the deceased 
has no heirs residing in this Territory who 
miijht administer op the estate, and tliat the 



348 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



deceased owed at the time of his decease debts 
and expenses in his last sickness that cannot be 
paid Avithout issuing his estate lying in this 
county. Therefore the said Robert Hopkins 
made application for letters of administration 
to be granted to him, the said Robert Hopkins 
and William Rittenhouse, Bonds being filed, 
letters of administration was granted to Robert 
Hopkins and William Rittenhouse, and issued. 

WiLIJAM BOWEN, 

Judge of Probate. 

The first will probated in the .probate court 
of Green county, is fully set forth in the fol- 
lowing transcript: 

I, Josiah Pierce, of the county of Green and 
Territory of Wisconsin, do make and ordain 
this my last will and testament, in manner and 
form following, viz.: I give and bequeath to 
my daughter, Camilla A. Tillson, the sum of 
five dollars; I give and bequeath to my daugh- 
ter, Marcia D. Rust, five dollars; I give and be- 
queath to my daughter, Rhoda F. Rattan, five 
dollars; I give and bequeath to my two oldest 
sons, Albert Henry Pierce and Franklin Pierce, 
each the sum of one dollar, having already 
given them in land what I considered their 
share of my estate; I give and bequeath to my 
daughter, Elesta Augusta Pierce, the sum of 
thirty dollars; I give and bequeath to my 
daughter, Sophrona Amanda Pierce, the like 
sum of thirty dollars; I give and bequeath 
to my youngest son, Josiah D wight Pierce, the 
west half of the southwest quarter of section 
No. 13, and the west half of the northwest 
quarter of section No. 24, both in town No. 3 
north and range No. 7 east — to have the same 
when he arrives at the age of twenty-one years, 
excepting his mother should be then living; in 
that case his mother shall hold the use of that 
part now under improvements during her life 
all the re.st and residue of my esia.te, both real 
and i)ersonal, goods and chattels I give and be- 
queath to my beloved wife, Ruth Pierce, whom 
I nominate, constitute and appoint sole execu- 
trix of this my last will and testament, hereby 



revoking all other and former wills by me at 
any time heretofore made. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and seal this twenty-sixth day of October 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and forty-three. 

[Seal.] Josiah Pierce. 

Signed, sealed, published and delivered by 
the said testator, Josiah Pierce, as and for his 
last will and testament in the presence of us, 
who have subscribed our names as witnesses 
thereto in the presence of the said testator: 

Alex F. Stedman, 
Arthur Smith, 
Lewis Nixon-. 

Recorded this 80th day of March A. D. 1844. 
Daniel S. Sutherland, 

Judge of Probate. 
biographical sketches. 
John A. Bingham. 

John Augustine Bingham was born at Mor- 
ristown, Vt., Feb., 27, 1819, the son of John 
and Lydia (Thompson) Bingham. His parents 
were descended from early Puritan stock, and 
farmers by occupation, industrious, energetic, 
practical, and sternly religious, as only New 
England Puritans have been or can be. His 
father was a man of unusual size, strength and 
endurance, and enjoyed the reputation of being 
able to do more work than any other man in 
his part of the country.. His grandfather, also 
named John, was likewise a large, powerful 
man, even larger than his son, and was not less 
noted for the virtues. The mother of our sub- 
ject, a most exemplary woman, is remembered 
for her remarkably happy and hopeful disposi- 
tion. To her the worst disaster appeared "bet- 
ter than it might have been." Under the most 
adverse circumstances health, peace and pros- 
perity, the three blessings she was wont form- 
ally to invoke on her friends, were always near 
at iiand. Though descended from a shorter- 
lived, less vigorous and less practical family, 
than her husband, she held with him the 
New England idea of work. The subject of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT F. 



349 



this sketch taught school the winter he was fif- 
teen years of age, having among his pupils 
young men five years his senior, but, so far as 
he could judge, not one of them ever suspected 
their teacher of being their junior. Before he 
taught his first school he urged his father to 
send him to the Montpelier Academy, but the 
father, confidently believing that the boy had 
learning enough, that more would only make 
him lazy, refused. But finally, weary of his 
importunities, lie replied to the oft repeated re- 
quest: "If you get the potatoes dug and 
housed before school begins you may go." To 
the father's surprise, the potatoes were safely 
stored in the cellar before tlie day appointed, 
having been dug and carried to the house at the 
rate of fifty bushels per day. The father, who 
had supposed the fulfillment of the conditions 
impossible, reluctantly • granted his son's re- 
quest. But the first appeal of the boy for 
money to defi'ay his expenses overcame the con- 
scientious scruples in deference to which he had 
permitted him to go, and his reply was: "Come 
home." In this instance John disobeyed, not 
returning to the parental roof till the end of 
the first quarter, but paying his own expenses 
by sawing firewood for the institution. Subse- 
quently, when he earned money by teaching, he 
attended for a shori, time an academy at John- 
son, Vt. He assisted his father during the 
farming season, until he attained his majority. 
During the intervals of farm labor he studied 
surveying and read law in the otfice of an at- 
torney at Stowe, Vt. From the age of fifteen 
he earned by teaching, surveying, selling books 
on subscription, or by some manual labor, tlie 
means to purchase his own clothing and books. 
To procure the books he needed he was often 
obliged to sell those lie already possessed. 
This necessity he regarded as a great misfor- 
tune, and so impressed him that in after years 
he insisted that liis own children sliould retain 
every book studied by them, from the primer 
to the science of government, nor would he con- 
sent, under any circumstances, to a deviation 



from this rule. In the summer of 1841 Mr. 
Bingham removed to Milwaukee, Wis. He af- 
terwards traveled on foot over southeastern 
Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois; taught 
school one term at Rochester, Racine Co., Wis., 
and in February, 1842, settled in Monroe, 
Green county, where he opened a law ofiice and 
resided during the remainder of his days. 

On the 25tli day of November, 1843, he mar- 
ried Caroline E. Churchill, a woman of fine in- 
tellect and strong character, in whom he found 
a faithful and loving wife. She was born at 
Ridge Prairie, 111., June 26, 1824, and still lives 
at Monroe. 

During the years 1846 and 1847, Mr. Bingham 
was district attorney of Green county, and af- 
terward held for eight years the office of pro- 
bate judge of the county, the duties of which 
he discharged with rigid and characteristic ex- 
actness, and won for himself the respect and 
unlimited confidence of all who knew him. In 
1854 he opened a broker's office, which subse- 
quently grew into the Bank of Monroe, tlie first 
bank organized in the county. A few years 
later he was conspicuously active in connection 
with the building of the Monroe branch of the 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. 

Judge Bingham was one of the most gifted 
men of the State. His intellect was of that 
broad and comprehensive character which 
grasped the true relation of circumstances in 
every aspect in which they miglit be presented 
to him. As a lawyer he was full of resources, 
and his opponents at the bar never felt sure that 
he was beaten until a judgment in their favor 
had been actually executed. As a business 
man and administrator of affairs his accuracy 
of judgment was remarkable, and this united 
with a profound knowledge of human nature, 
was a great secret of his success. His mind 
was clear and vigorous, as well as broad and 
capacious. On questions of State and national 
policy he never failed to perceive and defend 
with signal ability the foundation principles 
which should govern the public mind. He 



350 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



looked upon shams of every kind with con- 
tempt, and was rarely if ever, deceived by them. 
In politics he was formerly a whig, and always 
anti-slavery in principles. He was an earnest 
supporter of Fremont in 1856, and of Lincoln 
in 1860, and was a member of the national con- 
vention that re-nominated the latter in 1864 
To his influence is largely due the revolution in 
the politics of his county, which, formerly 
largely democratic, is now overwhelmingly re- 
publican. He was an ardent supporter of the 
government during the Civil War, and it was a 
source of great sorrow to him that failing health 
prevented his entering more actively into the 
service of his country. 

Judge Bingham took active interest in all 
matters of public improvement, contributing 
freely both time and money to the success of 
enterprises which met his approval. Above 
everything else he was the friend of education, 
and no other man ever did so much for the schools 
of Monroe. For months at a time he visited them 
daily, watching the progress of favorite classes, 
counseling teachers, and studying methods of 
instruction. He possessed a natural love of 
teaching,and was peculiarly happy in his mode of 
imparting information. This disposition, sharp- 
ened and intensified by the difficulties he had 
encountered in procuring an education, led him 
to take great pleasure in assisting all young 
men, and especially poor and ambitious youths 
who were struggling to gain an education. Hav- 
ing helped himself he understood the value of 
self-help, and never squandered money in any 
enterprise because it was labeled "benevolence." 
Every effort calculated to better qualify men to 
help themselves, or to render them temj)orary 
relief from pressing difficulties, commanded his 
cordial support; and during the last years of his 
life a large constituency, whom he counseled 
gratuitously, regularly sought liis advice in re- 
gard to the conduct of all their more important 
affairs. 

The community also leaned upon and trusted 
his judgment as it had never trusted that of 



any other man, and when he was prematurely 
stricken down his acquaintances felt that their 
strongest and ablest man was gone. 

He had six children, three sons and three daugh- 
ters, five of whom survive. The eldest son, 
Horace, died in infancy; Homer, the second son, 
was educated at Cornell University, New York, 
and is at present (IS'je) attending the law de- 
partment of the Wisconsin University, with a 
view to the profession of his father, and is a 
a youth of fine presence and large promise ; 
Herbert still in his teens, is attending the Mon- 
roe High School; the daughters, Helen M., Alice 
and Ada, all graduates of the Lombard Univer- 
sity, Galesburg,Ill. Alice is the widow of the late 
Prof. Herbert E. Copeland, for some years 
professor of natural science in the Whitewater, 
Wis., Normal School, and latterly in a sim- 
ilar institution in Indianapolis, Ind. He 
died on the 12th of December, 1876. Helen is 
a well known contributor to the current litera- 
ture of the day, and has been for sojue time past 
engaged in writing a history of Green county, a 
task for the successful accomplishment of which 
her tastes and talents eminently fit her. Ada 
is a medical student at the Boston University, 
and gives promise of a bright and successful 
career. 

Judge Bingham died at Johnson, Vt., July 24, 
1865, having been stricken down by paralysis 
while on a visit to his native State. 

Brooks Dunvnddie 
was born in Green Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1818. His 
parents were John and Ruth (Betts) Dunwiddie. 
About the time of the Revolution, two brotliers 
came from soulhcrn Ireland to America, and 
enlisted in a Maryland regiment. One of them 
was killed at the battle of Brandywine. The 
surviving brother, John Dunwiddie, settled upon 
the eastern shore of Maryland. He married 
and raised a family of children, of which John, 
one of his sons, was the father of the subject of 
this sketch, he marrying Ruth Betts, in the 
State of Delaware, a step-daughter of a Mr 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



351 



Merideth. John Dunwiddie last mentioned, re- 
moved to Ohio, where he died in 1829. 

Brooks Dunwiddie remained with his mother 
until her death, which occurred from cholera in 
1834, He M'as afterwards sent to school by an 
older brother, and graduated with honors at 
Harveysburg Seminary, Clinton Co., Ohio. At 
the age of nineteen he entered the law office of 
Thomas Corwin, in Lebanon, Ohio. He studied 
law in Corwin's office eighteen months. Before 
applying for admission to the bar, two cousins 
who had recently emigrated from Uniontown, 
Penn., to Green Co., Wis., passed through the 
place where Mr. Dunwiddie was at that 
time boarding, on his way from Clinton Co., 
Ohio, with a drove of sheep to Wisconsin. The 
cousins gave such glowing accounts of their 
new home in Wisconsin and of sheep herding, 
and of wild prairies, that Mr. Dunwiddie de- 
cided for the time being to abandon his law 
studies, and go with his cousins to Wisconsin. 
He arrived in Green county in August, 1842. 
He remained in Wisconsin during the following 
winter, and in the spring returned to Warren 
Co., Ohio, and, in company Avith his brother 
Hiram, purchased a lot of sheep, and the two 
brothers returned to Wisconsin in August, 184.3' 
In three years after that Brooks Dunwiddie 
herded his sheep and sold his clip in Milwau- 
kee. 

In 1846, about the 1st of July, the weather 
set in unusually hot and continued so until in 
September. A large proportion of the popula- 
tion was attacked with chilis and fever — and 
among the victims was the subject of this 
sketch. The result was that he could not 
watch his sheep, and frequently for long periods 
no one could be hired to attend his flock. 
Wolves were plenty, and ever on the watch to . 
kill sheep. The result was that his herd, during 
summer and fall of 1846, was nearly destroyed. 
The malady of chills and fever afflicted him for 
about eighteen months. The result was his 
herd was reduced so low that in 1847 he sold 
his sheep to a Hungarian at Sauk Prairie, and 



took in pay Territorial scrip; and, before that 
was converted into money, it was shaved, which 
was as much damage as the loss of sheep by 
the wolves. 

This was the end of Mr. Dunwiddie's sheep- 
herding. His capital was now exhausted, first 
by wolves, second by loss on Territorial scrip; 
and eighteen months' sickness left him broken 
down in health. 

The only thing he could do was to turn his 
attention again to the law. Having a complete 
set of elementary law books, he commenced a 
review of the law, and applied at tlie June 
term of the circuit court in 1848, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar. He thereupon opened an 
office at Monroe, Wis. Mr. Dunwiddie was a 
whig in politics. In the fall of 1848, there 
were three political parties in the field. He 
was elected by a plurality to the office of dis- 
trict attorney, serving two years. After that, 
the democrats regained power arid elected a full 
county ticket in 18.50. 

The people of Wisconsin had by this time 
made considerable progress in building the 
Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, terminating 
at Prairie dn Chien, and, in 1854, the road was 
completed to Madison, with a branch to Janes- 
ville. The people of southern Wisconsin em- 
barked in the enterprise of building a road from 
Janesville to Dubuque. The agents of the 
company held out flattering inducements to the 
farmers along the line of road to subscribe lib- 
erally for the stock of the company, and pay in 
bonds maturing in ten years with interest cou- 
pons attached, secured by mortgages on real es- 
tate. The farmers on the line of the road be- 
tween Janesville and Dubuque subscribed to the 
stock about $.500,000, and gave farm mortgages 
as security. Subsequently these mortgages 
gave the farmers much trouble. 

In the fall of 1855, the farmers brought Mr. 
Dunwiddie's name before the stockholders' 
meeting, and he was made a member of the 
board of directors, to look after their interests. 
The half million of securities finally became 



352 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



pledged as securities for the loan of |500,000, 
apart of the floating debt of the company. In 
July, 1857, the company became insolvent, and 
the road was turned over to a trustee. This 
made the stock of the company worthless, and 
left the farmers wholly unpaid which inmost 
cases was nearly equal to the value of the land. 
Absolute ruin now stared the farmers in the 
face, but Mr. Dunwiddie set his wits to work to 
extricate the farmers from this enormous debt. 
lie found that the first mortgage was not orig- 
inally given on the rolling stock and personal 
property of the company, though, after the sale 
of the road and of the farm mortgage bonds, 
the legislature passed a law giving the first 
mortgage bond holders a lien on the rolling- 
stock and personal property. Mr. Dunwiddie 
contended that this was in fraud of all the cred- 
itors of the company. The farm mortgage 
bonds only being turned out as collateral to the 
debts of the company, the holders of the se- 
curities were, of course, creditors of the com- 
pany. 

Mr. Dunwiddie opened negotiations with the 
holders of the farm mortgage securities, re- 
questing them to sue the company and attach 
their rolling stock and personal property, which 
was amply sufficient to pay the floating debts of 
half a million secured by farmers' bonds as 
collateral. This proposition was assented to by 
the holders of the floating debt and attach- 
ment suits were about to be commenced when 
the trustee managing the road "called a halt," 
and an arrangement was made with him to 
issue a new class of stock and sell the same in 
the New York market, the proceeds to be ap- 
plied in redemption of the farm mortgages. 
This was done by the trustee, and the farm 
mortgages were redeemed. Had not Mr. Dun- 
widdie discovered that the rolling stock could 
not be held by the first mortgage on the road, 
the farmers would have been left to pay their 
mortgages. The farmers, from Milton Junction 
to Dubuque, were thus relieved by this proceed- 



In July, 18o4, Mr. Dunwiddie, with many 
citizens from Green county, attended the mass 
meeting at Madison to organize the re])ublican 
party. He was a member of the committee on 
resolutions, and in conjunction witli C. F. 
Thompson, was instrumental in procuring John 
Walworth to be elected permanent chairman of 
the convention. He has identified himself with 
the republican party to the present time. 

Mr. Dunwiddie was elected county judge in 
the spring of 1857, as an independent candidate 
and has been re-elected at each succeeding elec- 
tion, in the same manner. 

Judge Dunwiddie has continued to practice 
in the circuit court, though the practice has not 
been lucrative to him. In his official capacity, 
he has acquitted himself with honor, and to 
the satisfaction of the people of (xreen 
county, as evidenced by their continuing him 
in office for so many years. He was married to 
Sarah Yarger, July 10, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dunwiddie have four children — William, Mary, 
John and Edna. 

OTHER COURTS. 

The courts in Wisconsin having jurisdiction 
in Green county besides the circuit and county 
courts, are: Justices ot" the peace, the Supreme 
Court, and the district court of the United 
States for the western district. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR WISCONSIN. 

WESTERN DISTRICT. 

.Tiidg-e— Romauzo Bunn, Madison. 

Termf of Court. 

At Madison— First Monday in .Tune. 

At La Crosse— Third Tues(iay in September. 

Special Term— At Madison, first Tuesday in December. 

Counlien ComprUing District. 



Adams, 


Dane, 


La Crosse, 


Price, 


Ashland, 


Douglas, 


Lafayette, 


Richland, 


Barron, 


Dunn, 


Lincoln, 


Rock, 


Bayfield, 


Fan Claire, 


Marathon, 


St. Croix, 


Buffalo, 


Grant, 


Monroe, 


Sank, 


Bui-nett. 


Green, 


Pepin, 


Taylor, 


(bippewa, 


Iowa, 


Pierce, 


Trempealeau, 


Clark, 


Jackson, 


Polk. 


\ eruon. 


Columbia, 


.Jelferson, 


Portage, 


Wood, 


Crawford, 


Juneau, 







WISCONSIN SUPREME COUEIT. 



N.AME. 


Title of Office. 


Salarj'- 


Term 
expires. 


Orsamus Cole 

William Penn Lyon.... 

Harlow S. Orton 

Dayid Taylor 

John B. Cassoday 


Chief Justice 

Associate Justice. 
Associate Justice. 
Associate Justice. 
Associate Justice. 


*5, 000 
5.000 
5,000 
5, 000 
5.000 


April, 1892 
Jan , 1894 
Jan., 18S8 
Jan.. 188(i 
April, 1890 



Clarence Kellogg Clerk. | .fohnR. Berryman.. Librarian. 

O. M. Conover Reporter. \ C.H.Beyler Messens'r& Crier. 

Percy Paine Secretary. | F. J. Cram.. . A ss't Secretary. 

Tcnns of Court at Madi.'^nn. 
Janiiary Term— Tuesday preceding the second Wednesday in 

.lannary. 
August Terra— Second Tuesday in August. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



353 



CHAPTER XIII. 



COMMON SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY. 



The common schools of Green count}', like 
many other of its material interests, have de- 
veloped step by step, growth upon growth, ever 
widening and deepening to meet the wants of 
an increasing population, until to-day they 
stand abreast with the times. They have 
reached their present excellence from small be- 
ginnings. An account of their rise and pro- 
gress is an interesting page in the history of the 
county. It may not be amiss, in this connec- 
tion, before entering upon a particular con- 
sideration of them, to give to our readers from 
the pen of one of the leading educator's of the 
northwest, a narrative of the development of 
education in Wisconsin, from its commence- 
ment to the date when the system of county 
superintendenc}^ was established, the first day 
of the year, 1862, to be followed by an account 
of Green county common schools, by the pres- 
ent county superintendent. 

"educational history.* 

"From the time of the earliest event of the 
families of French traders into the region now 
known as Wisconsin, to the year 1818, when 
that region became part of Michigan Territory, 
education was mostly confined to private in- 
struction, or was sought by the children of the 
wealtliier in the distant cities of Quebec, Mon- 
treal and Detroit. The early Jesuit mission- 
aries, and — subsequently to 1816, when it came 
under the military control of the United States 
— representatives of various other religious de- 
nominations sought to teach the Indian tribes 



* liy Prof. Edwai'd Searing-, in the "Illustrated Historical 
Atlas of Wisconsin." 



of this section. In 1823 Rev. Eleazar Williams, 
well known for his subsequent claim to be the 
Dauphin of France, and who was in the employ 
of the Episcopal Missionary society, started a 
school of white and half-breed children on the 
west side of Fox river, opposite "Shanty Town." 
A Catholic mission school for Indians was or- 
ganized by an Italian priest near Green Bay, in 
1830. A clause of the treaty with the Winne- 
bago Indians, in 1832, bound the United States 
to maintain a school for their children near 
Prairie du Chien for a j^eriod of twenty-seven 
yeai's. 

"the original school code. 
"From 1818 to 1836, Wisconsin formed apart 
of Michigan Territory. In the year 1837, Mich- 
igan was admitted into the Union as a State, 
and Wisconsin, embracing what is now Minne- 
sota, Iowa, and a considerable region still fur- 
ther westward, was, by act of Congress, ap- 
proved April 20 of the year previous, estab- 
lished as a separate Territory. Tlieact provided 
that the existing laws of the Territory of Mich- 
igan should be extended over the new Territory 
so far as compatible with the provisions of the 
act, subject to alteration or repeal by the new 
government created. Thus with the other 
statutes, the school code of Michigan became 
the original code of Wisconsin, and it was soon 
formally adopted, with almost no change, by 
the first Territorial legislature, which met at 
Belmont. jVlthough modified in some of its 
provisions almost every year, this imperfect 
code continued in force until the adoption of 
the State constitution in 1848. The first material 



354 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



changes in the code were made by the Territo- 
rial legislature at its second session, in 1837, by 
the passage of a bill 'to regulate the sale of 
school lands, and to provide for organizing, 
regulating and perfecting common schools.' 

"It was provided in this act that as soon as 
twenty electors should reside in a surveyed 
township, they should elect a board of three 
commissioners, holding office three years, to lay 
off districts, to apply the proceeds of the leases 
of school lands to the payment of teachers' 
wages, and lo call school meetings. It was also 
provided that each district should elect a board 
of three directors, holding office one year, to 
locate school houses, hire teachers for at least 
three months in the year, and levy taxes for the 
support of schools. It was further provided 
that a third bo.nrd of five inspectors should be 
elected annually in each town to examine and 
license teachers and inspec^t the schools. Two 
years subsequently (1839) the law was revised 
and the family, instead of the electors, was 
made the basis of the town organization. 
Every town with not less than ten families, 
was made a school district and required to pro- 
vide a competent teacher. More populous towns 
were divided into two or more districts. The 
office of town commissioner was abolished, its 
duties with certain others, being transferred to 
the inspectors. The rate-bill system of taxa- 
tion, previouslj^ in existence, was repealed, and 
a tax on the whole county for building school 
houses and supporting schools, was provided 
for. One or two years later the oflice of town 
commissioners was restored, and the duties of 
the inspectors were assigned to the same. Other 
somewhat important amendments were made at 
the same time. 

"In 1840 a memorial to Congress from the 
legislature, represented that the people were 
anxious to establish a common school system, 
with suitable resources for its support. From 
lack of sufficient funds many of the schools were 
poorly organized. The rate-bill tax or private 
subscription was often necessary to supplement 



the scanty results of county taxation. Until a 
State government should be organized, the fund 
accruing from the sale of school lands could not 
be available. Congress had made to Wisconsin, 
as to other new States, for educational pui'poses, 
a donation of lands. These lands embraced the 
sixteenth section in eveiy township in the State, 
and 500,000 acres to which the State was enti- 
tled by the provisions of an act of Congress 
passed in 1841, and any grant of lands from the 
United States, the purposes of which were not 
specified. To obtain the benefits of this large 
fund was a leading object in forming the State 
constitution. 

"agitation for free schools. 

"Shortly before the admission of the State the 
subject of free schools began to be quite widely 
discussed. In February, 1845, Col. M. Frank, 
of Kenosha, a member of the Territorial legis- 
lature, introduced a bill which became a law, 
authorizing the legal voters of his own town to 
vote taxes on all the assessed property for the 
full support of its schools. A provision of the 
act required its submission to the people of the 
town before it could take effect. It met with 
strenuous opposition, but after many public 
meetings and lectures held in tiie interests of 
public enlightenment, the act was ratified by a 
small majority in the fall of 1845, and thus the 
first free school in the State was legally organ- 
ized. Subsequently, in the legislature, in the 
two constitutional conventions, and in educa- 
tional assemblies, the question of a free school 
system for the new State soon to be organized 
provoked much interest and discussion. In the 
constitution framed by the convention of 1840, 
was provided the basis of a free school system 
similar to that in our present constitution. 

"The question of establishing the office of 
State superintendent, more than any other fea- 
ture of the proposed school system, elicited dis- 
cussion in that body. The necessity of this of- 
fice, and the advantages of free schools sup- 
ported by taxation, were ably presented to the 
convention by Hon. Henry Barnard, of Con- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



355 



necticut, in an evening address. He afterward 
prepared, by request, a draft of a free school 
system, with a State superintendent at its head, 
which was accepted and subsequently embodied 
in tlie constitution and the school law. In tlie 
second constitutional convention, in 1848, tlie 
same questions again received careful attention, 
and the article on education previously pie- 
pared was, after a few changes, brought into 
• the shape in which we now find it. Immedi- 
ately after the ratification by the people of the 
constitution prepared by the second conven- 
tion, three commissioners were appointed to re- 
vise the statutes. To one of these, Col, Frank, 
the needed revision of the school laws was as- 
signed. The work was acceptably performed, 
and the new school code of 1849, largely the 
same as the present one, went into operation 
May 1st of that year. 

"the school system under the state govern- 
ment. 

"In the State constitution was laid the broad 
foundation of our present school system. The 
four corner stones were: (1) The guaranteed 
freedom of the schools; (2) the school fund 
created; (3) the system of supervision; (4) a 
State University for higher instruction. The 
school fund has five distinct sources for its cre- 
ation indicated in the constitution: (1) Pro- 
ceeds from the sale of lands granted to the 
States by the United States for educational pur- 
poses; (2) all moneys accruing from forfeiture 
or escheat; (3) all fines collected in the several 
counties for breach of the penal laws; (4) all 
moneys paid for exemption from military duty; 
(5) five per cent, of the sale of government 
lands within the State. In addition to these 
constitutional sources of the school fund, an- 
other and sixth source was open from 1856 to 
IBYO. 

"By an act of the State legislature in the 
former year, three-fourths of the net proceeds 
of the sales of the swamp and overflowed lands, 
granted to the Slate by Congress, Sept. 28, 
1850, were added to the common school fund, 



the other fourth going into a fund for drain- 
age, under certain circumstances; but, if not 
paid over to any town for that purpose witliin 
two years, to become a part of the school fund. 
The following year one of these fourths was 
converted into the normal school fund, leaving 
one-half for the common school fund. In J 858 
another fourth was given to the drainage fund, 
thus providing for the latter one-half the in- 
come from the sales, and leaving for the school 
fund, until the year 1865, only the remaining 
one-fourth. In the latter year this was trans- 
ferred to the normal school fund, with the pro- 
vision, however, that one-fourth of the income 
of this fund should be transferred to the com- 
mon school fund until the annual income of 
the latter fund should reach $200,000. In 1870 
this provision was repealed, and the wliole in- 
come of tl)e normal fund left applicable to the 
support of normal schools and teachers' insti- 
tutes. 

"At the first session of the State legislature 
in 1848, several acts were passed which carried 
out in some degree the educational provisions 
of the constitution. A law was enacted to pro- 
vide for the election, and to define the duties of 
a State superintendent of public instruction. 
A district board was created, consisting of a 
moderator, director and treasurer; the office of 
town superintendent was established, and pro- 
vision was made for the creation of town libra- 
ries, and for the distribution of the scliool fund. 
The present school code of Wisconsin is sub- 
stantially that passed by the legislature of 18-^8, 
and which went into operation May 1, 1849. 
The most important change since made was the 
abolition of the office of town superintendent, 
and the substitution therefor of the county su- 
perintendency. This change took effect Jan. 1, 
1862." 

OF THE COMMON SCHOOLS OF GREEN COUNTY. 
[By D. H. Morgan, County Superintendent.] 

It is somewhat d fficult to give a readable and 
entertaining history of the educational interests 
of Green, or any other county of Wisconsin, as 



356 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



few records are in existence, which were made 
prior to the establisliing of county sui^ervision. 
Up to that time, from tlie time of the admission 
of Wisconsin as a State, the town supervision 
prevailed, with varying success. Successful in 
those towns fortunate enough to secure the ser- 
vices of competent superintendents. In no case, 
so far as can be learned, was there any unity of 
action among teachers or superintendents ; each 
working in hia own way regardless of the do- 
ings of others. No teacher.s' meetings or meet- 
ings of superiiiteiidents for devising and matur- 
ing plans for the general improvement of man- 
agement or methods, or for advancing the 
standard of qualification of teachers. 

Thirty years ago the school buildings were 
necessarily cheap and poorly adapted to school 
purposes. Building material was scarce and of 
poor quality ; people were poor, but anxious to 
do sometliiiig toward educating tlieir children, 
and taxed themselves willingly for tlie pur|)ose 
of furnishing buildings and teachers. 

Many of the tir.st settlers being Eastern peo- 
ple, an early interest in all school work was 
manifest, and, it may be safe to say that that 
interest has kept even pace with the material 
prosperity of the people. Thirty years ago there 
was not a school building in the county that 
was worth -i? 1,000. Now there are many of our 
country districts with buildings costing from 
$1,200 to $1,500, to say nothing of tlie buildings 
in some of our villages that have cost from 
$5,000 to $25,000. 

Wiien, on the estaljli.shment of the county su- 
pervision system, the i)eo[)le of this county 
elected William C. Green to the office of 
county superintendent, tiiey were very fortu- 
nate in their selection. He was a man somewhat 
advanced in years, but thoroughly awake to the 
needs of school interests, and competent in 
every way to [)erform tlie duties of his position. 
He was well versed iti the wiiole business of 
schools. When he called tlie teachers together 
for the first time requiring them to submit to a 
written examination, there was consternation in 



their ranks. A large majority of them had 
never been examined in that manner, and it 
seemed terrible. But Mr. Green held firmly to 
the adage, "as is the teacher so is the school," 
and determined to advance the standard of 
qualification, and it is conceded by all that his 
success was marked and decided. Teachers 
went to work with a will, now being fully aware 
that nothing short of the superintendent's re- 
quirements would answer. Aside from the. 
semi-annual examinations, institutes and teach- 
ers' meetings were held, though not so well at- 
tended then as now, for they — the teachers — 
did not so fully comprehend the advantages de- 
rived from them. 

Mr. Green served six years, and with a zeal 
and honesty of purpose never excelled. He 
paved the way, removed obstacles, and left the 
work for his successor in most excellent shape. 
He took the work in the rough and hewed to the 
line, never looking where the chips might fly. 

He traveled among the schools, entering the 
sciiool rooms unannounced, often the first indi- 
xiation of his presence being a salutation from 
him, almost startling. It is well remembered 
by one teacher, who had an unruly boy in hand, 
and handling him pretty roughly too, that he 
was interrupted by an exclamation of " Well ! 
Weill tliese things will happen in the best of 
families." 

There was an attempt on the part of some to 
put hinidown by the cry of " Old Orthography," 
because he insisted that his teachers should un 
derstand tliat as \yii\\ as any other branch that 
they were required to teach. It was fully under- 
stood that excuses were not in order, tlie sub- 
ject had to be mastered. Those who had had 
considerable experience finding themselves de- 
ficient in certain branches, procured the neces- 
sary books and went to work. 

For the last twenty years the school census 
has shown little change as to number of chil- 
dren of school age. Never coming up to 9,000 
and never falling below 8,100. The country 
schools are not so large as they were twenty-five 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



357 



years ago, but the village schools are larger, so 
that our school population remains nearly uni- 
form. The village scliools show a more regular 
attendance of all ages, between four and twenty 
years, though the country schools show a high 
percentage of attendance of those between the 
ages of seven and fifteen. 

The successor to Mr. Green, D, H. Morgati, 
commenced his work with the help and advise 
of his predecessor, by making as many visits to 
the different schools as time would permit prior 
to holding his first round of examinations, and 
I thereby learning, as far as possible, the condi- 
tion of the schools and their greatest needs. 

Immediately after the examinations closed 
the work of preparing for the first institute, 
under the new superintendent, commenced. 
Teachers were notified by circulars and by the 
superintendent, in person. Then commenced a 
regular series of institutes and teachers' meet- 
ings, though not so well attended at first as was 
desired, but the members in attendance steadily 
increased from year to year, and the interest in 
the work grew, not only among the teachers, 
but the school patrons were often seen and 
heard, too, at the institutes. 'J'eachers' meet- 
ings were called in various i)arts of the county, 
and were generally well attended, and without 
exception, great interest on the part of the 
teachers was manifest. About this time the 
State put into the hands of tlie board of re- 
gents for normal school, a fund, with the un- 
derstanding that a portion sliould he used to- 
ward furnishing institute conductors to the vari- 
ous counties asking their services. 

The very best methods of conducting insti- 
tutes were not fully understood by the average 
county superintendent. So the board of 
regents saw the proi)riety of sending into 
various counties the ablest men ("btainable for 
the purpose of giving instructions to both 
teacher and superintendent. 

Early in Mr. Morgan's work, the present 
State superintendent, Mr. Graham, came to take 
charge of and conduct our institutes. In fact, 



he, Mr. Graham, is almost, if not quite, the 
father of our systematic method of conducting 
institutes. 

We early had too, most earnest laborers in 
the home field. Immediately upon Prof. Salis- 
bury's taking charge of the Brodhead schools, 
we found in him one of our most capable teach- 
ers, one of those men who never shirk from a 
task because it is hard to bear. In our meet- 
ings of all kinds, when work was assigned hira 
it was always done well and in season. He 
seemed to go to the bottom of every subject 
that he was called upon to handle. 

At a very little later date came Prof. Twin- 
ing. The superintendent hardly kncAV where 
he would find him, and naturally felt somewhat 
anxious, as in all of the principals of the Mon- 
roe High School, he had not found hearty sym- 
pathy in his efforts to better the condition of all 
the schools. But he soon learned that in Mr. 
Twining, he had a man that would stand 
shoulder to shoulder with him in any undertak- 
ing that looked toward bettering the condition 
of any or all of them. 

For years he has made it one of his special 
duties to prepare young teachers to enter intel- 
ligently into the business of teaching, varying 
his programme for the sole purpose of giving 
normal instructions and drill in theory and 
practice. He was never known to go around 
a task, but always throtigh it, ai d perhaps to 
him, more than any one man, are the superin- 
tendent and county indebted for his efficient 
and always ready aid. 

Again, in all the towns and villages, boards 
of education have willingly and gladly co-op- 
erated in the work of making meetings and in- 
stitutes a success. We have never asked any- 
thing that has not been cheerfully granted, AVe 
fin 1 too, that in a majority of our districts, the 
poor old school houses are giving place to bet- 
ter and more commodious buildings. There 
are a few old and badly delapidated coi.cerns, 
one or two having been condemned because of 
their unfitness for school purposes. 



358 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



One great hindrance to the onward and up- 
ward movement, is in not being able to hold 
our teachers long in the business. The average 
life of the teacher in the school room being less 
than three years. The energetic young men 
are going west and settling on farms, and most 
of them are disposed to take a "lady teacher" 
along to keep ihe house while the farm is being 
improved. Not a few of our young women 
have left the school room of this county for the 
purpose of obtaining homes of their own in the 
far west, five leaving at the same time from the 
same neighborhood. 

Now, when we have a good teacher, and can 
hold him, we are all right on "the school ques- 
tion," but there is no law compelling any one to 
follow a business any longer than he may choose, 
and few people will follow a vocation that gives 
employment for from six to eight months in the 
year, when labor for the year can be found. 
Though teachers wages are better than the 
pay of a common day laborer, yet their expenses 
are always greater than almost any workers 
with the same income. The true teacher must 
be "up to date" in his qualifications, which 
compels the purchase of books and periodicals. 
Recognizing the needs of the teacher in the 
way of reference books, some years ago, our 
teachers raised a fund for that purpose, and 
bought the American Cyclopedia, Dr. Thomas' 
Biographical Dictionary, Lippincott's Gazetteer, 
besides a variety of miscellaneous works that 
bear upon their calling. These books are in 
use during the time of our institutes, and are 
found of very great value. 

When some years since it was found that 
most, if not all of our teachers, were deficient in 
a knowledge of orthoepy the question naturally 
came up, " what shall we do, where are we to 
go for information '?" 

Being told that Webster's Academic Diction- 
ary contained all that they needed, over 100 
copies were ordered at once, and over 
300 went into the hands of teachers and pupils 
ill a short time. 



Now it is difficult to find a teacher without a 
copy of Webster's dictionary, Spencer's work 
on penmanship, Salisbury's Orthoepy, be- 
sides being pretty well supplied with miscella- 
neous reference books. 

Complaint being made to the superintendent 
that writing was not being taught in all of the 
schools, a teachers' meeting was called and the 
matter was presented to them, and its absolute 
necessity was laid before them; and, as a result, 
there is not a school in Green (Mniiity wherein 
writing does not form a prominent ])n-t of 
school work. And here let me say that the 
effort on the part of the State sui)eiiiiteiident 
to establish a regular system of onuling the 
country schools, is meeting with a hearty re- 
sponse. The teachers are studying the superin- 
tendent's circular and trying to understaixl its 
requirements, and grading their schools with 
a view of carrying out its demands. Already 
some fifteen pupils have completed the "Com- 
mon School Course," with a much larger num- 
ber following the course with the intention of 
finishing it sooner or later. 

Our teachers, particularly those of some ex. 
perience, are taking hold of this work with 
more than ordinary earnestness, and we have 
every reason to expect good results. 

Of the town of New Glarus a special men- 
tion should be made, as, being entirely a foreign 
people, they early established schools, and have 
maintained them as the law requires, together 
with two months of exclusively German school, 
the tax for the latter being as cheerfully borne 
as any that they pay. It is one that cannot be 
legally collected, but all have willingly paid 
their proportion. It is undoubtedly true that 
every child in the town of the age of fifteen 
years can read and write both English and Ger- 
man. Another feature of the New Glarus 
schools is, that great stress is placed upon the 
practical studies, "the three R's" first; and 
every pupil, when he leaves school, can readily 
and accurately make an estimate of a bill of lum- 
ber for a barn or ordinary outbuilding, addiog 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



359 



thereto cost of nails and incidentals. They are 
also taught to read writing of all kinds and de- 
scriptions, both good and bad. Of this state- 
ment the writer of this has had ample proof by 
personal observation. 

At the close of eight years of supervision l)y 
Mr. Morgan, Thomas C. Richmond took the 
work in hand. He was young in years, but 
ripe in scholarship and experience, and as full 
of energy and push as it is possible for any man 
to be. Before the close of the first year he 
held an institute of eight weeks' duration, with 
an average attendance of nearly 100. This was 
followed by others of from six to eight weeks 
to the close of his four years of supervision. 

Those who attended were required to pay tui- 
tion sufficient to defray expenses. The best 
teaching talent procurable was obtained to assist 
the superintendent in his work. All branches 
that are required in a first grade certificate were 
taught, and many teachers worked toward ob- 
taining a certificate of the highest grade. 
Books of various kinds, relating to the subjects 
that were taught in the institute, were fur- 
nished the teachers at wholesale price, and hun- 
dreds of them were sold. 

After Mr. Richmond left the work of super- 
intending the schools, he taught one year as 
principal of the Brodhead schools; since which 
he has completed a double course in the study 
of law — one course in the Madison Law School 
and one in the law school of Boston— and is 
about entering the practice of his profession 
in the city of JNIadison. At the close of Mr. 
Richmond's second term, Mr. Morgan again 
took the supervision of the schools, and, it is 
believed, the work of holding the standard of 
the schools and qualification of teacliers have 
kept even pace with those of other parts of the 
State. 

Although the city of Monroe is nomimilhj 
under county supervision, yet it is really under 
the supervision of the principal of the city 
schools. For the sake of making the schools of 
the county as near a unit as possible, the city 



charter did not ask a separate superintendent, 
nor a division of interest. This manifest in- 
terest on the part of the city fathers in making 
the educational work ^e?ie?-a? and not sectional, 
for all the county and not a small part of it, is 
telling for good in various ways. The Monroe 
high school furnishes at least one-sixth of the 
teaching force now employed, and when teach- 
ers' meetings are called, all meet on common 
ground and work together as one great family. 
The Monroe High School furnishes, probably, 
more students for the State University than any 
school of its size in the State, and as to their 
preparation for entering college a word may be 
said. The county superintendent has it from 
one of the university professors that Monroe 
sends some of tlieir very best and best prepared 
students. In fact, the Monroe examinations are 
considered so thorough that papers with stand- 
ing marked by Prof. Twining is considered evi- 
dence enough of the applicant's attainments. 
For years Monroe has been represented at ihe 
State University. 

Monroe, Brodhead and Juda are organized on 
the free high school p!an, and thereby receive 
State aid. The coming year (1885) Albany will 
be added to the list. The Juda school, under 
C. F. Cronk, graduated the first class under the 
grading system for country schools. 

This was prior to its being a free high school. 

Number of school buildings in the county, 131. 

Number of teachers required to teach the 
schools, including Brodhead, 158. 

All other villages being under county super- 
vision, (Biodhead when incorporated, prefer- 
ring to control her own schools). 

The highest number of children of school 
age ever returned was in 1870, which was 8,988. 

The lowest number in 1882, 8,133. 

It is now known that of the number of chil- 
dren between the ages of seven and fifteen, 
more than ninety-five per cent, are in regular at- 
tendance. Above and below these numbers the 
attendance is very irregular. Among the for- 
eign population very few children attend school 



360 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



after "confirmation." Having passed an exam- 
ination in the "catechism" the education is sup- 
posed to be completed. 

Of the 131 school buildings, ninety-seven are 
reported as in good repair, and eighty-five are 
reported as having out-liouses in good condition. 

The superintendent finds, in his visits, that a 
majority of the schools are lacking in school 
apparatus. Particulary is this the case as to 
reading charts, numeral frames. State maps, etc. 
No one thing would so forward the work of pri- 
mary teaching of reading,as a good set of read- 
ing charts in every schoolroom in the county. 
They save the time of the teacher, in furnishing 
lessons already prepared with the best sugges- 
tions for the proper way of using them. From 
them children are so taught that they read at 
once on taking hold of their books, having 
learned nearly everything from the chart that 
they find in tlie first reader. And they make 
better readers too. Of this the superintendent 
speaks from actual observation. 

What is needed to make the supervision more 
effective? 

After many years of experience in school vis- 
itation, and looking at superintendents' visits 
with as little prejudice as possible, the writer, 
most firmly believes that the principal advan- 
tage derived from the 200, or thereabouts, visits 
made yearly, is a knowledge of the capacity of 
each individual teacher with little power to 
make a change for the better. The faults and 
short-comings can only form texts for discus- 
sion at teachers' meetings, and institutes. No 
teacher can be changed from a poor, inefficient 
one, to a ^oof? one, with ability to manage in 
one or Jialf dozen \\ii\iii. Could every town be 
made into one school district with some man of 
intelligence at the head of a town school board 
to co-operate with the superintendent in making 
visits, and reporting condition of schools, and 
j)lanning, with the superintendent, meetings 
for discussions, suggestions and illustrations of 
methods, a more beneficial supervision could be 
obtained. That this may be accomplished in 



the near future, together with the establishing 
of a central high school in every township of 
our county, is a state of things greatly to be 
desired. 

We cannot close without saying that at all 
meetings of teachers, the sanitary condition of 
our school ])uil(lings and grounds has received 
attention commensurate with its importance. 

COUNTY SUPERINTEND KXTS'. 
NAMES. WHEN ELECTED. 

William C . Green 1861 

William C. Green 1803 

Edwin E. Woodman* 1865 

D. H. Morgan 1807 

D H. Morgan 1869 

D. IT. Morgan 1871 

D II. Morgan 1873 

Thomas C. Richards 1875 

Thomas 0. Richards 1877 

D. IT. Morgan 1879 

D. H. Morgan 1881 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Danid II. Morgan. 
Daniel H. Morgan, superintendent of schools 
of Green county, was born in Brecksville, Cuy- 
ahoga Co., Ohio, June 27, 1822. His fathei-, 
Isaac M. Morgan, was born in Duchess Co., N. 
Y., May 29, 1777. His father (grand-father of 
Daniel H.,) was a physician and graduated at 
Yale College in 1762. He (Isaac M.,) studied 
with his father and attended an academy in 
Connecticut, where he studied the languages. 
He began the practice of medicine at Pawlings- 
town, Duchess county, and from there went to 
Bloomfield, Ontario county, where he practiced 
until 1818. He then removed to Brecksville, 
Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, where he practiced his 
profession for thirty years. He died there in 
August, 1849. He was married in Duchess 
county in 1800, to Sarah Harris, a native of 
Berkshire Co., Mass. They were the parents 
of nine children. The subject of this sketch, 
Daniel H. Morgan, was the youngest of the 
family and is the only one now living. He 
grew to manhood in his native town and there 

* Mr. Woodman beinjor absent nt the timp of his election 
and subsequently. Mr. Green continued in ofiace during that 
term. 






'^^^^^/-/-^-^ 




HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



363 



received his early education in the district 
school. He afterwards attended five terms in 
the Brooklyn Academy in Cuyahoga county and 
at Richfield Academy in Summit county. At 
the age of nineteen years he engaged in teach- 
ing school in his native town. He continued 
teaching there until 1852, when he came to 
Green Co., Wis., and taught two terms at Mon- 
roe. He then went to Jordan and purchased 
an interest in a saw-mill, also an interest in 
ninety acres of land. He followed agricultural 
pursuits and worked in the saw-mill there, then 
sold out and engaged in farming one year, in 
the town of Sylvester. In the spring of 1858, 
he bought land on section 36, of Mount Pleas- 
ant. There were thirteen acres broken, and a 



log cabin upon the place at the time of his 
purchase. He now has the land improved and 
fenced and other improvements consisting of 
good, substantial buildings, fruit, shade and 
ornamental trees. He was married, March 23, 
1845, to Cordelia L. Walling, a native of the 
town of Charlotte, Chittenden Co., Vt., born 
Sept. 14, 1824. They have six children — Jennie 
M., Charles, Charlene, Hettie, Richard and 
Saxton. He was first elected to his present 

office in 1867, and served eight consecutive 
years. He was again elected in 1879, since 
which he has served continuously. He has also 
served eight years as county surveyor, and one 
term as register of deeds, in this county. 



22 



364 



HISTORY OB^ GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE BAR— PAST AND PRESENT. 



The history of the bar of any county deals 
with men who, as a rule, rank high in intelli- 
gence, and who have been, and are among the 
most potent forces in shaping its intellectual 
and social standard. Green county is not an 
exception to this rule. During the last forty- 
five years there have been a number of attor- 
neys who have lived within its limits and prac- 
ticed law in its courts, who have earned envi- 
able j)laces in the annals of the county. 

THE BAR OF THE PAST. 

The following are the names of those who 
have previously practiced law in Green county, 
but who are now dead, have moved away, or 
have retired from the profession: 

John A. Bingham, E. T. Gardner, E. E. Bry- 
ant, Hiram Brown, Hiram Stevens, D. B. Priest, 
L. Rote, John W. Stewart, Edward Bartlett, 
Andrew J. Brnndage, William 0. Fillebrown, 
G. E. Dexter, A. W. Potter, Moses O'Brien, E. 
A. West, A. A. Kendrick, M. Kelly, Jr., Thom- 
as H. Eaton, S. P. Condee, James Bintliff, 
Joseph Peters, A. Hay ward, T. N. Matchin, E. 
M. Bartlett, R. D. Evans, Charles Goetz, Mor- 
gan O'Brien, I. F. Mack, D. O. Finch, Geo. W. 
Cate, I. F. Mack, Jr., John McVean, Ed. T. 
Gardner, T. H. F. Passmore, E. M. Clark, E. W. 
Blakeley, J. A. Patton, W. W. Siiephard, W. 
W. Wright, A. H. Loucks. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.* 

E. T. Gardner. 
Elijah Temple Gardner was born Api-il 22, 
1811, at Kittery, Maine. His parents, Silas E. 
Gardner and Huldali Ten)ple Gardner, removed 



*The following' named jfontlemcn have bio^rapbiral 
skeftchea to b? found elMwhiTc in this hiattiry: Jbbn A. 
Hitiglia'tu. Bf'cWkS EriinwiHrlle, ilirntn Blown. 



soon after to Portsmouth, N. H. In 1816 
they started for wbat was then known as 
the "Far West." They spent the winter of 
1816-17 in the Holland Purchase, State of 
New York, and in the early spring of 1817 
removed to Olean Point on the Alleghany 
river, built a flat boat, and set it afloat, with 
the whole family, and all their earthly possess- 
ions on board, proceeded down the river into 
the Ohio, and thence to Lawrenceburg, where 
the father died, leaving the family in very des- 
titute circumstances. The scenery along the 
Alleghany and Ohio rivers, then a vast wilder- 
ness made a deep impression on the mind of the 
boy who so many years after was to work out in 
another wilderness a destiny for himself. 

After the father's death, Huldah managed to 
get her worldly treasures back to Cincinnati 
where she was assisted by the Masonic fratern 
ity, of which her husband was a member. Af- 
ter remaining in Cincinnati till the summer of 
1818 the family removed to Madison Co., 111. 
Here young Elijah attended a frontier school 
seven or eight months. 

The rest of his schooling, till his arm grew 
strong enough to hew down obstacles to pros- 
perity, was in the great school of adversity, 
where not one course was left out and where th« 
reviews and examinations were more frequent 
tiian the many of to-day are likely to experi- 
ence. Always fond of books, what time was 
spared from the drudgery of life was given to 
reading and meditation by the ambitious and 
energetic spirit which made a man of the boy. At 
the age of sixteen friends desired to send him to 



4 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



365 



college and educate him for the ministry in the 
M. E. Church, but being the sole dependence of 
his mother, his older brother having left home — 
he i)it'ferred to do battle with his muscle and 
unbridled will. His motto was: "A smooth 
seaiiL'ver makes a skillful mariner, and a coura- 
geous soldier never shuns the battle." It was 
several years after he came to Illinois that the 
Oliio and Mississippi rivers were navigated by 
steamboats, the transportation of freight being 
by means of "keel boats" and it took them five 
months in those old times, to make a trip from 
New Orleans to St. Louis. 

In the spring of 1827, having managed to get 
a team of ponies, young Gardner rented eighteen 
acres of land, planted it in corn and cultivated 
it, and during tiie interim between planting and 
harvesting he would work out, doing such jobs 
as lie was able, bringing home his earnings which 
were twenty-five to fifty cents a day. Jit. Loui.s 
was then a small town, but had its attractions. 
Thither went the young man to get work. He 
was unsuccessful, and, by chance, while stroll- 
ing along the levee, saw a boat billed for 
Galena. He hired out to the captain to work 
his pass;ige way and gave general satisfaction. 
He always aimed to do his duty. On the route, 
and when two days below Galena, he was taken 
sick with fever, and was left at Galena, a 
stranger and with but seventy-five cents of mon- 
ey, the captain refusing to pay him the small 
wages agreed upon. He had some relatives, a half 
brother and a cousin, somewhere in the mining 
regions about Galena, whom he had the luck to 
find the same night that he landed. 

By following an Indian trail that led to the 
mines, he arrived at his relative's cabin at mid- 
night, so weak that he was obliged to lay down 
several times on his route to gain a little rest. 
This wasatthecloseof the Winnebago War. The 
soldiers had come into Galena under Gen. At- 
kinson, and as the steamer landed, the soldiers 
were being discharged. The fever had its run 
and was followed by the shaking ague, which 
lasted nearly a year. The next year young 



Gardner and his cousin came to the " Platteville 
Diggings," built a cabin about a mile north of 
where the beautiful village of Platteville now 
stands. In this cabin they spent the winter 
of 1827-28. Being often alone at nights, 
Gardner spent his time reading by an impro- 
vised lamp of lard, a rag and a button. His 
library was limited to a few books, among them 
the Bible and a history of the United States, a 
Webster's spelling book, which the young adven- 
turer came to know most thoroughly. . 

In those days, the society about the mining 
regions was " rough and ready," and but little 
calculated to inspire the culture or intellectual 
improvement. There were a few among the 
miners, however, who inclined to the higher 
level, and a "debating society" was formed, 
young Gardner being one of the leaders, and 
he gained quite a reputation as a disputant. He 
often said that he graduated by the side of a 
mineral hole. In the fall of 1828, he returned 
home, across the country ; traveled 250 miles 
and more, " without seeing a human habitation." 
Hy says he enjoyed this journey "through God's 
great wilderness, with the songs of birds in the 
groves, the prairies decorated with the wild 
flowers. It seemed to me, when I had been 
wandering alone through those primitive groves, 
as though I was attended by pure and beautiful 
'invisibles,' and I felt an exhilaration that neither 
my tongue or pen can describe." On his return 
home he found his little property gone, and so 
began again. He built his second cabin, moved 
in, and then began the problem of life from a new 
hypothesis. In a country where everybody did 
his own work, had little to employ labor with, 
and with very modest wants, it was more diffi- 
cult to solve the problem thrust upon him, than 
any that Eaclid ever propounded. In 1829, 
tile Gardners removed to St. Clair Co., 111. 
In the fall of 1831, having been mar- 
ried in the meanwhile to the estimable woman 
who bore liim faithful company in all his jour- 
ney through life, he found himself in debt 
$500, and thai too, after working early and late 



366 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



at the liardcst kind of work — at ox teaming. 
After disposing of his ox team, he traded a two- 
year-old colt he owned for some carpenter's 
tools, and went to Alton, TIL, to "help build up 
the town." So well did he succeed that his em- 
ployer at the end of six weeks settled up with 
him and allowed him $1 a day; the matter 
of wages being left entirely with the boss. 
This was good wages in those days. Settling 
up his little bills, Mr. Gardner returned home 
on a visii to his wife and mother. He followed 
the carpenter and joiner trade till 1834, when 
he had the satisfaction of wiping out the last of 
the |500, and the interest, 12 per cent. In 1835, 
he had succeeded so well that he removed his 
family to Alton, erected a shop and engaged in 
house building on his own responsibility. 

Here he soon established a reputation for 
promptness, honesty and thoroughness, and his 
business increased so rapidly that he had to 
turn away some jobs. His profits often ran up 
to $200 a month. In 1839, he had the misfor- 
tune to be sick and unable to work for nearly 
a year, and came near dying. Twice he visited 
Wisconsin to improve his health, and was 
greatly benefitted by his second journey, but on 
returning home the malady came back. He de- 
termined to move to Wisconsin in the spring of 
1840, and setting out, arrived in Green county 
on the 10th day of June. Monroe then existed 
only in name. He built a cabin and saw-mill on 
the Skinner, eight miles west of the spot where 
this city now stands, which was then a virgin 
wilderness. Not a dwelling in sight, and the 
path of the Indian only served as an indication 
of the presence of humanity. 

This venture required so much hard labor and 
vigilance that it had to be given up; and shortly 
after, Mr. Gardner, upon the advice of John A. 
Bingham, of New Mexico, who proved a friend 
indeed, engaged in the study and practice of 
law. He succeeded well; and fairly earned the 
reputation which he enjoyed for so many years, 
as a conscientious, careful and honest attorney, 
who regarded his client's interest as his own. 



always provided, he could measure his case by 
the square rule of justice and truth. He has 
been known to abandon suit and client, when he 
became convinced that he had been deceived as 
to the facts in the case. But he never aban 
dolled a case wherein he thought he was right. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and prac- 
ticed law until his death, a period of over thirty- 
five years, in Green county, — having tried many 
important suits ift the State and United States 
courts. He was appointed justice of the peace, 
in 1843, by Gov. Dodge, when Wisconsin was a 
Territory. He held public oflice in various 
capacities, to his own credit and to the entire 
satisfaction of his constituents. He carried the 
principles of integrity and industry, aided by 
experience and good judgment, into public life, 
and was regarded by all who knew him, as an 
honest, upright man. He was county clerk for 
four years, before the township system of col- 
lecting taxes was adopted. He was district at- 
torney for six years. He was a member of the 
last Territorial legislature, and represented the 
eighth senatorial district in the first Slate Sen- 
ate, for two years. He refused a re-nomination 
and has always preferred to keep out of office 
when he could do so, without shirking his duty 
as a citizen. In politics, he was always a dem- 
ocrat, until James Buchanan was nominated for 
President; after which, until his death, he had 
been an enthusiastic rei)ub]ican. During the 
war he was appointed draft commissioner for 
this district and discharged his duty faithfully. 

He was always an anti-slavery man. He 
hated tyranny in any form and this made him 
generous to a fault, even to those who opposed 
him honestly and fairly. He had charity; he 
gave freely and made his gifts all the more 
generous by giving quickly to those who came 
to him in distress. Many a young man, just 
starting out in life, engaging in business, will 
remember his kind words of advice, and ex- 
pressions of good wishes and hopes for their 
success. His hand and heart were in every 
good enterprise that needed or called for his 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



367 



assistance, and bis deeds bore testimony to bis 
sincerity. His life was filled witb interesting 
incidents and pleasant reminiscences and so 
tliorougbly identified was be with the growth 
and progress of Green county, and the Stale, 
that its history is in part bis own epitaph. 
Many have come and gone from among this 
community, and children have grown up to 
manhood's estate, knowing him and respecting 
him for his many noble qualities, so many to- 
day mourn with his bereaved family, and loss 
of one of the noblest of mankind. 

Mr. Gardner died near Monroe, on the 3d day 
of February, 1879. His funeral took place 
from the residence in Monroe, on the 5tb day 
of February, 1879, at 2 o'clock p. m., and was 
attended by a large concourse of relatives and 
friends. Rev. D. R. Howe, in an appropriate 
and impressive manner, led the services. The 
Masonic fratei'nity took charge of the funeral. 
John IF. Stewart. 

It is sometimes a valual)ie service to the com- 
munity and the public at large to call attention 
to strong, able and practical men of the more 
retiring kind whose example, services, and pos- 
sibly leadership, it would be much better to 
have in demand than that of the more forward 
kind. A man of this retiring kind, strong, able 
and practical, is Hon. John W. Stewart, for- 
merly of Monroe, now of Chicago. Few men in 
Chicago are better known among its active 
citizenship and leading spirits. A man of ster- 
ling character, thoroughly acquainted with the 
ways of men, the public wants, governmental 
methods and machinery, active, resolute and 
progressive, men say of him: here is a man 
who would make a capital head official for 
almost any important department of public af- 
fairs — national, State or municipal. All the 
while such men quietly attending to their own 
business well out of official range. It is, how- 
ever, as has just been intimated, well worth 
while for the public to turn its attention to 
them ; even if in so doing, attention is entirely 
withdrawn from other directions. Something 



about a man like John W. Stewart is in order 
and interesting. 

The son of Rev. -John Stewart, a Methodist 
minister, who was for fifty years a member of 
the Ohio conference. Mr. Stewart was born at 
Vincennes, Ind., in 1822. He is of Scotch 
blood, pure enough to be a Scotchman, although 
three generations of his family preceding him 
were born in this country. On account of the 
itineracy of his father his early childhood was 
spent in various places; but what was thus lost 
was compensated for by quickened powers of 
perception and observation. At the age of 
twelve he earnestly solicited the privilege of 
learning the art of printing. Entering the office 
of the Times at Troy, Ohio, he remained there 
for two years, gaining a large amount of practi- 
cal knowledge, and laying the foundation for 
his subsequent useful life. After leaving the 
printing and newspaper office he entered the 
preparatory department of the Ohio University 
at Athens, Ohio, and subsequently entered 
Augusta College, Kentucky, where he was a 
student for three years. In the winter of 1840-1 
be obtained permission of his parents to come 
into the great undeveloped northwest. Arriving 
at Prairie du Chien by steamer, by way of the 
Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the spring of 
1841, he immediately found new friends at Lan- 
caster, in Grant Co., Wis., and entered the office 
of Messrs. Barber & Dewey for the purpose of 
studying law. Shortly afterwards he was ap- 
pointed deputy clerk of the United States dis- 
trict court. Soon after this he was appointed 
postmaster -of Lancaster, which office he held 
for one year, when he located at Monroe, Green 
Co., Wis. Here he was admitted to the bar and 
entered on the practice of law. He also com- 
menced in this place in May, 1851, the publica- 
tion of a weekly newspaper, the Monroe Senti- 
nel, which he disposed of before the close of 
the first volume. The paper is still one of the 
leading papers of the State. But Mr. Stewart 
bad formed a distaste for close office work; he 
had become interested in land speculations 



868 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



going on in the new region. In 1846, at the age 
of twenty-four, he was elected in the large and, 
for tliat time, old district composed of Dane, 
Green and Sauk counties, to the Territorial leg- 
islature, and elected again to tlie succeeding and 
last Territorial legislature as a whig, when the 
district was largely democratic. In 1860 he was 
elected to the Senate of the State and was an 
influential and active participator in the initial 
war legislation. About this time he was also 
elected on joint ballot of the legislature a re- 
gent of the State university for a term of six 
years. In 1862 he was commissioned by Presi- 
dent Lincoln, commissioner of allotment for 
the State of Wisconsin, and in the performance 
of his official duties visited the greater part of 
the Wisconsin regiments scattered throughout 
the east, west and south. He lived in Wiscon- 
sin in all twenty-nine years. 

In 1869 he moved to Chicago, and has here 
become one of its most substantial and influen- 
tial citizens. Against his inclinations and 
wishes he was taken up by some enthusiastic 
friends and elected alderman of the fourth 
ward, and served with distinction as an active 
member of the "reform city council" during the 
term of Mayor Health. He was the originator 
among other important measures of the aboli- 
tion and re-organization of the boarJ of public 
works and the health department of the city, 
and of the initial steps for building the City 
Hall. In 1878 he was elected county commis- 
sioner of Cook county, from the city district, 
by a majority of 7,796. He was chairman of 
the county board in 1879-80. Concerning the 
long public career of Mr. Stewart one fact can 
be recorded which can scarcely be claimed 
for the record of any other man of equal promi- 
nence and whose public services have been so 
long and varied: Of the thousands of votes 
which he has recorded as a member of various 
legislative and other deliberative bodies never 
has there the slightest ground for fault or criti 
cism been found when time has been given to 
weigh the results of his votes and the reasons 



which determined the way in which they were 
cast. So careful, deliberate, conscientious and 
discreet has he always been in discharging the 
public duties, aiul serving the public interests 
committed to his hands. 

Mr. Stewart was a whig of the Henry Clay 
school before the organization of tiie republican 
party, of which he has been a member ever 
sijice. Of both these parties he has several 
times been a member of the State central com- 
mittee in Wisconsin. 

Mr. Stewart has also been a sagacious and 
successful business man. He is a man of broad, 
hearty and most generous nature. Conscientious 
and resolute, of the strongest integrity, with 
enlarged practical ideas of life, he is a genial, 
affable gentleman of unostentatious habits and 
life who delights greatly in his family and 
home, besides being a man of broad, enlight- 
ened views and large public spirit. 

Edwin E. Bryant, 
of Madison, was born in the town of Milton, 
Vt., Jan. 10, 1835; received an academic educa- 
tion and was two years at the New Hampton 
Institute, supporting himself by teaching or 
working on a farm; left Vermont in 1856 and 
went to Buffalo, N. Y-, as reporter on the Buf- 
falo Courier; came to Wisconsin in 1857; fin- 
ished a course of reading law in Janesville, and 
went to Monroe, where he commenced practice 
in 1858. During the campaign of 1860 he was 
partner and one of the editors of the Monroe 
Sentinel. In May, 1861, he entered the military 
service as a private; was 1st lieutenant and adju- 
tant of the 3d regiment, Wisconsin Infantry; 
served in Virginia, participating in the battles 
of Bolivar Heights, Va., Oct. 16, 1861; Win- 
chester, May 1862; Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 
1862; and the several engagements of Pope's 
campaign in Virginia; Antietam, Sej)t. 17, 1862; 
Hooker's battle of Chancellorsville, May 2 and 
3, 1863; Beverly Ford, Va., June 5, 1863; Gettys- 
burg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; Falling Water, 
July 14, 1863; was in brigade sent from the 
field to suppress the draft riots; went west with 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



369 



Hooker's corps in October, 1863, and joined the 
Army of the Cumberland-; served there till 
July 1, 1864; was then appointed commissioner 
of enrollment of the third district of Wisconsin 
July 1, 1864; served as such till February, 
1865; then returned to the field as lieutenant- 
colonel of the 50lh regiment, Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers; was iti w-estern Missouri in pursuit of 
guerillas when hostilities closed; was then de- 
tailed as judge advocate of a military commis- 
sion at headquarters, department of Missouri, 
to try the boat burners employed by the confed- 
erate government to fire the shipping on the 
Mississippi river; completing this duty he re- 
signed his commission and returned to Monroe 
and resumed the practice of law in April, 1866; 
was president of the board of directors of public 
schools in Monroe from 1866 to 1868; removed 
to Madison in 1868; was private secretai-y to 
Gov. Lucius Fairchild from 1868 till the close 
of his term in 1872; was chairman of the board 
of supervisors of the town of Madison in 1871; 
was adjutant-general of Wisconsin in 1868, 
1869, 1870, 1871, 1876, 1877, 1878 to 1882; was 
member of the legislature in 1878 and chairman 
of the assembly committee on the Revision of 
the Statutes, in which capacity he assisted in 
the work of incorporating the laws of 1878 into 
the revision, and bringing out the statutes. He 
was in partnership with Col. William F. Vilas 
in the practice of law from 1872 till 1882; as- 
sisted in the revision and annotation of eighteen 
volumes of the Supreme Court reports, pre- 
pared the thirty-seventh volume for publication, 
and, with J. C. Spooner, published a compilation 
of town laws in 1869. In 1884 he brought out 
a Treatise on the Civil and Criminal Jurisdic- 
tion of Justices of the Peace in the State of 
Wisconsin, being a work in the nature of Cow- 
en's treatise on the same subject. In 1883 he 
purchased an interest in the Madison Democrat, 
prompted thereto by desire to devote himself to 
literature, journalism and the writing of books 
on legal topics. 



Edmund Bartlett. 

Few men have had a more varied and adven- 
turous experience than the subject of this 
sketch, and the necessarily condensed and incom- 
plete record of the leading events of his life 
read more like fiction than a chapter from real 
life. Aside from the thrilling character of its 
personal narrative, the sketch possesses peculiar 
interest and value, as furnishing, incidentally, 
an authentic history of the rapid rise, the reck- 
less and depraved character of the class of men 
and women who throng to the frontier settle- 
ments of the west. The moralist and historian 
may herein find much material on which to em- 
ploy their respective vocations. 

Edmund Bartlett was born in Northampton, 
Mass., Oct. 4, 1822, and is the son of Edmund 
Morris and Laura (Randall) Bartlett, the for- 
mer a native of the same town, tlie latter of 
Worthington, Berkshire Co., Mas&. His father 
was born July 25, 1795, was a soldier of the War 
of 18 12, entering as a private and passing through 
the intermediate grades to the rank of first ser- 
geant. He subsequently took much interest in 
military matters, became an enthusiastic student 
of military tactics, and was afterward colonel of 
a regiment of Massachusetts Light Infantry, at 
the head of which " he escorted Gen. LaFay- 
ette into Northampton in the last visit of the 
distinguished nobleman to the United States, 
(1824). He was a very active, consistent and 
useful member of the Congregational Church 
from boyhood till his death, and was recognized 
by all classes as a leader in every good work. 
He was a diligent reader of history, and, with a 
tenacious memory, acquired an extensive knowl- 
edge of its general details. He was also a man 
of remarkable industry and enterprise, and gen- 
erous and noble in all his impulses. In 1832 
he removed with his family to Ohio, and set- 
tled in the township of Brecksville, Cuyahoga 
county, some twelve miles south of Cleveland — 
at that time a wilderness — and known as the 
"Western Reserve;" but Col. Bartlett was a 
strong and resolute man, and with his ax he 



370 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



soon subdued the forest, and made his farm of 
180 acres one of the best and most highly culti- 
vated in that section of the country, with an 
orchard of over 1,000 of the choicest varieties of 
apple trees, besides smaller fruits in abundance. 
He was for several years president of the coun- 
ty agricultural society, and was well known 
throughout the region for his valuable efforts 
to advance the agricultural and horticultural 
interests of his neighborhood. His intimate 
friends and associates included such men as 
Hon. Louis P. Harvey, late governor of Wis- 
consin; Prof. E. H. Nevin; Hon. E. S. Hamlin; 
Hon. John C. Vaughan, editor of the "Cleve- 
land Leader-^'' Prof. Jared P. Kirtland, Cleve 
land Medical College, celebrated as a lecturer 
on agricultural chemistry and as a scientist; 
and others. In politics he was raised a whig, 
but on the dissolution of that organization afhli- 
ated with the free-soilers; and later became iden- 
tified with the republican party. 

On the 6tli day of December, 1821, he mar- 
ried Laura Randall, a lady of superior educa- 
tion and many accomplishments, who was born 
July 2, 1795. Before her marriage she moved 
in the society of which William Cullen Bryant 
was a member, and was well acquainted with 
that distinguished poet, many of whose youthful 
sayings and doings she w^ell remembers, and 
can at this period (December 1876) relate in the 
most intelligent and interesting manner. The 
fruit of this marriage was two children — Ed- 
mund, the subject of this sketch, and Lucy B., 
wife of W. W. Wright, Esq., of Monroe, 
Wis. Col. E. M. Bartlett and wife followed 
their children to Wisconsin, where the former 
died at Monroe, April 24, 1868; the latter, at 
the age of over eighty-one years, is in good 
health and in full posession of all her mental 
faculties. 

Mr. Bartlett claims lineal descent from Adam 
Bartlett, a Norman gentleman and an officer in 
the army of William the Conqueror, who ac- 
companied that monarch to England, fought 
under him at Hastings, and was subsequently 



granted a large tract of land (entailed estate) 
in Stopham, Sussex county, England, which re- 
mains in the [)ossession of his descendants to 
this day, having passed to them in the regular 
order of primogeniture; the present head of the 
family being Col. Walter Bartlett, a member of 
the British parliament. Robert Bartlett, a 
younger scion of that family, sailed from Eng- 
land in the ship Ann, in the year 1623, and 
landed at Plymouth, Mass., in July of that year. 

He subsequently married Mary Warren, 
daughter of Richard Warren, and from that 
union our subject is descended. John Bartlett 
a member of the Sussex family, received dis- 
tinguishing honors from the "Black Prince," 
for his capture of the castle of Fontenoy in 
France at the head of the Sussex troops. Josiah 
Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence, was from the same ancestry, 
as was also Richard Bartlett of Newbury- 
port, Mass., a representative in the colonial 
legislature, 1679-80-81-84. The grandfather 
of our subject was Preserve Bartlett, also a 
native of Northampton, Mass, who married 
Mary Parsons, from whose family sprung 
Theophilus Parsons, L. L. D., the author of 
"Parsons on Contracts," and other valuable 
standard law books. 

Until ten years of age Edmund Bartlett en- 
joyed all the educational advantages of his 
native England village, was a good reader and 
declaimer, and had made considerable proficien 
cy in Murray's grammar and other studies; but 
for several years after his removal to the wilds 
of the then "Far West," he had very few edu- 
cational advantages. The schools of that day 
in the "backwoods" were generally presided 
over by incompetent teachers, while their terms 
were limited to three months in the winter. 
During one of those terms the "master" each 
day detailed a squad of the boys to practice the 
manly art of "self-defense," wrestling and 
other physical exercises, which, rude and barba- 
rous though they may seem to the present gener- 
ation, were not without beneficial results to the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



371 



muscular system. The other exercises con- 
sisted of reading, spelling and declamation. 
The schools, however, improved with the coun- 
try, and subsequently teachers were generally 
more competent; but the only academic advan- 
tages our subject enjoyed were about six months 
attendance at an institution presided over by 
the Rev. Samuel Bissell, at Twinsburg, in Sum- 
mit Co., Ohio. But lie was a diligent stu- 
dent and delighted in literaiy pursuits, and 
studied at home, aided by his parents, especially 
bis mother. At the age of sixteen he procured 
elementary works in the Greek and Latin lan- 
guages, which he studied with great avidity 
under the direction of the Rev. Newton Bar- 
rett, a learned Congregational minister of his 
town. He studied in the field and in the forest; 
wherever he went, or in whatever labor engaged, 
a book was his constant companion. At the 
age of eighteen he commenced teaching school, 
and for twelve consecutive years taught not 
less than three months each year and became 
one of the most thorough and accomplished 
scholars of his day, whose talents would have 
shed luster upon any profession or avocation upon 
which they might have been concentrated. On 
May 23, 1844, he married Catharine A, Righter, 
and turned his attention to farming, an occupa- 
tion at which he continued for ten years. In 
the spring of 1854 he removed his family to 
Monroe, Wis., expecting to continue farm- 
ing, but being governed by circumstances, he 
clerked for a time in the office of the register 
of deeds, and in the year following became 
deputy clerk of the circuit court, and in the 
fall of 1856 was elected to the position of clerk 
of the circuit court, which office he filled till the 
end of 1858. He next served two years as 
cashier of the Monroe Banking Company, and 
in 1861 was appointed postmaster of Monroe by 
Abraham Lincoln, his commission, which was 
signed by Montgomery Blair, bearing date April 

15 of that year. 
Having devoted his spare time to professional 

reading while clerk of the circuit court, he was, 



on March 6, 1860, admitted to the bar of the 
State, and subsequently licensed to practice in 
the United States courts. In January, 1861, 
Gov. A. W. Randall, in anticipation of the 
threatened rebellion, commenced organizing the 
militia of the State, and presented to Mr. Bart- 
lett a colonel's commission; and in the latter 
part of that year, and during nearly all of 1862, 
he canvassed the counties of southern Wiscon- 
sin, making patriotic speeches, and under a re- 
cruiting commission enlisting men in the ser- 
vice, until the work of obtaining recruits be- 
came difficult, and men expressed a strong re- 
pugnance to being asked to enter the ser- 
vice by those who were themselves staying at 
home. Col. Bartlett then pledged himself to 
enlist as a private soldier, and at once wrote 
the following patriotic and self-sacrificing let- 
ter to the postmaster-general: 

Sir: — I have long chafed under the restraints 
of home and official responsibilities, and desired 
to be among the number of those who are 
plucking honors from the points of rebel bayo- 
nets. I can endure it no longer. I therefore 
respectfully tender to you my resignation of the 
office of postmaster at Monroe, and recommend 
the appointment of D. W. Ball as my successor. 
His resignation was accepted and the appoint- 
ment made as recommended, and on Feb. 17, 
1863, he enlisted as a private soldier in com- 
pany B, 31st Wisconsin Volunteers, and on 
March 1, 1863, marched with his regiment into 
Dixie's land. He served faithfully and w^ell to 
the close of the war, and was honorably mus- 
tered out of the service in May, 1865, never 
having been home during the entire period. 
He was appointed and served for several 
months as captain of company L, 3d United 
States Heavy Artillery. After his return from 
the war he was employed as book-keeper for a 
large commission house in Chicago, which posi- 
tion he held but a short time, when he was in- 
duced ''to take the stump" in behalf of Gen. 
Ed. W. Salomon, republican candidate for the 
office of clerk of Cook county, and addressed 



m 



372 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the people on the political issues of the day in 
every ward and precinct of the city of Chicago. 
Gen. Salomon was elected, and our subject be- 
came his chief clcik. About the same time, 
however, he received overtures from the quar- 
termaster and commanding officer of the troops 
stationed at Julesburg, in Colorado, to accept 
the position of chief clerk of the quartermaster's 
department of tliat post, and being fond of ad- 
venture, and desirous of seeing the country, hn 
accepted the flattering offer, and in November, 
1865, removed to Fort Sedgwick, a military 
post just establislied on the south bank of the 
Platte, and adjacent to the "ranch" of Jules 
Bernard, in Colorado, and named Julesinirg. 
The original town consisted of only three or 
four sod houses, used as telegraph offices and 
stables of the Overland Stage Company. He 
entered at once upon his duties in the quarter- 
master's department, where he continued for 
about a year and a half; and during that time 
he traveled more tha 2,fi00 miles on horseback, 
his only companion being a scout in the employ 
of the government — through a country swarm- 
ing with hostile Indians, visiting nearly every 
military post l)etween Idaho and the Missouri 
river, and collecting material for reports re- 
quired by the government. 'I'hese journeys 
were full of wild adventures ami hair-breadth 
escapes from the Indians. He traveled nearlv 
all the summer of 1S66 with his single comi)aii- 
ion, stopping occasionally at ranches or mili- 
tary posts over night, but generally camping 
out. It had been customary to accompany 
such expeditions by a military escort of twenty- 
five men, but his experienced scout considered 
that they would be safer alone, dispensed with 
the escort. In July, 1867, when the Union 
Pacific Railroad had arrived within four miles 
of Fort Sedgwick, :\[r. Bartlett left the quarter- 
master's department for the purpose of embark- 
ing in trade in the new and notorious city of 
Julesburg — where in the preceding April he 
had killed the timid antelope, and where no 
signs of human habitation appeared — now a city 



of over 1,200 houses, with a population of 6,000 
inhabitants. It was the terminus of the Union 
Pacific Railroad, and there all goods in transit 
for the Pacific States and Territories, military 
posts and mining towns west of that place, must 
be unloaded froin the train and transported to 
destination by mule and ox teams. The busi- 
ness transacted was immense. Hundreds of 
portable buildings were brought from Omaha; 
many were of adobe, many of sod, and scores 
of people carried on an extensive and profitable 
business under canvas tents. There were no 
family residences, as few men would dare to 
take a family to such a place. There were 
many high-minded, honorable men engaged in 
legitimate business, but the city was crowded 
with saloons, gambling houses and bagnios, and 
pickpockets, thieves, murderers and despera- 
does of the worst kind flocked there from every 
part of America. The original ranch of Jules 
Ijernard was known to be in Colorado, but near 
the line separating that Territory from the 
State of Nebraska, but it was not at this time 
known to any one in which Territory the pres 
ent Julesburg was located. It was at first a 
city without a government, laws or officers to 
protect those engaged in business, and it was 
found absolutely necessary to adopt some 
measures of safety and protection. The busi- 
ness men of the town therefore held a meeting 
and adopted ordinances for the government of 
the city, and resolutions pledging themselves to 
such taxation as should be necessary to sustain 
an efficient city government. They elected a 
mayor and a council of five members, a clerk 
and treasurer. A vigilance committee of 150 
members was also organized. The mayor was 
empowered to appoint such number of police- 
men as he might deem necessary, and draw ad 
libitum upon the treasurer for their payment, 
amenable only to the people for an abuse of his 
power and jjunishable by removal. He was 
also declared ex-officio judge of the police 
court. The first mayor was a gentleman named 
Cook, but he soon retired from the office,and Mr. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



373 



Bartlett, who had become consjjicuous among 
the "vigilants," was appointed his successor. 
An arrangement was effected with the com- 
manding officer at Fort Sedgwick by which, in 
the event of resistance to the constituted au- 
thorities, the aid of troops could be procured. 
But the military authorities, while sustaining 
the city government in the protection of busi- 
ness and in maintaining order, would permit 
the exercise of no civil function by that organi- 
zation; hence there were no means of enforcing 
contracts or collecting debts if parties con- 
cerned refused to pay. 

Mr. Bartlett at once entered upon the duties of 
his office, increasing force to twenty-five,agreeing 
to pay each man |125 per month, and otherwise 
improved the apparatus of government. He 
caused a log jail to be erected, and kept a well 
armed guard around it day and night. Rioting 
and murder were of daily occurrence, and he 
was compelled to hold court seven days of the 
week. The punishment of all but capital of- 
fenses was by fine and imprisonment, but in 
case of murder the culprit was ordered to be 
imprisoned till the United States marshal at 
Denver or Omaha could be notified; the vigil- 
ants, however, generally disposed of him the 
first night, so that the marshal was in a great 
measure relieved. By fines the mayor collected 
money enough to defray nearl)^ all the expenses 
of the city government, so that resort to taxa- 
tion was seldom necessary. A single case will 
suffice as an illustration of the character of 
those brought before him^ for trial, and his man- 
ner of administering justice. His court room 
was a rough board building 20x50 feet. Be- 
hind a rough table sat the judge upon a rough 
bench. Around his waist was a belt, hanging 
from which were two heavy Colt's revolvers. 
Two desperadoes, named Jack Hayes and 
"Shorty," arrived in the city from Cheyenne, 
and soon made their presence known by rioting 
among the saloons and gambling houses, de- 
stroying property, discharging their revolvt'rs, 
threatening life, and assaulting and maltreating 



several persons, and swearing they would kill 
any man who attempted to arrest them. The 
two roughs were soon brought before the mayor, 
however, in charge of half a dozen stout police- 
men, 'i hey had a large number of friends and 
sympathizers in the city, over fifty of whom 
were in the court room, each heavily armed 
with knives and revolvers; threats were freely 
made that the prisoners should never pay a fine 
nor go to jail. The vigilants were also present 
in considerable force, and well armed. The 
judge summoned a jury of business men, per- 
mitted the defendants to be heard by counsel, 
examined a large number of witnesses, and gave 
them a fair trial. The jury returned a verdict 
of guilty, whereupon the judge arose, with a 
cocked revolver in each hand, and proceeded to 
render the judgment of the court, which was 
that each pay a fine of $250, and be iniprisoned 
until the fine and costs were made. Revolvers 
were drawn all over the room, but the judge 
coolly added: "I have heard your threats and 
understand your intentions, and if you are dis- 
posed to resist the execution of the sentence, 
the best time for you to commence is now, and 
the best place is here; and I give you notice 
that there is room enough in the sand-hills for 
every man of you. Police, remove these pris- 
oners to the jail." Over 200 revolvers were in 
the hands ot" those present, but not a shot was 
fired, and the prisoners were removed to jail. 
In less than two hours they had paid their fines 
and were at large again. In a short time they 
returned to Cheyenne, and were soon after hung 
by the vigilants for murder. 
^ The mayor did not often find it necessary to 
telegraph to the fort for troops. On one occa- 
sion a detachment of cavalry dashed into the 
city and reported to him for orders half an hour 
from the time he dispatched for them. At an- 
other time a comi^any of infantry in army 
wagons drawn by mules reported within an 
hour. 

In November, 1SG7, Mr. Bartlett, having re- 
ceived intelliiience of the daiiererous illness of 



374 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



his father, hastily returned to Monroe, and in 
the following spring opened a law office, and 
continued in the successful practice of liis pro- 
fession until the autumn of 1^69, when lie re- 
ceived a flattering offer to edit a republican 
newspaper at Thibodeaux, the capita! of La- 
fourche parish, in the State of Louisiana,which 
he accepted, repaired to the place and entered 
upon liis labors. A republican press association 
was organized at New Orleans while he was 
editing the Lafourche Repuhlican — the first or- 
ganization of the kind in Louisiana — of which 
he was made secretary. In April, 1870, he re- 
signed the editorial chair to accept a situation 
in the New Orleans custom house, but during 
the summer, his health failing, he resigned his 
position, returned to Monroe, and after a season 
of sickness resumed the practice of his profes- 
sion. In 1874 he was again elected clerk of the 
circuit court of Green county, and re-elected in 
1876, and now iiolds that office. 

In January, 1857, he received the first de- 
grees in Masonry, by dispensation, and soon af- 
ter look all the chapter degrees. He has several 
times been elected master of Smith Lodge, No 
31, F. <fc A. M., located at Monroe. He is also 
an Odd Fellow; received the degrees of the 
subordinate lodge in 1855, and has passed all 
the chairs in Monroe Lodge, No. 72. He also 
received the encampment degrees in Odd 
Fellowship. He is not a member of any Church 
organization, but holds to the orthodox faiih, 
and is generous in his contributions to religious 
and benevolent objects. In personal appearance 
Mr. Bartlett is what rnay be called a tine look- 
ing man — fair complexion, sanguine countenance, 
with brown hair and hazel eyes, five feet nine 
inches in height, good breadth of shoulders, 
measuring forty-two inches around the chest, 
and weighing 185 pounds. Reared as he was, 
in the backwoods, he excelled in all athletic 
sports; he was swift of foot, and found but few 
equals at wrestling and all the various muscular 
efforts to which youth is addicted. He is a su- 
perb horseman, and most fearless and daring 



rider; an unerring marksman with rifle and pis- 
tol. His skill with the former weapon was 
known to many of the hostile Indians of the 
plains, not a few of whom he sent to the happy 
hunting grounds of their fathers. He killed 
more than fifty buffaloes from the saddle during 
the season he remained on the plains. 

As a writer and public speaker he has a few 
superiors. His pen is trenchant and graphic. 
His letters from the seat of war during the Re- 
bellion were of the most thrilling and vivid 
character, his descriptive powers being of the 
highest order, while his style is scholarly and 
ornate. He is also favorably known in the re- 
gions of fictitious literature, and as a poet has 
produced a volume of verse, which, for bril- 
liancy of conception, beauty of language, depth 
of thought and fineness of fancy, is excelled by 
few of the laureates of these days, and which 
is destined to perpetuate his name for all time. 
As a fluent and ready speaker, graceful, com- 
placent, and commanding an exhaustless flow 
of language, he is the peer of any "stump" 
orator in the country. His marriage with Miss 
Righter — still in the prime and grace of woman- 
hood — was blessed with a family of four chil- 
dren, two of whom — Edmund Morgan, born 
April 8, 1849, and Ellen L., born Oct. 16, 1846 — 
survive. The son studied law in the office of 
Judge Dunwiddie, of Monroe, was admitted to 
the bar of the State at the age of twenty-one, 
and three years later to that of the United 
States courts. He subsequently attended the 
law school at Albany, N. Y., oire yfear, and 
graduated from that institution. On Sept. 14, 
1875, he married Lida L. Filkins, a beautiful 
and accomplished lady of that city, and entered 
into partnership with the Hon. A. J. Colvin, 
one of the oldest and best lawyers of Albany. 
Miss Bartlett, the only daughter, is a young 
lady of rare beauty of person, amiable and en- 
gaging manners, of the highest mental endow- 
ments, and superior culture and refinement. 

A volume of 114 pages, just issued by Dr. 
Levi Bartlett, of Warner, N. IL, contains the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



375 



pedigree of the Bartlett family for the last 800 
years, down to 1875. 

The Bartlett "arms," which are now in some 
of the families in America, is a device consist- 
ing of three open gloved hands on a shield, gold 
tassels pendant from the wrists, a swan couched, 
with wings extended. In the English branch 
of the family these "arms" have been "quar- 
tered" with some eight other noble families 
who have become extinct in the male line — the 
female representatives of whom have inter- 
married with male members of the Bartlett 
family. Mr. Bartlett is now a resident of 
Omaha, Neb. 

Andrew J. Brundage 
came from Andover, N. Y., in 1855, and prac- 
ticed law until 1859, in Monroe. He was taken 
with consumption and died on the road to Cal- 
ifornia, and was buried in a solid rock coffin, on 
the plains. He was a man of great promise, 
but his healih was poor. He was jovial and 
and full of fun — was bound to ride on top, and 
was never discouraged. He was an honorable 
and upright man, and was quite a politician. 
He was always ready to speak when called upon; 
being sometimes unable to get on the stand, 
he was frequently placed there by others. Af- 
ter Mr, Brundage's death, his widow returned 
to Andover, and thence to the city of New York 
where she died. They had tvyo sons born to 
them, one of whom — Maynard K. — is now an 
operator in a telegraph office in Kansas. 

William C. Fillehrown 
was born in Winthrop, Kennebec Co., Maine., 
in the year 1800. During his youth, he received 
a good education, as thorough as his native town 
afforded. His father was a wealthy farmer on 
the Kennebec, and William was looked upon 
as a man of more than ordinary abilities. In 
1826, he removed to Penobscot county and en- 
gaged in a hotel, as clerk for a time, and was ap- 
pointed deputy sheriff — -which office he held 
twenty years. He was town clerk and treasurer 
of Oconto county for many years. In 1832, he 
married Ann Maria Reed, of that town. With 



his wife and two children, he removed to Mon- 
roe, Green Co., Wis., in 1840, a distance of 
1,500 miles, in an emigrant wagoji. He died, 
Nov. 9, 1876, and was buried in Monroe. He 
had the entire respect of his fellowmen — and 
was very faithful to any trust imposed on him. 
He had a family of ten childrtMi — three sons and 
three daughters are now living. 

Mr. Fillehrown practiced law to a limited ex- 
tent in Monroe and was a justice of the peace. 
He was a strong republican and temperance man. 
He started the first temperance society on the 
Penobscot, in 1830. 

He had the respect of his fellow men in 
Maine, as well as in Wisconsin. He was a good 
talker and very social. He was a Universalist 
in belief. 

John B. Perry ^ 
one of the pioneers of Green county, was born 
at Elizabeth town, Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 11, 
1812. His father, Nathan Perry, was born in 
the town of New Ipswich, N. H., and was there 
married to Rebecca Brown, of the same town. 
They soon after, moved to York State and set- 
tled in Essex county, where he bought unim- 
proved land, lived on that a few years, then 
moved to Elizabethtown. He soon became 
prominent and was appointed under sheriff, and 
held that office for many years. He served in 
til War of 1812, and participated in the battle 
of Platlsburg. He died in Elizabpthtown in 
1847. The subject of our sketch grew to man- 
hood in Elizabethtown, securing liis education 
in the public schools. In 1838 he came west 
and located at Dundee, III., where he engaged 
in teaching school. In December, 18o9, became 
to Green county, and engaged in minini^ lead 
ore at Exeter. In 1842 he was appointed jus- 
tic of the peace by Gov. Doty. He ri'ninined 
in E.xeter until 1844, when he returned to Dun- 
dee and there engaged in farming. In Decem- 
ber, 1841), he returned to Green county and en- 
gaged in teaching at Albany, January, 1S47. In 
the fall of 1847, he went to Monroe and read 
law in the office of J. W. Stewart, until the fall 



376 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



of 1848, then again went to Exeter and was 
elected justice of the peace there in 1849. In 
1850, he was elected town clerk, and the same 
year, he was appointed United States marshal, 
to take the census of Green county. In 1851, 
he removed to Albany, and in 1852, was elected 
justice in that town, and has held the office con- 
tiiniously since that time, lie has also iield 
other offices of trust. He served as town clerk 
and deputy town clerk eighteen years. He has 
filled the office of county commissioner, two 
years; has been notary public, twelve years, and 
school director, fifteen years. In 1881, was ser- 
geant at arms of the assembly at Madison. He 
was joined in marriage, in 1840, to Amy M. 
Kellogg. She was born in Chautauqua Co., N. 
Y. They have seven children — Rebecca J>., 
Nathan A., Cora A., Amy M., Oliver II., Martlia 
A. and Edwin R. In 188.3 Mr. Perry acted as 
attorney for the village of Albany and secured 
the incorporation of the village. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar, in Monroe, in 1854. 

THE BAR OF TO-DAV. 

P. J. Clawson, A. S. Douglas, Brooks Dun- 
widdie, Biram Medbery, A. N. Randall, C. N. 
Carpenter, Colin W. Wright, B. S. Kerr, S. W. 
Abbott, John 13. Perry, Burr Spragiie, O. S. 
Putnam, John Luchsinger, C. A. TofHemire and 
P. C. Lam pert. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Hir.itn -M dbery, a prominent lawyer of 
Green county, was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y. 
Jan. 30, 1832. When he was quite young his 
parents moved to Fulton county in the same 
State, where they remained until he was six- 
teen years old. They then removed to Wiscon- 
sin and settled in Walworth county. He 
had received a common school education in 
his native State, and after coming to Wisconsin, 
attended the Waukegan Academy two terms. 
He then returned to Walwortii county and 
taught school one turn, and with the proceeds, 
went to Saratoga Springs, where he engaged in 
tile study of law in the office of Judge Bockes. He 
was admitted to the bar at Fonda, Montgomery 



Co.,N. Y., Jan. 2, 1854, in the class with Mans- 
field Walworth and Joseph A. Shoudy. He 
immediately returned to Wisconsin and com- 
menced practice at Troy. He was admitted to 
the circuit court of Walworth county. May 23, 
1854. In 1855 he went to Prairie du Sac, 
Sauk county, where he remahied a few months, 
then went to California, and was employed as 
civil engineer, eigiiteen months. He then re- 
turned to Troy. In 1857 he came to Albany, 
Green county, and began practicing law. He 
was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court 
of the State June 11, 1859, and to the United 
States district and circuit courts, for the western 
district of Wisconsin, Sept. 15, 1871, to the 
United States district court for Wisconsin, Jan. 
3, 18G0, to the Supreme Court of Illinois, Oct. 
19, 1873, and to the Supreme Court of the 
United States, Jan. 13, 1880. He was elected 
district attorney in 1859. In 1861 he entered 
the United States civil service, receiving the 
appointment of revenue assessor, which office 
he held ten years. In 1864 he removed to Mon- 
roe and practiced law, also attended to the du- 
ties pertaining to his office. In 1877 he was 
appointed revenue agent and traveled exten- 
sively until 188], when he resigned and became 
postmaster at Monroe, which position he held 
two years. He then went to Cliicago and resid- 
ed until October, J 883, when he returned to 
Albany, and remained a short time, then re- 
moved to Monroe, where he now resides. Mr. 
Medbery has been twice married ; first, in Jan- 
uary, 1860, to Lucy Royce, a native of Ohio, 
Avho died April 15, 18«1, leaving two children — 
Jessie and Paul ; and again Jan. 28, 1882, to 
Myra Ilollinsliead, a native of Elkhorn, Wal- 
worth Co., Wis. 

P. J. Clawson, attorney at law, was born in 
Green Co., Penn., Oct. 27, 1839. He is a son of 
Phineas and Hannah (Ross) Clawson, wlio emi- 
grated to Waukesha county in 1851. Phineas 
Clawson was a man of superior ability. His first 
vote was cast for James Monroe, for President. 
He afterwards voted for Gen. Jackson, but 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



3TY 



again changed, and joined the whig party and 
became a member of the republican party at its 
organization in 1856, The subject of this 
sketch received the fouudation of his education 
in the graded schools at Waukesha, and after- 
wards attended Carroll College. In 1859 he 
entered the State University at Madison, and 
graduated in the class of 1863, the degree of 
Master of Arts was conferred in 1867. He en- 
listed in the 20th AVisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
company D, in June, 1862. He was wounded 
at Prairie 'Grove, in the left thigh. Soon after 
he was commissioned as 2d lieutenant of com 
pany A, on account of meritorious service, and 
again as 1st lieutenant. He participated in all 
of the engagements of the regiment, and was al" 
ways at his post. He was on the staff of Gen. 
Bailey in the Mobile campaign. He left the 
service in impaired health, and was for two 
years under treatment from his physician. In 
1872 he was elected clerk of the circuit court. 
In 1874 he received the nomination for district 
attorney, but was defeated. He was again 
nominated in 1876, and elected to that ofRce,- 
which he still holds, having been re-elected 
three times. He was married Jan. 1, 1867, to 
Kate L. Moore, a daughtcof Hon. H. T. Moore. 
They have three children — Sophia, May and 
Harvey P. 

A. S. Douglas, attorney at law, was born in 
Hamilton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 19, 
1841. His parents were Adam B. Douglas, a 
native of Scotland, who emigrated to America 
in 1835 or 1836, and Mary A. Starring. In 
1844 he went to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where 
he engaged in the mercantile business. He 
afterwards engaged in keeping hotel and be- 
came one of the noted horsemen. In the fall 
of 1852 he landed in Portage City, Wis. He 
was educated in the common and high schools 
at Portage City. In July, 1863, he graduated 
from the high school at Janesville. In 1864, he 
enlisted in the 40th Volunteer Wisconsin In- 
fantry, serving the end of his time of enlist- 
ment, 100 days. After leaving the army he 



entered the office of H. A. Patterson, of Janes- 
ville. On Feb. 16, 1865, he was admitted to 
the bar, and soon after formed a partnership, 
known as Patterson & Douglas. In October, 
1866, he located at Brodhead,^ and in the fall 
of 1868 was elected as State's attorney, receiv- 
ing the whole vote of the county, with the ex- 
ception of two votes. In April, 1869, he came 
to Monroe, and was re-elected in 1870, 1872 and 
1874. Mr. Douglas was among the leading 
spirits in organizing the Young Men's Christian 
Association, and was chosen president of the 
same, which was instrumental in building up 
one of the finest libraries in southern Wiscon- 
sin. He was married in 1868 to Laura E. 
Welch, a daughter of Dr. John Welch, of 
Janesville. 'i'hree children have blessed their 
union — Arthur G., Malcom C. and Helen. Mr. 
Douglas is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
Blue Lodge chapter and commandery, also the 
A. O. U. W., K. of P., and G. A. R. 

Archibald N. Randall is not an old settler of 
Green county, but is among the prominent men 
who came to the county at a later date, and is 
well and favorably known throughout this sec- 
tion of country. He was born at Sardinia, 
Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1830, and obtained 
his education in the district school, supplement- 
ed by a course of study atBrockport Collegiate 
Institute. His father, Archibald R., was born 
in 1796; served in the New York Active Militia 
in the War of 1812; was married in 1815 to 
Eunice Cheney, daughter of David and Irene 
(Munson) Cheney. His grandfather, Elisha 
Randall, was born in 1762, near Boston, Mass., 
and at the age of fourteen years, entered the 
marine service of the colonies, on board a 
privateer, and served until the close of the 
Revolutionary War. When twenty-two years 
old, he was married to Isabel McElroy, a Scotch 
lady, and removed to Erie Co., N. Y. 

In September, 1847, the subject of this sketch 
removed to Avon, Rock Co., Wis. At the age 
of twenty-one years, he was elected superin- 
tendentof schools, and served three years. He 



378 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



represented his town five years upon the Rock 
county board. He entered the army Aug. 
22, 1862, and was commissioned captain com- 
pany "G," 13th Wisconsin Volunteers, Oct. 
12, 1862. He served with his command in Kan- 
sas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, 
until the spring of 1863, when he was detailed 
to command a battalion of mounted infantry, 
with headquarters at Fort Donelson, Tenn. 
He remained in command about eight months, 
and until the troops at Donelson rejoined the 
army at the front, and the mounted infantry 
rejoined their several commands. While in 
command of this mounted infantry, he engaged 
in many fights with the numerous bands of 
guerillas, with which West Tennessee was at 
that time infested, never failing to either whip 
or capture feuch parties, and often returning 
from a raid through the country with as many 
horses and mules as his men could manage. 
This command is reported to have kept the large 
area of country between the Cumberland and 
Tennessee rivers, from the Ohio river on the 
north, to Clarksville and Florence under com- 
plete subjection, until relieved. 

In January, 1864, he was detailed upon the 
staff of Major Gen. Lovel H. Rosseau, as acting 
assistant inspector-general of the district of 
Tennessee with headquarters at Nashville, 
which position he held until the expiration of 
his term of service, Feb. 1, 1865. While 
thus engaged as a staff officer, he was in every 
battle fought by Gen. Rosseau, including seven 
with Wheeler, two with Forrest and the battles 
of Franklin and Nashville. He was also with 
that general in his noted raid around Atlanta. 
He was married March 27,1865, to Emma ('. 
Loofbourrows, daughter of the Hon. Judge 
Wade Loofbourr()ws, of Washington, C. H , 
Ohio. Two children have been born to them — 
Maggie M.,May 25, 1866 and Louis A., January 
24, 1869. Maggie died at IJrodhead, Sept. 
7, 1881, of typhoid fever. He moved to 
this county in 1868. He has served three terms 
upon the county board of Green county, and 



was chairman thereof at the session of 1883. 
He was elected to the State Senate in 1881, and 
was chairman of the Senate judiciary committee 
at the session of 1882-3. His term of oftice expires 
in November 1884. Mr. Randall is a lawyer 
by profession, having his oftice and residence at 
Brodhead. He was admitted to the bar March 
3, 1873. 

As a public man, Mr. Randall's superior 
ability is unquestioned. He possesses superior 
executive ability, as has been clearly demon- 
strated since his connection with the State Sen- 
ate. He has always filled the various oflices to 
which he has been elected with credit to him- 
self, and satisfaction to his constituency, and 
no man is more deservedly pupular among the 
people. 

Cornelius N. Carpenter, president of the bank 
of Brodhead, was born in Moretown, Washing- 
ton Co., Vt., in 1826. His parents removed to 
Montpelier when he was a child, and afterwards 
to Northfield, in the same State. Mr. Carpen- 
ter is a lawyer by profession. He was admitted 
to the bar in the fall of 1848, and was elected 
librarian of the State the same fall. It was at 
this time that excitement ran high in conse- 
quence of the discovery of gold in California, 
and Mr. Carpenter yielded to his inclination to 
try his fortune in the land of gold. He was 
absent three years, one of which was spent in 
going and returning. He went by way of Cape 
Horn and returned throvtgh Central America, 
with a party of about 100, traveling with 
ox teams, and shipped at Chagres, for New 
York, in the fall of 1852. He saw much of the 
world, and secured some gold. On his return 
he engaged in the practice of his profession at 
Northfield. In 1856, he came to Milwaukee and 
practiced law two years, then returned to 
Vermont and engaged in law practice with 
Judge Carpenter. In 1862, he raised a company 
of volunteers for nine months service, company 
C, of the 15th Vermont Volunteer Infantry, He 
commanded the company six months, then re- 
signed, in consequence of sickness in his family, 






d/iJiJ^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



381 



and soon after, returned to Milwaukee. He 
came to Brodhead in 1863 and engaged in the 
practice of his profession until 1881. He then 
engaged in banking. He is a lawyer of ability 
and possessed a large and lucrative practice. 
Mr. Carpenter was elected district attorney in 
1864 and served two years. He is a cousin of 
A. V. H. Carpenter, of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad, also of the late eminent 
senator and statesman, Matthew H. Carpenter. 
Mr. Carpenter has been twice married. His 
first wife was Hannah Burnham, who died in 
Milwaukee in 1857. His present wife was Lucy 
Burnham, a sister of his first wife. He has one 
daughter by his first wife — Lizzie, now the wife 
of H. P. Young, and by the latter union there is 
one son — C. W., who is cashier of the Bank of 
Brodhead. 

Colin W. Wright, attorney at law, was born 
at Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis., Feb. 8, 1858. His 
parents were natives of England, and emigrated 
to the States in 1849, first settling in Lafayette 
Co., Wis., where his father was engaged in min- 
ing and real estate businesT'!, which lie followed 
for a number of years, and is now engaged in 
business at Mineral Point. The subject of this 
sketch was reared in Lafayette county, where 
the foundation of his education was laid in the 
common schools. He afterwards attended the 
high school at Platteville, and spent two years 
at the State Normal. In 1881, he read law in 
the oftice of Lanyon & Speasley, at Mineral 
Point. In 1881-82, he attended the law depart- 
ment of the Michigan State University, at Ann 
Arbor, graduating in the spring of 1883. Soon 
after, he came to Monroe and engaged in the 
practice of his profession. Mr. Wright is a 
young man of more than ordinary ability and 
is gradually building up a good practice. 

Iie)tJ((min Sanders JCerr, 
attorney at law, was born in Knox Co., Ohio, 
Feb. 17, 1841. His father, Joseph Kerr, was 
born near Pittsburg, Penn., whose parents were 
born in the north of Ireland, but were of Scotch 
ancestry, the father of the long line of Scotish 



chieftains of that name of early times. His 
mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca San- 
ders, is a native of Ohio, and is of English an- 
cestry, her grandparents having been Quakers 
during the Revolutionary War, residing in the 
then colony of Virginia. His grandfather, Ben- 
jamin Sanders, was one of the early advocates 
of the doctrines of Alexander Campbell, and 
preached for many years in different parts of 
the State of Ohio, and was a man of great 
ability and influence in the early days of that 
Church. His grandfather, Joseph Kerr, was a 
farmer, and died at the age of 103 years. In 
1845 Mr. Kerr's parents removed to Green Co., 
Wis., where he has since resided, and where, in 
1854, his father died, leaving him the second 
of eight children, five boys and three girls. He 
was reared upon a farm, and attended the short 
winter country schools until his nineteenth 
year, at which time he gave up farming and de- 
voted himself entirely to study, and was a stu- 
dent at the academy in Platteville, Wis., at the 
breaking out of tlie Rebellion in 1861. He re- 
mained in that institution till the spring of 
1862, and then returned to Green Co., Wis., 
where he engaged in school teaching till the 
spring of 1863, at Which time he began the study 
of law in the office of Judge Dunwiddie, of 
Monroe, and which he continued till the spring 
of 1864. He then received a recruiting com- 
mission from Gov. Lewis, of Wisconsin, and 
raised a sufticient number of men to secure a 1st 
lieutenant's commission, and was mustered into 
the United States military service with that 
rank on the 15th of April, of that year, in com- 
pany D, of the 38th regiment, of Wiscon- 
sin Infantry Volunteers, at Camp Randall, 
Madison. On the 3d day of May following, he, 
with his company and regiment, left for the 
front, and arrived at Washington, D. C, a few 
days later, and were encamped on Arlington 
Heights, Va., for a short time. While the reg- 
iment lay there he saw and heard President 
Lincoln. It was levee day, and the Marine 
Band was discoiu-sing sweet nansic from the pa- 



382 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



villion in the park souili of the Wliite House 
Mansion. The President, Mrs. Lincoln and 
others sat on the south balcony, which elevated 
them above the crowd gathered around. Some 
one called to the President for a speech, others 
joined in the call, whereupon, President Lin; 
coin arose to his feet and said: "Fellow citi- 
zens: You call upon me for a speech. In lieu 
of it I propose three cheers for Gen. Grant and 
his array." Grant was then in the Wilderness 
in front of Petersburg, Va. It is needless to 
say the cheers were given with a will. Lincoln 
at the same time swinging his long right arm 
above his head and shouting with the people. 
This little incident and speech of Lincoln's, in 
that darkest of the years of the \^'ar of the Re 
bellion, gives us a view of the inner-man, that, 
although surrounded b)'^ friends and heavily 
weighted with the cares of the civil government, 
visions of the army were ever before him and 
his heart and mind with his generals and boys 
at the front. Mr. Kerr's company and regiment 
were moved to the front and arrived at Cold 
Harber at the close of tlie battle, where one of 
his men was killed. They became a part of 
Grant's army and moved with him from in front 
of Richmond to the attack on Petersbui-g, Va., 
Mr. Kerr remaining with the comj)any during 
that long and bloody siege, excepting a short 
time he was detailed on a court martial at City 
Point, Va. The siege lasted from the ICth of 
June, 18G4, at which time they first went under 
fire in front of the city, till the works were car- 
ried by storm, April 2, 18G5, he commanding 
his company at that time in an assault in which 
one-third of the column fell. On the 17th of 
June, 1864, he was with his company in an as- 
sault in which the losses in killed and wounded 
were equally great. About the 1st of July, 
1864, the captain of Kerr's company was taken 
sick and resigned, leaving him in command, and 
in which position he continued till the muster- 
out and final discharge of the company, Aug. 
11, 1805. IIo, having in the meantime, been 
pTDraotcd to the rank of captain. At the close 



of his military service Mr. Kerr returned to 
Monroe, and at once resumed the study of law 
with Judge Dunwiddie, and which he pursued 
until March, 1866, at which time he was admit- 
ted to the bar. In the fall of 1866 he w^as 
elected district attorney of Green county, which 
office he held until 1869, and was complimented 
by Judge Lyon, then on the bench, for his 
ability and care in the discharge of the duties of 
the office. Nov. 12, 1866, the subject of our 
sketch was united in marriage wnth Angeline 
Eliza Fayette, daughter of Shanalia Fayette, 
lineally descended from the family of the Mar- 
qiiis de La Fayette. Mrs. Kerr is a relative of 
ex-Senator James R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, 
through her mother, ^vhose maiden name was 
Doolittle. They have two children — Maud and 
Fayette, born, respectively, Jan. 29, 1868, and 
Feb. 12, 1870. Mr. Kerr is a man of more than 
ordinary ability, a good, reliable ofiice lawyer, 
and a forcible and earnest speaker. He is a 
man of medium height, fine personal apjiearance 
and gentlemanly deportment; is of most exem- 
plary habits and highly esteemed in the com- 
munity in which he lives. 

Burr Sprague, attorney'' at law, Brodhead, 
is a native of Cattaraugus, N. Y., where 
he was born in 1836. In 18 i 6 he removed to 
Rock Co., Wis., with his parents, settling 
in the town of Spring Valley. At the age of 
eighteen years he engaged in merchandising, 
which he continued in Spring Valley and in the 
town of Oxford till 1868, wlien he came to 
Brodhead. In 1871 he opened the first book 
store in the village. He continued in the book 
trade till 1878. He served as postmaster here 
for a number of years, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1878. He served in the legislatuie from 
the first district. Rock county, in the session of 
1 868, and from the second district, Green county, 
in 1878. He owned and conducted the Register 
of Brodhead from October, 1878, till June 1879. 
He was superintendent of the schools of Brod- 
head for five years. He has taught many years 
and altrays tdok a deep ititcrcst in educational 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



383 



matters. He married Vina Laraphear, an 
adopted daughter of Dr. S. W. Abbott. They 
have three cliiklren — Louis, proprietor of the 
"Brodhead Register,'''' Jessie and William. 

John J. Putnam was one of the prominent 
and well remembered early settlers of this town, 
lie came to Green county in 1848 and pur- 
chased, in the town of Decatur, a tract of 500 
acres of land. He located here with his 
family, in June of the next year. He was born 
in Hampshire Co., Va., in 1801. His advan- 
tages for education, in early life, were very 
limited. The death of his father, when he was 
seventeen years of age, placed upon him, to a 
great extent, the support of the family. He 
was married before leaving Virginia, to Mary 
M. Fleek, daughter of Adam Fleek. After mar- 
riage he removed to Hocking Co., Ohio, and 
thence to Licking county, engaging in agri- 
cultural pursuits. He remained there until he 
came to Green county. Mr. Putnatn was a man 
of strong mental powers and of sterling integi'ity, 
and although ho died comparatively early in the 
history of Green county, he left a record that is 
not forgotten. He was a ju-^tice of the peacr 
for a number of years, also held the oflice ol 
chairman of his town. He accumulated a valu- 
able property, owning at his decease, about 
1,400 acres of land. His death occurred June 5, 
1866. His wife survived until February 1 874. 
They had ten children, seven of whom are now 
living, four sons and three daughters, all resi- 
dents of this county, except the second son, 
John J., Jr., who resides in Texas. Two of 
his sons, Oliver S. and Henry C, are residents 
of Brodhead. 

Oliver S. Putnam, Esq., was born in Newark, 
Ohio, May 15, 183B. He came with his father's 
family, to this county in 1849. In April 1861, 
he enlisted in the three months' service and re- 
enlisted Aug. 6, 1862, on company F, 31st Wis- 
consin Infantry. He was made 1st sergeant 
at the organization of the regiment. In 
April 1864 he was promoted to a lieutenancy, com- 



manded his company during the siege of At- 
lanta, Sherman's march to the sea, and in the 
final battles of Sherman's memorable campaign. 
He began the study of law, in the winter of 
1865 but discontinued it to engage in coal min- 
ing in Illinois. He resumed the study of law 
and was admitted to the bar in 1871, since 
which time he has been engaged in the practice 
of his profession in Brodhead. He was police 
justice for a number of years. Mr. Putnam's 
army life seriously impaired his health and he 
has never recovered his former vigor. His wife 
was formerly Alice M. Copp, daughter of John 
E. Copp, who settled in Decatur in 1846. Mr. 
Copp was formerly from the State of New York, 
but came to Green county from Ohio. He went 
to California in 1850 and was absent thirty 
years. He then settled in Texas where he re- 
cently died. His widow still resides in Texas. 
Henry C. Putnam was a soldier in the Civil 
War, and was made a non-commissioned oiBcer 
by election of his company, and served with 
marked distinction and rare bravery in the 1st 
Wisconsin Cavalry, company B. 

The following letter from Hon, I. F. Mack, 
of Chicago, is a fitting tribute to the memory of 
his life-long friend, J. J. Putnam : 

Chicago, Aug. 6, 1884. 
U/no7i PuhJishing Company : 

Dear tr^iRS : — I learn that you are compiling 
and |)ublishinga History of Green County, Wis- 
consin, and as the writer was a resident of that 
couTity from 1848 to 1870, it fell to my lot to be 
well acquainted with many of the early settlers 
and prominent men of that section. Among the 
latter class in the eastern portion of the county, 
I am pleased to name the late lamented John J. 
Putnam, Esq., who, with a large family con- 
nection of six or eight families, left Ohio and 
settled in the town of Decatur in that county, 
a little earlier than 1848, forming one of the 
most frugal, thrifty, granger settlements it has 
ever fallen to my lot to know, some of whom 
will regard it invidious if I place Mr. Putnam,dur- 
ing his life, in the front in point of intelligence 



384 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



and noble raanliood. Although a farmer, Mr. 
Putnam was a manof extensive reading, a keen 
observer of men and things, anjastute reasoner, 
thoroughly posted in regard to ;_all questions 
that then divided political parties and councils 
of ripe judgment and of unassailable integrity. 
Though firm and decided in his conviction he 
was not intolerant, but genial and kind to the 
last degree, A prominent figure in the old 



whig ranks and a sincere admirer of Henry Clay 
many a democrat felt the incision of his sharp 
cut political thrusts, in the early days, and with 
true patriotism in his bones, he could but pass 
into the republican ranks. Stricken with a 
fatal malady while endowed with manly vigor, 
he passed away, leaving a handsome competence 
for a sorrowing wife and an interesting family 
of several sons and daughters. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



885 



CHAPTER XV. 



RAILROADS OF GREEN COUNTY. 



In 1816 the frontiers of the United States 
settlements had been extended into Michigan, 
Illinois and Missouri, while Prairie ^u Chien 
was its most distant military post. This re- 
mote village was brought into communication 
with approaching civilization by the agents of 
the American Fur Company from the way of the 
lakes, and by military transportation from the 
way of St. Louis. Canoes or keel boats pur- 
sued these ways at long intervals, yet with some 
degree of regularity, and this intercourse, slight 
as it was in comparison with modern connec- 
tions by steam and rail, was sufficient to draw 
hither a few Americans for purposes of trade, 
or in discharge of some United States agency 
in connection with Indian or military affairs. 
The arrival of the first steamboat inaugurated 
a new era in commercial affairs and the build- 
ing of roads in various directions tended to in- 
crease trade and traffic at this point. But the 
multiplication of steamboats and roads did not 
satisfy the demands of the public for cheap and 
rapid transit. Railroads began to be looked upon 
as a necessity, and aline that should connect Lake 
Michigan with the Mississippi as particularly 
desirable. 

THE MILW^AUKEE & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 

Between the years 1838 and 1841, the Terri- 
torial legislature of Wisconsin chartered several 
railroad companies, but with the exception of 
the "Milwaukee & Waukesha Railroad Com- 
pany," incorporated in 1847, none of the corpo- 
rations thus created took any )»articuiar shape. 
The commissioners named in its charter met 
Nov. 23, 1847, and elected a president, Dr. L. 



W. Weeks and a secretary, A. W. Randall 
(afterward governor of Wisconsin). On the 
first Monday of February, 1848, they opened 
books for subscription. The charter of the com- 
pany provided that |100,000 should be sub- 
scribed and five per cent thereof jjaid in before 
the comjDany should fully organize as a corpo- 
ration. The country was new. There were 
plenty of active, energetic men, but money to 
build railroads was scarce, and not until April 
5, 1849, was the necessary subscription raised 
and percentage paid. A board of directors 
was elected on the 10th day of May, and Byron 
Kilbourne chosen president. The charter had 
been previously amended, in 1848, authorizing 
the company to build a road to the Mississippi 
river, in Grant county, and in 1850, its name 
was changed to the "Milwaukee & Mississippi 
Railroad Company." After the company was 
fully organized, active measures were taken to 
push the enterprise forward to completion. 
The city of Milwaukee loaned its credit, and in 
1851 the pioneer Wisconsin railroad reached 
Waukesha, twenty miles out from Milwaukee. 
In the spring of 1852, Edward H. Brodhead, a 
prominent engineer from the State of New 
York, was put in charge of the work as chief 
engineer and superintendent. Under his able 
and energetic administration the road was 
pushed forward in 1852 to Milton, in 1853 to 
Stoughton, in 1854 to Madison, and in 1857 to 
the Mississippi river, at Praivie du Chien. 

The first regular train reached Prairie du 
Chien, in April, 1857 ; and the terminus of the 
road was located at "Lower Town." It is ap- 



386 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



propriate here to observe, that this enterprise, a 
great one for its day, and for the era in which 
it was achieved, was undertaken and successfully 
carried through, (to their honor be it said) by 
citizens of Wisconsin, residents of the city of 
Milwaukee. 

In this connection it is proper to state that 
E. H. Brodhead, of Milwaukee, was the 
then president of the road. William Jervis, of 
the same city, was superintendent, and E. P. 
Bacon, general freight agent. Among other 
gentlemen who took a leading part in carrying 
through this great work, may be here mentioned, 
the Hon. Edward D. Holton, still living, and the 
Hon. Ashael Finch, lately deceased, (both of 
the city of Milwaukee). 

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY. 

In 1859 and 1860, the Milwaukee & Missis- 
sippi Railroad Company defaulted in the pay- 
ment of the interest on its bonds. A fore- 
closure was made and a new company, called 
the "Milwaukee & Prairie du Chien." took its 
place, succeeding to all its rights and property. 
In 1867, the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway 
Company obtained control of the Milwaukee & 
Prairie du Chien Railroad. The legislature of 
1857 had passed an act, authorizing all stock- 
holders in all incorporated companies to vote 
on shares of stock owned by them. The direc- 
tors of the Milwaukee & St, Paul Company had 
secured a majority of the common stock, and, at 
the election of 1867, elected themselves a board 
of directors for the Prairie du Chien Company. 
All the rights, property and interests of the lat- 
ter company came under the ownership and con- 
trol of the former. In 1865, Alexander Mitchell, 
of Milwaukee, was elected president, and S. S. 
Merrill, general manager, of the Milwaukee & 
St. Paul Railway Company, now the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. They 
were retained in their respective [)Ositions by 
the new organization, and still continue to hold 
these offices, a fact largely owing to the able 
and efficient manner that has characterized 
their management of the company's affairs. 



FIRST RAILROAD IN GREEN COUNTY. 

All things considered, it must be set down as 
a fact that one of the most important, (if not 
the most important) event which has ever hap- 
pened in Green county, was the building of its 
first railroad. While the Milwaukee & Missis- 
sippi Railroad Company was in existence, it not 
only proposed to build a road from Milwaukee 
to Madison and Prairie du Chien, but also one 
to Dubuque, Iowa. We have already seen what 
success that part of its project met with which 
contemplated a road to Prairie du Chien. Let 
us now consider what more nearly concerns the 
people of Green county, the Dubuque project. 
But before dwelling upon the results of that 
scheme, it must be stated that there was an un- 
dertaking having in view a railroad through 
Green county which ante-dates the other. This 
was the incorporation of the 

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN RAILROAD COMPANY. 

The object in view in organizing this com- 
pany, was the building of a railroad from Mil- 
ton, in Rock county, by way of Janesville, the 
county seat, through the counties of Green, La- 
fayette and Grant, to the Mississippi river. Of 
course, this was a project calculated to interest 
the people generally of Green county. Every- 
body wanted a railroad, and they wanted it as 
near their own homes as it could be built. The 
chartering of this company was a scheme orig- 
inating in Green county, so great was the de- 
sire here to have communication with the out- 
side world by means of the iron rail. This was 
early in the year 1852. A survey followed, 
reaching from Janesville to Monroe, and in the 
fall of 1853 work began near Monroe, but was 
soon discontinued for want of means. Early in 
1854 the Southern Wisconsin Railroad Company 
transferred all its rights to the Milwaukee & 
Mississippi Railroad Company, and the first- 
mentioned company ceased to exist. The pro- 
jected road now took the name of 

THE SOUTHERN WISCONSIN BRANCH OF THE MIL- 
WAUKEE & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD. 

The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Com- 
pany got 'on amendment to their charter, author- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



38t 



izing them to build the line, the intention being 
to extend it to Dubuque, in Iowa. This com- 
pany, in the spring of 1855, employed a party 
of engineers to re-survey the line from Janes- 
ville to Monroe, preparatory to obtaining the 
right of way and commencing grading. J. T. 
Dodge, then of Janesville, now of Monroe, had 
charge of the surveying party. 

The contract for the work was let late in the 
fall of 1855 to C. D. Cook, of Milwaukee, a 
leading railroad contractor of the State. The 
work had commenced in February, 1856, and 
the track laid to Brodhead in September, 1857. 
Meanwhile the road had been mortgaged three 
times, and, in August, of this year, was sold on 
the third mortgage. Owing to the difficulty of 
obtaining money, there was now an actual sus- 
pension of track-laying for want of means to 
pay the duty upon the rails. That difficulty 
was at length overcome by advances made 
mainly by the Bank of Monroe; so that the 
track was laid to Juda, in November, and to 
Monroe in December, 1857. 

THE RATLKOAD CELKBRATIOiSr AT BRODHEAU. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Sept. 23, 1857.] 

Early on the morning of a drizzling, rainy, 
muddy Thursday of last week, we left home to 
attend the celebration of the opening of the 
Southern Wisconsin Railroad to Brodhead. The 
day was an unfortunate one as to appointment ; 
the weather being unpleasant, and the circuit 
court for Green county being in session and en- 
gaged upon the case of Nehemiah Root. 

About 11 o'clock A. M., an excursion train of 
six passenger and three or four freight cars, all 
crowded full, left the depot to meet the excur- 
sionists from Milwaukee, Waukesha, and towns 
along the line of road. At Janesville, the Mil- 
waukee train of five crowded cars was added, 
and the train returned to Brodhead, arriving 
just in time to permit the whole company to 
take refuge in the large depot before the aji- 
proach of a passing shower. This unexpected 
moistening, not down on the bills, disconcerted 
the reception and dinner arrangements ; every- 



thing, however, passed off pleasantly and har- 
moniously. After dinner Judge Randall re- 
sponded to a call in a few pertinent and well- 
timed remarks, succeeded by the banging of guns 
and the more pleasant roar of instrumental 
music. 

The train returned at half past three o'clock, 
a number remaining to participate in a hop to 
come off in the evening. 

The Monroe Brass Band furnished an excel- 
lent quality of music for the day, their playing 
being a matter of universal admiration ; the 
Brodhead Brass Band also played excellently 
well for so young a band; there was also a mar- 
tial band from Decatur, that participated in all 
the festivities. 

Brodhead is fast getting to be a lively village, 
and the business over the railroad is already 
quite important, though at the present ruling 
prices of produce the exports from this county 
are not a tithe of what they soon, probably 
will be. 

A GREAT EVENT. 

The completion of the Southern Wisconsin 
Railroad to Monroe, in Green county, was, in- 
deed, a great event; perhaps, when viewed in 
all its bearings, the greatest that has ever oc- 
curred within the limits of the county. That 
this may not pass from the minds of future gen- 
erations readily, we give a few extracts from 
the Monroe iSentinel, concerning its progress 
from the eastern edge of the county to Monroe, 
and the happy time had by the people upon its 
coraplelion to the county-seat of Green county. 

THE SOUTHERN "WISCOXSIX RAILROAD. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Oct. 28, 1857.] 

We have the satisfaction of announcing that 
the track-laying on the Southern Wisconsin line 
is resumed, and the workmen to-day commence 
laying the rail this side of Brodhead. Some of 
our moneyed men have given their names as 
surety that if the company will commence lay- 
ing the rail, they shall receive the necessary 
money, $1,300 per mile — to take iron out of 
bond, or enough to lay as far as Juda. If the 



388 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



a 



stock-holders will come right up to the work 
like men, the road will be opened to Monroe in 
a few weeks. There are but fifteen miles to lay, 
besides side tracks and switches at Juda. We 
are well aware that the times are very hard, but 
it must be borne in mind, tliat the produce of 
the stock-holders is taken at Milwaukee quota- 
tions, and if ever}'^ one will take hold with a will, 
we will have the road. "A bird in the hand is 
worth two in the bush;" we can get the road 
this fall by one earnest and concentrated effort. 
Next season the difficulty may be greater. 

H. Thompson is the accredited agent of the 
company, to take and forward produce or sub- 
scriptions, and pay over only so fast as the com- 
pany actually expend on the line. If he calls at 
your house don't send him away empty. 

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN RAILROAD, 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Nov. 18, 1857.] 
The track-layers to-day, (Wednesday) will 
have the rail laid into Juda, and by Saturday 
night, will probably have finished all side-tracks. 
It is now but eight miles from Juda to Monroe, 
and a little more hard work will bring the cars 
to this point. Let every man who has a cent in 
money or a bushel of wheat, pay the same toB. 
Dunwiddie, director, or Henry Thompson, Esq., 
agent, and those gentlemen will faithfully apply 
the same to the taking of iron out of bond. It 
will not do to let the track-layers cease until the 
last switch in this town is laid. 

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN RAILROAD. 
LFrom the Monroe Sentinel, Nov. 25, 1857.] 

We are informed by friend Graham, of this 
town, [Monroe] that the track-layers are now 
putting down the switches and side-tracks at 
Juda, and towards the latter part of this week 
will commence moving westward towards 
Monroe. 

One of the Messrs • Graham is personally 
superintending the work aiid doing all that man 
can do to hasten its progress. 

Stock-holders and citizens along the line of 
this road are very much indebted to the Bank 
of Monroe, for the aid it has rendered and is 



now rendering, to secure the completion of our 
road. It has furnished money to carry on the 
work when no other bank in the State would 
loan a penny — a fact that must not be forgotten 
when the cars shall rumble into town. 

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN RAILROAD. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, De3. 9, 1857.] 

By politeness of friend Graham, we paid an- 
other visit to the railroad, Tuesday. At the 
time we left, 4 o'clock p. m., the rail was laid 
half way across the trussel-work — which is 
nearly a quarter of a mile in length. To-day 
the train will run over it, and we have engaged 
a passage on the first car. 

The road is open. within three and a half miles 
of Monroe, and the work is progressing rapidly. 

SOUTHERN WISCONSIN RAILROAD. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Dec. 23, 18.57,] 

We are in high feather, we are elated. We 
feel good. Why ? Go with us a few rods to- 
wards the southern portion of .the village, and 
we will show you two parallel iron rails lead- 
ing to the east and connecting with all her 
roads, over which the strong engine with its 
ribs and muscles of iron and steel, is hereafter 
to play back and forth like the weaver's shuttle, 
fetching and carrying its load of men and 
merchandise. 

The cars have come to town, and every day 
" Richland timber " echoes the scream of loco- 
motive. The facts that our people have paid 
the M. & M. R. R. Co., thousands of dollars 
within a few weeks, and that the Messrs Gra- 
ham have laid the rail at the rate of about 
half a mile per day throughout the worst month 
of the year, all go to demonstrate one thing, 
namely, that this village is to , be a little world 
of bustle and activity, from this time lience- 
forth ; and here we make the assertion, which 
we will prove by-and-by, by the figures, that 
Monroe will be the heaviest produce station in 
Wisconsin. It is a strong assertion, we know, 
but not over-grown, when it is considered that 
there will be tributary to this market alone over 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



389 



156 square miles of territory, all well settled 
and improved. 

Some kind of a celebration will undoubtedly 
take place at the formal opening, which will not 
occur for two or three weeks yet, inasmuch as 
there are several places where the track will 
have to be ballasted, to be safe. We are told 
that some of the officers of the road will be in 
town the present week, to examine depot 
grounds, and arrange for the opening. 

THE RAILROAD CELEBRATION. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Jan. 13, 1858. 

Below we give the ordei' of arrangements for 
the approaching railroad celebration in honor 
of the opening of the Southern Wisconsin 
Railroad to Monroe, to take place on Tuesday 
the 19th lust: 

ORDER OF arrangements: 

Firing of cannon at 5 a. m. until 7 a. m. on 
public square. 

Cars leave station at precisely 7 a. m. for 
Janesville, arrive back at 2:30 p. m. 

Firing of cannon on return of cars. 

Reception speech. 

Reply. 

Firing of cannon, when the companj' are 
marching from cars to hotel. 

Dinner at 3:30 p. m. 

Regular toasts and replies thereto. 

Volunteer toasts and replies. 

Firing of cannon after each reply. 

Excursion tickets will be issued by Henry T. 
Thompson, B. Dunwiddie and John W. Slew- 
art, the con.mittee appointed for that purpose, 
to whom application may be made. 

Per order Committee of Arrangements. 
John Graham, 
A. Richardson. 

H. Stevens, 
George E. Dexter. 
E. Mosher, 

Committee. 

the railroad celebration. 

[From the Monroe Sentinel, Jan. 20, 1858.] 

At a few minutes after 7 o'clock a, m. Tues- 
day, as lovely a January morning as poet's 



fancy ever created — seven passenger cars almost 
filled with citizens of Monroe and vicinity, left 
the depot grounds of this village to meet at 
Janesville the guests from the cities and vil- 
lages of our Slate, who were disposed to join 
with us in our joy and good cheer. 

All were happy and cheerful as a party could 
well be; some chatting, some singing, some 
silently enjoying their first ride upon a railroad 
train — all possessing with satisfaction the hour 
after the bent of their minds. At the various 
stations fresh additions were made to the load, 
so that by the time the train arrived at Janes- 
ville, the citizens of that seldom astonished 
place actually rolled their eyes in wonder that 
so many people could be collected anywhere 
between that vast city and sundown. 

The Milwaukee train with some six cars ar- 
rived a little before 11 o'clock, and soon after- 
wards attached itself to the down train and 
started for this point, both trains being made 
one. The return trip was made in good time 
and the excursionists welcomed by a large body 
of our citizens. 

As soon after the arrival as quiet could be re- 
stored, the president, George E. Dexter, Esq., 
presented S. P. Condee, of this village, who 
made an eloquent, appropriate and cordial 
reception speech, which was replied to on be- 
half of the guests by Hon. E. D. Holton, in 
an equally appropriate manner. At its conclu- 
sion, the excursionists proceeded to the various 
hotels and to private residences, wi.'iiher they 
were cordially invited by our citizens, the spe- 
cially invited guests stopping at the American. 

The dinner at the American was of the best 
order, and heartily greeted by hungry humani- 
ty. After dinner, came toasts in the following 
order: 

1st. The city of Milwaukee, responded to 
by Col. George H. Walker, of that city. 

2d. The Milwaukee & Mississippi Rail- 
road, responded to by Hon. E. D. Holton, of 
Milwaukee. 



300 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



3d. The city of Jaiiesville, responded to by 
Mr. Williams of that city. 

4th. The village of Whitewater, responded 
to by Rufus Cheney, of that village. 

5th. The press of Wisconsin, responded to 
by Col. Hart, of Milwaukee. 

6th. Roads and bridges, the first prints of 
the dawning sun of civilization. 

Vth. The iron roads of our country, a net 
work binding State to State in political union, 
community to community in commercial and 
social intercourse, the only talisman which can 
convert into reality the statesman's dream of a 
single and united Republic stretching from 
ocean to ocean. 

8th. The whistle of the locomotive. It 
swallows up the secret of the fife, and the roll 
of the drum ; its resonant echoes sounding 
peace on earth and good will to man. 

9th. The railroad system of the western 
continent; already has it entwined the flags of 
two Nations. 

10th. Panics. The thunder storms of the 
financial atmosphere purifying it, and compell- 
ing, as politicians say, a recurrence to funda- 
mental principles. 

11th. The State of Wisconsin, nestled be- 
tween two great highways, scooped out by 
nature. The energy of her people will com- 
plete the work in crowning with success her 
splendid projected system of railways. 

12th. Our invited guests — by the aid of 
yonder iron arms, may we often grasp them 
with the hand of fellowship and welcome. 

There were a few incidents and arrangements 
of the celebration that had some little effect to 
raar the festivities, and for which our citizens 
may be unjustly blamed. W^e have not time to 
allude to them, and it would perhaps do no 
good if we. could. 

We cannot close without giving in our testi- 
mony to the very affable, kind and courteous 
manner in whicli Conductor Sanburn discharged 
all the duties of his station. He never wearied 
in answering the thousand questions that were 



given him by inquisitive folks unaccustomed to 
railroad travel, greeted all with the same un- 
varying politeness, and assiduously labored for 
the comfort and safety of the large family he 
had to provide for. It is of vast importance to 
a railroad corporation to have obliging and 
courteous employes, such as we feel and know 
Mr. Sanburn to be, and we are twice glad that 
we have such upon the Southern Wisconsin 
Railroad. 

HO^V THE RAILROAD WAS BUILT TO MONROE. 

So great was the desire of the people of Green 
county to have a railroad, that, at an early day, 
they had subscribed liberally toward the build- 
ing of the one contemplated from Janesville to 
Monroe; but, with all their liberality, there was 
still a lack of means to carry forward the enter- 
prise. The system of "Farm Mortgages" was 
therefore resorted to, which, in the end, caused 
a great deal of trouble and anxiety to many of 
the farmers of Green county, although no very 
great pecuniary loss (except in a few case?) was 
the result — thanks to the energetic and self- 
sacrificing efforts of E. D. Clinton of Erod- 
head. Brooks Dunwiddie of Monroe, and per- 
haps one or two others in a less degree. 

"In mortgaging their farms," says Miss Bing- 
ham (History of Green County, pp. 34-36), 
"some of the farmers were influenced wholly 
by a desire to get the railroad here, but most 
of them were also moved by a spirit of specula- 
tion. Stock in the railroad company was given 
them for their mortgages, and the general opin- 
ion of its value was such tliat farmers made 
their mortgages as large as the company would 
allow them to be. The company promised to 
pay the interest on all the mortgages, and 
promised that no mortgages on land west of 
Brodhead should be sold until the road reached 
Brodhead, and none from west of Monr.ie until 
the road reached Monroe. In October, 1854, 
stock to the amount of 1485,900 had been taken. 
'J''he greater part of it was in Green county, but 
the mortgages given in the vicinity of Shulls- 
burg amounted to $128,000. By February, 1856, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



391 



work on the road had begun. The mortgages 
were taken to New England, where they sold 
readily. The company also obtained money at 
three different times by mortgages on the road; 
but much of the money obtained in these ways 
was used on the Prairie du Chien road, and 
work on the Southern Wisconsin was not prose- 
cuted with the vigor which the mortgageo's h;id 
hoped for. The road to Prairie du Chien was 
finished in April, 1857, but the company had 
not then the money to push forward the other 
road. * * * j^ ^yg^g really 

Green county, not the railroad company, that 
brought the road from Janesville, and a great 
number of citizens are entitled to a share of the 
credit of it; but, much as it cost in money, the 
greatest cost of the road was in the anxiety and 
long suspense it brought the raortgageors. 

''The company assumed an appearance of 
great fairness towards the mortgageors. Some- 
times a director was chosen from among them, 
and, as was especially the case in the election 
of Judge Dunwiddie, this was conducive to 
the interests of both the company and the mort- 
gageors; but the appearance was frequently de- 
ceptive. On one occasion, all the stock-hold 
ers and their wives were given a tree rule to 
Milwaukee, to attend a railroad meeting. They 
were all urged to go, but, after their arrival at 
the meeting some pretext was raised by which 
almost every one of them was prevented from 
voting. The agreement of the company in re- 
gard to using the mortgages from the country 
west of Monroe was so far kept tliat, before the 
sale of the road in August, 1857, all those given 
west of Green county were released. The de- 
sire for the road was so great in Lafayette 
county that E. D. Clinton, the general 
agent of the road, and the man who, more than 
any one else, was the cause of its extension 
from .Janesville, found more difficulty in releas- 
ing the mortgages than lie had found in obtain- 
ing them. Two men refused to com[)ly with the 
condition of a release, which was to pay the re- 
corder's fee, and in these cases Mr. Clinton paid 



the costs himself. The mortgages given in the 
western part of the county were all sold before 
the road reached Monroe, and the promise in 
regard to paying the interest on the mortgages 
was not fulfilled. After the completion of the 
road, the stock was raised by a fictitious divi- 
dend and by some other devices to ninety per 
cent. The holders of the mortgages were by 
this time glad to sell them, and the company 
bought them and settled with the mortgageors 
by buying their stock at ninety per cent. A 
few of tlie farmers had previously effected a 
settlement with the purchasers of their mort- 
gages, and paid more; but ten cents on a dol- 
lar was all that any of them were obliged to 
pay, and a few of them never paid anything." 

FARM MORTGAGES. 
[ByE. D. Clinton.] 

I was sent by the Milwaukee & Mississippi 
Railroad Company, as their stock agent, to as- 
certain what could be done to build the road 
west of Janesville. I went to Monroe, there 
being very little interest at Janesville, and 
called on Judge Dunwiddie and Mr. Ludlow, 
also on Judge Bingham, who has since died. 
These men introduced me to John H. Bridge, 
who then lived eight or ten miles south of Mon- 
roe (now in Monroe). I informed them there 
was so little money in the country, we could 
not build as rapidly as we wanted to without 
resorting to farm mortgages. We had taken 
farm mortgages and used them successfully in 
building the road to Janesville. I consulted 
with the men referred to at Monroe, and others 
they introduced me to. I tried to impress upon 
them that giving farm mortgages would secure 
an early completion of the road to Monroe, and 
that they had only to convince the farmers that 
by mortgaging their farms they would not put 
their property in jeopardy. 

For the purpose of giving them an under- 
standing on what condition the mortgages were 
taken, we appointed a county meeting at the 
court house in Monroe, and invited all the peo- 
ple of the county interested to be present. 



392 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



Tliere was a general rally, ami the court house 
was filled. Quite a luuuber of the directors of 
the railroad were present, with the chief engi- 
neer. I was called upon to explain the object 
of the meeting. I then said: "I am glad the 
directors are present, as I have just come from 
the La Crosse road. In my explaining the plan 
of the company, if I do not state it correctly 
they will correct rae." I then laid on the 
table a large number of copies of reports 
of work the previous year, which, as it re- 
gards correctness, was certified to by John Cat- 
lin, the president of the company, and Wil- 
liam Taintor, secretary, by affidavit. Their 
veracity was not doubted by any one acquainted 
with them. I requested each one interested to 
take stock by mortgage; also to take a copy of 
the report home and look it over carefully. 
"After you have heard what I have to say," I 
continued, "and these directors in explanation, 
if you feel safe and wish to secure the road to 
]Monroe, you will come to Monroe, where Dr. 
Peck, who is with me, and is a notary public, 
will fill up the mortgages and take the acknowl- 
edgement at your houses. We do not wish any 
but genuine mortgages, with the expectation of 
your paying it; if the company fail to pay, just 
as you would have to pay a bank note. We 
want to do everything in good faith, so that we 
can realize the money on the mortgages to build 
the road without loss. I now attempt," I said 
farther, "to explain the pro])osition of the com- 
pany to take your mortgages — This is the plan, 
that you give your note and mortgage to the 
company or holder, for any amount you wish 
to take, to run ten years, with coupons attached, 
interest payable annually, at the rate of 8 
per cent., for which the company authorizes 
me, as their agent, to give you a receipt in full 
for the shares of capital stock, or any number 
of shares, of §100 each in said company. The 
company will give you an indemnifying bond 
that they will ])ay the interest for ten years, 
also pay you 2 per cent, annually, making it 
that the company allows you 10 per cent. 



interest, while the cou]>ons called for 8 per 
cent." 

Perhaps this is not worded precisely, but it 
is the general idea, as I now recollect. At the 
close of n)y first talk in the court house at Mon- 
roe to induce men to give their mortgages, the 
directors were called upon to speak. They 
fully endorsed what I had said in regard to the 
good faith and responsibility of the company. 
If you give your mortgages you will be pro- 
tected as the mortgageors have been heretofore, 
and you will secure the completion of the road 
to Monroe. One of the directors said the first 
man that will give his mortgage to the amount 
of $10,000 shall have an engine put on the road 
bearing his name. I believe John II. Bridge 
secured that honor, and the company fulfilled 
their agreement. There was a full representa- 
tion of Green county at that meeting. I then 
explained to them that the mortgages given 
east of Green county a number of years pre- 
vious to this drew 10 per cent annually, the 
company agreeing to pay 12 per cent, in- 
terest, also the 2 per cent, bonus. "Now 
you will find in these reports," said I, "that the 
company have promptly paid the interest as 
agreed. [If I recollect right this report was 
for the previous year's earnings.] After the 
road was completed to Madison, that year the 
road earned, after paying interest on farm 
mortgages and mortgages on the road, and run- 
ning expenses, enough so that the company 
gave 15 percent, dividend to paying stock- 
holders, as you will see by the report. I gave 
$5,000 among the first. I have never been 
called u])on to pay 1 cent of interest, and no 
other mortgageor. I am credited upon the stock 
book annually 2 per cent., to lay there until 
the principal becomes due. You know the 
country better than I do. I liave never been 
west of Monroe on this line. I know of no 
reason why the company cannot be as success- 
fr.l in the future as in the past. I see no waste 
land from Janesville to Monroe that compares 
Avith the non-producing land next to Madison 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



393 



on that line half way to Rock river. I do not 
want you to give mortgages because I have. 
After you look the report over, if you want to 
give a mortgage, let me know." 

I told them also I believed their land would 
be doubled in value by having the road com- 
pleted to Monroe. I think that has been more 
than realized. There is one farm, to my knowl- 
edge, that was sold for $20 an acre, the 
highest price that could be obtained at that 
time, which has since been sold for $64 
an acre. The rise of land, and increased facil- 
ities for transportation, have exceeded ray repre- 
sentation. In Rock county, farmers could not 
get their wheat taken to market at the halfs. 
I presume the same fact existed in Green coun- 
ty. After the road was built to Whitewater, 
they could market their wheat from that point 
at less than 10 per cent., while before they 
could not get it done for less than 50 per cent. 
The same facts existed along the whole line. 
Circumstances occurred that the cost of the road 
exceeded all expectation and greatly exceeded 
the expense of the road that had been built. 
At that time there was very little prospect of 
any benefit from the road until completed to 
the Mississippi river. The company gave such 
an extraordinary contract to complete it in so 
short a time that I have no doubt they were 
slaughtered a half million dollars; consequently 
they piled up liabilities of bonds to pay interest 
upon without a corresponding income from tlie 
road. This embarrassed the mortgageors. Tiie 
company failed to pay annual interest accord- 
ing to agreement. When the road was com- 
pleted to Prairie du Chien, the company found 
themselves in competition with the Mississippi 
river, and was compelled to carry wheat from 
Prairie du Chien to Milwaukee for nine cents 
a bushel, which Avas a very little, if any, more 
than from Madison to Milwaukee, half the 
distance. 

The company suffered a groat loss in negoti- 
ating farm mortgages with irresponsible parties 
who made a ficticious company to perpetrate a 



fraud on the railroad company. They got pos- 
session of $130,000, only paying $10,000. 
The company lost in that transaction at least 
$130,000. These circumstances combined had 
a tendency to discredit the companj', and dis- 
able them from making any negotiations with 
capitalists, for further means to build the road. 
They had issued, under press of circumstances, 
third mortages to the amount of $300,000, and 
the coupons had become due, and there were no 
means of paying them in hand. It was thought 
best by some of our directors to negotiate with 
parties who would take the road on the irrespon- 
sible foreclosure of the third mortgage bonds 
subject to the first and second mortgage, on 
conditions that all of the common stock-holders 
should not be entitled to vote until the earnings 
of the road should be sufficient to pay up run- 
ning expenses and interest on bonds, and yield 
a dividend to common stockholders; then, they 
should be restored to vote as provided in the 
charter. This proposition was acceded to by 
the directors very reluctantly. However the 
road was sold and taken possession of by Mr. 
Myers from New York, their president. This 
measure being adopted, left no provision to 
carry out the obligations of the former company 
to the mortgageors." 

I explained the obligation of tlie old company, 
and said there was no necessity of giving tlie 
road up. The crops on the ground if they could 
provide rolling stock to move it to market 
would pay every cent of tlie interest, and the 
bonds and farm mortgages before they could 
get judgment or foreclose on tlie mortgages. 
The road was worth in cash all the mortgages 
and bonds, including the farm mortgages and 
the president could well afford to provide for 
the latter. He appeared very friendly to the 
mortgageors. I could not get him, however, to 
agree to make any provision to protect them. 
Believing, as I did, that the road was well 
worth all the liabilities, I turned my whole at- 
tention to the legislature. I paid my own ex- 
penses at three sessions to get legislation to 



394 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



compel the railroad company to protect tlie 
mortgageors from paying interest as agreed 
when the mortgages were taken. I did not 
believe the directors had a right to hand over 
the road voluntarily to be foreclosed, and dis- 
franchise the stockholders from representation 
of their stock. Wlien I held meetings I read 
the charter which showed that each stockholder 
was entitled to one vote for every share of stock 
held by him. I consulted with lawyers; they 
agreed with me that it was an illegal organiza- 
tion until recognized by the legislature. I con- 
sulted with Mr. Harvey while he was a candi- 
date for the governorship. I submitted to him 
what had been agreed upon by the friends of 
the mortgageors, that we would ask the legis- 
lature to pass a bill to appropriate 3 per 
cent, of the freight of every bushel of wheat, 
and all other freight in proportion, and of the 
fare of passengers, for a sinking fund to pay off 
the farm mortgages. He said if he was elected 
he would include that in his message. 
He considered it reasonable and just. He 
was elected, and failed to include the 
fact in his message. I went to liim, after 
reading his message, to know the reason 
of his not fulfilling his agreement. He said he 
went to Milwaukee and consulted with the 
principal railroad men who said it would em- 
barrass mortgageors if we provided a sinking 
fund to pay off the mortgages, because it would 
raise the price of the mortgages so they could 
not be bought. Then I said: "Governor, your 
advisers do not care anything about the holders 
of the mortgages. They bought the mortgages 
in good faith; we have their money to build the 
road when we could not raise it anywhere else; 
they ought to have their pay." 

The governor replied: "I will do anything 
in my power for the right, to save all parties." 

We went to work to get iip a bill while the 
legislature was in session to carry out our idea 
of a sinking fund. Mr. Spencer, the manager 
of the road, had a bill that would legalize, if 
passed, their organization. When offered, this 



bill was laid on the table, and our bill was in- 
troduced, and referred to a committee. Mr. 
Spencer come to me, and said if their bill was 
passed it would protect the mortgageors. I 
said to him, 'Mr. Small holds large amounts 
of these mortgages to collect. If you can bar- 
gain with him to surrender the mortgages for 
the stock, you can have any legislation you want, 
that is reasonable." He consulted with Mr. 
Small, and they came to an agreement and Mr. 
Spencer's bill passed. 

It seemed impossible at the time we took the 
mortgages that any man should suffer by 
mortgaging his farm if the company had ful- 
filled their agreement that they would pay the 
interest on the mortgages and hold the givers of 
the same harmless for ten years, besides paying 
them the 2 per cent, annually. It will readily 
be seen that if the stock was worth only SO 
per cent, at the end of ten years, the 2 per 
cent, per annum, which the company agreed to 
pay would make up the amount of the princi- 
pal. At the time the mortgages were given in 
Green county, the stock was, I believe, worth 
100 cents on the dollar. 

FARM MORTGAGES — EXTRACTS FROM THE MONROE 
SENTIjSTBL. 

I. — 31ilwaukee cO 3Iississippi Mailroad. 
[Sept. 6, 1854.] 

The plan for the consolidation of the above 
railroad interests under the name and style of 
the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad Com- 
pany is now in process of completion, through 
the agency of E. D. Clinton, agent for the 
M. & M. R. R. Co. 

Mr. Clinton is authorized to procure stock 
for the consolidated company. 

The plan which he has adopted comprises 
two kinds of stock. The first, personal or cash 
subscription ; and the second mortgage or real 
estate security stock. 

The first of these plans will require the pay- 
ment of cash at the rate of 25 per cent, per 
annum; the second requires merely the giving 
of a mortgage for one-half the value of the real 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



395 



estate named therein, the valuation thereof to 
be made by your own neighbors, and the ap- 
praisals to be made in good faith. The condi- 
tions of this valuation will be fully explained 
by the agent at each meeting. 

We suppose this proposal to be stated suiB- 
ciently clear to meet the understanding of all. 

It remains for us to give our opinion of the 
plan, the policy of which will be questioned by 
some, and the deep interest we believe the 
owners of real estate have in taking all the 
second kind of stock that lies within their 
power. We believe the plan to be thoroughly 
feasible., safe and clesirahle, and that the oppor- 
tunity to take stock in this way, should be em- 
braced by every one witli a view to his own 
interest alone. 

The plan is safe. The company will pay the 
interest on all money borrowed for the use of 
the road upon the credit of these real estate 
securities, and allow to each of the mortgage- 
ors the sum of 2 per cent, per annum, giv- 
ing a certiticate for stock to the amount of the 
mortgage, more or less, as if the whole had 
been paid up or into the treasury of the com- 
pany. The money borrowed upon the strength 
of these securities will be carefully appropriated 
for the building of the road, and by the legiti- 
mate operation of the process for the liquida- 
tion of the debt the mortgageor becomes a bona 
fide stock-holder to the amount of his mortgage 
without the outlay of a dollar. In fact it 
amounts to the payment of all his stock as a 
bonus for the use of his credit. 

Now, in our judgment, every farmer, every 
real estate owner, should deem it a privilege to 
have the opportunity under the mortgage sys- 
tem. The great advantage offered by railroad 
facilities i.n getting produce to market, we need 
not dilate upon. But the additional advantage 
of receiving into our own pockets the propor- 
tional net earnings of the road, is a considera- 
tion too important to be lightly thrown away. 

Should the farmers of Green county let an op- 
portunity {^ass for becoming stDck-holders when 



the opportunity is offered to do so without the 
outlay of a dollar of consideration, further 
than loaning their credit to a perfectly reliable 
company, of which they may become a part ? 
We think not — and we feel very sure that that 
man, whoever he may be, that lets this oppor- 
tunity pass, will have occasion to regret it at no 
distant day, when it is too late to remedy the 
evil his timidity has wrought to himself and 
family. We would rejoice to see our farmers 
become stock-holders to the amount of 
$500,000 if it were possible, and it is pos- 
sible. Why should not the farmers of 
Green and the counties west, become the 
real owners of this line of railroad at no dis- 
tant day ? Is it really an object for you to 
pay into the pockets of eastern capitalists the 
necessary expenses of transporting your own 
produce ? Why not have it return to your own 
pockets ? Answer, if you please. 

When you have notice of a meeting or meet- 
ings in your respective neighborhoods, by all 
means turn out. You will then meet with the 
agent, who will explain to you fully and clear- 
ly, the mode and manner of all these things, 
and when you come out to the neighborhood 
meetings bring your women folks. They have 
an interest in all this matter. Your wives, your 
daughters, have an interest in common 
with yourselves, men. They should have an op- 
portunity to become informed in the premises. 
It is necessary that the wife should join her 
husband in executing the mortgage. She should 
be permitted to understand it, and thereby en- 
abled to give an intelligent signature to the 
papers. 

Mr. Clinton will be able to satisfy any man 
or woman who may be desirous of making a 
permanent investment under circumstances 
peculiarly favorable to those persons, that it is 
not only a privilege, but really a duty they owe 
to themselves and their dependants. 

Since writing the above, the committee hars-- 
ing the matter in charge have made the follow- 
ing appbintments in the township. 



396 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



At Delavans school house, in Clarno, Thurs- 
day, August 31, at 2 o'clock. 

Twin Grove, town of Jefferson Friday, Sep- 
tember 1, at 2 o'clock. 

Juda, Saturday, September 2, at 2 o'clock. 

Clarence, Monday, September 4, school house. 

Decatur, Tuesday, September 5, at 2 o'clock. 

Sylvester, Wednesday, September, Thomp- 
son's school house. 

Jordan, Thursday, September 7, 2 o'clock, 
Morton's school house. 

Cadiz, Friday, September 8, 2 o'clock, Swank's 
mill. 

We earnestly recommend a general attend- 
ance at these meetings. It may be pretty safely 
estimated, judging fiom the manifestations here 
to-day, August 80, that Green county will take 
of mortgaged stock about 1300,000. At this 
place, the meeting to-day, have subscribed over 
$66,000. The work goes bravely on, and we 
are bound to have the road. 

Here are the proceedings of the meeting held 
at the court house, in Monroe, on Tuesday 
afternoon, 29th inst.: 

Pursuant to adjournment of a meeting held 
on the evening of August 10, a large number of 
the citizens of Green county assembled at the 
court liouse, in Monroe, at 2 o'clock, on the af- 
ternoon of Aug. 29, 1854, to deliberate upon 
the construction of the Southern Wisconsin 
Railroad. 

The meeting organized by appointing James 
L. Powell chairman and Edmutul JJartlett sec- 
retary. 

David Noggle, Esq , of Janesville, was then 
called upon for a speech, who responded by a 
few pertinent remarks in reference to the im- 
portance to Green county of the speedy comple- 
tion of the road. 

E. D. Clinton, Esq., agent of the Milwaukee 
& Mississippi Railroad Company, was then in- 
troduced to tlie meeting, who addressed the 
audience upon, 1st. The feasibility of the route; 
2d. The certainty that tlie road will pay; 3d. 
The ability of the farmers to build the road; 



and 4th. The safety of mortgaging real estate 
to raise the necessary means to get the road into 
successful operation, and the benefits which 
would accrue to the farmers should they mort- 
gage their farms to build the road and own it 
themselves. 

By invitation Mr. Finch, of Milwaukee, sj)oke 
in relation to the consolidation of the stock of 
the Milwaukee & Mississipi)i and Southern 
Wisconsin Railroad Companies. 

Mr. Brodhead chief-engineer of the Milwau- 
kee & Mississipj)i Railroad Company, added re- 
marks in reference to the feasibility of the 
route, its value and importance, and the superi- 
ority of the narrow over the broad guage. 

B. Dunwiddie, Esq., of Monroe, suggested 
the propriety of appointing a coraraittee of 
farmers, and others interested in the road, to 
confer with Mr. Clinton upon the subject under 
consideration. 

It was voted that a committee of seventeen 
be appointed by the chair for the above pur- 
pose. 

The committee appointed by the chairman 
was as follows: 

Allen Woodle, Spring Grove; Israel Smith, 
Cutler Wilkins, George Adams, William Mc- 
Dowell, Clarno; Joseph Perrine, John Wal- 
worth, Monroe; Jacob Strader, Jabez Smith, 
Jordan; Jeremiah Bridge, William Ritten- 
house, Abraham Sanborn, Jefferson; Joseph 
McCracken, James Caughey, Justus Sutherland, 
George Bloom, Sylvester; Mordecai Kelly, 
Cadiz. 

Voted to adjourn until 9 o'clock to-morrow 
morning. 

Edmun]) Baktj.ett, .Iames L. Poavell, 

Secretary. Chaiimaii. 

Monroe, Aug. 29, 1854. 

II.— The Railroad. 
[Sept. 6, 18o4.] 

We learn by a gentleman who has been in 
company with the Messrs. Clinton and Peck, of 
the Milwaukee & Mississip])i Railroad Com 
pany, who are now engaged in the several 




yj^ffdliy yuAX^/^t.n^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



399 



towns holding meetings, explaining the plan of 
the company, and taking mortgages for stock 
in the road, that something over |1 60,000 of 
stock has been taken and but four towns as yet 
been visited by the agents. It is now the expec- 
tation that a sufficient amount of stock will be 
taken during the week, to complete the consoli- 
dation and this will warrant the purchase of 
the iron for the road as far as to Monroe, which 
will be effected immediately by Mr. Holton, 
who is now in New York on business connected 
with the road. There will be an opportunity to 
take stock at Monroe during this week. 

III. — The Railroad Stock Subscription. 

[Sept. 20, 1854.] 

We shall report weekly the state of the rail- 
road stock subscription until the whole is taken. 
Up to this day (Monday, September 18,) Green 
county has raised the figures to $410,000. To- 
day and to-morrow meetings are to be held at 
Decatur and Clarence, at which i:)laces we feel 
quite safe in saying the figures will be raised to 
$4*50,000. In addition to tins the subscription 
west of Green county has reached the sum of 
$40,000. The people of CJreeii cannot be stopped 
short of ^500,000. The citizens of this countv 
will be the recipients of the benefits of this 
large amount of stock in a paying road. We 
feel justly elated at the display of so wise a 
selfishness on the part of our citizens. It is an 
evidence of their intelligence and sagacity. 
The aggregate accruing wealth to the county 
we will not stop now to delineate. Mr. Clinton 
has held two meetings in Lafayette county, but 
being obliged to return home on business for 
the La Crosse & Milwaukee Company, his 
further visit to the counties west will be deferred 
until further notice — two or three weeks per- 
haps. 

IV. — Southern Wisconsin Railroad. 

[From the Milwaukee Sontinol— Copied by the Sentinel Oct. 
4. 1854.] 

We copy below the latter part of a report 
just mnde by Mr. Clinton, agent of the Milwau- 
kee & Mississippi Railroad Company, to the j purposes of successful and economical farming, 

24 



directors, concerning his operations in the south- 
western counties. The business seems to have 
been managed with great ability on the part of 
the agent, and his efforts have been seconded 
nobly by the people. The plans of the com- 
pany have been frankly laid before the farmers 
and business men of the west, and have met 
with their approval, as the stock books plainly 
tell. Only two meetings had been held in La- 
fayette county, one at Benton and one at Shulls- 
burg, when Mr. Clinton was obliged to return; 
but such men as Messrs. Earnest, Williams, 
Townsend and Lee, of Shullsburg, Murphy, 
Parker, Johnson and Gibson, of Benton, and 
Edwards, of Hazel Green, Grant county, have 
exhibited great interest in the movement, and 
the people will be on hand when called upon. 

Mr, Clinton says: 

On Monday we closed our work at Decatur, 
in Green county, with a good^ bona, fide sub- 
scription of $485,900, and was obliged to leave 
blank papers with Brooks Dunwiddie, of Mon- 
roe, to fill up for those who had spoken for an 
opportunity of subscribing, but had been un- 
able to meet us for that purpose before we left. 
Every dollar of that stock is reliable. It is ta- 
ken by the very best, the most cautious, pru- 
dent and intelligent men along the line. 
Hardly a successful, candid farmer who has 
taken the time to examine the subject but has 
become a stock-holder by all the cash stock he 
can carry, or by a mortgage upon his farm. 
The whole line of road to the Mississippi river 
is through a country not excelled by any por- 
tion of our State, and no estimate can be made 
of the amount of business which it will furnish 
to this road. Not only is it rich in agricultural 
products, but untold wealth is buried beneath 
the soil for many miles through which this road 
will run. In addition to the fertility of its soil 
and the wealth of its mines, the prairies are 
everywhere skirted with heavy timber, supply- 
ing almost every farm with sufficient for all the 



400 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and a surplus large enougli to supply the road 
with ties and wood, at a low price. With so 
many of the elements of prosperity surrounding 
this road, it cannot but pay large returns to 
those who have subscribed so liberally to con- 
struct it, if their means are judiciously and 
economically expended in its speedy construc- 
tion. 1 am, gentlemen, yours truly, 

E. D. Clinton. 

V. — Mailroad Matters. 

[Oct. 25, 1854.] 

We are informed that some evil disposed per- 
sons, or grossly misinformed, are circulating 
stories to the effect that some of the farmers 
who early mortgaged to the M. & M. Railroad 
Company had lost their lands, or suffered loss 
by doing so. This whole story is a sheer fabri- 
cation. We are authorized authoritatwely to 
state that there is not only no truth in this 
story, but that there is no foundation whatever 
for it. There are rival interests at the bottom 
of these undermining reports. Our Green 
county farmers have come nobly to the work of 
raising the stock for this important road, and 
we have no patience with those malicious per- 
sons — tools for other interests — whose vocation 
seems to be to raise fears in the minds of those 
who have had liberality and forethought enough 
to enter into this matter. They still have con- 
fidence, but some will feel uneasy at these re- 
ports, not knowing whether there may be some 
truth in them. We now, once for all, say to 
our farmers that they have made a good and 
safe investment, and will reap a full reward in 
time What they have done they will never 
see cause to regret. The stock of this com|)any 
is to-day worth 100 cents on the dollar. Men 
can judge whether it is likely to be less when 
built to IMonroe, or to the Mississippi river, and 
Prairie du Chien. 

Vl. — Railroad StocJc Subscription, $62-5,000. 

[Nov. 1.5, 1854.] 

E. D. Clinton left this place on Monday 
morning for the counties west, and Dubuque. 
Wfe bbtained frntn Dr. Peck, who accompnnies 



Mr. Clinton,, a full abstract of the present 
amount of stock subscription. There are 6,255 
shares, making the round sura of $625,000. 
Rock county has about |100,000 of stock, Green 
near half a million, with many thousand over 
in Illinois, adjacent to the State line. That we 
feel a little elevated at a sight of what the 
Green county farmers have done, we won't take 
any pains to conceal. They have done the 
wisest thing that has been done, for they have 
taken the most stock of any county in the 
State, by very many tens of thousands. Be- 
fore ten days shall have elapsed, all that will be 
required to give this county a half million will 
have been done. We desire that this sum shall 
be reached and fixed ais a permanent investment 
for this county. Had it not been for the una- 
voidable call of Mr. Clinton away from this 
line of operation, there could, if desirable, have 
been 1 1 ,000,000 of stock taken. There is hardly 
half the people in the southern part of the 
county that have yet taken stock. We mean 
those who desire it, and are only waiting oppoi'- 
tunity. For although there have been many 
meetings held, yet they were so hurried that 
the people could not be accommodated. We 
now regret, and all will have cause to regret, 
that, although the interests of the county will 
be largely represented in the new board of di- 
rectors, the people will not own all the stock in 
the road or that portion from Janesville to 
Monroe. The best system of building railroads 
is now pursued by this com])any that has ever 
been adopted in the world. Because the own- 
ers of the road are those who will be chiefly 
benefitted by its completion. It is only strange 
that the system had not obtained long ago. By 
this system the earnings of the road remain 
with the people through whose country the road 
passes. The inhabitants are thus interested in 
liaving a good road, taking care of it, and hav- 
ing it generally well managed. 

We expect to live to see the day when this 
plan will obtain in building the Pacific railway. 
It can be done. We di-'u'i w;iut TJucle Samuel 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



401 



to give any great company land to build a road 
to the Pacific. Lethim give the land to settlers 
and we will insure the building of the railway 
to meet the waves of the western ocean in less 
than ten years. The people will do this, only 
give them the land, and let the land jobbers and 
robbers go the devil or to Washington — there 
ain't much to choose. 

Now Messrs. Lafayette county, Grant county 
and Dubuque folks, don't let the agent, Mr. Clin- 
ton, return until he gets the railroad matter fin- 
ished up, as far as you are concerned. Let us 
know on what basis we stand with you. If you 
want anything to do with our road, please do it 
soon, or let us know it at your earliest conven- 
ience ; and the people in Green county will 
take good eare that the work goes on anyhow. 

To those who feel an interest in knowing 
what the people of Green county think of Mr. 
Clinton, we all had abundant opportunity to see 
him and learn his character as a railroad man, the 
whole souled men of Green are his endoisers, 
to-day. The people of Green desire that his 
reception shall be of such a nature in the west, 
that upon his return they will know the basis 
on which the work is to be commenced in iIk^- 
spring. They desire to be satisfied with it at 
that lime. 

VII.— A Card from E. D. Clinton. 

INov. 29, 1854.1 

Editors Sentinel : — Business connected with 
the line of another road in which T am inter- 
ested, calls me away from the line of the M. & 
M. R. R. for the present, and I wish to say 
through your ])aper to those who have spoken for 
an opportunity of taking stock, and upon whom 
1 have in some instances promise! to call, that 
Dr. Peck, who has been with me through the 
whole work, will be in Monroe, from and after 
the 6th of December next, and if any per- 
sons wishing to subscribe will leave their names 
with II. B. Poyer or B. Dunwiddie, he will call 
on tliem at their residences. We have met 
with the most complete success west of here to 
the Mississippi river, and now only lack S30,- 



000 of the sum at which the board of directors 
have limited us in the way of stock subscrip- 
tion. E. D. Clinton. 

VIII. — Im^wi'tant to Stock Subscribers. 

[Dec. 13, 1854.] 

The subscribers to the stock of the Milwaukee 
& Mississippi Railroad Company in Green 
county are respectfully notified that they ought 
to procure the recording of patents and certifi- 
cates at the earliest day possible, as a matter of 
convenience to themselves individually and the 
company. 

Dr. Lewis E. Peck is now in Monroe, and de- 
sires to get through with the recording at the 
earliest day. 

This notice applies equally to those in other 
counties along the line of this road. 

We had intended to have published the very 
satisfactory report of Mr. Clinton to the M. & M. 
board of directors, but the message takes all the 
room we have to spare for this week. Next 
week we will give the report and some other 
ijiilroad matters. We have had a lengthy arti- 
cle on hand for several weeks, from the Mil- 
waukee Sentinel^ and are only waiting room. 
IX. — E. D. Clinton's Report. 

rKrom Milwaukee Sentitiel— Copied by Monroe Sentinel, Dec. 
20, 1854.1 

We take pleasure in publishing the annexed 
report of E. D. Clinton, embodying the result 
of his canvassing tour through the southern 
counties for subscriptions to the stock of the 
Southern Wisconsin Railroad. It will be seen 
that the most gratifying success attended Mr. 
Clinton's labors, and that the farmers, miners 
and property owners all along the line of this 
road stand ready to help forward the enterprise, 
not only with their good will, but with substan- 
tial aid and comfort. It is confidently believed 
that a subscription of $'2,000,000 will ensure the 
building of the road, and that work can be com- 
menced and steadily prosecuted as soon as the 
money market recovers from its stringency. 
The indications now are that the ensuing year 
will be a favorable one for railroad projects 



402 



HISTORY OF GREEK COUNTY. 



founded on a proper basis and secure of a good 
business. Labor and materials, especially iron 
will be mucb cheaper than during the past two 
3'ears, and thougli capital is not likely to be 
abundant, it can be had for such a road as tlie 
Southern Wisconsin, which is backed by a 
liberal home subscription, traverses a most pro- 
ductive region is sure of a heavy traffic and 
connects at Janesville with the Milwaukee & 
Mississippi Railroad, one of the most successful 
enterprises in the west. 

MiT.WAUKEE, ISTov. 30, 1854. 
To the board of directors of the Milwaukee 
& Mississippi Railroad Company: 
Gentleiiex: — The amount of stock subscrip- 
tions to the M. & M. R. R,, on the line be- 
tween the city of Janesville and Mississippi 
river at the date of my first report was a 
little short of $500,000. At that time I 
had visited only hurriedly that part of the 
line west of Green count}', and but casually 
that part of Rock county west of Janesville. 
Since the date of that report I have visited 
almost every town immediately upon the line 
and at every point where the books have been 
opened, very liberal subscriptions have been 
made; and had I not been hurried through by 
the urgency of other engagements, I am satis- 
fied that a very much larger amount would have 
been raised. The amount now upon the books, 
every dollar of which is believed to be of the 
most available character is $950,800, a very 
large proportion of which is farm mortgages. 
To this amount may safely be added $50,000 
from men who are only waiting for an opportu- 
nity to subscribe and who would be upon tiie 
books if we had not been so hurried that we 
could not call ujion each man personally. This 
amount I feel confident will be more than re- 
alized on the return of Dr. Pock, who will go 
immediately back and remain for some time 
upon the lino for the pui'pose of i>crfecting the 
abstr.acts of titles to the mortgages already 
taken and who will call upon all those awaiting 
an opportunity to subscribe. 



In addition to the above amount, the commit- 
tee appointed at a meeting of the citizens of 
Dubnque held on the ]5th inst. pledged to me 
at least $100,000 of individual cash subscrip- 
tions and at least $300,000 of the bonds of the 
city. 

The amount now especially appropriated to the 
construction of that line of road is as follows: 

By Bonds of Milwaukee City $300, 000 

.Janesville City 50,000 

Dubuque (pledged by com). . 300,000 

" " New Slock subscribed 950,300 

" " Pledged at Dubuque 100,000 

Old stock subscribed to S. W. R. B 130, 000 

Total $1, 930, 300 

This amount could be very considerably in- 
creased and should you determine to take a less 
amount of the city bonds when they are voted 
to be given for a subscription of stock it would, 
I have no doubt, be very generally satisfactory 
to the stockholders, and individual subscrip- 
tions would be quickly raised to an equal 
amount. 

'In conclusion allow me to say that we have 
everywhere met with a hearty reception and 
our efforts have been materially aided by the 
exertions of the most reliable and substantial 
men all along the line. At Shullsburg, New 
Diggings, Benton and Jamestown, we had the 
hearty co-operation of Messrs. Griffin, Town- 
send, Judge Knowlton, Earnest, Murphy and 
others who took hold with a determined will. 
At Shullsburg, aided by such men as I have 
mentioned, we took, in a single day, a subscrip- 
tion of $127,000 the largest amount subscribed 
in any one day on the whole line. 

At Dubuque also we found warm friends who 
look hold of tl'.e matter with an earnestness 
that speaks well for the interest felt at that 
place in the success of the enterprise. Messrs. 
Jones, Langworthy and Farley, are particularly 
zealous in their efforts and felt quite confident 
that an amount fully equal to that pledged, 
would be very speedily raised. 

In your efforts for the early completion of 
the road you will have not only the sympathies 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



403 



and good will of the whole community througli 
which it passes, but what is far more important 
in the construction of this road, their aid in a 
material way will be given to the extent of 
their ability. 

Respectfully yours, 

E. D. Clinton. 

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY. 

Monroe Branch. 
It has already been explained that, in 1857, 
the State legislature passed an act authorizing 
all stock-holders in all incorporated companies 
to vote on shares of stock owned by them. 
Upon this subject Mr. Clinton says: "Benjamin 
Hopkins, a member of the legislature (a shrewd 
manager), under the head of a petroleum bill, 
got an act passed to enable all stock-holders to 
represent what was known as "common stock." 
There being a majority of that character of 
stock of the railroad then furnished to Monroe, 
in the hands of what is now the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railway Company, the rail- 
road to Monroe was carried over to their con- 
trol, where it still remains. This was in 1857 — 
the year the road was completed to Monroe." 

CHICAGO, MILWAUIvEE & ST. PAUL KAILAVAY. 

Mineral Point Division. 
The road from Janesville to Monroe con- 
tinued to run from the former to the latter place 
as the "Monroe Branch" until 1881, when, it 
having been extended west to the old Mineral 
Point road, the name was changed to the "Min- 
eral Point Division," including the following 
stations: Janesville, Hanover, Oxford, Brod- 
head, Juda, Monroe, Browntown, Wayne, Gra- 
tiot, Darlington, Calamine and Mineral Point. 
This is the road extending east and west through 
Green county, at the present time (1884), and 
the only one. 

The work west of Monroe was commenced in 
July, 1880, and finished to Gratiot in August, 
1881. The first passenger train for Mineral 
Point left Monroe on Sunday, the 21st of the 
month last named. 



DISTAKCES. 



Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Mailway, Min- 
eral Point Division. 



Mis 


Stations. 


Mlt- 


Mis 


Stations. 


Ml8 




10 

6 

6 


Janesville 

Hanover 

Orfoid 

Brodhead.. .. 

. Juda 


84 
74 
69 
63 
56 
48 


8 
5 
9 

10 
6 

10 


.. .Browntown. ... 

Wa> ne 

Gratiot 

Dailii'Mtt n 

Calamine 

Mineral Point... 


40 

35 

16 
10 


8 


Monroe 






Deacon Edmund D. Clinton 
was one of the first to become identified with 
the history of Brodhead, his residence here 
dating from the fall of 185fi. He was born in 
Ferrisburg, Addison Co., Vt., April 19, 1804. 
When he was thirteen years old his father, 
Henry Clinton, removed with his family to St. 
Lawrence Co., N. Y., where Edmund grew to 
manhood and learned the blacksmith trade, 
which business he followed a number of years. 
He was married in St. Lawrence county to 
Amanda Conkey, and in 1832 removed to Ohio. 
He came to Wisconsin in 1836, reaching Mil- 
waukee June 29 of that year. There he opened 
the first blacksmith shop in that city, and went 
to work at his trade. In February, 1837, be 
went from Milwaukee to what is now Wau- 
kesha, and claimed land, to which he removed 
his family the following April. Here he en- 
gaged in farming and blacksmithing, and was 
also connected with a milling interest. A 
younger brother, Allen, went with him to Wau- 
kesha county, and an elder brother, Norman, 
came on in 1838, accompanied by their parents. 
Mr. Clinton was engaged in railroading for 
many years. He was one of the directors of 
the Milwaukee & Waukesha Railroad Company, 
when the first railroad in the State was built; 
afterwards with the Milwaukee & Prairie du 
Chien Railroad; also of the Milwaukee & La 
Crosse Railroad, all of which are now included 
in the corporation known as the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He was 
the agent for the taking of stock and securing 
the right of way for these companies, in which 
he was eminently successful. He has been 



404 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



prominently identified with the interests of 
Brodhead, since he came here in 1856, and in 
the advancement of moral and religious senti- 
ment he has been a prominent actor. He and 
his wife were converted at Canton, St. Lawrence 
Co., N, Y., in 1&32, and soon after removed to 
Portage Co., Ohio, where they united with the 
Presbyterian Church, but the society with which 
they united soon after withdrew from the Pres- 
bytery and became a Congregational organiza- 
tion, with which denomination he has ever since 
been identified. He assisted in the organiza- 
tion of the First Congregational Church at Mil- 
waukee in 1836, and was made one of the dea- 
cons. In 1836 he wad connected with the or- 
ganization of the First Congregational Church 
of what is now Waukesha county. He helped 
to organize the Congregational Church at Brod- 
head in 1856, and was at that time appointed 
one of the deacons, in which capacity he has 
ever since served in that Church. He has 
faithfully served the Church of his choice for a 
period of more than forty-nine years. His in- 
fluence, also, in the temperance cause, and other 
social and moral reforms, has been marked and 
effective, especially in the cause of anti-slavery. 
Deacon Clinton's first wife died in February, 
1874. His present wife was Mrs. Harriet Smith 
Adams, born in Essex Co., N. Y. He had, by 
his first marriage, seven sons, only three of 
whom are now living — Albert T., born June 25, 
1830, now of Chicago, 111.; George, born Aug. 
21, 1839, who was major in the 1st Wisconsin 
Cavalry, was taken prisoner and confined at 
Richmond and Andersonville, then exchanged 
and served till the close of the war. He is now 
superintendent of a division of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and resides in 
Chicago. DeWitt is the youngest surviving 
son. The oldest son, Henry P., born Oct. 4, 
1827, was quartermaster in the 7lh Wisconsin 
regiment, and died in February, 1862, from 
the efiiects of exposure at and following the first 
battle of Bull Run. Charles W., the fourth 
son, born April 26, 1835, was a lieutenant in the 



1st Wisconsin Cavalry, and died from the effect 
of vaccination, at Murfreesborough, Tenn. Ed- 
mund D., Jr., born Sept. 26, 1846, was the sixth 
son, and died at the age of thirty-one years. 
The third son, Edson, born July 31, 1832, died 
Feb. 2, 1871. He was one of the original own- 
ers of the village of Brodhead. 

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY. 

Albany JBranch. 

This branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway is the same nearly as the old track of 
the Sugar River Valley Railroad. Concerning 
the last mentioned, the Monroe Sentinel of 
April 18, 1855, says: 

"Our friends in the Sugar river valley may 
have been puzzled to know why we have said 
nothing of this new and promising enterprise. 
We will briefly explain. We were wanting to 
know something definite of the result of all the 
negotiation in reference to the extension of the 
M. & M. Railroad over the line of the Southern 
Wisconsin. This last matter is finally closed; 
and as this was a necessary step, as a connec- 
tion with this is specified in the Sugar River 
Charter, we feel now at liberty to say something 
of the road which, we trust, is to be built for 
the benefit of the people, especially those living 
in the valley of the Sugar river. 

"This latter road is to be commenced in the 
valley of Sugar river, near where the M. & M. 
R. R. crosses the Sugar river, running up the 
valley of Sugar river by way of Decatur, Albany, 
Attica, Dayton, Belleville, etc., in a northwest 
direction, until it reaches the line of the road to 
Prairie du Cbien, in the' neighborhood of Arena. 
It is believed that this road will be good stock, 
or this is the opinion of several competent engi- 
neers who ought to know. If built it will ac- 
commodate a large and fertile section of country 
and contribute to enhance the value of the 
stock of the Milwaukee &> Mississippi Road. 

"We understand that the line can be built 
very cheap. We know this latter fact person- 
ally — and when graded the Milwaukee Company 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



405 



agree to iron and put on the rolling stock — or 
at least such an offer has been made." 

The work of grading this road was uegun by 
the Sugar River Valley Railroad Company upon 
subscriptions to stock. The Milwaukee Senti- 
nel, under date of January, 1857, says: 

"We learn from J, H. Warren, an enterpris- 
ing merchant of Albany, Green county, that the 
work on the Sugar River Valley R. R., which 
is to give the people of the fertile and popular 
region near the east line of Green county, an 
outlet to market and a connection with all the 
world and the rest, of mankind, is being pushed 
forward with commendable diligence. 

"The contractors expect to have the track 
from Albany to Brodhead, on the Southern 
Wisconsin Railroad ready for the rails by the 
time the S. W. Railroad reaches Brodhead in 
the spring. This enterprise has been pushed 
along quietly, but surely, and rests on the sure 
basis of home subscriptions of stock." 

The following from the Monroe Sentinel of 
April 13, 1870, shows the majority given in the 
town of Albany for aid to this railroad: 

"The majority in the town of Albany for 
railroad bonds to aid in the construction of the 
Sugar River Valley Railroad was ninety. There 
was also a good majority for the same in the 
town of Exeter. We believe all the towns 
along that route, in this county, except Spring 
Grove, have fully expressed a willingness to aid 
in building the road. We believe it is the pur- 
pose of those having in charge the construction 
of this road to grade and tie it, and then mort- 
gage tlie same for the iron and rolling stock. 
Things look encouraging for our neighbors, and 
everything shows that they are working with a 

will." 

On the llthof June, 1873, the Monroe Senti- 
nel has the following: 

"Charles Campbell, the president and prin- 
cipal man of the Sugar River Valley Rail- 
road Company, has returned from his visit of 
several months in Europe, where it is said he 
has arranged matters for the probable speedy 



construction of the road. An engineer is to be 
sent over immediately to make a survey and re- 
port the condition of things, and, if found to be 
satisfactory and as represented by Mr. Camp- 
bell, that gentleman has no doubt of his being 
able to complete the arrangements for money to 
finish the road from Portage to Rockford, or 
seme other connecting point. The Sugar river 
valley folks, including Mr. Campbell, are highly 
elated with the prospect. The road, when 
built, will be a good thing for Albany." 

The grading of the road was finished by the 
contractors — James Campbell and L. H. and E. 
F. Warren — from Albany to Brodhead in May, 
1859. Nothing further was done on the line 
for twenty-one years. In July, 1880, J. H. 
Warren closed a contract with the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company to 
complete the road. The old grade, which, in 
many places, had been washed away, was re- 
paired, and two and one-half miles of new 
grade made. The work was at once put in 
charge of E. F. Warren, who completed it so as 
to enable the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway Company (who had only to lay the 
rails and put on the rolling stock) to commence 
running on the "Albany Branch" Oct. 22, 1880. 
The expense of grading and ties was paid by 

citizens of Albany. 

James Campbell 

was born in Susquehanna Co., Penn., Feb. 19, 
1814. He belonged to a numerous family, and 
the parents not possessing largely of this 
world's goods, the children were early taught the 
important lesson of self-reliance; and in the case 
of James this lesson was never forgotten. He re- 
ceived what at that day was deemed a good com- 
mon school education, and at the age of twenty- 
one started out in life for himself, and in 1835, 
came to Wisconsin. The next season he rented a 
farm in Green county and devoted himself vigor- 
ously as a farmer. He soon purchased a farm 
in Albany, moved on to it in 1841, and was the 
first settler in that town. He was successful in 
his calling and accumulated suflicieut capital to 



406 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



establish a store in the village of Albany, about 
one mile north of his farm, in 1850. He had a 
vigorous constitution and a mind able to grasp 
and pursue large business operations. As early 
as 1855, he conceived the scheme of construct- 
ing the Sugar River Valley Railroad, and 
through his influence a charter was obtained, 
first for the construction of the road from the 
State line north to Albany; shortly afterward it 
was extended to Madison by an amendment. 
In 1856 matters had progressed so favorably 
that he was confident of success. While he 
has given that enterprise considerable thought 
and effort, he only lived to see the first link of 
the original road completed between Albany 
and Brodhead. The completion of this short 
line, being the point of his first railroad enter- 
prise, gave Mr. Campbell great satisfaction. In 
1861 Mr. Campbell served as a member of the 
general assembly from this county, and was an 
influential member of that body. He was 
watchful of every State interest, and as chair- 
man of the committee on Claims, was vigilant 
in guarding the State treasury. The interests of 
his favorite railroad scheme received from him 
close attention, and he succeeded in procuring 
an amendment to his old charter of the Sugar 
River Valley Railroad, extending the line from 
Madison to Portage; and that portion of the 
land grant of 1856, that had been given to aid 
the construction of a railroad between those two 
cities, was given to this company. In 1862 Mr. 
Campbell gave up his mercantile pursuits and de- 
voted his whole time and energies to the con- 
struction of this road. For a while everything 
was prosperous and satisfactory; but, in 1863 
there was some trouble, the company became 
involved in debt, and work for a time upon the 
road was suspended, much to the pecuniary in- 
jury of Mr. Campbell, who was the principal 
contractor for building the road. The property 
was subsequently sold on execution and Mr. 
Campbell became the purchaser. * * In 
1870, the time fixed in the charter for the com- 
pletion of the road having expired, and the 



company having forfeited all claim to the land 
grant, Mr. Campbell procured from the legis- 
lature the charter of the Madison & Portage 
Railroad Company, and a transfer of the land 
grant to it. He then felt that the securing of 
the construction of his favorite railroad was 
within reach, and he bent his whole energies to 
the work, and in less than one year after the 
passage of the charter his hopes were realized, 
the road was completed, and cars were running 
on it between the cities of Madison and Portage. 
The labor of constructing this road was attend- 
ed with many and serious obstacles, but Mr. 
Campbell knew no such word as "fail," and 
succeeded in overcoming all difticulties through 
his great perseverance and by the force of his 
will power. Considering all things this work 
was an important accomplishment, and placed 
Mr. Campbell prominently among the railroad 
men of the State. After this, for a number of 
years he was engaged in an effort to extend the 
road both north and south, so as to connect the 
immense lumber regions of Wisconsin with the 
vast prairie land and extensive coal mines of 
Illinois. For a time his prospects for success 
seemed excellent; he made three trips to Eng- 
land in this interest, and would no .doubt have 
succeeded in the enterprise but for the general 
depression of railroad securities following the 
crash of IS13. He always claimed that he 
would have obtained all the money he desired 
for his project but for the passage of what was 
known as the "Potter Law," governing railroads 
in this State. How this may have been it is 
difiicult to tell, but such was Mr. Campbell's 
claim. He gave up the work with great re- 
luctance, as he never gave up willingly any 
favorite project. After running the Madison and 
Portage road a few years, arrangements were 
made by which it became a part of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul line, and is now owned 
by that corporation. Mr. Campbell was a con- 
tractor for the construction of a railroad in Iowa, 
and also sections of the Union Pacific, and com- 
pleted his work in a satisfactory manner. For 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



407 



a few years previous to bis death which occurred 
in January 1883, he lived a more quiet life, de- 
voting liis attention mainly to the management 
of a farm in the town of Dane, Dane county, and 
to another one in the State of Iowa. He also 
has been extensively engaged in the sheep 
husbandry in Texas, and within the space of 
two months during the last year of his life, he 
made two trips, one to California and one to 
Texas, in connection with his sheep operations 
He possessed many original ideas in regard to 
farming, and was generally successful in them. 
He had large interests in real estate and other 
valuable property. Mr. Campbell was married 
Nov. 26, 1840, to Lorinda Hills. By this mar- 
riage three children were born to them, one of 
whom is now living. She is the svife of George 
O. Clinton, who at one time was superintendent 
of the Rio Grande division of the Texas Pacific 
railroad and now occupies a similar position on 
a division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
line. Mrs. Campbell survives her husband, 
and is now living in the village of Albany. As 
a citizen Mr. Campbell was universally re- 
spected for his sterling integrity of character, 
for his wonderful energy, and for his broad, 
liberal and thoroughly practical views on all 
questions of public interest. He was true to 
his friends and generous toward all who proved 
themselves worthy of his confidence. As a 
business man, he was clear headed, sound in 
judgment, energetic and decisive in liis action, 
and while modest and unassuming in his bear- 
ing, he was characterized by strong individual- 
ity, positiveness in opinion, and tenacity of pur- 
pose that caused him to succeed, where most 
men would have failed. As a husband and 
father, Mr. Campbell was generous, indulgent 
and kind, ever ready and anxious in seeking the 
comfort of all around him. The loss of such a 
man is no common one. He was of use in the 
world, and his example is worthy of imitation, 
and his removal during the time of such appar- 
ent usefulness, is among those mysterious dis- 
pensations of Providence, which to the finite 



mind is incomprehensible. Such a life deserves 
more than a passing notice, and some of the 
more important events of it have been mentioned, 
forming an imperfect sketch of the career of a 
generous and honest man thus called to his 
final rest. 

Jolui II. 'Warren 
is a native of Hogansburg, Franklin Co., N. Y. 
He was born on the 23d of August, 1825, and is 
the son of Lemuel and Betsey Warren (wee) 
Richardson. His grandfatiier served in the Rev- 
olutionary War, and his father, a descendant of 
the New England Warren of very early date, 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. John attend- 
ed the common schools of his native place until 
thirteen years of age, and after removing to 
Wisconsin attended the first school taught in 
Janesville; later he was a pupil in a school 
which was kept in a log cabin in the town of 
Centre, and there completed his early educa- 
tion. Having decided to enter the medical 
profession, he began his studies at the age of 
twenty in the office of Dr. Nichols, of Janes- 
ville, and afterward studied with Dr. Dyer, of 
Chicago, and at the same time attended a course 
of lectures at Rush Medical College, from which 
he graduated in 1849. Immediately after grad- 
uation be established himself in his profession 
at Lodi, Columbia county, but in 1851, at the 
urgent request of a brother, relinquished his 
practice, and removing to Albany, Green county, 
engaged in milling and mercantile business, 
continuing in the same with uniform success 
till 18*70. Aside from his regular business he 
has been honored with many public trusts, and 
in all his active career has been a leading and 
influential man. In 1857, he was elected to the 
State Senate and was afterward chief clerk of the 
same. He was appointed collector of internal rev- 
enue in 1S62 by President Lincoln and held the 
oftice during a period of seven years, and was also 
appointed by Secretary Stanton receiver of com- 
mutation during the rebellion. He was also at 
one time a director of Sugar Valley Railroad 
and a stock-holder in the same. Subsequently 



408 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



f 



he was the largest mail contractor in the United 
States, having over 100 mail routes. His busi- 
ness has caused him to travel extensively over 
the different States and Territories, by reason 
of which he has become well acquainted with 
the character of the Indians and heartily favors 
every movement that tends to furtlier the inter- 
ests of the peace policy. In the discharge of 
all his public trusts his conduct has been marked 
by that energy and spirit of enterprise that ever 
characterized him in his private affairs, and by 
an honorable and upright course in all his deal- 
ings he has become known as one of the lead- 
ing and prominent men of his State. In his po- 
litical sentiments, he was formerly a whig but 
is now identified with the republican party. 
Dr. Warren was reared under Presbyterian 
influences, and although not connected with 
any Church organization is a firm believer in the 
principles of Christianity, and still adheres to 
the doctrines taught him by his mother. He 
was married on the 18th of December, 1854, 
to Louisa M. Nichols daughter of his old 
preceptor, the pioneer of Albany, Wis., and by 
her has two sons and five daughters — Herbert 
N., Julia, Lissie, Gertrude, Lulu, Benjamin and 
Fannie. Domestic in his habits. Dr. Warren 
finds his chief enjoyment in his own home, 
surrounded by his happy family, by whom he 
is respected and esteemed as a devoted husband 
and indulgent father. He is now a resident of 
Janesville. 

THE CHICAGO & NORTH WESTEBX RAILWAY. 

The Territorial legislature of 1848 chartered 
the "Madison & Beloit Railroad Company" 
with authority to build a railroad from Beloit 
to Madison only. In 1850, by act of the legis- 
lature, the company was authorized to extend 
the road to the Wisconsin river and La Crosse, 
and to a point on the Mississippi river near St. 
Paul, and also from Janesville to Fond du Lac. 
Its name was changed, under legislative authori- 
ty, to the "Kock River Valley Union Railroad 
Company." In 1851, the line from Janesville 



north not being pushed as the people expected, 
the legislature of Illinois chartered the " Illi- 
& Wisconsin Railroad Company" with authori- 
ty to consolidate with any road in Wisconsin. 
In 1855, an act of the Wisconsin legislature 
consolidated the Illinois and Wisconsin com- 
panies with the " Rock River Valley Union 
Railroad Company," and the new organization 
took the name of the " Chicago, St. Paul & 
Fond du Lac Railroad Company." In 1854, 
and previous to the consolidation, the company 
had failed and passed into the hands of the 
bondholders, who foreclosed and took stock for 
their bonds. The old management of A. Hyatt 
Smith and John B. Macy was superseded, and 
William B. Ogden was made president. 
Chicago was all along deeply interested 
in reaching the rich grain fields of the 
Rock River Valley, as well as the inexhaustible 
timber and mineral wealth of the northern part 
of Wisconsin and that part of Michigan bor- 
dering on Lake Superior, called the Peninsula. It 
also sought a connection with the Upper Missis- 
sippi region, then being rapidly peopled, by a line 
of railroad to run through Madison to St. Paul, 
Minn. Its favorite road was started from Chi- 
cago on the wide (six feet) gauge, and so con- 
structed seventy miles to Sharon on the Wiscon' 
sin State line. This was changed to the usual 
(four feet, eight and one-half inches) width, and 
the work was vigorously pushed, reaching Janes- 
ville in 1865 and Fond du Lac in 1858. The 
Rock River Valley Union Railroad Company 
had, however, built about thirty miles from 
Fond du Lac south toward Minnesota Junction 
before the consolidation took place. The 
partially graded line on a direct route between 
Janesville and Madison was abandoned. In 
1852 a new charter had been obtained, and the 
"Beloit & Madison Railroad Company" had 
been organized to build a road from Beloit by 
way of Janesville to Madison. A subsequent 
ametidment to this charter had left out Janes- 
ville as a point, and the Beloit branch was 
pushed through to Brooklyn in Green county, 
and on to Madison, reaching that city in 1864. 
This was the second railroad for Green county. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



409 



CHAPTER XVI. 



AGRICULTURE AND THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The trend of the earliest industries of a 
country, is the result of the circumstances 
under which those industries are developed. 
The attention of pioneers is confined to supply- 
ing the immediate wants of food, shelter and 
clothing. Hence, the first settlers of a country 
are farmers, miners, trappers, or fishermen, ac- 
cording as they can most readily secure the 
means of present sustenance for themselves and 
their families. In the early history of Wiscon- 
sin this law is well exemplified. The southern 
part of the State, consisting of alternations of 
prairie and timber, was first settled by farmers. 
As the country has developed, wealth accumu- 
lated and means of transportation have been 
furnished, farming has ceased to be the whole 
interest. Manufactories have been built along 
the rivers, and the mining industry of the south- 
western part of the State has grown to one of 
considerable importance. The shores of Lake 
Michigan was first mainly settled by fishermen, 
but the latter growth of agriculture and manu- 
factures has nearly overshadowed the fishing- 
interest; as has the production of lumber, in the 
north half of the State, eclipsed the trapping 
and fur interests of the first settlers. 

Farming, at the present time, is almost en- 
tirely confined to the south half of the State, 
the northern half being still largely covered by 
forests. A notable exception to this statement 
is found in the counties on the western border, 
which are well settled by farmers much farther 
north. The surface of the agricultural portion 
of the State is for the most part gently undulat- 
ing, affording ready drainage, without being so 



abruptly broken as to render cultivation diffi- 
cult. The soil is varied in character, and mostly 
very fertile.' The southern portion of the State 
consists of undulating prairies of variable size 
alternating with oak openings. The prairies 
have the rich alluvial soil so characteristic of 
the western prairies, and are easily worked. 
The soil of the "openings" land is usually a 
sandy loam, rapidly tilled, fertile, but not as 
"strong" as soils having more clay. The pro- 
portion of timber to prairie increases passing 
north from the southern boundary of the State, 
and forests of maple, basswood and elm, replace, 
to sonae extent, the oak lands. In these locali- 
ties, the soil is more clayey,i8 strong and fertile, 
not as easily tilled, and not as quickly exhausted 
as are the more sandy soils of the oak lands. 
In that portion of the State known geologically 
as the "driftless" region, the soil is invariably 
good where the surface rock is limestone. In 
some of the valleys, however, where the lime- 
rock has been removed by erosion, leaving the 
underlying sandstone as the surface rock, the 
soil is sandy and unproductive, except in those 
localities where a large amount of alluvial 
matter has been deposited by the stream. The 
soils of the pine lands of the north of the State, 
are generally sandy and but slighily fertile. 
However, where pine is replaced by maple, oak, 
birch, elm and basswood, the soil is "heavier" 
and very fertile, even to the shores of Lake 
Superior. 

The same natural conditions that make Wis- 
consin an agricultural State, determined that 
during its earlier years the main interest should 



410 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



be grain growing. Tlie fertile prairie cover- 
ing large portions of the southern part of the 
State had but to be plowed and sowed with 
grain to produce an abundant yield. From the 
raising of cereals the pioneer farmer could get 
the quickest returns for his labor. 

There is the same struggle for existence, and 
the same desire for grain the world over, and 
hence the various phases of development of the 
same industry in different civilized countries 
is mainly the result of the widely varying eco- 
nomical conditions imposed upon that industry. 
Land is thoroughly cultivated in Europe, not 
because the Europeans have any inherent love 
for good cultivation, but because their land is 
scarce and costly, while labor is superabundant 
and cheaj). In America, on the other hand, and 
especially in the newer States, land is abundant 
and cheap, while labor is scarce and costl}^ In 
its productive industries each country is alike 
economical in the use of the costly element in 
production, and more lavish in the use of that 
which is cheaper. Each is alike economically 
wise in following such a course, when it is 
not carried to too great extremes. With each 
the end sought is the greatest return for the ex- 
penditure of a given amount of capital. In ac- 
cordance with this law of economy, the early 
agriculture of Wisconsin was mere land skim- 
ming. Good cultivation of the soil was never 
thought of. The same land was planted suc- 
cessively to one crop, as long as it yielded enough 
to pay for cultivation. 

The economical principle above stated was 
carried to an extreme. Farming, as then prac- 
ticed, was a quick method of land exhaustion. 
It was always taking out of the purse and never 
putting in. No attention was paid to sustain- 
ing the soil's fertility. The only aim was to 
secure the largest crop for the smallest outlay of 
capital, without regard to the future. Manures 
were never used, and such as unavoidably accu- 
mulated was regarded as a great nuisance, often 
rendering necessary the removal of stables and 
outbuildings. Straw stacks were invariably burn- 



ed as the most convenient means of disposing 
of them. Wheat, the principal product, brought 
a low price, often not more than fifty cents a 
bushel, and had to be marketed by teams at 
some point, from which it could be carried by 
water, as this was, at an early day, the only 
means of transportation. On account of the 
sparse settlement of the country, roads were 
poor, and the farmer, after raising and thresh- 
ing his wheat, had to spend, with a team, from 
two to five days, marketing the few bushels that 
a team could draw, so that the farmer had every 
obstacle to contend with except cheap and fer- 
tile land, that with the poorest of cultivation 
gave a comparatively abundant yield of grain. 
Better tillage, accompanied with the use of 
manures and other fertilizers, would not, upon 
the virgin soils, have added sufficiently to the 
yield to pay the cost of applying them. Hence, 
to the first farmers of the State, poor farming 
was the only profitable farming, and conse- 
quently the only good farming, an agriculturo- 
economical paradox from which there was no es- 
cape. 

Notwithstanding the fact that farmers could 
economically follow no other system than that 
of land-exhaustion, as described, such a course 
was none the less injurious to the State, as it 
was undermining its foundation of future wealth, 
by destroyir.g the fertility of the soil, that upon 
which the perrtianent wealth and prosperity of 
every agricultural community is first dependent. 
Besides this evil, and together with it, came the 
habit of loose and slovenly farming acquired by 
pioneers, which continued after the conditions 
making that method a necessity had passed 
away. With the rapid growth of the northwest 
came better home markets and increased facili- 
ties for transportation to foreign markets, bring- 
ing with them higher prices for all products of 
the farm. As a consequence of these better 
conditions, land in farms in the State increased 
rapidly in value. With this increase in the 
value of land, and the higher prices paid for 
grain, should have come an improved system of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



411 



husbandry which would prevent the soil from 
deteriorating in fertility. This could have been 
accomplished either, by returning to the soil, in 
manures and fertilizers, those ingredients of 
which it was being rapidly drained by con- 
tinued grain growing, or by the adoption of a 
system of mixed husbandry, which should in- 
clude the raising of stock and a judicious rota- 
tion of crops. Such a system is sure to come. 
Indeed, it is now slowly coming. Great pro- 
gress upon the earlier methods of farming 
have already been made. But so radical and 
thorough a cliange in the habits of any class of 
people as that from the farming of pioneers to 
a rational metliod that will preserve the soil's 
fertility and pay for the labor it demands, re- 
quires many years for its full accomplishment. 
It will not even keep pace with changes in 
those economical conditions which favor it. In 
the rapid settlement of the northwestern States 
this change has come most rapidly with the re- 
placement of the pioneer farmers by immi- 
grants accustomed to better methods of culture. 
In such cases the pioneers usually "go west" 
again to begin anew their frontier farming upon 
virgin soil, as their peculiar method of cultiva- 
tion fails to give them a livelihood. In Wis- 
consin as rapid progress is being made in the 
system of agriculture as, all things considered, 
could reasonably be expected. This change for 
the better has been quite rapid for the past 
ten years, and is gaining in velocity and mo- 
mentum each year. It is partly the result of 
increased intelligence relating to farming, and 
partly the result of necessity, caused by the 
unprofitableness of the old method. 

As has been before stated, Wisconsin is es- 
sentially a grain growing State. This interest 
has been the principal one, not because the soil 
is better adapted to grain growing than to gen- 
eral stock or dairy farming, but ratlier because 
this course, which was at an early day most im- 
mediately profitable, has been since persistently 
followed from force of habit, even after it had 
failed to be remunerative. 



The increase in the production of grain was 
very rapid up to 1870, while since that time it 
has been very slight. This rapid increase in 
grain raising is first attributable to the ease 
with which this branch of farming was carried 
on, upon the new and very rich soils of the 
State, while in the older States this branch of 
husbandry has been growing more difficult and 
expensive, and also to the fact that the war in 
our own country so increased the demand for 
grain from 1861 to 1866, as to make this course 
the most immediately profitable. But with the 
close of the war, came a diminished demand. 
Farmers were slow to recognize this fact, and 
change the character of their productions to 
accord with the wants of the market, but rather 
continued to produce the cereals in excess of 
the demand. The chinch bug and an occasional 
poor season seriously injured the crops, leaving 
those who relied principally upon the produc- 
tion of grain, little or nothing for their support. 
Hard times resulted from these poor crops. 
More wheat and corn was the farmer's usual 
remedy for hard times. So that more wheat 
and corn were planted. More crop failures, 
with low prices, brought harder times, until 
gradually the farmers of the State have opened 
their eyes to the truth that they can succeed in 
other branches of agriculture than grain grow- 
ing, and to the necessity of catering to the de- 
mands of the market. 

AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 
[By Thomas H. Eaton, of Clarno.] 

The farming interest in Green county has al- 
ways been fully up to that of any other of its 
industries. 

The first settlers were young and middle aged 
men. They came here with but little stock-in- 
trade, save their strong hands and a determina- 
tion to succeed. The early settlers in this county 
had some advantages not common to all new 
counties. The proximity to the lead mines fur- 
nished them with a ready market at remunera- 
tive prices, for all their surj)lus products. In 
fact, a considerable portion of the county was a 



412 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



raining district. Some of our most wealthy 
farmers got their first start by "digging" lead 
ore. When the lead mines of Lafayette, Iowa 
and Grant counties began to supply themselves 
by their own agricultural resources, the farmers 
of Green county still had an outlet for their ex- 
ports in the lumbering camps in the Wisconsin 
pineries. 

Before the days of railroads, in Wisconsin, 
when a Green county farmer wished to build a 
new house or \)arn, it was his custom to load a 
train of wagons, in the winter season, with 
wheat, oats and pork, and take it to the lumber 
camp, where prices were always satisfactory. 
He would load back with pine shingles and the 
better qualities of finishing lumber. It was 
thought, at that time, a grand luxury to put on 
an inside finish to a house. We had an almost 
inexhaustable supply of the finest black walnut 
lumber, also butternut, but the walnut was en- 
tirely too common, and it must be painted some 
other color. At the preseni time, most anyone 
with a house thus painted, would give s(>me- 
thing to have the paint removed, and the rich 
walnut finish restored. 

But there came a time in the history of Green 
county agriculture, when the tune was changed. 
The lead mines and lumber camps were being 
supplied by fertile fields nearer home, and the 
Green county farmer was compelled to cart his 
surplus crops to the lake shore; and these came 
in competition with the older settled districts of 
the country. There were still, at this time, 
many ox teams in the country, oxen were a 
natural adjunct to breaking tlie new prairie — 
sward; for when night came on they could be 
unyoked in the last furrow, the yokes and chains 
dropped there, and the next morning the oxen 
would be found close at hand fully fed on the 
luxuriant blue joint grass, that abounded every 
where. But, when it came to loading a wagon 
with wheat and, with an ox team, starting for 
Milwaukee, it was quite a diflfercnt aifair. It 
meant, on the part of the farmer, catnping out 
and 'doing his ovvn cooking, and if his "tfain" 



was overtaken with a "spell" of weather, he was 
lucky if he got home without being in debt. 
Many is the story I have heard related wherein 
the entire proceeds of a load of wheat would be 
eaten up in expenses, and the farmer would 
come home in debt. 

Green county in its first settlement was as fine 
a wheat growing country as any on record. I 
have known as many as forty bushels of num- 
ber one spring wheat to be grown to the acre 
on large tracts of land ; and thirty bushels to 
the acre was a common thing. Wheat was about 
the only crop grown in this county until the 
chinch bug made its appearance. I have often 
thought the little pest was a blessing in dis- 
guise, because there never was any money in 
wheat raising. The expense attending the har- 
vesting and threshing always made too large a 
hole in the farmer's profits. Then, when there 
was an occasional failure, or partial failure, it 
left the cultivator of the soil badly in debt. 

There was one compensation, however, in 
wheat farming which cannot be said about corn 
raising: Our rolling prairies did not wash so 
badly. The farmers of this county made some 
mistake, however; they thought, at an early day, 
that the soil was inexhaustable, and they were 
in the habit of burning their straw as soon as it 
was threshed. There was another custom 
adopted by many, and that was to plow a few 
furrows around a field, so as to protect the fences 
and then set fire to the stubble. I have heard 
many an argument on this practice. The claim 
was, that the ash was of as much value for ma- 
nure as the stubble turned under. I liave always 
thought that the heating of the surface of the 
soil had a quickening influence on it, and caused 
it to produce well for the time being; but had 
an exhausting influence upon the productiveness 
of the soil in later years. Be this as it may, 
there is no one now that allows any thing to be 
burned on his farm. 

The raising of pork, for tlie market, has been 
a leading industry ever since the wheat crop 
began to fail, and, in fact, tb a considerable ex- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



413 



tent for a good many years before that time; as 
this county has always been measurably free 
from ''hog cholera" and all other diseases pecu- 
liar to swine. 

The farmers of Green county have always 
used the newest inventions and the best im- 
proved farm machinery that the market af- 
forded. The use of the land roller by all classes 
of farmers was said to have been brought about 
in this way: One of the most enterprising 
farmers of the county, having plowed up a num- 
ber of large bowlders, determined to remove them 
so as to have them out of the way of the reaper 
when the harvest came. Having no means at 
hand, he employed an old fashioned "stone 
boat." Having loaded it with bowlders, he 
drove over the new sown wheat to a ravine at 
one side of the field, making, of course, dif- 
ferent roads all over his field. He found that 
the wheat came up much quicker, also thicker, 
in these roads, and when harvest came on the 
wheat was found to have ripened some days 
sooner in these roads than on other parts of the 
same field — so much so, it is said, that you could 
see the track of the stone boat as plainly in the 
early harvest, in the earlier maturity of the 
"wheat, as when they were fresh made. 

Speaking of the custom of burning the straw 
and stubble ground, reminds me of a novel kind 
of threshing machine which was in use to some 
extent in this county when I first came here. 
The machine was mounted on wheels, to which 
was attached a platform upon which a number 
of shocks of wheat or oats could be loaded. 
The practice was to drive up to the stack and 
load the platform, then take a circuit round 
through the field. The movement of the car- 
riage set the machinery in motion. The straw 
was scattered in the rear, or wake, if you like 
it; the cleaned grain deposited in a receptacle 
for that purpose; and the straw was left in a 
good condition to set fire to. 

During the stimulus to the wool interest 
caused by the War for the Union, the farmers of 
this bounty wi&nt largely into sh&ep hUsbandrr, 



thereby demonstrating that the county was re- 
markal)ly well adapted to sheep culture. But, 
from several causes, some of which were, the 
want of an efficient dog law, the existence of an 
occasional hungry wolf, and the want of a 
proper discrimination on the part of Congress 
in behalf of the farmer, and especially the 
wool interest, the people largely changed off to 
cattle and horses — although there are at this 
date (1884) some very fine flocks of sheep kept 
in the county. The winter feeding of sheep 
for the Chicago fat stock market is largely and 
profitably engaged in by a number of our most 
enterprising farmers. 

Several of the most wealthy citizens of this 
county are engaged in breeding herds of cattle 
of the famous "Shorthorn," and other pure 
breeds, largely for the supply of other commu- 
nities. And the same may be said of the swine 
breedersof this county. Probably no other county 
in the State has done more to improve the sev- 
eral different breeds of hogs than has Green 
county. 

But, to the daii-ying interest, this county 
owes more than to any other industry for her 
unparalleled p'rosperity. Through it the people 
of the county have been able to pass through 
two almost entire failures of the corn crop 
without a ripple in their finances. There are 
at this time, in this county, seventy-five cheese 
factories, of which forty-eight are engaged in 
the manufacture of Limburger cheese, twenty 
in Swiss cheese, and seven in American cheese, 
besides several butter dairies that make a large 
amount of first-class butter. The number of 
milch cows in the county (as per assessor's re- 
port) is 17,433; number of pounds of butter 
manufactured, 933,041; and of cheese, 2,015,- 
760. Since the farmers of this county have 
turned their attention to the dairy interest and 
stock raising, the fertility of the soil has been 
largely increased. 

In later years much interest has been mani- 
fested in the improving of tlie breed of horses. 
Theris is pirobably as fine specinieus of the Nor- 



414 



PIISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



man breed owned and kept in this county as can 
be found anywhere in the United States. There 
are also some fine specimens of the Clydesdale 
breed. A. Liadlow, the chief breeder of Short- 
horn cattle in this county, has as fine a stud of 
full blood Clydesdale horses as can be found 
anywhere. He uses no other kind of horses on 
his extensive farm, which lies immediately ad- 
joining the city of Monroe. lie informs me 
that the Clydesdale are easily broken; always 
reliable, and good walkers; and always bring a 
good price when he wishes to sell. 

There is one question that the farmers of 
Green county have settled to tljeir own satisfac- 
tion, at least, and that is the question of "rail- 
road monopoly." Wliile other communities are 
sweating and toiling over the subject of "cheap 
transportation," the farmers in this community 
are perfectly happy and contented. 

When the markets of the lead mines and of 
the pineries were supplied by communities 
nearer to them, heretofore referred to, the farm- 
ers of this county thought if they only had a 
railroad to Milwaukee and Chicago, this would 
be a paradise indeed; and they set to Avork to 
build the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad 
(now the Milwaukee & St. Paul). The farmers 
along the line of the road subscribed all the 
money they could rake and scrape towards 
building the road. Many of them even mort- 
gaged their farms to the enterprise. During 
the time the road was being built, times were 
improved somewhat by the large consumption 
of farm produce by the railroad hands; but 
when the road was once built, it augmented the 
class of ])roducers to as great an extent as it 
facilitated the transportation of our suiplus 
crops. The cry up to tliis time had been that of 
"quick transportation," but when the farmer's 
bushels of wheat, or bushels of oats or corn, 
had been whirled away to Milwaukee in eight 
hours, when it used to take him three weeks to 
haul it there with an ox team, he found that 
the railroad freight and warehouse charges had 
eaten Tip all his profits, and he was in no better 



plight than he was before the road was built. 
Then camie the cry of "cheap transportation," 
and the subject of additional lines of railroads 
was agitated. There were a few farmers in this 
county — notably Mr. Crowell, of Green's Prairie, 
several of the Swiss colonists of New Glarus, 
and a few others — that never seemed to be in 
any worry about the "transportation question." 
It was noticed that five times out of every six 
when Mr, Crowell came to Monroe with a'team, 
he came with an empty wagon and returned 
with it loaded. He was engaged in cheese- 
making, and fed up all the products of his farm 
to his milch cows and purchased large quanti- 
ties of feed besides. The example of these 
men was suflicient for the balance of the county. 
The cost of tranK})ortation of a pound of but- 
ter or cheese is so insignificant when compared 
with the cost of its production that it is scarcely 
felt by the producer. 

Tlien, again, the dairying interest goes largely 
hand in hand with that of hog raising; so that 
the Monroe depot is the banner station in the 
State as a liog shipping point. 

As a further evidence of the very satisfactory 
condition of the farming inteiests of this coun- 
ty, and, in fact, of that of every other branch 
of industry, is the fact that interest is not al- 
lowed on special bank deposits. 

There are probably few districts of country 
any where that is better adapted to dairying and 
stock raising than Green county. The un- 
bounded supply of pure spring water on nearly 
every farm in the county; the grand facilities 
for fencing; and its rich pasture lands; together 
with its steady and dry winters; make it a very 
healthy region for all kinds of stock. 

EXTRACT FROM THE AGRICULTURAL ADDRESS OF 
THE PRESIDENT OF THE AGRICUL- 
TURAL SOCIETY, 1855. 

"I wish to call your attention to some statis- 
tics, which I have carefully gleaned from the 
census of June, 1850, and from which, with the 
aid of the census of last June, I have been able 
to make some calculations for the present year. 



f!B-ig\f 



.(>^ 



# 




n^j-^^ ^ '4 





% 



t 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



41*7 



By the census of 1850, the population of Green 
county was 8,566. The value of all stock owned 
in the county was $223,000, and of all animals 
slaughtered $34,000. 

Of wheat and oats, there were raised 150,000 
bushels of each; corn 134,000 bushels; potatoes 
17,000 bushels; and of wool 15,000 pounds, and 
of butter 114,000 pounds. 

Those who resided here in 1849, will recol- 
lect that owing to the immense emigration to 
California, and other reasons, thousands of acres 
of land, before improved, lay idle and unculti- 
vated. According to the census of June last, 
our population has almost doubled the last five 
years, and there is no doubt twice as much land 
to the inhabitant, is cultivated the present year 
as there was in 1849; the value of stock has 
doubled, and its quantity more than doubled. 
We are therefore safe in making the following 
estimate for 1855: 

Value of stock owned in the count}' $672, 000 

Value of animals slauirhtered $170,000 

Busnels of wheat raised 600, 000 

Bushels of oats raised TiOO, (lOO 

Bushels of corn raised .")-")0, uOO 

Bushels of potatoes raised aO, 000 

Pounds of wool 60. 000 

Pounds of butter 300, 000 

and many important articles are left out of the 
computation. Who that is able to reason from 
cause to effect, will doubt that through the in- 
troduction of improved breeds of stock, better 
implements, and better varieties of the different 
kinds of farm products, and b}' mf^ans of tl.e 
improved cultivation which will naturally fol- 
low from the competition here induced, that the 
yearly products of the farm in Green county, 
may be increased without additional outl.-i}', at 
least 25 per cent. But to be sure to keep within 
bounds, suppose the annual product, be increased 
in value only 10 per cent. Take the article of 
wheat alone (which I suj)pose amounts in value 
to near half of the aggregate products of the 
county), and on tliat, if worth $1 per bushel, 
tliis small increase would amount to $60,000, a 
sum which distributed among the farmers of 
Green county, would afford, at least, a tempo- 



rary relief from that most disagreeable of dis- 
orders — "hard times." 

CHEESE STATISTICS FOR 1883. 

The following table shows the number of 
cheese factories doing business in Green county 
in 1883, and the number of cows furnishing 
milk. It also indicates the number of pounds 
of milk consumed each day, and the pounds of 
cheese made: 

Number of factories manufacturing Limburger cheese 48 

Number of factories manufacturing Swiss cheese 20 

Numlier of factories manufacturing American cheese 7 



Total number of factories 7.5 

Number of cows furnishing milk to Limburger cheese 

factories 6, 365 

Number of cows furnishing milk to Swiss cheese fac- 
tories 1,320 

Number of cows furnishing milk to American- cheese 

factories 2,380 

Total number of cows furnishing milk 10, 665 

Number of pounds of milk used at Limburger cheese 

factories (daily) 190,650 

Number of pounds of milk used at Swiss cheese fac- 
tories (daily) 60,300 

Number of pounds of milk used at American cheese 

factories (dailj-) 69,000 

Total number of pounds of milk used (daily).. 319,950 

Number of pounds of Limburger cheese made (daily). 31, 183 

Number or pounds of Swiss chee.se made (daily) 7,667 

Number of pounds of American cheese made (daily). 6,700 

Total number of pou:ids of cheese made (daily) 35,550 

The value of cheese made each day in Green 
county, for 1883, at an average price of ten 
cents per pound, was $^,555. 

GREEN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

Green county, since its earliest settlement, 
has been pre-eminently an agricultural county. 
This fact early led to the organization of an 
agricultural society. On the 4th day of July, 
1853, a few persons interested in a society of 
this kind met in the village of Monroe. An 
organization was effected by electing E. T. 
Gardner president, J. Y. Richardson secretary, 
.John A. Bingham corresponding secretary, and 
A. Ludlow treasurer. The first fair of the so- 
ciety was held in November of the same year 
at the court house in Monroe, at which time the 
munificent sum of $100 was disbursed for pre- 
miums. It is to be regretted that tlie original 
list of entries and awards is not now in exist- 
ence, as it would furnish very interesting read- 
ing for the agriculturists of the present day. 



25 



418 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Some time during 1854 arrangements were 
made by which the society secured grounds of 
its own just north of the village, on lands 
owned by A. Ludlow. The grounds then con- 
tained about seven acres, for which they agreed 
to pay the sura of $400, as appears from the 
deed now in the hands of the secretary of the 
society. In order to meet the expenses of fenc- 
ing and erecting buildings, life membership certi- 
ficates were issued and sold at $10 apiece. The 
second annual exhibition was held on the new 
grounds in October, 1854, and the sum of $200 
paid out as premiums. _ It is impossible to ar- 
rive at any accurate record of the doings of this 
society, owing to the fact that the early records 
of the society, together with the treasurer's 
book and life membership list, was destroyed in 
one of the disastrous fires whicli visited Monroe 
several years since. 

At the session of the State legislature in 1856 
an act for the encouragement of agriculture was 
passed, and pursuant to that act the society re- 
organized, July 7, 1857, by electing S. M. 
Humes, president; M. Kelly, Sr., vice-president; 
J. V. Richardson, recording secretary, J. A. 
Bingham corresponding secretary; N.Churchill, 
treasurer; and A. Ludlow, superintendent. 

The constitution and by-laws of the society 
adopted at this reorganization shared the fate 
of the early records of the society, and departed 
this life in a puff of smoke. At the pre^nt 
writing (1884) there has been no constitution 
nor by-laws adopted, and the constitutional busi- 
ness of the society is transacted on the strength 
of the memory of the "oldest inhabitant" as 
to what the constitution "used to be." What 
will be done when the "inhabitant" is no more, 
remains to be seen. At a meeting of the society 
July 20, 185*7, we find the following: 

Resolved, That a vigilance committee, con- 
sisting of one person from each town, be ap- 
pointed, whose duty it shall be to solicit people 
df their town to become members of the society. 



Which resolution was unanimously carried; 
also the following resolution, which will explain 
how the present society secured the title to the 
fair grounds of the old organization: 

Resolved, That the secretary and president 
be and are hereby directed to issue certificates 
of life membership to each of the life members 
of the former society (there being seventy in 
number) in payment for the fair grounds which 
was purchased and fenced by the former society, 
said certificates to be issued on the title to said 
grounds being made to the present society. 

The first fair under the new organization was 
held Sept. 24, 25 and 26, 1857, on the fair 
grounds. The treasurer having neglected to 
submit his annual report, we have no means of 
getting at the financial condition of the society 
for that year. 

In 1858 we find several of the members dele- 
gated to prepare essays on various subjects, 
which essays were afterwards published in the 
Sentinel and Independent. 

At a meeting held on the fair ground in 
Sej^tember 1858, the executive committee were 
instructed to inquire into the expediency of 
removing the fair ground and to examine any 
proposal made to the society. 

A great many of the early premiums of the 
society up to and including 1859 were paid in 
subscription to the " 'Wiscons^in Farmer.'''' At 
the annual meeting in I860 we find the fol- 
lowing motion to which was appended a paren- 
thetical note of the section, which Ave copy in 
full. " On motion it was ordered that the fair 
" ground be mowed and not pastured, the hay 
" to be reserved for the use of the society. 
(Gone to grass, hey ?") A committee was ap- 
pointed at this meeting to consult with the peo- 
ple of Albany in relation to holding the next 
fair at that point, but little seems to have been 
accomplished, as we find the next fair of the 
society held at Monroe, Sept. 20 to 22, 1860. 
At this fair the number pf entries wn's 630, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



419 



We append the financial statement for that year 
in full : 

State appropriation t 100 00 

Annual members 173 00 

One life member 10 00 

Pasturiot;: fair ground 15 00 

Sale (if single tickets 133 50 

All other sources 45 50 

$476 00 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Paid balance due on fair ground | 44 82 

Expenses of fair 118 95 

Amount of premiums awarded 311 91 

Balance in treasury 32 

$476 00 

The next fair of the society was held in 
Monroe, Sept. 26 to 28, 1861, at which time 
there were 532 entries, and $293.66 paid in 
premiums, the receipts and expenditures bal- 
ancing at $384.36. 

In 1863 the fair was held Sept. 24 to 26, with 
a falling off of the entries, there being only 
356, and $254.81 being awarded as premiums. 

The fair of 1864, which was held Sept. 22 
to 24, seems to have proved discouraging in the 
extreme. We quote at length from the records 
of Sept. 24, 1864 : 

"The three days set apart for this annual fair 
" were enough to discourage anj'^ set of men, 
" except men of Green county. The first dny wa'i 
" raw and chilly, and but very few entries made. 
"The second day, which is usually the day of 
"the fair, was decidedly a rainy day, and noth- 
" ing was done. The third day opened nn- 
" comfortably cold, and remained so until noon, 
" the afternoon being fair and pleasant. Had 
"the two days preceding been as favorable as 
" the last half day of the fair, we should 
"probably have had a good exhibition notwith- 
" standing the irrepressible chinch bug." 

The number of entries at this fair Avas 391, 
and the amount awarded for premiums $167.04. 

At the July meeting, 1865, Mr. Ludlow of- 
fered to exchange for the seven acres of the 
old ground, ten acres to be selected by the 
society from lands owned by him described as 
being east of and adjoining the residence of 
E. E. Carr. A committee was appointed to 



examine into this matter, who reported at an 
adjourned meeting July 15, 1865, in favor of 
the proposed excliange, and the report was 
adopted. About $360 was subscribed at this 
meeting for fitting up a fair ground. At a special 
meeting in August the committee reported 
$627.00 subscribed, and further reported a strong 
preference in favor of Ludlow's addition, on 
which to locate the new grounds. No fair was 
held in 1865. 

April 14, 1866, the old fair grounds were sold 
to Christopher Martin at $105 per acre, and. a 
committee consisting of O. J. White, O. H. 
P. Clarno, J. S. Smock, C. .J. Simmons and 
Christopher Martin were appointed to secure 
grounds proper for a fair ground and race 
course for the society. April 28, 1866, this 
committee reported that they had made ar- 
rangements whei'ebythey could secure eighteen 
acres of land suitable for the purposes of the 
society. The said land lying east of and adjoining 
Ludlow's addition to the village of Monroe. 
Twelve acres belonging to A. Ludlow could be 
purchased at $100 per acre, and six acres be- 
longing to William Hodge at $125 per acre, 
Mr. Hodge to donate $50 of the purchase price 
to the society. 

The committee were at once authorized to 
conclude the purchase of these lands, fence the 
same and erect suitable buildings thereon, and 
to defray the expenses of the work, were au- 
thorized to sell life membership, and collect 
and receive subscriptions and donations in be- 
half of the society. Several parties, residents 
of the county, took the matter of building the 
race course in hand and proceeded with the 
work, under the name"of the Jocky Club. At 
the annual meeting in 1867 their treasurer re- 
ported that he bad expended on said track 
$183.17, and that he had received back in 
various ways the sum of $51.35. 

On motion, at this meeting, the society de- 
cided to pay the club the balance of $131.82 
due them on condition that said club relinquish 
all claims on the track and place it under tb© 



420 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



control of the society. The fair of 1867 was 
held on Sept. 19 to 21 ; there were 539 entries 
for premiums, and the sum of $462.95 paid as 
premiums. This fair was very successful, the 
society being able to pay |400 on its debt for 
ground. The fair of 1868 was held Sept. 24 to 
26, and was only moderately successful, owing 
to the rainy weather, which continued during 
the whole fair. There were only 470 entries 
and S198.75 paid for premiums. 

Of the fair of 1869 we have no record fur- 
ther than the fact that there were 648 entries. 

At the January meeting 1870, the society 
found itself in debt about |1,206.21. 

The fair of 1870 was held Sept. 15 to 17. 
There were 544 entries at this fair and $472.50 
disbursed as premiums, and $400 paid on the debt 
of the society. At the July meeting 1871 the 
following premiums, open to the world, were 
adopted by the society : 

For the best looking baby, one year old or under — 

First Premium, Silver Caster $8 00 

Second " Silver Mug 5 00 

Third ' ' Silver Mug 3 00 

We have no record as to who the awarding 
committee were, they must at least have been 
men of iron nerve, to have willingly faced the 
avalanche of disappointed mothers which of 
necessity must have overwhelmed them when 
their decision was announced. In all proba- 
bility they are even now hiding in some far 
western mountain range, afraid to return to the 
scene of their early triumphs. 

The fair of 1871 was held Sept. 21 to 23. 
There being 731 entries and $599.42 in pre- 
miums awarded. 

The annual fair of 1872 was held Sept. 12 to 
14, at which there were 517 entries and $702 
awarded for premiums, of which the society 
were only able at this time to pay $526.50,' ow- 
ing to a lack of funds. 

At the April meeting, 1873, it was decided to 
hold the fairs four days instead of three as for- 
racrlv. 



The fair of 1873 was held Sept. 17 to 20; 
there being 624 entries, and $904.50 awarded as 
premiums. 

At the July meeting, 1874, it was decided to of- 
fer a premium of $25 and $15 to the townships 
making the best exhibition of farm, stock and 
dairy products. 

At the annual fair of 1874 held Sept. 23 to 26, 
there were 865 entries and $749 paid for pre- 
miums. At this time the society were still in 
debt $496.34. 

At the quarterly meeting in April 1875, it was 
decided to erect an exposition hall, and a com- 
mittee was appointed to procure plans and spec- 
ifications, and report at the next meeting, which 
was done the report being accepted, and con- 
tract let. 

The annual fair of 1875 was held Sept. 15 to 
18, at which there were 1,164 entries, a marked 
increase over any previous year, showing that 
the people of the county were becoming aware 
of the benefits to be derived from an exhibition 
and comparison of the products and industries 
of the county. There was paid this year for 
premiums, $871.05; for buildings, $2,954.38, the 
total receipts being $4,640, and the total expend- 
itures, $4,628.35. 

In 1876 it was decided to build what is now 
known as mechanic's hall, at an expense of not 
exceeding $1,500. 

The annual fair of 1876 was held Sept. 27 to 
30, at which the sum of $1,136.25 was disbursed 
for premiums, and $1,045.38 for new buildings. 
Thus leaving the society probably the best 
equipped of any in the State as far as buildings 
were concerned. 

The fair of 1877 was held Sept. 5 to 8, the 
amount of premiums awarded was $1,108, aside 
from $353 special premiums. 

We append below a table of fairs from 1878 
to 1882, giving the dates, number of entries as 
far as known, and the amount paid for pre- 
miums : 



Y car. 


Date. 


No. Kn tries. 


Amt 


. Prem's" 


1878 


Sept. 4 to 7 


1 239 




$ 730 30 


1879 


Sept. 17 to 20 


1,219 




1,042 7.5 


1880 


Sept. 1.5 to 18 


1,101 




1,283 00 


1881 


Sept. U to 17 


1,004 




734 00 


1883 


Sept. 20 to 23 


1.196 




1,2.53 39 


1883 


Sept. 26 to 29 


1,012 




1,419 21 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



421 



The officers of the society have generally 
been men not afraid to undertake the necessary 
work which would make the fairs a general 
success. They have spared neither pains nor 
expense in fitting up the grounds, advertising 
and procuring attractions. The reputation of 
our fair has steadily increased under this judi- 
cious management, and at the present writing 
(]884) we have a reputation second to no 
county fair in the State. The grounds are well 
supplied with comfortable buildings, the society 
out of debt, and the agricultural and stock 
raising residents of the county are awakening to 
a due regard of the benefits of the association, 
the exhibits are yearly increasing, the society 
are doing all in their power to make it to the 
interest of visitoi's and exhibitors to patronize 
our fair. We append below a list of the princi- 
pal officers of the society since its reorganiza- 
tion in 1857. 

1857. 

S. M. Humes, president; M. Kelly, Sr., 
vice president; J. V. Richardson, recording 
secretary; J. A. Bingham, corresponding secre- 
tary; Norman Churchill, treasurer; A. Ludlow, 

superintendent. 

1858. 

S. M. Humes, president; O. J. White, vice 
president; J. V. Richardson, recording secre- 
tary; J. A. Bingham, corresponding secretary; 
Thomas Emerson, treasurer;Levi Stair, superin- 
tendent. 

1859. 

John H. Bridge, president; E. Gillett, vice 

president; A. W. Potter, recording secretary; 

T. H. Eaton, corresponding secretary; E. A. 

Newton, treasurer;0. F. Pinney, superintendent. 

1860. 

Israel Smith, president; James Campbell, 
vice president; W. W. Wright, secretary; 
Jacob Mason, corresponding secretary; Justus 
Sutherland, treasurer;0. F. Pinney, superintend- 
ent. 

1861. 

C. F. Thompson, president; Andrew Suther- 
land, vice president; Edmund Bartlett, secre- 



tary; A. J. Sutherland, corresponding secretary; 
Levi Starr, treasurer; Thomas Emerson, super- 
intendent. 

1862. 

E. T. Gardner, president; A. W. Sutherland^ 
vice president; W. W. Wright, recording sec- 
retary; L. Wolcott, corresponding secretary; 
Thomas Emerson, treasurer; H. B. Capwell, 
superintendent. 

1863. 

D. S. Sutherland, pi'esident; J. G. Correy, 
vice president; W. W. Wriglit, recording secre- 
tary; Henry Adams, corresponding secretary^ 
William Hodge,treasurer; A. Ludlow, superin- 
tendent. 

1864. 

J, V. Richardson, president; Justus Suther- 
land, vice president; W. W. Wright, recording 
secretary; J. G. Correy, corresponding secre- 
tary; William Hodge, treasurer; A. Ludlow, 
superintendent. 

1865. 

O. J. White, president; William Coldren, 
vice president; W. W. Wright, recording secre- 
tary; A. Goddard, corresponding secretary; L. 
Wolcott, treasurer; Thomas Emerson, superin- 
tendent. 

1866. 

Thomas Emerson, president; Andrew Suther* 
land, vice president; W, W. Wright, recording 
secretary; T. H. Eaton, corresponding secretary; 
William Hodge, treasurer;J. C. Smock, superin* 
tendent. 

1867. 

J. H. Warren, president; W. S. Wescott, vice 
pi'esident; W. W. Wright, recording secretary; 
A. J. High, corresponding secretary; William 
Brown, treasurer; O. H. P. Clarno, superintend- 
ent. 

1868. 

F. F. West, president; Orrin Bacon, vice 
president; W. W. Wright, recording secretary; 
W. B. Mack, corresponding secretary; William 
Brown, treasurer; A. Ludlow, superintendent. 



422 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1869. 

E. T. Gardner, president; John II. Bridge, 
vice president; VV. W. Wright, secretary; W. 
B. Mack, corresponding secretary; Thomas 
Emerson, treasurer; J. S. Smock, superintend- 
ent. 

1870. 
H. W. Whitney, president; J. S. Smock, vice 
president; W. W. Wright, recording secretary; 
Orrin Bacon, corresponding secretary; Thomas 
Emerson, treasurer; O. H. P. Clarno, superin- 
tendent. 

1871. 
H. W. Whitney, president; S. M. Hanna, vice 
president; W. W. Wright, recording secretary; 
O. Bacon, corresponding secretary; " A. L. 
Cleaveland, treasurer;T. R. Eaton, superintend- 
ent. 

1872. 
T. H. Eaton, president; William Coldren, 
vice-president; W. W. Wright, recording secre- 
tary; C. A. Booth, corresponding secretary; 
Thomas Emerson, treasurer; J. S. Smock, super- 
intendent. 

1878. 
T. H. Eaton, president; F. Mitchell, vice- 
president; W. W. Wright, recording secretary; 
L, Frankenberger, corresponding secretary; 
William Brown, treasurer; S. M. Hanna, super- 
intendent. 

1874. 
F. Mitchell, president; O. J. White, vice-presi- 
dent; W. W. Wright, recording secretary; C. 
A. Booth, corresponding secretary; William 
Brown, treasurer; E. J. Blackford, superintend- 
ent. 

1875. 
A. Ludlow, president; Mr. Dalrymple, vice- 
president; William Gray, secretary; Peter 
Guagi, corresponding secretary; J. H. VanDyke, 
treasurer; J. S. Smock, superintendent. 

1876. 
J. S. Smock, president; John Dalrymi:)le, 
vice-president; A. S. Douglas, secretary; C. A. 



Booth, corresponding secretary; J. H. VanDyke, 
treasurer; A. Ludlow, superintendent. 
1877. 
J. S. Smock, president; W. A. Wheaton, vice- 
president; A. S. Douglas, secretary; C. E. 
AdamSjCorresponding secretary; J .II. VanDyke, 
treasurer; A. Ludlo^v, superintendent. 
1878. 
W. S.Wescott, president; William Lysaght, 
vice-president; S. W. Abbott, treasurer; A. S. 
Douglas, recording secretary; C. E. Adams, 
corresponding secretary. 

1879. 
J. B. Treat, president; Jacob Roderick, vice- 
president; C. E. Adams, treasurer; W. W. 
Wright, secretary; P. J. Clawson, correspond- 
ing secretary. 

1880. 
J. B. Treat, president; Jacob Roderick, vice- 
president; W. W. Wright, secretary; A. C. 
Dodge, corresponding secretary; John Bolender, 
treasurer. 

1881. 
A. C. Dodge, president; B. Miller, vice-presi- 
dent; W. W. Wright, secretary; T. H. Eaton, 
corresponding secretary; N. B. Treat, treasurer. 
1882. 
F. W. Byers, president; Burr Sprague, vice- 
pi-esident; A. S. Douglas, secretary; W. S. 
Wescott, corresponding secretary; AVillis Lud- 
low, treasurer. 

1883. 
N. B. Treat, president; Henry Thorp, vice- 
president; S. C. Cheney, secretary; Willis Lud- 
low, treasurer; John Bolender, corresponding 
secretary. 

1884. 
Henry Thorp, president; J. F. Grinnell, vice- 
president; T. W. Goldin, secretary; H. G. Cleave- 
land, corresponding secretary; John Luchsin- 
ger, treasurer. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
[In force in 1883.] 

First. — It shall be the duty of the executive 
committee to receive all exhibits on their ar- 



« 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



423 



rival and direct tliem to their proper places on 
the grounds; to see that there is no lack of foi*- 
age and water for stock; to see that none of the 
rules of the society are violated with impu- 
nity, and that the daily programme is faithfully 
and promptly filled by all parties concerned. 

Second. — It shall be the duty of the presi- 
dent to attend to the reception of the society's 
guests, to organize and lead all processions, 
and to have a general supervision over each 
department of the Fair; preserving order, and 
assisting to insure justice and impart satisfac- 
tion to all visitors and competitors. 

Third. — The track master shall superintend 
all exhibitions on the track, keeping a record 
of all entries made and contests won, and shall 
labor faithfully to carry out liis part of the pro- 
gramme i^unctually and with strict impartiality. 
No entries can be received after 4 p. m. of 
Thursday, the second day of the Fair. 

Fourth. — Members of the awarding com- 
mittees will report themselves to the superin- 
tendent of their department punctually at 9 
o'clock on Friday morning, the third day of 
the Fair, ,when all vacancies will be filled by 
the superintendent, and committees will receive 
their lists, instructions and dinner tickets. 

Fifth. — No person can act as an awarding 
committee in any department in which he may 
be directly or indirectly interested in the re- 
sult, as owner, agent or otherwise. 

Sixth. — Any pei'son interfering with the 
awarding committee during the adjudication 
will be promptly excluded from the grounds, 
and shall forfeit any premium he or she might 
otherwise be entitled to in that division. 

Seventh. — No spirituous or fermented liquors 
will be allowed to be sold or given away on the 
grounds. No gambling or gaming device of 
any nature or kind whatsoever, lottery, gift en- 



terprise or prize packages will be allowed on 
the grounds. 

Eighth. — All persons are notified that the 
fair grounds are private property and any in- 
dividual detected or known to have damaged 
locks, broken open buildings, removed boards 
from the enclosure, or in any other way tres- 
passed upon or injured the property of the so- 
ciety will be prosecuted to the full extent of 
the law. 

Ninth. — A dining hall under the manage- 
ment of experienced caterers will afford proper 
refreshments at the usual rates. 

Tenth. — Tickets of admission must be pro- 
cured at the treasurer's office, as no money will 
be received at the entrance gates. Any gate- 
keeper receiving money should be reported im- 
mediately to the president. 

Eleventh. — Hay and straw will be provided 
on the grounds free of charge. Grain for stock 
can be purchased at market rates on the 
grounds. 

Twelfth. — Visitors are instructed to show 
their tickets each time of entrance without find- 
ing any fault. Gatekeepers are instructed to 
debar any one not suitably supplied with team, 
membership or single admission tickets. 

Thirteenth. — The executive officers shall 
meet each day of the Fair at 1 o'clock p. m., at 
the secretary's office, for the transaction of busi' 

ness. 

Fourteenth. — Individuals renting booths, 
keeping dining halls, or receiving revenue from 
any sale or exhibition on the fair grounds, 
must buy admission tickets, aside from their 
permits, for themselves and help. 

Fifteenth. — All premiums not called for on 
or before Jan. 1, 1884, shall be refunded to the 
society. 



424 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 



In all new countries the learned professions 
are very apt to be represented by men poorly 
qualified for their respective vocations. In 
speaking of the early physicians in Green coun- 
ty, Miss Bingham draws this pen-picture: "The 
principal physician based his practice on the be- 
lief that when blisters, calomel and the lancet 
will not save a man, nothing will save him, but 
that bleeding is then to be resorted to in order 
to make him die more easily; and he is said to 
have bled, blistered, and salivated his patients 
successively or simultaneously with an energy 
that made this a very easy place to die in. Phy- 
sicians seem to have been distinguished by pe- 
culiarities in their dress, rather than by those in 
their practice. There was one who was always 
called the calico doctor, not that there was an}^- 
thing unusual at that time in the calico coat 
he wore, but the name was distinctive because 
his principal rival always wore buckskin clothes 
and a coonskin cap." 

But it is safe to say that the medical profes- 
sion in Green county as at present constituted 
(or as it has been for the last thirty years), 
ranks second to none in Wisconsin. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF THE PAST. 

The following are the names of physicians 
who formerly practiced in Green county, but 
who are now dead, or have moved away, or 
retired from the profession: 

Monroe. — J. H. Couch, S. G. Lombard, II. A. 
McFatrich, James McFatrich, R. L. Aldrich, 
George L. Aiken, J. M. Ball, C. P. Fisher, F. 
M. Young, A. M. Blackraan, H. Van Wagenen, 
J. P. Smith, Stephen Porter, Mark Willits, J. 
B. Galer, F. B. Righter, W. D. Carver, E. 



Reichenbach, Hugo Reichenbach, H. N. Brad- 
shaw, T. W. Evans, Frederick Obereder, C. 
Tochterman, D. W. Edgar, Q. O. Sutherland, 
J. S. Sanborn, Charles A. Rood, G. W. Lee, C. 
H. L^ne, Ada Bingham, E. S. Fessenden, Helen 
M. Bingham, D. W. Noland, P. C. Corrisan, 
W. F. Howe, J. K. Eilert, George L. Aikin, 
Samuel Fisher, J. C. Crawford, R. F. Cheno- 
weth, W. O. Sherman, J. C. Parker, S. M. 
Smith, J. M, Obermiller, Chaj-les Weaver, G. 
Perio, J. J. Blumer, L. B. Johnson, S. W. Ab- 
bott, P. Zimmerman, and Drs. Stiger, Jones and 
Biggs; also S. Gephardt, S. M. Sherman, H. G. 
Townsend and J. G. Rishel. 

Monticello. — E. S. Knapp, Jeremiah Wilcox, 
and Drs. Ruttan, Bradshaw, Coblen and Mink- 
ler; also T. F. Stair and M. F. Merritt. 
Jordan Center. — D. Tweed. 
Dayton. — George Trousdale. 
New Glarus. — Samuel Blumer. 
Juda. — Dr. Barns, George Aikin, S. Simmons, 
J. C. Hall, J. L. Trousdale, George Trousdale, 
J. B. Stair, Drs. Hunt, Lacy & Son. 

Brodhead. — M. L. Burnham, E. W. Fairman, 
R. Mori is, C. C. Bradley, W. J. Fairman, J. H. 
Watrous, R. C. Brett, J. J. Austin, R. Willis, 
and Drs. Sutphen, Hart and Thurber. 

Albany.— S. F. Nichols, S. Fayette, H. T. 
Persons, E. H. Winston, J. H. Warren, Walter 
Roberts, William Fayette, J. C? Hall, Drs. 
Bemus, Stoller and VanDusen. 

York. — J. R. Rundlett, George W. Lee, S. M. 
Sherman, P. Pierce and Dr. Farr. 

Spring Grove. — Samuel Harroun and P. B. 
Springstead, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



425 



Horatio N. JBradshaw 
is a native of Canada. He carae to Monticello 
about 1869 and engaged in tlie practice of medi- 
cine until the summer of IS^O, when he came 
to Monroe, Here he practiced alone a short 
time, when he formed a partnership with Dr. 
Monroe, which lasted two years. He then went 
into a drug store in Monroe till the summer of 
1880, when he moved to Kansas. He is now 
in California. 

George W. Lee, 
a native of Virginia, was a thoroughly educated 
man — holding at one time a chair in a medical 
college in the east. He practiced in the east 
before removing west. He settled first at 
Whitewater one year, thence he removed to 
Shullsburg, in Lafayette county, in 1844, where 
he practiced and was at one time quite exten- 
sively engaged in mining. He was reputed one 
of the ablest physcians and surgeons in the 
western country, being widely known. He is 
remarkably social, genial and benevolent, and 
one would be benefitted by a conversation with 
him. He was a whig and then a republican, 
and was nominated by the republicans for sena- 
torial honors, but was not destined to "occupy 
the high position. He was county superintend- 
ent of schools in Lafayette county. He has 
been a good public speaker and has often been 
called upon to deliver orations. He iias 
"stumped" in Presidential campaigns. From 
Shullsburg he removed to Milwaukee, where 
he engaged in the practice of surgery; but, 
on account of ill health gave up the practice 
and removed to Darlington. From Darlington, 
he came to Green county, at Monroe, in 1878. 
He remained here during that year and a part 
of 1879, when he returned to Darlington 
where he now lives. He has been married 
twice. His second marriage with the widow 
Fuller resulted in a family of three intelligent 
and interesting daughters. 

Henry Van 'Wagenen 
graduated at Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Col- 
lege about 1852. He came from Beloit here 



and followed his profession in this county for a 
number of years. He married Susan Mills, 
and they are the parents of five sons and one 
daughter. He is a man of more than ordinary 
ability and had worked up a large practice in 
the city. In about 1871 he removed to Darling- 
ton, Wis., where lie still follows his profession. 

George Trousdale 
was a native of Fayette Co., Penn., where he 
lived until he was eighteen years old. He was edu- 
cated on a farm and early engaged as a teacher. 
He now went to Illinois and taught school six 
or eight years. He then returned and commenced 
the study of medicine in Juda with his brother, 
James L. He continued his studies there and 
at Rush Medical College where he graduated 
in 1872. He was married about this time to a 
lady in Illinois, who died there. He afterwards 
married a lady by the name of Vance, whose 
maiden name was West. After his first mar- 
riage he removed to Gratiot, Lafayette county, 
and practiced ten years. He afterwards prac- 
ticed in Dayton six years. He died in August 
1883, at the residence of his wife's father, in 
Brodhead, and his remains w^ere interred in 
Juda cemetery. He was a man of considerable 
talent and was the making of a very successful 
physician. 

James L. Trousdale 
was a native of Lafayette Co., Ill,, reared on a 
farm, educated at Fayette, Wis., studied medi- 
cine with William Monroe four years, gradu- 
ating at Rush Medical College about 1865; 
commenced to practice with Dr. Monroe in 
Fayette one year and then removed to Juda and 
practiced from 18GG to 1872. Removing to Brod- 
head he practiced there two years, and there died. 
Deceased was a very pleasant man and of good 
business ability, very quiet and well liked, some- 
times eccentric with his remarks; was a Christain, 
Mason and Odd Fellow; had a good practice, 
and was a successful physcian. He was married 
in Fayette, Lafayette county, in December 1857, 
to Harriet E. Gray, a daughter of Mayor R. N. 
Gray, of Mineral Point, and niece of Dr. Mon- 



426 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



roe, where she lived at the time; the ceremony 

was performed at the residence of Dr. Monroe. 

His children were — Clara E., Minnie G., Metta 

J., and May. He was buried by the Masonic 

order. 

Samuel Blumer 
was the first resident physician in New Glarus. 

He came from Switzerland and located there in 
1848. He practiced there until 1852, when he 
went to California, returning to New Glarus in 
in 1855. He continued there until 1868, having 
an extensive practice. He then moved to Mon- 
roe, where he remained a few months, going 
thence to Galena, and from that place to Sioux 
City, where he died in 1871. 

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF TO-DAY. 

The physicians now engaged in tlie practice 
of medicine and surgery in Green county, are 
as follows : 

Monroe — William Monroe, N. A. Loofbou- 
row, John C. Hall, H. D. Fuller, F. W. Confer, 
F. W. Byers, H. E. Boardman, Mrs. Hannah C. 
Bennett, Mrs. Norman Churchill, E. Bindsched- 
ler, L. B. Johnson and J. D. Soseman. 

Juda — J. N. Clemmer and E. S. Fessenden. 

New Glarus — John J. Blumer. 

Jordan — Christian Tochtermann. 

Exeter — W. C. Roberts and Mr. Ormsby. 

Albany — G. W. Roberts and N. Ziegenfuss. 

Brodhead— L. E. Towne, R. Broughtoa, E. G. 
Bennett, A. E. Bulson, E. Miller, Robert Willis 
and Frank R. Derrick. 

Brooklyn — W. F. Howe. 

Browntown — J. H. Stealy. 

York— A. L. Day. 

Mount Pleasant — Dwight Flower. 
WilUnm Monroe, M. Z>., 
was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 80, 1818. His 

father, William Monroe, was a graduate in medi- 
cine, and his mother, a daughter of Daniel 
Thurston, was Harriet (Thurston) Monroe, 
who settled in Ohio about 1814, then a 
wild and unsettled territory, where Wil- 
liam Monroe, Sr., practiced his profession 
until he died Oct. 10, 1818. Soon after the 
death of her husband, Mrs. Monroe, mother of 



the subject of this sketch, went to Delaware 
county, where she remained for twelve years. 
In 1831 she was married to Dr. John Loofbou- 
row, and removed to Iowa Co., Wis., there 
being but twenty-four log huts in Mineral Point 
at that time. She died in April, 1835. The 
doctor went with his mother to Mineral Point, 
where he was engaged in the mines. When 
twenty-one years old he commenced to read 
medicine in the office of Dr. O. E. Strong, re- 
maining with him eighteen months, after read- 
ing in the office of Dr. Loofbourow. In 1840 
he commenced to practice medicine under 
a license granted by the county medical 
society. In the winter of 18C8-9 he at 
tended lectures at Rush Medical College, 
where he graduated in 1869. The doctor is a 
member of the Southern Wisconsin Medical 
Society, and of the State Association ; also, of 
the Green County Medical Society. In 1868 the 
doctor came to Monroe. In 1841 he was mar- 
ried to Mary J. Beebe, by whom there were ten 
children, of whom two sons and tvyo daughters 
are now living. In 186'7 he represented his dis- 
trict in the legislature. He was appointed ex- 
amining surgeon for Lafayette county prepara- 
tory to the draft in 1862. In 1870 he was ap- 
pointed examining surgeon for pensioners. He 
is a Sir Knight, and a member of the K. of P.; 
also, of the I. O. O. F. He was formerly a 
whig, but now supports the republican ticket. 

J^. A. Loofhourow, M. D., 
is a native of Iowa Co., Wis., born Oct. 9, 1849. 
His parents, John and Rebecca (Lanib)Loofbou- 
row, emigrated to Wisconsin and settled at 
Mineral Point. Here the sul)ject of this sketch 
grew to manhood, receiving his early education 
in a log cabin built by his father. He after- 
wards attended school at Fayette, Lafayette 
county, and at Platteville, Grant county. When 
twenty-one years old, he commenced reading 
medicine in the office of Dr. Monroe, of Mon- 
roe, and afterwards attended lectures at Rush 
Medical College, at Chicago, where he graduated, 
Feb. 19, 1873. In 1876 and 1877 he attended a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



42Y 



course of lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical 
College, in New York city, and in the spring 
of 1881 again attended a course at Rush Medi- 
cal College, Chicago. In 1874 he was married to 
Alice Banta, a native of Green county. Dr. 
Loofbourow is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of 
P. and A. O. U. W. 

J. a Hall, 3L J)., 
a native of Langdon, Sullivan Co., N. H., was 
born May 21, 1821. When he was quite young 
his parents moved to Maine, where his early 
life was spent obtaining the foundation of his 
education in the common schools. He after- 
wards attended North Yarmouth Academy and 
Westbrook Seminary. He gi'aduated in the 
medical department of Harvard University in 
1852. The same year he came west and located 
at Albany, Green Co., Wis. He was com- 
missioned as examining surgeon for Green 
county, Oct. 21, 1861, and assistant surgeon of 
the 6th Wisconsin Volunteers, and served 
nearly three years as surgeon in the field. He 
was elected a State senator for the two years, 
1870 and 1871. Dr. Hall is a member of the 
American Medical Association, and of the State 
Medical Association; also is president of the 
Southwestern Wisconsin Medical Association. 

IT. D. Miller, 31. D., 
one of the prominent practicing physicians and 
surgeons of Monroe, is a native of Montgomery 
Co., N. Y., where he was born May 23, 1848. 
His parents, Jonas and Margaret (Snook) 
Fuller, were married in 1821, and have lived 
together as husband and wife for more than 
sixtj^-three years, and now occupy the old home- 
stead where his father moved in 1787, when he 
was eight years of age. The subject of this 
sketch was reared upon a farm and received a 
common school education, afterwards gradu- 
ating at Amsterdam Academy. He is also a 
graduate of Union College. In 1860 he com- 
menced reading medicine with Dr. D. Belding, 
afterwards with William H. Robb. In 1872 he 
went to Albany, N. Y., and prosecuted his 
studies under Dr. J. S. Mosher. In 1878 he 



graduated at Albany Medical College. In the 
fall of 1879 he settled at Sharon, Walworth 
Co., Wis., where he remained three years. In 
the fall of 1882 he came to Monroe, where he 
has followed the practice of his chosen profes- 
sion since. The doctor is a member of the Al- 
bany Alumni and Southern Wisconsin Associa- 
tion, He was married Dec. 21, 1881, to Jose- 
phine Dodge, by whom he has had one child — 
Maynard H. He is a man who takes an active 
interest in the temperance cause, and was a 
candidate on that ticket for school commissioner. 

F. Confer, M. D., 
was born in the town of Washington, Green 
Co., Wis., on the 18th day of December, 1854; 
was reared on a farm and received a common 
school education. When seventeen years old 
he commenced teaching. At the age of twenty 
he came to Monroe and entered the high school, 
graduating in 1878. . In 1879 he entered the of- 
fice of Dr. J. C. Hall, and prosecuted his stud- 
ies in medicine for three years. He graduated 
at Rush Medical College in February, 1882. 
He commenced practice at Dayton, Green coun- 
ty. One year later he came to Monroe, follow- 
ing the practice of his profession. He here 
formed a partnership with Dr, N. A. Loofbou- 
row. In February, 1882, he was married to 
Carrie Isley, by whom he has one child — Fran- 
cis M. The doctor is a member of the A. O. 
U. W. 

Fred W. Bijers, 31. D., 
one of the prominent physicians of the city, 
was born in Shippensville, Clarion Co., Penn., 
Feb. 10, 1837, where his younger days were 
spent. The foundation of his education was 
laid in the common schools and he afterwards 
received an academic education atCooperstown. 
In 1857, he came west to Stephenson Co., 111., 
and Green Co., Wis., Avhere he was employed 
as teacher in the public schools. He then 
went to Springfield, Ohio, and attended Witten- 
berg College, passing into the sophomore class. 
In the spring of 1860, he went to Missouri as 
traveling salesman. About this time the War 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of the Rebellion broke out, and the feeling 
was so strong against northern men, in that 
section, that he thought it advisable to leave. 
Accordingly he went to Orangeville, 111., where 
he resumed the study of medicine (which he 
had previously commenced,) in the office of Dr. 
W.P. Naramore. In 1861 and 1862, he attend- 
ed lectures at Rush Medical College. The 
following August, he was employed in the 
hospitals at Camp Douglas, 111., and in the mean 
time attended lectures, and graduated in Janu- 
ary 1863. Soon after he was commissioned 
assistant surgeon of the 96th regiment of Illi- 
nois Volunteers — joining the regiment at 
Franklin, Tetin. He participated in Rosecrans 
campaign, of 1863, remaining with that com- 
mand until the army reached Chattanooga. He 
was then assigned to duty at Nashville, Tenn. 
In May 1804, he reported to his regiment, re- 
maining with it through part of the Atlanta 
campaign and participating in the battles of 
Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Marietta, and Peach Tree Creek, 
wherS he was made chief surgeon of the 
artillery brigade, of the 4th army corps, 
served as staff officer during the siege of Atlanta, 
and the engagements at Jonesboro and Love- 
joy station. He was present at the battles of 
Franklin and Nashville, and took part in the 
campaign tolluntsville and into east Tennessee. 
He returned to Nashville, and thence to 
Chicago where he was mustered out of the 
service at Camp Douglas, July 8, 1865. He 
never had a furlough nor slept on a bed, from 
the time of entering the service until he reached 
Chicago. After the war, he located at Lena, 
Stephenson Co., 111., where he followed the 
practice of medicine, twelve years, when he 
removed to Monroe. He was married in July, 
1865, to Olive DcHaven. They are the parents 
of six children — Morna, Winnie, Harry S., 
Joe Rodney, Grace and Ben JJayard. Dr. 
Byers is a member of the Southern AVisconsin 
Medical Association, of which he is secretary; 
also a member of the Stephenson County 



( 



Association. Since graduating he has attended 
medical lectures in the Nashville University of 
Tennessee, and Missouri Medical College of 
St. Louis. He is a surgeon in the Wisconsin 
National Guard and United States examining 
surgeon for this district. He is the oldest 
active Knight Templar in Green county, and 
a companion of the first class in the military 
order of the Loyal Legion of the United States^ 

Horace M. JBoardman, A. M., M. D., 
was born in Rutland, Vt., on the 18th' 
day of May, 1835, His parents were Elijah 
and Mary (Foot) Boardman, who were the 
parents of four sons and two daughters. Dr. 
Boardman was brought up on a farm, receiving 
the foundation of his education in the common 
schools. Subsequently, he attended the semi- 
nary at Castleton, Vt., and Burr Seminary 
at Manchester, Vt., and graduated at Mid- 
dlebury College in 1857. He was associate 
principal of Chester Academy till 1858, when 
he was elected professor of mathematics and 
English literature in Missouri College, where 
he labored for one year and a half. In conse- 
quence of the agitation concerning slavery, that 
part of the country became uncongenial to him, 
and, in the latter part of 1859, he returned to 
New England. He subsequently studied both 
theology and medicine, and, having attended 
the lectures of 1865, 1866 and 1867 in Hahne- 
mann Medical College, Chicago, he graduated 
there in the spring of 1867. He then practiced 
his profession in Menasha, Wis., for two years, 
and afterwards in Sun Prairie, Dane county, 
for nine and one-half years. In the summer of 
1878, he came to Monroe, Green county, where 
he now resides, engaged in the practice of his 
profession. The doctor is a member and an 
officer of the Wisconsin Homcpopathic Medical 
Society, and a member of the American Insti- 
tute of Homoeopathy. He has contributed 
many articles to the medical journals. He was 
married in February 1863, in New Hampshire, to 
Susan C. Locke. They have now two children 
living — Dr. Edgar W., now the house-surgeon 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



429 



in Hahnemann Hospital, Chicago, and Horace 
P., who is fifteen years of age. Dr. and Mrs. 
Boardman are members of the M. E. Church. 

Mrs. H. C. Bennett, M. B., 
of the regular school, was born in Kent, Eng- 
land, in 1842. In 1850, her parents, John and 
Hussah (Rolfe) Russell, came to America and 
located at Sussex, Waukesha Co., Wis., where 
they resided until 1883. The subject of this 
sketch was educated in the common schools and 
afterwards attended Carroll College, Waukesha 
county, graduating in 1862. In 1870 she com- 
menced reading medicine with her brother, Dr. 
Richard Russell, of Freeport Co., Minn. In 
the fall of the same year she attended lectures 
at Chicago Medical College where she gradu- 
ated in 1875, after which she remained one year 
in the Woman's Hosj)ital. She then returned 
to Sussex, her home, and practiced her profes- 
sion until 1881, when she came to Monroe, and 
has here been engaged in practicing since. 
She has been very successful and has gained a 
reputation as physician, of which she may feel 
justly proud. She was married in March 1882, 
to Felix C. Bennett, a native of Ohio, who lo- 
cated in the county a number of years ago. 

L. B. Johnson, M. D., 
was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1822. 
He is a son of James T. and Lucretia (Ball) 
Johnson, who were among the early settlers in 
Steuben county. James T. Johnson was a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812 and was stationed at 
Niagara Falls. L B. Johnson, of this sketch, 
was reared upon a farm and received a liberal 
education. At the age of eighteen years he com- 
menced the study of medicine, and graduated 
at Geneva Medical College in 1844. Soon af- 
ter he went to Allegany county and engaged 
in the practice of his profession. In 1844 he 
was married to Catharine Hubbard, in Steuben 
Co., N. Y. Two children were born to them, 
both of whom died in infancy. Dr. Johnson 
was, in 1855, elected to the legislature of the 
State of New York, from Allegany county. In 
V^ol he carae to Monroe where he has since re- 



sided. He is a man of more than ordinary 
ability and much respected in the community 
where he resides. 

Dr. John D. Soseman, 
dental surgeon, was born near Akron, Summit 
Co., Ohio, April 14, 1845. He is a son of 
Thomas Soseman, who settled in Ohio in 1835. 
He, (Thomas Soseman,) in early life, was en- 
gaged in milling and afterwards in farming. 
In 1864 he removed to St. Joseph Co., Ind., 
where he still resides. Dr. Soseman, of* this 
sketch, was reared upon a farm and educated in 
the common schools. He commenced the study 
of his profession in 1871, in the oliice of Dr. 
Hall, remaining under his instruction two years. 
He was married in 1871 ,to Susan Swenk, widow of 
Lewis Swenk. In 1 874 he went to St. Joseph Co., 
Ind., and in April 1883 came to Monroe, where 
he is receiving liberal patronage, and although a 
new comer, has already established a reputation 
for being a skilled and reliable dentist. He is 
a member of the I. O. O. F., of South Bend, 
Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Soseman have one child. 

Dr. J. AT. Clemmer 
attended the Eclectic College at Cincinnati, 
having entered that institution in 1852, and 
holds a certificate from the same. He com- 
menced the practice of his profession at Argyle, 
Lafayette Co., Wis , where he remained three 
years, then went to Winneshiek Co., Iowa, and 
two years later came to Green county, and set- 
tled in the village of Juda, where he has since 
remained, engaged in practicing medicine in 
the village and surrounding country. He was 
absent from Green county two and a half years, 
during the War of the Rebellion, having en- 
listed, March 9, 1863, and served until July, 
26, 1865. He was mustered into the service at 
Madison, and at that time, promoted to regi- 
mental commissary. He was in fourteen battles, 
serving in the second corps, second division, Ist 
Brigade, army of the Potomac, Gen. Hancock 
commander of corps, and was mustered out at 
Jefifersonville, Ind. Dr. Clemmer was born in 
Fayette Co., Penn., Aug. 22, 1826, His father 



430 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



was a farmer and he was reared to ap^ricultural 
pursuits, remaining on the farm until twenty- 
years old. lie was married Oct. 21, 1847, to 
Elizabeth A. Zerley, also a native of Fayette 
Co., Penn. They have nine children living — 
Lydia L., Mary L., Isabel C, William J., George 
G.,D. Annetta, Anna D., Joseph N. and Eliza- 
beth A, Lydia J. and William J., reside in 
Butler county, and Mary L. in MonoHa countJ^ 
Dr. Clemmer is a member of the Masonic or- 
der. He is a man highly respected and es- 
teemed throughout the community, and has an 
extensive and remunerative practice. 

Dr. J. Jacoh JBl%miei\ 
son of Dr. Samuel Bluraer, was born in Canton 
Glarus, Switzerland, Sept. 10, 1843, his mother 
died in 1845, and his father came to the United 
States in 1848. Jacob remained in Switzerland 
until 1861, receiving a good preparatory medi- 
cal education at Bern and Neuchatel. After 
coming to this State, he enlisted in the 3d Wis- 
consin Cavalry regiment, and served three 
years. After the war he went to Pennsylvania 
and completed his medical studies at the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, spend- 
ing about two and a half years there. He 
landed in New Glarus in 1869, since which he 
has been the resident physician of this place. 
He was married Feb. 28, 1870, to Margaretha 
Legler. 

Dr. Chrhtoplier Tochterman 
was born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, Oct. 30, 
1826. He is a son of Christopher and Margaret 
(Gaily) Tochterman. His parents are both 
buried in Canton Bern. Christopher was edu- 
cated at the University of Bern. He attended 
four courses of medical lectures, and was ad- 
mitted to practice in the Old Country. In 1852 
he came to America and settled in this county, 
in Jlonroe, where he practiced medicine a little, 
and learned the trade of wagon making. He 
worked at the trade for several years, then 
started in for himself in Oneco, 111., where he 
remained a few years, then purchased eighty 
a(;re8 of land near Shueyville. In the fall of 



1862 he enlisted in company G, 22d Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in at Ra- 
cine, AVis. He was commissioned assistant 
surgeon of 38th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, 
serving until 1865, the close of the war, when 
he returned home. He has 1 35 acres on section 
36 in this town, and has made it a comfortable 
home. In May, 1852, he was married to Mag- 
daline Greenwald, of Bern, Switzerland. They 
have had six children, three of whom are living 
— Mary M., married to Rev. H. A. Palmer, of 
East Delaware, Wis.; Carrie, who is emploj-ed 
in the watch factory at Elgin, 111.; and Godfrey 
S., who is traveling in California. G. S. Tochter- 
man has traveled extensively throughout the 
States and Territories. Mr. Tochterman is a 
republican, politically^, and the family are mem- 
bers of the German Evangelical Church. 

George W. Roberts, M. D., 
was born in Benington, Licking Co., Ohio, 
April 10, 1841, and was but three years old 
when his parents emigrated to the Territory of 
Wisconsin and settled in Rock county, where 
his father purchased land and improved a farm. 
Through the influence and teaching of a kind 
mother, who was possessed of a good educa- 
tion, he obtained a fair knowledge of the com- 
mon branches of the English language, which 
was advanced by four terms at Milton College, 
Rock county. He commenced the study of 
medicine in the spring of 1854, receiving in- 
struction from Drs. Barrows and Treat, of 
Janesville. In the fall of 1865 he went to Chi- 
cago and attended lectures at the Chicago Med- 
ical College and chemical instruction at the 
Mercy Hospital for six months. Returninghome 
in the spring of 1866 he commenced practice in 
town of Cook, Rock county. In the fall of 1867 
he came to Albany and formed a co-partnership 
with Dr. Winston of tliat])lace. 'i'he following 
fall he again went to Chicago and attended 
lectures at Rush Medical College, where he 
graduated and received his diploma. He then 
returned to Albany, where he has since re- 
mained, engaged in the practice of his profes- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



431 



sion. As a physician he is popular and success- 
ful, lie deservedly possesses the reputation of 
a skilled practitioner and an extensive and re- 
munerative practice. His genial manners and 
gentlemanly behavior has won for him hosts of 
friends. He was married in 1857 to Betsey C. 
Oleson. They have four children — Walter C, 
William D., Fred H. and Eugene Warren. 
Walter C. is a graduate of Rush Medical Col- 
lege and is practicing at Dayton, Green Co., 
Wis. 

Walter C. JRoberts, 31. D., 
resident physician of Dayton, was born in Ful- 
ton, Rock county, Dec. 18, 1858. He is a son 
of Dr. G. W. Roberts, of Albany. Walter early 
decided to enter the medical profession, and 
with that view studied with his father. He fin- 
ished his preparatory medical studies at Rush 
College in Chicago. Dr. Roberts is a constant 
student and intends to keep pace with the ad- 
vances in medical science. His literary educa- 
tion was obtained in high schools and at Milton 
College. He practiced in Monroe county, and in 
Elroy and Monewoc previous to coming to Day- 
ton in 1883. He is gaining the confidence of 
the community and his practice is steadily in- 
creasing. 

Willicmi Elhoood Ziegenfuss,3L I)., 
of Albany, Wis., was born in Pleasant Valley, 
Monroe Co., Penn., Aug. 8, 1854. He is of 
German descent. He is the youngest of seven 
children of a good family, well to do, long lived, 
intelligent and religious. His great-great-grand- 
father, Andrew Ziegenfuss, and wife, left Stras- 
bourg, France, for America in 1740. They set- 
tled near Philadelphia, Penn., from Avhence the 
family has scattered through that State, New 
Jersey and Virginia. The parents of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, George and Catharine Zieg- 
enfuss, are still living in Pennsylvania, aged 
respectively, seventy-eight and sixty-six years. 
His father is a retired miller. The educa- 
tional advantages in the doctor's time and 
home were limited. All his education, so far 
as received from schoola, was obtained in Mon- 



roe county, at the district school, four months 
a year, under teachers of but limited qualifica- 
tions. At the age of seventeen, having 
privately studied of late, he began teaching 
school at 130 per month. He taught and at- 
tended the normal schools alternately for the 
next five years, thus taking an elective course of 
study, embracing a very liberal English educa- 
tion. Having a natural inclination towards scien- 
tific studies, he entered the office of Dr. M. 
G. Lesh, and began the study of medicine. In 
the autumn of 1876 he entered the department 
of medicine and surgery of the University of 
Michigan, and graduated in the first advanced 
course of studies in June, 1878. After gradu- 
ating he spent a year in the east studying, trav- 
eling and corresponding for various papers, 
which, in addition to contributing to various 
medical journals, he still keeps up. In 1879 
Dr. Ziegenfuss came to Dexter and began the 
practice of his profession. He is eminently 
successful as a physician. On Dec. 23, 1879, he 
was married to Hattie Loraine Sill, of Dexter, 
born at Port Huron, Mich., Oct. 19, 1857. Mrs. 
Ziegenfuss is of English-French descent. Her 
grand parents on both sides were early resi- 
dents here. Her parents, George S. and Sarah 
P. Sill, live in Dexter, Mich. S])e is the oldest 
of three children, having a sister and a brother 
younger than she. Dr. Ziegenfuss is a man of 
extensive reading, both in his profession and in 
the colateral sciences, possessing native talent 
for metaphysics and the natural sciences. He 
is the author of various medical articles, and is 
a fine writer. 

L. E. Towne, 31. I)., 
located at Brodhead in 1862. Dr. Towne is 
one of the well known physicians of this part 
of the State of Wisconsin, having for many 
years had an extensive practice in this and ad- 
joining counties. He was born in Windham 
Co., Vt., on June 18, 1826, where he was 
reared. His father, Thomas Towne, was a na- 
tive of Massachusetts. The doctor began reading 
medicine at the age of seventeen, with a ma- 



43 2 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ternal uncle, Dr, L. A. Smith. ITe continued 
with his uncle two or three years, having the 
use of liis medical works. In 1848, in com- 
pany with two other young men, he started for 
the west. He came to Rock county in this 
State that season, and engaged in teaching. In 
1850, he resumed the study of medicine, and 
began practice with Di-. Samuel Harroud, of 
the town of Newark, Rock county. He continued 
in practice some years previous to graduating? 
taking his degree at Rush Medical College in 
1867. In the early years of his practice, the 
country was new and sparsely settled, and 
physicians were scarce, and his ride extended 
over a great area of territory, and he became 
widely known as a skillful and careful physician. 
Dr. Towne removed to Clarence in 1851, com- 
ing to Brodhead, as stated, in 18C2. He has 
now, to a great extent, retired from practice, 
attending to professional calls only in the vil- 
lage. He was the second physician in the vil- 
lage of Clarence; Dr. P. B. Springstead being 
the first. ITe is now interested in the drug 
business, his son being associated with him. 
He has a beautiful and pleasant home in the 
village, and a fine farm of 160 acres near town, 
also owns thirty acres adjoining the village 
plat. Dr. Towne has been twice married. His 
first wife was Fannie Kendal, who died in Feb- 
ruary 1850. He was again married in the winter 
of 1850 to Caroline W. Harroud, daughter of 
Dr. Harroud, who died at Darlington about 
1858. The doctor has one son by his second wife, 
Lucius A., who is associated with his father in 
the drug business. He was born at Clarence in 
1861. He lost a son, ^^'. H. S., in 1873, in his 
nineteenth year, also a daughter at Clarence, 
in 1859, at the age of seven years. 

Russell Brour/Jiton, M. 7)., 
is a son of John Broughton, of the town of Al- 
bany. He was born May 16, 1842, during the 
same year his parents came to Green county, 
and but a few weeks previous to that event. He 
received his early education in the public schools 
of his town. He afterwards entered Milton 



College, in Rock county, intending to take a 
full course of study, but was diverted from his 
purpose by joining the army in 1863. After 
the close of the war he pursued a commercial 
course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Com- 
mercial College, Milwaukee, and having decid- 
ed to enter the medical jDrofession, pursued a 
course of study at Rush Medical College, in 
Chicago, where he graduated in February 1869. 
His taste for this profession developed at an 
early age, and he was greatly encouraged in 
fitting himself for it by Dr. II. F. Persons, of 
Albany, in whom he found a true friend. Since * 
he began practice in 1869 he has had a steadily 
increasing business, and is widely known as a 
skillful surgeon and a careful physician. His 
entire career has been marked by industry and 
frugality. He began without means, and even 
while receiving his education paid the most of his 
expenses by hard work. At the age of twenty-one 
he had never been inside of a saloon, never used 
tobacco, and had never spent a half day in town. 
In these habits of morality formed in early 
life, we find the secret of Dr. Broughton's suc- 
cess. He has accumulated an ample fortune, 
and lives in the enjoyment of all the comforts 
of a happy home. He has never held public 
oflice, except that of superintendent of the pub- 
lic schools of Brodhead from 1872 to 1875; as 
he has no aspirations for official })Osition. Dr. 
Broughton was married Feb. 1, 1869, to Miss J. 
A. Smiley, daughter of David Smiley, of Al- 
bany, this county. 

E. G. Bennett, 31. />., 
located at Brodhead, May 1, 1878. He was 
born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1849. His 
father, John G. Bennett, removed with his 
family to Rock Co., Wis., in 1853. Dr. Ben-' 
nett was reared in Rock county, and received 
his literary education at INIilton College, pre- 
paring himself for teaching and also laid the 
foundation of his medical education. He fol- 
lowed the occupatioTi of teaching four years, at 
the same time pursuing his medical studies. 
He began the study of medicine in 1873, and 




V^'^iM 



09 , (B^clcAj 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



435 



graduated at Rush Medical College in 1878, 
taking three terms at" that institution, locating 
here soon after. Dr. Bennett possesses excel- 
lent literary attainments and is skilled in all 
branches of his profession. He has a large and 
growing practice. His wife was Ruby E. 
House, whose father settled in Rock county 
in 1864. 

A. E. Bulson, M. D., 
was born in Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 19, 1847. 
His father died when he was a child, and when 
nine years of age he removed with his step- 
father to Westville, Ind. He entered the army 
in 1861, when only fourteen years of age. He 
enlisted in compaTiy I, 20th Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry. After two years he was promoted to 
the position of first principal musician of his 
regiment, wliich he held to the close of the war, 
re-enlisting in 1864. He witnessed many of the 
most exciting and important events of the great 
Rebellion, among which was the destruction of 
the frigates Congress and Cumherland, by the 
rebel ram Merrimac., and the fight between the 
Monitor and Merrimac on the succeeding day. He 
accompanied liis regiment throughout McClel- 
lan's campaign on the peninsula; was present at 
the battles of Fredericksburg, second battle of 
Bull Run, Gettysburg, battle of the Wilderness 
and at the surrender of Gen. Lee. At the close 
of the war he attended school at Westville, 
where lie also began the i^tudy of medicine. 
He graduated at Chicago Medical College in 
1868. After graduation he practiced five years 
at Gobleville, Mich. Desiring still better o])- 
portunities to extend his knowledge of the sci- 
ence of medicine and surgery, he went to New 
York city, where he entered the Bellevue 
Hospital Medical College, and from which he 
graduated in 1874, Returning to Gobleville he 
resumed his practice, remaining there until 
1879, when he came to Brodhead. Dr. Bulson 
is thoroughly educated in his ])rofession, and 
his large and increasing practice attests the 
confidence that is placed in his professional 
skill. He was united in marriage with Sarah 



M. Abbott, born in LaPorte, Ind. To them 
was born one child — Albert Eugene. In 1866 
his wife died, and on Dec, 11, 1868, he was 
united in marriage with Florence I. Breck, 
born in Van Buren Co., Mich, This union has 
been blessed with two children — Florence A. 
and Glenn Allen. Dr. Bulson is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church of Brodhead, and aja 
earnest worker of temperance reform. 

Dr. Robert Willis 
is the homeopathic physician of Brodhead. He 
was born in Iowa Co., Wis., in 1859. He was 
educated at Platteville State Normal School, 
and entered Hahnemann Medical College, Chi- 
cago, in 1881; graduated in the class of 1883, 
and soon after came to Brodhead. 

Dr. Frank H. Derrick 
is the dentist of Brodhead in 1884. He suc- 
ceeded Dr. Joseph S. Reynolds, in 1876, with 
whom he was a student for two years. He is a 
skillful dentist, and has a large and growing 
practice. Dr. Derrick is a representative of one 
of the early families of Green county. He is a 
son of Frank H. Derrick, of Brodhead, and was 
born in the town of Spring Grove in May, 1850. 
lie was married to Arabella N. Moore, a native 
of Vermont, and a daughter of William H. 
Moore. 

W. F. IIoiL^e, M. D., 
is a son of Rev. D. R. and Mary A. Howe. He 
was born in Princeton, 111,, March 8, 1857. He 
commenced the study of medicine in 1876,with 
Dr. William Monroe as preceptor, and graduated 
at the Rush Medical College in 1880. March 
15, 1880, he located at Brooklyn, where he has 
since practiced. 

Jeremiah II. Steedy, M. D., 
was born in Milton township, Ashland Co., 
Ohio, in 1858. He received his literary educa- 
tion in his native county. In April, 1875, he 
removed to Monroe, and in 1877 engaged in 
teaching. He began the study of medicine 
with Dr. William S. Caldwell, of Freeport, 111, 
In 1879 he entered the medical department of 
the University at Ann Arbor, Mich., remaining 



26 



486 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



there one year, when he returned to Freeport 
and continued his studies. In 1881 he entered 
Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, 
graduating therefrom in 1882. Di-. Stealy, al- 
though a young man, is possessed of excellent 
attainments, and is thoroughly educated in llie 
modern school of medicine. His ability and 
success is well attested by his large and increas- 
ing practice. On the 31st of May, 1883, he was 
united in marriage with Emma, a daughter of 
John and Catherine Sullivan. 

Dr. A. L. Day 
was born in the town of York, Green Co., Wis., 
July 28, 1845. He received a liberal education 
in the Monroe Seminary, Albion Academy and 
the Algona College. In the last named institu- 
tion he occupied the chairs of anatomy, physi- 
ology and hygiene for some time. In March, 
1863, he enlisted in the 37th regiment, Wiscon- 
sin Volunteers, serving as non-commissioned 
officer till the close of the war. In the summer 
of 1866 he began the study of medicine under 
a preceptor, and in the fall and winter of 186G 
and 1867 was a student in the Eclectic Medical 
College in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the spring of 
1867 he began the practice of medicine at Post- 
ville, Wis. In the spring of 1868 he married 
Emma N. Fellows, of that place. She was born 
in the city of Kenosha, Wis., March 7, 1850. 
When she was about two years of age her pTir- 
ents removed to Monroe, where they remained 
until the fall of 1863, when they removed to 
Postville, where she resided until her marriage. 
She received her education in the schools of 
Monroe and Postville, and removed with her 
husband to Palo Alto Co., Iowa, where, during 
the year 1870, she taught school. Dr. Day, 
having located in Iowa, continued the practice 
of his profession there for about five years; 
during which time he was elected county super- 
intendent of public schools for two years, the 
duties of which office he ])erformed in connec- 
tion with those of his profession. In the fall 
of 1875 he returned to Postville, where he has 
since been the resident physician, although in 



the year 1-879 he attended the Bennett Medical 
College, where he graduated. Again, in the 
spring of 1883, leaving his practice in charge 
of his student. Dr. E. L. Clark, who had grad- 
uated the previous winter in Chicago, he at- 
tended the practitioner's course in the Rush 
Medical College, also a course in the Eye and 
Ear Infirmary. In 1882 he was appointed on 
the board of censors by the State Eclectic Med- 
ical Association, which position he now holds. 
He has gained considerable celebrity in the pro- 
fession, having not only acquired the reputation 
of being a very skillful practitioner, but has also 
performed a number of important surgical 
operations, among which was the amputation of 
the leg, at the thigh, of John Paulson, of Adams, 
who is now (1884) in the employ of Samuel 
Mack, of Monroe, as machine agent. He has 
also performed a number of operations on the 
eye that, it is believed have never been per- 
formed by a resident physician in the county. 
He is a correspondent to the Chicago Medical 
Times. Mr, and Mrs. Day have four children — 
May R., born in Palo Alto Co., Iowa, Jan. 1, 
1871; Maude L., born in Palo Alto Co., Iowa, 
Oct. 18, 1872; Edward C, born in Palo Alto 
Co., Iowa, June 30, 1874; and Myrtle G., born 
in Postville, Wis., Dec, 14, 1876. 

Rowley Morris, M. D., 
was born at Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., 
Dec, 30, 1811. He began studying for the med- 
ical profession in 1840, with Dr. Peter Caner, 
of Warsaw, and graduated at the Albany Med- 
ical College, in his native State in 1844. He 
came to Green county in 1848. By close appli- 
cation to his profession he soon established a 
worthy reputation, and enjoyed a wide reputa- 
tion as a skillful and successful physician. He 
was married in 1844, to Harriet J. Foster, who 
died in 1857. In 1857 he was married the second 
time, to Ann Mitchell, and by her has two 

children. 

J)iciylU Fhnrer, M. D., 
resident physician, of Monlicello, was born in 
the town of West Rupert, Bennington Co., Vt., 
in 1840. He received his early education in 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



437 



the district school. When he was sixteen years 
old his parents moved to Iowa, and settled in 
Humboldt county. At the age of twenty-one 
he entered Antioch College, Green county, and 
studied one year. He then went to Schenectady, 
N. Y., and entered Union College, where he 
graduated. He afterwards attended medical 
lectures at Long Island Hospital, and at Albany 
Medical Collego. He graduated and received 
his diploma at the latter institution.* He com- 

* But before beginning the practice of medicine, he went to 
Heidelberg, where he spent six months in the study of the 
German language, chiefly. Then he went to Berlin, where 
he spent one year in the study of chemical medicine, in the 
hospitals at that placf ; and before returning home he passed 
three months in the hospitals at Vienna. 



menced the practice of his profession in Bu- 
chanan Co., Iowa, where he remained a short 
time. He then came to Wisconsin and settled 
at Arena, Iowa county. Two years later he 
came toMonticello where he has since resided. 
He was married Oct. 23, 1879, to Kate L. Roser, 
a native of St. Louis. They have one child, 
— Dwight. Dr. Flower is a gentleman of 
superior ability, and as a physician, is popular 
and successful. He has won the confidence and 
esteem of his fellow citizens and has an exten- 
sive practice. 



438 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE COUNTY BOARD— PAST AND PRESENT. 



There is much in the early government of 
Green county to demand attention and awaken 
an interest in the mind of the reader. Nor is 
that interest lessened to any great extent as we 
examine the proceedings of the "county legisla- 
ture" down even to the present day. Only the 
most important of the measures adopted by the 
board, from the organization of the county 
to this date (1884), can be given in this chapter. 
But first we will mention the various changes 
that the board itself has undergone since its 
first creation and the names of all those who 
have acted as its members to the present day. 

COUNTY COMMISSIOKEES. 

From the organization of the countyj in 1838, 
down to the date of the admission of Wisconsin 
into the Union as a sovereign State, in 1848, a 
period of ten years. Green, as well as other 
counties of Wisconsin Territory, was governed 
by a county board, formed of three commission- 
ers. When in session, they held what was de- 
nominated a commissioners' court. The first 
terra is given in their proceedings as "commis- 
sioners' court, March term, 1838," and soon. 

The following are the names of the commis- 
sioners and the dates of their election: 



Daniel S. Sutherland — 

Wm. Bowen 

Daniol Harcourt 

.Ia8. Riley vice D. Harcourt 
Jer. Briilf^e, vice D. S. S. 

Wm. IJoyls 

Asa Bowen, vice J. Bridge 

Davis Bowen 

Wm. Boyls 

Josiah Pierce 

Davis Bowen 

Asa Bowen 

Daniel Smiley . . 

Henson Irion 

Asa Brown 

Joseph Kelly 



Whenele'd 



Mar., 



Sept., 
Oct., 



'■as 



1838 
1838 
18381 
1838i 
18381 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1841 
1841 

1842 
1842 
1843 
184;^ 
1843 



Thos. S. Bowen... 

Wm. C Gi-een 

Hii-iim Bust 

Iliram Brown 

Wm. C. Gri^en 

K. D. Derrick .... 
Hiram (Jaulkins.. 
T. W. Thompson. 

Wm. Boyls 

Henry Adams 

Wm. Boyl.s 

Wm. Brown 

Wm. Brown 

Wm. Coldren 

Thos. L. Sommers 



1844 
1844 
1844 
1845 
184.5 
184.5 
1846 
1846 
1848 
1847 
1847 
1847 
1848 
1848 
1848 



At the general election in September, 1841, 
the question as to whether the county would 
adopt the town government system was voted 
upon by the electors of the county and voted 
down by the following decisive majority: 

For town government twelve votes, against 
town government forty-eight votes. 

COUNTY SUPERVISOKS. 

From 1849 to 1861, inclusive, the chairman of 
each town board of supervisors in the county 
was ex officio a member of the county board; so 
that the number corresponded exactly with the 
number of towns in the county (if there were 
no vacancies and if all the members were pres- 
ent), at the meetings of the board. 

The county supervisors present at the meet- 
ings of the board while it had an existence, 
with the towns and villages represented by 
them, were as follows : 

.TUNE, 1849. 

Daniel S. Sutherland, chairman, Monroe ; 
Henry Adams, Mount Pleasant ; John Porter, 
Exeter ; Thomas S. Bowen, Clarno ; James W. 
Kildow, Spring Grove; Thomas W. Thompson, 
Sylvester ; Aaron Broughton, Albany ; Jere- 
miah Bridge, Jefferson ; George Gardner, De 
catur ; Elijah Roby, AVashiiigton ; S. Kelly, 
Adams; J. Porter, W. Osgood, John Wood, A. 
D. Kirkpatrick. L. Richards, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1849. 

Daniel S. Sutherland, chairman ; Thomas S. 
Bowen, E. Roby, A. D. Kirkpatiick, A. Brough- 
ton, J. W. Kildow, W. Osgood, George Gardner, 
William C. Green, John Wood, Jeremah ]>ridge, 
Samuel Kelly, Joseph Reeder and 11. Adams. 
L. Richards, clerk. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



439 



JANUARY 1850. 

D. S. Sutherland, chairman; Henry Adams, A. 
Broughton, S. Kelly, George Gardner, John 
Stewart, Thomas S. Bowen, Warren Osgood, J. 
Bridge, John Wood, J. W. Kildow, E. Roby, 
A. D. Kirkpatrick, Joseph Reeder. H. B. 
Poyer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1850. 

John Wescott, chairman, New Glarus; James 
Hare, Exeter ; William C. Green, York ; Julius 
Hurlbut, Albany ; Henry Adams, Mount Pleas- 
ant; Albert Pierce, Washington ; S. Kelly, Ad- 
ams ; Alexander Clark, Decatur ; C. Benson, 
Sylvester ; H. Rust, Monroe ; Thomas White, 
Jordan; Abner Mitchell, Spring Grove; William 
Coldren, Jefferson ; Thomas S. Bowen, Clarno ; 
Emanuel Divan, Cadiz; Chester Witter, Brook- 
lyn. H. B. Poyer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1851. 

E. T. Gardner, chairman, York; Chester Wit- 
ter, Brooklyn; James Hare, Exeter; John Wes- 
cott, New Glarus; John Broughton, Albany; A. 
Thomas, Mount Pleasant ; E. Roby, Washing- 
ton; A. L. Grinnell, Adams ; Alexander Clar- 
ick, Decatur; William Bulfinch, Sylvester ; T. 
N, Machin, Monroe ; Thomas White, Jordan ; 

I A. Mitchell, Spring Grove ; William Coldren, 
I Jefferson ; Thomas S. Bowen, Clarno ; Alfred 
Flowers, Cadiz. H. B. Poyer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1852. 

William C. Green, chairman, York ; H. M. 

I Allen, Brooklyn ; James Hare, Exeter ; Joshua 

i Wild, New Glarus ; John Broughton, Albany ; 

Thomas Fenton, Mount Pleasant; Albert Pierce, 

' Washington ; Jonas Shook, Adams ; Samuel 

! Northcraft, Decatur ; Zina Rounds, Sylvester ; 

Charles S. Foster, Monroe ; Thomas White, 

Jordan ; Abner Mitchell, Spring Grove ; Wil- 

! liam Coldren, Jefferson; Henson Irions, Clarno; 

• Wesley Swank, Cadiz. H. B. Poyer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1853. 

I Henry Adams, chairman. Mount Pleasant ; 

{ Martin Flood, Brooklyn; W. C. Kesler, Exeter; 

Rudolph Bumgardner, New Glarus; John Stew 

I, art, York ; U. B. Weltou, Albany ; E. Roby, 



Washington ; James Smith, Adams ; Samuel 
Northcraft, Decatur ; M. H. Pengra, Sylvester ; 
Charles S. Foster, Monroe; William Munson, 
Jordan; R. D. Derrick, Spring GroVe ; Hiram 
Dunwiddie, Jefferson ; Israel Smith, Clarno ; 
William Brown, Cadiz. H. B. Poyer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1854. 

F. F. West, chairman, Monroe; William 
Brown, Cadiz; Levi Spalding, Jordan; James 
Smith, Adams; William P. Green, York; Israel 
Smith, Clarno; E. Roby, Washington; M. 
Stuessy, New Glarus; William Coldren, Jeffer- 
son; M. H. Pengra, Sylvester; Thomas Fenton, 
Mount Pleasant; Julius Stone, Exeter; R. D. 
Derrick, Spring Grove; John J. Putnam, Deca- 
tur; John Broughton, Albany; William Me 
Laughlin, Brooklyn. H. B. Poyer, clerk. 

MAY, 1855 (special session). 

Martin Flood, chairman, Brooklyn; James 
Smith, Adams; Daniel Smiley, Albany; William 
Brown, Cadiz; Israel Smith, Clarno; Alexander 
Clark, Decatur; C. D. W, Leonard, Exeter; D. 
W. Ball, Jefferson; William Munson, Jordan; 
L. Hurlbut, Monroe; Samuel Johnson, Mount 

Pleasant; Peter Jenny, New Glarus; — 

Spring Grove ; M. H. Pengra, Sylvester; E. 
Roby, Washington; William C. Green, York. 
B. F. Hancock, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1855. 

Martin Flood, chairman, Brooklyn; E. A. 
Newton, Spring Grove; Daniel Smiley, Albany; 
Samuel Johnson, Mount Pleasant; M. H. Pengra, 
Sylvester; D. W. Ball, Jefferson; Israel Smith, 
Clarno; L. Hurlbut, Clarno; E. Roby, Washing- 
ton; Joshua Wild, New Glarus; William C. 
Green, York ; James Smith, Adams; William 
Munson, Jordan; William Brown, Cadiz. B. 
F. Hancock, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1856. 

E. T. Gardner, chairman, Monroe; E. A. New- 
ton, Spring Grove ; William Blackford, Jeffer- 
son; William Brown, Cadiz; Samuel North- 
craft, Decatur; D. Smiley, Albany; Samuel 
Johnson, Mount Pleasant; E. Roby, Washington; 
James Smith, Adams; William C. Green, York; 



440 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



M. Stuessy, New Glarus; Thomas S. Bowen, 
Clarno ; William Miinson, Jordan ; Joseph 
Clemmer, Sylvester; A. D. Kirkpatrick, Brook- 
lyn; Exeter, clerk. E. Bartlett, 

deputy. 

.TUNE, 1867 (special SESSION), 

Israel Smith, chairman, Clarno; William 
Brown, Cadiz; Isaac Trembly, Jefferson; Dan- 
iel Dunwiddie, Spring Grove; E, T. Fleek, 
Decatur; J. M. Searles, Sylvester; H. Rust, 
Monroe; William Munson, Jordan ; Jonas 
Shook,Adams; Albert Pierce, Washington; Ran- 
som Drake, Mount Pleasant; John Broughton, 

Albany; , Brooklyn; M. M. Morse, 

Exeter; Henry Trumpy, New Glarus; Corbley 
Johnson, clerk, York. E. Bartlett, deputy. 

NOVEMBER, 1857. 

Israel Smith, chairman, Clarno; William 
Brown, Cadiz; Isaac Trembly, Jefferson; Daniel 
Dunwiddie, Spring Grove ; E. T. Fleek, Deca- 
tur; J. M. Searles, Sylvester; Hiram Rust, Mon- 
roe; William Munson, Jordan; Jonas Shook, 
Adams; Albert Pierce, Washington; R. Drake, 
Mount Pleasant; John Troy, Albany; U. V.Wel- 
ton, Brooklyn; M. M. Morse, Exeter; Henry 
Trumpy, New Glarus; Corbley Johnson, York. 
A. W. Potter, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1858. 

F. H. West, chairman, Monroe; Levi Craw- 
ford, Brooklyn; C, D. W. Leonard, Exeter; 
Israel Smith, Clarno; Ezra Westcott, Cadiz; Isaac 
Trembley, Jefferson ; Ransom Drake, Mount 
Pleasant; Fredolin Egger, New Glarus ; Jasper 
Clemmer, Sylvester; Isaac Martin, Spring Grove; 
Elijah Roby, Washington; J. Y. Cleveland, 
Jordan; James Smith, Adams; John Wood, 
Albany; E. T. Fleek, Decatur; Philander Pee- 
bles, York. A. W. Potter, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1859. 

C. F. Thompson, chairman, Decatur; H. Hurl- 
but, York; J. Y. Cleveland, Jordan; Ezra 
Wescott, Cadiz; A. L. Cleveland, Monroe; J. 
W. Stewart, Monroe village; A. Loveland, 
Washington; H. Dunwiddie, Jefferson ; E. R. 
Allen, Spring Grove ; D. Dunwiddie, Decatur ; I 



Levi Crawford, Brooklyn; Jacob Mason, Clarno; 
Daniel Smiley, Albany ; C. D. W. Leonard, 
Exeter; Melchior Stuessy, New Glarus ; R. M, 
Jackson, Adams; A. W. Sutherland, Sylvester. 
A. W. Potter, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1860. 

C. F. Thompson, chairman, Mount Pleasant; 
Ezra Westcott, Cadiz; Tayler Wickersham, 
Jordan; R. M. Jackson, Adams; John Stewart, 
York; Thomas S. Bowen, Clarno; D. S. Suther- 
land, Monroe ; A. H. Pierce, Washington ; M. 
Stuessy, New Glarus; J. H. Bridge, Jefferson ; 
J. M. Bennett, Sylvester; M. Flood, Exeter; E. 
R. Allen, Spring Grove; David Dunwiddie, 
Decatur; John Broughton, Albany; W. W. 
McLaughlin, Brooklyn; J. W. Stewart, Monroe 
village. A. W. Potter, clerk. 

MAY, 1861, (special session.) 

Ezra Wescott, chairman, Cadiz; TaylorWick- 
ersham, Jordan; Richard Scott, Adams; John 
Stewart, York; Thomas S. Bowen, Clarno; C. 
S. Foster, Monroe; John W. Stewart, Monroe 
village; Leopold Seltzer, Washington; Melchior 
Stuessy, New Glarus; Isaac Trembly, Jefferson; 
Lewis Frankenburger, Sylvester; C. F, Thomp- 
son, Mount Pleasant; J. W. Norton, Exeter; E. 
R. Allen, Spring Grove; David Dunwiddie, De- 
catur; Daniel Smiley, Albany; W. W. Mc- 
Laughlin, Brooklyn. M. Marty, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1861. 

Ezra Wescott, chairman, Cadiz; TaylorWick- 
ershain, Jordan; Richard Scott, Adams; H. H. 
Hurlbut, York; Thomas S. Bowen, Clarno; C. 
S. Foster, Monroe; John W. Stewart, Monroe 
village; Leoi)old Seltzer, Washington; Isaac 
Trembly, Jefferson; Lewis Frankenburger, Syl- 
vester; J. W. Norton, Exeter; E. R. Allen, 
Spring Grove ; David Dunwiddie, Decatur; 
Daniel Smiley, Albany; W. W. McLaughlin, 
Brooklyn ; M. Stuessy, New Glarus; C. F. 
Thompson, Mount Pleasant. M. Marty, clerk. 
counts; supervision changed, 

A State law approved March, 1861, made the 
board of supervisors to consist of three electors, 
one to be elected in each of three supervisor 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



441 



districts. Elections were to be held in Novem- 
ber of each alternate year, and the term of of- 
fice was to begin the first of the following 
January, 

Elected in 1861— Ezra Wescott, E. R. Allen 
and Henry Adams. 

These supervisors divided the county into 
three supervisor districts, as follows: 

First district — New Glarus, York, Exeter, 
Brooklyn, Washington, Mount Pleasant. 

Second district — Jefferson, Spring Grove, De- 
catur, Sylvester, Albany. 

Tiiird district — Adams, Jordan. Cadiz,Clarno, 
Monroe. 

ELECTED IN 1863. 

First district — Henry Adams. 

Second district — E. R. Allen (resigned, Hiram 
Dunwiddie appointed by the governor). 

Third district — Ezra Wescott (died, J. V. 
Richardson appointed by the governor). 

ELECTED IN 1865. 

First district — Albert Pierce. 
Second district — Hiram Dunwiddie. 
Third district — J. V. Richardson (resigned, 
William Brown appointed). 

ELECTED IN 1867. 

First district— J. W. Smith. 

Second district — William Coldren. 

Third district— J. M. Staver. 

By a change in the law, supervisors elected in 
1867 from the odd numbered districts held office 
for one year, while those from even numbered 
districts held office two years. 

ELECTED IN 1868. 

First district — J. W. Smith. 
Third district— J. M. Staver. 

THE BOARD INCREASED. 

The number of county supervisors in Green 
county was by the following act increased from 
three to nine: 

An Act to increase the number of county su- 
pervisors in the county of Green, and to pro- 
vide for their election. 

The people of the State of Wisconsin, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as fol- 
lows : 



Section 1. At the first annual town meeting 
after the passage of this act, to-wit, 1869, the 
electors of the supervisors representing the 
even numbered districts in said county shall 
elect two additional supervisors, whose term of 
office shall expire at the same time, and who 
shall be elected in the same manner as the super- 
visor for such district is now elected, and the 
electors of the supervisors representing the 
odd numbered districts in said county, shall 
elect two additional supervisors in each district, 
Avhose term of office shall expire at the same 
time and who shall be elected in the same man- 
ner as the supervisors for said districts are now 
elected, and at each succeeding general election 
thereafter for the election of county supervisors, 
three supervisors shall be elected for the term 
of two years in each supervisor district. 

Section 2. The supervisors elected at the 
aforesaid town meeting shall meet with the 
county board of supervisors in the county of 
Green, at their first meeting after their election, 
and qualify by taking the oath of office as now 
provided by law in relation to county boards of 
supervisors, and shall thereby become members 
thereof, with all the powers and duties now con- 
ferred upon such county boards of supervisors. 

Section 3. All acts or parts of acts contra- 
vening the provisions of this, so far as the same 
may relate to the county of Green, are hereby 
repealed. 

Section 4. This act shall take effect and be 
in force from and after its passage. 

Approved March 3, 1869. 

Under this law, there were elected in April, 
1869 : 

First district — F. R. Melvin and Leopold 
Seltzer. 

Second district — David Dunwiddie and J. B. 
Perry. 

Third district — Samuel Chandler (resigned, S. 
W. Abbott, appointed) and A. DeHaven. 

Those elected in the second district held office 
only until November, when three supervisors 
were elected : J. B. Perry, R. J. Day and M. 



442 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



H. Pengra. But the law under which these 
men were elected was repealed by the following 
act : 

An Act to repeal chapter sixty-two of the 
general laws of 1869, entitled: "An Act to 
increase the number of county supervisors in 
the county of Green, and to provide for their 
election." 

The people of the State of Wiconsin, repre- 
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as 
follows : 

Section 1. Chapter sixty-two of the general 
laws of 1869, entitled, "An Act to increase the 
number of county supervisors in the county of 
Green, and to provide for their election," is 
hereby repealed. 

Section 2. This act shall take effect and be 
in force from and after its passage. 

Approved March 15, 1870. 

After the spring election of 1870, the county 
returned to the system of government wherein 
each town in the county, the city of Monroe, and 
the incorporated villages of Brodhead and Al- 
bany are represented by the chairman of the 
local board of supervisors — the city of Monroe 
sending two members to the county board; one 
from the first ward and one from the second 
ward. This was under the general law passed 
in 1868. 

The members present at the meetings of the 
county board in 1870, and since, with the 

towns, wards of the city and incorporated vil- 
lages represented by them, were as follows : 
APRIL, 1870, (special session.) 
E. R.Allen, chairman. Spring Grove; Adam 
Shrake, Adams; E.F.Warren, Albany; H. R. 
Allen, Brooklyn; J. M. Staver, Cadiz; Simon 
Bartlett, Clarno; R. J. Day, Decatur; II. G. 
Silver, Exeter; David Witner, Jefferson; Iver 
Iverson, Jordan; James H. VanDyke, Monroe; 
Brooks Dunwiddie, Monroe village; G. W. 
Baker, Mount Pleasant; Melchior Stuessy, 
New Glarus; M. II. Pengra, Sylvester; L. Selt- 
zer, Washington; D. Stewart, York. J.Jacob 
Tschudy, clerk. 



NOVEMBER, 1870. 

E. R. Allen, chairman. Spring Grove; Adam 
Shrake, Adams; E. F. Warren, Albany; H. R. 
Allen, Brooklyn; J. M. Staver, Cadiz; Simon 
Bartlett, Clarno; R. J. Day, Decatur; W. A. 
Wheaton, village of Brodhead; H. G. Silver, 
Exeter; David Witnier, Jefferson; Iver Iver- 
son, Jordan; James H. VanDyke, Monroe; F. F. 
West, Monroe village; G. W. Baker, Mount 
Pleasant; M. Stuessy, New Glarus; M. II. Pen- 
gra, Sylvester; L. Seltzer, Washington; D. 
Stewart, York. J. Jacob Tschudy, clerk. 

APRIL, 1871, (special SESSION.) 

R. J. Day, chairman, Decatur; Simon Bart- 
lett, Clarno; B. B. Brownell, Exeter; Warren 
Clark, Cadiz; S. T. Clayton, Washington; Will- 
iam DuBois, Sylvester; Daniel Dunwiddie, 
Spring Grove; Iver Iverson, Jordan; John 
Luchsinger, New Glarus; W. W. McLaughlin, 
Brooklyn, (absent); A. H. Pierce, Mount Pleas- 
ant; W. H. Pierce, Monroe; Adam Shrake, 
Adams; D. Stewart, York; C. F. Warren, Al- 
bany; F. F. West, Monroe village; W. A. 
Wheaton, village of Brodhead; D. Witmer, 
Jefferson. J. J. Tschudy, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 187l. 

R. J. Day, chairman, Decatur; John Bolen- 
der, Monroe; Warren Clark, Cadiz; S. T. Clay- 
ton, Washington; William DuBois, Sylvester; 
Daniel Dunwiddie, Spring Grove; John Luch- 
singer, New Glarus; William W. McLaughlin, 
Brooklyn; Adam Shrake, Adams; C. F. Thomp- 
son, village of Brodhead; E. F. Warren, Al- 
bany; F. F. West, village of Monroe; David 
Witmer, Jefferson; Simon Bartlett, Clarno; 
Decatur Stewart, York; B. B. Brownell, Exeter; 
A. H. Pierce, Mount Pleasant; I. Iverson, Jor- 
dan. J. Jacob Tschudy, clei'k. 

.JULY, 1872, (special session). 

A. C. Dodge, chairman, Monroe village; 
John Bolender, town of Monroe; R. J. Da)'^, 
Decatur; C. R. Denniston, Cadiz; William Du- 
Bois, Sylvester; Daniel Dunwiddie, Spring 
Grove; William J. Hodges, Clarno; George R. 
King, Jordan; John Luchsinger, New Glarus; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



443 



W. W. McLaughlin, Brooklyn; Benjamin Mil- 
ler, Washington; A. H. Pierce, Mount Pleas- 
ant; U. D. Day, Exeter; Jonas Shook, Adams; 
Decatur Stewart, York; C. F. Thompson, Brod- 
head village; E. F, Warren, Albany; David 
Witmer, Jefferson* J. Jacob Tschudy, clerk. 
NOVEMBEH, 1872. 
A. C. Dodge, chairman, Monroe village; John 
Bolender, town of Monroe; D. D. Day, Exeter; 
R. J. Day, Decatur; C R. Denniston, Cadiz; 
William Du Boise, Sylvester; Daniel Dunwid- 
die, Spring Grove; J. C. Hansen, York; William 
J. Hodges, Clarno; George R. King, Jordan; 
John Luchsinger, New Glarus; W. W. Mc- 
Laughlin, Brooklyn; Benjamin Miller, Wash- 
ington; A. H. Pierce, Mount Pleasant; Jonas 
Shook, Adams; C. F. Thompson, village of 
Brodhead; E. F. Warren, Albany; David 
Witner, Jefferson. J. Jacob Tschudy, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 18 73. 

A. C. Dodge, chairman, village of Monroe; 
John Bolender, town of Monroe; S. T. Clayton, 
Washington; R. J. Day, Decatur; D. D. Day, 
Exeter; C. R. Denniston, Cadiz; William J. 
Hodges, Clarno; J. W. Kildow, Spring Grove; 
W. W. McLaughlin, Brooklyn; P. Peebles, 
York; A. H. Pierce, Mount Pleasant; M. Stuessy, 
New Glarus; E. F. Warren, Albany; W. A 
Wheaton, village of Brodhead; D. Witner, Jef 
ferson; Iver Iverson, Jordan; Thomas Byrne, 
Adams; J. S. Brown, Sylvester. J. Jacob Tschu- 
dy, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1874. 

C. E. Adams, chairman, Monroe village; A. 
Blumer, Washington; D. W. Ball, Sylvester; 
E. J. Blackford, Jefferson; S. Blackford, Jor- 
dan; D. D. Day, Exeter; R. J. Day, Decatur; 
C. D. W. Leonard, Brooklyn; L. McKahan, 
Monroe; W. Monteith, Adams; W. W. Martin, 
Spring Grove; P. Peebles, York; J. M. Purin- 
ton, Albany; J. V. Richardson, Brodhead vil- 
lage; J. M. Staver, Cadiz; F. K. Studley, Mount 
Pleasant; S. Wagner, Clarno; J. C. Zimmer- 
man, New Glarus. L. Seltzer, clerk. 



NOVEMBER, 1875. 

J. Bolender, chairman, Monroe; S. Blackford, 
Jordan; F. Blum, Washington; F. H. Derrick, 
Spring Grove; J. S. Gabriel, York; L. Hare, 
Sylvester; W. J. Hodges, Clarno; H. Hunt, Jef- 
ferson; W. Monteith, Adams; E. C. Morse, 
Exeter; M. Reinhart, Cadiz; J. V. Richardson, 
Decatur; James Root, Brooklyn; F. F. Studley, 
Mount Pleasant; J. H. Van Dyke, Monroe vil- 
lage; E. F. Warren, Albany; W. A. Wheaton, 
village of Brodhead; J. C. Zimmerman, New 
Glarus. L. Seltzer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1876. 

J. Bolden, chairman, Monroe; William Mon- 
teith, Adams; J. Phillips, Albany; — ; 

Brooklyn: E. F. Evans, Cadiz; T. H. Eaton, 
Clarno; J. V. Richardson, Decatur; W. A. 
Wheaton, Brodhead village; , Exe- 
ter; E. J. Blackford, Jefferson; Iver Iverson, 
Jordan; J. S. Smock, Monroe village; G. W. 
Baker, Mount Pleasant; J. Luchsinger, New 
Glarus; F. H. Derrick, Spring Grove; L. Hare, 
Sylvester; F. Blum, Washington; J. S. Gabriel, 
York. L. Seltzer, clerk. 

JUNE, 1877." — (special SESSION.) 

J. Bolender, chairman, Monroe; W. Monteith, 
Adams; J. Phillips, Albany; F. R. Melvin, 
Brooklyn; H. Rush, Cadiz; W. Beekman, Clar- 
no; A. N. Randall, Decatur; C. W. Mitchell, 
village of Brodhead; E. C. Morse, Exeter; J. 
Roderick, Jefferson; S. Blackford, Jordan; A. 
C. Dodge, Monroe vill.age; A. H. Pierce, Mount 
Pleasant; J. Luchsinger, New Glarus; F. H. 
Derrick, Spring Grove; G. S. Pengra, Sylvester; 
F. Blum, Washington; J, S. Gabriel, York. L. 
Seltzer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1877. 

John Bolender, chairman, Monroe; W. Mon- 
teith, Adams; J. Phillips, Albany; F. R. Mel- 
vin, Brooklyn; H. Rush, Cadiz; W Beekman, 
Clarno; A. N. Randall, Decatur; C. W. Mitch- 
ell, village of Brodhead; E. C. Morse, Exeter; 
J. Roderick, Jefferson; S. Blackford, Jordan; 
A. C. Dodge, village of Monroe; A. H. Pierce, 
Mount Pleasant; J. Luchsinger, New Glarus; 



444 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



F. H. Derrick, Spring Grove; G. S. Peiigra, 
Sylvester; F. Blum, Washington; J. S.Gabriel, 
York, L. Seltzer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 18*78. 

J. Bolender, chairman, Monroe; J, F. Grin- 
nell, Adams; J. Phillips, Albany; W.W.Young, 
Brooklyn; G. W. Stites, Cadiz; S. Bartlett, 
Clarno; D. Dunwiddie, Decatur; A.N. Randall, 
Brodhead village; H. Aebly, Exeter; J. Roder- 
ick, Jefferson; S. Blackford, Jordan; C. E. 
Adams, Monroe village; A. H. Pierce, Mount 
Pleasant; J. C. Zimmerman, New Glarus; D. 
Brobst, Spring Grove; J. S. Brown, Sylvester; 
S.T.Clayton, Washington; H. Gabriel, York. 
L. Seltzer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1879. 

J. Luchsinger, chairman, Monroe; J. F. Grin- 
nell, Adams; J. Phillips, Albany; G. L. Shat- 
tuck, Cadiz; S. Bartlett, Clarno; D. Dunwiddie, 
Decatur; S. C. Pierce, village of Brodhead; S. 
Blackford, Jordan; G. H. King, Monroe village; 
F. H. Derrick, Spring Grove; M. II. Pengra, 
Sylvester; S. T. Clayton, Washington; H. Ga- 
briel, York; Dalrymple, Brooklyn; H. Aebley, 
Exeter: J. Roderick, Jefferson; F. Pierce, 
Mount Pleasant; M. Stuessy, New Glarus. L. 
Seltzer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1880. 

J. Bolender, chairman, Monroe; J. F. Grin- 
nell, Adams; J. Phillips, Albany; W.W.Young, 
Brooklyn; George L. Shattuck, Cadiz; O. J. 
White, Clarno; J. V. Richardson, Decatur; S. 
C. Pierce, Brodhead village; S. G. Silver, Exe- 
ter; J. M. Berry, Jefferson; S. Blackford, Jor- 
dan; F. K. Studley, Monroe village; Frank 
Pierce, Mount Pleasant; M, Stuessy,New Glarus; 
F. H. Derrick, Spring Grove; G. S. 'Pengra, 
Sylvester; Fridolin Blum, Washington; John 
C. Ula, York. L. Seltzer, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1881. 

M. II. Pengra, chairman, Sylvester; J. F. 
Grinnell, Adams; E. F. Warren, Albany; E. 
J. Andrew, Brooklyn; Charles Deniston, Cadiz; 
Edward Ruegger, Clarno; W. E. Gardner, 
Decatur; J. V. Richardson, Brodhead village; 



Henry Aebly, Sr., Exeter; H. K. White, Jef- 
ferson; Sainuel Blackford, Jordan; II. G. Cleve- 
land, Monroe; John Bolender, Monroe village; 
F. Pierce, Mount Pleasant; Adam Schmid, 
New Glarus; F. H. Derrick, Spring Grove; 
Fridolin Blum, Washington; "J. C. Ula, York. 
Herman L. Gloege, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1882. 

E. R. Allen, chairman. Spring Grove; J. F. 
Grinnell, Adams; H. T. Bemis, Albany; John 
Dalrymple, Brooklyn; Philip Allen, Cadiz; Ed- 
ward Ruegger, Clarno; W. E. Gardner, Decatur; 
J. V. Richardson, Brodhead village; William 
Furgeson, Exeter; Jacob Roderick, Jefferson; 
Lemuel Taylor, Jordan; C. L. Green, town of 
Monroe; John Bolender, city of Monroe, 1st 
ward; George H. King, 2d Avard; Adam 
Schmid, New Glarus; Frank Pierce, Mount 
Pleasant; R. D. Searles, Sylvester; Andrew 
Harper, Washington; J. A. Kittleson, York. 
Herman L. Gloege, clerk. 

FEBRUARY, 1883, (SPECIAL SESSION.) 

E. R. Allen, chairman, Spring Grove; 11. T. 
Bemis, Albany; John Dalrymple, Brooklyn; 
Philip Allen, Cadiz; W. E. Gardner, Decatur; 
J. V. Richardson, Brodhead village ; Jacob 
Roderick, Jefferson; G. O. Stearns, town of 
Monroe; John Bolender, city of Monroe, 1st 
ward; George H. King, 2d ward; Adam Schmid, 
New Glarus; R. D. Searles, Sylvester. Her- 
man L. Gloege, clerk. 

NOVEMBER, 1883. 

A. N. Randall, chairman, Decatur; Frank 
Mullin, Adams; Israel Phillii)s, Albany; II. B. 
Jobes, Albany village; Stephen Swan, Brooklyn; 
Henry Rush, Cadiz; Simon Bartlett, Clarno; F. 
R. Derrick, Brodhead village; E. S. Ace, Exe- 
ter; John M. Swartz, Jefferson; G. O. Stearns, 
Monroe; J. J. Tschudy, city of Monroe, 1st 
ward; George W. King, 2d ward; Frank Pierce, 
Mount Pleasant; F. Kundert, New Glarus; 
Daniel Dunwiddie, Spring Grove; R. D. Searles, 
Sylvester; A. Harper, Washington; .1. A. Kit- 
tleson, York. Herman L. Gloege, clerk. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



445 



EXTRACTS FKOM THE RECORDS OF THE BOARD.* 

Commissioners' court, April term, March 26, 
1838. 

Present: William Bowen, Daniel S. Suther- 
land and Daniel Harcourt. 

Ordered^ That Hiram Rust be appointed clerk 
of the commissioners' court, in and for the 
county of Green, until the first Monday of July 
next, and until his successor be appointed and 
qualified to office. 

Ordered, That James Riley, Julius Austin 
and James Hawthorn be appointed judges of 
the annual election, and all elections for 1838, 
and until their successors are appointed and 
qualified to office. 

Ordered, That the district court be held at 
the house of Jacob LyBrand until otherwise 
ordered. 

Ordered, That Jacob LyBrand be allowed 
$4.25 out of any monies in the treasury not 
otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That Green county constitute one 
election precinct, and the election shall be held 
at the house of Jacob LyBrand, in said county. 

Ordered, That this court adjourn sine die. 

William Bowen, 

Daniel S. Sutherland, 

Daniel Harcourt, 

Attest: Commissioners. 

Hiram Rust, Clerk. 

July term, 1838 — July 2. 

The county commissioners' court met pursuant 
to adjournment. Present: William Brown, 
Esq., Daniel S. Sutherland, Esq., and Daniel 
Harcourt, Esq., commissioners. 

Ordered,, That Mortimer Bainbridge be ap- 
pointed clerk of this court, who thereupon took 
an oath of office. 

Ordered, That Hiram Rust be allowed $2.50 
out of any money in the treasury not otherwise 
appropriated. 

The following petition was presented for a 
road : 

* Important orders and resolutions of the board, not griven 
in this chapter, are to be found in full in other chapters in 
connection with the subjects to which they relate. 



"To the Board of County Commissioners of 
Green County, Wisconsin Territory, at their 
next session. 

" We, your petitioners, request that you grant 
us a road, as the law directs, on tiie following 
described route : Beginning at the [Illinois] 
State line, eighty rods west from the southeast 
corner of section 32, township 1 north, of range 8 
east, thence on the most practicable route to J. 
W. Denniston's mill, in township 1 north, of 
range 1 east, on section 17, in said township and 
range. 

Subscribers' names : Jeremiah Bridge, David 
C. Bridge, Jonathan E. Clark, John Bridge, 
Adam Starr, Levi Starr, Jesse Starr, William 
Chillon, Joshua Whitcomb, William Brown, 
A. Van Sant, J. W. Denniston, A. Chilton, 
William Swearingen, William Wells, John 
Blunt, Henry Atoi, V/illiam Blount, P. C. 
Grupe, John Cameron, Thomas S. Bowen, 
Andrew Clarno, Enoch Chapman ; and. 

Ordered, That William Rittenhouse, Henry 
Minor and Joseph Forbes, be, and hereby [are] 
appointed viewers of said road, beginning at the 
State line, eighty rods west from the southeast 
corner of section 32, in township 1 north, of 
range 8 east, thence on the most practicable 
route to J. W. Denniston's mill, in township 1 
north, of range 7 east, section 17, and report to 
the next term of this court. 

Deposit $10. 

The following petition was presented for a 
road : 

" To the Board of County Commissioners of 
Green County, Wisconsin Territory, at their 
next session : 

" We, your petitioners, citizens of said county, 
request that you grant us a county road on the 
following described route, as the law directs : 
Beginning at the public square in North New 
Mexico, from thence to the public square in 
South New Mexico, in said county, thence on 
the most practicable route to the State line, on 
a direction for Brewster's ferry, Stephenson 
Co., 111. 



446 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



"May 28, 1838. Subscribers' names : William 
Chilton, Calvin Hale, Jacob Andrick, Hiram 
Rust, Adam Starr, Jeremiah Bridge, William 
Wells, Julius Austin, Stephen G. Hale, Augus- 
tus Chilton, Andrew Clarno, J. W. Denniston, 
Joshua Whitcomb, J, W. Shull, Bennett Now- 
land, William Boyls, William Brown, Josej^h 
Payne, C. Andrick ;" and 

Ordered, That Joseph McCracken, Julius 
Austin and Jeremiah Bridge, be, and they are 
hereby appointed viewers of said road, begin- 
ning at the public square in North New Mexico, 
thence to the public square in South New 
Mexico, in said county, thence on the most 
practicable route to the State line, on a direc- 
tion for Brewster's ferry, Stephenson Co., 111. 

Deposited, $10, and report to the next term 
of this court. 

Ordered, That Jacob Ly Brand be licensed and 
permitted to retail merchandise in the county of 
Green to date from the first of April, 1838, for 
one year, upon the payment of the sura of $20. 

Ordered, That Jacob Ly Brand be allowed 
$1.60 out of any monies in the treasury not 
otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That court adjourn until 9 o'clock 
to-morrow. 

William Bowen, 
D. S. Sutherland, 
Daniel Harcuurt, 

Commissioners. 
Attest : 

Mortimer Bainbridoe, Clerk. 

Tuesday, July 3, [1838], 
Court met pursuant to adjournment. Present 
as before. 

Ordered, That the district court be held at 
the house of Jacob Andrick, until otherwise 
ordered. 

Ordered, That the court adjourn until court 
in course. 

William Bowen, 
D. S. Sutherland, 
Daniel Harcourt, 

Commissioners. 
Attest : 

Mortimer Bainbridge, C. B. C. C. 



At an extra session, Sept, 10, 1838. 

Present : William Bowen and Daniel Har- 
court. Court opened. 

Ordered, That William Rittenhouse be ap- 
pointed clerk of this court; and thereupon took 
an oath of office. Couit adjourned. 

William Bowen, 
Daniel Harcourt, 

Commissioners. 
Attest: 

William Rittenhouse, C. B. C. C. 

Monday, Oct. 1, 1838. 

Court met pursuant to adjournmen't. Present, 
William Bowen, James Riley and D. S. Suther- 
land. 

Ordered, That James Churchman be allowed 
|50 as district attorney, for services rendered as 
per order of district court for April term, 1838, 
out of any money in the treasury not otherwise 
appropriated. 

Ordered, That Joseph Payne be allowed $15 
on account of M. Bainbridge, clerk of the dis- 
trict court, as per request, out of any money in 
the treasury not otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That James Christie be allowed $5 
on account of M. Bainbridge, clerk of the dis- 
trict court, as per request, out of any money in 
the treasury not otherwise appropi-iated. 

Court adjourned until 1 o'clock. 

William Bowen, 
James Riley, 
D. S. Sutherland, 
Attest: Commissioners. 

William Rittenhouse, C. B. C. C. 

Court luet pursuant to adjournment. Present, 
as before. 

Ordered, That Mortimer Bainbridge be al- 
lowed $40.32 for balance of services rendered 
as district clerk and clerk of the county com- 
missioners, out of any money in the treasury 
not otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That Joseph Payne pay $1.50 for 
tavern license, for the term of three months, 
where he now resides. (Issued. — Paid Jan. 7, 
1839). 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



447 



Ordered^ That the court adjourn until 9 
o'clock to-morrow morning. 

William Bo wen, 
James Riley, 
D. S. Sutherland, 
Commissioners. 
Attest: William Rittenhouse, C. B. C C. 
Court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, 
William Bowen, James Riley and D. S. Suther- 
land. 

Ordered, That the following described bound- 
ary shall constitute a road district numbered 1, 
to-wit : Beginning at the southeast corner of 
section 32, town [ship] 1 north, of range '1 east; 
thence north to the northeast corner of section 
17, in said town [ship] 1; thence west to the 
Pecatonica river ; thence down said river to the 
State line ; thence east to the place of begin- 
ning; and that Bennett Nowlin be appointed 
supervisor of said district. 

Ordered, That the following described bound- 
ary shall constitute a road district No. 2 : Be- 
ginning at the southeast corner of section 7, in 
town [ship] 1 north, of range 7 east ; thence 
east to the range line between [ranges] 7 and 8; 
thence north to the northeast corner of section 
36, in town [ship] 2 north, of range 7 east ; 
thence west to the northwest corner of section 32 
in said town [ship] 2; thence south to the place 
of beginning ; and that Elijah Austin be ap- 
pointed supervisor for said district. 

Ordered, That David Bridge be allowed $2 
for services rendered as judge of election. 

Ordered, That Julius Austin be allowed $2 
for services rendered as judge of election. 

Ordered, That Joseph Kelly be allowed $2 
for services rendered as judge of election. 

Ordered, That William Boyls be allowed |2 
for services rendered as cleik of election out of 
any money in the treasury not otherwise apropri- 
ated. 

Ordered, That A. J. Sutherland be allowed $2 
for services rendered as clerk of election out of 
any money in the treasury not otherwise appro- 
priated. 



Ordered, That this court adjourn until court 
in course. 

William Bowen, 

James Rilet, 

D. S. Sutherland, 

Commissioners. 
Attest: William Rittenhouse, C. B. C. ( 

January 7, 1839. 
Court met pursuant to adjournment. Present 
William Bowen, James Riley and Jeremiah 
Bridge. 

Ordered, That Thomas S. Bowen be allowed 
$4 for services on grand jury for the April and 
August terms last, out of any money in the 
treasury not otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That D. S. Sutherland be allowed 
$12 for services rendered as county commis- 
sioner out of any money in the treasury not 
otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That Joseph Payne pay $5 for tav- 
ern license in the house he now resides in, for 
the space of twelve months. 

Ordered, That Joseph McCracken be allowed 
$3 for two days' services as road viewer, out of 
any money in the treasury not otherwise appro- 
priated. 

Ordered, That this court adjourn until 
o'clock to-morrow morning. 

William Bowen, 
James Riley, 
Jeremiah Bridge, 
Commissioners. 
Attest: 
William Rittenhouse, C. B. C. C. 

January 8, 1839. 
Court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, 
William Bowen, James Riley and Jeremiah 
Bridge. 

Ordered, That R. H. Palmer be allowed §60.50 
for services rendered as commissioner to locate a 
Territorial road, and his expenses attending the 
same, out of any money in the treasury, not 
otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That N. F. Hyer be allowed ^33.50 
for services rendered as surveyor of Territorial 



448 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



road, and his expenses attending the same, out 
of any money in the treasury, not otherwise ap- 
propriated. 

Ordered, That J. H. Palmer be allowed $16.50 
for services rendered as commissioner, to locate 
Territorial road, out of any money in the treas- 
ury, not otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That Josiah Pierce be allowed $1 6.50 
for services rendered as commissioner, to locate 
a Territorial road, out of any money in the treas- 
ury, not otherwise appropriated. 

Ordered, That the following described bound- 
ary shall constitute a road district No. 3: Be- 
ginning at the northwest corner of section 31, 
in town[ship] 2 north, of range 8 east; thence 
south to the southwest corner of said section 31; 
thence east to the southeast corner of said sec- 
tion; thence north to the northeast corner of 
section 31, in town [ship] 3 north, of range 8 
east; thence west to the range line between 
[ranges] 6 and 7; thence south on said line to 
the southwest corner of section 30, in town[ship] 
2 north, of range 7 east; thence east to the place 
of beginning; and ordered that George W. 
Reeder be appointed supervisor of said district. 

Ordered, That the following described bound- 
ary shall constitute a road district No. 4: Be- 
ginning at the southeast corner of section 25, 
town[ship] 3 north, of range 8 east; thence north 
on range line to north line of the county; thence 
west to range line between [ranges] 6 and 7; 
thence south to the southwest corner of section 
30, in town[ship] 3 north, of range 7 east; thence 
east to the place of beginning; and ordered that 
Josiah Pierce be appointed supervisor of said 
district. 

Ordered, That the following described bound- 
aries shall constitute a road district No. 5: Be- 
ginning at the southeast corner of section 33, in 
town[8hipj 1 north, of range 8 east; thence north 
to the northeast corner of section 16, in said 
town[sliip] 1 north, range 8 east; thence west to 
the northwest corner of section 16, in town[8hip] 
1 north, of range 7 east; thence south to the 
State line; thence east to the place of beginning; 



and ordered that Michael Alben be appointed 
supervisor of said district. 

Ordered, That, whereas, Bennett Nowlin has 
refused to serve as supervisor in road district 
No. 1, that Andrew Clarno be appointed in his 
place. 

Ordered, That the court adjourn until court in 
course. 

William Bowen, 
Jamks Riley, 
Jeremiah Bridge, 
Commissioners. 
Attest: 
William Rittenhouse, Clerk. 
To the Clerk of the Board of County Commis- 
sioners of the County of Gi'een: 

We, the commissioners, appointed by the 
legislative assembly of the Territory of Wis- 
consin, to locate the county seat of the county of 
Green, agreeably to an act entitled "An Act to 
divide the county of Iowa, as establishes the seat 
of justice of the county of Green at New Mexico, 
and to provide for the location of the seat of 
justice of the county of Green," approved Dec. 
19, 1838, respectfully report: 

That after having discharged the duties re- 
quired by said act, in examining said county, 
have unanimously agreed to locate and have 
located the seat of justice of said county of 
Green, on the east half of the northeast quarter 
of section twenty-five (25), in town[ship] 2 
north, of range seven (7) east, at a point desig- 
nated by a stake, driven by us, on said east half 
of the northeast quarter of said section twenty- 
five (25) — to which we have given the name of 
"Roscoe." All which, is respectfully submitted. 

JaRED J. OSTRANDER, 

James L. Thayer, 
G. W. HicKOx. 
Roscoe, Green County, Feb. 16, 1839. 
Recorded by me, Feb. 17, 1839. 

William Rittenhouse, 

C. B. C. O. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



449 



At an extra session began and held Feb. 25, 
1839, present: William Bowen, James Riley 
and Jeremiah Bridge. 

Ordered, That the following nan.ed persons 
be selected to serve as grand jurors at the next 
term of the district court, to-wit: Julius Aus- 
tin, Mathew Wells, Adam Starr, William Boyls, 
John Chadwick, Jacob Stair, William Brown, 
James Campbell, Joseph Woodle, Davis Bow- 
en, Henry Minor, John Cain, John Chryst, Will- 
iam Draper, James Hawthorn, William Biggs, 
Robert Brazel, George W. Reeder, George Mc- 
Fadden, Daniel Baxter, David Davis, John 
Baker and Mordecai Kelly. 

Ordered, That the following named persons 
be selected to serve as petit jurors at the next 
term of the district court, to-wit: William 
Wells, Peter Wells, Stephen Clarno, Charles 
Boyls, John Cameron, Augustus Chilton, 
Thomas Thompson, Joshua Whitcomb, William 
Woodle, Joseph Forbes, Joel DeCamp, Calvin 
Hale, Joseph Smith, Jarvis Ratten, Elijah Aus- 
tin, William Brazel, Absolom Kelley, S. T. 
Brown, Jesse Mitchell, John Kline, Horace 
Griffin, Andrew J. Sutherland, Felix Conover 
and Michael Albin. 

Ordered, That, whereas George W. Reeder 
has executed to the county of Green, a general 
warranty deed of conveyance for fifty acres of 
land off of the south end of the east half of the 
northeast quarter of section 25, in town 
[ship] 2, of range 7 east — it being understood 
before the delivering of said deed that said 
Reeder reserve the rails on said tract of land — 
that he have the privilege of taking tliem off. 

Ordered, That tliis court adjourn until court 
in course. 

William Bowen, ') 

James Riley, V Commissioners. 

Jeeemiaii ]>ridge. ) 
Attest: William Ritteniiouse, C. B. C. C. 

Ordered, That election be held at tlie liouse 
of Jacob Andrick, New Mexico, until other- 
wise ordered accordino; to law. 



Ordered, That Daniel A. Richardson be 
licensed and permitted to retail dry goods in 
the county of Green for the terra of one year 
from this the first day of April, by his paying 
into the county treasury the sum of $10. 

Ordereel, That Jacob LyBrand be licensed 
and permitted to retail dry goods in the coun- 
ty of Green for the term of one year from this 
the first day of April, by his paying into the 
county treasury |30. 

April 2, 1839. 

Ordered, That Daniel A. Richardson pay $6 
for selling goods without license up to the first 
day of April, 1839, as per acknowledgement of 
John Hart without a knowledge of his duty as a 
retailer of mei'chandise in obtaining license. 

Ordered, 'Jliat, whereas, Jacob LyBrand ob- 
tained an order to take out a license to vend 
merchandise in the county of Green, at the 
July term of this court, in 1838, and has failed 
to comply with the law in that case made and 
provided, therefore, ordered that suit be insti- 
tuted immediately against said Jacob Lybi'and 
in the district court of said county in an 
action of debt to the damage of said county of 
llOO as the law directs; and that Elijah Austin, 
Jose))h Kelly, Robert Delap and Joseph Payne, 
be summoned as witnesses in said suit. 

July Term, 1839. 

Commissioners court met pursuant to ad- 
journment. Present, William Bowen, James 
Riley and Jeremiah Bridge. 

Ordered, That first rate land be valued at 
$3.50 per acre, and that second rate land be 
valued at $3 per acre. And ordered that there 
be one-half of one per cent, tax levied on all 
real property as valued, or $1.40 for every 
eighty acres of first rate land and $1.20 for 
every eighty acres of second rate land; and 
one-half one per cent, on all personal property 
and town lots. 

Ordered, That the following named persons 
be selected as grand jurrors, to serve at the next 
term of the district court, to-wit: Julius Aus- 
tin, Mathew Wells, Thomas S. Bowen, William 



450 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Boyls, John Chadwick, Jacob Stair, William 
Brown, James Campbell, David C. Bridge, 
Davis Bowen, Henry Miner, John Cain, John 
Chryst, William Draper, James Hawthorn, Jo- 
siah Pierce, Robert Brazel, George W. Reeder, 
George McFadden, Daniel Baxter, David Davis, 
Isaac Kline and Mordecai Kelly. 

OnhreJ, That the following named persons 
be selected as petit jurors, to serve at the next 
term of the district court, to-wit: William Wells, 
Peter Wells, Stephen Clarno, Stephen G. Hale, 
John Cameron, Augustus Chilton, Thomas 
Thompson, Joshua Whitcomb, William Woodle, 
Joseph Forbes, John Bridge, Calvin Hale, 
Joseph Smith, J. Rattan, Elijah Austin, William 
Brazel, Absolom Kelly, O. J. White, Jesse 
Mitchell, John Kline, Horace Griffin, A. J. 
Sutherland, Felix Conor and James Sutherland. 

Ordered, That this court adjourn until court 

in course. 

William Bowex, '\ 

James Riley, >■ Commissioners. 

Jeremiah Bridge. ) 

Attest: William Ritteniiouse. 

Clerk. 
Extra session of the board of county commis- 
sioners held this 19th day of August, 1839; pres- 
ent: William Bowen, James Riley and Jere- 
miah Bridge: 

Whereas, This court failed at July term, 
1839, to make an order setting apart live per 
cent, for Territorial revenue, now be it 

Ordered, That the sum of $90. .58, the amount 
of the aforesaid five per cent., be set apart for 
the Territorial revenue for the year 1839, and 
that the clerk of said board of commissioners 
transmit by mail to the Territorial treasurer a 
certified copy of the duplicate for the current 
year. 

Extra session of the hoard of county commis- 
sioners begun and held this 19th day of Sep- 
tember, A. D., 1839; present: William Bowen, 
James Riley and William Boyls. William 
Bowen was elected chairman by ballot. 



Ordered, That William Rittenhouse be ap- 
pointed by this board clerk of said board. 

Whereas, This board failed at July session, 
1839, to divide the county of Green into three 
districts for the purpose of assessing property 
for the revenue for the year 1840 for the want 
of the statute in such case made and provided 
now, therefore, be it 

Ordered, That the said county be divided in 
the following form, to-wit: District No. 1 
shall contain all that part of said county which 
lies in range 6 east, and two tiers of sections off 
of the west side of range 7 east. District No. 
2 shall contain all that part of said county 
which is not included in district No. 1, in range 
No. 7 east, and four tiers of sections off of the 
west side of range No. 8 east. District No. 3 
shall contain all that part of said county which 
is not included in the two first mentioned dis- 
tricts, or all of range 9 east, and two tiers of 
sections off of the east side of range 8 east, in 
said county. And be it further 

Ordered, That David Davis be appointed as- 
sessor for district No. 3 and that George Connor 
be appointed assessor for the 2d district and that 
Stephen Clarno (elected) be assigned to district 
No. 1. 

October Session, 1839. 

Ordered, That William Griffith be appointed 
district surveyor to fill a vacancy. 

Ordered, That Jacob LyBrand be appointed 
supervisor in the place of Elijah Austin in dis- 
trict No. 2. 

Ordered, That this court adjourn until court 
in course. William Bowen, 

James Riley, 
William Boyls, 
Commissioners. 

Attest: William Rittenhouse, Clerk. 

Extra Session, November 12,1839. 

Ordered, That the clerk of the board shall 
certify to the governor of this Territory that 
the sixth section of the act entitled, "An act to 
l^rovide for and establishing the seat of justice 
of Green county," approved March 9, 1839, is 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



453 



complied with on the part of said board, and 
that he transmit the same by mail. 

Ordered, That this court adjourn until court 
in course. William Bowen, 

James Riley, 
William Boyls, 
Attest: Commissioners. 

William Rittenhouse, Clerk. 

January 10, 1840. 

Ordered, That |3 be allowed for each wolf 
scalp as a bounty for the destruction of wolves? 
under an act of the legislature of this Territory, 
to provide for the destruction of wolves from 
and after this day up to the 1st day of January, 
1841. 

April 7, 1840. 

Ordered, That the legality of the title to the 
lands deeded to Green county, on which Mon- 
roe, the present county seat, is situated, be re- 
ferred to the district attorney for said county 
for his legal decision on the same; and that all 
papers relative thereto be submitted to him by 
the clerk of this board, and that he report and 
iile said report with said clerk, and that the 
sheriff serve a copy of this order on said f,t- 
torney. 

Ai)ril 20, 1840. 

Ordered, That suit be instituted in the nan:e 
of the board of commissioners of the county df 
Green against John Porter for retailing spirit- 
uous liquors and wines from the 25th day of 
December, 1839, up to April 18, 1840, without 
first obtaining a license therefor, to the damage 
of said Green county of |50, before Joseph 
Kelly, Esq., a justice of the peace in and for 
said connty of Green; and that Calvin Hale, O. 
H. P. Clarno, Cutler Wilkins, Alfred Cannon 
and James Hawthorn be summoned as witnesses 
in said suit. 

On application, Be it ordered, That Thomas 
Walsh is hereby allowed and permitted to keep 
a tavern in the house he now lives in, in the 
county of Green, and no other, for the term of 
twelve months from this day, by paying into 
the county treasury the sum of So. 



April 21, 1840. 

Ordered, That suit be instituted before Joseph 
Kelly, Esq., a justice of the peace, against Ja- 
cob LyBrand, in the name of the board of com- 
missioners of the county of Green and Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin, for retailing goods, wares 
and merchandise from the 1st day of April, A. 
D. 1839, up to the 4th day of July, 1839, with- 
out first obtaining license therefor, to the dam- 
age of the said county of Green of $50; and 
that A. G. Houghton, Robert Delap, James 
Hawthorn and J. W. Deniston be summoned as 
witnesses in said suit. 

On application of John Porter to this board 
for to compromise a suit ordered to be com- 
menced at this session before Joseph Kelly, a 
justice of the peace, for retailing spirituous 
liquors and wines without first obtaining license 
therefor; and [who] proposes to relinquish an 
order made in his favor at this session for $20, 
for that purpose, — therefore, be it 

Ordered, That the aforesaid order to John 
Porter for $20 be withholden, and the order to 
commence suit be rescinded. 

Ordered, That Jesse W. Shull be and is here- 
by appointed assessor for 1840 in district No. 
], to fill the vacancy of Stephen Clarno, 
who has left this county. 

May 18, 1840. 
Whereas, Jacob LyBrand reserved to him- 
self the choice of six town lots in the town of 
Monroe, in his deed to Green county, dated 
24th day of August, A. D. 1839, Be i-t ordered. 
That said Jacob LyBrand be notified that the 
town plat of the town of Monroe is acknowl- 
edged and filed in the register's office for rec- 
ord, and that the said LyBrand make choice of 
said lots as aforesaid in said deed, and that the 
sheriff serve on the said Jacob Lybrand a copy 
of this order, and make due return thereof. 

Ordered, That whereas J. W. Shull has failed 
to give bond as assessor in the 1st district, that 
Joseph Smith be and is hereby appointed asses- 
sor in said district No. 1, 



27 



454 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



June 1, 1840. 
Whereas, Jacob LyBrand was notified on 
the 18th day of May, 1840, to make clioice 
of six town lots reserved by him in a deed exe- 
cuted to the county of Green, dated Aug 24, 
1839, which notice was returned by the sheriflp 
duly served; and 

Whereas, No specified time is designated 
for the selection of said lots, and sufficient 
time having been given to the said Jacob Ly 
Brand to make such selection as by him pro- 
vided in said deed, and has hitherto neglected, 
and by so neglecting, refused, and by so doing, 
waives his right to make said choice, and 

Whereas, Provision is made in the above 
named deed that Green county, before offering 
any portion of the town of Monroe for sale, said 
county shall make a deed to said Jacob LyBrand 
for six building lots in said town as provided in 
said deed, — now be it 

Ordered, That the following lots be selected, 
to-wit: lot No. 1, facing on the public square, 
and lots Nos. 80, 88, 89, 97 and 74, being lots not 
facing on the public square; and that a deed be 
executed to the said Jacob LyBrand for said 
lots on the part of said Green county and ten- 
dered to the said Jacob LyBrand by the sheriff, 
and return thereof made and filed in the office 
of the clerk of this board. 

June 2, 1840. 
Ordered, That application be made to the 
land office at Mineral Point for the field notes 
of the United States survey for towns [town- 
ships] Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 north, of ranges 6, 7 
and 8 east, by letter transmitted by the clerk of 
this board by mail or otherwise. 

Ordered, That application be made to the 
land office at Milwaukee for the field notes of 
the United States survey for towns [townships] 
Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 north, of range 9 east, by let- 
ter transmitted by the clerk of this board by 
mail or otherwise. 

July Session, 1840. 
Ordered, That S. Taylor be employed to fur- 
nish this county with a copy of the field notes 



of the United States surveys for towns [town- 
ships] Nos. i, 2, 3 and 4 north, of ranges 6, 7 
and 8 east of the fourth principal meridian, to- 
gether with plats of the length of the section 
lines, the meanderings of the Pecatonica river, 
as well as the exterior township lines, drawn as 
near like the official plats in the land office as 
can be, agreeable to said Taylor's proposals 
now on file in this office; and that the clerk of 
this board transmit a copy of this order to said 
S. Taylor by mail. 

July 7, 1840. 

Ordered, That, whereas the assessment rolls 
returned by the several assessors for the year 
1840, for the county of Green, as to the valua- 
tion of the lands in their respective districts, do 
not bear a just proportion to each other — that, 
in order to equalize said valuations, that all may 
bear just proportions to each other, the first 
rate land in all the districts be valued at $3 per 
acre, and the second rate land at |2.50 per acre. 

Ordered, That, for the purpose of raising a 
revenue for the charges and expenses of this 
county for the year 1840, there be levied 1 per 
cent tax on the valuation of all the taxable 
property of this county, as returned by the as- 
sessors and proportioned by this board. 

July 8, 1840. 

Ordered, That the clerk of this board give 
notice by posting up in three or more of the 
most public places in the county, notices that 
sealed proposals will be received by the clerk 
of this board at his office, until the first Monday 
of August next, for the building and enclosing 
a two-story frame house, 20x30 feet in the town 
of Monroe, for a temporary court house; said 
proposals to designate particularly the size and 
description of the timber, quality of shingles 
and siding, etc. Bond and security will be re- 
quired to the faithful performance of said con- 
tracts. 

August Extra Session, 1840. 

Upon application to this board, by Joseph 
Payne, to keep a tavern in the house he now 
lives in, in the town oi. New Mexico, be it or* 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



455 



dered that the said Joseph Payne be licensed 
and permitted to keep a tavern in the said house 
for the term of twelve months from this date 
by paying into the county treasury the sura of 
$5 therefor. 

August 4, 1840. 

Whereas, Proposals were ordered to be re- 
ceived, and have been received by the clerk of 
this board, for the purpose of erecting a two- 
story building in the town of Monroe, for the 
purpose of a temporary court house, be it or- 
dered that the proposals of James Campbell 
and J. Sutherland be accepted by this board, 
and that they give bond in the penal sum of $900 
for the faithful performance of said contract to 
the board of commissioners of the county of 
Green, agreeable to the tenor and effect of said 
proposals on file, to be completed on or before 
the 1st day of December, 1840. 

August Extra Session, 1840. 

Ordered, That the clerk of this board trans- 
mit to the editors of the Wisconsin Enquirer 
an advertisement that there will be a public 
sale of lots in the town of Monroe, on the 8th 
day of October next, with instructions to the 
publisher of said Wisconsin Euqtiirer {:}i \y:i\^QV 
printed in Madison, Wis. Ter.,) to give the 
said advertisement an insertion for four weeks 
successively. 

Monday, October 5, 1840. 

Ordered, That William Ritten house be and is 
hereby appointed clerk of this board. 

Octobers, 1840. 

Whereas, A deed was executed to Jacob Ly 
Brand by this board for six building lots in the 
town of Monroe and presented to him by the 
sheriff of Green county in pursuance of an 
order of this board at the July session, 1840; 
and, 

W^HEREAS, The said Jacob Ly Brand refused 
to accept said deed and chose other six lots in 
said town to-wit: lots number one (1), twenty- 
three (23), twenty-four (24) and twenty-five (25), 
being lots on the land donated to Green county 
by Jacob Ly Brand ; also lot number three (3) 



on the land donated to said county by William 
C. Russell; also lot number seven (7) on the 
land donated by the said Jacob Ly Brand and 
facing on the public square in said town. 

Ordered^ That a deed of conveyance be ex- 
ecuted to the said Jacob Ly Brand by thi> 
board on the part of Green county, for the afore- 
said described lots and tendered to the said 
Jacob Ly Brand by the sheriff, who is required 
to make return thereof forthwith to this board. 

The sheriff returned into court the following 
return to-wit: "I hereby certify that I, this 8th 
day of October, 1840, presented a deed from 
Green county to Jacob Ly Brand for certain 
lots in the town of Monroe, and the said Jacob 
Ly Brand accepted the same." 

[Signed,] J. W. Deniston, Sheriff. 

November 4, 1840. 
Whereas, James Campbell and Andrew J. 
Sutherland are bound to the board of commis- 
sioners of the county of Green by bond dated 
Aug. 4, 1840, to erect a two-story building for 
the pui'pose of a court house in the town of 
Monroe, and in the opinion of the court the con- 
dition of the said bond has been complied with; 
it is 

Ordered, By this court that the said house and 
job of work be received and that order be made 
out to them for the balance due them on said 

contract amounting to ^150.30. 

Ordered, That Frederick Betner be employed 
by this board to furnish points and oil, and to 
paint the court house in the town of Monroe, ac- 
cording to his proposals now on file in the clerk's 
office. 

December 17, 1840. 

The board of county commissioners of the 
count)' of Iowa, in the Territory of Wisconsin, 
by their attorney, Robert C Hoard, produced to 
this board, a certified statement of debts against 
said Iowa county, up to March 4, 1837, in which 
said Iowa county demands of the said county 
of Green, her proportionable part thereof, un- 
der the act of the lea^islature to organize the 



456 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



county of Green, approved Jan. 15, 1838, which 
amounts to $51*7.53; and, after mature considera- 
tion, the adjustment of said claim is continued 
to the next January session of this board. 

January 7, 1841. 

Upon an examination of the claim of Iowa 
Co., Wis., against Green Co., Wis., as exhibited 
to this board by Robert C. Hoard, Esq., the 
board here being sufficiently advised of and 
concerning the same, is of the opinion that it 
belongs to the treasurer of Green county to 
audit and pay over the same if any due, to the 
sheriff of Iowa county, and that the board here 
has not jurisdiction of the matter; and ordered 
that the clerk of this board transmit a certified 
copy of this order together with the said ac- 
count on tile against Green county, to the clerk 
of the board of county commissioners of lov/a 
county. 

January 9, 1841. 

Upon examination of the account of John P. 
Shields, Esq., district attorney for Green county 
for professional services— it appearing to this 
board that he ought to have the whole of the 
said account; therefore, be it 

Ordered^ That he is hereby allowed $33 out of 
any money in the treasury not otherwise appro- 
priated. 

February 27, 1841. 

Ordered, That the clerk of this board give 
notice by posting up in three or more of the 
most public places in this county, notices that 
sealed proposals will be received by the clerk of 
this board at his office until the first Monday of 
April next, for the building and finishing a two- 
story frame building in the town of Monroe, 
20x30 feet, two stories high, for the purpose of 
a temporary court house; the said proposals to 
designate particularly the size and quality of the 
timbers, quality of shingles, siding, etc.; and 
that bond and security will be required for the 
faithful performance of said contract. 

J. W. Smith produced an account, with peti- 
tions of certain citizens of the county of Green, 
praying for an allowance of $206.50 to compen- 



sate, him, said Smith, for loss sustained occa- 
sioned by the burning of the court house in 
the town of Monroe. After hearing the evidence 
produced by said Smith and the matter being 
fully understood, the board here is of opinion 
that he ought not to have and recover any part 
of the said account. 

April 5, 1841. 

Ordered, That Thomas Walsh be licensed to 
keep a tavern in the house he now lives in, for 
the term of one year from and after this date, 
by paying into the county treasury the sum of $5. 

Ordered, That townships 3 and 4 north, of 
ranges 6, 1, 8 and 9 east, (or the north half of 
the county) be and is hereby struck off and set 
apart as an election precinct by the name of 
Sugar River; and that elections shall be held at 
the house of John Porter in said precinct, and 
that Josiah Pierce, John Porter and Leonard 
H. Ross be and are hei*eby appointed judges of 
election in said precinct. 

April 6, 1841. 

Ordered, That Justus Sutherland, Jeremiah 
Bridge and Joseph Kelly be and are hereby 
appointed judges of election in Monroe pre- 
cinct, which precinct, shall constitute the fol- 
lowing portion of the county, to-wit : Town- 
ships 1 and 2 north, of ranges 6, 1, 8 and 9 
east. 

Whereas, at our February extra session, 1841, 
proposals were ordered to be received, and 
were received by the clerk of this board for the 
purpose of erecting a temporary court house, 
be it 

Ordered, That the proposals of Demas Beach 
be received and accepted by this board, and 
that there be an article of agreement executed 
between the county of Green and the said De- 
mas Beach, and that he give security for the 
faithful performance of said contract. 

July 6, 1841. 

Whereas, Thomas Walsh was licensed by this 
board, at the April session, 1841, of said board, 
to keep a tavern; and, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT?. 



4J 



Whereas, The said Thomas Walsh has been 
convicted before James Howe, Esq., a justice of 
the peace, in and for said county, for an offense 
against the law of the Territory regulating 
taverns for keeping a disorderly house; and it 
appearing to this board that the clerk of this 
board has duly notified the said Thomas Walsh 
to appear and show cause, if any, why the said 
license should not be revoked ; and as the said 
Thomas Walsh has totally failed to appear ; 
therefoi'e, be it 

Ordered, That the said license be and is here- 
by revoked. 

July 8, 1841. 

Ordered, That Demas Beach be employed to 
furnish seats and tables in the court and jury 
rooms in the court house in the town oi Monroe. 

October 5, 1841. 

Whereas, Frederick Betner purchased two 
lots in Monroe, and gave his note to the treas- 
urer of the county for $30, for said lots, which 
said note was payable in work on the court 
house last winter ; and the said house having 
been burned, so that the work could not be 
done, therefore be it 

Ordered, That he, Betner, shall receive the 
said note of the treasurer ; and that the said 
Betner be allowed $10 for work done on said 
court house (before burned), out of any money 
in the treasury appropriated for contingent ex- 
penses. 

November 1, 1841. 

Ordered, That county commissioners' court 
be hereafter held at the court house in the town 
of Monroe. 

November 2, 1841. 

Ordered, That Josepfi Payne be and is hereby 
licensed and permitted to keep a tavern in the 
bouse he now lives in, in New Mexico, for the 
space of twelve months, by paying into the 
county treasury the sum of $5 therefor. 

January 5, 1842. 

Ordered, That S. L. Summers be and is hereby 
licensed to keep a grocery and to sell spirituous 
liquors, in quantities less than one quart, in the 



house he now occupies for that purpose, for tl 
sjjace of one year from this date. 

May 24, 1842. 
Upon application of Ezra Durgin, be it 
Ordered, That he be licensed to keep a tavei 
in the house he now occupies for the purpos 
in Exeter, at Sugar River Diggings, for tl 
space of twelve months from this date, by pa 
ing into the county treasury,the sum of $5 ther 
for. 

Upon application of E. B. Blodget, be it 
Ordered, That he be licensed to keep a tavei 
in the house he now occupies for that purpos 
in the town of Exeter, at Sugar River Digging 
for the space of twelve months from this dat 
by paying into the county treasury, the sum ( 
$5 therefor. 

May 24, 1842. 
Ordered, That the clerk of this board, recei\ 
sealed proposals, until the first Monday of Jul 
next, for the building of a jail in Monroe, agre( 
able to a plan agreed upon, and on file with th 
clerk, and that the clerk give notice of this ord( 
by causing notices to be posted up in three ( 
the most public places in this county. 

July 7, 1842. 
Ordered, That elections of Sugar River pr 
cinct shall be held in the school house, in th 
town of Exeter, and that Leonard Ross, Ezr 
Durgin and Daniel Smiley be, and is hereby aj 
pointed judges of elections in said precinct fo 
the year 1842. 

January 4, 1843. 
Ordered, That David Noggle be allowed $1 
for services as an attorney, in a cause Iowa count 
vs. Green county, in Rock county court, payabl 
out of any money in the treasury appropriate^ 
for the payment of contingent expenses. 

January 28, 1843. 
Ordered, That sealed proposals be received b; 
the clerk of this board, until the first Monda; 
of April next, for the purpose of building ! 
bridge across the Pecatonica river, at or nea 
the point on said river, where the survey of ; 
United States road from Smipee to Racine (b; 



458 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Capt, Craru), crosses Sugar river, at or near the 
point on said river, where a Territorial road 
from Rock Grove to Madison crosses said river. 
The above said bridges to be built according to 
the plats and plans on file in the office of the 
clerk of the said board, witli the exceptions that 
the abutments is to be filled with stone instead 
of earth, and be it further ordered that the clerk 
of this board make out copies of this order and 
cause the same to be posted up in three of the 
most public places in this county. 

April 5, 1843. 

Ordered, That the following boundary shall 
constitute an election precinct by the name of 
Monroe, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast 
corner of section four (4), in town 2 of range 8; 
thence west on the township line to the west 
side of the county; thence south on the west line 
of the county to the southwest corner of the 
county; thence east to the southeast 'corner of 
section 33, town 1, range 8; thence north to the 
place of beginning, and that elections be held 
at the court house in Monroe, and that William 
Boyls, Sr., C. N. Sutherland and David C. 
Bridge be appointed judges of election in said 
precinct. 

April 5, 1843. 

Ordered, That ranges Band 9 of townships 3 
and 4, be, and is hereby constituted an election 
precinct by the name of Sugar River, and that 
Jacob Linzee, Gilbert McNaught and John B. 
Perry be appointed judges of election of said 
precinct, and that elections be held at the school 
in Exeter. 

Ordered, That townships 3 and 4 of ranges G 
and 7, be, and is hereby constituted an election 
precinct by the name of Greenville, and that 
James H. Bailey, Amos Conkey and William 
Morrison be appointed judges of election for 
said precinct, and that elections be held at the 
house of Jonas Shook. 

Ordered, That the following boundary con- 
stitute an election precinct by the name of Mil- 
creek, to-wit : commencing at the northwest 
corner of section 3, of township 1, range 8, 



thence south to the southwest corner of section 
34 of same township and range on the Slate 
line, thence east to the southeast corner of the 
county, thence north to the northeast corner of 
section 1, of township 1, range 9 east, thence 
west on the towns'iip line to the place of be- 
ginning, and that Solomon Overmayer, James 
Kildow and R. D. Deuck, be appointed judges 
of election for said precinct, and that elections 
be held at the house of Samuel Myres. 

Ordered, That the following boundary consti- 
tute an election precinct by the name of Decatur, 
to-wit : commencing at the northwest corner of 
section 3, township 2, range 8, thence south to the 
southwest corner of section 34 in same township 
and range, thence east on the township line to 
the east line of the county, thence north to the 
northeast corner of section l,in township 2, range 
9, thence west to the place of beginning, and 
that Erastus Hulbert, John Moore and Thomas 
W. Thompson, be appointed judges of election 
for said precinct, and that elections be held at 
the house of John Moore. 

April 6, 1843. 

This day sold to John A. Bingham lots Nos. 
05 and 67 in Ly Brand's donation in the town of 
Monroe, for the sura of |?60 for which he gave 
his notes for the same, i^ayable in six months 
and one year, and w)io Is to have a deed of 
conveyance for said lots when the purchase 
money shall have been paid. 

This day sold to John R. Walling, lots Nos. 
13 and 37, in Ly Brand's donation in the town 
of Monroe, for which he gave his notes,paya- 
ble in six, twelve and eighteen months, "|!13.33 
each," who is entitled to a deed of conveyance 
from Green county when the purchase money 
shall have been paid. 

July 6, 1843. 

Sold to George I. Goodhue, lots Nos. 2 and 3 
in Ly Brand's donation to the town of Monroe, 
for the consideration of llOO, payable in six 
and twelve months, and the said Goodhue is to 
build two houses on said lots, agreeable to a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



459 



bond executed to bira this day by tbe board of 
commissioners for a deed. 

October 4, 1843. 

Ordered, That the following named judges 
and clerks of election be allowed the amount 
carried out to each of their names respectively 
for their services at the general election held on 
the fourth Monday, the 25th day of September, 
A. D., 1843, out of any money in the treasury 
appropriated for court charges and fees of. 
officers: 

Monroe.— William Boyls, $3; Charles N. 
Sutherland, |8; David C. Bridge, |3, judges. 
John Woods, $3; John W. Stewart, $3, clerks. 

Decatur. — Thomas W. Thompson, $1.50; John 
Moore, |2.50; Erastus Hulburt, $1.50, judges. 
Noah J. Rupert, $1.50; Martin C. Sutherland, 
$1.50, clerks. 

Millcreek. — R. D. Deuck, $2.70; Jacob Tenyck, 
$1.50, judges. A. Stepheson, $1.50;P. B.Spring- 
sted, $1.50, clerks. 

Sugar River. — Jacob Linzee, $3.30; John B. 
Perry, $1.50; George McKnight, $1.50, judges. 
R. D. Lasson, $1.50; George Kimpler, $1.50, 
clerks. 

Greenville. — Amos Conkey, $1.50; William 
Morrison, $1.50; James George, $1.50, judges. 
Ezra Wescott, $4.30; William C. Green, $1.50, 
clerks, 

January 10, 1849. 

Ordered, That township No. 1 north, range 6 
east, be organized and set apart as a town, to be 
bounded by the outside line of said township as 
described in the congressional survey, includ- 
ing the fractions on the north side of said town 
and all the sections thereof, and tlie name of 
said town shall be Cadiz, and the first town meet- 
ing shall be holden at the house of Mrs. Den- 
niston in the village of Cadiz. 

Ordered, That township No. 1 north, range 7 
east, be organized and set apart as a separate 
town, to be bounded by the outside lines of said 
township as described in the government sui'- 
vey, including the fractions on the north side 
thereof, and all the sections thereof, and that 



the name of said town be Clarno, and that the 
first town meeting be held at the house of Isaac 
Callender. 

Ordered, That township No. 1, of range 8 
east, be organized and set apart into a separate 
town to be bounded by the outside lines of said 
township, as surveyed by Congress, including 
all the sections, and fractional sections in said 
township, and that the name thereof be Jeffer- 
son, and that the first town meeting be held at 
the house of Abram Sanburn. 

Ordered, That township No. 1, of range 9 
east, be organized and set apart into a separate 
town, to be bounded by the outside lines of said 
township, said town to include all the sections 
and fractions in the said township, and that the 
name thereof be Spring Grove, and that the first 
town meeting be held at Hosteller's Mill. 

Ordered, That township No. 2 north, range 9 
east, be organized into a separate town and 
bounded by the outside boundary lines of said 
township, as surveyed by the government, and 
that the name thereof be Decatur, and the first 
town meeting be held at the school house of 
William Jones. 

Ordered, That township No. 2 north, of range 
8 east, be organized into a separate town by the 
name of Sylvester and that the first town meet- 
ing be held at Sylvester's Mill, and that said 
town be bounded by the outside line of said 
township as surveyed by government. 

Ordered, That township No. 2, of range 7 
east, be organized and set apart into a separate 
town to be bounded by the outside lines of said 
township as surveyed by government and that 
the name thereof be Monroe, and that the first 
town meeting be held at the court house in 
Monroe. 

Ordered, That township No. 2 north, of range 
6 east, be organized and set apart into a separate 
town by the name of Jordan, and that it be 
hounded by the outside lines of said town as 
surveyed by government and that the first town 
meeting be held at the school house near Jacob 
Ostrander. 



460 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



January 11, 1849. 

Ordered, That township No. 4 north, of range 
9 east, be organized and set apart into a separate 
town bounded by the outside lines of the said 
township as surveyed by the government, and 
that the said town be known by the name of 
Brooklyn, and that the first town meeting be 
held at the house of Nelson Patterson. 

Ordered, That township No. 3, of range 9 
east, be organized and set apart into a separate 
town to be bounded by the outside lines of said 
township as surveyed by the government, and 
that the name of said town be Albany and that 
the first town meeting be held at the school 
bouse near Price Hills. 

Ordered, That township No. 3 north, of range 
8 east, be organized and set apart into a sepa- 
rate town to be bounded by the outside bound- 
aries of the said township as originally sur- 
veyed by the government, and the name there- 
of be Mount Pleasant, and the first town meet- 
ing»be held at the house of William Boyls, Jr. 

Ordered, That township No. 4 north, of range 
8 east, be organized and set apart into a sepa- 
rate town by the name of Exeter and that it be 
bounded by the outside lines of said township 
as originally surveyed by the government and 
that the first town meeting be held at the house 
of L. D. Barnes in the village of Exeter. 

Ordered, That township No. 3 north, of range 
7 east, be organized and set apart into a sepa- 
rate town by the name of Washington, and that 
it be bounded by the outside lines of the said 
township as surveyed originally by the govern- 
ment, and that the first town meeting be held 
at the house of James Lang. 

Ordered, That township No. 3 north, of range 
6 east, be organized and set apart into a sepa- 
rate town by the name of Adams, and that it be 
bounded by the outside lines of said township 
according to the original survey by the govern- 
ment, and that tlie first town meeting be held 
at the house of James H. Bailey. 

O^'dered, Thnt township No. 4, in range 6 
east, and township No. 4, range 7 east, be or- 



ganized and set apart into a separate town, and 
bounded as follows, commencing at the south- 
west corner of township 3, range 6, thence east 
to the southeast corner of town 4, range 7, 
thence north to the northeast corner of said last 
mentioned town, thence west to the northwest 
corner of the county of Green, thence south to 
the place of beginning, and that the said town 
be known by the name of York, and the first 
town meeting shall be holden at the tavern of 
Eli George. 

November 16, 1849. 
A petition from the inhabitants of township 
No. 4, of range 7 east, in the county of Green, 
praying to be set off into a separate town for 
town purposes was presented to the board and 
referred to a special committee of three, con- jl 
sisting of Messrs. Green, Wood and Bowen, 
who made the following report: 

We, the committee to whom was referred the 
petition, asking a division of tlie town of York, 
recommend that the petition be granted and 
that their first town meeting be held in New 
Glarus, on the first Tuesday of April next, at 
the school house in said New Glarus, 

[Signed,] Thomas T. Bowen, 

Chairman. 

And on motion said report was adopted and 
said township is ordered set off and established 
for township purposes by the name of New 
Glarus, and bounded by the outside lines of said 
township No. 4 north, of range 7 east, as es- 
tablished by government survey. 

November 14, 1850. 

Mr. Witter, from the town of Brooklyn, pre- 
sented a petition from the citizens of said 
town and the town of Albany, praying that sec- 
tion 6, in said town of Albany be added to the 
town of Brooklyn, which, on motion, was laid 
on the table. 

November 19, 1850. 

On motion the petition from the inhabitants 
of the towns of Albany and Brooklyn, was 
taken up and referred to the same committee. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



461 



The chair appointed H. Rust, William Coldren 
and James Hare, said committee. 

November 20, 1850. 

The committee on petitions made the follow- 
ing report, which was accepted and on motion 
amended by striking out the words lifty dollars. 

The committee to whom petitions were re- 
ferred, respectfully report, that we have the ])eti- 
tions from the gentlemen from Brooklyn and 
Jordan under consideration and would recom- 
mend that the north half of section 6, in town 
3 north, of range 9 east, be taken off from the 
town of Albany and attached to the town of 
Brooklyn, in said county, also that an appro- 
priation of -fifty dollars be made by this board 
to the town of Jordan to aid in repairing road 
and bridges in said town, all of which is re- 
spectfully submitted. 

H. Rust, Chairman. 
November 17, 1851. 

On motion, the petitions asking for that por- 
tion of the town of Brooklyn which was at- 
tached to said town from the town of Albany, 
to be set back to said town of Albany, 
was taken up, and a motion to grant the prayer 
of said petitioners was lost. 

November 13, 1855. 

By consent of the board Mr. Smith, of Clarno, 
presented the following petition and resolution: 

Whereas, The Hon. Mr. West, late senator 
from the county of Green, did introduce into 
the Senate of the State of Wisconsin, in Jan- 
uary, 1855, a bill asking for an alteration 
of the boundary line between the towns of Mon- 
roe and Clarno, and the said bill was introduced 
without the knowledge or consent of the inhab- 
itants of said town of Clarno, the electors of 
Clarno did thereupon remonstrate by petition 
(signed 210), also from Monroe (signed 80), the 
Hon, Mr. West did thereupon withdraw from 
the said Senate bill and still affirms that he 
did withdraw and oppose said bill and that it 
was not again introduced until the Hon. Mr. 
West finally left and returned home, that after 
the return of Senator West some evil disposed 



person or persons did alter the title of said bill 
did then and there on the last day of the session 
by false pretenses procure a law taking from 
the said town of Clarno lots Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, 
on sections 2 and 3, and attached the same to 
said town of Monroe, against the statute in such 
cases made and provided. 

Petition: — 

We, the undersigned, inhabitants of the town 
of Clarno, petition your honorable body, the 
board of supervisors of the county of Green, 
to establish boundary line between the towns 
of Monroe and Clarno to its original United 
States government survey, and your petitioners 
as in duty bound ever pray. 

Signed by 124 petitioners. 
Dated, Clarno, Nov, 6, 1855, 

On motion of Mr. Smith, of Adams, L. Hurl- 
but, Israel Smith and Samuel Johnson were ap- 
pointed by the chair a committee to report upon 
the petition and resolution. 

On motion of Mr. Newton, voted to add two 
other members t© that committee, chair ap- 
pointed as additional members W, C. Green 
and William Munson. 

November 30, 1855. 

By leave of board, Mr. Smith, of Clarno, 
withdrew his petition, asking that the boundary 
line between Monroe and Clarno be restored to 
its original United States government survey. 

December 27, 1855. 

Report of investigating committee: 

To the board of supervisors of the county of 
Green: Your committee appointed to invest! 
gate the frauds practiced on the county com- 
menced their investigation on Monday, Dec. 10, 
A. D. 1855. Calling to their assistance Asa 
Richardson and James Bintliff, they continued 
the examination of the records and papers be- 
longing to the office of the clerk of the board 
of supervisors from day to day until the 21st 
in St. 

The matter is involved in much obscurity, 
owing to the destruction and mutilation of rec- 
ords and papers. We are therefore unable to 



462 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



make as full and perfect a report as we could 
desire; we have, however, detected frauds com- 
mitted from the year 1848 to 1854 inclusive. 

The aggregate amount of which the county 
has been defrauded, so far as we are able to 
state from our imperfect means of ascertaining, 
including orders altered, orders wholly fraudu- 
lent, and the same raised for weiglits and meas- 
ured, and exclusive of !S>895.17 of orders for the 
issuing of which no bills or resolutions can be 
found, is $2,541.28, from which deduct |69t).80, 
the amount cancelled by payor, and there re- 
mains a balance now due the county of $1,844. 48; 
all of which is respectfully submitted. 

William Brown, ) r^ 

Israel Smith, \ Committee. 

November 17, 1856. 

T. S. Bowen presented the following resolu- 
tion: 

Resolved, That the town line between the 
town of Monroe and the town of Clarno, be so 
altered as to bring the town of Clarno back to 
its original government survey. 

A motion to adopt the resolution was lost as 
follows: Aye — Thomas S. Bowen— 1. ISFays — E. 
A. Newton, William Blackford, William Brown, 
William Munson, E. T. Gardner, D. Smiley, 
Samuel Johnson, E. Roby, William C. Green, 
A. D. Kirkpatrick — 10. 

"November 25, 1859. 

"J. W. Stewart offered the following resolu- 
tion, which was adopted, to-wit: 

"Whereas, The county of Green is the owner 
of, in fee, of lot No. 12, in Russell's donation, 
which lot has been used by the direction of the 
county for cemetery purposes; and. Whereas 
said lot is within the corporate limits of the vil- 
lage of Monroe; and. Whereas the said village 
lias purchased new cemetery grounds, of greater 
extent, and it is desirous that the dead be re- 
moved thereto. Therefore, 

Besolved, That tlie said lot first described, be 
donated to the village of Monroe, in considera- 
tion that the said village, at their own expense, 
maintain and protect the same, or cause the dead 



to be removed, at their own expense. And it is 
hereby ordered, That the chairman of this board 
execute, and cause to be delivered to the presi- 
dent of the said village, a deed, in accoixlance 
with the above resolution." 

November 21, 1860. 

BY-LAWS OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE POOR. 

Article 1. Application for relief or support 
of any pauper or paupers, may be made to the 
chairman of the board of supervisors of the sev- 
eral towns in this county, who are hereby au- 
thorized and empowered, and whose duty it shall 
be to receive the same, and notify the superin- 
tendent of the district, immediatel3\ 

A?'ticle 2. When application is made to any 
such supervisor, it shall be his duty to inquire 
into the circumstances of the applicant, ascer- 
tain his or her place of birth, age, occupation, 
length of residence in this county, length and 
place of previous residence and name and place 
of residence of his or her relations, if any, and 
ascertain if such applicant has any property or 
effects, and if so, make an inventory thereof 
and make report to the superintendent of his 
district, and also, if said applicant can be safely 
removed to the county poor house. 

Article 3. The county of Green shall be di- 
vided into three districts, each of which shall 
have a superintendent residing therein, to whom 
all applications for relief or support of paupers 
in his district shall be referred. 

Article 4. Until further ordered, the districts 
shall be divided as follows: 

District No. 1, shall consist of the towns of 
Cadiz, Clarno, Monroe, Jordan and Adams. 

District No. 2, shall consist of the towns of 
Jefferson, Spring Grove, Decatur, Sylvester and 
Albany. 

District No. 3, shall consist of the towns of 
York, Washington, New Glarus, Mount Pleas- 
ant, Exeter and Brooklyn, 

Articled. No superintendent shall grant re- 
lief to any one person or family, to an amount 
exceeding $10, without the consent of the ma- 
jority of said superintendents. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



46?J 



Article 6. The superintendents shall, at their 
lirst meeting after the presentation of any bill, 
audit and allow the same, if just and chargeable 
to the county poor fund, and j^ay the same out 
of any moneys in their hands, belonging to said 
fund . 

Article 1. All services performed by any su- 
pervisor, in receiving and examining into appli- 
cations for relief or support of paupers in his 
town, and reporting the same to the superin- 
tendent, and for removing paupers to the county 
poor house, must be at the expense of the town 
in which the said paupers reside, or make appli- 
cation for support. 

Article 8. The annual meeting of the board 
of supei'intendents shall be held at the cowrt 
house, on Monday next succeeding the general 
election in each year, special meetings for the 
transaction of any business pertaining to their 
office, may be called at any time agreed upon 
by said superintendents. 

Article 9. The superintendents of the poor 
shall, annually, and within four days after the 
commencement of their annual meeting, make 
a report to the board of supervisors of the 
county, of the number of persons received into 
the county poor house, and to whom outside re- 
lief has been granted respectively, and the 
amount paid for such support, and out-door re- 
lief separately. They shall also make out a 
full and complete inventory of all the property 
in their possession, or under their control, be- 
longing to the county, and make a detailed re- 
port of all their transactions as superintendents, 
with a statement of accounts allowed and pre- 
sented, their journal of pro'ceedings and books 
of accounts with their vouchers for the exami- 
nation of the said board of supervisors. 

Article 10, The superintendents shall cause 
to be kept at the poor house, in a book to be 
provided for that purpose, a registry in which 
shall be entered the name, age, place of birth, 
occupation, date of admission, date of discharge, 
by death or otherwise, of every pauper received 



into the poor house, and such other entries as 
said superintendents may direct. 

On motion of Mr. Wescott, a special commit- 
tee of three was appointed to propose a plan 
for districting the county, and report at 2 o'clock 

p. M. 

The select committee to whom was referred 
the districting the county ])reparatory to estab- 
lishing the county poor system, made the follow- 
ing report, which was adopted, to wit: 

The select committee, to whom was referred 
the subject of districting the county, recommend 
that 

District No. 1 be composed of the towns of 
Cadiz, Clarno, Monroe, Jordan and Adams. 

District No. 2 be composed of the towns of 
Jefferson, Spring Grove, Decatur, Sylvester and 
Albany. 

District No. 3 be composed of the towns of 
York, Washington, New Glarus, Mount Pleas- 
ant, Exeter and Brooklyn. 

[Signed.] E. Wescott, 

Chairman Committee. 

On motion, voted to elect a director for dis- 
trict No. 1, the vote stood as follows: 

Whole number of votes cast, 17; of which 
number H. Rust received 9 votes, Jacob Mason 
received 1 vote, T. S. Bowen received 1 vote, 
D. S. Sutherland received 5 votes, E. Wescott 
received 1 vote. 

On motion, Hiram Rust was declared unani- 
mously elected. 

The board then proceeded to a formal ballot 
for director in the 2d district: 

The whole number of votes cast was 17, of 
which number I, M, Bennett received 11 votes, 
H. Dunwiddie received 4 votes, T. A. Bennett 
received 1 vote, John Broughton received 1 
vote. 

On motion, I. M. Bennett was declared 
elected. 

The board then proceeded to ballot for a di- 
rector for the -Sd district: 

Whole number of votes cast, 17; of which 
number Ransom Drake received 9 votes, Wil- 



464 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



liam C. Green received 7 votes, Otis Ross re- 
ceived 1 vote. 

On motion, Ransom Drake was declared 
elected. 

I. M. Bennett offered the following resolu- 
tion, which was adopted, to-wit : 

Hcsolved, That the superintendents of the 
the poor just elected, now draw lots, one to 
hold his office one year, one to hold two years 
and the other to hold three years, in case either 
of the superintendents be absent, the chairman 
shall name some one to draw for them. 

On motion the superintendents proceeded to 
draw lots for terms of office resulting as fol- 
lows : 

I. M. Bennett drew^ a term of one year; R. 
Drake drew a term of two years; H. Rust drew 
a term of three years. 

D. Sutherland was appointed by the chairman 
to draw for H. Rust, and W. W. McLauofhlin 
for R. Drake, they both being absent. 

May 16, 1861. 
The committee, to whom was referred the 
matter of an appropriation for the support of 
the families of volunteers would respectfully 
recommend, that an appropriation of eight hun- 
dred ($S00) dollars be made to C. S. Foster, M. 
Marty and Allen Woodle for the support of 
such families, and for the payment of board of 
volunteers. We would also recommend, that 
the said committee have power to appoint 
agents, in the several towns to have charge of 
such families. We would also recommend the 
adoption of the following resolution : 

Resolved, That in the opinion of this board 
the county will be willing to pay all the neces- 
sary expenses of maintaining the families of 
all those who may volunteer (that need such 
assistance) during the war. 

C. F. Thompson, 

D. DUNWIDDIK, 

E. R. Allen, 

Committee. 



July 9, 1861. 

The board then proceeded, pursuant to ad- 
journment, to elect a superintendent of poor of 
Green county for district No. 2, in the place of 
I. M. Bejinett left vacant by his removal from| 
this county. 

On motion J. W. Kildow was chosen by the 
casting vote of the chairman, superintendent of 
poor for district No. 2. 

The committee, to whom was referred the ap- 
portionment of the county into three county 
supervisor districts, would respectfully report 
the following : 

First district to consist of the towns of Ad- 1 
anis, Jordan, Cadiz, Clarno and Monroe. 

Second district to consist of the towns of 
Jefferson, Spring Grove, Decatur, Sylvester and 
Albany. 

Third district to consist of the towns of 
Brooklyn, Exeter, New Glarus, York, Washing- 
ton and Mount Pleasant. 

C. F. Thompson, 

D. DUNWIDDIE, 

C. S. Foster, 

Committee. 
October 5, 1863. 
J. T. Dodge having tendered his resignation 
of the office as county surveyor, which was ac- 
cepted ; the board, on motion, appointed A. L. 
Cleveland, as county surveyor. 

October 20, 1863. 
In conformity with section 2, of chapter 399 
general laws of 1862, the board of supervisors 
agreed upon and ordered the following division 
of Green county into three supervision districts, 
to-wit : 

District No. 1 to consist of the towns of New 
Glarus, York, Exeter, I3rooklyn, Washington 
and Mount Pleasant. 

District No. 2 to consist of the towns of Jef- 
ferson, Spring Grove, Decatur, Sylvester and 
Albany. 

District No. 3 to consist of the towns of Ad- 
ams, Jordan, Cadiz, Clarno and Monroe. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



465 



CHAPTER XIX. 



ELECTION STATISTICS. 



The official election returns of a county are 
always matters of interest to its citizens; and 
those which follow in tliis chapter will be 
found, it is believed, no exception to the rule. 
It is thought only to be necessary, in this con- 
nection, to give the month in Avliich each elec- 
tion was held and the year. 

STATE, DISTRICT AND COUNTY OFFICERS. 

ELECTION, MARCH, 1838. 

Commissioners. 

Daniel S. Sutherland 66 

William Bowen T^ 

Daniel Harcourt 53 

Jeremiab Brids^e 35 

William Woodle II 

ELECTION, AUGUST, 1838.* 
Commissioners. 

60— 41 
19 



10- 8 



Daniel Harcourt. 


Jehu Chadwick 


Treasurer. 


James Rattan 


Coroner. 


A . G. Houghton ^ 


Jabez Johnson 


Assessor. 


David Davis 


Jabez Johnson.. 
Hiram Rust 


Collector. 
Register of Deeds. 


W. Bainbridge 


ELECTION. SEPTEMBER, 1838. 
Delegate to Congress. 
Thomas P. Burnett 


George W. Jones. 




James D. Doty... 




Ebenezer Brighara 

D. S. Sutherland . 
L. E. Boomer 


Legislative Council. 
Representative. 


J. McCracken... . 


Treasurer. 


J. Rattan . 



J. Ly Brand. 



60— 53 



40 



39- 
37 



1- 66 



*This election being held on a day not authorized bv law, 
no ctertlflcates were issued to the offlcer's. 



Register of Deeds . 

William Rittenhouse 57— 29 

H. Rust 28 

J.Johnson 7 

Commissioner. 

James Riley... 61— 39 

Daniel Harcourt 23 

Assessor. 

A.G.Houghton 68— 59 

J.Forbes 9 

Coroner. 
A.Harris 5,3— 52 

A. Clarno 1 

[A special election was held on the 13th day of October, A. 
D. , 1838, at the house of Jacob Ly Brand, for the purpose of 
electing one county commissioner to fill the vacancv occa- 
sioned oy tbe resisfnation of D. S. Sutherland, who had been 
elected representative. 

Jei-emiah Bridge received twenty-four votes, being all the 
votes cast.] 

ELECTION, AUGUST. 1839. 
Delegate to Congress. 

J. D. Doty 67 

T.P.Burnet 29 

B. Kilbourn 63 

Register of Deeds. 

William Rittenhouse 84— 36 

N.Phelps 58 

Commissioner. 

William Boyls 73— jg 

Jeremiah Bridge 66 

Treasurer. 

A. Van Sant ; . . 99 

Assessor. 

S. Clarno 62— 3 

A.G.Houghton 59 

Coroner. 
A.Harris 68 

ELECTION, SEPTEMBER, 1840. 
Legislative Council. 

Lucius I. Barber 90 

Thomas W. Sutherland 49 

Representatives . 

James Sutherland 105 

Jacob Ly Brand 50 

Commissioner. 

Asa Brown ?. 9]— 3,3 

William Bridge 58 

Treasurer. 

.lames Hawthorn l-'3— 133 

.I.Houghton 1 

Surveyor. 

A. Van Sant 92— 64 

WiHlam Griffith 28 



466 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Collector. 



A. G. Houghton. 
J. W. Deniston... 



Assessors. 



Felix O'Flyng 

John .S. Sylvester. 
David Davis 



110- 
30 



135* 

98* 



ELECTION, SEPTEMBER, 1841. 
Delegate to Congress. 

Henry Dodge 

Jonathan E. Arnold... 

Commissioners. 

Davis Bowen 130* 

Willian Boyls 121* 

Josiah Pierce 127* 

John Porta 57* 

Asa Brown 101* 

David C. Bridge 75* 

Coroner. 

William Woodle .53*— 25 

Joseph Kelley 27 

Treasurer. 

James Hawthorn 117*— 62 

Dennis Beach 5.5* 



Surveyor. 



Noah Phelps... 
William Griffith. 



Register of Deeds. 



William Rittenhouse. 
John W, Deniston... 
Noah Phelps 



18*— 12 



170*-148 
22* 

7 



Clerk of Board. 



William Rittenhouse 165—149 

JohnW. Deniston 16 

Noah Phelps i 



Assessors.t 



F. T. Kendrick. 
E. T. Gardner... 
David Davis 



Collector. 



A.G.Houghton 106— 30 

John S. Sylvester 7t5 

ELECTION, SEPTEMBER, 1842. 
Legislative Council. 

Lucius I. Barber 158 

James Sutherland 129 

Noah Phelps ' i 

Representatives. 

Robert Masters 155 

Nathaniel F. Hyer 145 

Lvnian Grossman 143 

William Bowen lti9 

James S. Alban ". .. 154 

Isaac H. Palmer ]..." 152 

Commissioners. 

Davis Bowen IgO 

Elijah T. Gardner 1^5 

E. B. Blodget \\\., 115 

Asa Brown 148 

R. D. Derick ''_' 141 

Jacob Linzee .''.'. 14 

Daniel Smiley 146 

Clerk of Board. 

William Rittenhouse 214—132 

J. W. Stewart ."'." 82 



*This includes the whole number of votes swppnsed to have 
been intended for the party. 

+Thcro were no less than oifjht candidates votod.for, for 
assessors. Only tho vo^o of those who.wei-e elected) it is 
thou^'ht necessary to give in this connection.— Ed. 



Register of Deeds. 

William Rittenhouse 208^133 

J. W. Stewart 85 

Surveyor. 

J. A. Burgham 138— 25 

Josiah Richardson 113 

Cuther Watkins 40 

Coroner. 

William Blunt 148— 5 

William Woodle 143 

Treasurer. 

James Hawthorn 194 

Collector. 

Noah Phelps 160— 24 

A. G. Houghton 136 

Assessors.* 

R. D. Slosson 148 

Francis D. Kendrick 151 

William Bridges 151 

ELECTION, MAY, 1843. 
Sheriff. 

Joseph Woodle 209— m 

Joseph Kelley 1.56 

Probate Judge. 

Daniel Sutherland 179t - 12 

William Boyls 167 

ELECTION, SEPTEMBER, 1843. 
Delegate to Congress. 

Henry Dodge 202— 36 

George W. Hickox 166 

Commissioners. 



Henson Irion... 

Asa Brown 

Joseph Kelley - 
Daniel Lindlcy 
Davis Bowen .. 
Robert Witter.. 



207 
165 
190 
164 
162 
148 



Clerk of Board. 



William Rittenhouse. 
Dennis Beach 



219— 84 

135 

Register of Deeds. 

William Rittenhouse 214— 73 

Dennis Beach 141 



Surveyor. 



F. F. West 

J. A. Bingham 



Treasurer. ' 



H. C. Miller ... 
Jacob Andrick 



Probate Judge. 



Daniel S. Sutherland. 
Daniel Baxter 



189- 
102 


87 


191- 
165 




168- 
153 


16 



Coroner. 



John Blunt 



185 



Collector. 



Noah Phelps 187— 16 

John W. Deniston 171 



Assessors. 



Francis T. Kendrick. 

William Bridges 

R. D. Slosson 



ELECTION, SEPTEMBER, 1844. 
Legislative Council. 

William McDowell 

John Catlin 



187 
181 
175 



221 

219 



*The names only of the successful candidates for assessors, 
with the number of votes each received, is given in this 
chai/tci'--ED. 

+Includirig all that wer'e st^p'posVd to be iriten Jed idr him . 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



461 



Representatives. 

Noah Phelps 249 

J. A. Williams 229 

P.H.Turner 224 

George H . Slaughter 213 



Charles S. Bi'istol. 
James Payne 



Commissioners . 



Hiram Calkins 

Thomas S. Bo wen. 
Will-am C. Green 



204 
119 



207 
242 
233 



Clerk of Board. 



William Rittenhouse. 
J. W. .Stewart 



262 
167 



County Judge. 



Asa Richardson 

William C. Fillebrown. 



232- 
200 



Treasurer. 



H. C. Miller 230- 

Joseph Woodle 208 

Coroner. 

James Hagerty 225- 

P. B. Sprungsted 213 

Surveyor. 

Thomas Stewart 221- 

J . V. Richardson 216 

Collector. 



E. T. Gardner.. 
William Morris., 



E.T. Gardner 

J V. Kichardson 

Hollis Button. 

William Riiteubouso. 



195 
1!)5 

27 
10 



Danit'l Smiley 210 

Hiram Rust 241 

R. D. Derrick 198 

Peter Drake 1 

Sheriff. 

Charles R. Thomas 234— 33 

R. D. Slosson 201 

Register of Deeds. 

William Rittenhouse 2.55— 69 

W. C. Fillebrown .186 



:— 95 



32 



33 



230— 22 

208 

A ssessors. 

William Bridges 2C6 

F. J. Keudrick ' 229 

Aaron Broughton 225 

ELECTION, SEl'TEMBER, 1845. 
Delegate to Congi-ess. 

Morgan L. Martin 221- 

James Collins 188 

Edward D. Holton 31 

Representatives. 

William M. Dennis 222 

Mark R. Clapp 218 

Noah Phelps 231 

Daniel S.Sutherland 181 

William Lamphear 176 

Charles S. Bristol 184 

Jacob Lv Brand : — 29 

J. F.O^trander 29 

S.H.T-ylor 29 

William Lambert 1 

Commissioners. 

John Blunt 194 

Hiram Brown 2;32 

William r. Green 231 

R. D. Dederick 195 

Leonarrl Boss 188 

Hi I am Rust 165 

J.W.Kiidow 28 

A. liurlbnt 27 

Donald Johnson 37 

Daniel Smiley 1 

Clerk of Board, 



Register of Deeds. 

William Rittenhouse 232— 64 

William C. Fillebrown 168 

Hollis Button 28 



Treasurer. 



Asa Brown.. 
L. Hurlbut . 
J. W. Smith 



Collector. 



Davis Bowen 

Daniel Smiley ... .- 
Nelson Stephenson 



Aaron Broughton. 
M. C. Sutherland 
Ezra Wescott 



199— 

195 

12 



217— 31 
186 
25 



Assessors. 



Surveyor. 



Thomas Stewart . . 
Biooks Dunwiddie 
Donald Johuson . . 



223 
225 
224 



226- 

180 

13 



Coroner. 



Joseph Kelley 

William D. Daggett.. 
S. B. Forbes 



ELECTION, SEPTEMBER. 1846. 
Legislative Council. 



Dan-el Baxter... 

A. L. Collins 

Jacob Ly Brand. 
James Biggs — 



Representatives. 



James Biggs 

J. W. StL'wart 

Isaac Bigjs 

William A. Wheeler 

Charles Lum 

D. R. Ba.Yter 

Ez a Combs 

Ol ver U. Reed.... 
Joseph Knight 



Commissioners. 



R. D. Derrick . . . 
Hiram Caulkins.. 
T. W. Thompson. 
David C. Biidge 
Stephen Estu. 



William Boyls 30-1 

August Hurlbut 69 

Thomas Woodle 69 

James W . Kildow 68 

Sheriff. 



221— 43 



290 

270 

60 

2 



217 
250 
246 
332 
333 
301 
70 
70 



274 
327 
336 
2.54 
250 



John Blunt 

F. F. West 

Hallis \V. Button. 
Joseph Woodle.. . 



3a5— 83 
253 
65 



Clerk of Board . 



E.T. Gardner 342— 95 

William C. Fillebrown 247 

Jacob Ly Brand 66 

Register of Deeds. • 

William Rittenhouse 350—127 

W.D.Daggett 22:3 

Jacob w; Rogers 69 

Treasurer. 

L. Hurlbut 3:37- 83 

Asa Brown 254 

Puniy Colton 67 

Probate Judge, 

S.P.Condee 338— 8fi 

Milton H. Reed 2.52 

John Cain 69 

Coroner. 

•Toseph Kelley 338— 98 

James Campbell 242 

S.B.Forbes «8 



468 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 





Surveyor. 


!«6- 
. 246 
3 
69 

. 358— 
232 
69 

. 346 
. 330 
. 341 

. 373 
. 354 

40 

. 405 
. 341 
. 347 
. 412 

. am 

. 365 
56 

361 

. 366 

. 355 

. 349 

. 356 

411 

49 

43 

39 

. 400— 
. 368 

35 

11 

420— 

. 345 

39 

13 

12 

381— 
. 358 
38 

. 388- 
. 370 
38 

. sas 

. 388- 
. 348 
38 

. 375 
. 398 
. 390 

. 481- 
. 406 
13 

. 482- 
. 404 
13 


90 
126 

42 
75 

23 

8 

40 

75 

78 


Thomas McHughs. 
Chauncy Abbott . . 
Edward D. Holton 

James S. Brown 

H. S. Beard had .... 


Secretary of State. 


478- 
404 
12 

. 482- 
401 

. 479- 

408 
10 

. 480- 
407 
10 

485- 
. 396 

8 

1 

. 469- 
. 398 
1 

2;j0- 

. 183 

. 493- 
. 432 
. 208 

- 885- 
. 188 

513- 
. 391 
. 231 

471— 
. 331 
. 173 
. 173 

. 665- 

. 508 

. 479— 
. 473 
207 

6.->4 

494 

. 454 

. 452 

. 432 

. 480 

. 498 

. 503 

. 213 

213 

219 

. 497- 

478 

. 472- 
. 440 

. 248 

. 483— 
469 
208 


74 




















Attorney-General. 




Ezra Wescott 

Josiah V. Richards 


Collector. 


81 


on 


John B. Gilson 

James C. Fairchild. 
C. G. Collin.s 


State Treasurer. 






Assessors. 


71 


William Bridges... 
M. C. Sutherland.. 




William H. Pettit.. 

William Pitt Lynde 
Edward V. Whiton. 
I. Codding 

B F. Gardner 


Congress. 


73 


J H Tivadv 


Senate. 




Moses M. Strong.. 
Charles Durkee 


Representatives. 


89 










Jacob Rogers 






J. W. Stewart... . 
Alexander Botkin. 
W. H. Hubbard... 
E. T. Gardner... . 


Hallis Button 






Henry Adams 

J. W. Stewart 

O. H. Reed 

E. V. Whiton 

David Noggle 


Assembly. 
Judge Circuit Court. 


71 


William C. Wells.. 






William H. Clark. 






J . W . Kog-ers 


Commissioners. 


47 


William Boyls 

James Biggs 




ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1848. 
Congress. 
Cole -- 




John Moor 






R. D. Derrick 




61 


William Brown 


A. Hyatt Smith.... 
George W. Crabb.. 

Elczar Root 


'>taie Siiperintendcnt. 




l)!ini«l Harcourt.. 
John Cain 






H. W. Button 


Clerk of Board. 


97 




Icbabod Codding. . . 






S. P. Condee 


J. C. Crawford .... 
Hiram Brown 


Assembly. 




Brooks Dunwlddie 
Donald Johnson.. . 




1??! 


Jacob W. Rogers 

Register of Deeds. 

William Rittenhouse 

William C. Fillebrown 




P. S. Springsted ... 
F. F. West 


Sheriff. 


1'<0 


Elisha Sattcrlee . . . 




Jacob Lln?ee 






L Hurlbut 




William C. Thomps 
Thomas Woodle 

J. V. Richardson . 
William Rittenhous 

Noah Phelps 


3n 




W. Foster 

L. Hurlbut 

W. Foster 


Treasurer. 


Register of Deeds, 
e 


157 


Elijah Austin .... 




Clerk of the Court. 






Surveyor. 


^ 


J. V. Richardson. 


Gilbeit McNaugh .. 
William C. FlUebro 

L Richards 






Thomas Stewart . . . 




wn 

Commissioners. 




Donald Johnson . . . 








Coroner. 




Jacob Llnzee 


S. P. Condee 








Collector. 


Joseph Payne 

William C.Green .. 
Benjamin Freeman 
T. li. Sommers.. 
William Coldrcn .. 
William Brown. . .. 







Steph en Estu 






William Tucker. .. 






Joseph N. Smith.. 








Assessors. 




Jesse Gist 


Jams Kulton 

J. Bridge 






Hiram Brown 




William Jones 

Brooks Dunwiddie. 
J. A. Bingham 






Ezra Wescott 




District Attorney. 






ELECTION, MAY, 1848. 
Governor. 


19 










J. W. Kildow 






Nelson Deevev .... 


D. Smiley 


Probate Judge. 








3*^ 






S. T. Nichols 








Lieutenant-Governor . 


John Walworth 






John E. Holmes... 


J R. Walling 


Coroner. 


13 


John H. Kountru. 
Jabob Ly Brand . . . 




Joseph Kelley 

E. Saterltee 





M 





.^^n^LQyt/'^e&Z/ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



471 



Treasurer. 



477- 
457 
312 



W.Foster 

Alexand 'r Duncan 

L. Hurlbut 

Surveyor. 

Samuel Spangler 48.5— 

jMinet* BigsfS 473 

David .lobnson 300 

J. V. Kichardson 1 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1849. 

Governor. 
Nel*on Dewey 44;> 



30 



119 



334 



448— 
336 
24 



446- 
36 



446— 
337 
26 



44.5- 
32.5 



791 - 
24 



413- 
300 
3 



"171- 

384 



113 



187 



Alexander L. Collins 

Warren Cbase 

Nelson Ne wry 

Lieutenant-Governor 

Samuel W. Bewell .. 

Timothy O. Howe , 

John Bannister 

Secretary of State. 

William A. Barstow , 

Levi Alden 

E. D. Holton 

Attorney-General. 

S. P. Coon 446—119 

Moses (5. Butterfleld 

M. M. Strong- 

State Treasurer. 

J. F. Fairchild 

JohnB.Tenv 

C. M. Good-;ell 

State Superintendent. 

Elezar Root 

A. Constantine ... 

Senator. 

William Rittenhouso 

J. Bridge - 

William C. Fillebrown 

Assembly. 

William C. Green 

A.Humphrey 

Clerk of the Board. 

H. B.Payne 

L . Richards 

Treasurer. 

Francis Emerson 

W . Foster 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1850 
Congress. 

C . Eastman 

O. Cole 

Assembly. 

Julius Hurlburt 510—504 

('. Ktiap 6 

Hiram BroM'n 1 

Sheriff. 

Joseph Woodle 473 

Reg'istcr of Deeds. 

James M. Powell 511— 35 

J. V. Richardson ^ 479 

District Attorney. 

B.T.Gardner ISS— 43 

Brociks Duriwiddiiv 415 

Clerk of the Board. 

H. B. Hay or 589— 193 

James Moss 3<)6 

Noah Phelps 2 

Treasurer. 

W.Foster Mr,— 16 

Ezra Wescott ' 489 

Surveyor. 

Samuel Spauj^ler 571— 130 

James Big-gs 435 



492- 
41 



425 
3.56 



.534- 
469 



451 



26 



539- 71 



Clerk of the Court. 

Noah Phelps 63.3— 

Robert Stephenson 355 

Coroner. 

Asa Richardson 48.5 — 

A.G.Houghton 471 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1851. 
Governor. 

A. J. Upham 530— 

L.J.Larwell 504 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Timothy Burns .5.35— 

James Hughes 468 

B. B. Spaulding 

Secretary of State. 

Charles D. Robinson. 

Robert W. Wright 468 

E. D. Holton 25 

State Treasurer. 

Edward H. Jesson .5.37— 

Jefferson Crawford 467 

I.T. Willard 26 

Attornej'-General. 

E. Eastabrook 5.39— 

JohnC. Trusdell 469 

IraC. Paine — 24 

State Superintoadent. 

Azel P. Ladd 

William H. Lord 

Senator. 

Thomas S. Brown 

Hinim Kust 

Thoma-^ White.. 

Assembly. 

T. J.Safford 

^ lexander Clark 

P. B. Sprin-sted 

ELECTION, SEPTEMBER, 18.53. 
Chief Justi<'e of Supreme Court. 

Charles H. L^n-rabee 

Edward V. Whiton 

Associate Justice. 

A. S. Stnith 

SHmuel Crawford 

James H. Knowlton 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1852. 
Governor. 

William .\. Barstow 

Edward D. Holtoc 

Heu'y L. '5rtin 

IJeutenant-tJovernor. 
James L. Lewis f*-56 



14 



26 



66 



,539— 
490 



199 - 

4S8 

34 



20 



12- 



317— 

;W3 

307 



7'9- 

7t8 

153 



Kertern I'uikney. 
J . Dougherty 



Secretary of State. 



J. .\. Hadley 

Alexander'!'. Gray. 
C. L. Shoals 

Edward H. Janssen 



830- 
733 
95 



State Treasurer. 



784- 51 



Lemuel I). Hasting "''P 

James Maxwell ^^^ 

Attorney-General 

O.Cole I?0- 16 

George B . Smith • '* 

Bank Comptroller. 

Benjamin F Pixley 2^— 1> 

William M. Dennis — '^ 

E.A. Rowland • ^ 

State Prison Commissioner. 

A. W. Slarks 'jj}— ^9 

LelahBooth '-f 

Elisha Starr i-''* 



28 



472 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ELECTION. NOVEMBER, 1853. 
Senator. 



Francis H. West. 
Henry Adams.. . 
Joseph Warren... 



Assembly. 



Abner Mitchell. 
J. H. Warren... 



ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 18.54. 
Consrress. 



C.C. Washburn. 
Otis Hoyt 



Assembly. 



A. D. Kirkpatrick. 
Samuel Johnson .. 
Z. Warren 



Sheriff. 



Joseph Smith. 
Abner Long.. 
F. F. West.... 



Register of Deeds. 



Ezra Woscott 

Calcli .Moses 

William Kittenhouse. 



Clerk of the Court. 



J. V. Richardson 
Noah Phelps 



District Attorney. 



Hiram Stevens. 
E. L. Warner... 
I.F. Mack 



Treasurer. 



Edward Hill ... 
Alfred Wresbirg 
Albert R. PierCL' 



Coroner. 



Charles F. Thompson. 

James R. Grim 

Martin Flood 



Surveyor. 



Ransom Drake. 
Hiram Brown . 
G. M. O'Brien.. 



Associate Justice of Supreme Court. 

O.Cole 

Samuel Crawford 



ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1855. 
Governor. 



Col^s Rashford 

William A. Barstow. 



(No Record) . . 
A. McArthur. 



Samuel D. Hastings 
David W. Jones 



Lieutenant-Governor. 

Secretary of State. 

State Treasurer 



Charles Raser 

Charles Keuhn 

Attorney-General . 

Alexander W. Randall 

W.R. Smith 

State Superintendent. 

John G. McMynn 

A. Constantine 

Bank Comptroller. 

Francis W West 

William Dennis 

State Prison Commissioner. 

James Giddingp 

EfjH'ai-d McGiiroy ; 



851- 114 
737 

78 



964 
641 



911— 437 

484 



836— 328 
508 
44 



713- 194 

519 

154 



753— 173 
580 
54 



781— 179 
603 



843— 329 
513 

18 



774- 239 
535 
66 



833— 337 
496 

57 

f %- 378 
4J8 
32 



1288— 880 
408 



1084— 557 
527 



1057 
534 



1057- 528 
529 



1017— 441 
576 



1058— 488 
570 



1017— 436 
581 



1032— 440 
.593 



1033— 478 

680 



ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1855. 

Senator. 

George E. Dexter 884— 162 

S. P. Condee 723 



Assembly. 



Martin Flood.. . 
Thomas Fen ton. 



967- 324 
643 



ELECTION, APRIL, 1856. 
Judge of the Circuit Court. 

J. R. Doolittle 403— 94 

J. M. Keep 309 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1856. 

Register of Deeds. 

James Bintliff 1968—860 

Henry Adams 1108 

Treasurer. 

Edward Hill 1960—843 

Francis Emmerson 1117 

Clerk of the Board , 

A.W.Potter 1980—915 

Charles Lupring 1065 

Clerk of the Court. 

E. Bartle 1 1 1996— 891 

Noah Phelps 1105 

Sheriff. 

A.J.Sutherland 1960—843 

F. F. West 1117 

District Attorney. 

Hiram Stevens 1982— 890 

A. J. Brundage 1092 

Coroner. 

J.H.Warren 1992—800 

C.P.Fisher 1092 

Surveyor. 

D. H. Morgan 199.5- 894 

Samuel Spangler 1101 

Assembly, (First District). 

C. F. Thompson 814—391 

Thomas Fenton 423 

Assembly, (Second District). 

T.W.Hall 1142—444 

William Blackford 698 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1867. 
County Judge. 

Brooks Dunwiddle 1387—869 

Asa Richardson 518 

Chief Justice of Supreme Court. 

Edward B. Whiton 1480—909 

M. M. Cothren 571 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1857. 
Governor. 

A lexander W. Randall 

James B. Cross 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Carl Schurz 1151—317 

E.D.Campbell 834 

Secretary of State. 

John L. V. Thomas 11.52— 316 

David W. Jones 836 

State Treasurer. 

SamuelD. Hastings 1157— 322 

Carl Habich 835 



11.56— 324 

832 



Attorney-General. 



M. M. Jackson. 
Gabriel Bouck. 



1158— 325 
833 



State Superintendent. 



John G. Mc>ty,nn 1)^-316 

Lymah C. Di'tfpet' 83T 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



478 



Bank Comptroller. 

John P. McGregor 

Joel C. Squires 

State Prison Commissioner. 

Edward M. McGraw 

Edward McGrarey 

Senator. 

John H. Warren 

Thomas Fenton 

Assembly, (District No. 1.) 

J.E.Vinton . 

John Broughton 

Assembly, (District No. 3.) 

William Brown 

Israel Smith 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1858. 
Congiess. 

C.C.Washburn 

Charles Dunn 

Register of Deeds. 

J. J. Tschudy .. 

A. R. Bingor 

Sheriff. 

Charles S. Foster 

Benjamin Furman 

Clerk of Courts. 

Thomas J . Lindley 

Charles M . Peney 

Clerk of the Board. 

A.W.Potter 

J. K. Bloom 

Treasurer. 

David W. Ball 

Mordicai Kelley 

District Attorney. 

Hiram Medbury 

Hiram Brown 

Surveyor. 

D. H. Morgan 

Noah Phelps 

Coroner. 

Ira S Dexter 

Isaac Dunglebing 

Assembly, (District No. 1.) 

Albert Pierce 

Thomas Fenton 

Assembly, (District No. 2.) 

E. A. West 

F. F. West 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1859. 
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 

Byron Payne 

William P. Synde 

Judge of the Circuit Court. 

David Noggle 

J. M. Keep 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1859. 

Governor. 

Alexander R. Randall 

H. C. Hobart 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

ButlerG. Noble 

Alexander S. Palmer 



Secretary of State. 



Louis p. Harvey. 
Alvin B. Aiden... 



State Treasurer. 



Samuel Ifc Hastings 
Lion Silverman , 



1153— 316 
836 



1151— 316 
835 



1119— 358 
861 



448— 137 
311 



657— 100 
557 



14T3— 643 

831 



1436— 501 
935 



1350— 435 
915 



1251— 364 

987 



1381- 489 
893 



1437— 596 
841 



1422— 583 
840 



1443- 615 

828 



1083— 211 

873 



558— 173 
386 



83 1— 328 
496 



1830—1079 
751 



2303-2029 

274 



1726— 585 
1141 



1731— 576 
1145 



1737— 614 
1123 



iras-ssg 

1140 



James H. Howe... 
Samuel Crawford . 



Attorney-General. 
State Superintendent. 



Jos'ah S. Pickard 

Lyman C. Draper 

Bank Comptroller. 

Gysbert Van Stunroyk 

Joel C. Squires 

State Prison Commissioner. 

Hans C. Heg 

Henry C. Fleck 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1859. 
State Senator. 

John W . Stewart 

Henry Adams , 

Assembly, (District No. 1.) 

Walters. Wescott 

Arnold Alder 

Assembly, (District No. 2.) 

Martin Mitchell 

John G. Laird 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1860. 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 

A. Scott Sloan 

Luther S. Dixon 

ELECTION. NOVEMBER, 1860. 
Congress. 

Luther Hancett 

JamesD. Reymert 

Sheriff. 

H. B. Campbell ., 

Stephen Mackey . 

Register of Deeds. 

J.J. Tschudy 

Leopold Lelzer 

Treasurer. 

D. W. BaU 

Hiram Ticknor 

Clerk of the Board. 

Mathias Morty 

x\rnold Alder 



1137 


oai 


1718- 573 
1145 


1717- 
1146 


571 


1713- 
1140 


573 


1633— 
1175 


568 


653- 
499 


.54 


1002— 


320 



Clerk of the Court. 



W. W. Wright ... 
Enoch Blackford. 



Moses O'Brien 

Simon P. Condee. 



District Attorney. 
Surveyor. 



D. H. Morgan 

Thomas W. Stewart. 



Coroner. 



H. Pool 

J. A. Glupner. 



Assembly, (First District.) 



James Campbell. 
Elijah Roby 



O. J. White.... 
J. M. Burnett. 



Assembly, (Second District.) 



ELECTION, APRIL, 1861. 
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 

James H. Knowlton 

O.Cole 

County Judge. 
Bnooks Dunwlddle 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1681. 
Governor. 

LipnjB P. Harveiy... .;.. — i-.n 

Benjamin Tvtx'gn^on 



1587— 749 
838 



2371-1033 
1338 



2375— 903 
1373 



2418—1157 
1361 



2358—1021 
1337 



2325— 96h 
1365 



2360—1024 
1336 



2245— 871 
1374 



2361-102! 
1340 



2360—1024 
1336 



906— 34i' 
557 



14LJ- 60> 
804 



2234- $«)■ 
.367 



2309 



800 



474 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Lieutenant-Governor. 



EdwKrd Solomon... 
Henry M. Billings 



Secretary of State. 



Ja lies T. Lewis... 
Charles S. Burton. 



State Treasurer. 



Samuel D. Hasting-s. 
Lucas M. Miller 



Attorney-General. 



James II. Howe 

Philo A. Orton, Jr. 



State Superintendent. 



Josiah L. Piekard. 
H. G. Wiuslow.... 



Bank Comptroller. 



W. H. Ramsey .' 

James Vollman 

State Prison Commissioner. 

Alexander P. Hodges 

John G. Crilley 

Senator. 

Edmund A. West 

F. H. West '.'.'.'...'. 

Assembly, (First District.) 

CD. W. Leonard 

Assembly, (Second District.) 

H.T Moore 

County Superintendent. 

William C. Green 

J. T. Dodge 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1863. 
Congress. 

Amasa Cobb ; 

P. B. Simpson '. 

Assembly, (First District.) 

AValter S. Wescott 

Jonas Shoock 

Assembly, (Second District.) 
Ezra Wescott 

C. M- Perry '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 

Clerk of the Board. 

Mathias Morty 

G. 6. Ciemmer !..i!i..]! !!.!.. 

Clerk of the Court. 

William W. Wright 

I. F. Mackey, Jr ..'.'.'.'.. 

District Attorney. 

E. P. Gardner 

Joseph Peters .!....!!!!.!!!". 

Sheriff. 

Charles S. Foster 

A. D . Kirkpatrick ■■..........[. 

Coroner. 
K. McGaven 

D . Hanver 

Treasurer. 

William McDowall 

Patrick Shuhau ....'..'.'.'.'.'.'.. 

Registerof Deeds. 

D. H. Morgan 

George Golden ..!..!.... 

Surveyor. 

Joseph T. Dodge 

Thomas Stewart -...........!...! 

ELECTION. DECEMBEU, (Special) 1862. 

Congress. 



I519- 
606 



1.509- 
596 



1509- 
394 



1507- 
.59+ 



1510- 
593 



1,505- 
595 



1493- 

589 



1338- 
901 



1145 



913 



913 



-1115 



913 



910 



903 



1140 
9T0 



i- 170 



1705- 
1145 



G(i5- 
443 



1013- 
703 



.560 



333 



310 



1785 
1043 



i— 743 



1750- 
1093 



657 



1747 
994 



— 753 



1679- 
1137 



5.53 



1735— 643 

1083 



1739- 
1068 



1731- 
1099 



033 



Walter I). Mclndoe 

N. S. Ferris , 

C. S. Ifurton 



1750- 
1093 



880- 

363 

35 



658 



ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1863. 
Governor. 

J>imes T. Lewis 

Henry S. Palmer ' 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Wyman Spooner 

Nelson 1 ewey 

Secretary of State. 

Lucius Fairchild 

EmilUoth 

State Treasurer. 

Samuel D. Hasting 

Charles S. Burton 



Winfield Smith. 
Elezar Wakley.. 



Josiah L. Piekard. 
Volney French... 



Attorney-General . 

State Superintendent. 

Bank Comptroller. 

William L. Ramsey 

Henry S. Perpont 

State Prison Commissioner. 

Henry Cordier 

John R. Bohan 

Senator. 

Walter S . Wescott 

ThomasS. Bowen 

Assembly, (District No. 1.) 

W. W. McLaughlin 

John B. Ormsly 

Assembly, (Second District.) 

F. B. liolf 

J. P. Laird 

County Superintendent. 

William C. Green 

Wescot B. Mack 

Supervisors, (District No. 1.) 

Henry Adams 

E. R. Roty 

Supervisors, District No. 3.) 

E.R.Allen 

Benjamin Truman 

Supervisors, (DistJ-ict No. 3.) 

Ezra Wescott 

Hiram Ticknor 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1864. 
Congress. 

Amasa Cobb 

rharl(>s D. Rodolph 

State Superintendent. 

John (t. McMynn 

.I.B.Parkinson 

Assembly, (First District.) 

William W. McLaughlin 

Michael Bennett 

Assembly, (Second District.) 

David Dunwiddie 

Christopher Seeber 

Sheriff. 

Horatio G. Cleveland , 

Benjamin Truman 

lU'gistf r of Deeds. 

William H. Allen 

J. W. Shuey 

Treasurer. 

T ewis Frankenbcrger 

John G. Corey 

District Attorney. 

( ' . N. Carpenter 

Hiram Brown ..-. 



2046—1210 
&36 



2040—1203 
838 



2043—1203 
839 



2041-1203 

838 



3041—1203 

838 



2043—1204 
838 



2043—1205 
837 



2040-1202 

8:38 



2017—1164 
8.53 



800- 503 
397 



1238— 
545 



1934—1073 

863 



561— 346 
215 



731— 643 
289 



710— 360 
3.50 



2016— 907 
1109 



1829— 904 
935 



873— 439 
433 



J464- 741 
733 



2328—1276 
1153 



2354—1195 
11.59 



2353—1197 
11.56 



2349-1191 
1163 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



475 



Clerk of the Court. 

William VV. "Wrig-ht 2356—1:^01 

Enoch J. Blackford 1155 

Clerk of the Board . 

J.J.Tschudy 2410—1310 

Thomas Sutherland 1100 

Surveyor. 

Albert L. Cleveland 2310— j151 

Thomas W. Stewart I159 

Coroner. 

Isaac Williams 2353—1193 

Thomas S. Bowen 1160 

ELECTION, NOVEMBEK, 1865. 
Governor. 

Lucius Fail-child 15.52—824 

Harrison C. Hobart 728 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Wyman Spooner 1.538—797 

D. W. Mat in 741 

Secretary of State. 

Thomas S. Allen 1538— 799 

Levi B. Vilas 739 

State Treasurer. 

WilliamE. Smith 1537—797 

J.W.Davis 740 

Attorney-General. 

Charles R. Gill 1539— 799 

Milton Montyany 740 

State Superintendent. 

John G. McMynn 1538— 797 

J. B. Parkinson 741 

Bank Comptroller. 

J. M. Rusk 1539- 800 

Thomas MoMahon 739 

State Prison Commissioner. 

Henry Cordier 15.38— 797 

Conrad Horneffer 741 

Senator. 

Henry Adams 1517— 771 

H.T. Pearson 746 

Assembly, (First District.) 

DavidSmilcy 362— 76 

Samuel A. Pond t 286 

Assembly, (Second District.) 

Egbert E. Carr 968— 4.51 

.Jacob Adams 517 

County Superintendent. 

Edwin E. Woodman... 1.531— 844 

WescotB.Mack 687 

Supervisor, (First District.) 

Albert Pierce 373—240 

ElyabRoby 133 

Supervisor, (Second District.) 

Hiram Dunwiddie 579— 305 

Christopher Seeber 274 

Supervisor, (Third District.) 

J. V. Richardson .573— 252 

Patrick Shean 321 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1866. 

Congress. 

AmasaCobb 1994- 355 

Noah H. Virgin 639 

Assembly, (First District.) 

S. W. Wright 689— 439 

Fred Blum 2.50 

Assembly, (Second District.) 

David Dunwiddie 1275— 901 

W. S. Porter 374 



Sheriff. 

Eliakim R. Allen 1949—1263 

George W. Raymer 686 

Register of Deeds. 

Robert H. McFarland 2648—2647 

Cody 1 

Clerk of the Court. 

William W. Wright 1999—1334 

L. Sultzor 6&5 

Clerk of the Board. 

J. J. Tschudy 2068—147(5 

James P. Vance 592 

Treasurer. 

Lewis Frankenberger 1994—1327 

John Ford 667 

District Attorney. 

B. S. Kerr 1974—1301 

C. N. Carpenter 673 

Coroner. 

Isaac Williams 1991—1317 

Lewis ShuU 674 

Surveyor. 

A. L. Cleveland 1993—1328 

H. G. Cleveland 665 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1867. 

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 

O.Cole 1456—1447 

Dr. Wilson 9 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1867. 
Governor. 

Lucius Fairchild 2094— 957 

JohnT. Tallmadge 1137 

Lieutenant-Governor . 

Wvman Spooner 2093—955 

Gilbert L. Part 1138 

Secretary of State. 

Thomas S. Allen 2094—968 

Emil Roth 1136 

State Treasurer. 

William E. Smith 2093— 955 

PeterRupp 1138 

Attorney-G eneral. 

CharlesR. Gill 2093—955 

Lucius P. Wetherby 1138 

State Superintendent. 

Alexander J. Craig 2093—956 

William H. Peck US- 
Bank Comptroller. 

Jeremiah M. Rusk : 2093— 95;") 

Richard J. Harney 1138 

State Prison Commissioner. 

HenrvCordier 2004— 891 

OleHcg 1113 

Senator. 

Henry Adams 2064— 953 

Mr.Passmore 1112 

Assembly, (First District.) 

Albert H. Pierce 736— 374 

Samuel Blumer 362 

Assembly,' (Second District.) 

Jacob Mason 1353— 569 

Samuel Raymer 784 

County Superintendent. 

D. H. Morgan 2087- 960 

Noah Phelps 1127 

Supervisor, (First District.) 

J.W.Smith 508—303 

Hiram Brown 206 

Supervisor, (Second District.) 

William Coldren 780— 451 

B. Bowen 329 



47(1 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Supervisor, (Third District.) 

J. M. Staver 746— 239 

Rudolph Schroeder 507 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1868. 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 

Luther S. Dixon 1918—957 

ChftrlesDunn .. 961 

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. 

Byron Paine 1916—1089 

E.H. Ellis 837 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER. 1868. 
Assembly, (First District.) 

J. F. Wescott 989— 569 

John Boug-htou 420 

Assembly, (Second District.) 

Tbomas J. Jackson 1796— 819 

Christopher Seeber 877 

Sheriff. 

Silas Gardner 2685—1338 

F. F. West 1347 

Register of Deeds. 

Samuel Lewis 2786—1490 

Henry Burnes 1398 

Clerk of the Court. 

W. W. "Wright 2776—1474 

George B. Slorrell 1303 

Clerk of the Board. 

J. J. Tschudy 2860-1637 

JamesPatton 1333 

Ti-easurer. 

William H. Ball 2649-1384 

EdwardRugger , 1355 

District Attorney. 

A.S.Douglas 2783-2781 

Hiram Brown 2 

Surveyor. 

A L.Cleveland 2779-1479 

Thomas Stewart 1300 



John Hattery. 
J. W.Smith... 



Coroner. 
Supervisor, (1st District). 



2752 



Supervisor, (3d District.) 

J. M. Staver 1044—434 

Samuel Raymer 610 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1869. 
Chief Justice of Supreme Court. 

Luther S. Dixon 35IO 

County Judge. 
Brooks Dunwiddie 1813- 



E. T. Gardner 



-1068 



Supervisor, (Ist District.) 
Supervisor, (2d District.) 



745 



F. R. Melvin 'i22— '71 

Leopold Seltzer '4% 

FredBlum '. |o7 



A. DeHaren. 



David Dunwiddie 737—235 

J.B.Perry 502 

Daniel Sunley ori 

T. B. Laird ;. .'.V "v .".V. ■.■;.■.■;.".;;. 193 

Supervisor, (3d District.) 

— -• r;o7 o 

Samuel Chandler ■ 595 ^ 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1869. 
Governor. 

Lucius Fairchlld onno inao 

Charles D. Robinson ■.■.■.■..■.■.■■;...■::::::: 930 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

H H^Or«v 1990-1061 

H. H. Gray 9.^9 



L. Bruse 

Amasa C. Cook. 



Henry Bastz. 
John Black.. 



S. S. Barlow... 
Silas N. Puncy. 



Secretary of State. 

State Treasurer. 

Attorney-General. 

State Superintendent. 



A.I.Craig.. 

P. K. Gannon 

State Prison Commissioner. 

George F. Wheeler 

CarlM. Bordoe '. .'. 



Senator. 



John C. Hall 

Walter W. Wescott 



D. H. Morgan. 



County Superintendent. 
Assembly (Ist District.) 



1993—1065 
928 



1996—1069 

927 



1991—1070 
921 



1996—1068 
928 



1991—1060 
931 



1467— 77 
1390 



1993 



CD. W.Leonard. 

Robert H. Hewitt '..'.".'..'.'.'.'.'.'. 

Assembly, (2d District.) 

Thomas A. Jackson 

Jacob Adams 

County Supervisor, (2d District.) 

M. H. Pengra 

J.B.Perry 

R.J. Day ^ !""!!'!!!'!!!! *"'!'!" 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1870. 
Judge of Circuit Court. 

Harmon S. Conger 

Congress. 

J. Allen Barber 

John Strachan 

State Superintendent (to fill vacancy.) 
Samuel Fallows 

H. B. Dale .".'.'..'.'.'.'.".*!!!'.!!!"."."!;.!! 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1870 
Assembly (Ist District.) 

Orrin Bacon * . .. 

Elijah Roby WM'.'.'.'.'.'.W'."'.'.'.'. ..'.'.'. 

Assembly (2d District.) 

M. H. Pengra 

J. N. Bridge .'.!..1!1!. ...!..! 

Sheriff. 

Alfred Wood 

Edward Rugger ........!!!!. 

Thomas Emeson ...........".........."."." 

Register of Deeds. 

Samuel Lewis 

Andrew Rear ..' ^ !!.....!!!..".!! " 

Treasurer. 

F.R. Melvin 

A. Loveland 

Clerk of the Board. 

J. J. Tschudy 

Hermon L. Gloege 

Clerk of Court. 

W.W.Wright 

Edmund M. Bartlett .'..'.'.'."'.'.".'.'.'.'.'.'.".'.'.'. 

. „ District Attorney. 

A. S. Douglas 

WilliamC. Fillebrown... 



657- 
252 


405 


1285— 
703 


582 


687— 

669 

685 


2 



2205 



1797— 974 
833 



1815— 993 

822 



611- 376 
235 



1086— 431 
655 



1482— 591 
891 
246 



1739— 879 



1678- 738 
940 

1691— 814 

887 



A. L. Cleveland. 
F. F. West 



John Hattery 

Enoch Blackford. 



Surveyor. 
Coroner. 



1657— 727 
930 

2524-2443 

81 

1563— 504 
1059 

1616— 643 
873 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT F. 



411 



ELECTION, APRIL, 1871. 
Associate Judge of Supreme Court. 

William P. Lyon 3096—1641 

D.J. Pulling: 455 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1871. 
Governor. 

('. C. Washburn 1757—823 

James R. Doolittle 934 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Milton H. Pettitt 1714—775 

John A. Rice 939 

Secretary of State. 

L.Breese 1770—846 

Milton Montgomery 9:i4 

State Treasurer. 

Henry Baitz 1772—848 

Anton Klaus 934 

Attorney-General . 

5tophenS. Barlow 1770—846 

Edward S. Bragg 934 

State Superintendent. 

Samuel Fallows 1774— 851 

Warren D. Parker 923 

State Prison Commissioner. 

George F. Wheeler 1765— 836 

Lars E. Johnson 929 

Commissioner of Immigration. 

OleC. Johnson 1771- 848 

Jacob Bodden 933 

Senator. 

Orrin Bacon 1668— 683 

H.T.Moore 986 

Assembly. 

M.H.Pengra 1740—805 

William Duboise 935 

County Superintendent. 

D.H.Morgan 1750-855 

James A. Patton 895 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1872. 

Assembly. 

John Luchsinger 3475—1208 

W.E.Noble 1267 

Sheriff. 

Frank Derrick 2223—714 

Decatur Stewart 1609 

Register of Deeds. 

C. E.Tanberg 2392—1055 

MichaelRoach 1337 

Treasurer. 

F. R. Melvin 2450-1162 

John Chryst 1388 

Clerk of Court. 

P. J. Clawson 2225—742 

C. B. Adams 1483 

County Clerk. 

Leopold Seltzor 2354-978 

Edward Ruegger 1376 

District Attorney. 

A . S. Douglas 3446—1169 

Hiram Brown 1287 

Surveyor. 

A.L.Cleveland 3425—1101 

P. McVean 1334 

(Joroner. 

JohnHattery 3401—1077 

L.E. Towne 1324 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1873. 
Associate Justice of Supreme Court. 

O.Cole 2031—2030 

GeorgeB. Smith I 



County Judge. 

Brooks Dunwiddie 1379-933 

N. C. Carpenter 446 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1873. 
Governor. 

C.C.Washburn 1403— 36 

William R.Taylor 1366 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

Charles D. Parker 1404— 46 

Robert H. Baker 1358 

Secretary of State. 

Peter Doyle 1401— 55 

E. W. Young 1346 

State Treasurer. 

Ferdinand Kuehn 1394— 36 

Ole C. Johnson 1368 

Attorney-General. 

A.ScottSloan 1408— 57 

L. F. Frisby 1351 

Slate Superintendent. 

Edward Learlng 1417— 76 

Robert Graham 1341 

Commissioner of Immigration. 

M. S. Argard 1407— 56 

George I. Linderman 1351 

Senator. 



H. T. Moore.. 
A. C. Dodge.. 



Assembly. 



Charles B. Denniston. 
CD. W. Leonard ... 



1370- 
1363 



1388— 11 
1377 



County Superintendent. 

Daniel H. Morgan 2604 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1874. 

Henry S. Morgan 1920—371 

Charles F. Thompson 1649 

Assembly. 

Charles R. Denniston 1906—215 

Jacob Adams 1691 

Sheriff. 

D.W.Ball 1810— 51 

D.D.Day 1759 

Register of Deeds. 

C. E. Tanberg 3030—467 

James Luddington 1553 

Treasurer. 

F. R. Melvin 1964— 47 

William Parr 1617 

Clerk of Court. 

Edmund Bartlett 1874— 3 

JamesA. Patton 1673 . 

County Clerk. 

L. Seltzor 2126- 67i 

Benedict Miller 1450 

District Attorney. 

A.S.Douglas 1794— 73 

P.J. Clawson 1721 

Surveyor. 

A. C. Stuntz 1972— 34- 

A.M.Troy 1624 

Coroner. 

L. Frankenbeiger 1937— 2: 

JohnGibbons 1662 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1875. 
Chief Justice of Supreme Court. 

E. G. Ryan 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER. 1875. 
Governor. 

William R. Taylor 

{^ar^i^ )n L'l Idi i.rt3Q 



1238 



1995— 
1960 



478 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Lieutenant-Governor. 

Henry L. Eaton 1982— 397 

Charles D. Parker 1585 

Secretary of State. 

Hans B. Warner 1967— 378 

Peter Doyle 1589 

State Treasurer. 

Henry Bartz 1980— 395 

F. Kuehn 1585 

Attorney-General. 

John K. Bennett 1987—405 

A. Scott Sloan 1.583 

State Superintendent. 

Robert Graham 1980—392 

Edward Learing 1588 

ELECTION. NOVEMBER, 1875. 

Senator. 

J. B. Treat 1999—435 

Thomas A . Jackson 1.564 

Assembly. 

John Luchsins-er 1976— 489 

J.C.Zimmerman 1587 

County Superintendent. 

Thomas C. Richards 2052—543 

S.E.Miner 1509 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1876. 
Judg-e Circuit Court. 

H.S. Conger 1839 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1876. 
Congi-ess 

George C. Hazelton 2587—725 

Philo. A. Orton.. 1862 

Assembly, (Ist District.) 

John Luchsinger 989— 422 

William Green 567 

Assembly, (2d District.) 

Frank Mitchell 1601-317 

R. Banyhton 1384 

Sheriff. 

F, K. Sludley 2484—519 

J. H. VanDyke 965 

Treasurer. 

J. S. Smock 26,58— 891 

Warren Clark 1767 

County Clerk. 

L. Seltzor 2749—1049 

E.J.Blackford 1700 

Clerk of the Court. 

Edmund Rartlett ... 2587—840 

T. B. Sutherland 1747 

G. L. Shattuck 103 

District Attorney. 

P . J. Clawson 2588— 772 

T.H.Eaton 1816 

Register of Deeds. 

C. E.Tanberg 26.52— 8.57 

H. Gilligan 1795 

Surveyor. 

A. C. Stuntz 2614—878 

P. M. Vean 1835 

Coroner. 

John Wood 3664— 863 

P. H. Mutter 1801 

ELECTION, APRIL. 1877. 
County Judge. 
Brooks Dunwiddie 1943 



ELECTION, NOVEMBER. 1877. 
Govcrnoi'. 

William E. Smith 182.3—974 

James A. Malory 849 

Edward P. AUis 580 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

James .M. Bingham 1815— 948 

R. E. Davis 867 

E.H.Benton 570 

Secretary of State. 

Hans B. Warner : 1816—955 

James B. Hays 861 

Joseph Osborn 578 

State Treasurer. 

Richard Guenther 1818—9.58 

.lohii Rengle 860 

William Schwartz . . 573 

Attorney-General. 

Alexander Wilson JS16— 954 

J . M. Morrow 862 

Henry Hayden. 574 

State Superintendent. 

W. C. Whitford 1796— 80 

Edward Learing 816 

George M. Stute 627 

Assembly, (Ist District.) 

John Luchsinger 705— 346 

William Gill 459 

Member Assembly, (3d District.) 

Franklin Mitchell 1164— 281 

James Ely 883 

Covinty Superintendent. 

T. C. Richards 1907— 661 

Z. A. Church... 1246 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1878. 
Associate Justice of Supreme Court. 

Harlow S. Orton 1171 

Associate Justice of Supreme Court. Term Ending January, 
1886.) 

David Taylor 1173 

Congress. 

George C. Hazelton 2027—137 

OwenNing 1890 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1878. 
Assembly, (1st District. 

F.R.Melvin 75.3— 9 

C. D. W. Leonard 744 

Assembly, (3d District.) 

Franklin Mitchell 1362— 91 

Daniel Brobst 1171 

Sheriir. 

Col Morse 1999— 66 

G. L. Shattuck 1933 

County Clerk. 

L. Seltzor 2021—113 

B.Miller 1908 

Register of Deeds. 

C. E. Tanberg 2184— 463 

Thomas G. Anderson 1721 

Treasurer. 

Sylvester McManncs 2120—326 

JohnB. Grinnell 1704 

Clerk of the Court. 

Edmund Bartlett 3037— 139 

W.D.Mathews 1888 

District Attorney. 

P. J. Clawson 3031- 165 

N. C. Casper 18,56 

County Surveyor. 

A. C. Stuntz 2011--. 102 

D.H.Morgan 1909 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



479 



ELECTION, APRIL, 1879. 
Associate Justice of Supreme Court. 

O.Cole 

M. M. Cothren 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1879. 
Governor. 

William E . Smith 

James G. Jenkins 

Reuben May 

Lieutenent-Governor. 

James M. Bingrham 

Georg'e H.King: 

WilliamL. Ulley 

Secretary of State. 

Hans B. Warner 

Hamual Ryan 

Georg-e W.Lee 

Slate Treasurer. 

Richard Guenther 

Andrew H uben 

Peter A. Griffiih 

Attorney-General. 

Alexander Wilson 

J . M . Smith 

Edward Q Nye 

State Superintendent. 

William C. Whilford 

Edward Learing: ,.. 

William H. Searls 

Senator. 

J. W. Blackstone 

Charles Pots 

W . M. Gianashard 

Assembly, (1st District.) 

C. Troy 

Thomas Luchslnger 

C. D. W. Leonard 

Assembly, (~d District.) 

Burr Spragiio 

N. Treat 

J.V.Roberts 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1880. 
Cong-ress. 

George C. Hazelton 

M. M. Cothren 

Assembly, (1st District.) 

Cyrus Troy 

J . L . Dalrymple 

Assembly, (2d District.) 

Burr Sprague 

George L Sbattuck 

J.W.Stewart 

Sheriff. 

P. K. Studley 

Joseph Adams 

A. B. Douglas 

Register of Deeds. 

C. E.Tanberg 

O. Eidsmore 

Treasurer. 

L. Hare 

P. Murphy 

District Attorney. 

P. J . Clawson 

A.S.Douglas 

County Clerk. 

Herman L. Gloege 

Thomas Luchsinger 

Benedict Miller 

Clerk of the Court. 

Edmund Bartlett 

A.S.Putnam 

E. L.Walker 



1G3;]- 333 
1201 



2000- 890 
1104 
301 



1977- 

1121 

363 



856 



2007— 920 
1087 
365 



2015- 
1081 
364 



2007- 
1094 
364 



93 



913 



1977— 865 
1112 
364 



2007- 
]087 
364 



920 



655— 332 

323 

290 



1178— 300 
878 
91 



2734— 956 

1778 



924- 
713 



1713— 649 
1064 
111 

2791— 293 
1498 
250 



2778-1034 
1744 



2740-1328 
3523 



2540— 060 

1880 

2643—1137 
1506 

2308—473 
1836 
329 



Surveyor. 

A. C. Stuntz 2774—1300 

A.L.Cleveland 1474 

H. Drain 278 

Coroner. 

John Wood 2701—1280 

E. Bowen 1521 

J.V.Roberts 275 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1881. 
Chief Justice of Supreme Court. 

Orasmus Cole 2797—2783 

JamesG. Jenkins 14 

Chief Justice of Supreme Court, (full term ) 

Orasmus Cole 2798—3784 

James G. Jenkins 14 

Associate Justice of Supreme Court (for term ending Jan- 
uary 1890.) 

J. B. Cassodav 2799— 2T86 

M.M. Cothren 13 

County Judge. 

Brooks Dunwiddie 3010—1208 

S.W.Abbott 803 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1881. 
Governor. 

J. M. Rusk 1643— 969 

A. D. Fratt 674 

T. D. Kanonse 159 

Edward P. Ellis 2.53 

Lieutenant-Governor. 

SnmualS.Fifind. 163.5- 963 

W. A. Anderson 673 

H. S. Clapp 157 

David Gedding 254 

Secretarj' of State. 

Ernest G. Timme 2735—2045 

Michsiel Johnson 690 

E ' mund Bartlett 183 

Wilson Hopkins 288 

State Treasurer. 

Edward C. Fetridge 1644—1013 

Frank R. Talk 633 

J. J. Sutton ■-..-. 153 

Gerhart Lammers ., 393 

Attornej'-General . 

LeanderF. Frisby 1650-1023 

Melancthon J. Briggs 627 

E. G. Comstock 154 

JoelFoster ^-... 294 

State Superintendent. 

Robert Graham 2430—2249 

J.A.Gaynor 291 

Rail Road Commissioner. 

Nils P. Hnuyen 1655-1033 

Ainbrose Hoffmann 623 

John Nader ]5;i 

T. G. Bruuson 294 

Commissioner of Insurance. 

Philip L. Spooner 16.57- 1034 

Louis Kemper 623 

Thomas Bracken 150 

Lorenzo Merrill 295 

Senator. 

A. H. Randall .1796- 904 

Hugh J. Gallagher S93 

Assembly (1st District.) 

Hiram C.abt-iel 684— 412 

J. F. Grinnell 

T. Lnchsinger 

Assembly, (3d District.) 

John Rolanier lUn— 647 

Simon Bartlett 

Patrick Sheehan 



85 



454 
77 



480 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



County Superintendent. 

D.H.Morgan 1379— 56 

Robert Smith 1323 

ELECTION, APRIL, 1883. 
Judge of Circuit Court. 

J.R.Bennett 1617—885 

H.S. Conger 732 

ELECTION, NOVEMBER, 1882. 
Congress. 

BurrW.Jones 1715 

George C. Hazelton 693 

E. W. Keys 653 

Samuel n. Hasting 496 

P. W.Matts 263 

Assembly (1st District.) 

Hiram Gabriel 675-351 

M Fitzgerald 334 

C. D. Leonard 241 

James Fitzgerald 153 

Assembly (3d District.) 

John Bolander 1373— 370 

Charles F. Thompson 1003 

D.D.Tyler 113 

Sheriff. 

Edward Ruegger 3178— 783 

Charles R. Denniston 1396 

John Connery 260 



Register of Deeds. 

C.E.Tanberg ] 496— 332 

B.B.Cross 1164 

Andrew Anderson 868 

Z.T.Fritz 160 

Ti'easurer. 

L. Hare 1946- 348 

Thomas Emerson 1598 

Christ. Winert 338 

District Attorney. 

P.J.Clawson 2022—504 

Edmund Bartlett 1518 

County Clerk. 

Herman L. Gloege 2032— 528 

George L. Shattuck 1501 

T. B. Sutherland 276 

Clerk of the Court. 

Theodore W. GolJin 1957— 417 

H. Gi.legan 1540 

F. H. Smock 294 

Surveyor. 

A. C.Stuntz 2033 

Coroner. 

William Green 1555— 49 

John Wood .. . 1506 

D.S.Young 374 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



481 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE WAR FOR THE UNION. 



Before entering upon a consideration of the 
part taken by tlie citizen-soldiers of Green 
county, in the great contest between the slave- 
owners of the south and the lovers of freedom 
in the north, it is proper to dwell for a brief 
period upon the causes leading to the conflict 
of arms and the incipient steps taken by the 
general and State governments in arousing and 
marshalling the hosts of liberty-loving men 
who afterward so grandly kept step to the music 
of the Union. 

Wisconsin's first efforts. 

When Wisconsin was first called upon to aid 
the general government in its efforts to sustain 
itself against the designs of the secession con- 
spirators, the commercial affairs of the State 
were embarrassed to a considerable degree by 
the depreciation of the currency. The designs 
of the secessionists were so far developed at 
the ending of the year 1860, as to show that 
resistence to the National authority had been 
fully determined on. It is not a matter of won- 
der, then, that Gov. Randall in his message to 
the legislature, early in January, 1861, should 
have set forth the dangers which threatened 
the Union, or should have denied the right of 
a State to secede from it. 

" Secession," said he, " is revolution ; revolu- 
tion is war; war against the government of the 
United States is treason." "It is time," he con- 
tinued, " now, to know whether we have any 
government, and if so, whether it has any 
strength. Is our written constitution more than 
a sheet of parchment ? The Nation must be 
lost or preserved by its own strength. Its 
strength is in the patriotism of the people. It 



is time now that politicians become patriots ; 
that men show their love of country by every 
sacrifice, but that of principle, and by unwaver- 
ing devotion to its interests and integrity." 
" The hopes," added the governor, most elo- 
quently, "of civilization and Christianity are 
suspended now upon the answer to this ques- 
tion of dissolution. The capacity for, as well 
as the right of, self-government is to pass its 
ordeal, and speculation to become certainty. 
Other systems have been tried, and have failed; 
and all along the skeletons of Nations have been 
strewn, as warnings and land marks, upon the 
great highway of historic government. Wis- 
consin is true, and her people steadfast. She 
will not destroy the Union, nor consent that it 
shall be done. Devised by great, and wise, and 
good men, in days of sore trial, it must stand. 
Like some bold mountain, at whose base the 
great seas break their angry floods, and around 
whose summit the thunders of a thousand hur- 
ricans have rattled — strong, unmoved, immov- 
able — so may our Union, be, while treason 
surges at its base, and passion rage around it, 
unmoved, immovable — here let it stand forever." 
These are the words of an exalted and genu- 
ine patriotism. But the governor did not con- 
tent himself with eloquence alone. He came 
down to matters of business as well. He urged 
the necessity of legislation that would give 
more efficient organization to the militia of the 
State. He warned the legislators to make 
preparations also for the coming time that 
should try the souls of men. " The signs of the 
times," said he, " indicate that there may arise 
a contingency in the condition of the govern- 



482 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ment, when it will become necessary to respond 
to a call of the National government for men 
and means to maintain the integrity of the 
Union, and to thwart the designs of men en- 
gaged in oro-anized treason. While no unnec- 
essary expense should be incurred, yet it is the 
part of wisdom, both for individuals and States, 
in revolutionary times to be prepared to defend 
our institutions to the last extremity." It was 
thus the patriotic governor gave evidence to the 
members of both houses that he "scented the 
battle afar off." 

On the 16th of January a joint resolution of 
the legislature was passed, declaring that the 
people of Wisconsin are ready to co-operate 
with the friends of the Union everywhere for 
its preservation, to yield a cheerful obedience 
to its requirements, and to demand a like obedi- 
ence from all others; that the legislature of 
Wisconsin, pi'ofoundly impressed with the value 
of the Union, and determined to preserve it un- 
impaired, hail with joy the recent firm, dignified 
and patriotic special message of the President 
of the United States; that they tender to him, 
through the chief magistrate of their own State, 
whatever aid, in men and money, may be re- 
quired to enable him to enforce the laws and 
uphold the authority of the federal government 
and in defense of the more perfect Union, 
which has conferred prosperity and hapi)ine.s8 
on the American people. "Renewing," said 
they, "the pledge given and redeemed by our 
fathers, we are ready to devote our lives, our 
fortunes and our sacred honors in upholding the 
Union and the Constitution." 

The legislature, in order to put the State upon 
a kind of "war footing," passed an act for its 
defense, and to aid in enforcing the laws and 
maintaining the authority of the general gov- 
ernment. It was under this act that Gov. Ran- 
dall was enabled to organize the earlier regi- 
ments of Wisconsin. By it, in case of a call 
from the President of the United States to aid 
in maintaining the Union and the supremacy of 



the laws, to suppress rebellion or insurrection, 
or to repel invasion within the United States, 
the governor was authorized to provide in the 
most efficient manner for responding to such 
call — to accei>t the services of volunteers for 
service, in companies of seventy-five men each, 
rank and file, and in regiments of ten companies 
of seventy-five men each, and to commission 
officers for them. The governor was also author- 
ized to contract for the uniforms and equipments 
necessary for putting such companies into active 
service. One hundred thousand dollars was ap- 
l^roi^riated for war purposes; and bonds were au- 
thorized to be issued for that amount, to be ne- 
gotiated by the governor for raising funds. It 
will be seen, therefore, that the exigencies of 
the times — for Fort Sumter had not yet been 
surrendered — were fully met by the people's 
representatives, they doing their whole duty, as 
they then understood it, in aid of the perpetuity 
of the Union. 

Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four 
hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, 
the main gates destroyed, the gorge-wall seri- 
ously injured, the magazine surrounded by 
flames, and its door closed from the effects of 
the heat, four barrels and three cartridges of 
powder only being available, and no provisions 
but pork remaining, Robert Anderson, major of 
the 1st Artillery, United States army, accepted 
terms of evacuation offered by Gen, Beauregard, 
marched out of the fort on Sunday afternoon, 
the 14th of April, 1861, with colors flying and 
drums beating, bringing away company and pri- 
vate property, and saluting his flag with fifty 
guns. This, in brief, is the story of the fall of 
Sumter and the opening act of the War of the 
Rebellion. 

"Whereas," said Abraham Lincoln,President, 
in his proclamation of the next day, "the laws 
of the United States have been for some time 
past, and now are, opposed, and the execution 
thereof obstructed, in the States of South Caro- 
lina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, 
Louisiana and Texas, by combinations too pow- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



483 



erful to be suppressed by the ordinavy course of 
judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in 
the marshals by law." Now, in view of that 
fact, he called forth the militia of the several 
States of the Union, to the aggregate number 
of 75,000, in order to suppress those combina- 
tions, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. 
"A call is made on you by to-night's mail for 
one regiment of militia for immediate service," 
telegraphed the secretary of war to Randall, on 
the same day. 

THE STATE AROUSED. 

In Wisconsin, as elsewhere, the public pulse 
quickened under the excitement of the fall of 
Sumter. "The dangers which surrounded the 
Nation awakened the liveliest sentiments of pa- 
triotism and devotion. For the time party fealty 
was forgotten in the general desire to save the 
Nation. The minds of the people soon seitled 
into the conviction that a bloody war was at 
hand, and that the glorious fabric of our Na- 
tional government, and the principles upon 
which it is founded, were in jeopardy, and with 
a determination unparalleled in the history of 
any country, they rushed to its defense. On 
every hand the National flag could be seen dis- 
played, and the public enthusiasm knew no 
bounds. In city, town and hamlet, the burden 
on every tongue was war." "We have never 
been accustomed," said Gov. Randall, "to con- 
sider the military arm as essential to the main- 
tenance of our government, but an exigency has 
arisen that demands its employment." "The 
time has come," he continued, "when parties 
and ])latforms must be forgotten, and .all good 
citizens and patriots unite together in putting 
down rebels and traitors." "What is money," 
he asked, "what is life, in the presence of such 
a crisis?" 

Such utterances and such enthusiasm could but 
have their effect upon the legislature, which, it 
will be remembered, was still in session. So, 
altbcugh that body had voted to adjourn, sine 
die, on the 15th of Aprils yet, when the moment 



arrived, and a message from the governor was 
received, announcing that, owing to the extra- 
ordinary exigencies which had arisen, an 
amendment of the law of the 13th of the 
month was necessary, the resolution to adjourn 
was at once rescinded. The two houses there- 
upon not only increased the amount of bonds to 
be issued to $200,000, but they also passed a 
law exempting from civil process, during the 
time of service, all persons enlisting and mus- 
tering into the United States army from Wis- 
consin. When, on the iVth, the legislature 
did adjourn, the scene was a remarkable one. 
Nine cheers were given for the star spangled 
banner and three for the Governor's Guard, 
who had just then tendered their services — the 
first in the State— under the call for a regiment 
of men for three months' duty. 

"For the first time in the history of this fed- 
eral government," are the words of the gov- 
ernor, in a proclamation issued on the 16th of 
April, "organized treason has manifested itself 
within several States of the Union, and armed 
rebels are making war against it." "The treas- 
urers of the country," said he, "must no longer 
be plundered; the public property must be pro- 
tected from aggressive violence; that already 
seized must be retaken, and the laws must be 
executed in every State of the Union alike." 
"A demand," he added, "made upon Wisconsin, 
by the President of the United States, for aid 
to sustain the federal arm, must meet with a 
prompt response." And it did, and nowhere 
with more genuine enthusiasm than in Green 
county. 

GREEN COUNTY AWAKENED. 

The county of Green was not slow to move 
when it was clearly seen by her citizens that 
the Union was in deed and in truth threatened 
by armed rebellion and avowed secession. 

Her first company was company C, 3d regi- 
ment. It was enlisted in April and May, 1S61. 
In December of tliat year, the county was 
credited with 229 soldiers. Her total credit in 
August, 1862, was 708 men; so, it will be seen, 



4R4 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



that Green county was not slow to respond to 
the calls made upon her when the war bi'oke 
out. 

GREEN county's ROLL OF HONOR. 

The following are brief sketches of the vari- 
ous Wisconsin regiments in which, to a greater 
or less extent, Green county was represented 
during the war. To these sketches are ap- 
pended tl)e names of the citizen-soldiers from 
the county in each of these regiments, so far as 
ascertained: 

FIRST WISCONSIN (tiIREE MONTHS) REGIMENT. 

On the 15th of April, 1861, an informal meet- 
ing was held at Madison, at the executive office, 
to consider events, Judge O. Cole, of the 
Supreme Court in the chair. He made a speech 
full of patriotism and the noblest sentiments. 
On the day following. Gov. Randall notified 
Capt. George E. Bryant that the services of the 
Madison Guards had been accepted, and he was 
authorized to fill up his company ; and, on the 
same day, the governor issued a proclamation 
for the organization of the 1st regiment of Wis- 
consin Volunteers. The enrollment of men for 
this compatiy began on April 17, on which day 
twenty-eight names were enrolled, which on the 
20th were increased to 118. On the iVth, the 
Governor's Guard, a military organization at 
Madison, by their captain, Judge J. P. Atwood, 
tendered their services, which were accepted on 
the 18th. The company had seventy-three 
names enrolled ; and on the evening of that 
day, a large and enthusiastic meeting was held 
at the assembly room in the State capitol, at 
which Hon. H. S. Orton presided. A committee 
was appointed to receive from the citizens, and 
those in the vicinity, subscriptions for the 
support of families which should need aid. At 
this meeting, $7,490 were voluntarily sub- 
scribed. The two Madison companies, with the 
other companies composing the 1st regiment, 
rendezvoused at Milwaukee on the 27th of 
April; and, on the IVth of May, the organiza- 
tion of the regiment was completed, and mus- 
tered into the United States service, and the 



war department informed that it awaited 
marching orders. The troops remained in camp 
until the 9th of June, when, in obedience to 
orders from Washington, they left the State for 
Harrisburg, Penn., fully equipped by the State, 
with the exception of arms. The commissioned 
officers were John C. Starkweather, colonel ; 
Charles L. Harris, lieutenant-colonel ; D. H. 
Lain, major; A. R. Chapin, adjutant; D. W. 
Keyes, quartermaster; B. F. White, surgeon ; 
L. J. Dixon and .J. Crugom, assistants; J. W. 
Plows, commissary ; Charles Fairchild, assist- 
ant. The regiment was composed of four com- 
panies from Milwaukee county, two from Dane 
county, one from Rock, one each from Kenosha 
and Fond du Lac counties. The regiment was 
quartered for a time at Hagerstown, Md., un- 
der thecommand of Generals Nagley and Aber- 
crombie respectively. It was assigned to the 
division of Major-Gen. Patterson, July 2. 
It led the advance on Marlinsburg, participated 
in the battle of Falling Water, and won a 
reputation for bravery and veteran-like conduct 
excelled by no other i*egiment. After serving 
out the time for which it was enlisted, the regi- 
ment returned to Fort Scott, at Milwaukee, and 
was mustered out Aug. 22, 1861. The only 
person from Green county in this regiment, so 
far as is known, was Robert Hewitt, of Albany. 

SECOND WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 2d Wisconsin was ordered to move 
into camp at Madison on the 1st of May, 1861, 
which was by S. Park Coon (who was appointed 
by the governor colonel of the regiment), named 
Camp Randall, in honor of the governor. This 
regiment was first organized for three months' 
service; but, on the 7th of May, orders were re- 
ceived to recruit the regiment for three years, 
or the war. The regiment was mustered into 
the United States service, and received orders 
to move forward to Harrisburg, Penn. They 
started on the 20th of June, arrived at Wash- 
ington June 25, and went into camp near the 
city. After remaining in camp some time, Col. 
Coon was detached, and planed upon thfe staff of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



485 



Gen. Sherman; and the command of the regi- 
ment devolved upon Lieut. -Col. Peck. 

The numerical strength of this regiment when 
it left Camp Randall was as follows: field and 
staff, 9; company officers, 30; band, 24; non- 
commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, 
98.5; total, 1,048. 

The fate of the 2d Wisconsin, from its 
very inception, was one of privation and hard- 
ship. It was called into camp at an inclement 
season of the year, amid constant storms and 
cold winds, without shelter or proper clothing. 
It was in the "onward to Riclimond" move- 
ment, participated in the skirmish at Bull Run, 
July 19, took an active part in the memorable 
battle of July 21, and won a fine reputation for 
bravery and soldier-like conduct. It took an 
exposed situation, faced the enemy for hours, 
and was among the last to leave the field at the 
disgraceful finish. The thinned ranks at roll- 
call the next day proved the part it acted. As 
an evidence of what this regiment had been 
through, it is sufficient to state, that it left the 
State, June 20, over 1,000 strong, and, Octo- 
ber 1, reported for duty only 689 men. After 
this battle, a number of changes took place in 
the officers of this regiment. Lucius Fairchild, 
formerly captain of company K of the 1st 
regiment, was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and 
many others were promoted. Among the com- 
panies composing this regiment was one from 
Fox Lake, Dodge county, one from La Crosse 
county, one from Grant, one from Janesville, 
one from Oshkosh, one from Racine, one from 
Portage City, one from Madison and one each 
from Mineral Point and Milwaukee. 

The 2d regiment — which had been iden- 
tified with the Army of the Potomac from its 
first organization to the present time, and which 
was the representative of Wisconsin at the first 
battle of Bull Run — was joined, later in the sea- 
son of 18til, by the 6th and 7th regiments. On 
the rfe-oi-ganization of the armj by Gen. Mc- 



Clellan, these regiments, together with the 9th 
Indiana, were organized as a brigade, and 
assigned to the command of Brig.-Gen. Gibbon; 
Gen. King having been promoted to the com- 
mand of a division. Thenceforth their history 
is identical; and Wisconsin may well be proud 
of their record, which has procured for them the 
name of the " Iron Brigade of the West."* 
3fe7im the Second Begiment from Green County. 
Henry W. Peck, F. R.Melvin,F. Luchsinger, 
Frederick Geiser, Mathias Wichser, Adam 
Bopp, Jacob Bopp, Thomas Deitland, Sebation 
Frey, Pauly Heitz, Henry Hoesli, Samuel 
Hoesli, Fridolin Klase, Henry Knobel, Ubiah 
Kubly, Melchoir Luchsinger, Fridolin Marty, 
Henry T. Sperri, John Staub, Fridolin Streiff 
and Jacob Trumpy. 

THIRD WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 3d regiment was called into camp at 
Fond du Lac about the 15th of June, 1861, and 
was placed under the command of Col. Charles 
S. Hamilton, a graduate of West Point, who 
had served his country with credit to himself 
during the Mexican War. Of this regiment, 
Thomas H. Ruger was lieutenant-colonel; Ber- 
tine Pinkney, major; L. H. D. Crane, adjutant. 
It was composed of companies from Watertown, 
Oshkosh, Monroe, Waupun, Mayville, Boscobel, 
Neenah, Darlington, Shullsburg and Madison. 
Its numerical strength was 979 men, and it was 
mustered into the United States service June 
29, 1861 , by Capt. Mclntyre, United States army; 
received marching-orders July 6, and started 
for Harrisburg July 12. This regiment, like 
the 1st and 2d regiments, was fully equipped 
with the exception of arras. It was stationed, 
most of the time after its arrival at the seat of 
war, at Frederickstown, Md., and had but little 
opportunity to exhibit its bravery on the battle- 
field during the year. Three of the companies 
(A, C, and H) were engaged in the fight at Bol- 



*.\6il?et!<* of tl^i "Iron Brlfrji|lo" will bo given wben we 
JHR) to trefft of \Xt9 Sixth am Serenth Rfeglmfent^. 



486 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



ivar, early in October, in connection with two 
companies of the Massacliusetts 4th, against 
more than three times their number of tlie 
enemy in position. During the engagement, a 
charge was made by the Wisconsin companies; 
and a heavy field-piece was captured, which was 
afterward retaken by the enemy. The battle 
was terminated by another heroic charge by the 
three Wisconsin companies, led on by Capt. 
Bartram and Lieut. O'Brien. Under command 
of Major Gould of the 4th Massachusetts, the 
enemy was routed and forced from his position, 
and put to flight, and again the same field-piece 
was captured from the enemy, and brought off 
the ground by volunteers of the 3d. 

On the arrival of the 3d regiment in Mary- 
land, Col. Hamilton was promoted to the rank 
of brigadier-general; Lieut. Col. Ruger was [)ro- 
moted colonel; Major Pinkney, lieutenant-col- 
onel; and Adjutant L. H. D. Crane, major. 

The regiment passed the winter of 18G1-62 
principally at Alexandria, of which place Col. 
Ruger was appointed provost-marshal. In the 
spring campaign, tliey were assigned to the 
command of Major-Gen. Banks, entering Win- 
chester, Va., on the 12th of March, and ac- 
companied him in the sudden retreat towards 
Washington, which commenced on the 25th of 
May. They acted as a portion of the rear- 
guard, and lost, in the various conflicts occur- 
ring by the movement, about 120 men in killed, 
wounded and missing. The retreat was con- 
ducted with the most admirable coolness, the 
men facing al)()ut in line, three several times 
giving the enemy a number of volleys. 

Tills division returned soon after to Winches- 
ter to co-operate with the commands of Generals 
Fremont and Sigel, and on the 9th of August 
took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. The 
regitnent went into battle with 423 men, of 
whom 107 were either killed, wounded or miss- 
ing. In the otticial report of Gen. Gordon, 
who commanded the brigade, special praise is 
awarded to the 3d Wisconsin and a Massachu- 



setts regiment for displaying great coolness 
under the terrible fire they were ordered to face. 
During this action, Lieut.-Col. Crane was killed 
who fell gallantly leading his men upon the 
enemy. Capt. O'Brien of company I was 
wounded early in the day, but refused to leave 
the field. Later in the day, he received a mortal 
wound, and died three days afterwards. Capt. 
Hawley and Lieutenants Snow and Derring were 
also wounded, and Lieut. Widney taken prisoner. 

Subsequently, they took part in the short and 
brilliant campaign under McClellan, in which 
Antietam was the finishing stroke to the invad- 
ers in Maryland. They took into action about 
345 men, and lost, in killed and wounded, 197. 
In this battle, Lieut. Reed was killed, and Col. 
Ruger, Captains Stevenson and Whitman, Lieu-' 
tenants Field, Shepard, Parks and Dick were 
wounded. On the 7th of December, the regiment 
was in Gen. Gordon's brigade, headquarters 
near Antietam Ford, Md. 

The 3d regiment, in January, 1863, encamped 
at Stafford Court House. Lieut.-(^ol. Hawley 
was promoted to the command in March, and 
other changes made. The regiment took part 
in the operations of Hen. Hooker near Chancel- 
lorsville; and, in the battles that occurred from 
April 27, to May 6, they had nineteen killed, or 
died of wounds, and seventy-four wounded. On 
the 6th of June, the regiment was detached 
to accompany a cavalry expedition up the 
Rappahannock, and, as skirmishers and sharp- 
shooters, contributed to the victory gained by 
our troops. In this engagement, the regiment 
had two killed and fourteen wounded. 

The regiment passed the summer and fall in 
railroad guard-duty, picket-duty, etc., at various 
points in Tennessee. Being transferred to tlie 
army of the Cumberland, they proceeded to 
Columbus, Ohio; thence to Stevenson, Ala , 
where they arrived Oct. 3, 1863. A suflicient 
number having re-enlisted, as veterans, the reg- 
iment, on the 25th of that month, left for Wis- 
convin on a furlough. They afterward took an 
active part in the assault on the enemy's works 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



489 



at Port Hudson, losing thirty-nine killed, seventy 
wounded and thirty-one missing- After this 
engagement, the regiment remained in the 
vicinity of Port Hudson, while Gen. Banks was 
perfecting a plan for the capture of that place. 
On the 1st of September, 1863, the regiment 
was changed to the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry. 

Men in the Third RegimeM from Green County. 
Samuel Bowden, Isaac Godfrey, Frederick 
Hamberly, Guilford Peebles, Martin Flood, Silas 
E. Gardner, Moses O'Brien, Charles C. Smith, 
George W. Rollins, Edwin E. Bryant, James W. 
Hunter, Seth Raymond, August Pitzcola, Henry 
Poff, Henry Raymond, George H. Richardson, 
William Roberts, Frederick C. Rugger, Edgar 
Ross, David Ronrke, Orvil Royce, Charles W. 
Sackett, Gilbert J. Shaw, Seymour J. Sheffield, 
George W.Snyder, William Springsted, George 
A. Sutherland, Albion Thurlow, Isaac Thurlow, 
Josiah Underwood, John L. Waldo, Willard 
Walker, Andrew Warner, Jacob Warner, Abner 
Webb, David Webb, Reuben Webb, Junot Wil- 
cox, George W. Williamson, Emery F, Winans, 
Isaac W. Winans, Eugene Witter, David Wood, 
William Wood, Perry L. Yarger, John Ault, 
Samuel Bechtel, Francis M. Hawkins, Hezekiah 
Kilby, Thomas Laytou, Francis Morton, Amos 
W. RuUedge, Silas W. Vellom, Robert W. 
Patton, Absalom McCammant, James McGill, 
Henry Perrine, Amos E. Harris, William H. 
Mason, James F. McKnight, Andrew Rood, Ever 
Rood, Daniel Starr, William Washington, Wil- 
liam H. Coates, George H. Cook, David Corbit, 
Samuel W. Mayes, John R. Santas, Amaziah 
Willetts, (unassigned men:) Isaac R. Blake, 
Orth M. Coldren, Edwin Gill, Thomas Johnson, 
John Keenan, D wight Pierce, Jonas Kramer, 
James Collins, George H. Cook, William H. 
Foster, George Gay, John D. Coon, William 
Brisbane, Charles H. King, Oliver M. Allen, 
Fluette Annis, Daniel Auchenbaugh, John 
Becker, Joseph W. Bemis, Adelbert A. Betts, 
Zeb. Birmingham, Isaiah Blunt, Jamos E. Blunt, 
George L. Booth, William II. Booth, George W. 
Bowden, John L. Boyer, Joscphus C. Bridge. 



Levi J. Bryant, William F. Busic, William L. 
Carter, Jacob M. Case, Samuel S. Case, Austin 
Clark, William Clarno, Valentine Clarno, Jesse 
Collins, Andrew W. Conners, James Conroy, 
Thomas Conroy, Ziba Cook, Alonzo P. Crawford, 
William F. Crawford, Ciiavles A. Crossland,. Jacob 
Cumley, Charles F. Deffendeffer, Amos A. Dur- 
rell, George O. Durrell, Joseph G. Durrell, John 
Drake, William H. H. Fleek, John B. Frasher, 
Henry Fuller, George Gans, Jerome C. Godfrey, 
James Golden, William F. Goodhue, John Grace, 
Charles R. Green, John ]VI. Green, .John Hattery, 
Samuel Hayden, Melville Hopkins, Richard 
Jackson, Guilford D. Jennings, William F. 
Johnson, Joseph Kester, Silas Kester, William 
A. Kimberly, John Kohle, Jackson Land, Joseph 
Land, Amos L. Lindley, Benjamin Leonard, 
Anson W. Lovelace, Jefferson Lovelace, Frank 
Loveland, John J. Mackey, William Martin, 
Artis McBride, Robert W. McFarland, Alonzo 
McKenney, Ephraim ]V[iller, Carroll Morgan, 
Philip B. Morris, Stewart E. Mosier, John 
Parks and Willard Payne. 

FIFTH WISCOXSIN REGOIKXT. 

The 5th Wisconsin was called into camp at 
Madison from the 21st to the 25th of June 1861, 
and placed under the command of Col. Amasa 
Cobb. The officers under him were H. W. 
Emery, lieutenant-colonel; Charles H. Larrabee, 
major ; Theodore S. West, adjutant ; J. G. 
Clark, quartermaster; A. L. Castleman, surgeon; 
George D. Wilbur and C. E. Crane, assistants ; 
Rev. R. Langley, chaplain. The companies 
were two from Milwaukee, and one each from 
Manitowoc, Beaver Dam, Janesville, Waukesha, 
Berlin, Richland, Taycheedah and Monoraonee. 
The numerical strength of the regiment was 
1,05V men. It was mustered into the L^nited 
States service, July 13, 1861. On the 22d of 
that month orders were received to move for- 
ward to Washington. On the 24th, they were 
on their way, and on arriving at their destination 
were attached to Gen. Rnfus King's brigade. 
The regiment was detailed for advance duty 
most of the time after its arrival. 



•29 



490 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



The 5th left their winter quarters at Camp 
Griffin, near Lewisville, Va., where they had 
been stationed during the winter, and marched 
on the 9th of March, 1862, to Flint Hill, two 
miles from Fairfax court house, whence they 
marched to the Potomac, within four miles of 
Alexandria, There they embarked, on the 23d 
of that month, to take part in the great expe- 
dition against Richmond, under the command 
of Gen. McClellan. 

From their arrival at Hampton, Va., on the- 
26th of March to the day of the final retreat, 
their history is thoroughly identified with that 
of the Army of the Peninsula. Their conduct 
in the battle of Williamsburg, on the 5th of 
May, was such as to elicit a flattering encomium 
from Gen. McClellan. The regiment bore its 
full share in the series of great battles from 
June 29 to July 4. They went into winter quar- 
ters at White Oak Church, near Belle Plain. 
Col. Araasa Cobb, being elected to Congress, 
resigned, and Thomas S. Allen was made col- 
onel. 

The 5th regiment performed some daring 
deeds under Col. Allen, — taking the Washing- 
ton battery, of New Orleans. They also par- 
ticipated in the charge on the enemy's works 
at Rappahannock station. They returned to 
winter quarters at Brandy station, where they 
remained until the opening of the campaign of 
1864. 

During the winter of 1863-64 over 200 
of the men re-enlisted. After a visit to Wis- 
consin, they returned in time for the spring 
campaign. The regiment left its camp May 
4, 1864, and took part in the Wilderness cam- 
paign. They crossed the Rapidan at Germania 
Ford, marched eighteen miles and bivouacked. 
They followed the movements of the 6th corps, 
and were engaged in the various actions from 
the 7th to the 11th of May. After leaving 
Spottsylvania, they engaged in destroying the 
Virginia (-entral railroad, and advanced to 
Cold Harbor, arriving June 1. They took part 
Iti tlie chai'gG 611 tll6 etiefliy's works at Cold 



Harbor, capturing the intrenchments with a 
number of prisoners. They remained here un- 
til the 12th, constantly exposed to the enemy's 
fire, when they marched to and crossed James 
river, and took their position in the trenches 
before Petersburg. In the charge of the 22d, 
they participated, proceeding on the 29th to 
Reams station, where they engaged in fatigue 
and picket duty until July 11. 

The casualties for May and June were forty- 
eight killed or died of their wounds, and 144 
wounded. The 5th accompanied the movement 
of the 6th corps to Washington to assist in the 
defense of that city, arriving on the 12th ; on 
which day, the three-years' term of non-veter- 
ans having expired, they volunteered for the 
defense of the capital. The danger having 
passed, they left, on the 16th, from Washington, 
and arrived at Madison on the 22d, where they 
received a hearty welcome from the State au- 
thorities, and were finally mustered out on the 
3d of August. Thus ended the service of the 
original 5th regiment. 

The re-enlisted veterans and recruits were or- 
ganized into an independent battalion of three 
companies, under the command of C. W. Kerai), 
of company A, Capt. J. H. Cook, company B, 
and Capt. M. L. Butterfield, company C. On 
the 13th of July, they moved, with the 6th 
corps to the Shenandoah valley, in pursuit of 
the enemy, participating in the engagement at 
Snicker's Gap. On the 18th they returned to 
Washington ; and on the 26th they proceeded 
to Harper's Ferry, and united with the move- 
ments of the 6th corps, participating in the 
action at Charleston. They remained at Charles- 
ton performing picket and guard duty until the 
18th of September, when they moved forward 
and took part in the battle of Cedar Creek. 
Afterward, with the brigade, they went to Win- 
chester in the performance of garrison duty. 

On the muster out of service of the " Old 
Fifth," Gov. Lewis authorized its re-organiza- 
tion, and re-commissioned Thomas S. Allen as 
colotiel. Uhdei' his sU{)ei*vli^l6n, sevfeh coin- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



491 



panies were rapidly recruited, organized and 
mustered into the United States service, and 
left the State on the 2d of October, 1864. They 
arrived at Washington, received arras, and were 
sent to Alexandria, where they remained doing 
provost duty, until October 20, when they pro- 
ceeded, by way of Martinsburg and Winchester, 
to Cedar Creek, where they joined the battalion 
and the forces under Gen. Sheridan, and re- 
mained at that place until December 2. They 
rejoined the forces under Gen. Grant, in the. 
trenches before Petersburg, on the 4th of 
December, where they remained until the 5th 
of February, 1865, when they took part in the 
extension of the lines at Dabney's Mills, on 
Hatcher's Run, suffering little loss, as they 
were held in reserve. 

In the charge on the enemy's works at Peters- 
burg, April 2, 1865, the 5th regiment, with the 
37th Massachusetts, led by Col. Allen, were in 
the extreme front, supported by two lines in the 
rear. At 4 a. m., the signal for the charge was 
given, and the colors of the 5th were the first 
planted on the enemy's works. Col. Allen 
led a portion of his men two miles through the 
abandoned lines of the enemy to the left, cap- 
turing many prisoners ; then back to the right, 
where the regiment was engaged in skirmish- 
ing till night. 

On the afternoon of April 3, they joined in 
the pursuit of Lee — the 6th corps encountering 
Gen. Ewell's forces at Little Sailor's Creek on 
the 7th. The lines were hurriedly formed and 
pushed forward at double-quick ; the regiment 
marching with unbroken line through a swamp 
waist-deep, under fire of the enemy's musketry. 
They moved to the brow of a hill, where the 
enemy was discovered but a few paces distant, 
admirably posted, and fighting with the energy 
of despair. The regiment was in an extremely 
hazardous position, being subjected to a severe 
flank and cross lire. Col. Allen rode in ad- 
vance of the line as calmly as though danger 
were unknown. Company G, (Capt. Henry 



Curran) and company C, (Lieut. Evan R. Jones) 
were deployed as skirmishers. Lieut. -Gen. 
Ewell and staff surrendered to six men of the 
skirmishers, under command of Sergt. Cameron, 
company A, who was promoted lieutenant on 
the field for gallaaitry. The action of the regi- 
ment elicited high encomiums from the corps, 
division and brigade commanders. 

In the action of April 7, the regiment had 
sixteen killed, seventy-nine wounded, and three 
died of wounds. The pursuit was continued 
until the 9th, when Lee surrendered. On the 
10th the regiment commenced its return, and 
reached Burke's station on the evening of the 
13th. They encamped until the 23d of April, 
and marched to Danville, arriving on the 27th, 
and reaching Richmond on the 20th of May. 
Leaving Richmond on the 24th for Wash- 
ington, they arrived there June. 2, after a long 
and tedious march. On the 16th of June they 
left for Madison, Wis., arriving on the 20th, 
and were soon after mustered out of the service. 
Men in the Fifth Regiment from Green County. 

Yolney L. Johnson, Eugene L. Wright, 
Aaron M. Burdick, James D. Dysent, Rooney 
K. Johnson, William D. Masterston, Frederick 
W. Smith, Joseph F. Smith, Alvin Walrath, 
Pliny Wilson, Brant C. Hammond. Thomas 
Flint, Yates T. Lacy, Henry B. Mason, Timothy 
Wright, Forest H. Carnwell, George W. Baker, 
Benjamin Burnheim, Chauncey Bartholomew, 
David Bluebaugh, John J. Cosat James Dunn, 
Albert A. Fayette, Elliott N. Fessenden, Wil- 
liam Gauge, Franklin Gilbert, Jr., August F. 
Girkee, Menzo Hone, William T. Hopkins, 
Spencer W. Hurlbut, Isaiah Jewell, Samuel 
Laraoroux, Lewis La Rose, John Lemuel, Jacob 
Martin, Ezra Milks, John C. McFarland, Burdet 
E. McKinney, Chauncey Moore, Alonzo C. 
Purington, William H. Roberts, Lewis C. Rob- 
ertson, Thomas A. Ross, Jacob L. Scroggins 
Francis Seymour, David Slothower, Thomas L. 
Stettson, Charles I. Tibbits, Allen Whipple, 
Jacob L, Wilson and James Witter. 



492 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



% 



SIXTH AND SEVENTH WISCONSIN REGIMENTS. 

The 6th regiment was called into Oarap Ran- 
dall, at Madison, about the 25th of June, 1861, 
and was under the coniimand of Lysander Cut- 
ler, of Milwaukee, as colonel. The other officers 
were: J. P. Atwood, lieutenant-colonel; B. F. 
Sweet, major; Frank A. Haskall, adjutant; J. 
N. Mason, quartermaster; C. B. Chapman, sur- 
geon; A. W. Preston and A. D. Andrews, assist- 
ants; and Rev. N. A. Staples, chaplain. The 
companies forming the regiment were from 
Sauk, Pierce and Ci'awford counlies, and two 
from Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Rock, Buffalo, 
Monroe and Juneau counties. The numerical 
strength of the regiment when it left Camp 
Randall was 1,084. 

The regiment arrived at Washington on the 
lih of August, and was immediately assigned 
to King's brigade and went into camp on Me- 
ridian Hill, where it remained until the 3d of 
September, when it marched with the brigade 
to Chain bridge and was employed in picket 
and guard duty at Camp Lyon until it was 
joined bv the 2d Wisconsin, the 9th Indiana 
and the 7th Wisconsin, about the 1st of Octo- 
ber. These afterwards formed the famous 
"Iron Jirigade," in which its subsequent history 
is merged. 

The 7th regiment was called into cam]» dur- 
ing the month of August, 1861, and placed un- 
der the command of Col. Joseph Vandor. The 
other officers were: W. W. Robinson, lieuten- 
ant-colonel; Charles A. Hamilton, major; Charles 
\V. Cook, adjutant; II. P. Clinton, quarter- 
master; Henry Palmer, surgeon; D. Cooper 
Ayers and Ernest Cramer, assistants; and Rev. 
S. L. Brown, chaplain. When tlie regiment 
left the Slate, its numerical strength was 1,016. 

This regimenl, unlike these that had gone be- 
fore it, was mustered into the United States ser- 
vice by companies, and on the 4th of September, 
1861, received orders to move forward to Wash- 
ington, where it arrived October 1, and was 
assigned to Gen. Rufiis King's brigade, McDow- 



ell's division.- Its subsequent history is absorbed 
in that of the "Iron Brigade." 
3Ien in the Sixth and Seventh Hegimenis, from 
Green County. 

Sixth regiment. — John C. Hall, William 
McCauliffjJacob Maythalor,John Scott and John 
Wheeler. 

Seventh regiment. — Henry P. Clinton, Oliver 
Pratt and Grandison P. Newell. 

IRON BRIGADE. 

Early in the war Gen. Rufus King, a grad- 
uate of West Point, tendered his services to the 
government and was appointed brigadier gen- 
eral, with authority to form a brigade composed 
of regiments from Wisconsin. In this he only 
partially succeeded, as the 5th Wisconsin was 
transferred to another brigade. He, however, 
succeeded in permanently attaching the 2d, 6ih 
and 7th to the brigade; these, with the 9th In- 
diana, afterwards received the name of the 
"Iron Brigade," in the history of which is 
merged that of the 6th Wisconsin. 

The brigade assigned to McDowell's division 
remained in camp at Fort Tillinghast until 
March 10, 1862, when they took part in Ihe 
advance on Manassas, Col. Cutler, of the 6th 
Wisconsin, being \\\ command of the brigade. 
The month of July found them at Falmouth, 
opposite Fredericksburg. The brigade after- 
ward took part in the celebrated retreat of Gen. 
Pope. 

On the 28th of August, 1862, the battle of 
Gainesville was fought. This was one of the 
bloodiest battles of the war, and was fought by 
the 'Iron Brigade" alone, it only receiving aid 
after the heaviest of the fighting was over. On 
the 29th of August the brigade was present on 
the battle field of Bull Run, engaged as sup- 
port to a battery, and took [)art in the battle of 
the 30th and in the retreat which followed. 

The "Iron Brigade" took part in the l)attle of 
South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862. 

Gen. Hooker was placed in command of the 
Army of the Potomac, and the campaign of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



493 



1863 was begun on the 28th of April. The 
"Iron Brigade" proceeded on that day to Fitz- 
liiigh's crossing, below Fredericksburg, and was 
attached to the first division of the first army 
corps. 

The "Iron Briga<le" was in the battle of Get- 
tysburg and in the battle of the Wilderness. 

Continuing our narrative of the Iron Brigade, 
we find, that, on the 12th of June, they crossed 
the Chickahominy, and marched to James river, 
and proceeded to Petersburg, where they erected 
breastworks on the iVth of June. In the en- 
gagements at this place, the 6th and lib. suf- 
fered terribly. The 7th lost twenty-one killed 
and thirty-seven wounded, 'i he 6th lost seven- 
teen killed and thirty-one wounded. From this 
time to July 30, the division and brigade were 
constantly engaged in the duties of the siege, 
and took part in the operations connected with 
the explosion of the mine. On the 18th of 
August, they left Petersburg, and marched to 
Yellow House, near Reams station, on the Wel- 
don Railroad ; and, at the action at the last- 
named place, the 7th captured twenty-seven 
prisoners without sustaining any loss. Until 
October 27, the bi'igade was engaged in siege- 
duties, when they were transferred to Craw- 
ford's third division, and took a part in the en- 
gagement at Hatcher's Run. Subsequently tliey 
returned to their position in the trenches at 
Petersburg, where they remained until Feb. 6, 
1865. 

The "Iron Brigade," on the 6th of February, 
1865, broke camp and took part in the engage- 
ment near Dabney's Mill, on Hatcher's Run. In 
this affair, the third division of Gen. Crawford, 
of the 5th corps, took the advance, and bore the 
brunt of the tight on the 6th and 7tb of February. 
Our Wisconsin regimenls fought with their ac- 
customed gallantry ; and their loss was very 
severe. The loss of the division was about 
thirty-seven ofticers, and 1,143 men, an aggre- 
gate of 1,180 out of about 4,000 who went into 
action. The loss of the 7th regiment in the 
battle at Dabney's Mill, on the 6th and 7th of 



February, 1865, as reported by Lieut-Col. Rich- 
ardson, is as follows : Four killed, and nine- 
teen wounded. Returning to camp near the 
Military railroad, they remained until ordered, 
in the middle of February, to proceed to Balti- 
more, On arriving at City Point, the order, so 
far as it related to the 6th and 7th regiments, 
was countermanded ; and the two regiments 
were ordered to return to their old camp, when, 
by order of Gen. Crawford, they were re-organ- 
ized as the "First Provisional Brigade," and 
placed under the command of Col. Kellogg, of 
the 6th, Lieut-Col. Kerr assuming command of 
the regiment. March 5, the 91st New York 
Heavy Artillery were added, making the brigade 
about 3,000 men. Here they remained until the 
opening of the final campaign, which resulted 
in the capture of Gen. Lee. 

On the morning of the 29th of March, 1865, 
the brigade broke camp near the Military rail- 
road, and moved to near Boydtown plank-road. 
Here line of battle was formed; the 6th and 7th 
Wisconsin forming the first line, in rear of the 
second brigade. The enemy being driven from 
his position, the brigade was ordered to a point 
near the road ; the 7th Wisconsin, under Lieut. 
Col. Richardson, being placed on the road, and 
the balance of the brigade about eighty rods to 
the rear, in line of battle, where they re- 
mained during the night, and next day advanced 
to the road, and threw up breastworks. On 
the 31st the brigade luoved from the breast- 
works, in a northwesterly direction, across 
Gravelly Run, where it was massed in column 
ot regiments for a short time, when it was or- 
dered to deploy into line of battle to the right 
of the second brigade. Before this movement 
was accomplished, only the 6th and 7th Wis- 
consin being in line. Col. Kellogg, in command 
of the brigade, was ordered to arrest the men 
from the front line, who were falling back in 
confusion. This could not be done, as the fly- 
ing troops broke through his line, and threw it 
into confusion. The 6th and 7th were ordered 



494 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



to close tbeir intervals, form into line of battle, 
and open fire on the enemy ; wbich was done, 
and continued until the enemy had turned both 
flanks, and were firing on the flanks and rear. 
The 7th Wisconsin changed front, so as to meet 
the fire on their flank ; but, the enemy appear- 
ing in strong force in the rear, the brigade re- 
tired across Gravelly Run in as good order as 
possible, being somewhat broken up by being 
compelled to fight their way back. The 6th and 
7th were formed on the front line next to the 
creek, near the bridge, where they remained dur- 
ing the rest of the engagement. The brigade was 
re-formed in the rear of their first position, and 
ordered to lie down, and were afterwards moved 
forward on the battle-field, and encamped. The 
fifth corps had been ordered to report to Gen 
Sheridan, at Dinwiddle Court House. On the 
Ist of April, the brigade moved in line of battle 
in a westerly direction to the vicinity of the 
Gravelly Run church. In the afternoon the 
7th regiment occupied the advance line on 
the left of the brigade, with the 6th Wisconsin 
on the right. Companies B and E of the 7th 
were deployed as skirmishers, covering the 
brigade front, advancing in line of battle. The 
enemy's advance was driven through the woods, 
back upon their entrenchments at Five Forks, 
Gen. Sheridan ordered Col. Richardson to move 
over the enemy's works, which the gallant col- 
onel obeyed, wheeling to the right, and charg- 
ing the enemy through the open field, driving 
them through the woods, following their re- 
treating columns, and again charging them 
through a second open field. Night coming on, 
the brigade fell back two miles, and went into 
position behind the breastworks captured from 
the enemy. This was the part taken by the 6th 
and 7th Wisconsin in the famous battle of Five 
Forks. 

On the 2d, the brigade advancing to the South 
Side railroad, found the position abandoned by 
the enemy. This was about thirteen miles 
from Petersburg. Continuing to advance rap- 



idly in a westerly direction, the enemy were 
found intrenched on the Burkesville road. The 
brigade was deployed to the right of the road, 
in two lines ; and the 7th, under Col. Richard- 
son, were deployed as skirmishers, with orders to 
cover the entire front of the line of battle. The 
enemy, after dark, opened fire on their lines, 
which was replied to; and the command ad- 
vanced, and halted within a few rods of their 
breastworks, where they lay on their arms all 
night. During the night the enemy abandoned 
their works. Pursuit was made ; but they were 
not overtaken, and the brigade went into 
bivouac. On the morning of the 4th pursuit 
was resumed ; and Jettersville station, on the 
Danville railroad, was reached in the afternoon, 
which was found occupied by Gen. Sheridan's 
cavalry, and the enemy in strong force just be- 
yond. Here the brigade formed in line of battle, 
the men weary and footsore, having traveled 
all day, and labored all night, throwing up 
breastworks. Here they rested, waiting for an 
attack, until the 6th, when the enemy was found 
to have again taken flight. Following him 
during the 6th and 7th, on the west side of the 
Apporaatox, they reached High Railroad Bridge,^ 
where the found the enemy had crossed, and 
set the bridge on fire. On the 8th, a long and 
tiresome forced march was made by the brigade, 
being much impeded by the wagon trains of the 
the twenty-fourth corps. They encamped in line 
of battle that night. On the 9th, pursuit was 
again resumed ; and the gallant "Iron Brigade" 
had the proud satisfaction of assisting in the 
capture of the famous army of Gen. Lee at 
Appomattox Court House. 

In the short campaign from March 29 to April 
9, the casualties in the 6th and 7th regiments 
were as follows : Sixth regiment, killed, or 
died of wounds, sixteen ; 7th regiment, killed, 
or died of wounds, eighteen ; wounded, fifty- 
two. After the surrender of the rebel forces 
moved to Black and White's station, on the . 
under Gen. Lee, the brigade, on the 1 1th of April, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



495 



Petersburi^ & Lynchburg Railroad, and went into 
camp, where they remained until the corps com- 
manders were ordered to march their respective 
commands to Washington. They arrived there, 
and participated in the grand review on the 23d 
of May, and went into camp till the 17th of 
June, when they left Washington to report to 
Major-Gen. Logan, at Louisville, Ky., where 
they arrived on the 22d f June. Here they 
were organized into the '*!• J o^incial Division" of 
Gen. Morrow, — the 7th regiment in the first 
and the 6th in the second brigade ; the latter 
being placed under the command of Col. Kel- 
logg of the 6th, who, at the muster-out of Gen. 
Morrow, was assigned to the command of the 
division. The 7th was mustered out, and started 
for Wisconsin on the 2d of July, arriving on 
the 5th at Madison, where it was received by 
the State authorities, and was soon after 
paid off, and the regiment disbanded. The 6th 
was mustered out on the 14th, and arrived at 
Madison on the 16th, and were publicly received, 
paid, and the regiment disbanded. Col. Kel- 
logg, the last brigade commander, issued a final 
order, dissolving the organization of the "Iron 
Brigade;" and the gallant corps, which had be- 
come the pride of our State, ceased to exist. 
Its history forms one of the brightest pages in 
our National records. Col. Kellogg of the 6th, 
was subsequently breveted brigadier-geneaal, 
and Lieut-Col. Richardson of the 7th, was bre- 
veted colonel, and subsequently brigadier-gen- 
eral, for gallant and meritorious services in the 
final operations of the Army of the Potomac, 
particularly at the battle of Five Forks. 

EIGHTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 8tU regiment was called into camp from 
the 1st to the 16th of September, 1861, and 
placed under the command of Col. Robert C. 
Murphy, of St. Croix Falls. The other field 
and staff ofiicers were, George W. Robinson, 
lieutenant-colonel; J. W. Jefferson, major; Ezra 
T. Sprague, adjutant; F. L. Billings, quarter- 
master; S. P. Thornhill, surgeon; W. Hobbins 



and J. S. Murta, assistants; and W. McKinley, 
chaplain. The companies were from the coun- 
ties of Waupaca, Sheboygan, Eau Claire, Craw- 
ford, La Crosse, Racine and from Fox Lake, 
Fitchburg, Janesville and Belleville. The 
numerical strength of the regiment when it left 
Camp Randall was 966 men, and it was mustered 
into service by companies, by Major Brooks. 

After being fully equipped (with the excep- 
tion of arms), on the 30th of September, Col. 
Murphy received notice that he had been as- 
signed, with his command, to Major-Gen. Fre- 
mont's division. On the 1st of October, orders 
were received to move forward to St. Louis, at 
which place they arrived October 13. The fine 
appearance of the regiment elicited universal 
praise. It was received at St. Louis by the 
Hon. S. Cameron, secretary of war, and Adju- 
tant-Gen. L. Thomas, who paid it a high com- 
pliment. This was the first regiment that had 
passed in that direction from the State. The 
next day after their arrival, an order came for 
them to move forward to Pilot Knob with the 
certainty of meeting the enemy. They went 
forward, and on the 21st took j)art in the battle 
of Frederickstown. The regiment was held as 
a reserve. 

The 8th regiment, from the time of their de- 
parture from the State, up to the middle of 
January, with the exception of the skirmish at 
Frederickstown, in the autumn of 1861, was 
principally engaged in guarding railroad bridges 
and other general duties in the southern portion 
of Missouri and in Arkansas. On the 16th of 
January they left Camp Curtis, arriving at 
Cairo the next day. From Cairo they were 
ordered to Point Pleasant, Mo., to participate 
in the attack on Island No. 10, whence they 
marched, on the 7th of April, to New Madrid. 

Shortly after the reduction of this island, 
they were ordered to Corinth, and arrived at 
Pittsburg Landing on the 22d of April, when 
they at once took their place in the army 



496 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



destined for the reduction of Corinth. On the 
9th of May, at the battle of Farmington, the 
8th regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Col. 
Robbins, lost in killed, three (of whom two 
were commissioned officers), and sixteen 
wounded, and one missing. On the 28th of 
May, leaving Farmington, the regiment, under 
the command of Lieut.-Col. Robbins — Col. Mur- 
phy being in charge of the brigade— went into 
action before Corinth, and, by their steady 
courage and demeanor, demonstrated their 
bravery under a heavy fire, losing, in this 
action, two killed and five wounded. This was 
the last effort of the rebels to defend the city, 
which was entered by our troops two days 
afterwards. 

Subsequently they were ordered to luka, 
where tl)ey remained until the approach of the 
rebels under Price and Van Darn, when they 
were again ordered to Corinth, and took part in 
the second battle of Corinth, on the 3d and 4th 
of October. During this battle, while Col. 
Murphy was absent, Lieut.-Col. Robbins and 
Major Jefferson were wounded, and carried from 
the field; and the command of the regiment 
devolved upon Capt. BritLon, who nobly con- 
ducted the action. Their loss in this battle was 
fourteen killed, seventy-five wounded, and two 
missing. After joining in the pursuit of the 
rebels which followed this battle, they returned 
to Corinth on the 14th of October, after wiiich 
time they were stationed in the vicinity of 
Waterford, Miss. 

The 8th nobly earned the encomiums be- 
stowed upon it. Its record is such that Wis- 
consin may feel proud of the "Eagle" regi- 
ment. 

On the 8th of December, the regiment was 
at Waterford, Miss., in the left wing of tlie 
Army of the Tennessee, under the command of 
Major-Gen. U. S. Grant. 

The 8ih regiment, in January, 18G3, moved 
from La Grange, by way of Corinth, to Ger- 
man town, Tenn., where they were employed in 



building fortifications, and guard duty, until 
March 11, when they marched to Memphis, and 
joined the forces intended by Gen. Grant to 
operate against Vicksburg, which were being 
concentrated near Helena. Lieut.-Col. Robbins 
was commissioned as colonel in the place of 
Col. Murphy dismissed. The regiment with 
other attacked the enemy, and, on the 14th of 
May, took possession of Jackson, the capital of 
Mississippi. Thj^ >aen proceeded to Walnut 
Hills, forming the eitreme right of the invest- 
ing force around Vicksburg. Here they took 
a part in the assault on the enemy's works. 
The regiment participated in many skirmishes 
with some loss, and on the 26th of September 
moved to Black River bridge, and went into 
camp, and remained until October 13. The 
8th regiment, on the 27th of January, 1864, 
proceeded to Vicksburg, by way of Mem- 
phis, and encamped near Black River bridge on 
the 3d of February. They took part in Slier- 
man's famous Meridian expedition, marching as 
far as Canton, Miss., and returning to Black 
River bridge, thence to Vicksburg, on the 5th 
of March. Here the regiment consented to re- 
main and take part in Gen Smith's projected 
expedition up the river to co-operate with Gen. 
Banks. The regiment expected to be sent 
home on veteran furlough, but remained at the 
especial request of Gen. Sherman. Leaving 
Vicksburg March 10, they passed down the 
Mississippi and up the Red river, to Simms- 
port, and landed. The brigade advanced and 
charged upon the rebels at Fort Scurvy, captur- 
ing several prisoners, and some military stores. 
Continuing up the river, they attacked and cap- 
tured Fort De Russy, after a short resistance. 
Here they were joined by the fleet, when they 
proceeded to Alexandria, and thence to Hen- 
derson Hill, where they found the rebels posted 
with artillery. A detour of fifteen miles was 
made in order to attack the enemy on the rear. 
About midnight, Gen. Mower succeeded in 
capturing the whole rebel force (350 strong), 
with four guns and 400 horses, and other muni- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



497 



tions of war. After a number of marches with 
Gen. Smith's army and a part of Gen. Bank's 
force, they received the attack of the enemy, 
and, after four hours liard fighting, drove him 
from the field. Our forces subsequently re- 
treated to Grand Encore, and thence to Alex- 
andria. 

The 8th participated in an action at Natchi- 
toches, and also at Cloutersville, where the 
rebels were driven back in confusion. On the 
4th of May, the 8lh were deployed- as skirmish- 
ers, and drove the enemy ten miles. At Bayou 
La Mourie, the enemy annoyed them by contin- 
uous artillery and musketry fire. They also 
took part in an action at Mansura, and also 
Calhan's Plantation, and Bayou De Glaise ; 
after which Gen. Smith's army returned to the 
mouth of Red river, and, embarking, reached 
Vicksburg on the 24th, and went into camp. 
The rebels having attempted to blockade the 
Mississippi at Columbia, Ark., on the 6th of 
June, Gen. Smith sent forward a division of 
1,500 infantry, and a battery in charge of Gen. 
Mower. The enemy were found, and an engage- 
ment ensued. The enemy were driven from 
their position, and pursued several miles. In 
this action, known as the ''Battle of Chicot," 
the regiment had three killed, and sixteen 
wounded. The command proceeded up the- 
river to Memphis, and went into camp. Here 
the veterans were allowed to proceed to Wis- 
consin on thirty days' furlough. The remainder 
of the regiment moved to La Grange, and in July 
took part in the expedition into Mississippi, and 
participated in the engagements near Tupelo. 
They returned to Memphis after a march of 260 
miles. Here they were joined by the regiment 
from veteran furlough. Subsequently the 8th 
marched from Memphis to Mississippi with the 
forces of Gen. A. J. Smith. On the 2d of 
September, they proceeded to White river and 
to Duvall's J^luff, thence to Brownsville, in 
pursuit of Gen. Price, and reached Cape 
Girardeau, October 1. On the 5th, they left for St. | 



Louis, where the regiment was newly clothed 
and equipped. Re-embarking on transports, 
they reached Jefferson City, and thence to 
Lamoine Bridge. From this place, they were 
assigned on the expeditionary army against 
Gen. Price through Kansas. Learning of the 
defeat and dispersion of Price's forces, they re- 
turned, reaching Benton Barracks November 
15. On the 23d of November, they proceeded 
to Nashville to re-enforce Gen. Thomas, and 
took part in the battle on the loth and 16th of 
December. In this action, the regiment captured 
a six-gun battery, about 400 prisoners, and two 
stands of colors. Their losses were, ten, killed; 
fifty-two wounded. The regiment joined in the 
pursuit, marching 150 miles, and finally encamp- 
ed at Clifton, Tenn., on the 22d of January, 
1865. 

The 8th regiment joined the pursuit of the 
enemy after the battle of Nashville, marched 
150 miles and encamped at Chifton, Tenn. On 
the 2d of January, 1865, they moved to East- 
port Embarking on the 6th of February, they 
proceeded, with the sixteenth corps, down the 
Tennessee to Cairo, and thence to New Orleans, 
and went into camp five miles below that city. 
On the 5th of March they moved in transports 
to take part in the investment of the defenses 
of Mobile, landing at Dauphin Island, and from 
thence proceeded up Fish river, ten miles, and 
went into camp. On the 25th they moved, and 
took position in the lines before the Spanish 
fort. Here they were engaged in fortifying, 
and the performance of picket duty, until the 
evacuation of the fort, on the 9th of April, 
when they moved to a position before Fort 
Blakely, and took part in the charge on that 
place with a small loss. After the surrender, 
the regiment marched 1 80 miles to Montgomery, 
Ala., where they remained until the 10th of 
May, when tbey marched by way of Selma, and 
took cars for Uuiontowu, on the Alabama & 
Mississippi Railroad. Here they went into 
camp, and remained until orders were received 



498 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



for their muster out. This was done at Deraop- 
olis, Ala., on the 5th of September, and tlie 
regiment reached Madison on the 13th, where 
they received their pay, and were formally dis- 
banded. 

The 8th was known as the "Eagle Regiment," 
fx-ora the fact that a live eagle was carried 
through all its campaigns, up to the return of 
the non-veterans in 1864. This bird was taken 
from the parent nest in Chippewa Co., Wis., by 
an Indian, whe disposed of it to a gentleman 
in Eau Claire county, from whom it was pur- 
chased by members of Capt. Perkin's company, 
Eau Claire Eagles, by whom it was presented 
to the regiment while organizing in 1861. It 
is needless to say that it was instantly adopted 
as the regimental pet, and was christened "Old 
Abe." A perch was prepared and the royal 
bird was borne with the regiment on all its 
marches, and into every battle in which the 
gallant 8th was engaged, up to the muster-out 
of the non-veterans. Perched on his standard, 
above the heads of the men, the bird was more 
than once the mark for rebel bullets, but, luck- 
ily, escaped unharmed, with the exception of 
the loss of a few feathers shot away. He re- 
turned with the non-veterans in 1864, and was 
presented. to the State, and placed in charge of 
the quartermaster's department, and every care 
necessary bestowed on him. At the great 
Chicago fair in 1863, " Old Abe" was exhibited, 
and his photographs disposed of, realizing the 
amount of about $16,000. He was also exhib- 
ited at the Milwaukee fair with proti table re- 
sults. We are told that the sum netted to these 
charitable objects was about $20,000. He oc- 
casionally breaks from his fetters, and soars 
into his native element ; but he has become so 
far domesticated, that he is easily recovered. 
Occasionally the music of a band, or the noise 
of a drum, will reach his ear, when he will in- 
stantly listen, and will respond with his charac- 
teristic scream, probably recognizing the strain 
as one with which the battle-field has made his 
ear familiar. "Old Abe" has become celebrated 



in our military annals ; and his history is inex- 
tricably interwoven with that of the brave and 
gallant regiment who bore him triumphantly 
through the field of strife. 

Reference has been made to the 8th Wis- 
consin as the "Eagle Regiment." Some ac- 
count of this "eagle," from whom the regiment 
derived its name, will prove interesting. 

" 'Old Abe' was captured in the spring of 
1861, in Chippewa Co., Wis., by an Indian, by 
the name of A-ge-mah-me-ge-zhig, of the Lake 
Flambeau tribe of the Chij^pewa Indians. The 
Indian sold the eagle to D. McCann, for a 
bushel of corn. Mr. McCann concluded that 
his eagle should go the wars. He took him to 
Chippewa Falls, and from thence to Eau Claire. 
The eagle being then about two months old, he 
sold it for I2..50 to company C, 8th Wisconsin 
regiment. The eagle was soon sworn into ser- 
vice by putting around his neck red-white-and- 
blue-ribbons, and on his breast a rosette of the 
same colors. The company, commanded by 
Capt. J. E. Perkins, and James McGennis, the 
eagle-bearer, left for Madison on the 6th of 
September, 1861. They arrived at La Crosse in 
the evening of the next day. The fact that a 
company was coming with a live eagle brought 
a great crowd to the vvharf. A salute from the 
1st Wisconsin Battery was fired, followed by 
'cheers from the crowd and soldiers, 'The eagle, 
the eagle ! hurrah for the eagle !' Arriving at 
Madison on the 8th of September, the company 
marched direct to Camp Randall, the band 
playing Yanl^ee Doodle, amidst great shouting 
from the 7th regiment and part of the 8th. 
The company entered the gate ; and the eagle, 
as if by instinct, spread his wings, took hold of 
one of the small flags attached to his perch, in 
his beak, and carried it in that position to the 
colonel's quarters. The excitement knew no 
bounds ; shout after shout was heard from the 
crowd. Deep and strong was the conviction 
that the eagle had a charmed life. 

"In camp he was visited by thousands, among 
them the highest dignitaries of civil and mili- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



499 



tary life. Capt. Perkins named him 'Old Abe,' 
in honor of Abraham Lincoln. By a vote of 
the company, the Eau Claire Badgers, its origi- 
nal name was changed to Eau Claire Eagles ; 
and by general expression of the people, the 
8th Wisconsin was called the 'Eagle Regiment.' 

"On the 12lh of October, ]861, the regiment 
left Camp Randall. At Chicago, St. Louis, and 
in fact everywhere, 'Old Abe' attracted great 
attention. Five hundred dollars were at one time 
offered for him, and at another, a farm worth 
$5,000 but, of course, in vain. His feathers are 
scattered all over the Union, so great the de- 
mand for them. 'Old Abe' was seen in all his 
glory, when the regiment was engaged in battle. 
At such times, he was always found in his place 
at the head of company C. In the midst of the 
roaring of cannon, the crack of the musket, and 
the roll of smoke, "Old Abe," with spread pin- 
ions, would jump up and down on his perch, 
uttering wild and fearful screams. The fiercer 
and louder the storm of battle, the fiercer, wilder 
and louder his screams. "Old Abe" was with 
the command in nearly every action, — about 
twenty-two battles, and sixty skirmishes. It is 
a remarkable fact that not a color bearer or 
eagle bearer, of the 8th, was shot down. The 
veterans were mustered out of the United States 
service, at Memphis, Sept. 16, 1864. It was 
there decided that "Old Abe" should be given 
to the State of Wisconsin. The regiment ar- 
rived in Madison on the 26th. The eagle was 
received by the governor from Capt. Wolf. The 
famous bird has since paid the debt of nature, 
and now reposes as an object of curiosity, in a 
glass case, on an elegant pedestal, in the rotunda 
of the capitol. 

Men ill the Eighth Regiment, from Green 
County. 

Lewis G. Armstrong, John Warner, William 
Chatwood, John W. Smith, Edwin B. White, 
George R. Ames, Laben L. Ames, John Burr, 
Ellis Day, Charles L. Gilbert, Joel W. Walker, 
James M. McNair, James Peterson, Stephen 
Estee, Alonzo W. Morley, Andrew Wood, G. 



T. Vermilion, Walter S. Heal, R. A. Barber, 
William E. Barnes, Charles Baxter, Julius Behr, 
Russell Brownell, Abraham Burt, James C. 
Chamberlain, Sanford Cluxton, Charles Corse, 
John R. Devlin, Daniel S. Edwards, Lewis Ellis, 
James Gilbert, Thomas Green, Jesse Ham, Lu- 
ther Havens, Nelson Heal, J. Jerryham, Cassius 
M. Jones, John F. Jones, William H. H. Jones, 
David Lewis, Joseph Lewis, David K. Loomis, 
Orson B. Loomis. Henry E. Mahar, Christopher 
C. Noggle, Edwin H. Oleson, Henry Oliver, Mr. 
Parker, Benjamin F. Peregoy, John M. Powell, 
William Ross, Milton Ross, William R. Raymer, 
Irvin Robison, John L. Russel, Jacob S. Ruther- 
ford, Robert Spears, William Stevens, Ferris 
Thompson, Otis Thompson, John Waldo and 
Pliny H.White. 

NINTH W^ISCONSIN KEGIMENT, 

The 9th regiment was organized under a gen- 
•eral order dated Aug. 26, 1861, giving the super- 
vision of the organization to Lieut. W. Finkler, 
of Milwaukee, who acted as quartermaster to 
the regiment. This regiment was gotten up on 
a somewhat different plan from the others of 
Wisconsin; The men were recruited and sent 
into Camp Sigel and organized, to a certain ex- 
tent, into companies. It was made up of Ger- 
mans exclusively, and was placed under the 
command of Col. Frederick Salomon. The 
different companies were formed, generally from 
the eastern counties of the State — Sheboygan, 
Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine and 
Fond du Lac, Calumet and Washington; but a 
portion were from Dane, Green and Sauk coun- 
ties. The regiment was full on the 28th of 
December, 1861, and awaited marching orders. 

The regiment left Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, 
under command of Col. Frederick Salomon, on 
the 22d of January, 1862, numbering thirty-nine 
officers and 884 men. 

Though this regiment was raised under the 
special promise of Gen. Fremont, that it should 
compose a part of the division of Gen. Sigel, 
the successor of the former did not feel under 
any obligations to carry out the promise; and 



500 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



tlie 9tli left for another destination. None of 
the Wisconsin regiments embraced so large a 
number of officers and soldiers of military ex- 
perience as this one. The eagerness of the reg- 
iment to encounter the enemy, was not gratified 
until the 30th of September, 1862, at Newtonia. 
In the first part of the battle, but four compa- 
nies were engaged, and these against an enemy 
of far greater numbers, strongly intrenched. 
The balance of the regiment, with Gen. F. Sal- 
omon's brigade, arrived later and took part in 
the tight. 

Four days after the battle of Newtonia, the 
9th regiment, with the brigade, was again on 
the march for another attack on that place, 
which, however, had been evacuated by the 
enemy, who had experienced heavy losses and 
did not feel strong enough to resist another at- 
tack. The retreat of the rebels was so hasty 
that a part of their camp equipment and a 
rocket-battery fell into the hands of the Union 
forces. The official report of the regiment in 
this battle shows a loss of 188 in killed, 
wounded aiid missing, of which only eight were 
named as killed. 

In the battle at Prairie Grove, the 9th was in 
the rearguard without taking part actively in 
the fight. The last report from the regiment 
in 1862 showed that it was encamped at Rhea's 
Mills, Ark. 

The regiment in December, 1862, was near 
Prairie Grove, Ark., but not in time to partici- 
pate in the battle. On the 10th of December, 
they returned to Rhea's Mills. A raid was 
made from there on Van Buren; the regiment 
marching sixty miles in two days, but soon re- 
turning. From this time till Feb. 20, 1863, the 
regiment was engaged in marching to various 
points, performing a sort of patrol duty, when 
they went into winter quarters at Stahl's creek, 
thirty-six miles west of Springfield, Mo. The 
regiment was stationed at different points in 
Missouri, engaged in guard duty, and on forag- 
ing parties in the vicinity of Rolla and Spring- 
field, until July 8. On that day they moved by 



railroad to St. Louis, where they were engaged 
in guard duty until the 12th of September, 
where they remained until the 10th of October. 
They then marched to Little Rock, Ark., and 
went into winter quarters about the 1st of No- 
vember. 

The 9th regiment was at Little Rock, Jan. 1, 
1864, and 230 re-enlisted men returned to Wis- 
consin on furlough early in February. The 
regiment participated in the Red River Expe- 
dition and was assigned to the 1st brigade. 
They left Little Rock March 23, and nothing 
occurred of note until the 1st day of April. A 
number of engagements between that date and 
the 24th of the same month took place, when 
they camped at White Oak creek. On the 15th 
of May another engagement took place; the 
enemy were driven back, when the brigade en- 
tered Camden. Up to the 23d of that month 
the 9th- was detailed to guard the bridge across 
the Washita river. 

At Jenkin's ferry the brigade was re-enforced, 
as Gen. Kirb}'^ Smith of the rebel army was 
near with an army of 20,000. Here a battle 
was fought and the 9th fought bravely. The 
casualties were, killed forty-seven — wounded, 
fifty-two. After the battle the regiment re- 
turned to Little Rock. Two companies were 
absent on furlough during the Camden cam- 
paign. On their return two other companies 
were sent home on veteran furlough. 

On the iVth of November, 1864, the non- 
veterans whose terms of service had expired 
were mustered out, together with a portion of 
the commissioned officers. The veterans were 
thereupon consolidated into an independent 
battalion of four companies, as veterans, under 
the command of Lieut.-Col. Jacobi. The non- 
veterans returned to Milwaukee, where they 
were cordially received, paid off and disbanded." 

The veterans of the 9th remained most of the 
time at Little Rock until the close of the war — 
the only operation being an expedition to the 
Saline river, in January, 1865. In June the 
command proceeded to Camden, 100 miles 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



501 



south, where they continued until August, when 
they returned overland, occupying their old 
quarters at Little Rock. The Independent Bat- 
talion (tl>e 9th) remained on duty until Febru- 
ary, 1865, when they returned to Wisconsin 
and were mustered out of the service, 
3Ien in the Ninth Regiment from Green County. 
Rudolf Karlin, John Stucky, Gottlieb Muel- 
ler, David Tschabold, Peter Bettler, Thomas 
Smith, Gabriel Voegli, Otto Leissring, J. Cas- 
par Luchsinger, Gottlieb Lenenberger, John 
Kundert, Joachim Marty, Abraham Kundert, 
Peter Steussy, Casper Blum, Fridolin Blum, 
Jacob Blum, John Blum, Rudolph Blum, John 
Blunier, Franz Brunner, Peter Disch, Rudolph 
Duhendorfer, Mathias Duerst, Sebastian Duerst, 
Burkhart Fiegi, Jacob Fiegi, Melchoir Fiegi, 
Michael Gallati, John Gerber, Jacob Gloor, 
Adam Ileitz, Jolm Heitz, Henry Hoehn, Esaias 
Hoesly, Fridolin Klassy, Jacob Kundert, Paulus 
Kundert, David Legler, George Legler, John 
Linder, F. Norder, John Popp, Carl Ruf, Jacob 
Schindler, Henry Schindler, Anton Staffaucher, 
Henry Streiff, Fridolin Steussy, Peter Tschudy, 
Balthasor Voegli, Samuel Weissmueller, Sam- 
uel vV^itmer, Henry Zimmerman and Jost 
Zweivel. 

ELEVENTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 11th regiment was called into Camp 
Randall during the month of October, 1861, 
and placed under the command of Col. Charles 
L. Harris, with the following field and staff of- 
ficers: Charles A. Wood, lieutenant-colonel; 
Arthur Piatt, major; Daniel Lincoln, adjutant; 
Charles G. Mayer, quartermaster; H. P. Strong, 
surgeon; E. Everett and C. C. Barnes, assistants; 
and Rev. J. 1>. Britton, chaplain. The numer- 
cial strength of the regiment when it left Camp 
Randall was 1,046 men. It was fully equipped 
(with the exception of arms) by the State, and 
was mustered into the service by Capt. Lament, 
of the Unitt'd States army. The regiment Avas 
unavoidably di-tained in camp some days after 
receiving orders to ni'>ve forward. The delay 
gave an opportunity to perfect the drill. Col. 



Harris was a graduate of West Point, served 
with credit in the three-months' campaign as 
lieutenant-colonel under Col. Starkweather of 
the 1st regiment. The eleventh broke camp 
November 20, started for St. Louis, and 
went into quarters twenty miles below that 
city. 

The regiment was stationed during the greater 
part of the winter at Camp Curtis, near Sulphur 
Springs, in Missouri, guarding and keeping in 
repair a line of railroad extending over sixty 
miles; thence to Pilot Knob, which they left on 
the 23d of March, arriving at Reeves Station, 
on the Black river, on the 27th. From Reeves 
Station they marched 185 miles, to Jacksonport, 
in Lawrence county. On the 19th of May they 
were at Batesville, in Arkansas, which place 
they left on the 22d of June, crossing the Black 
river at Jacksonport, where they left their sick, 
and pushed forward to Augusta. In this vicin- 
ity they remained until the 6th of July, when 
they marched fifteen miles, to "a place where 
the rebels had made another blockade," fol- 
lowed, the next day, by the battle of Baj^ou 
Cache, in which the eleventh lost four killed 
and fifteen wounded, the latter number includ- 
ing the colonel, one captain and one lieutenant. 
From Bayou Cache they marched to Helena, in 
Arkansas, arriving thereon the 13th of July. 

A glance at their route through Missouri and 
Arkansas will convey some idea of the priva- 
tions they must have been called upon to under- 
go in a march through a comparative wilder- 
ness. 

Their conduct at Bayou Cache was a sufficient 
indication as to what their conduct would be 
when called upon to assert Wisconsin valor on 
the battle-field. 

From Helena they marched to Patterson, in 
Missouri, where they were at the close of 1862, 
in the first division of the Army of Southeast 
Missouri, under command of Brig.-Gen. J. W. 
Davidson. 

This regiment, which had been in camp at 
Middlebrook, Mo., during the winter of 1862-3 



502 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



was ordered to join the forces of Gen. Grant, 
who was concentrating his forces at Helena, 
preliminary to the attack on Vicksburg. March- 
ing to St. Genevieve, the regiment embarked 
with the rest of the brigade and proceeded to 
Memphis, thence to Helena, and, on 22d of 
March, landed at Milliken's Bend, a few miles 
above Vicksburg. Taking part with the thir- 
teenth army corps, across the river, it arrived 
at Bruinsbnrg April 30 and proceeded onward 
to where the enemy were found in force, near 
Magnolia Church, four miles from Fort Gibson. 
In this engagement the brigade occupied the 
center and the fight became severe. They ad- 
vanced close to the enemy's line, and opened 
fire with such rapidity and precision, that the 
rebels soon broke and fled. They soon, how- 
ever, formed again, and another engagement 
took place; and the rebels were again driven 
from the field. The commander of the brigade 
complimented the 11th on their bravery on 
these occasions. The casualties reported were 
six killed and fifteen wounded. On the 2d of 
May, the enemy having evacuated Grand Gulf, 
the second brigade was sent to that place. At 
the battle of Black River Bridge the 11th 
took an active part, and alone took more than 
1,000 prisoners. In this engagement three were 
killed and eight wounded. Among the former 
was Capt. D. E. Hough of company A. 

Moving from the bridge the next day, the 
1 ] til and the brigade took its position in 
the trenches before Vicksburg. In the assault 
on May 22 thirty-eight were killed and sixty- 
nine wounded. The regiment was engaged on 
guard and fatigue duty until July 2, when they 
returned to Black River Bridge. On the .'Jd of 
July the city surrendered. The 11th, with 
Carr's division, took part in the March of Gen. 
Sherman on Jackson, after the surrender of 
Vicksburg. On July 13, the enemy was driven 
to his works, and on the 17th the city was entered 
by our troops. They were also sent south, per- 
forming a toilsome march of 215 miles. Taking 
a part in Gen. Bank's operations in Texas, the 



11th, with Gen. Washburn's division, em- 
barked for Brazos, Santiago, on the 23, and, af- 
ter repeated marchings, proceeded to Iiidianola, 
and took possession of that place. 

The 11th remained on duty in the vicin- 
ity of Matagorda bay and Indianola until the 
1 ] th of February, 1 864, when, upwards of three- 
fourths of their number having re-enlisted, the 
regiment was mustered as a veteran organiza- 
tion. The non-veterans were temporarily 
transferred to the 23d regiment, and the re- 
mainder embarked for New Orleans, on their 
way on veteran furlough. They reached Madi- 
son on the 21st of March, where they were 
welcomed by the State authorities, and received 
a new set of colors. On the 23d of April the 
men re-assembled at Camp Washburn, Mil- 
waukee, and again left the State, reaching 
Memphis on the 29tli Here they took part in 
Gen. Sturgis's expedition into western Tennes- 
see and northern Mississippi, also participated 
in that general's skirmish with Forrest's cavalry, 
and returned to Memphis on the abandonment 
of the expedition. From Memi)his they moved 
down the river to Carrollton, whence they pro- 
ceeded to Brashear city, where they arrived 
May 19. The regiment remained here until 
Feb. 26, 1865. During its occupation here, for 
nine months, the 11th regiment was em- 
ployed in the usual guard and outpost duty, and 
in making reconnoissances in the surrounding 
country. The non-veterans of the eleventh ar- 
rived at Madison on the 25th of October, 1864, 
and were mustered out of service. 

So far as is now known, only two Green 
county men were in this regiment — Florentine 
E. Andrus, of Albany, and Alfred Allen, of 
Cadiz, 

THIRTEENTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 13th regiment was organized under a gen- 
eral order dated Sept. 1 7, 1861, giving the coun- 
ties of Rock and Green the authority to organize 
aregimcnt The regiment rendezvoused in Janes- 
ville, and was placed under the command of Col. 
Maurice Maloney, with the following field aod 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



503 



staff officers ; James F. Chapman, lieutenant- 
colonel; Thomas O'Bigney, major; W. Rusjer, 
adjutant; P. Eydesheimer, quartermaster; John 
Evans, surgeon; E. J. Horton and S. L. Lord, 
assistants, and Rev. H. C. Tilton, chaplain. 
This regiment, like all the others that preceded 
it, was fully equipped by the State, except arms. 
It was the design to make up the regiment from 
the two counties named (Rock and Green); but, 
it was found that these counties had already 
honored too many drafts upon their citizens to 
render it an easy thing to furnish one full regi- 
ment more: consequently ^sorae aid was ex- 
tended from other counties, yet Rock county 
alone furnished 500 for this regiment. The 
13th was ordered to Kansas. 

From Weston, Mo., this regiment marched 
to Leavenworth City, where they staid three 
weeks ; thence, they marched to Fort Scott, 
and afterward to Lawrence. They were subse- 
quently ordered to Columbus, in Kentucky, 
where they arrived in the early part of June, 
1862, and about the middle of August were 
transfen-ed to Fort Henry, in Tennessee, where 
they remained in garrison during the year. 

The 13th took part in pursuing the rebel gen- 
eral, Forrest, through western Tennessee, driv- 
ing him towards Corinth, where his command 
was defeated and dispersed by Gen. Sullivan. 
In this expedition, the 13th marched 120 miles, 
and returned to Fort Henry, Jan. 1, 1863. Dur- 
ing the month, they were employed on the 
river between Fort Henry and Hamburg Land- 
ing, Tenn., in guarding steamers laden with 
stores and supplies. On the 3d of February, in 
the afternoon, they learned that Fort Donelson 
was attacked, and that a severe fight was going 
on. In half an hour, tlie regiment was on the 
road to re-enforce the 83d Illinois at that im- 
portant point. After driving the enemy's skir- 
mishers five miles, they arrived in the vicinity 
of the fort at 10 in the evening, with the loss 
of one man on the march. Meanwhile the gar- 
rison, assisted by the gunboats, had repulsed 
the enetily With eerere loss, and gained aYiotory 



at Fort Donelson on the 3d of March, holding 
the extreme right and front of the Army of the 
Cumberland. 

During the spring and summer, they were in 
detachments, scouting and scouring the sur- 
rounding country, taking many prisoners. Par- 
ticipating in the forward movement of the 
Army of the Cumberland, they left Fort Donel- 
son August 27, and by way of Columbia, Tenn., 
arrived at Stevenson, Ala., a distance of 260 
miles, on September 14. Col. William P. Lyon 
was placed in command of the post and the 
whole body of troops stationed there. The 
regiment joined the bridge to which it belonged, 
at Nashville, in the latter part of October, and 
went into winterquarters at Edgefield, where it 
was employed in picket and guard duty until 
February, 1864, when, more than three-fourths 
of the men having re-enlisted, the regiment 
proceeded to Wisconsin on veteran furlough. 

The 13th regiment arrived at Janesville, Wis., 
on the 18th of January, 1864, and was warmly 
welcomed and hospitably entertained by the 
people of the city, and from the adjacent coun- 
try, who had assembled to greet them. I'he 
regiment re-assembied at Camp Utley, Racine, 
on the expiration of their furlough, and pro- 
ceeded to Nashville on the 31st of March, en- 
camping at Edgefield, engaged in guarding 
trains from Louisville to Chattanooga. Here 
they were assigned to 1st brigade, fourth divis- 
ion, and designed to operate against Atlanta; 
but their destination Avas changed, and the 
brigade assigned the duty of guarding the Ten- 
nessee river between Stevenson and Decatur. 
On the 4th of June, they marched to Claysville, 
Ala., and erected earthworks and, while; 
here, they made frequent excursions across the 
river, capturing prisoners and seizing confeder- 
ate stores, with several skirmishes with gueril- 
las and rebel outposts. From this place they 
proceeded to Woodville, and thence to Hunts- 
ville, where Col. Lyon was placed in command 
of all troops and railroad defenses from Hunts- 
rille to Stevensoo, a distance of sixty miles. 



504 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



During most of the summer, and into Septem- 
ber, much sickness prevailed in the regiment; 
and, on October 1, tiie balance of the regiment 
proceeded to Larkinsville, and returned to 
ITuntsvillo, and thence to Decatur. 

One hundred and sixty of the non-veterans, 
including (he lieutenant-colonel and several offi- 
cers, were mustered out on the expiration of 
tlieir term of office. On the 23d of November 
they proceeded to New Market, where they dis- 
persed the 4th Alabama Cavalry, destroying 
their camps and provisions, and killing and 
wounding thirteen. The 13ili remained at Ste- 
venson until Hood's defeat at Nashville, when 
they returned to Huntsville, resuming duty on 
the railroad, repairing and rebuilding defenses. 
On the 31st of December, company O, stationed 
at Paint Rock Bridge, was suddenly assailed by 
.ibout 400 rebels; and Lieut. Wagoner and 
thirty-five men were captured, and two were se- 
verely wounded. 

The 13th regiment, on the 20th of March, 
were assigned to the 2d brigade; and Col.Ly.on 
resumed the command. They proceeded by 
rail to Knoxville, in east Tennessee, on their 
way to Virginia; thence they marched, by way 
of NewMarket and Bull's Gap, to Jonesborough. 
On the 20th of April they received news of 
Lee's surrender, and President Lincoln's assas- 
sination. The corps were ordered back to Nash- 
ville; and on the 20tli the regiment left Jones- 
borough, and proceeded to that city by way of 
Chattanooga, arriving on the 22d. 

Here those men whose terms expired on tlie 
5th of October were discharged; and a part of 
the 24th Wisconsin was assigned to the 13th to 
complete their term of service. On the 16th of 
June the 13th proceeded, by way of the Ten- 
nessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to New Or- 
leans and to Chalmette. In July the regiment 
embarked for Texas, and arrived at Indiaiiola 
on the 14th, from which place they went to 
Green Lake. They remained in thiscainj) until 
September 11, having suffere<l mucli from sick- 
ness produced by the heat of the climate and the 



lack of a vegetable diet. Many died here who 
had gone through the whole war without being 
sick. On the 11th the brigade started on a 
march of 145 miles, to San Antonio, arriving 
on the 24th of September, and went into camp, 
where they remained until orders came, in No- 
vember, to muster out the regiment, to proceed 
to Madison and to be discharged from service. 
Col. Lyon's term of service having expired, he 
left for Wisconsin on the lOtli of September; 
and the command devolved on Major Noyes. 
On the 2'7th of November the regiment began 
its march to Indianola, 160 miles, and from 
there embarked for New Orleans, which place 
they reached on the 13th of December, stearae 1 
up the Mississip[)i, reached Madison on the 23d, 
and were discharged from service on the 26tli 
of December, 1865. 

Men in the Thirteenth liegiment from Green 
County. 
James F. Chapman, Samuel F. Colby, Edwin 
E. Woodman, Martimer P. Main, Washington 
Porter, Charles H. Upham, Charles H. Van 
Buren, Ransom C. Condon, Louis M. Knowles, 
Robert H. Hewitt, Eugene F. Warren, Shep- 
hard S. Rockwood, James Reymore, Lemuel 
Parker, George Anderson, Henry Babcock, 
Simon Taylor, Walling Saxton, Charles F. 
Chamberlain, David E. Castator, Cornelius 
McCreedy, Elijah Hancock, Webster Hurlbut, 
Aaron Kellogg, James Abbey, Augustus W. 
Adams, William A. Anderson, Charles E. Bar- 
num, Alonzo Bennett, James M. Botsford, Joseph 
J^iayton, Sidney Brayton, James R. Patrick, 
James N. Patterson, William C. Pratt, James 
L. Price, .John Redner, John Robb, Lemuel 
Robb, Philip Rochfert, Jialdwin Rockwood, 
George Ro(tkwood, Byron L. Rolfe, William M. 
Rolfe, Franklin M. Ross, James Saiideisoii, C. 
O. Searles, George Sherman, Chester A. Siniih, 
Jolm Snell, George iVI. Stanton, E. A. Stark- 
weather, Henry Stockwell, Alonz(» 11. Taylor, 
Thomas Taylor, Reuben Van Loan, .James E. 
Wade, Perry H. Walling, Franklin F. Warner, 
.John Watkins, Kiumet A. Webster, Peter G. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



507 



Welle, Martin Welsh, Ira E. Whipple, Charles 
H. Wardsworth, Joseph H, Baker, Leroy Baxter, 
Austin C. Chapel, Reuben H. Chapel, Ira Cleve- 
land, George Brown, George W. Bump, Seneca 
P. Gates, E. W. Clark, Samuel M. Clark, Elijah 
E. Cooper, Warren Cowen, Francis Creazin, 
Samuel L. Grossgrove, James R. Dake, JohnM. 
Dodge, John PI. Dunkelburg, Charles W. Edgar, 
Filing Ellingson, William H. Fayette, Michael 
Gapen, Edwin Griffith, J jel Heath, Charles 
Henn, David G. Hulburt, Ward S. Ilutchins, 
Edgar Huyck, William Johnson, Michael F. 
Keely, Francis King, Thomas Lawless, Thomas 
I. Lyon, Elmer J. Meighells, William Maddock, 
George W. McCreedy, Silas McCreedy, Thomas 
Morris, John Murphy, William H. Murray, Wil- 
liam P. Murray, William H. Nichols, Stewart 
Nichols, George D. Orcott, Trancis Parslow, 
Uriah H. Cowan, Edwin S. Derrick, Louis Eitel, 
Geoi'ge Framy, David C. Frisbee, Hiram K, 
Hall, Halver Halverson, Nicholas Kiefer, John 
V. Martin, Nathan B. McNitt, Armstrong C. 
Menot, Isaac N. Menot, John M.Menot, Thomas 
J. Menot, Wilson S. Menot, John Penn, William 
H. Shaff, Osmer D. Sherry, Louis Anderson, 
Nelse Erickson, William H. Hall, Jonas Martin, 
Franklin M. Ross, Jacob Allensworth, Henry 
S. Babkirk, Thomas Heiml>ach, Madison Hop- 
kins, Albert B. Kent, Burton H. Morrison, 
James Morrison, Cyrus B. Robinson, Isaac Swan, 
John Swan and L. C. Taylor. 

FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH WISCONSIN REGI- 
MENTS. 

The 14th regiment was organized and called 
into Camp Wood at Fond du Lac, during No- 
vember, 1861, — David E. Wood, colonel. The 
15th regiment (Sandinavian) was, on the 15th 
of December of that year, in course of organi- 
zation at Camp Randall, — Hans Heg, colonel. 
The 14tli was in the battle of Shiloh,and suffered 
severely; the 15th were engaged in the conflict 
of Perryville. The former were afterward in 
the assault on Vicksburg. More than two- 
thirds of the regiment re-enlisted Dec. 11, 186-3. 
The 1 5th fousht in the battle of Stone River and 



took an active part in the Chickaraauga cam- 
paign. They were assigned to the Army of 
tlie Cumberland in October, 1868. 

The 14th came home on veteran furlough in 
January, 1864. They afterward participated in 
the Red river expedition, and fought in the en- 
gagements at Cloutersville, Marksville and Yel- 
low Bayou; also in the battles of Tupelo and 
Nashville. In 1865, they tookpart in the opera- 
tions against Mobile, and were mustered out of 
the service in October of that year. The 15th 
regiment took part in a severe engagement 
against Wheeler's cavalry at Charleston, Tenn., 
in January, 1864; they also fought at Resaca in 
May following, and did gallant work at Dallas 
soon after. On the 23d of June they .partici- 
pated in the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, en- 
gaging afterward in the siege of Atlanta. 
Their last engagement was at Jonesborough, 
Sept. 1, 1864. Three companies of the regi- 
ment were mustered out in December and the 
remainder in January and February, 1865. 
Me7i in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Regiments 
from Green County. 

Fourteenth.-Thomas Benoy, Eiias II. Country- 
man, Charles Cowles, Henry C. Foley, James 
Johnson, Adam A. Willrout, and Ernest Thied. 

Fifteenth. — Gulbrand Lokke,Holver Brenden, 
Guldbrand Dahl, Helge Espelee, Christian 
Gundhaus, N. Hansen, Peter Hornlebeck, Anon 
Irjellerrig, Halver Jenson, Christoffer H. Lee 
Ole Lindlo«, John Nielson, Bryngel Syversen, 
Christoffer Pederson, Nels J. Eide, Erick Evan- 
son, Christian Knudson, Anders Guldbardson, 
Erick Nilson, and Ole G. Thompson. 

SIXTEENTH WISCONSrN REGIMENT. 

The 16th regiment was organized, and ordered 
into camp at Madison early in November; Ben- 
jamin Allen colonel. The field and staff officers 
were, Cassius Fairchild, lieutenant-colonel; 
Thomas Reynolds, major; George Sabin, adju- 
tant; J. E. Jones, quartermaster; G. W. East- 
man, surgeon; I. H. Rogers and Ira A. Torrey, 
assistants. The companies were filled up from 
the counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee, Waushara, 



30 



508 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CTreen Lake, Adams, Chippewa, Dodge, Dane 
and Lafayette. The regiment was nearly full 
on the 26th of December, and was afterward 
fully equipped by the State, as were also the 
other regiments. The numerical strength of 
the 16th at the above date was about 900. 

This regiment, one of the largest that left 
Wisconsin, had its organization completed 
about the middle of February, 1862, and left 
Camp Randall on the 13th day of March, under 
orders for St. Louis. Here they remained but 
one day, embarking on the 15th for FortHenry, 
Tenn., to join Gen. Grant's command. Previous 
to their arrival. Gen. Grant had moved his com- 
mand to Savannah, at which j^lace the.regiment 
joined him, on the 2()th of March. 

They took part in the battle of Shiloh, on 
the 6th and 7th of April, They were posted as 
the advance-guard of the army, in which posi- 
tion they exchanged the first shot with the 
enemy, and afterwards nobly did their duty 
during that terrible first day's battle. Capt. 
Saxe was killed at the first fire; and Capt. Pease 
received a mortal wound, from the effects of 
which he died on the 22d of April. Col. Allen, 
Lieut-Col. Fairchild, ancl Captains Train and 
Wheeler were wounded. The total loss in 
killed and wounded at this battle was 245. In 
no action of Wisconsin regiments had more 
bravery and determined resistance been sliown 
than in the action of this regiment in that mem- 
orable contest. The coolness and intrepidity of 
the field-officers — in connection with whom 
should be mentioned Adjt. Sabin, and in which 
they were nobly supported by the whole regi- 
ment — has already become a prominent item in 
the history of this war. The many attempts of 
the enemy to entrap the regiment on the morn- 
ing of the 6th instant were most gallantly re- 
pulsed, and, by the coolness of the colonel, 
most ingeniously thwarted. 

Tliey participated in the siege of Corinth un- 
der command of Gen. Halleck, and, after its 
occupation by our troops, were stationed in the 
vicinity during the summer, and took part in 



the battle of Corinth on the 3d and 4th of Oc- 
tober, where their loss was thirty-five in killed 
and wounded. 

After their return from the pursuit of the 
enemy which followed this battle, they were 
stationed for a short time at Grand Junction, 
from which place they marched, on the 28th of 
November, in the direction of Holly Springs. 
On the 30th they were engaged in the battle in 
front of the rebel stronghold on the Tallahatchie, 
which resulted in the surrender of the enemy's 
fortifications at that place, which were entered 
by our troops on the 1st of December. 'J'he 
regiment at this date numbered 499. Having 
become so reduced, it was deemed advisable by 
the commanding general to consolidate the ten 
companies into five, which was done. Col. Al- 
len returned to Wisconsin, where, assisted by 
his surplus line officers, he recruited five addi- 
tional companies from among the drafted men 
in camps of rendezvous. At the close of 1862, 
the regiment was near Grand Junction, Tenn. 

The 16th regiment left Moscow, Tenn., on 
the 10th of January, 1863, and engaged on duty 
on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad; was 
subsequently transferred to Lake Providence, 
and took part in cutting a canal to the lake, 
where they remained until about August 1, at 
which time they moved down the river to Vicks- 
burg, and, on the 28th of September, marched 
to Red Bone Church, twelve miles from Vicks- 
burg. Here Lieut. -Col. Fairchild was placed in 
command. They remained until February, 1864, 
when the)' moved into the fortifications at 
Vicksbnrg, and acted as a part of the garrison. 
On the 4th of March they were joined by three 
companies which had been recruited in Wis- 
consin. 

The old companies re-enlisted, and on the 6th 
left Vicksburg for Wisconsin, on veteran fur- 
lough, arriving at Madison on the 16th, where 
they were publicly welcomed by the State offi- 
cers and members of the legislature. After 
their thirty days' respite from military matters, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



509 



they rendezvoused at Camp Randall on April 
18, and reached Cairo on the 22d. 

A number of changes in the regiment now 
took place, Lieut.-Col. Cassius Fairchild being 
promoted colonel. On the 4th of May, it being 
attached to the 1st brigade, 3d division, left 
Cairo and proceeded by transports to Clifton, 
Tenn. Taking up their line of march to join 
Sherman's army, they proceeded by way of 
Huntsville, Warrenton, Ala., and Rome, Ga., 
and reached Ackworth on the 8th of June, after 
a march of 320 miles. Here they took position 
and began their advance southward. The ene- 
my were first encountered on the 15th, near 
Kenesaw Mountain. The regiment took part in 
the movements in that vicinity, including Bald 
Bill, driving the rebels out of and beyond their 
intrenchments. The 12th and 16th regiments 
were inseparably connected'in the bloody fight 
of the 22d of July, both regiments exhibiting 
the greatest valor and bravery. Thence they 
proceeded towards Atlanta, and took part in de- 
stroying the railroad from that place to Jones- 
borough. They took part in the skirmish near 
that place, and also at Lovejoy. The casualties 
from June 9 to Sept. 9, 1864, of the 16th were: 
Killed, thirty-eight; wounded, seventy-two. The 
regiment remained at Atlanta until October 3, 
and participated in the Savannah campaign. 
From Savannah they went to Goldsboroxigh, and 
thence to Raleigh, where the rebel general, 
Johnson, surrendered on the 26th of Apri', 
1865. 

The march homeward was by way of Rich- 
mond and Washington City, where the regi- 
ment took part m the grand reviews. Proceed- 
ing from thence on the Vth of June, they were 
ordered to Louisville, Ivy., reaching thereon the 
12th of July, and going into camp, when they 
were mustered out, and on the 14th took the 
cars for Wisconsin, reaching Madison on July 
16, where they were publicly received by tiie 
State officers. They were paid off on the 19th 
of Angnst, and the regiment was disbanded, 



Col, Fairchild was brevetted brigadier-general 
for meritorious services in the war. 

3fen in the Sixteenth Regiment from Green 
County. 
John J. Green, Calvin C. Smith, James Nerris, 
Isaac T. Carr, George Richmond, Horatio G. 
Cleveland, John S. Steadman, George W. An- 
dre, Louis Baker, Leroy Baxter, Alonzo Beedy, 
Peter Benson, James Bradley, Jonathan Brean, 
Edwin R. Brown, Joseph A. Brown, Sandford 
S. Brown, Solomon Brnger, Ezra Blumer, Wil- 
liam Blunt, William T. Burkholder, Elmore J. 
Clark, John D. Cline, Albert T. De Haven, 
Wesley W. De Haven, Richard Denuare, Wal- 
ter Divan, Dwight M. Devereaux, William 
Edwards, Gottleib Eitel, John W. Ennis, 
Thomas I. Gallion, Jacob Garrett, Richard Gar- 
rett, John K. Glass, George W. Gleason, 
Samuel Gyer, Norman Hill, August C. Hingee, 
James Heekman, Frank Hopkins, Julius C. 
Hurlbut, Joseph I. Jones, Joel Kelly, Charles 
H. Linzee, Daman Linzee, Peter Martin, Wil- 
liam Moore, James Morton, Milo Niles, Kundt 
Olsen, Albert Peebles, Leonard Pierson. Wil- 
liam Reinhart, Simon Rigel, Sylvester Rob- 
erts, Cheny Rogers, Simon Saucerman, Ed- 
win Scovil, P. A. Sheppard, Charles Shriner, 
Lewis W. Shull, Morgan Shall, Morris D. 
Smith, Ralph Smith, Abraham Snyder, Wil- 
liam Snyder, John Q. A. Soper, Theodore W. 
Spalding, Levi Starr, William Starr, Philip H. 
Strunk, Christian Stuky, Miner Taylor, John 
H. Trogner, Joseph D. Trogner, E. W. Van 
Horn, Sumner W. Wiggins, La Fayette W. 
Wilcox, Porter Whipple, James White, John 
A. White, Joseph White, and William II. 
Youngblood. 

EIGHTEENTH WISCONSIN REOIitENT. 

Tlie 18th regiment was organized at Camp 
Trowbridge, JVLlwaukee, under the supervision 
of Col. James S. Alban, early in the year 
1862, and its master into the United States 
service was completed on the 15th of March of 
that year. The regiment left tlie State on the 



610 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



30th, with orders to report at St. Louis. The 
following was the regimental roster: 
Colonel. — James S. Alban. 
Lieutenant-Colonel. — Samuel W. Beall. 
Major. — J. W. Crain. 
Adjutant. — Gilbert L. Park. 
Quartermaster. — Jeremiah U. Rogers. 
Surgeon. — George F. Huntington. 
First Assistant Surgeon. — Larkin G. Mead. 
Chaplain. — Rev. James Delaney. 
Captain Co. A. — James P. Millard. 
" " B.— Charles A. Jackson. 

'' " C — Newton M. Layne. 

" " D— George A. Fisk. 

" " E — William Bremmer. 

" " F— Joseph W. Roberts. 

" " G— John H. Compton. 

" " H— David H. Saxton. 

" " I — William A. Coleman. 

" " K— William J. Kershaw. 

First Lieutenant Co. A — Edward Colraan. 
" " " B— Thomas A. Jackson. 

" " " C— John H. Graham. 

" D— D. W. C. Wilson. 
« " " E— G. R. Walbridge. 

" " " F— George Stokes. 

« " " G— Frederick B. Case. 

« " " H— S. D. Woodworth. 

" " " I— Ira H. Ford. 

" " " K — Alexander Jackson. 

2d Lieutenant Co. A — Thomas J. Potter. 
" " " B— Samuel B. Boynton. 

" " " C— Allen A. Burnett. 

" " " D— Peter Sloggy. 

" " " E— Luman II. Carpenter. 

" " " F— George A. Topliff. 

" " G— James R. Scott. 

" II— Thomas H. Wallace. 

" " " I — Ogden A. Southmayd. 

" " " K— Phineas A. Bennett. 

The regiment arrived at St. Louis on the eve" 

ning of the :51st of March, 1862, and next day 

were onlered to proceed up the Tennessee river 

to Pittsburg Landing. Arriving at the landing 

about noon of Saturday, April 5, they were as- 



signed to the. command of Gen. Prentiss, which 
was then in the extreme advance, about four 
miles on the Corinth road. 

No sooner had the 18th Wisconsin reached 
its position on the Corinth road under Gen. 
Prentiss, than they found themselves confronted 
by the enemy. In brief, they had a position of 
extreme danger, as the enemy were marching 
in force against the Union army, and early on 
Sunday, the day after the arrival of the regi- 
ment, the battle of Pittsburg Landing began. 
The result is far more than a "twice told tale." 
Col. James A. Alban was shot through the body, 
and Major J. W. Crain was killed with eight 
wounds on his person. Lieut-Col. Samuel W. 
Beall and acting adjutant Colman were both 
severely wounded, and Capt. John H. Compton, 
company G, was killed. 

Capt, Gabriel Bouxjk, of the 2d Wisconsin, 
succeeded to the colonelcy of the 18th Wiscon- 
sin, and the regiment was assigned to the sec- 
ond brigade, commanded by Col. Oliver. In 
the vicinity of Corinth, Col. Bonck, early in 
October, 1862, was attacked by an overwhelm- 
ing force of the enemy, but the 18th escaped, 
though with some loss. Company C had pri- 
vates Robert E. Graham and William Downie 
wounded. The 18th left Corinth on the 2d of 
November. 

In May, 1863, the 18th regiment had been 
assigned to the first brigade, commanded by 
Col. Sanborn, in Gen. Crocker's division, of the 
l7th army corps. At the battle of Champion 
Hills, private Bent Markison was wounded. 
The regiment acted as sharpshooters in the 
assault of the 22d of May, at Vicksburg, to hohl 
a position in front of a rebel fort, and cover 
the advance of the assaulting column. In this 
movement company C met with no casualty. 

On the 4th of January, 1864, Col. Bouck re- 
signed. Lieut-Col. Beall had resigned the pre- 
vious August. The regiment was mustered out 
of service at Louisville, July 18, 1865, and 
reached Madison on the 29th, where they were 
publicly received and disbanded. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



511 



Men in the Eighteenth Regiment from Green 
County. 
diaries H. Jackson, Thomas A. Jackson, 
Samuel B. Boynton, Jacob VValkey, Hender- 
son Farmer, Samuel S. Frowe, Henry T. Johns, 
George W, Hohnes, David Aldridge, Joseph L. 
Shaw, M. B. Cunningham, Charles M. Ball, 
Herman B. Worcester, Abram McGuinnesft, 
Daniel A. Rogers, Orwin J. Ellis, John L. Hunt, 
Alexander Adair, Eben Adair, James Alexan- 
der, Francis M. Bailey, Hiram E. Bailey, Sam- 
uel Bailey, W. Barnhouse, Alonzo Beedy, 
Norris M. Bray, Benjamin Butcher, Mahlon 
I. Bussey, J. P. Bryant, James M. Carpenter, 
Joseph Carter, John W. Chase, Jonas G. Clapp, 
Elias Combs, Clinton B. Condon, John Conklin, 
Charles H. Cottle, George W. Crosby, A J. 
Daughenbaugh, Benjamin S. Davis, George W. 
Davi'j, James D. Davis, Michael J. Death, Will- 
iam H. Denzon, Theodore J. Derrick, Alvin E. 
Devereaux, James W. Douglas, Richard Dun- 
bar, Ziniri Egma, Isaac N. Farmer, James Farm- 
er, James Fitch, Albert M. Green, John Goff, 
Henry Hall, James Hall, Juan W. Halstead, 
Charles O. Hansen, William H. Harden, Asa 
W. Heath, Osborn Heath, Elijah Hile- 
man, Hiram Hitchcock, Hannibal H. Hopkins, 
William B. Hopkins, William Hooker, Sylves- 
ter S. Jackson, A. M. Kasson, John S. King, 
Isaiah Kirby, Elnathan Knapp, James R. Knapp, 
Richard C. Laird, George S. Loucks, Andrew J 
Lucia, Albert K. Marsh, David H. Mason, Red- 
mont McGuire, Henry Meir, Michael Min- 
neghen, Thomas Mooney, John W. Moore, John 
H.Myers, William W.Newberry, Wilson Olds, 
Charles E. Packard, Norris C. Perkins, George 
W. Phillips, Gilbert H. Phillips, Asa C. Price, 
Peter Price, Ezra W. Post, Franklin A. Rogers, 
William Rourke, Thomas Salmon, Joseph San- 
born, Esek S. Sisson, Francis G. Smith, Eben 
Soper, John Q. A. Soper, William H. Spencer, 
John S. Steadman, Ezra H. Stewart, Frederick 
Teis, P. Van Norman, Isaac W. Young, John 
Young, Daniel Youngblood, Edward F. Waite, 
Andrew Wallace, Allen Webb, George W. 



Webb, Wilbur F. Wilder, James Willets, Ches- 
ter W. Williams, Valentine Worley, E. L. 
Wright, MalcomBrunner, Alexander Jackson, 
Michael Lennen, Charles G. Myers, Samuel C. 
Baldwin and John A. Farmer. 

TWENTIETH AXD TAVENTY-FIRST WISCONSIN REGI- 
MENTS. 

'I'he 20th regiment was recruited during the 
months of June and July, 18G2. On the 30th of 
August, they left Camp Randall for St. Louis, 
under command of Col. Bertine Pinkney. They 
fought bravely at Prairie Grove, Ark., in De- 
cember following. They were at Vicksburg at 
the time of its capitulation. Afterwards, they 
proceeded to Brownsville and were on duty at 
Fort Brown until it was evacuated July 28, 1864. 
Tiiey marched with the land forces attached to 
the expedition against Mobile, landing on the 
10th of August, 1864, at Mobile Point. They 
took part in the stirring events which followed 
in the vicinity. Mobile surrendered April 12, 
1865. They arrived at Madison, July 30, and 
were paid off and disbanded on the 9th of 
August. 

The 21st regiment — Col. Benjamin J. Sweet — 
was organized during the months of July and 
August, 1862. They left Camp Bragg for Cin 
cinnati, on the 11th of September following, — 
taking part in the battle of Perryville on the 
8th of October. At the close of 1862, they 
were near Nashville, Tenn., in the third di- 
vision of the Army of the Cumberland. 

The regiment, on the 26th of June, 1863, 
drove the enemy from a strong position at 
Hoover's Gap, and in September were in the 
battle of Chickamauga, — suffering severely. 
They remained upon Lookout Mountain untij 
May 2, 1864, when they marched to join the 
advance on Atlanta. They were in the battles 
of Resaca, Dallas and Kenesaw Mountain and 
in other engagements during that campaign, 
and finally marched with Sherman "to the sea." 
They were discharged at Milwaukee, Juno 
17, 1865. 



512 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Men in the Twentieth and Twenty -first Megiments 
from Green County. 
Twentieth — George L, Payson, Benjamin F. 
Hickman, James MoAven, George L. McOarly 
and Edward Williams. 

Twenty-first. — Andrew Jackson, John W. Sat- 
terlee, Cliarles A. Douglas and Calvin P. Day. 

TWENTY-SECOND WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 2 id regiment (Col. William L. Ut- 
ley) was made up almost exclusively of 
men from the counties of Racine, Rock, Green 
and Walworth. Col. XJtley had been for many 
years prominent in military matters of the State, 
and twice occupied the position of adjutant- 
general. The task of organizing the first volun- 
teer regiments of the State, in the year 18G], 
devolved upon him. In this work, new to Wis- 
consin, and without precedent or experience, 
his military knowledge and energy contributed 
largely to the efficiency and fame of Wisconsin 
soldiers. 

The regiment was ordered to Cincinnati, and 
left Racine on the 16th of September, arriving at 
Cincinnati on the 18th. They were encamped 
in Kentucky, about five miles southwest of the 
city, until the last of November, when they re- 
moved to Nicholasville, below Lexington. On 
the 12th of December, 1862, they were at Dan- 
ville, Ky., from whicii place they proceeded in 
various directions through the surrounding- 
country, to meet and foil the movements of the 
enemy. The order for the return of such fugi- 
tives from labor, as came into the camp, was re- 
pugnant to the feelings and principles of Col. 
Utley, and his men. In response to such an 
order, he utterly refused to be instrumental in 
returning a colored man to the man claiming to 
be his master. At one time, the colonel was in- 
dicted by a Kentucky court, and the sheriff was 
ordered to airest him. The attemjjt was not 
made, however; and the regiment was allowed 
to depart from Kentucky without any disturb- 
ance. 



They left Danville on January 26, 1863; 
arrived at Louisville on the 30th; and reached 
Nashville February 7; from thence to Frank- 
lin; and on the 3d of March, were ordered to 
make a reconnoissance toward Spring Hill, 
where an engagement took place at a place 
known as Thompson's Station, in which the reg- 
iment was badly defeated. Three hundred and 
sixty-three men went out with this expedition, 
of which about 150 escaped, and the rest were 
killed, wounded or taken prisoners; Col. Utley 
and eleven commissioned oflicers among them. 

On the 8th of March, the remainder of the 
regiment (about 500 men), under Lieut.-Col. 
Bloodgood, was ordered to Brentwood Station. 
On the 25th, while on the way to assist a Union 
force two miles south, they were attacked by 
overpowering numbers, and completely sur- 
rounded by the enemy, under Gen. Forrest. 
Finding that resistance was useless, Lieut.-Col, 
Bloodgood surrendered his whole command. 

The oflicers and men captured in these two 
engagements were sent to southern prisons. The 
enlisted men were soon exchanged; and the 
officers who had been sent to Libby prison were 
exchanged on the 5th of May. It has since been 
ascertained that the rebels had a force of over 
12,000 at Thomjason's Station, who surrounded 
aud captured Coburn's forces. 

After the release of the 22d, a rendezvous 
was established at St. Louis, where the regiment 
was re-organized, and newly equipped, and on 
the 12th of June returned to the field. Proceed- 
ing to Nashville, arriving there on the 15th, they 
were sent to Franklin, from whence, on the 3d 
of July, they proceeded to Murfreesboro, aud 
went into camp within the fortifications. A 
detachment was sent in December lo near Tul- 
lahoma. Here they remained in the perform- 
ance of provost and guard duty until February, 
1864. 

The regiment moved from Nashville in April, 
1864, camping for a time in Lookout valley, and 
proceeded to Dalton, through Snake Creek Gap, 
aud arrived in front of Resaca on the 13th, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



513 



forming in line of battle; in which battle the 
3d, 26th and 22d Wisconsin regiments took an 
active and conspicuous part. The 22d lost 
heavily, many of the men being killed in the 
enemy's works. This was their first battle, and 
they covered themselves with iionor. The caa- 
ualties were, twenty-four killed and forty-nine 
wounded. Following up the enemy, on the 
25th of May he was found near Dallas, where 
an engagement took place; the regiment losing 
six killed and thirteen wounded. The position 
was fortified and held until June 1, when the 
brigade accompanied the movement of the 
twentieth corps to the left, and took position in 
front of the enemy's lines at Pine Knob and 
Lost Mountain. Here they took in the opera- 
tions of the corps, and had ten killed and twen- 
ty-three wounded. On the 2d of July the ene- 
my left their works. Col. Utley resigned, and 
was succeeded by Lieut.-Col. Bloodgood. The 
regiment also took part in the battle of Peach 
Tree Creek, and had eleven killed and thirty- 
three wounded. They then took position before 
Atlanta; and the movements of Gen. Sherman 
caused Gen Hood to abandon that city, destroy- 
ing property to the value of $2,000,000. The 
22d and 26th Wisconsin were among the first 
to enter the city and take possession. 

The regiment encamped near Atlanta, and 
were employed as train guard most of the way 
to Savannah. They entered that city with the 
rest of tlie army, and continued their march to 
Bejitonville, where the enemy was driven before 
them. They were also at Averysboro on 
the 19th, and assisted in driving the enemy 
from that point, and proceeded on their way to 
Raleigh. The subsequent history of the clos- 
ing services of Sherman's grand army has been 
(jiven in the narratives of other regiments. 
After the surrender of Gen. Johnston, the corps 
proceeded to Richmond, thence to Washington, 
until June 12, when they were mustered out 
and left for home, arriving at Milwaukee, where 
they were paid olf and disbanded. 



3f en in the Ttceiity-second Regiment from Green 
County. 

James Bintliflf, Thomas H. Eaton, Fluette 
Annis, Charles A. Booth, Stephen F. Ball, Wil- 
liam S. Cole, John C. Denniston, Myron H. 
Puifer, William H. King, John R, Gates, Aaron 
H. McCracken, Leopold Seltzer, Christopher 
Tochterman, William J. Witham, Emmel F. 
Phelps, Amos H. Cole, Allen Sears, Mathias 
Adair, James Adair, Edward Aldinger, Gideon 
Allen, Ira M. Barrus, Isaac C. Blake, William 
H. P. Canfield, Isaac T. Carr, Josiah Clouse, 
Newel E. Combs, William E. Cox, George 
Crooks, H. L. Cunningham, Samuel Damon, 
Abner Darling, Nelson Darling, Isaac M. Den- 
ney, John Denny, William A. Divan, Eben J. 
Donnan, Ole Enderson, Ole Erickson, Henry L. 
Fleek, Nels Galeson, Edwin Gardner, Ezekiel 
P. Gleason, Thomas Gray, Timothy Gray, Dan- 
iel Greedell, Alonzo H. Griflan, Orin J. Hale, 
Myron J. Hancock, Stener Hansen, William H. 
Holmes, William J. Hunt, Thor Iverson, Jesse 
B. Jackson, John J. C. Jackson, John Johnson, 
Ole Kettleson, Adolph Kerner, Robert R. King, 
Zaphna L. King, Knud A. Knudson, James Mc- 
Connell, Eli Michaels, Joseph Michael, James 
S. Moore, Carroll Morgan, John D. Proesher, 
Thomas Proesher, George C. Ransom, Ole Ren- 
nelson, Marvin L, Rhines, Michael Rima, 
George Robinson and John McConnell. 

Absolom Saucerman, Solomon B. Shrake, 
Martin H. Sisson, Christopher Siverson, James 
F. Snyder, Enoch South, Albion C. Squires, 
William M. Tate, Christopher Tree, William 
T. Ullon, Lewis Walter, Chauncy Ward, 
Joseph S. Wetzler, Johji H. P. Wilson, Ben- 
jamin F. Wright, Aaron Worley, Gottleib 
Zumbrunnen, Richard R. Banker, Daniel 
Thomas, Lester Perkins, John Stewart, Eph- 
raim H. Newman, Van B. S. Newman, Bishop 
T. Raymond, William C. Penn, Thurston C. 
Scott, William W. Chadwick, Samuel Pletts, 
Harrison Lovelace, Judson Mitchell, W. P. 
Parriott, Jacob StuU, Warren Jones, William S. 
Newman, Josiah R. Clawson, John H. Berry, 



514 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Z. P. Davis, John Debolt, John G. Cramer, 
John C. Jordon, Sylvester R. Stephens, Elijali 
W. Austin, Setl) Austin, Frederick Baker, 
George B. Ball, Peter M. Betts, William H. 
Booker, Byron C. Bouten, Harlow T. Bouten, 
Marion J. Bouten, Andrew Boyer, C. W. Brad- 
shaw, Jacob Bridge, Elijah Brooks, Thomas A. 
Burns, Lewis R. Caughey, John A. Chambers, 
Urias Churchill, Arthur S. Chui-chill, Jesse D. 
Cole, William H. Coldron, N. Coldron, James 
M. Covert, Orin M. Covil, Chris. Danabaugh, 
Thomas J. Danabaugh, Joseph Davis, Samuel 
A. Davis, Nelson A. Drake, Frederick End- 
field, Silas B. Faucher, Henry L. Feathei-, 
Peter W. Feather, John N. William Fulker, 
Snyder Gould, Francis M. Hale, William Hale, 
Josiab D. Hall, Peter Hauz, Alexander Hattery, 
August Helmer, William H. Herrington, Fred- 
erick Holz, Albert Hopkins, Harley J. Howard, 
Michael J. Hunholz, Alonzo Jackson, William 
C. Jones, Joshua P. Kildow, Charles C. Liud- 
ley, William E. Lindley, James W. Lockhart, 
Charles E. Matteson, Sylvester McMauus, Ab- 
ner A. Mitchell, Thomas E. Miner, Israel C. 
Moon, Robert Morris, Henry W. Morrison, 
Andrus Peck, M. H. Pengra, Levi Richardson, 
Stephen C Richardson, Hazzard Roby, Henry 
W. Roby, David P. Sanborn, Jotham Scudder, 
Jerrold W. Sherry, Richard Shanahan, Wil- 
liam H. Slater, James W. Stahlnicker, Peter 
Steepleton, Richard Swan, John Thorpe, Nel- 
son Tillotson, Hans Turgeson, Henry Young, 
Samuel Young, William H. Warner, Samuel 
West, George M. Willis, Thomas Woodle and 
Levi S. Woodling. 

TWENTY-THIRD WIj^CONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 23d regiment (Col. Joshua J. Guppy)was 
composed principally of Dane and Columbia 
county men. Col. Guppy is a well-known resi- 
dent of Portage City. He Avas lieutenant- 
colonel of the 10th regiment, and had the ad- 
vantage of a military education and of one 
year's service in the field. Lieut. -Col. Jussen 
was a member of the State legislature of 1861 
and 1862. 



The regiment was, for the time it had been in 
camp, the best drilled of any from the State. 

They left Camp Randall, en route for Cincin- 
nati, on the 18th of September, and established 
their headquarters at Camp Bates, in Kentucky, 
about five miles above the city, on the Ohio 
river. They were subsequently moved near 
Paris, in Kentucky. Here they remained until 
the last of October, when they marched to 
Nicholasville. Thence they marched to Louis- 
ville, arriving on the 15th of November; hav- 
ing accomplished the march of eighty-five miles 
in four days. At Louisville they embarked, on 
the 18th of November, under orders for Mem- 
phis, at which place they arrived on the 27th, 
where they were at the close of 1862, in the 1st 
brigade, first division. Brig. -Gen. A. J. Smith 
commanding, and were unattached to any army. 
Capt. Frost, company K,died on December 18, 
in hospital at Memphis. The regiment was at 
Milliken's Bend Jan. 1, 1863. On the 10th of 
the month they disembarked within three miles 
of Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river. 
While moving forward to obtain position they 
were assailed by a destructive enfilading fire 
from the enemy's rifle-pits and artillery, render- 
ing necessary a change of front. This having 
been effected, three companies were employed 
as skirmishers, and captured several block- 
houses; while the balance of the regiment at- 
tacked and carried the rifle pits. After an en- 
gagement of about three hours, the post, with 
its garrison, unconditionally surrendered. In 
this engagement the 23d sustained a loss of six 
killed and thirty one wounded. January 15 the 
regiment again embarked, and arrived at 
Young's Point, La., where they encamped. In 
this unhealthy location the regiments suffered 
severely from the effects of malaria and expos- 
ure, and it was until the middle of February be- 
fore the regiment could muster 250 men fit for 
duty. From the middle of February to the 
8th of March, they were engaged in several 
minor excursions against the enemy at Green- 
ville, Miss., and at Cypress Bend, Ark., where 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



515 



I 



they had a severe fight, in which the 23d suc- 
ceeded in capturing several {)risoners and pieces 
of artillery. After a foraging expedition to 
Princeton, Miss., they ascended the river to 
Milliken's Bend, where the health of the regi- 
ment greatly improved. Following the thir- 
teenth army corps in its march to the rear of 
Vicksburg, they proceeded to Hard Times land- 
ing, below Grand Gulf. Crossing the river to 
Bruinsburg, the division commenced the march 
toward Vicksburg, reaching the battle ground of 
Port Gibson May 1. In the action at this place 
the regiment, with the brigade, captured twenty 
prisoners, and on the day following took the 
advance, and pushing forward, was the first of 
our army to' enter the village of Port Gibson. 
After several days' skirmishing, the regiment 
joined the movement on Raymond, and on the 
16th took part in the battle of Champion Hills. 
It took the advance, and forced back the ene- 
my's skirmish line to the main body, a distance 
of two miles; and in the battles of the 20th 
and 22d the regiment and brigade did excellent 
service. The 22d lost, in these engagements, 
seventeen killed and thirty-six wounded. 

The regiment was subsequently occupied in 
siege duty until the final surrender of Vicks- 
burg, July 4. Up to the 5th of June the regi- 
ment had been commanded by Col. Guppy, 
when continued ill health compelled him to turn 
over his command to Lieut.-Col. Vilas, who had 
the charge of the regiment during the subse- 
quent progress of the siege of Vicksburg, and 
for nearly two months after the surrender. On 
the 10th of July the regiment took position be- 
fore Jackson, Miss., and were there until after 
the capture of that place. They returned to 
Vicksburg July 21, and encamped until August 
24, when the regiment proceeded down the 
river to New Orleans, and from thence to Ber- 
wick City. On the 25th of August Col. Vilas 
resigned, and Major Hill was appointed lieuten- 
ant-colonel. On the 7th of October the regi- 
ment took part in the expedition to southwest- 
ern Louisiana, passing through Centreville, New 



Iberia and Vermillion, at which place they re- 
mained until the 21st. Passing through Opelou- 
sas to Barr's landing, they moved, November 1, 
to Bayou Borbeaux, where, on the 3d, the enemy 
made a fierce assault. In this engagement they 
lost seven killed and thirty-eight wounded, and 
eighty-six taken prisoners. After the battle, 
the regiment, on the 3d of November, retired 
to Carrion Crow Bayou, and thence proceeded 
to New Iberia, which it reached on the 8th, and 
the regiment was assigned provost duty; Col. 
Hill being placed in command of the post of 
New Iberia. The regiment subsequently went 
to Texas, and embarked at Algiers for Mata- 
gorda, arriving on the 29th off De Crow's 
Point, where they landed and went into camp, 
Jan. 1, 18fi4. 

The regiment were at Matagorda in January, 
1864, from which place they I'eturned to Louisi- 
ana, and to Berwick City. They took a part in 
Banks's Red River expedition, of which we 
have given an account in our record of other 
regiments. The 28d participated in all the 
movements and engagements of the expedition. 
Making long marches, and descending the 
Mississippi, they landed, on the 24th of April, 
at Baton Rouge, where they encamped. From 
the 8th to 26th of July, the regiment was en- 
camped at Algiers, opposite New Orleans. Here 
they engaged in skirmish work, making recon- 
noissances of the surrounding country, also mak- 
ing an expedition, on the 3d of October, to 
Bayou Sara, and marching sixteen miles, to 
Jackson, La., and returning the next day in 
transports. On the 5th of October, they en- 
tered camp at Morganzia, and reached Helena, 
November 3, and went into camp there. 

The regiment remained at Helena, Ark., 
until the 23d of February, 1865, at which date 
they were placed on transports, and proceeded 
south, reaching New Orleans on the 27th, and 
encamped at Algiers. On the Ist of March 
they moved to Hickox's Landing, on Lake Pont- 
chartrain, to unite with the forces designed for 
the reduction of Mobile. They reached Spanish 



516 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Fori on the 27th of March, and took position 
with the brigade, and on the 30th were ordered 
on an expedition toward Blakely. In the final 
assault, they acted as support to the attacking 
column. After the capture of that place, they 
crossed the bay, and encamped five miles below 
Mobile. On the 4th of July the 23d was mus- 
tered out of service, and the next day set out 
for AVisconsin, arriving at Madison on the 16th. 
On the 24th they were paid, and formally dis- 
banded. 

The only representative Green county had in 
the 23d regiment, was an honored one— Rev. 
Christian E. Weinch, chaplain. He was from 
Monroe. He joined the regiment in October, 
1862, and died at Young's Point, La., Feb. 15, 
1863. 

TWENTY-FIFTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

This regiment was organized at Camp Solo- 
mon, La Crosse, in September, 1862, and mus- 
tered into the United States service on the 14th 
of that month, and Avas ordered to report to 
Gen. Pope, at St. Paul, to aid in suppressing the 
Indian difficulties in the State of Minnesota. 
They left the State on the 15th, with the fol- 
lowing roster: 

Colonel — Milton Montgomery. 
Lieutenant-Colonel — Samuel J. Nasmith. 
Major -Jeremiah-M. Rusk. 
Adjutant — George G. Symes. 
Quartermaster — William H, Downs. 
Surgeon — Martin R. Gage. 
1st Assistant Surgeon — Jacob McCreary. 
2d Assistant Surgeon — William A. Gott. 
Chaplain — Rev. T. C. Golden. 
Captain Co. A— James Berry. 

" B— William H. Joslyn. 
" C— H. D. Faryuharson. 
" D— James D. Condit. 
" E-John D. Scott. 
" F -James C. Farrand. 
" G— Viru/. AV. Dorwin. 
" II— Ziba S. Swan. 
" . " I— Robert Nash. 

" K— Robert M. Gordon. 



First Lieutenant, Co. A — Cyrus M. Butt. 

" B— William Roush. 

" C— L. S. Mason. 

" D— M. E. Leonard. 

" E— John W. Smelker. 

" F— Parker C. Dunn. 

" G— John W. Brackett. 

" II— Chas. F. Olmstead. 
" " " I— Daniel K Smalley. 

" K— Charles A. Hunt. 
Second Lieut. Co. A — John R. Casson. 
" " '> B— William II. Bennett. 

" " " C--Thomas Bennett. 

" " " D— Charles S. Farnam. 

" " " E— John M. Shaw. 

" " " F— Oscar E. Foote. 

" " " G— Robert J. Whittleton. 

" H— Henry C. Wise. 
" " " I— John T. Richards. 

" " " K— Lewis F. Grow. 

Arriving at St. Paul on the 20th of Septem- 
ber, 1862, the regiment was divided, five com- 
panies under Lieut. -Col. Nasmith, being sent to 
Sauk Center, Painesville and Acton ; the re- 
mainder, under the command of Col. Mont- 
gomery, was sent to Leavenworth, FairmOunt, 
Winnebago City and New Ulm, where regi- 
mental headquarters were established. 

After service in Minnesota, the regiment 
returned to Wisconsin, reaching Camp Randall 
on the 18th of December, 1862. On the l7th 
of February, 1863, the regiment left, under 
orders to report at Cairo, 111., where they arrived 
on the 19th, and moved next day to Columbus, 
Ky., and encamped. Here the regiment was at- 
tached to the sixteenth army corps. From this 
time until August, which month found the regi- 
ment at Helena, they were variously employed. 
Lieut. -Col. Samuel J. Nasmith died of disease 
contracted in the service on the iVth of August, 
and Major Rusk was appointed lieutenant-col- 
onel in his place. The regiment remained at 
Helena until the 1st of February, 1864, when 
they moved down, the river to Vicksburg. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



51Y 



The regiment readied Chattanooga May 5, 
and immediately proceeded to join the forces 
of Gen. Sherman. The sixteenth corps formed 
part of the "Army of the Tennessee" under 
Gen. Mcpherson. On the 9th of the month 
they took part in a movement against Resaca, 
which was renewed on the 14tli. In attacking 
the enemy at Peach Orchard on the 15th of 
June, Lieut. -Col. Rusk wad wounded in tlie 
right arm. 

On the 19th of July the sixteentli army cor])s 
was at Decatur, About noon on the 22d three 
regiments commanded by Col. Sprague were 
attacked by two divisions of Wheeler's dis- 
mounted cavalry. Col. Montgomery, with a 
force composed of companies 13, E, F and I, of 
the 2f)th Wisconsin, and four companies of the 
G3d Ohio, was ordered out to ascertain the po- 
sition of the enemy. They advanced about 
three-fourths of a mile up a road, on the w^est 
of which was a narrow, but impassable swamp, 
and on the other a deep, miry ditch. The 
enemy were met about half a mile from the 
swamp, by the skirmishers, consisting of com- 
pany F and an Ohio company, under command 
of Lieut. -Col. Rusk. The enemy opened a se- 
vere tire and the skirmishers were driven down 
the road back to the reserve, which, under Col. 
Montgomery, was in position to the left of the 
road. 

The enemy advancing in strong force, Col. 
Montgomery moved the reserve by the left 
flank, and in attempting to cross the ditch to 
reach the battery in the rear, his horse sank in 
the miry ground, and he was shotl^y the enemy 
and captured. Lieut. -Col. Rusk, with the 
skirmishers, held the enemy in check for a short 
time on the road, but were soon obliged to re- 
tire. In attempting to do this Lieut. -Col. Rusk 
was surrounded by six or eiglit rebels, who 
came at him with bayonets at a charge. One 
of them made a dash at him and caught his 
sword, which hung in its scabbard by his side, 
the st[uad crying out for the "Yankee" to sur- 
render. The lieutenant-colonel made a charac- 



teristic reply and very coolly pressed his revol- 
ver to the side of the head of the rebel and gave 
him its contents. In falling, the fellow still 
held to the sword, which broke from its fasten- 
ing. Putting spurs to his horse, the lieutenant- 
colonel dashed down the road, under the fire of 
the rebels, to which he replied with his revolver 
and succeeded in rejoining his regiment near 
the battery in the rear, not, however, until he 
had his horse shot from under him. 

On November 15th, 1864, the seventeenth 
army corps left Atlanta on the grand march to 
the sea, the 21st acting as a train guard, as far 
as Monticello, when they rejoined their brigade. 
At Beaufort, Col. Montgomery, who had been 
exchanged, returned to the army and was placed 
in command of the brigade. 

On the Salkahatchie river, on the 20th of Jan- 
uary, 18G5, the 25th encountered the enemy, 
drove in his pickets and dislodged a small force 
behind temporary breastworks. A shell from 
the enemy grazed the head of the horse of 
Lieut.-Col. Rusk, knocking the animal down, 
and the colonel was dismounted, the orderly in 
the rear having his head carried away by the 
missile. The regiment was mustered out of the 
service on the 7th of June and set out for home, 
arriving at Madison on the 11th of that month, 
where they were soon paid off und disbanded. 

The only person from Green county known to 
have been in the 25th regiment, was David G. 
Gilliss, of Albany. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH AND THIRTIETH WISCONSIN 
REGIMENTS. 

The 27th regiment was composed of six com- 
panies and was commanded by Col. Conrad 
Krez. The organization was completed in 1862, 
but the regiment was not mustered into the ser- 
vice until April 7, 1863. After leaving the 
State, it did garrison duty for a while at Colum- 
bus, Ky. They subsequently moved to 
Memphis and then to Vicksburg. After the 
latter place capitulated, they moved to Helena, 
Ark.; and were present at the capture of 
Little Rock. On the 23d of March, 1804, they 



518 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



accompanied the march of Gen. Steele to co-op- 
])erate with Gen. Banks in the Red River ex- 
pedition. After a number of marches and doing 
duty in a number of places, the regiment was 
detailed to guard duty on the Little 
Rock & Memphis Railroad and was thus en- 
gaged until Fjeb. 7, 1865. 

On the 20th of February, 1865, the regiment 
arrived in Mobile bay. They were engaged in 
the vicinity in various duties until the ter- 
mination of the siege. After being employed in 
the State actively until the 1st of June, they 
Ijroceeded to Texas. They were mustered out 
of the service at Brownsville and set out on 
their return home on the 29th of that month 
They arrived in Madison on the llih of Sep- 
tember, where the regiment was shortly after 
paid off and disbanded. 

The 13th regiment— Col. Daniel J. Dill- 
was composed of six companies from St. Croix 
and Chippewa valleys, two fi'om Waushara 
county and two from the county of Iowa. Dur- 
ing 1862, the regiment was retained in the State 
helping on the draft. It was subsequently 
broken up into detachments, and these were 
engaged in various duties outside the State. 
The regiment was finally mustered out of the 
service on the 20th of September, 1865, arriving 
at Madison on the 25th, where they were dis- 
banded. 

Men of the Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth Regi- 
ments from Green County. 

Twenty-seventh.— Kittle N.Jorde and Joseph 
Carter. 

Thirtieth. — Francis R. Drake, Emerson C. 
Drake, John Smith and Thomas Cunningham. 

THIRTY-FIRST WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

This regiment (Col. Isaac E. Messmore) was 
left in 1862, by the order of the war department 
prohibiting recruiting, with less than the mini- 
mum. Six companies from Iowa, Lafayette 
and Crawford counties, were ordered into camp 
at Prairie Du Chien; and special permission, 
before alluded to, was obtained to continue re- 
cruiting for this regiment. At the close of the 



year, it was much above the minimum strength, 
and of good material. On the Ittli of Novem- 
ber, it was removed from Prairie Du Chien, in 
charge of the camp of rendezvous for drafted 
men at Racine, where it remained, awaiting 
orders to join the army in the field. 

The regiment left the State for service in the 
field on the 1st of March, 1863, under orders to 
report at Columbus, Ky. Proceeding by way 
of Cairo, 111., they arrived at Columbus on the 
3d, and went into camp at Fort Halleck. Here 
the regiment was stationed, and was engaged 
in the performance of garrison duty, until Sep- 
tember 24, when it left Columbus, with orders 
to report at Louisville, Ky., which place it 
reached on the 27th. On the 5th of October, it 
marched to La Vergne, Tenn., and guarded the 
road until the 25th, Avhen it marched to Mur- 
freesboro. Three companies were detached 
and stationed at a point where the railroad 
passed Stone River. Here they threw up forti- 
fications, and guarded this important bridge 
during the winter. 

Three companies of the 31st regiment were 
engaged in the winter of 1863-64 guarding the 
bridge at Stone River. On the 2d of April, 
they rejoined the regiment at Murfreesboro, 
and were engaged during the month along the 
road between that place and Normandy, Tenn., 
doing outpost-duty. On the 6th of July, they 
were ordered to Nashville, and on their arrival 
had quarters assigned them west of the Nash- > 
ville & Chattanooga Railroad. From Nash- 
ville, they proceeded by rail for Marietta, Ga., 
which they reached on the 19th. While on the 
road, near Kingston, one of the trains ran off 
the track, wounding two officers, killing one 
man and severely wounding ten others. On 
the 22d of July, the regiment moved with the 
army upon Atlanta, and were placed in the front 
line; and here they lay under fire until August 
25, when they took j)art in the movement of the 
corps. Tliey then returned to the railroad 
bridge across the Chattahoochee, while the rest 
of the army swung around to Jouesboro, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



519 



On the 4th of September, the skirmishers of 
the 3l8t were among the first to enter the city. 
The next day, the regiment moved within the 
fortifications, and was assigned quarters in tlie 
city. In addition to other duties devolving 
upon troops in an enemy's country, the regiment 
were engaged in protecting forage-trains, and 
were very successful furnishing grain for the 
famishing horses and mules of the army. The 
twentieth army corps broke camp on the 15tli 
of November, and filed out of the burning city, 
which prove 1 to be the march to the sea. The 
fatigues and dangers to wliicli all were exposed 
were endured by the 31st during the march 
through Georgia. They took part in an en- 
gagement ten miles from Savannah, capturing 
the works and the camp of the enemy; having 
one man killed, and three wounded. The regi- 
ment took part in the siege of Savannah, and 
after its capture was assigned quarters within 
the fortifications. Here they remained until 
the 18th of January, 1865. 

On that day the regiment crossed the Savan- 
nah river, and rejoined its division atParisburg, 
S. C, twenty-five miles distant from Savannah. 
Owing to rains, they were water-bound until 
the 28th. The regiment marched with the 
army through South Carolina, doing its share 
in burning and destroying, tearing up railroads, 
and similar duties, to drive back the enemy's 
rear guard. On the 16th of March they took 
position in the front, at the battle of Averys- 
boro, and were under fire until night. They 
lost two men killed, and ten wounded. On the 
19th, the 31st was at the battle of Bentonville, in 
which ten were killed, and forty-two wounded. 
The regiment reached Goldsboro on the 24th of 
March, having been on the tramp sixty-five days, 
twenty-three of which the rain fell without cessa- 
tion, many of them barefoot,and often hungry for 
twenty-four hours. On the 10th of April the 
army was again in motion, in the direction of 
Raleigh, when they heard of Johnston's surren- 
der to Gen. Sherman. The regiment went into 
camp at Raleigh. On the 30th of April the twen- 



tieth army corps started for Washington, pass- 
ing through Richmond, Va., on the 11th, and 
arrived at Alexandria, May 20. On the 24th 
they took part in the grand review at Washing- 
ton. On the 2d of June they were ordered to 
Louisville, where quarters were assigned to 
them. Six companies were mustered out, to 
date from June 20, and left for Madison June 
21. They were paid off, and went to their 
homes July 8, 1865, The remaining companies 
remained in camp until July 8, and were mus- 
tered out, reaching Madison on the 12th, and 
were paid off and discharged July 20, 1865. 

Men in the Thirty-first Regiment from Ghreen 
County. 
Francis H. West, Joseph B. Gaylor, James 
M. Ball, Alvin H. Thatcher, R. B. Stevenson, 
Nathaniel B. Treat, Thomas Beattie, Ira Win- 
slow, Cornelius M. Bridge, George W. Noble, 
Isaac N. Bridge, Charles A. Weed, Jacob 
Schuler, Peter Gerber, Jesse Alexander, Ed- 
mund Bartlett, John T, Beebe, George U, 
Blaisdell, William S. Bloom, William M. Brooks, 
Nelson Bussey, John Campbell, Lyman F. Clark, 
Thomas Ellison, Jr., Conrad Elmer, Samuel 
Emerick, Turner Emerson, Albert Engler, Wil- 
liam F. Folsom, Jacob Gerber, Dominic Glaus, 
Herman L. Gloege, Frederick Heer, Jost Hoesli, 
Nicholas Hoffer, Stephen R, Hogans, Joseph 
Grinninger, William M. Jones, Abraham Kno- 
bel, Casper Knobel, Richard Manly, Abraham 
Noble, Henry Pitman, Andrew Ransom, Jesse 
Raymer, William Robinson, George F. Schroyer, 
John Schuler, Caspar Snyder, Ulrich Sommer, 
Jacob Stievick, Isaiah Stauffaucher, Jacob 
Stauffancher, Rudolph Stauffaucher, Ira C. 
Stevens, John F. Stevens, David M. Stevenson, 
David Stroeder, James II. Van Wagener, Samuel 
Virtue, Thomas Virtue, August Weber, Jacob 
Weismueller, John Welden, Thomas Wells, 
Peter Zweifel, Hiram Stevens, Charles W. 
Burns, James Rayner, Oliver S. Putnam, Wil- 
liam B. Dolsen, Alba D. Smith, Calvin Morse, 
George W. Chase, Frank H. Bancroft, John 
Sine, Albert W. Heal, Benjamin B. Brownell, 



520 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Patrick Martin, Charles Brown, Charles Bray- 
ton, William M. Jacobs, Henry W. Bowen, 
Austin W, Allen, Franklin Bennett, Edward 
Broderick, James Broderick, Isaac Brooks, 
Henry C. Bump, Henry F. Bump, Harvey Bur- 
ger, George Burt, Samuel H. Carsaw, Myron 
Cowen, William Church, Fenton Davis, John 
Dick, George W. Dunn, William M. Dunn 
Philip Fisher, Gilbert G. Fish, Robert Fletcher, 
Thomas Flood, Peter Flood, Albert E. Foster 
Andrew Gilbertson, Peter Greidenweier, Asher 
Grover, Levi N. Hall, Clark Hemstreet, Joseph 
D. Hoskins, William H. Howard, Erastus C, 
Hoyt, Charles Huntington, Ole Iverson, Simon, 
Johnson, Horace B. Jones, Alonzo P. Jordan, 
John W. D. Kirkpatrick, Montg. A. Kirkpat- 
rick, Gustave Klassy, Thomas Klassy, Alpheus 
Laird, Jerome Laird, Albert Leonard, Alfred 
Lewis, Oscar A. Loorais, George Lozier, 
George W. Maddock, Timothy Maddock, 
George McCarinon, Henry McCoy, Harvey 
McManus, John J. McNaught, Alexander Mills, 
Henry Mitchell, William M. Morton, James 
Mullen, William H. Murray, Isaac Norris, 
Clarence E. Norton, Joseph E. O'Neil, Addison 
J. Parker, John Patterson, Washington Potter, 
Leroy Remington, Jerome L. Rutty, Samuel 
J-. Rutty, Adney N. Shaw, Lafayette Sim- 
mons, Uenjamin F. Smith, Nelson Spurling, 
David Steiner, Samuel W. Wade, John W. 
Whiffle, Benjamin B. White, Charles Wilder, 
Alonzo Wilson, John J. Ziegler, George D. 
Rogers, Farlen Q. Ball, James McQuillan, 
Joseph Seavy, Thomas T. Blanchard, Asa 
Bailey, Luther T. Rowe, William Dixon, Wil- 
liam Cameron, Alexander Adair, Ole Ander- 
son, George L. Ballard, Arnold Bennett, George 
B. Bennett, George W. Berry, Simon Brown, 
Louis H. Butler, John Divan, Urias Divan, 
Jacob Elmer, Christoplier Emberson, Edwin E. 
Forsythe, George W. Forsythe, Daniel German, 
Gottlieb German, Joseph J. Giesland, James 
Grinnell, Frederick Hayes, William R. Hawkins, 
Andrew Hensoii, William Jones, George R. 
King, Thomas Klassy, Jolui Layton, John Mc- 



Cauliff, James McDonald, Zebulon McMuUen, 
James Mullen, Pliny D. Muzzey, Erick Olson, 
Joseph O'Neil, David Sloanaker, John S, 
Smith, Francis Smith, William N, Smith, John 
Snyder, William Stair, John Stalder, Ulrich 
Stoller, John Streiff Alvan H. Thatcher, Jere- 
miah Thnrlow. Edgar Wright, David Zimmer- 
man, Michael Kennedy, Edward Kerns, J. H. 
Kerns, Frank McCrillis, George Merrill, F. C. 
Millman, James N. Morrison, Richard Mnrfit, 
George Niemeyer, Soloman A. Pratt, Samuel 
Vincenviele, Samuel Wittwer, Peter Zimmer- 
man, Justin W. Allen, Eugene Bartlett, John E. 
Bartlett, Ira A. Foster, Michael Kennedy, 
Cyrus W. Osgood, Jefferson Stanley, Benjamin 
Webster, William W. Farley, William a Al- 
drich, Urias Kyle, and James McBride. 

THIRTY-THIRD, THIRTY-FOURTH AND THIRTY-FIFTH 
WISCONSIN REGIMENTS. 

The 33d regiment. — Col. Jonathan B. Moore 
— was mustered into the service in the be- 
ginning of October, 1862, and left Camp Utley, 
Racine, for Cairo, on the 11 th of November fol- 
lowing. In December they were in Talla- 
hatchie. They were afterward at Vicksburg, 
where they remained until the city surrendered. 
They took part in the second attack on Jackson. 
On the 9th of March, 1863, they joined the Red 
River expedition. After a varied experience 
in different sections, they finally reached Nash- 
ville, on the 30th of October, 1864, taking part 
in the battle, when the enemy were driven 
across the Tennessee. They were afterwards 
at Mobile and remained there until the city fell 
into the hands of the Union forces. They were 
mustered out at Vicksburg, July 8, 1865; reached 
Madison, August 15, and were soon after paid 
off arid disbanded. 

The 34th regiment was made up of drafted 
militia, under Col. Fritz Anneke, and a 
company of sharp-shooters. The regiment was 
mustered into service, by companies, for nine 
months. They left the State Jan. 31, 1863, pro- 
ceeded to Columbus, Ky., and in August, re- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



521 



turned to Camp Washburn, Milwaukee, and 
were mustered out in September. 

The -SSth regiment did not complete its mus- 
ter-in until Feb. 27, 1864. Afterwards, they 
left the State for Alexandria, La. Failing to 
procure transportation to their original destina- 
tion, they proceeded to New Orleans, and re- 
ceived orders to report to Gen, Ullraan, at Port 
Hudson, at which place they disembarked on the 
Vtli of May. At this place they remained until 
.June 2B, being engaged in guard and fatigue 
duty. At that date, they moved up to Morgan- 
zia, La., where the regiment was assigned to 
the 1st brigade, third division, nineteenth 
army corps. From Morganzia, the regiment 
proceeded to Port Hudson and St. Charles, Ark., 
arriving July 24. Here they remained until 
the 7 til of August, engaged in guard-duty and 
scouting, when they returned to Morganzia. On 
the 1st of October, they took part in an excur- 
sion to Simmsport, in which several skirmishes 
with the enemy were had. They subsequently 
returned to Duvall's Bluff, where they remained 
until the 7tli of February, 1865. 

From Duvall's Bluff, they moved to Algiers, 
La. They were afterward near Mobile. Sub- 
sequently, they were ordered to Texas. They 
returned to Wisconsin in the spring of 1866. 

3Ie7i in, the Thirty -third, Thirty -fourth and 
Thirty-ffth Regiments from 
Green County. 
Thirty-third. — Jerome Burbank and Elijah T. 
Davis. 

Thirty-fourth. — Paul Anderson, Israel Bur- 
bank, Arne Everson, Norway Everson, James 
Grinnell, Kunst Jordit, Henry Owry and Frank 
Hampshire. 

Thirty-fifth. — Richard Barlow, Orlando IT, 
Burr, Elijah Jordan, Leonard Jordan, Ralsey 
Knight, William Lemon, James Lemon, Stephen 
Palmer, Harrison Simmons, Sidney S. Hook, 
Thomas Luschsinger, Alexander Steussy and 
John W. Boylan, 



THIRTY-SIXTH K^T> THIRTY-SEVEXTH WISC0:N^SI:N' 
REGIMENTS . 

The 36th regiment — Frank A. Haskell, colo- 
nel — was organized at Camp Randall and mus- 
tered into the service on the 10th of May, 1864. 
They reached Washington four days after, and 
then proceeded down the Potomac to Belle 
Plaine Landing, and from there proceeded to 
Spottsylvania by way of Fredericksburg. On 
the 18th they acted as a reserve in the engage- 
ment of that day, and on the 19th joined in the 
1st brigade and second division. On the 20th they 
accompanied Gen. Hancock in his march to 
North Anna, crossing the Matapony and North 
Anna. On the 23d they were assigned to the 
support of a battery. They crossed the stream, 
and threw up a line of works. Accompanying 
the movement across the Pamunkey, on May 
30, they, found the rebels drawn up in line 
of battle near Totspotomy Creek. At the bat- 
tle at that place, the 36th suffered severely. 
During the night, the regiment marched to 
Cold Harbor ; and, on the morning of the 3d, 
the whole line marched on the enemy's position 
by brigades, when the regiment again lost se- 
verely, and Col. Haskell was killed. 

The regiment reached Petersburg on the 15th 
of June, 1864, and were in the general charge 
on the enemy's works, where they formed in 
line of battle and fought nobly. On the 24th, 
the regiment marched to the enemy's position 
at Hatcher's Run, and, in the engagement which 
took place captured a large number of prisoners. 
They afterward participated in themovementbe- 
fore Petersburg. They joined in the pursuit of 
Lee, and were present on the 9tli of April, 
1865, at the surrcMiderof the entire army of that 
general. The regiment was mustered out on 
the 12th of July following. They arrived at 
Madison on the 14th, where they were paid and 
finally discharged. 

The 37th regiment was organized in March, 
1S64, with only six companies mustered in. 
They reported at Washington May 1. O.n the 
evening of the 12th of June they took part in 



522 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the general inoveraent of Grant's army across 
the James river to Petersburj^. They took an 
active part in two engagements, one on the iVth 
and one on the 18th of that month. They re- 
mained in the vicinity actively engaged until 
the spring campaign (1865) opened. 

Tliey, with the 1st brigade, on the 2d of 
April, marched and formed in front of Fort 
Sedgwick, from which place they moved for 
Fort Mahoiie, one of the enemy's strongest po- 
sitions, driving tiiem out on the other side, and 
turning the guns of the fort upon them. Re- 
maining in the neighborhood of Petersburg 
until the 20th of April, they then started for 
Washingtoji, where they arrived on the 26th. 
They reacheci Madison on the 31st of July, and 
in August were paid off and disbanded. 

Men in the Thirty-nxth and Thirty-seventh Recj- 
iments from Green County. 
Tliirty-sixth — Jacob Walkey, Wesley S. Pot- 
ter, Levi J. Adams, Ashley Babbitt, John Burgi, 
Michael l>echman, David H. Carl, Joseph W. 
Clemmer, Frederick Davan, David Dyson, Eli- 
D. Campbell, George W.Frost, George Ganz, 
William Hanna, William Henderson, James T. 
Jackson, Andrew Lownsbury, George McLain, 
Martin O'Connor, Wesley Patton, Stanford D. 
Porter, George W. Raymer, Thomas C. Ray- 
mer, Alfred Sellick, Michael Shaughenesey, 
William B. Scott, Godfrey Utiger, James P. 
Vance, Eugene Vanderbilt, John W. H. Van- 
derbilt, John C. Welchance, Curtis N. Wells, 
Frederick Wenger, Milan D. Wright, William 
W. Roderick and Joel Sanders. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 38th regiment began to organize March, 
1864, under the supervision of Col. James 
Bintliff. Before the regiment could be filled, 
the government discontinued the payment of 
bounties, when recruiting fell off, and almost 
entirely ceased. In consequence of this, only 
four companies could be organized, which, hav- 
ing been mustered into service,, left Camp 
Randall, Madison, on the 3d of May, 1864, for 
Washington. Another company was sent for- 



ward in Jnly, and other companies in Septem- 
ber. Col. Bintliff took command on their ar- 
rival before Petersburg, on the 1st of October, 
thus completing the regiment. On their ar- 
rival at Washington, they encamped on Arling- 
ton Heights. On the 30th they marched to 
Alexandria, and embarked for White House, 
at that time the base of supplies of Gen. 
Grant's army. On their arrival, they were 
temporarily consolidated with the 1st Minne- 
sota, and assigned to the provisional brigade of 
Gen. Abercrombie, and were engaged in es- 
corting supply trains to Cold Harbor. On the 
12th they moved to the front line of the works; 
in the evening commenced Gen. Grant's grand 
flank movement to the rear of Richmond, ar- 
riving on the 16th of June, in front of Peters- 
burg, and moving out under fire to the battle- 
field. They took an active part in the engage- 
ment on the l7th and 18th, in which the regi- 
ment had fifteen killed and thirty-five wounded. 

They remained in the front lines till the 4th 
of July, fighting by day and working by night. 
On that day they returned to the second lines, 
the battalion being reduced to forty men fit for 
duty. Here they encamped until the 19th, when 
they moved to the front, and assisted in re- 
pulsing an attack of the enemy. On the 30th 
of July, when the order was given to advance, 
after the explosion of the mine, the regiment 
which was selected to lead the charge faltered. 
Gen. Hartruft ordered the 38th, scarcely 
numbering 100, to take the lead. Here 
they had nine killed, and ten wounded. 
Subsequently, the battalion was relieved from 
the front lines, and encamped behind the second 
line, where it remained until August 6, when they 
returned to the first line, and were engaged in 
siege and picket duty until August 19, when they 
moved towards the Weldon Railroad, and took 
part with the fifth corps to obtain possession of 
the medium of supplies to the enemy. In the 
engagements that followed, the enemy Mere 
driven back, and, in the attempt to regain pos- 
session of their works, were repulsed with 



>^, ^ .1^^- ^'Sviif 





^^^^i^Li 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



525 



great slaughter. The battalion proceeded to 
Reams Station, to re-enforce the second corps, 
and on'the 26th fell back to near Yellow Tavern, 
where they were engaged in ordinary duties until 
September 26, when they moved toward Poplar 
Springs Church. In the engagement at that 
place, they took part, and also near Hatcher's 
Run. In the latter part of November, they 
moved opposite to Petersburg, and remained in 
their rifle-pits, under the heavy fire of the 
enemy, until the spring campaign opened. 

The regiment was in the rifle pits before 
Richmond in the month of January, 1865. In 
the assault on Fort Mahone, or "Fort Damna- 
tion" as it was nicknamed, they had eight com- 
panies engaged. The fort was taken, but the 
regiment suffered severely. The regiment went 
in pursuit of t)ie rebel army, capturing many 
prisoners. On the 6th of June a part of the 
regiment (one year men) was mustered out, and 
returned to Wisconsin The remainder was 
on duty at the arsenal during the trial and exe- 
cution of the assassination conspirators. Tliey 
were mustered out on the 20th of July; and 
were paid off at Madison and discharged, Aug. 
11, 1865. 

Me7i in the Thirty-eighth Regiment from Green 
County. 

James Bintliff, Christopher Tochternian, 
Aaron H. McCracken, A. D. Rice, M. H. Kiee, 
R. D. Sawyer, Gersham Bintliff, Benjamin 8. 
Kerr, Benjamin L. Hoylands, Franklin Glover, 
John Wyatt, Lee Ballou, John S. Stephenson, 
John S. An<lrews, A. M. Baker, John. S. Bell, 
J. L. P. Bloom, Jacob Klemmer, Thomas L. 
Caughey, J. M. Chambers, Benjamin F. Chap- 
man, Thomas Duniars, Jefferson Feather, Henry 
Frankenburger, George Y. Gist, William J. 
Grace, T. Griflltli, A. Hammond, Abner Long, 
M. Keitli, J. W. McCracken, George J. Nobles, 
G. Phillips, Joseph JM. Pierce, Jacob Randall, 
George Smith, D. Wallace, J. M. Walker, S. B. 
Caldwell, John Donges, Fred O Gill, L J. 
Kline, Jacob Killer, P. W. Kilwine, George 
Newcomer, Joseph Newcomer, Frank Glover, 



Irwin Smith, D. W. Corey, Benjamin M. Frees, 
William Adams, J. B. Shank, Jr., Harris Pool, J. 
A. Baily, George P. White, John A. Ford, John 
G. Saunders, William R. Hawkins, George W. 
Thorp, Joseph Snyder, John C.Jordan, William 
Wallace, Martin Austin, J, Bailey, William 
Bates, A. B. Baxter, C. Blanchard, J. J. Booker, 
William H. Brown, William Campbell, J. W. 
Cory, J. Davis, L. Deetz, A. W. Dexter, Martin 
Dolan, C. Dunaway, Nelson Dunn, William 
Emerick, S. Endriken, W. H. Farlin, S. Fitz- 
gerald, W. J, Frost, F, M. Hawkins, M. Jewett, 
M. Johnson, E. M. Killgore, Sidney Land, John 
Leray, Aagar Ligar, O. W. Lindley, Thomas 
Loveland, G. R. McCardle, J. S. McMillan, 
John Mears, Emanuel Miller, John Miller, J. S. 
Miller, Thomas O'Neil, A. W. Patterson, Wil- 
liam F. Priewe, J. N. Randall, J. A. Sanders, 
William D. Sanders, Robert Saterlee, Frank 
Small, Elias Snyder, T. H. Snyder, S. S. Start, 
S. W. Staver, R. L. St. Clair, William H. Stubbs, 
John Sullivan, George Trogner, Stephen Yirtue, 
John Warren, Joseph West, Nelson Wheeler, 
G. Wickersham, Andrew Winkler, E. D. Won- 
derly, George J. Wood, A. H. Howe, Elisha 
Redfield, Jacob C. Stevens, George W. Chap- 
man, N. A. Fields, James Jefferson, Henry 
Kane, Jacob C. Stevens William R. Yantassel 
and William H. Foster. 

FOETY-SECOXD, FOKTT-THIRD, FORTY-FOUETH AND 
FOETY-FIFTU WISCOXSIN REGIMENTS. 

The 42d regiment was organized under the 
superintendence of Col. Ezra T. Sprague, for- 
merly adjutant of the 8th Infantry, under thecal! 
of July 18, 1864, were finally mustered into the 
United States service on the 7th of September, 
1864. From Camp Randall, they proceeded by 
rail to Cairo, 111., at which place they arrived on 
the 22d of September, and eiigaged in the dis- 
charge of post and garrison duty. On the 24th 
Col. Sprague was nssigncd to the command of 
the post, and Lieut.-Col. I»orkii) put in command 
of the regiment. They were engaged in south- 
ern Illinois mainly, though a portion of them 
were employed at Springfield, in provoat duty. 



31 



526 



HISTORY OF GREEN <:!OUNTY. 



The remainder were detached to points in tliat 
part of the State where military surveillance was 
necessary. The regiment returned on the ex- 
piration of their terra of service, to Madison, 
wliich city they reached June 20, 1865, and were 
soon after mustered out and disbanded. 

The 43d regiment was organized in the latter 
part of 1864. They left Nashville on the 1st 
of January, 1865, and moved to Decherd,Tenn., 
where six companies went into camp and four 
were detached to guard Elk river bridge. The 
regiment was mustered out of the service at 
Nasliville, on the 24th of June, and soon after 
returned to Milwaukee and was disbanded. 

The 44th regiment was also organized in the 
latter part of 1864. They arrived at Nashville, 
in February, 1865, and were employed in post 
and guard duty. They afterward went to East- 
port, Miss., from which place they returned to 
Nashville. Thence they proceeded to Faducah, 
Ky., where, on the 28th of August, the regiment 
were'mustered out of the service. They reached 
Madison on the 2d of September, where they 
were paid and disbanded. 

The 45th, like the two regiments last men- 
tioned, was organized in the latter portion of 
the year 1864. They proceeded to Nashville, 
but were mustered out of the service July 17, 
1865. They reached Wisconsin on their return, 
on the 23d of that month, and were shortly after 
disbanded. 

Men from Green County, in. the Foi'ty-stwnJ , 
Forty-third^ Forty-fourth and Forty- 
fifth Regiments. 
Forty-second. — 11. N. Bradshaw, E. 11. Ben- 
son, Nelson Beal, Edward Benson, Lewis N, 
Bryant, Almon M. M. Doty, William II. Dick, 
Louis A. Ferrin, William IL Hall, William 
Ham, John Ilaskin, Albert P. Havens, Joseph 
Lawber, John Markham, James H. Morgan, 
Enos Ross, Dennis M. Spencer, Jeremiah S. 
Staley, Robert Turner, Martin 0. Webber and 
J. R. Patrick. 

Forty-third. — Edwin W ny, Gilbert A. Hei- 
rick, George Annon,- Allen Edwards, Frank 



Edwards, Joseph Greenwood and Richard Mc- 
Goon. 

Forty-fourth. — James M. Ball. 

Forty-fifth. — Karl Ruf, Henry Hoen, Jacob 
Jordi, John Jordi, Frederick C. Law, George 
Scharpf, Abraham Voegli, Balthaser Voegli, 
Jacob Jacobzon, Frederick Leibelt, Philip Grave, 
Max Nonveiler, Daniel Lentz and Christopher 
Niebahn. 

FORTY-SIXTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT. 

The 46th regiment left Wisconsin March 5, 
1865, proceeding to Louisville, Ky., where they 
arrived on the 10th of March. They pi'o- 
ceeded thence to Athens, Ala. The regiment 
was engaged in railroad guard duty until the 
latter part of September, when they moved to 
Nashville and were mustered ont on the 2'7th of 
that month, arriving at Madison the 2d of Octo- 
ber, when they were shortly afterwards paid 
and disbanded. 

Men from Green County in the Forty- Sixth 
Regiment. 
Heni'y T. Johns, Isaac T. Carr, Christian 
Ableman, Joseph C. Ableman, David Albright, 
Casper Baker, Mathias Baughman, George R. 
Beed}^ John F. Beekman, Charles Beyerhoffer, 
Frederick Bloom, Peter Bloom, Philip Boman, 
Aaron A. Boylan, James C. Bradshaw, Sever 
A. Brager, Christian Burt, Clark E. Bushnell, 
Samuel S. Case, Charles A. Cessna, Edwin S. 
Chase, Joseph D. Cross, Joseph Cummins, Hans 
Emberson, Hans Erickson, Randolph Fairbanks 
Philip N. Fawver, Elias Frame, George Gilbert, 
Josej)h Grayson, John C. Hansen, Adam Hefty, 
James llildebrant, Hiram Hills, Nelson Hills, 
Daniel Hoffman, Henry C. Howard, Erick Iver- 
son, Jacob Jacobson, Ole Jeremiahson, Thomas 
H. Jones, Henry F. Johns, James H. Johnson, 
John Johnson, Lewis Keiser, Joseph Kerr, Jesse 
Kimble, Thomas Klumb, Nicholas Legler, Dan- 
iel H. McLain, Horace Meachem, Gottfried 
Meyer, William Moore, Charles Morrison, Karl 
Neska, Knud Nelson, Casper Norder, Helge 
Olson, Fredolin Oprecht, Samuel K. Osgood, 
John R. Parks, W^illiam Parks, Peter Peterson, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



527 



Edwin Phillips, Daniel F. Pilley, David Pol- 
lock, Andrew Rear, Nathaniel Roberts, Heze- 
kiah D. Rogers, Albert W. Scott, Bryugil Sev- 
erson, William Smith, Frederick Smith, Joseph 
Smith, Jeremiah W. Springsted, Thomas Streiff, 
David Stuky, Richard Sutherland, Andrew 
Thompson, Charles Thompson, Ever Thompson, 
Nelson Thompson, William C. Van Horn, Aaron 
A. Webb, Allen Webb, Aaron Wech, John 
Weismiller, Jacob Zweifer, A. Luchsinger, 
Andrew Albertson, Anders Bakken, Ole C. 
Born, Seymour Davenport, John Elmer, Wamba 
Hatfield, Dietich N order, Benjamin Peckham, 
Elias Spangler, John A. Staffaucher, Frederick 
Zenter, Daniel Clarke, Jr., Fridolin Elmer, 
Erick Michelson, Andrew Olson, F. Streiff, Erick 
S. Sviggum, Julius A. Ward, William Turnip- 
seed, S. M. Sherman, William R. Johnson, 
John Westcott, Thomas J. Minor, Alonzo Pur- 
ington, Ole Kettleson, Henry Satterlee, James 
H. Chapel, Henry A. Crowell, Oswald Baebler, 
E. R. Allen, Michael Anderson, Samuel J. Bab- 
cock, Hosea Bridgman, William Byrnes, Jarvil 
Coffee, David Colby, William Crooks, Rosel 
Crowe, Martin Disch, Thomas Durst, Michael 
Eidsmore, Henry Elliott, Ole Everson, Jacob 
Friday, R. B. Fowler, Hiram Gabriel, John 
Garrett, La Fayette Garrett, Henry C. Gorham, 
William C. Gorham, Jacob Haas, Arno Halver- 
son, Fabian Hefty, James F. Hilton, Rollin N. 
Hurlbut, Jeremiah F. Jones, Stephen Kelly, 
Fridolin Kundert, Ole H. Lee, Solomon Lee, 
Isaac Edgardlartin, Isaac N. Martin, AVilliam 
A. Miner, Francis M. McCaslin, Daniel Nolton, 
Ole Olson, Peter Olson, Thor Olson, John 
Owrey, Jared N. Peebles, Nelson Peebles, 
Royal M. Peebles, Charles II. Purrington, Mar- 
tin Purrington, Moses, D. Ripley, James Root, 
Francis E. Satterlee, Adam Schindler, James S. 
Smith, Salmon Smith, Samuel J. Smith, Daniel 
Straw, Abram Teal, Erick Thompson, Christo- 
pher Tonilin, Eniannel Trickier, John E. West- 
cott, Frederick Zimmerman, Henry Zimmerman, 
John Cameron, Daniel George, Baltasar Op- 
recht and Andrew Schindler. 



FORTY-NINTH, FIFTIETH, FIFTY-FIRST AND FIFTY- 
SECOND WISCONSIN REGIMENTS. 

The 49th regiment left the State on the 8th 
of March, 1865, proceeded to St. Louis, were 
sent to Rolla on the ISih, and were engaged in 
guard duty and as escort to trains. Here they 
remained until Aug. lY, 1865, when they re- 
turned to St. Louis. Three companies were 
mustered out November 1, and the balance of the 
regiment on the 8th, when they returned to 
Madison, where they were paid and disbanded. 

The 50th regimentleft Madison by companies 
in the latter part of March, for St. Louis. From 
St. Louis they proceeded to Fort Leavenworth, 
and were ordered to Fort Rice, in Dakota Ter- 
ritory, arriving October 10, where they were sta- 
tioned up to Feb. 15, 1866. They shortly after- 
wards were mustered out, and returned to Wis- 
c on sin. 

The 51st regiment was organized at Milwau- 
kee in the early part of 1865. It jtrocoeded to 
Warrensburg, Mo., and was employed in guard- 
ing the construction of a ]»art of the Pacific 
Railroad. On the 1 1th of June tlie53d reiiinu'iit 
(four companies) was consolidated with the 
51st. Tlie regiment returned to Madison en ihe 
5th of August, 1865, where they were mustered 
out by companies, completing the same on the 
30th. 

The 52d regiment never was fully recruited. 
Five companies were mustered into service, and 
were sent forward by companies to St. Louis, in 
Apri', 1865. The battalion was sent to Holden, 
on the Pacific Railroad, and was employed in 
ffuardins workmen on the railroad. It moved 
to Leavenworth, Kan., in June, where it was 
assigned to duty. The battalion was mustered 
out of service on the 28th of July, arrived at 
Madison on the 2d of August, and was paid 
and disbanded. 

3Ieii from Green Cowity in the Forty-ninth, 

Fiftieth, Fifty-first and Fifty-second 

Reginients. 

Forty-ninth— James Thomas, George D. Farm- 
er, Charles A. Fisher, Theodore J. Buck, 



528 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Charles G. Chamberlain, E. W. Chesbro, Charles 
Dodge, David F. Edwards, • George Gabrey, 
John McDermot, Andrew Mickelson, Michael 
Mickelson, Kanute Mickelson, George W. Mil- 
ler, William W. Milligan, Thomas H. O'Neil, 
Nelson A. Peckham, Truman R. Phillips, 
George H. Rolfe, Lewis H. Rolfe, Thomas H. 
Skillings, John L. Sherbundy, William H. Titus, 
Saxton N. Walling, Charles J. Winter and Ira 
W. Wilson. 

Fiftieth — Edwin E. Bryant, Edward Morris, 
Clayton Wisdom, Justin W. Allen, Joseph Har- 
ris, Henry I. Phelps, Lewis S. Daniels, Seth Ed- 
son, JohTi O. Fox, Peter Keiser, John R. Lake, 
James Perkins, Sampson Turner, Elijah A. 
Webber, John Monroe, George Chapman, An- 
drew J. Estee, William Reynolds, Isaac Roe, 
Samuel W. Smith and Benjamin Scott. 

Fifty-first— A. J. Sutherland, Thomas W. 
Jones, Robert F. Emerson, Charles H. Grimes, 
Robert Hamilton, Myron Johnson, Charles B, 
Pace, Oliver P. M. Hanna and WinfieldPengra 

Fifty-second — Ezra G. Warren and Jason R. 
Shaffer. 

FIRST WISCONSIN CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The 1st cavalry regiment — Col. Edward 
Daniels— completed its organization in February, 
1862, leaving Camp Harvey under orders for 
S?. Louis. They were equipped at Benton bar- 
racks. Afterward they moved to Cape Girar- 
deau. At the close of 1862 (after doing duty 
in various directions), they were at Patterson, 
Mo. In the early part of 186-3, the)'^ were 
stationed at West Plain, Pilot Knob, St. Gene- 
vieve and Cape Girardeau. During the sum- 
mer they were located at various places in Ten- 
nessee, marching subsequently into Alabama. 
On the 14th of January, 1864, they marched to 
and encamped near Dandridge, and on the iVth 
they participated in the battle fought there, suf- 
fering severely. 

During the night they fell back toward 
Knoxville, through which they passed on the 
19th, encamping on the road to Sevierville. On 
the 21st, camp was moved sixteen miles beyond 



the latter place, on the Fair Garden road, from 
which point, having effected a reconnoissance 
of the surrounding country, they returned on 
the 25th, with a number of prisoners, to Sevier- 
ville. In the engagement near this place, on 
the 27th, the regiment occupied the extreme 
left of our line, and sustained but trifling loss. 

During the next three days, they marched to 
various points in the vicinity, going into camp 
on the 31st at Marysville, where the regiment 
was stationed as guard until the 9th of Febru- 
ary, at which date they moved to Motley's Ford, 
on the Little Tennessee river. On the 24th they 
marched to Madisonville, and moving thence 
on the 10th of March, by way of Calhoun and 
Athens, encamped on the 12th at Cleveland, 
where they were joined on the 26th by Lieut.- 
Col. Torrey, with a large number of recruits 
from Wisconsin. 

The regiment spent the winter of 1864-5 at 
Waterloo, Ala., where they remained until March 
10, when they moved to Chickasaw and took up 
their line of inarch for the interior of Alabama. 
They were at Montgomery April 12, and at 
West Point, Ga., on the 16th. They were en- 
gaged at the capture of Fort Tyler. The last 
active duties of the regiment were those con- 
nected with the capture of Jefferson Davis. 
From Macon, Ga., the regiment marched to 
Edgefield, Tenn., and were mustered out on the 
19th of July, 1865. 

3Ien from Green Cotmty in the First Cavalry 
Regiment. 

George O. Clinton, Horace T. Persons, 
Francis P. Esterly, DeWitt C. Allen, Egbert 
D. Baldwin, David Beattie, Henry Burkholder, 
Roger S. Cleveland, Michael Conroy, Thomas 
Culbertson, Hamilton Ganz, William Gill, 
Madison P. iro[)kins, William Matskie, John T. 
Mayer, Alexander T. Merritt, Albert W. Mur- 
ray, John B. O^Neil, Thomas L. Palmer, Henry 
C. Putnam, Judson Simons, Alfred W. Seeber, 
William Spangler, John Stabler, Ezra H. 
Stewart, Casper H. Ten Eyck, William I>. 
Warn, Ileiuy P. Searles, Warren C, Babbett, 



HISTORY OF GREEN OOUNTF. 



520 



Jasper N. Ke;ui, John W. Britton, Uriah H. 
Conren, Ira Daggett, Charles R. Green, George 
A, Hunt, Charles W. Clinton, Warren W. 
Bates, James A. Benson, Hiram A, Brisbane, 
Chauncey F. Callender, John B. ('raps, Wil- 
liam Craps, Samuel G. Davis, Abraham A. 
Fancher, William A. Garrison, Daniel Leisure, 
Jay J. Mitchell, Frank B. Barslow, Robert II. 
Fomroy, Lewis F. Shoves, Ira Woodin, Robert 
R. Ferguson, James W. Philips, Arnold Rush 
and Edgar S. Miner. 

SECOND WISCONSIN CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The 2d Wisconsin Cavalry regiment was or- 
ganized under a special permit from the general 
government, granted to Hon. C. C. Washburn. 
Col. Washburn received his commission from 
Gov. Randall, indorsing the action of the gen- 
eral government, Oct. 10, 1861, and immediately 
commenced recruiting for his regiment. He 
formed a camp for rendezvous on the fair 
grounds at Milwaukee. 

This regiment was familiarly known as Wash- 
burn's Cavalry. It was engaged in Tennessee, 
Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas. The regi- 
ment was mustered out of the service on tlie 
15th of November, 1865. They arrived at 
Madison December 11 of that year — were paid 
off and disbanded. 
Man in the Second Cavalry from Green County. 

George Lee, John J. Lee, Wallace Palmer 
and John H. Welch. 

THIRD AND FOURTH WISCONSIN CAVALRY REGI- 
MENTS. 

The 3d Cavalry— Col. William A. Barstow— 
left Camp Barstow March 26, 1862— a railroad 
accident the same night resulting in the instant 
(k'ath of ten men, mortally wounding two and 
slightly injuring twenty-eight. The regiment 
was scattered over Kansas until September, 
when it was concentrated at Fort Scott. After- 
wards it participated in the battles of the army 
of the frontier. On the 13th of October, 1864, 
the i-egiraent was at Little Rock, Ark. On tlic 
19th of April, 1865, the regiment was re-organ- 



ized. By the end of September the whole 
were mustered out of the service. 

The 4th Cavalry was formed out of the 4th 
Wisconsin regiment of Infantry — Frederick A. 
Boardman, colonel. This regiment saw service 
in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. They were 
at Ringgold, in the State last named, in March, 
1866, and were not long after mustered out of 
the service. 

3Ien from Green County in the Third and 
Fourth Cavalry. 
Third Cavalry — Benjamin Cross and Zadoc 
Harding. 

Fourth Cavalry — Clark L. Alderman, George 
Gettle, Washington Hill, Philip H. Coon, Wil- 
liam C. Chilton, Frederick Burk, William E. 
Carter, William B. Chase, Patrick Divyar, Wil- 
liam R. Deniston, William Futts, Martin Futts, 
Joseph J. Giesland, James Grant, Redmond 
Glenon, Isaac J. Greenleaf, William S. Hamil- 
ton, Myron Haffner, Edward Henderson, Wil- 
liam Henderson, John L.Johnson, George John- 
son, John Knobel, Robert Kirkendall, Alpheus 
Land, Charles Land, Stephen W. Lemont", James 
McLain, John A. Macham, James R. Perrigo, 
William Phillips, Ira G. Pool, John H. Powers, 
Ira J. Satterlee, George C. Shaffer, Rufus N. 
Shaffer, C. A. Shutts, Eli Sparks, John E. W. 
Stuce, Josephus E. Stevenson, William Stewart, 
Lockwood Sympkins, David Tschabold, Charles 
H. Upham and Robert W. Witter. 

riRST BATTERY — LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The 1st battery of Light Artillery was or- 
ganized at La Crosse, under the superintend- 
ence of Jacob T. Foster. Its organization was 
perfected at Camp Utley in October, 1861. It 
left Wisconsin Jan. 23, 1862. During the war 
this battery saw very active service. They 
were mustered out at Camp Washburn, Mil- 
waukee, on the 18th of July, 1865. There was 
but one man in this battery from Green county 
— Henry Bucher. 

FIFTH BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY. 

The 5th battery left Camp Utley, Racine, 
March 15, 1862, for St. Louis. They were after- 



630 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ward employed at New Madrid, and then moved 
to Hamburg, Tenn. The fought in the battle 
of Farmington, on the 9th of May. They sub- 
sequently were in northern Mississippi and 
Alabama. The battery left Louisville October 
1, with Buell's army. At the end of 1862, 
they were near Nashville. During the residue 
of their term of service, they performed much 
active duty. 

Men from Green County in the Fifth Battery . 
Oscar F. Pinney, Washington Hill, Charles 
B. Humphrey, George Q. Gardner, Alraon 
Smith, George Lafferty, Elijah Booth, John 
Dickson, Charles M. Wyman, Braddock Stout, 
Aaron Eley, Robert P. Elliott, John T. Mc- 
Knight, Charles Adair, Ezra Adair, Clarance E, 
Adams, Howard Adams, Thadeus I. Alexander, 
David Allen, William W. Bailey, Jame« C. 
Baker, Oscar F. Baldwin, George W. Ball, 
William H. Ball, Rufus Barling, Charles W. 
Barnes, Frederick Bast, John Becktel, Cyrus 
Beedy, John Beedy, James N. Belt, Alfred 
Bintliff, Carl Black, Frederick Black, Rollin S. 
Black, Lyman Booth, Robert L. Booth, Joseph 
Bratley, LukeBratley, John W. Bridge, Otis S. 
Bridges, Walter Buck, Byron I, Bullard, 
Thomas P. Burk, Henry Burkholder, Edward I. 
Busick, Martin Campbell, James B. Campton, 
James V. Campton, John G. Carman, John W. 
Caughey, Bostwick Clark, Andrew Clarno, 
Elisha M. Coates, Hamilton L Coates, Washing- 
ton B. Coates, John Cowen, William Crow, 
Charles C. Cunningham, George Dale, James 
Dale, Joseph Dale, William S. Davenport, 
James Davis, John Disch, James M. Divan, 
Walter Divan, Rrobert Drane, James B. Dunn, 
John W. Dunn, William C. Dunn, Daniel Eley, 
Joseph Eley, Jacob Fawver, John M. Fille- 
brown, George M. Foot, Josiah C. Forbes, John 
Forby, Frank Fry, David H. Galusha, William 
R. Galpin, Walter S. Gardner, James Gearhart, 
William George, James A. Graham, Tilbery 
Gray, Daniel Gundy, Oscar P. Haley, Joseph D. 
Hall, George H. Hamilton, David E. Hastings, 
Nathan H. Havens, Henry Hawver, Joseph 



Hayburn, Thomas A. Henderson, Charles B. 
Hicks, Gurdon Hicks, Jr., Joseph Hill, Samuel 
W. Hutchins, Joseph Hoffman, Charles A. 
Jewett, Volney L. Johnson, Thomas W. 
Jones, Isaac H. Kean, Christopher C. Kelly, 
Benjamin H. King, De Marcus L. Kinney, 
Adam Knipschield, Jerry Leahy, James Law- 
horn, Samuel I. Lewis, William R. Lewis, Alon- 
zo Loomis, Cornelius W. Loomis, Hartman 
Loorais, Daniel Lounsbury, Thomas C. Lord, 
Isaiah H. Lounsberry, John Luther, James 
Mack, Albert Macomber, Albert I. Marshal, 
Edward McBride,George T. McConnell, Stewart 
McConnell, William S. McCracken, Andrew I. 
McDaniel, Daniel McDermott, Andrew I. Mc- 
Knight, Aaron Miller, Henry C. Miller, Morgan 
H. Miller, Allen Mitchell, Sylvester H. Morey, 
John Morris, Isaac R. Moulton, Samuel Mount- 
ford, Napoleon B. Murray, John Nelson, Nich- 
olas O'Brien, John Orvis, James Parks, Royal 
P. Payne, Stephen Perkins, John Phillips, 
David W. Pratt, William Preston, Samuel C. 
Reynolds, Nathan P. Rice, William Richard- 
son, Jesse Riley, John C. Robb, Charles II. 
Robertson, John Ross, Joseph W. Ross,' Charles 
A. Rutledge, Henry Satterlee, Charles Sackett, 
Michael Sackett, John Shaffer, Thomas Shipley, 
Joseph Sickinger, Francis L. Sisson, Alfred 
Slawson, Leonard W. Small, Ellis H. Smith, 
George H. L. Smith, John C. Smith, John F. 
Smith, Orrin D. Snow, Charles A. South, 
Charles F. South, John M. South, James W. 
Sparks, George W. Staver, James Stewart, Ira 
W. Stiff, John W. Stiff, Cornelius W. Strohm, 
Daniel Sutherland, Edward Sweeny, Reuben 
Sweet, Charles W. Taft, S. C. Taft, John G. 
Thomas, Jesse C, Thompson,William F. Thomp- 
son, Daniel Titus, George Titus, Louis Titus, 
William II. Titus, C. N. VanMatre, Charles K. 
VanMatre, William A. Verley, George Walker, 
Michael Ward, Daniel Wareck, George War- 
eck, Jeremiah Wareck, John F. Wareck, John 
H. Wareck, Reuben Wareck, Samuel R. War- 
eck, Charles F. Warren, Reuben Webb, Edwin 
A. Webster, Samuel C. Webster, S. S. Webster, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



531 



David Weltz, William Weltz, Thomas Wells, 
Nelson Wheeler, George White, John White, 
E. C. Wickersham, George W. Williams, Levi 
Williams, Peter S. Williams, F. Wilson, Frank- 
lin Wilson, Sheldon L. Wilson, William G. 
Winslow, E. F. Wright, Oliver P. Pratt and 
Lewis Sickinger. 

3Ien from Green County in the Eighth and 
Thirteenth Batteries. 

Eighth — William H. Freeland and William 
J. Miller. 

Thirteenth — Truman Webber. 

FIRST HEAVY ARTILl.ERT. 

In the summer of 1861 company K, Capt. 
Lang worthy, of the 2d Wisconsin regiment, 
was detached and placed on duty as heavy ar- 
tillery. The 1st Heavy Artillery regiment was 
finally fully organized by the combination of 
twelve companies, numbered from A to M in- 
clusive. These batteries have all interesting, 
but not all the same histories, and they were 
not all mustered out at the same time. Battery 
A was mustered out on the 18th of August, 
1865; battery B on the 30th of the same month; 
battery C on the 21st of September of that year; 
and battery D on the -same day as battery A. 
The other eight batteries were mustered out in 
the previous June. 

Battery A did duty in the Washington de- 
fenses; battery B did service in Fort Terrill, 
Murfreesboro and in Fort Clay at Lexington; 
battery C saw service in Fort Creighton and in 
Fort Sherman and other places; battery D de- 
fended Fort Jackson and Fort Berwick; and 
the other batteries had positions in the defenses 
around Washington. 

Men. from Green County, in First Heavy Ar- 
tillery. 

Henry W. Peck, Cornelius V. Bridge, Charles 
M. Ball, William M. Hanchett, Richard Glen- 
nan, B. B. Bromfield, John II. Ostrander, George 
W. Miller, George W. Morse, John W. Allison, 
Julius H. Austin, Shadrach Austin, John Baird, 
John W. Baker, David R. l>armore, William 
Barrow, Charles F. Bennett, Joseph C. Bennett, 



Adelbert A. Betts, Romanzo Blair, George 
Brown, John A. Brownfield, Reuben Barring- 
ton, George W. Bussey, George W. Cameron, 
Charles W. Case, Robert B. Chambers, Isaac M. 
Clemans, Harvey F, Cole, James J. Crook,Joseph 
G. Dean, IsaacDunkleburg, William A. Dutcher, 
Erastus Eley, William H. Ely, Randolph Engel, 
Peter Gainor, Joseph D. Hilton, John Holland, 
Samuel In whoff, George J. Jones, Peter Jones, 
Joshua Kildow, Daniel Lewis, Harrison Love- 
land, Peter Mahan, Hugh Mason, Chester C. 
Mather, William H. Mathews, Alonzo McKin- 
ney, William R. Meacham, Jacob Newcomer, 
George Nichols, Jeremiah D. Ostrander, Thomas 
L. Ostrander, George Rainboth, John Rainboth, 
John W. Reed, William A. Sawin, John W. 
Spalding, Abraham Stahl, Frederick R. Stolcap, 
Martin T. Stowell, Dennis Tierney, Henry W. 
Townsend. John Trow, Michael Trow, William 
Z. Trow, George W. Wardwell, George L. Web- 
ber, David O.Wells, George D. Williams, Joseph 
M. Williams, Seth C. Williams, Andros L. 
Wood, Calvin Yarger, Uriah Ziegler, Peter L. 
Welden, James H. Lndington, John Bryce, Seth 
M. Bradley, Eli Edleman, Franklin H. Edleman, 
Milton Edleman, George Kingsland, Aaron Kin- 
yon, William Kinyon, George H. Landgraff, 
John M. Landgraff, Hamilton Longley, Peter 
Miller, William J. Ostrander, Nicholas Pop 
and Beard M. Stevenson. 

WAR EXTRACTS FROM COUNTY PAPERS. 

From the bombardment of Fort Sumter to 
the death of Abraham Lincoln, there were pub- 
lished in the county papers, many items of in- 
terest, relating to the war. These, of course, 
are in their nature, transitory, but of importance 
as reflecting the feeling of the people at home, 
and of the soldiers in the army. They form an 
every-day record of the hardships and trials of 
the times that should not be forgotten. 

Extracts from the Monroe Sentinel. 

1861— May 22.— Rev. I. A. Swetland deliv- 
ered a sound and able discourse to the volun- 



532 



HISTORYfOF GREEN.TCOUNTY. 



teers, on Thursday evening of last week, lie 
encouraged and sought to inspire that thought- 
ful courage which can know and weigh the hard- 
ships to be endured in camp, in the march, in 
the field, in exposure to heat, to wet and cold 
and then resolutely to meet them with an un- 
flinching nerve without murmur or regret. His 
remarks were listened to with much interest. 

Under the plan of organization of the volun- 
teers, the companies are allowed more men 
than was first announced. Capt. Flood's com- 
pany is accepted and is to go with the 3d regi- 
ment. They will soon be called into camp. The 
captain wishes to increase his company to the 
maximum, or liighest aggregate of rank and file. 
Twenty or twenty-jive^ more able-bodied men, 
can enlist into his company, by immediately ap- 
plying. As the time is short, the applications, 
we repeat, must be without delay. A good tifer 
is needed in the company, to complete the band. 
Any one skilled upon the fife, will be gladly 
received. We trust the brave young men of 
Green county will respond to this call. By be- 
ing a large company, the company will have a 
greater influence in the regiment. Little Green 
is eager to send all the men she can. 

August 21. — We regret to state that Mr. Bry- 
ant is sick and in the hospital at the camp of 
the 3d regiment. That is undoubtedly the 
reason why we have had no communication 
from him during the past two weeks. 

August 28. — We learn that Mr. Bryant has 
received a commission. Our readers will be 
pleased to read the following announcement 
which was made in the State Journal at Madi- 
son a few days ago: Commission issued to Ed- 
win E. Bryant as 2d Lieutenant of company A, 
of 3d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers vice L. 
H. D. Crane, promoted. 

August 28. — O. T. Pinney, of this place, who 
was in the United States Army for five years, 
and who was in the Florida and Mexican Wars, 
has been commissioned by the government of 
this State, captain of artillery, to raise a com- 
pany of 150 men for three years or during the 



v^^ar, being the number required to constitute 
an artillery company as called for by the secre- 
tary of war, and by the governor of this State 
in his proclamation, which we published on the 
first page of our present issue. We hope that 
patriotic men in every part of the county will 
take hold of this matter, and assist in procur- 
ing volunteers for the company. We owe it to 
ourselves to furnish the number of men re- 
quired for it from this county. We are behind 
many parts of the State in furnishing volun- 
teers, and there is no good reason why 150 first 
class men cannot be raised in this county in ten 
days. 

Albany has had an artillery company formed 
there for two years or more, and we hope that 
members of that company who have had some 
experience, will unite with this. Our friends 
at Brodhead also can assist in obtaining volun- 
teers. Let us have a united effort! Some of our 
best citizens have already enrolled their names. 
As soon as forty men are enrolled, they will be 
sworn into the United States service, and their 
pay will commence, so that there will be no 
such vexatious delaying as was experienced 
when the company of infantry was enlisted 
here. 

There was a large gathering of the citizens 
of Clarno and Monroe, at Shueyville, on Satur- 
day last, for the purpose of raising a liberty 
pole and throwing to the breeze the Star 
Spangled Banner. There was some delay oc- 
casioned by the lack of proper tackles to raise 
so long a pole; but Edmund Hill, of this place 
and others, by their energy, soon manufactured 
the necessary appliances and in due time the 
pole was raised, and amid the cheers from the 
crowd the emblem of our Nation's liberties was 
run up. Thomas H. Eaton addressed the 
meeting at considerable length, and with good 
effect, upon the duty of the American citizens 
during the existing crisis, urging a Union of 
all patriotic men in support of the government. 
The meeting adjourned in the best possible 
spirits. Previous to this meeting, all sorts of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



533 



silly rumors had been circulated in regard to an 
opposition which it was alleged would be made 
to raising the flag ; and some few, the feeblest 
of our brethren, believed it. We cannot be- 
lieve that any man within the bounds of the 
loyal States, especially in this State, would 
object to raising the American flag. If there 
be such a one let him take the consequences of 
liis stupidity, and folly. 

From present appearances the ranks of Capt. 
Pinney'fe company of artillery will be filled to- 
day or to-morrow, and they expected to be or- 
dered to camp the last of this week. We hope 
now that our friends on the Sugar river valley 
will unite and raise a company of infantry for 
the war, and cease dividing themselves into lit- 
tle squads, which can amount to nothing; and 
we will guarantee that another company will be 
raised here and be ready for camp as soon as 
theirs. VVe challenge them to beat us. Rock 
county has already raised more than 500 men 
for the regiment, and if Ave expect to have any 
interest in the regiment it is high time we were 
at work. 

September 25. — To-morrow being the day 
recommended by President Lincoln to be kept 
as a day of public humiliation, prayer and fast- 
ing, to be observed by the j^eople of ihe United 
States Avith religious solemnities and the offer- 
ing of fervent supplications to Almighty God, 
for the safety and welfare of the States, His 
blessing on their arms, and a speedy restoration 
of peace, there will be religious services in the 
morning at 10:30 o'clock at the M. E. Church in 
this place, sermon by Rev. E. Morris, and in 
the evening at 7 o'clock in the Congregational 
chapel, sermon by Rev. M. Wierick. All the 
people are invited to attend. 

October 23. — The honored dead — A letter 
from Mr. Bryant, received too late for publica- 
tion in this issue, states that at the battle of 
Harper's Ferry of our Green county men Stew- 
art Mosher and Henry Raymond were killed 
and William Foster and George Gay were 



wounded. From another source we understand 
that Edgar Ross was wounded in the foot and 
taken prisoner. Mr. Bryant was in the engage- 
ment and will furnish for our next issue a full 
and circumstantial account of it. He says that 
Lieut. O'Brien has proved himself to be a hero 
of the first water. 

On Friday last the company of Switzers which 
is organizing at New Glarus for the war, came 
to town and were escorted through the streets 
by the German brass band. They have enlisted 
near fifty men, and expect to till up within ten 
doys. If they get their maximum number in 
time, they will be assigned to the 9th regiment 
in Milwaukee; if not in time for the 9th they 
will be assigned to the 13th at Janesville. 

October 30. — The German company from 
New Glarus expects to be ordered into camp at 
Milwaukee, to join the German regiment this 
week. It will probably have about sixty-five 
men, and will have to unite with a part of a 
company from another part of the State in or- 
der to reach the maximum number. 

November 6.— The portion of a company of 
infantry raised at New Glarus, consisting of 
between forty and fifty men, came into town 
on Fi-iday last, preparatory to going into camp. 
They expect to increase their number here. 
Their fine soldierly appearance, and martial 
bearing excited the admiration of all who saw 
them. 

A letter from Lieut. O'Brien to E. Mosher, 
Esq., of this place, the father of Stewart Mosher, 
who was killed at the battle of Harper's Ferry, 
s:iys: I was standing near your son when he 
fell, and had just been speaking to him but a 
moment before. Here marked to me "Lieutenant 
I want to fetch my man this time" and asked 
"where is the best place." I advised him to go 
into the house and fire through the window, but 
he went around the corner of the house and 
about ten feet from it and was in tlie act of 
raising his gun to his shoulder when he fell. 
He is the first man from Green county that 



534 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



died on the battle field in defense of his 
country's flag, and she may well be ])roud of 
him. He was a brave man. Peace to his ashes. 

November 20. — A private note from Mr. Bry- 
ant verifies the rumor of the death of Edgar 
Ross a member of Capt. Flood's company. It 
will be remembered that he was wounded at 
Bolivar and taken prisoner by the enemy. He 
died of lock-jaw at Charlestown, Va., on the 
26th ult. Thus our brave men attest their de- 
votion to the principles of free government. 

A letter to Judge Dunwiddie from Frederick, 
Md., brings the sorrowful intelligence of the 
death of Clark Austin of this place, a member 
of Capt. Flood's company, who, after a very 
short illness, died of fever in the hospital in 
that city on the 15th inst. Private Austin had 
been taking care of the sick of our company in 
the hospital, and was highly valued by them as 
a superior nurse. 

November 27. — On Saturday last, William 
Foster and George Gay, members of Capt. 
Flood's company, who were wounded in the 
battle of Bolivar, arrived here on a furlough. 
Their wounds are doing well, and they hope 
soon to be able to join the regiment. Gay was 
wounded during a retreat from a position held 
by the enemy, and he attributes his escape from 
capture to the noble conduct of Silas Gardner, 
who at a great risk to himself assisted him off 
the field. 

The ladies of the village meet this Wednes- 
day afternoon at 2 o'clock, at the residence of 
J. B. Treat, for the purpose of organizing 
a society for furnishing relief to our soldiers in 
the hospital and in the field, by providing such 
things as socks, mittens, etc., fo"r them, which 
will conduce very much to their health and 
comfort; and which they would not have if they 
are not furnished by the women of the loyal 
States. This is a noble work, and we hope 
that the example of this society will be followed 
in every neighborhood throughout the country. 
Every household can contribute something. 



While we are enjoying the comforts and pleas-- 
ures of home, let us not forget those who are 
offering their lives for our protection. 

December ll.-Our readers will be glad to learn 
that for gallant conduct in the action at Bolivar, 
and for general efficiency in the discharge of 
duty, Mr. Bryant has been again recom- 
mended by the colonel of his regiment for pro- 
motion . He entered the service last spring as 
a private ; shortly after the regiment went into 
camp at Fond du Lac, he received the appoint- 
ment of sergeant-major, he has since been twice 
promoted upon merit alone ; once upon the re- 
commendation of the colonel, now brigadier- 
general Hamilton, he was commissioned as 2d 
lieutenant in the Watertown Rifles, company A, 
recently he has been recommended by Capt. 
Bertram and Col.Ruger and has received his com- 
mission as 1st lieutenant in the same company. 
We congratualate our friend more upon the 
fact that he has proved himself worthy of suc- 
cess, than that he has acquired it, and hope that 
the responsibilities of his new position will not 
prevent him from appearing regularly, in his 
own proper person before the readers of the 
Sentinel. 

December 18. — Last week at Milwaukee, the 
Hon. B. Dunwiddie presented to Lieut-Col. Wris- 
berg, of the 9th regiment, in behalf of the citi- 
zens of Monroe, a fine horse. We hear that 
Mr. Wrisberg is winning golden opinions from 
all connected with the regiment by his superior 
military knowledge, and his gentlemanly con- 
duct. We wish him abundant success. 

Deccember 25. — The ladies in the vicin-ity of 
Juda, in this county, have forwarded to the care 
the agents of the United States sanitary com- 
mission, at Chicago, 111., a box containing the 
following articles : Twelve comforts for single 
beds; 13 feather pillows, and 15 slips; 1 woolen 
blanket ; 5 sheets ; 11 pairs of cotton flannel 
drawers; 11 undershirts; 3 bed-gowns ; 7 pairs 
of woolen sacks ; 3 rolls of bandages for the 
wounded ; buttons, thread, pins and needles. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



535 



Many a prayer for a blessing on these benevo- 
lent ladies, will ascend from the couch of the 
sick and wounded. 

Tlie ladies of Brodhead are to present a flag 
to Capt. Jackson's company at McKey's Hall on 
Thursday evening next, after which there will 
be a soldiers' ball, refreshments to be furnished 
by the ladies. On Friday morning the company 
leaves for camp. It will be company A, of the 
IStli regiment. Let the ladies of Monroe con- 
tribute to the occasion. 

1862 — January 1. — The Ladies' Aid Society of 
Monroe has forwarded to the care of the United 
States sanitary commission at Chicago ^a box 
containing the following list of articles': Nine- 
teen shirts, 5 towels, 2 quilts, IG sheets, 2 com- 
forts, 2 blankets, 3 bed gowns, 5 double gowns, 
37 pillow cases, 10 pairs of drawers, 5 pairs 
woolen socks, 1 pair of mittens, 5 feather pil- 
lows, 1 cotton pillow, 3 rolls of bandages, 11 
sponges, 7 packages of envelopes, 5 quires of 
paper, 1 box of pens, 7 pounds dried peaches, 4 
pounds of blackberries, 2 pounds of raspberries, 
3 pounds of prunes, 1 cake of chocolate, 1 can 
of blackberries, 3 papers corn starch, pins and 
needles. The society is very grateful to those 
ladies of Monroe and Sylvester, who are not 
members of the society, who have so generously 
aided in making up this gift to the sick and 
wounded in our armies. 

The three commissioners, Ezra Wescott, of 
Clarno, E. R. Allen, of Spring Grove, and 
Henry Adams, of Mount Pleasant, who under 
the new law constitute the county board, assem- 
bled in this place on Monday last and elected 
Henry Anams chairman of the board. We are 
informed that under the present mode of dis- 
posing of the fund provided by the county for 
the relief of the families of volunteers, the 
whole will be exhausted by the 1st of April 
next, and in view of the enormous amount of 
taxes — more than $1,500,000, besides county, 
town, school and highway taxes — which must 
be raised in this State during the coming year, 
the commissioners are contemplating whether 



some change in the administration of this fund 
is not desirable. 

March 19. — Henry Combs, of this place, who 
is a member of the 7th Illinois Cavalry, and 
who was at the battle of Fort Donelson, ar- 
rived at home on Saturday evening last on a 
furlough. He escaped injury at Donelson, but 
has since been wounded while on a scouting 
expedition. 

April 30. — In accordance with the recommen- 
dation of Gov. Salomon, divine service will be 
held in the M. E. Church to-morrow, at the usual 
hour of morning service, when a sermon will 
be preached by the Rev. C. E. Weirich in com- 
memoration of the death of the late governor, 
the Hon. Louis P. Harvey. We hope that our 
merchants will all close their places of business 
for a few hours, and unite with the people in 
commemorating the untimely end of one of the 
purest and best public men of our times. 

June 25. — Mr. LyBrand, who is favorably 
known to all the old residents of our county 
and who still has interests here, is one of 
the faithful few who saw the cloud 
arising when it was no larger than a man's 
hand ; and who has not failed to warn the 
country against the fearful storm of God's 
vengeance whicii is now sweeping over us on 
account of our participation in the great crime 
of human slavery. 

July 9. — At a meeting of the citizens of 
Monroe, held at the court house, July 8, 1862, 
D. W, Ball, Esq., was called to the chair, and 
W. W. Wright chosen secretary. The meet- 
ing was called to order and was addressed in a 
spirited manner by T. H. Eaton, E. Bartlett, 
F. Q. Ball, L. Davenport ; each taking a 'clat- 
ter' at the rebels'and traitors in particular, and 
secession sympathizers generally. 

On motion of F. Q. Ball, a committee of five 
persons was appointed by the chair to draft res- 
olutions expressive of the sense and object of 
the meeting. Messrs F. Q. Ball, L. Daven- 
port, Dr. S. Porter, Josepli Peters and Allen 
Woodle were appointed said committee. 



536 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



The following preamble and resolutions, 
which were unanimously adopted, wore reported 
by said committee : 

Whereas, Morris Rosa, having served six 
months in tlie rebel army, having contributed a 
large sum from his private funds for the pur- 
pose of buying Sharpe's rifles, with which to 
arm rebels ; and also, having come north under 
the protection of the stars and stripes, has here 
expressed treasonable sentiments, and mani- 
fested his sympathy for the present rebellion, 
by saying that he would rather lose his right 
arm than fight his southern friends, — therefore. 

Resolved, That the said Morris Rosa be allow- 
ed twenty-four hours in which to leave the 
county, failing to do which, he remains at his 
peril.* 

Resolved, That any other man uttering like 
sentiments, shall not be tolerated in our m.idst. 

Ordered, That the Monroe Sentinel be re- 
quested to publish the proceedings of this 
meeting. 

The meeting then adjourned to meet at the 
call of the chairman. 

D. W. Ball, Chairman. 
W. W. Wright, Secretary. 

July 23. — William Van Horn, of Cadiz, in 
this county, aged sixty-six years, came to town 
yesterday to offer himself a recruit in the ser- 
vice of his country. There is also, in this phice, 
a man who is sixty-five years of age, who de- 
clares his determination to pass the examina- 
tion of the LTnited States musteringofticer. 

Court House, Monroe, July 28. 
A traitor having been sentenced this after- 
noon, to live weeks imprisonment for kicking 
and otherwise abusing a sick and discharged 
soldier for the expression of Union sentiments, 
his secession friends said he should not go to 
jail, and if he did 100 men from the county 
would liberate him. Whereupon a general 
fight ensued in which "secesh" ffot much the 



*Mr. Rosa, considering- discretion to be the better part of 
valor, went.~ED. 



worst of it — a meeting was called of the loyal 
citizens to be held at the court house, which was 
organized by calling the Hon. F. H. West to 
the chair and appointing A. W. Potter, sec- 
retary. 

The object of the meeting was said to be the 
suppression of home rebels. Speeches were 
made by F. H. West, James Bintliff, E. Bart- 
lett. Dr. Hull and others. A committee, consist- 
ing of J. V. Richardson, E. Bartlett and F. 
Q. Ball, to draft and present resolutions, re- 
ported the following: 

Whereas, the hydra-headed demon of seces- 
sion is again moving in our midst and exerting 
a paralyzing influence upon the cause of our 
country; and, 

Whereas, a person calling himself a Union 
man, assaulted a disabled soldier for expressing 
himself in favor of the present administration, 
and an active prosecution of the war, and hav- 
ing been justly imprisoned by due legal process, 
in our county jail for the term of five weeks, 
certain individuals threaten to resist the execu- 
tion of the sentence of the law, or liberate him 
when incarcerated; therefore, 

Resolved, That in view of the threats that 
have been uttered by the traitorous miscreants, 
who sympathize with the wretch who has been 
justly incarcerated this evening in our county 
jail, we challenge them to an attempt at their 
nefarious purposes ; and we also deem it an act 
of prudence to organize a vigilance committee 
whose duty it shall be to look well after those 
who may be guilty of uttering disloyal senti- 
ments in the future, and bring them to the pun- 
ishment which the magnitude of their offenses 
seem to merit. 

Resolved, That in this hour of our Nation's 
trial, it is the duty of every loyal citizen to dis- 
countenance in every possible manner, all exhi- 
bitions of treason, come from whatever source 
they may, that our country is above every other 
consideration, and the existence and perpetuity 
of our Union is too dear to permit any individ- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



637 



ual with traitorous cowboy instincts to strike 
directly or indirectly, by word or action at the 
efiFectual and vigorous prosecution of the pres- 
ent war and the efforts of the administration to 
suppress the Rebellion. 

A. W. Potter offered the following reso- 
lution which was unanimously adopted by the 
meeting: 

Mesolved, That, in order to carry out the pur- 
poses this meeting; for self protection, and to 
be prepared to mete out to traitors the punish- 
ment they so justly deserve, we do now organ. 
ize a military company that shall meet regularly 
for drill. The following gentlemen put down 
their names, and the meeting adjourned. The 
members of the military company to meet again 
on Tuesday evening to elect officers, and other- 
wise perfect their organization: 

Samuel Chandler, A. J. Sutherland, B. Dunwid- 
die, Edmund Bartlett, Edmund Hill, Charles A. 
Booth, D, W. Ball, B. Chenewath, J. S. Smock, 
J. A. Payne, George Churchill, L. Rote, 
C. Witter, P. H. Coon, William Bowers, Albert 
Witter, Charles Usher, S. A. Mackres, William 
Fillebrown, Jesse Bunting, J. R. Davis, N. B. 
Treat, Edward Hassinger, J. S. Bloom, Allen 
Woodle, W. O. Carpenter, E. S. Sackett, Israel 
Brewer, James Bintliff, E. Bentley, Dr. S. 
Porter, Thomas Eaton, Edward Scoville, G. E. 
Thrall, W. P. Woodworth, Rudolph Shroeder, 
John Graham, John Durrell, John Erfert, 
George W. Hoffman, Marvin Rhines, J. B. 
Scoville, E. T. Phelps, G. S. Van Wagenen, 
Joseph Pool, E. A. West, G. W. Crane, I. W. 
Hall, A. W. Patter, E. C. Stepheson, James 
Norris, W. W. Wright, Harris Pool, Alvin 
Humphrey, F. Q. Ball, D. F. Corson, J. K. 
Eilert, Morris Roth, Charles D. Corson, H. W. 
Whitney, William H. Halleck, William Sandoe, 
Jacob Stevick, S. W. Wilcox, C. Payne, D. S. 
Millen, F. H. West, J. R. Lafferty, John Sher- 
man, A. C. Dodge, Amos Lindly, A. Horn, F, 
S. Parlin, L. B, Johnson, G. A. Mosher, A. A. 
Bennett, George Miller, A. White, George P. 
Hedge and R. S. Norman. 



August 6.— On the evening of the 29th ult., 
pursuant to adjournment, the citizens of Mon- 
roe met at the court house, for the purpose of 
perfecting the organization of the Home Guards 
and to hear and act upon the report of the com- 
mittee previously appointed with regard to the 
course to be pursued with disloyal men in our 
midst. L. Rood was called to the chair and 
Thomas H. Eaton appointed secretary of the 
meeting. The report of the committee was 
then called for and read as follows: 

Whereas, the dangerous condition of our 
government requires the earnest and united 
efforts of all its loyal citizens, during this the 
most critical hour of her trial, the hour that is 
to decide whether we are to maintain the proud 
position of one of the first Nations of the earth, 
or sink into anarchy and confusion, a scorn and 
a reproach to the civilized world and 

Whereas, it is feared and believed that there 
are persons in our midst who are not of us, or 
with us in this our terrible struggle in behalf of 
what is the dearest thing on earth, to all true 
patriots — our country. And in order that we 
may know who are against us because they are 
not for us; therefore. 

Resolved, that all the citizens of this com- 
munity be requested to take and subscribe to 
the annexed oath: 

" I, of the town 

of in the county 

of Green and State of Wisconsin, do solemnly 
swear that I am a loyal citizen of the United 
States of America, that I will bear true alle- 
giance to the same, that I will to the utmost of 
my ability support the government in its efforts 
to suppress the rebellion; that in rendering such 
support I will discountenance in every possible 
manner by word or action every sentiment or 
expression the tendency of which may be to 
encourage disloyalty to the government, and 
that I will not, by word or deed, countenance 
any disloyal, secret organization, and for a vio- 
lation of this oath may I suffer the just penalty 
of the crime of treason." 



538 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Resolved, That any person refusing to sub- 
scribe to said oath shall be considered and is 
our enemy, whom it is our first duty, as good 
and loyal citizens, to expel from our midst. 

Jit'soli'/'d, That in all summary proceedings 
under the authority of this meeting, the course 
indicated and ordered in Gen. Pope's order No. 
3, (wliich we annex) be adhered to and carried 
out, so far as applicable to the case, the same as 
though we were acting in his department and 
under his authority. 

Hesolved, That a judicial committee of fifteen 
of our best citizens be appointed to investigate 
and take judicial cognizance of all refusals to 
take, and subscribe to, and violations of said 
oath, and that the Home Guards being organ- 
ized here to-night be authorized and ordered to 
faithfully execute the decrees of said judicial 
committee. 

On motion the following named gentlemen 
were appointed such judicial committee: 

B. Chenoweth, N. R. Usher, C. S. Foster, M. 
Reitler, John A. Bingham, Edmund Hill, J. V. 
Richardson, L. Davenport, A. Ludlow, D, 
W. Ball, W. W. Wright, B. Dunwiddie, George- 
King, William Brown and J. S. l^loom. 

Messrs. E. Bartlett, A. J. Sutherland, Harris 
Pool, S. E. Cole, Dr. S. Porter and C. Godfrey, 
were appointed a committee to invite citi- 
zens to take the oath. 

pope's order no. 3. 

" Headquarters Army of Virginia, } 
"July 23d, 1862. f 

"Commanders of army corps, divisions, bri- 
gades, and detached commands will proceed im- 
mediately to arrest disloyal male citizens, with- 
in their lines or within their reach, and within 
their respective stations. Such as are willing 
to take the oath of allegiance to the United 
States and will furnish sufficient security for its 
observance, shall be permitted to remain at 
their homes and {»ursiie in good faith tiieir ac- 
customed avocations. Those wlio i-efuse shall 
be conducted to the south beyond the extreme 
pickets of this army, and be notified that if 



found again anywhere within our lines; or at 
any point in the rear, they will be considered as 
spies, and subjected to the extreme rigor of 
military law. If any person having taken the 
oath of allegiance as above specified shall be 
found to have violated it, he shall be shot, and 
his property seized and confiscated."* 

August 20. — We see by the Madison Journal, 
of a late date, that Silas Gardner, son of E. T. 
Gardner, Esq., of this village, has received a 2d 
lieutenant's commission in the 3d regiment. It 
gives us pleasure to record the promotion of 
men who have earned it by their good behavior. 

August 27. — We learn that there will be 
funeral services at the Catholic Church, in this 
village, Monday next, at 10 o'clock a. m., in 
commemoration of the death of Capt. Moses 
O'Brien. All citizens are invited to attend. 

Early on Monday morning an immense mul- 
titude of people assembled in the ]Miblic square 
to take leave of their friends in Capt. Bintliff's 
company, which was to leave for camp at 8 
o'clock A. M. The company formed in front of 
McKey's Hall at quarter past 1, and after an- 
swering to their names, they were marched to 
the depot where a special train was in waiting 
for them. Their friends accompanied them to 
the cars, unwilling to leave them till compelled 
by stern necessity. The parting scenes were 
very affecting; not that many tears were shed, 
but the firinly compressed lips and the quiver- 
ing nerves of the face showed emotion too 
deep and too sacred for utterance at such a time 
and place. The Monroe Brass Baud was pies- 
ent and played a solemn farewell air as the cars 
moved slowly off. The company goes into 
camp at Racine, by the way of IMilwaukee. 

September 3. — It gives us pleasure to record 
that our townsman, F. H. West, Esq., has been 
commissionetl lieutenant-colonel of the 31st 

*The oath, before mentioned, wiis H'iven into the posses- 
sion of L. Rote, iin attorney and justiee of the pence. A 
larre ninnber of citizens niiiilc hasten lo siil)seribe their names 
to it; indeed, there wvrv hnt few t liat refused to sig'n. Of 
tlie latter, one was a i-esidcnt of tlie town of Sylvester, an 
old-time citizen; he was marched to the limits of the villajire 
of Monroe, and ordered to kovp ()iitsid(>. A icsident of 
Clariio was treated to a free ride on a rail part of the way to 
his home.— Ed. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



539 



regiment, which is made up of companies from 
Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette and Green 
counties, and goes into camp at Prairie du 
Chien. Mr. West will fill the place given him 
with credit to himself and honor to his county; 
and, notwithstanding the slurs of the Madison 
Patriot, at the "leader of the Green county, 
mob," we will hazard something that not only 
his immediate friends, but his political enemies 
will freely admit that a more fit appointment 
could not have been made. 

October 1. — The Soldiers' Aid Society will 
meet at the court house Saturday, at 2 o'clock 
p. M., to make bandages, lint, etc. Let every 
one come, whether they belong to the society or 
not. The needs of the sick and wounded are 
very pressing just now, and we wish to send a 
box as soon as possible. 

Mrs. J. B. Treat, Secretary. 

We have seen a letter from William H. Booth, 
one of Capt. Flood's company, in which he 
confirms Lieut. Gardner's statement that only 
six of company C's men came out of the battle 
of Antietam unhurt. They went into the fight 
thirty-one strong. Three were killed and tlie 
rest (the six of one mentioned excepted) 
wounded. The killed are G. Gay, I. Thurlow 
and Leonard Sheffield. Kimberly, Foster and 
William Booth were among the wounded, but 
their wounds are slight. The regiment had 
only sixty-three left fit for duty. They are 
now located near Harper's Ferry. 

December 3. — Green County Finances. The 
financial statement which we publish to day, 
showing the expenditures of Green county for 
the past year, and the amount of taxes to be 
raised to meet the expenses of the present year, 
are full of interest to every tax-payer, and will 
unquestionably receive the attention they merit. 

They show that, notwithstanding the 'neavy 
expenses created l)y the war, the county is finan- 
cially sound; and though $9,000 is to be raised 
to support tlie families of volunteers and 
drafted men, we believe that double that 
amount would be cheerfully given by a vote of 



more than three-fourths of our people, were so 
much necessary to keep our brave soldiers' 
families from want and suffering. Our county 
commissioners are entitled to much credit for the 
energy and assiduity with which they have 
transacted all business which has come before 
them, and have fully demonstrated that, al- 
though "in a multitude of counselors there is 
wisdom," it does not require a multitude to 
transact the business of a county board, and do 
it in a manner satisfactory to their constituents. 

1863- January 11. — The ladies of this village 
will meet at the house of Mrs. Jesse Robison 
to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, for the pur- 
pose of sewing for the soldiers. This is a truly 
praiseworthy object, and we hope there will be 
a large gathering. Our brothers and friends 
are far from home engaged in fighting the ene- 
mies of the Republic, that we and our posteri- 
ty may enjoy the rich blessings of peace and 
National prosperity, and surely we should re- 
joice at the privilege of laboring a half day to 
promote their comfort in return. 

February 25. — Death of Rev. Mr. AVeirich. — 
Our citizens were startled last evening by the 
announcement that the Rev. C. E. Weirich, late 
pastor of the M. E. Church in this village, and 
for the last four months chaplain of the 23d 
regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, was dead, and 
that his body had arrived on the cars in charge 
of his son-in-law, who was also a member of the 
23d regiment. At first the statement seemed 
incredible; his family reside in this village, and 
they had not even lieard of his illness. Soon, 
too soon, the sad tidings were confirmed. He 
died at Vicksburg several days since. We have 
heard no particulars of his death nor of the 
character of his disease. His unexpected fate 
has overwhelmed his family with the deepest 
grief, and all our citizens, by whom he was 
known and beloved, sympathize with them in 
their sad bereavement. 

March 4 — A donation party will be held in 
McKey's Hall, Friday evening, March 6, 18G3, 
at 7 o'clock r. m., for the benefit of the family 



540 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of Rev. C. E. Weirich, who recently died in 
the service of iiis country. The cause is worthy. 
Let all attend. By order of committee. 
Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Ball, 
Mr. and Mrs. B. Chenewoth, 
Mr. and Mrs. George H. King, 
Mr. and Mrs. H. Pierce, 
Mr. and Mrs. William Coldren. 
Monroe, Feb. 28, 1863. 

March 11. — The citizens of Monroe held a 
meeting at llie court house, on Monday evening 
the 9llr irist., for the j>ur|)ose of aiding our sick 
an'i wounded soldiers, now in the field. A com- 
mittee of ten were appointed to adopt the quick- 
est and best method of bringing this about. 

They propose to circulate subscriptions, which 
is now l)eing done, to raise funds to send an 
agent along with any boxes of goods that may 
be sent, so that each box may be applied where 
it was intended. 

If tlie citizens of Clarno, Juda and other por- 
tions of this county will send in their boxes of 
stores for the same purpose, together with 
money to pay expenses, this committee will take 
charge of them, and send by the same agent, to 
any company that went from this county. By 
order of committee. 

A. Ludlow, 

J. V. Richardson, 

B. Chenewoth, 
S. W. Hoffman, 
D. W. Ball, 
Mrs. L. Walcott, 
Mrs. B. Chenewoi'ii, 
Mrs. J. lioBiNsoN, 
Mrs. J. Thrall, 
Mrs E. B. Adams. 

fore the sentinel. 



[ritten by mrs. ] 

O my lonely home 

Where is my Willey 
noWalass it is to ti-ue 

he's gone to the War. 

in Capt Blinlitf Company 

With hearte so brave and true 

his hearte is fore his 
native land his sougs is 



fore here glory 

her Warrior Wreathe is in 
there hands there lips breathe 

out here story our lofty 

hills and valleys green 
are smiling brigh before them 

and like a raiubolt sign is 
seen her proud flag Waving o'er them. 

September 2. The provost marshal of this 
district, publishes a notice in our paper to-day, 
offering a reward of 1 10, and payment of all 
reasonable expenses, for the arrest and deliveiy 
of any deserter. 

We advise men knowing themselves to be de- 
serters, to save his money to the government by 
reiDorting to the marshal, of their own accord, 
as they will be quite likely to meet with better 
treatment. 

October 7. — The ladies of Monroe will hold a 
festival at McKey's Hall on Thursday evening, 
October 8, for the benefit of our soldiers 
wounded in the recent battles. A supper will 
be served from 8 o'clock to 10 o'clock, at fifty 
cents each. All ladies, whether in the village 
or country, who are desirous of aiding in this 
laudable work, are invited to contribute some- 
thing for the table. 

committee of arrangements. 

Mrs. Usher, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Fillebrown, 
Mrs. Walcott, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Thrall, Mrs. 
Van Wagnen, Mrs. Hoffman, Mrs. E. T. Gard- 
ner, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. L. Hurlbut, Mrs. Bing- 
ham, Mrs. Treat, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. Eilert, 
Mrs. C. S. Foster, Mrs. E. A. West, Mrs. Chen- 
ewoth, Mrs. Ilassinger, Mrs. Pari in, Mrs. Ed- 
ward E. Woodman, Mrs. Preston, Mrs. James 
Brintliff, Mrs. Davenport, Miss lone Jones, 
Miss Sue Treat, Miss Nellie Miller, Miss Mary 
Thrall, Miss Ilattie Wilder, Miss Calisla Hurl- 
but, Miss Delia Galusha and Miss Anna Mc- 
Dowell. 

1865— April 12. How We Got the News.— 
The intelligence of Lee's surrender was brought 
up from Janesville on Monday morning by some 
gentlemen, who trundled a hand car all the way 





iy^xy" 





Y^^^'^-'^^^^^-^'l^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



548 



on purpose to bring it. They arrived liere 
about 10:30 a. m., and the remainder of the day, 
till late in the evening, was spent by our citi- 
zens in the wildest rejoicing. Bells were rung, 
drums beat, flags waved, patriotism, whisky and 
lager flowed profusely, and "all went merry as 
a marriage bell." 

April 19. — In accordance with the notice of 
the acting Secretary of State, that the funeral 
services of President Lincoln will take place 
in Washington at noon to-day, services will be 
held in every considerable town throughout the 
country. The governors of tlie several States 
have issued proclamations recommending this, 
and the feelings of the people prompt a ready 
response. Services wi,ll be held at the Univer- 
salist church in this village, and addresses will 
be delivered by the pastors of the several con- 
gregations. The heavens are weeping floods of 
tears this morning over the untimely fate of 
Abraham Lincoln, and all the people of our 
village feel like following the example. 

Under the call of October,' 1863, for 300,000 
more, the quo.ta of Green county was 223. 
Under the four calls of 1804, dated February 1, 
]\Iarch 14, July IS and December 19, her quota 
was 1,328. The quotas and credits of each 
town, from October, 1SG3, to the end of the 
war, are shown in the following table : 



TOWNS. 




o 
g_ 

GO 




a. 


?5g 


Oistribution of 318 ex- 
cess credited by order 
of war department. 




o 


Adams 

Albany 

liroolvlyn 


95 
71 

Sit 
115 

.50 
115 

.53 
207 

86 

.5:i 

84 
74 
.59 
63 


30 
73 
49 
30 
57 
75 
35 
95 
33 
139 
69 
30 
61 
56 
34 
19 


4 
11 

9 
13 
13 
17 
11 
10 
10 
67 

6 
11 
15 

5 
13 

4 


14 

5 
4 

17 

13 

36 
9 

16 
9 

33 
6 
4 

31 
(i 
8 

30 

309 


6 

. 10 

8 

8 

11 

33 

6 

14 

6 

30 

11 

6 

11 

9 

9 

6 


1 

1 

i 

1 

i 

3 
1 

i 

1 

i 


54 
99 
71 

68 


(^larno 


93 


Decatur. 


143 


Exeter 

Jefferson 


61 
136 


Jordan 

Monroe 


57 
370 


Mount Pleasant 


93 
51 


Sprin;;- Grove 

Svlvcster 


109 


Washington 

York 


63 

50 






Total .^ 


1,336 


883 


317 


174 


11 


1,494 



HOW GREEN COUNTY TREATED HER SOLDIERS. 

At a special meeting of the board of super- 
visors of Green county, in May, 1861, it was 

"Hesolved, That, in the opinion of this board, 
the county will be willing to pay all the neces- 
sary expenses of maintaining the families of all 
those who may volunteer (that may need such 
assistance) during the war." The aid thus 
early promised was continued to the end of the 
war. The towns were severally as prompt and 
perseverving as the county at large. The follow- 
ing statement of the amounts raised to pay 
bounties to volunteers, and to aid the families 
of the same, is from the Sentinel of July 26, 1 865 : 



^ 








o 


Adams . . 
Albany . 
nrof)klyn 
Cadiz .... 
Clarno . . 
Decatur. 
Exeter . . 
Jefferson 
Jordan.. 
Monroe T 
Monroe \ 
Mount PI 
New Gliu 
Spring- Gi 
Sylvester 
Washingt 
York.... 


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IN ^[KMORIA-M. 

When Pericles was called upon to deliver 
the oration over tho.se who had fallen in the 
first campaign of the Peloponnesian war, he 
began by extolling Athens; and, having expati- 
ated upon her glories, her institutions and her 



B2 



544 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



sciences, he concluded by exclaiming: "For 
such a Republic, for such a Nation, the people 
whom we this day mourn fell and died." It is 
* for such a Republic, for such a Nation" as the 
United States of America, that the people of 
the North, by thousands, "fell and died" during 
the War for the Union; and, to those thousands, 
Green county contributed her share. 

Green county's war record is of such a char- 
acter that her people may ever refer to it with 
pride and satisfaction. One of the early coun- 
ties in the State, as we have seen, to respond 
with volunteers in the hour of gravest peril, 
she never faltered during the entire struggle, 
weary and disheartening as it ofttimes was. 
Her old men were not wanting in counsel, nor 
her young men nor middle-aged in true martial 
spirit. With a firm, unswerving faith in the 
righteousness of the Union cause, her citizens, 
with scarce a distinction in age or sex, were im- 
bued with a determination to conquer or die 
rather than survive defeat. It was this kind of 
patriotism that bore the Union cause through 
defeat as well as victory, whenever the oft-re- 
peated news was brought home of depleted and 
and scattered ranks. Green county valor is at- 
tested upon every street of our hospitable vil- 
lages; upon her broad sections of fertile land; 
and last, but not least, within the silent en- 
closures of her dead. It is here that, with each 
recurring anniversary, the graves of her heroes 
are moistened with the tears of sorrow, as lov- 
ing fingers bedeck them with beautiful flowers. 

Although there are in the preceding pages 
some facts which may remind the citizens of 
Green county of the deeds of those who fought 
the good figlit until the end, yet without these 
records, those days of peril, of suffering, and of 
victory at last, would not be forgotten by the 
present generation; they are too df^eply en- 
graved in the liearts of all. Each of the citi- 
zen-soldiers from this county who stood loyally 
by the country's standard tlirough the war, has 
wrought his name in characters that live ns 
monuments to the memories of men. 



Many gallant sons of Green, who went out 
from home to battle for the Union, with only 
the benediction of a mothers' tears and prayers, 
came back to those mothers' arms with a glo- 
rious record. Many returned having left a 
limb in the swamps of Chickahominy, on the 
banks of the Rapidan, at Fredricksburg, Gettys- 
bui-g, Vicksburg, or in the Wilderness. Many 
still bear the marks of that strife which raged 
at Stone River, luka, Chickamauga, or on the 
heights of Lookout Mountain, whence they 
thundered down the defiance of the skies, or of 
that strife which was waged before Atlanta, 
Savannah and in the Carolinas. 

But there were many who came not back. 
They fell by the wayside, in the prison, on the 
battlefield, or in the hospital. Their memory, 
however, is held in the most sacred keeping. 
Some sleep beside their ancestors in the village 
churchyard, where the violets on their graves 
speak not alone of womanly sweetness, but in 
tender accents of the devotion of those beneath 
the mounds of earth. All, all, whether buried 
in the distant South or at home, are remem- 
bered as they slumber on in a peaceful, glorified 
rest. 

' "Winds of Summer, Oh whisper low, 
Over the graves where the violets grow. 
Blossoming flowers nnd songs of bees, 
Sweet ferns tossed in the summer's breeze, 
Floating shadows and golden lights, 
Dewy mornings and radiant nights, 
All the bright ;ind beautiful things 
That gracious and bountiful summer brings, 
Faire>t and sweetest that earth can bestow. 
Brighten the graves where the violets giow." 

Many of the brave soldiers who battled for 
the Union, many, very many, have gone before, 
and they now wait upon the threshold of Para- 
dise for the coming of those loved ones left be- 
hind, when they, too, shall have exchanged the 
feeble j)ulses of a transitory existence for the 
ceaseless throbbing of eternal life. Faithful 
and fearless, on the march, in the strife, at vic- 
tory or defeal, they at last laid down at the 
mysterious fr<Mitier, leaving the exalted hope 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



54.= 



behind that, though the world was lost forever, 
there would be unfurled another realm of unim- 
aginable glory, where they, and all whom they 
loved on earth, might realize the promise which 
the great Ruler of the universe has made to the 
just. 

Wisconsin may well feel proud of her record 
made in defense of the national existence. 
Shoulder to shoulder with the other loyal States 
of the Union, she stood in the front ranks. 
From her workshops and her farms she poured 
forth the stalwart men who tilled up the organ- 



izations which she sent to the field. The blood 
of those brave men drenched almost every batth 
field of the Rebellion, from Gettysburg to the val- 
ley of the Rio Grande. Establishing at an early 
day a reputation for gallantry and enduranci 
Wisconsin regiments always occupied positions 
where hard fighting was to be done; and those 
who placed them there never were disappointed 
in their not performing there whole duty; and 
no county in the State has reason to be more 
proud than the county of Green for the part 
born by her sons in this terrible war to save the 
Union, 



546 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



COUNTY OFFICERS— PAST AND PRESENT. 



In a previous cliapter, "Green County Formed 
and Organized," mention is made of tlie first 
elections in Green I'or county officers. These 
elections were held in 1838. Of the officers 
elected during that year and succeeding ones, 
down to the present time (1884), the following 
is a list, excluding therefrom county com- 
missioners and supervisors, judgesof the 
county court, and county superintendents of 
schools, — these, with the dates of their elec- 
tion, being found in the chapters on the "The 
County Board," on "The Courts of Green 
County," and on the "Common Schools of the 
County." 

TREASURERS. 

Joseph McCracken, 1838; Abner VanSant, 
1839; James Hawthorn, 1840; James Plawthorn, 
1841; James Hawthorn, 1842; Hambleton C. 
Miller, 1843; Hambleton C. Miller, 1844; Asa 
Brown, 1845; L. Hurlbut, 1846; L. Hurlbut, 
1847; Wadsworth Foster, 1848; Francis Emer- 
son, 1849; Wadsworth Foster, 1850; Francis 
Emerson, 1852; Edmund Hill, 1854; Edmund 
Hill, 1856; David W. Ball, 1858; David W. 
Ball, 1860; William McDowel, 1862; L. Frank- 
enburger, 1864; L Frankenburger, 1866; Wil- 
liam H. Ball, 1868; F. R. Melvin, 18V0; F. R. 
Melvin, 18/2; F. R. Melvin, 1874; J. Smith 
Smock, 1876; Sylvester McMannes, 1878; Linus 
Hare, 1880; Linus Hare, 1882. 

SHERIFFS. 

John W. Deniston,* 1838; Joseph Woodle,* 
1841; Joseph Woodle, 1843; Charles S. Thomas, 



* Appointerl. 



1844; John Blunt, 1846; F. F. West, 1848; 
Charles S. Thomas, 1850; John Moore, 1852; 
Joseph W. Smith, 1854; A.J. Sutherland, 1856; 
Charles S. Foster, 1858; H. B. Cipwell, 1860; 
Charles S. Foster, 1862: Horatio G. Cleveland, 
1864; Eliakim R. Allen, 1866; Silas Gardner, 
1868; Alfred Wood, 1870; Frank H. Derrick, 
1872; D. W. Ball, 1874; F. K. Studley, 1876; 
C, Morse, 1878; F. K. Studley, 1880; Edward 
Ruegger, 1882. 

REGISTERS OF DEEDS. 

William Rittenhouse, 1839; William Ritten- 
house,1841; William Rittenhouse, 1842; William 
Rittenhouse, 1843; William Rittenhouse, 1844; 
William Rittenhouse, 1845; WilUiam Ritten- 
lioiise, 1846; William Rittenhouse, 1847; J. V. 
Richardson, 1848; James L. Powel, 1 850; James 
L. Powel, 1852; Ezra Westcott, 1854; James 
Bintliff, 1856; J. Jacob Tschudy, 1858; J. Jacob 
Tscliudy, I860; D. PI. Morgan, 1862; William 
H. Allen, 186*; Robert McFarland, 1866; Sam- 
uel Lewis, 1868; Samuel Lewis, 1870; C. E. 
Tanberg, 1872; C. E. Tanberg, 1874; C. E. Tan- 
berg, 1876; C. E. Tanberg, 1878; C. E. Tanberg, 
1880; C. E. Tanberg, 1882. 

COUNTY CLERKS. 

William Rittenhouse, 1841; William Ritten- 
house, 1842; William Rittenhouse, 1843; E. T. 
Gardner, 1845; E. T. Gardner, 1846; S. P. Con- 
dee, 1847; L. Richards, 18 48; H. B. Poyer, 
18 i9; H. B. Poyer, 1850; H. B. Poyer, 1852; B. 
F. Hancock, 1854; A. W. Potter, 1856; A. W. 
Potter, 1858; Mathias Marty, 1860; Mathias 
Marty, 1862; J. Jacob Tschudy, 1864; J. Jacob 
Tschudy, l.'^ee; J. Jacob Tschudy, 1868; J. Ja- 



1 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



547 



cob Tschudy, 1870; L. Seltzer, 1872; L. Seltzer, 
1874; L. Seltzer, 1876; L. Seltzer, 1878; Her- 
man L. Gloege, 1880; Herman L. Gloege, 1882. 

CLERKS OF COURT. 

Noah Phelps, 1848; Noah Phelps, 1850; 
Noah Phelps, 1852; J. V. Richardson, 1854; 
Edmund Bartlett, 1856; Thomas Lindley, 1858; 
W. W. Wright, 1860; W. W. Wright, 1862; 
W.W.Wright, 1864; W. W. Wright, 1866; 
W.W.Wright, 1868; W. W. Wright, 1870; 
P. J. Clawson, 1872; Edmund Bartlett, 1874; 
Edmund Bartlett, 1876; Edmund Bartlett, 1878; 
Edmund Bartlett, 1880; Theodore W. Gold in, 
1882. 

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. 

James Churchman, April, 1838, pro tern; 
William A. Banks, August, 1 838, acting. [John 
Catlin, David Brighara, M. Goodrich and J. P 
Shields afterwards served as district attorneys, 
but only for short periods of time. By an act 
of the legislature of 1843 the office was abol- 
ished, and the commissioners of the county 
were authorized to employ an attorney within 
the county to perform the duties; several times 
in 1845 and the year following, JohnW. Stewart 
was thus engaged by them.] B. Dunwiddie, 
1848; E.T.Gardner, 1850; E.T.Gardner, 1852; 
Hiram Stevens, 1854; Hiram Stevens, 1856; 
Hiram Medberry, 1858; Moses O'Brien, 1860; 
E. T. Gardner, 1862; C. N. Carpenter, 1864; B. 
S. Kerr, 1866; A. S. Douglas, 1868; A. S. Douglas, 
1870; A. S.Douglas, 1872; A. S.Douglas, 1874; 
P. J. Clawson, 1876; P. J. Clawson, 1878; P.J. 
Clawson, 1880; P. J. Clawson, 1882. 

SURVEYORS. 

A. VanSant, 1840; Noah Phelps, 1841; J. A. 
Bingham, 1842; F. F. West, 1843; Thomas 
Stewart, 1844; Thomas Stewart, 1845; Thomas 
Stewart, 1846; J. V. Richardson, 1847; Samuel 
Spangler, 1848; Samuel Spangler, 1850; Hiram 
Brown, 1852; Ranson Drake, 1854; D. H. Mor- 
gan, 1856; D. H. Morgan, 1858; D. H. Morgan, 
1860; J.T.Dodge, 1862; Albert L. Cleveland, 
1864; Albert L. Cleveland, 1866; Albert L. 
Cleveland, 1868; Albert L. Cleveland, 1870; Al- 



bert L. Cleveland, 1872; A. C. Stuntz, 1874; A. 
C. Stuntz, 1876; A. C. Stuntz, 1878; A. C. Stuntz, 
1880; A. C. Stuntz, 1882. 

CORONERS. 

Amos Harris, 1838; Amos Harris, 1839; Will- 
iam Woodle, 1841; John Blunt, 1842; John 
Blunt, 1843; James Hagerty, 1844; Joseph 
Kelly, 1845; Joseph Kelly, 1846; Jacob Linzee^ 
1847; John R. Walling, 1848; Asa Richardson, 
1850; Rowley Morris, 1852; Charles F. Thomp- 
son, 1854; J. H.Warren, 1856; Ira S. Dexter, 
1858; Harris Pool, 1860; Robert McLaren, 1862; 
Isaac Williams, 1864; Isaac Williams, 1866; 
John Hattery, 1868; John Hattery, 1870; John 
Hattery, 1872; L. Frankenburger, 1874; John 
Wood, 1876; L. Taylor, 1878; John Wood, 1880; 
William Green, 1882. 

The subject of this chapter is, of necessity, 
wholly statistical, confined, as the reader has 
seen, to a simple recital of those who have 
(with a few exceptions) been entrusted with 
the management of the affairs of Green county 
since its organization to the present time. 
This management has been carried on to the 
present time, with a single exception, honestly 
and faithfully. "The exception," says Miss 
Bingham, in her valuable history of the county, 
"is Horace B. Poyer, county clerk from the year 
1849 to 1855, and forger of county orders. 
Probably no man in the county was ever more 
generally popular, more implicitly trusted, 
than Mr. Poyer at the time he was en- 
gaged in his forgeries. An investigating 
committee appointed by the supervisors 
reported Dec. 27, 1855, as follows: 'The 
matter is involved in much obscurity, owing to 
the destruction and mutilation of records and 
papers. We are therefore unable to make so full 
and perfect a report as we could desire. We 
have, however, detected frauds committed from 
the year 1848 to 1854, inclusive. The aggre- 
gate amount of which the county has been de- 
frauded (so far as we are able to state from our 
imperfect means of ascertaining), including 
orders altered, orders wholly fraudulent, and 



548 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the same raised for weights and measures, and 
exclusive of legs,!*/ of orders, for the issuing of 
which no bills or resolutions can be found, is 
$2,541.28; from which deduct $096.80, the 
amount canceled by Poyer, and there remains 
a balance now due the county of $1,844.48.' 
The value of the orders which the report refers 
to as canceled, was saved for the county by the 
fact that a year before the forgeries were gener- 
ally known, A. Ludlow and Asa Richardson be- 
came convinced that a large number of 
orders which they had bought were fraud- 
ulent. Their efforts to ascertain the 
truth were discovered by Mr. Poyer, who en- 
gaged two attorneys, to whom he made a con- 
fession, expressing at the same time a great de- 
sire to repair the wrong he bad done. All the 
fraudulent orders which had been discovered 
were immediately canceled, and Mr. Poyer ex- 
pressed great pleasure in his own reformation. 
He won the confidence and the deepest sympathy 
of all who knew his secret. They believed he 
had been the victim of circumstances which 
could never mislead him again. After some 
time, however, it was discovered that the con- 
fession was less full than it had been represent- 
ed to be. Other forgeries, even forged certifi- 
cates of wolf scalps, were discovered, and, after 
paying his attorneys with a forged land war- 
rant, Mr. Poyer fled to a distant State, where, 
under an assumed name, he is said to be leading 
an honorable life." 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Capt. Edward Ituegger, 
sheriff of Green county, was born in Switzer- 
land, Oct. 18, 1836. In 1854 he came to America 
with his parents, who settled in Green county. 
After coming to Monroe, he learned the trade 
of wagon maker, which he followed until 18G1, 
when he enlisted in the 9th Wisconsin In- 
fantry, as private. Their first rendezvous was 
at Camp Siegel, at Milwaukee, where at an elec- 
tion of oflBcers, he was chosen 2d lieuten- 
ant of his company, and was soon after pro- 
moted by the governor, to 1st lieutenant. 



Dec. 30, 1861, the regiment was sent to Fort 
Scott, Kan. In June, 1862, he was promoted 
to captain. His company was on provost 
guard duty, of the seventh army corps, under 
Gen. Steele for about eight months. He was in 
the Camden expedition in April, 1864, and took 
part in all the skirmishes and battles his army 
corps was engaged in. He was mustered oat at 
Milwaukee, in December, 1864, since which 
time he has been engaged in various occupa- 
tions. In 1861 he was married to Sophia 
Shober. By this union there are eight chil- 
dren, four sons and four daughters. Capt. 
Ruegger is a member of the Masonic order, also 
of the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R., the Turner 
society and "Sharp Shooters." 

C. E. Tanherg, 
register of deeds, was born in Norway, Jan. 
14, 1830. In 1853 he came to this country with 
his parents, who located in Racine Co., Wis., 
where C. E. took up his trade as painter. In 
1857 he moved to Oconomowoc, Waukesha 
county, and continued in the same business. In 
1861 he enlisted in the 15th Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was first camped at Madison, 
Wis. He was elected by the company, 2d 
lieutenant, and received his commission Jan. 
14, 1862, and was mustered in during the month 
of February of the same year. Mr. Tanbcrg 
l)articipated in the following engagements: 
Island No. 10, Union City, Tenn., Perryville, 
Knob Gap, Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Or- 
chard Knob, Charleston, East Tennessee, (At- 
lanta Campaign) Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, 
Dallas, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Kene- 
saw Mountain, Atlanta and Jonesboro, Ga. At 
the battle of Stone River, he was wounded in 
the forehead by a minnie ball, was loft on the 
field and taken prisoner. He was then sent to 
Atlanta and subsequently to Libby prison, and 
was exchanged in April, 1863. He immedi- 
ately returned to his regiment, and was soon 
after promoted to the rank of 1st lieutenant, 
commanding company D. He particii^ated in the 
battle of Chickamauga, and was wounded in the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



549 



fleshy part of the left thigh and lost a portion 
of his little finger. He remained with the regi- 
ment until they arrived at Atlanta, when, on ac- 
count of poor health he resigned. In 1864 he 
came to Monroe, and in the fall of 1865 con- 
tinued his business of painting. In the fall of 
1872 he was a successful candidate for register 
of deeds, .and was re-elected for six consecutive 
terms. In May, 1857, he was married to Miss 
A. H. Anderson, by whom he has had twelve 
children, eleven now living — Emma M., George 
E., Albert E., Eva M., Charles A., Willis M., 
Frank M., H. May, Ernest J., Charlotte B. and 
Orville Clayton. Mr. Tanberg is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R. 

Herman L. Gloege^ 

county clerk, was born at Schoenwerder, in 
Pomerania, Prussia, Nov. '24, 1840, where he 
received a common school education. When 
fifteen years old he was appointed clerk of the 
magistrate of the city of Arnswalde, where he 
spent one year. When sixteen years old, he, 
with the consent of his parents, emigrated to the 
United States, leaving his father's home in Ger- 
many on the 12th day of April, 1857, and arriving 
at Oconomowoc, Waukesha (Jo., Wis., June 16, 
thence in July he went to Janesvilie, Rock 
county, and thence in the same month to the 
town of Sylvester, in Green county, thence late 
in the fall to the town of Jefferson, where he 
remained one year. In the fall of 1858 he re- 
moved to Warren Co., Miss., but 'returned to 
Green county in the spring of 1859. In the 
spring of 1860 his parents also emigrated to the 
United States, with whom he located on section 
25, in the town of Clarno. During the war he en- 
listed on the 15th day of August, 1862, in com- 
pany B, 31st regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and participated in the siege and capture 
of Atlanta, Ga., march to the sea, siege and cap- 
ture of Savannah, Ga., and also in the follow- 
ing engagements: Chesterfield, S. C, Averys- 
boro, Isl. C, and Bentonville, N. C, and was 
also in the grand review at Washington, D. C, 



on May 24, 1865. While in the service he was 
detailed in May, 1863, as elerk of the general 
court martial at Columbus, Ky., remaining in 
that position four months. From September, 
1863, to the close of the war in 1865 he acted 
as company clerk of his company. He was 
mustered out on the 20th day of June, 1865, at 
Louisville, Ky., and finally paid and discharged 
at Madison, Wis., July 6, 1865. On March 30, 
1866, he was married to Sophia Bast, by whom 
he had eight children — Edward F., Clara L., 
Oscar H. (dead), Henry W., Martha M., Ida S., 
Emil H. and Minna L. In the fall of 1866 he 
came to Monroe and engaged in mercantile 
business for a short time. In the spring of. 
1867 he again located on a farm on section 25, 
in the town of Clarno, where he remained until 
the fall of 1880, when he was elected to the 
office of county clerk, and was re-elected in 
the fall of 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Gloege are 
members of the Evangelical Church of Monroe. 
The parents of the subject of this sketch, Fred- 
erick and Louisa Gloege, resided in the town 
of Clarno, where they first located, twenty-three 
years, but removed to Santa Anna, Los Angeles 
Co., Cal., in the month of March, 1883, where 
they now reside. 

Tlieodore W. Goldin, 
clerk of the circuit court, was born in Rock 
Co., Wis., July 25, 1857. His parents were 
Reuben W. and Elizabeth E. (Bradfield)Goldin. 
The former was a native of New York, the lat- 
ter of Ohio. In 1846 Reuben W. Goldin, the 
father of the subject of this sketch, came to 
Rock county. In 1860 they removed to Brod- 
head. Green county, where Reuben W. Goldin 
died in 1883. Theodore was educated in the 
high schools and received a liberal education. 
After leaving school he learned the harness- 
maker's trade, which he followed a short time. 
He was married in February, 1881, to Laura 
Dunwiddie, a daughter of David Dunwiddie, of 
Brodhead. He was elected to his present oflice 
in 1882, which he is filling with honor to him- 
self and credit to his constituency. He is a 



550 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Master Mapon and a Knight of Pythias. In 
April, 1876, Mr. Goldin enlisted in the 7th Cav- 
alry regiment of the regular army, and partici- 
pated in the memorable engagement at Little 
Big Horn, at the massacre of Gen. Custer and 
his noble command. After serving two years 
he was mustered out at Fort Buford, Dak., 
Nov. 27, 1877. Wliile in the service his com- 
mand was, for sixty days, on half rations, and 
for fifteen days had nothing except the game 
that they killed. 

A. C. Sttintz, 

county surveyor of Green county, is a native of 
Erie Co., Penn., born Aug. 24, 1S25, and came 
to this county in 18f36. Pie is a son of Rev. 
George Stuntz, a native of Frederick Co., Va., 
born July 4, 1789, and Mary (Randall) Stuntz, 
a native of Rhode Island, born in 1790. They 
were married in Erie Co., Penn., where a family 
of ten children were born, five of whom are 
living. Mrs. Stuntz died in 1836. She was a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church, and highly respected by 
all who knew her. Mr. Stuntz was again mar- 
ried in 1837, to Mrs. Sarah Davis, a widow of 
Samuel Davis, by whom he had one child. Mr. 
Stuntz was a local preacher and suj^plied the 
pulpit for more than fifty years. He was a man 
of commanding stature, and more than ordinary 
ability and sterling worth. For many years he 
married all the couples, and preached all the 
funeral sermons of the county. His whole life 
was spent in the service of his Maker. He died 
at the age of seventy-six years. He had two 



sons who followed him in the ministry, and a 
number of relatives who were preachers. The 
subject of this sketch, A. C. Stuntz, grew to 
manhood in his native county, and obtained his 
education in the pioneer schools. In 1847 he 
left Erie county and went to Grant Co., Wis. 
On his way there, passing through what is now 
the city of Monroe, and thence to the pineries, 
where he remained one year. He then commenced 
studying in the office of his brother, who was a 
civil engineer and government contractor,, with 
whom he continued until 1854. In 1855 he 
removed to Lake Superior, where he was en- 
gaged as government contractor, and remained 
until 1864. There were plenty of Indians in 
that country, and he became familiar with their 
language. In 1863 he was appointed govern- 
ment agent to look after lands, which position 
he held until 1868. In 1864 he was elected to 
the assembly from the northwestern district of 
the State, comprising six counties. He came to 
Monroe in 1866, and in 1874 was elected to the 
office of county surveyor, which position he has 
since occupied. In 1849 he was married to 
Nancy C. Bradt, by whom he had four children, 
three daughters and one son — Samuel E., Isa- 
dore M., Sylvia and Mary E. Mrs. Stuntz died 
March 28, 1862. He was again married July 
14, 1864 to Lydia A. Sturdevant, a native of 
New York. By this union there were four 
children — Nettie, James A., Hattie E. and 
Stephen C. Mr. and Mrs. Stuntz are members 
of the M. E. Church, and he is a member of 
Royal Arcauium. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



551 



CHAPTER XXII. 



MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS. 



There are many incidents transpiring in every 
county, as the years go by, which cause consid- 
erable excitement at the time, and are of much 
importance, frequently, in shaping the destiny 
of people, but which, by the large majority, are 
either entirely forgotten or remembered only as 
circumstances bring them to mind. The fol- 
lowing are some such events appertaining to 
Green county. 

FIRST ENUMERATION OF GREEN COUNTY PEOPLE. 

When nearly all the territory now constitut- 
ing this county, ceased to be a part of the county 
of Crawford, it did not contain over a dozen in- 
habitants, all told; but when it no longer formed 
a portion of Iowa county, but was erected into 
the county of Green, its population had largely 
increased; but the exact number of its inhabi- 
tants is unknown. As there was no census taken 
in Crawford county between the time of the 
arrival of the first settlers in this county and the 
date of the erection of Iowa county, it follows 
that no enumeration of those who had taken up 
their residence herein was made during that 
period. But the census of Iowa county was 
taken by the United States in 1830, which of 
course, took in all the residents in that part of 
its territory now constituting Green county. 
This may be said to have been the first enumer- 
ation of Green county residents, though they, 
in fact, lived in Iowa county. 

THE EARLY SETTLERS. 

The Early Settlers— where are they? 

They are falling oue bj^ one; 
A few more j^ears will pass away, 

And leave but few or none. 
My memory often carries mc 

O'er a lapse of years, 
And in my dreams I often see 

Those happy pioneers. 



But thev are gone, those sturdy men. 

And few are left to tell 
The hardships they encountered when 

They first came here to dwell. 
A few gray-headed ones still link 

The present to the past, 
And sad it is for me to think 

That I'm almost the last. 

Oft in my wanderings to and fro, 

Through prairie, field and wood, 
I pass the spot where, long ago. 

Their rude log cabins stood, 
I see them not as once they were — 

Scarce one of them remains. 
Perhaps a stable here and there, 

Bleached by a thousand rains. 

Quite rude those habitations were, 

And few and far belvveen, 
That stood upon the prairie fair. 

And some in groves of green. 
But now a mound of stone and earth, 

That mound so rude, so small, 
Tells where was once the happy hearth. 

And this, and this is all. 

The Early Settlers — where are they? 

I miss them more and more; 
Each year, when it has passed away, 

Leaves fewer than before, 
Like leaves of autumn from the trees, 

One after one there flown. 
And soon will Death's cold wintry breeze 

Remove the last, last one. 

When I to church now sometimes go. 

Their seats are vacant there; 
I miss them, they are gone, I know, 

But where, O, tell me where? 
Some in the East, some in the West 

Are buffeting Life's wave; 
But far the greater number rest 

Low in the silent grave. 

Ye settlers in the Western world, 

Though few may now remain. 
Ye have not labored here and toiled 

And spent your life in vain. 
Anotlierrace of men may fill 

The places 3'ou have filled. 
And other hands these fields may till 

Which yours have cleared and tilled. 



552 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. - 



And when ye all have passed awuy — 

The last old settler gone, 
Your deeds will yet survive, for they 

In living Hues are drawn. 
These lines upon the prairies fair 

Can never be etiaced, 
You leave the country smiling where 

You found it wild andw^aste. 

THOMAS WOODLE. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, June V, 1854.] 

The West Union lovs'a Pioneer of tlie l7lh 
inst. [ult.] contains an obituary notice of tlie 
Hon. Thomas Woodle, judge of Fayette Co., 
Iowa. He died at West Union, on the 1 2th inst, 

Mr. Woodle was formerly a resident of this 
county; he came here in 183G, and removed to 
West Union some four years ago. As a citizen, 
and in the several social relations in life he 
was highly esteemed, and many of the old 
settlers will regret to learn that he has fallen 
in the prime of manhood and in the midst of 
usefulness. His relatives, among whom is an aged 
mother, reside among us, and we truly sym- 
pathize with them in this sudden and deej^ly 
afflictive bereavement. He had for some time 
held an important and responsible public trust 
with honor to himself, and much to the satis- 
tion of the people among whom he has resided. 
And now that he has gone from earthly re- 
sponsibilities and dangers, his consistent Chris- 
tian life leaves to the surviving friends the con- 
soling assurance of his acceptance with Him 
who rewards true excellence with his divine ap- 
proval. 

JOHN G. PERCIVAL. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Nov. 11, 18.55.] 

We spent a brief time with the State geolo- 
gist, on Monday morning in examining the for- 
mations of magnesium limestone in this vicin- 
ity. Mr. Percival is now something over sixty 
years of age. His appearance is that of a man 
bent with years, but his mind is clear, ajid 
habits industrious. To see him at a distance no 
one would take him for that poetical genius 
who used to thrill us with his exquisite verse 
in our young days. But talk with him and you 
discover that quiet tone and varied expression 
of eye that indicates the tine aud shrinking or- 



ganization of the man of genius and the devoted 
lover of nature. Our mind was carried back to 
the time when we knew John G. Percival only 
as the poet whose muse went far into the human 
soul and laid it open to weeping or worship. 

MARRIED. 

"In Brodhead, Green county, on the 30th ult., 
by Rev. O. Curtis, George W. Tenney, editor 
of the Monroe Sentinel, to Mattie E. Love. 

"The above notice escaped our attention last 
week, but not from any design. We congratu- 
late George upon his success in Xove-matters, 
and trust that each little Temiy-oi^w may prove 
as Love-lj as 3/aWie-rimonial felicity could 
wish. — Monroe Sentinel Oct. 29, 1856," 

SHOCKING MURDER. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, July 8, 1857.] 

We were informed on Monday, by J. B. 
Perry, Esq., of Albany, before whom an inves- 
tigation was made, that about sunset on the 4th 
inst., Nehemiah Root, an old man of sev- 
enty-five years, residing in the to^vn of Mount 
Pleasant, shot Eben C. Foster, a son-in-law, 
killing him instantly. The circumstances are 
briefly these : 

There had been a personal difficulty between 
the parties for a long time, and about sunset of 
the day mentioned, Root approached within a 
short distance of Foster and levelled his gun at 
him, which he perceiving, turned to flee, and 
immediately received the contents of one barrel 
loaded with a slug or slugs in his left shoulder 
breaking that, also the collar-bone and burying 
itself in the lung. He took two or three steps 
and fell upon his face in^ the sand, a corpse. 
His wife hearing the gun and cries of a child, hur- 
ried to him, turned him upon one side, saw one 
gasp, and all was finished. The murderer went 
into the house, barricaded the doors and win- 
dows and declared he would shoot the first man 
who attempted to enter. One Gideon Gillett, 
by a ruse, having succeeded in entering, grap- 
pled and secured him after a violent resistance. 
He was tried before Esquire Perry, of Albany 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



553 



and in default of bail committed to the county 
jail. 

A coroner's jury having been summoned to sit 
upon the body of Foster, rendered a verdict in 
accordance with the facts. 

It is thought by some that the murderer was 
insane at the time of the comrai.ision of the 
deed, but as far as we can learn, it is generally 
conceded to have been one of the coolest, most 
wanton and unprovoked murders that ever have 
been recorded. 

BOLD AND SUCCESSFUL THEFT. 

"Our citizens were startled on Saturday morn- 
ing last, by the announcement that James Haw- 
thorne, who resides about a mile south of tliis 
village, had been relieved of between |1,200 
and sJ^ljOOO in gold the night before. 

"It appears- that the thieves (there were two 
of them, as the tracks indicated) entered the 
house sometime between 12 o'clock and daylight 
and proceeded to the bedroom where slept Mr. 
and Mrs. Hawthorne, removed a cradle contain- 
ing a child, drew out a heavy trunk from under 
the head of the bed, picked up Mr. Hawthorne's 
pantaloons and left, I'illing the pantaloons and 
leaving them upon the door-step. They then 
took the trunk to tlie barn, broke it open, took 
out the gold, dropping a couple of twenties in 
their haste, and decamped, their tracks leading 
up towards this village. When the almost im- 
possibility of entering a house in the dark with- 
out making a noise, the danger of wakening the 
child, who was almost always restless, the neces- 
sary noise that would be caused by drawing out 
a heavy trunk, and carrying it off, are all taken 
into consideration, the boldness of the theft is 
wonderful. 

" On Saturday morning suspicion having 
rested upon two young men stopping at the 
Monroe House, named Samuel Jackson and Wil- 
liam Garrington, they were put under arrest, 
and their personal property examined by Sheriff 
Sutherland. No case, however, having been 
made out against them, they were discharged. 



Mr. Hawthorne offers $500 for the arrest of the 
thieves and return of the money, or half the 
contents of either wallet for the return of the 
same. — 3Ionroe Sentinel July 29, 1857. 

ANOTHER CASE. 

The State of Wisconsin vs. George Davis. 
On Friday of last week, upon complaint of 
Benjamin Chenowoth, for passing counterfeit 
money, George Davis was arrested and brought 
before Justice Hill for examination. Hiram 
Stevens for the State and A. J. Brundage for 
defense. 

Defense submitted a motion to dismiss on 
grounds of informality of warrant, which motion 
was argued, and decided for the defense, and 
prisoner acquitted, whereupon a new warrant 
was served upon defendant. On Saturday, upon 
examination, the prisoner svas held to bail in the 
sum of $1, ceo for his appearance at the next 
term of the circuit court, which bail was imme- 
diately paid by a man who announced himself 
as a stranger to Davis. Monday morning Davis 
commenced a suit against the complainant, the 
justice and tiie sheriff, laying his damages at 
s5>2,000. This is the last shape affairs have as- 
sumed." — Monroe Senti?iel, Aug. 19, 1857. 

THE HAWTHORNE BURGLARY. 

"We, in common with numbers of our citi- 
zens, were most splendidh' sold in that counter- 
feit three dollar bill case which we mentioned 
last week. That trial was all a sham, as will 
be seen. 

Word reaching a pretty sharp detective officer, 
whose name has now escaped us, that there had 
been light-fingered wn)rk going on at this point, 
he appeared, and per an understood arrangement 
passed a counterfeit bill and was put in the same 
cell with Garrington — one of the supposed 
burglars — to await his examination. Here he 
elicited from Garrington, a full account of the 
Hawthorne affair, as also some other serious af- 
fairs of a like nature. He managed the thing 
very adroitly. Garrington and Jackson now 
confess the whole matter. The former says that 



654 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



he entered the house about 2 o'clock in the 
raorniiig, alone, Jackson remaining on guard. 
Carefully he entered the room — crept under the 
bed — found a cradle in the way and removed it 
— carefully worked the trunk out from under 
the bed — picked it up (together with the pant- 
aloons) and went to the barn and broke it open, 
as has been previously stated. They deposited 
the funds in a bank near 'Smith's Mill Pond.' 

"Their card was very adroitly managed. They 
could prove, by the clerk of the Monroe House, 
that they were in the house at 1 o'clock of that 
same morning, and appeared as usual at the 
breakfast table the same morning. 

"We called on the prisoners, Friday morning, 
and found Garrington evidently under deep con- 
viction for his sins. He has no further hope of 
freedom, and no surety but that a violent death 
may soon bo his fate. Jackson is very much 
younger in crime and has become quite sobered 
of late. He thinks he has learned a life lesson, 
and that he will profit by it. 

"The money is nearly all accounted for." — 
Monroe Stntbiel, Aug. 26, 1857. 

REMOVAL OF GARRINGTON. 

"On Thursday of last week, G. G. Davis ap- 
peared in town with a requisition from Gov. 
Chase, of Ohio, and also a warrant for the per- 
son of William Garrington «^«fs William Jones, 
alUis William Macy, alias Nebraska Bill, who 
has been for some time occupying rooms in our 
county jail. The documents charge upon the 
prisoner the murder of Cyrus Beebc, a city 
marshal of Columbus, Ohio, a murder commit- 
ted in open daylight and in the streets of the 
city. 

"In accordance with the summons, on Friday 
morning Sheriff Sutherland delivered the prison- 
er to Mr. Davis, who immediately left with him 
for Ohio. By politeness of the sheriff, we had 
a short interview with the prisoner prior to his 
departure. His manner was calm, and not ma- 
terially changed from his former appearance, 
though there was, however, a more anxious 
and perturbed look upon his face than we had 



previously noticed. He had evidently passed 
a'restless night, for the summons to leave was 
considered almost equivalent to a sentence of 
execution. After taking his seat in the carriage 
he appeared to be overwhelmed with emotion, 
and bade some acquaintances 'good-bye, boys, 
forever,' May God have mercy on him. 

"The sheriff retains a memento of his prison- 
er in the shape of a complete and ingenious set 
of burglar's tools which had recently been 
made for use in this locality. They betoken an 
amount of skill, that should have been exercised 
in a legitimate business. — Monroe Sentinel, 
Sept. 2, 1857. 

CIRCUIT COURT. 

His Honor, Judge J. M. Keep, is now holding 
the September term of court, in this village. 
He is disposing of the docket rapidly. Yester- 
day afternoon, Samuel Jackson was brought 
into court and plead guilty to the indict- 
ment of theft — he having previously plead 
guilty to the indictment for burglary — 
and received his sentence. After a few 
preliminary remarks, the court sentenced 
him for the first indictment, six years confine- 
ment in the State prison, the first ten days of 
each January being solitary confinement; for 
the second indictment, three years confinement 
in the State prison at hard labor, the first ten 
days of July in each year being solitary con- 
finement; the sentence to take effect from 
Tuesday noon, Sept. 8, 1857. — Jfonroe Sentinel, 
Sept. 9, 1857. 

ESCAPE OF JACKSON. 

"Samuel Jackson whom we mentioned last 
week as having been sentenced to nine years 
hard labor in the State prison, for burglary and 
theft, on Friday morning of last week, made 
good his escape, 

"The escape was made about the hour of 7 
A. M., and in manner as follows: By aid of a 
small strip of wood torn off from the cell parti- 
tion, he succeeded in picking the key to his cell 
door out of a lock in the cell opposite, and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



555 



turning the lock up to the grating, unlocked it 
— as any person can readily do — passed through 
the open doors into the street and southerly 
through the village into the woods. 

"The officers — sheriff and jailor — came in for 
a large amount of censure from the public, and 
naturally enough, since the prisoner could not 
have escaped without remissness somewhere. 
The sheriff is principally blamed for not fetter- 
ing the prisoner's feet, and the jailor, because 
he left both doors in the hall opening to the 
cells unlocked, and in that condition himself 
left the jail. Our columns are open to these 
officers to make any explanation or defense they 
may choose. 

"Active efforts have been made since the 
escape of Jackson, to retake him, but up to the 
present writing — 12 m. Tuesday — without suc- 
cess. See reward offered in another column." 
Monroe Se>iiinel,Sei)t, 16, 1857. 

THE MURDER OP BEEBE. 

"Jones, who murdered Cyrus Eeebc, in this 
city, on the 27th of April, 1854, we understand, 
has two or three aliases. He was sometimes 
known as William Jones, then as William Mason, 
and again as Nebraska Bill. The last title is 
doubtless a fitting one, foi- there is not much 
doubt but that he is as bad a Bill as the Ne- 
braska Bill, of Douglas. He is said to take 
his arrest very calmly, and that lie acknowl- 
edges that he shot Beebe, but did not know that 
he killed him. He is committed to jail to 
answer the charge of murder in the fii'st degree. 
His trial will take place in October next." — 
Ohio State Journal, S^\A. 1857. 

SAD CASUALTY. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, S,>pt. IB, 1857.] 
On the 9Lh inst., in the town of Albany, 
Green Co., Wis., Mrs. Juda Crook, wife 
of John Crook, while drawing a pail of water 
at the well, by the house, by some means lost 
her balance and was precipitated to the bottom 
of the well and instantly killed. The well was 
eighteen feet in depth, and it is supposed tliat 



she had lain there some nine hours before dis- 
covered. 

MONROE IN 1858. 
[Froiu the Monroe Sentinel, Jan. 37, 18.58.] 
Monroe is the capital and center of Green 
county, one of the finest counties in the State. 
It contains about .3,000 inhabitants. It is more 
substantially built than most of the interior 
towns, and contains several most elegant brick 
blocks. Monroe is built upon a gently rolling 
prairie, skirted on three sides by a belt of heavy 
timber. Green county is one of the richest 
and most varied and beautiful, in sources of 
wealth in the whole State. Its surface is rich, 
rolling prairie and woodland, interspersed with 
beautiful streams, and gemmed with thousands 
upon thousands of springs of sparkling water, 
which bubble from the base of every hillock. 
The earth is filled with the richest of lead 
deposits, and many thousands of pounds are 
annually raised. 

From Mr. Tenney, of the Sentinel, we derive 
the following inforraatio)i : 

" The nearest important town on the north is 
Madison, distant forty miles ; on the east, 
Janesville and iJeloit, thirty-five miles; (we 
have not mentioned Brodhead, which, as a rail- 
road town, will.be the principal business point 
for the four eastern towns of the county ;) on 
the south, Freeport, twenty-six miles; on the 
west and northwest, ShuHsburg and Mineral 
Point, forty miles each. This allows Monroe 
for business, twelve towns in Green county, to 
which add three towns in Stephenson county — 
Oneco, Winslow and one other — the town of 
Wayne, Wyota and Argyle in Lafayette county 
and the town of Waldwich, in Iowa county — 
the trade of which towns will center to this 
railroad point — and we have as a result: 

TOWNS. SQUAKE MTI.KS. 

Green Couiitj^ Vi 433 

Stcplunson County 3 108 

Iowa CuuiUy 1 36 

Liifiiyotte Coualy ."> 108 

Total area. . . <^'"^4 



656 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



All of this area is well settled and is the 
finest portion of all Wisconsin and Illinois for 
agricultural resources. Some of the towns 
have been settled twenty-five years. 

The trade of 684 square iniles, well settled, 
then, is one reason why Monroe will fiourish. 

All this region of country has heretofore 
principally been accommodated at Freeport on 
the Galena & Chicago Railroad. But few firms in 
Monroe have done any considerable trade at Mil- 
waukee. They understand the importance of 
this market for their produce, and will avail 
themselves of it. Not one quarter of the wheat 
crop of last year has yet been marketed — all of 
which will come forward before another har- 
vest. Even with the present low price for 
wheat, thirty-eight to forty-two cents, at Mon- 
roe, they ship enough to pay the expenses of 
running the branch to that place. About 20,- 
000 bushels of wheat are now in store awaiting 
shipment. 

DEATH OF .JOHN B. PERSONS. 
[From the Albany Times, June, 1858] 
Drowned in Dayton, on Tuesday, the 22d inst., 
William Persons, aged thirty-seven years, son of 
John B. Persons. The deceased leaves a wife and 
five small children, as well as an aged father, to 
mourn his loss — he being the last of twelve 
sons and daughters that this aged veteran has 
been called upon to follow to the grave. The 
funeral, on the 24th, was attended by a large 
concourse of people to pay the last sad rites to 
the departed. 

MAN KILLED. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel Feb. 2, 1859.] 
We are informed that Charles McLane of this 
village [Monroe], was suddenly killed on Monday 
evening of the present week, by the overttirn- 
ing of a load of hay upon which lie was riding. 
The accident occurred about eight miles north- 
west of Monroe, on the Mineral Point road. 
Our informant says the unfortunate man fell 
upon a stump, the binding pole at the same 
time falling upon him, crushing him so b<adly 
that he died in five minutes after being carried 



to the nearest house. He leaves a wife and 
child to mourn his loss. 

TWO VANDERBILTS. 
[From the Brodhead Reporter, Nov. 1859.] 

Notice. — Whereas, my wife, Sarah Vander- 
bilt, has left ray bed and board without just 
cause or provocation, therefore all j^ersons are 
forbidden to harbor or trust her on my account 
as I will pay no debts of her contracting after 
this date. D. Vanderbilt. 

Clarence, Oct 14, 1859. 

Eeply to the above. — In reply to the above I 
would say that so far as ray leaving is concerned, 
it is strictly true; but when he states that I 
did so without just cause or provocation, he 
states what not only he and I, but all our 
neighbors and this community generally, 
know to be a bare-faced falsehood. Mr. 
Vanderbilt has been unremitting in hisef- 
orts ever since our marriage to swindle me 
out of ray property which I held in ray own 
right when I married him, and has succeeded to 
quite an extent. In regard to board, he knows 
as well as many others that my money has 
bought what we have lived upon for the last 
tvvo years. I therefore forbid any one harbor- 
ing or trusting him on my account after this 
date; and I furthermore forbid all persons from 
purchasing any more of my property from Mr. 
Vanderbilt, as I shall hold them strictly responsi- 
ble for the same. "Sarah Vanderbilt." 
shocking accident. 

[From the Brodhead Reporter, April 26, 18(U.] 

We have never been called upon to chronicle 
an accident in this country more shocking than 
that which happened at Monroe during the gen- 
eral gathering last Monday evening. 

Judd Hurl but, son of Col. L. liurlbut, 
and Edward Morris, son of the Rev. Edw.ard 
Morris, and other young men of Monroe, were 
firing a cannon, and, as is often (he case, while 
loading, the gun was discharged prematurely 
by the heat caused by the rapid firing. The 
two young men were working at the ramrod. 
The right hand of young Morris wits cottiplelely 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



557 



blown off at the wrist and shivered to atoms — 
his face frightfully burned and torn by the 
slivers of the rod. Mr. Hurlbut's left arm was 
also blown off, his right hand burned and muti- 
lated shockingly, so that half of it has since 
been amputated. 

The shattered arms of both have since been 
amputated. 

Both of them were young men of generous 
and noble impulses, and men of good habits 
and bright prospects for the future. They 
were highly esteemed by all who knew them. 

Charles Humphrey, who was thumbing the 
cannon, had his thumb torn and his face badly 

burned. 

Such accidents as the above are common. 

Young men are too careless in times of excite- 
ment. 

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, May 2], 1863.] 

On Friday last, near Twin Grove, in the 
town of Jefferson, Horace Hunt was struck by 
lightning and instantly killed. Mr. Hunt was 
at work in the field near a straw stack. He 
had a team, hired man and two boys with him 
at the time. The hired man was stunned so 
severely that he did not recover his conscious- 
ness until the team had gone some distance. 
The boys were also affected so that the)'' were 
blind for a short time. The electric current 
struck Mr. Hunt upon the neck and passed 
down the body and both limbs to his heels. 
Only about one week ago while Mr. Hunt was 
taking shelter from a rain storm in a horse 
stable covered with straw, the stable was struck 
by lightning and he was stunned, from the 
effects of which he had not fully recovei-ed. 

CAPT. JAMES BINTLIFf's COMPANY. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Aug. 2", 1862.] 

Names of the members of Capt. Bintliff's 
company, in the 22d regiment of Wisconsin 
Volunteers: 

James Bintliff, captain; Thomas H. Eaton, 
1st lieutenant; Fluette Annis, 2(1 lieutenant; 
Nelson Darling, orderly sergeant; Charles A. 
Booth, 2J sergeant; Stephen F. Ball, ;k1 ser- 



geant; W. S. Cole, 4th sergeant ; William W. 
King, 5th sergeant; C. R. Deniston, 1st corpo- 
ral ; Leopold Seltzer, 2d corporal ; Aaron 
H. McCracken, 8d corporal ; Myron H. Puf- 
fen, 4th corporal; Emmet F. Phelps, 5th 
corporal ; Edward Aldinger, 6th corporal ; 
A. H. Cole, 7th corporal; William J. Witham, 
8th corporal. 

Privates : — Gideon Allen, Andrew Arnot, 
Golac Anderson, Isaac R, Blake, William D. 
Bennett, Israel Brewer, teamster; Ira M. Bar- 
rus, William Cox, N. E. Combs, W. H. P. Can- 
field, Isaac T. Carr, H. L. Cunningham, George 
Crooks, Josiah Clouse, Samuel Damen, John 
Denny, Eben I. Dorman, John C. Denniston, 
Abner Darling, William A. Divan, Ole Erick- 
son, Klouse Erickson, Ole Enderson, Madison 
H. Fleek, Nathan C. Gould, P. E. Gleason, 
Thomas Gray, Edwin Gardner, Timothy Gray, 
John R. Gates, Alonzo H. Griffin, Nels Gallex- 
son, Hans Gulbrandson, Daniel Gradel, W. H. 
Holmes, M. J. Hancock, William Human, Wil- 
liam J. Hunt, Amos G. Hill, Orrin J. Hale, 
Halber Halberson, Stener Hanson, Thor. Iver- 
son, Jesse D. Jackson, J. J. C. Jackson, John 
Johnson, Hozel Johnson, Martin Johnson, R. 
R. King, Z. L. King, Henry Knor, Ole Kittel- 
son, Aciolph Kerner, Knut A. Knutson, James R. 
Lafferty, Carroll Morgan, James S. Moon, James 
McConnell, John McConnell, Lars Mickleson, 
Eli Michael, Edward Nelson, John D, Precher, 
Thomas Proctor, Marvin L. Rhines, Henry 
Roberts, Michael Rima, George Robinson, Ole 
Renelson, M. H. Sisson, A. C. Squires, Christo- 
pher Syverson, James F. Snyder, Enoch South, 
Absalom Saucerman, Solomon Shrake, H. L. 
Sowls, (Christ Tochterraan, Christopher Tree, 
William N. Taft, Aaron Worley, Benjamin F. 
Wright, Chancy Ward, L.J. Wetzler and Brun- 
nen G. Zum. 

AN Or-n CITIZEN OF MONROE GONE. 
[From the Monroe Sentinel, Nov. 26, 1862.] 

Tlie following letter from Norman Eastman, 
Esq., our Washington correspondent, brings the 
sad tidings that one of out" old citizens, D. S, 



55S 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Jones, Esq., is dead. Mr. Jones was a brother- 
in-law of Mr, Hill, the landlord of the United 
States Hotel, and we believe well known to most 
old residents : 

Washington, D. C, Nov. 16, 18G2. 

Editors Sentinel : — It is with feelings of 
sorrow that I have to announce to the citizens 
of Monroe, the death of D. S.Jones, formerly of 
that place, but latterly a resident of this cit)'. 
Mr' Jones died on Friday evening, the 14th iiist. 
He has been sick for about six weeks, lie has 
been for several years an invalid, at times suf- 
fering from hemorrhoids or piles. Since his 
residence in this city he has been acting as 
night watchman in the interior department. His 
position afforded him a great deal of leisure 
time, and since the organization of the Soldiers' 
Aid Society he has devoted that leisure time to 
the work of looking after and caring for the 
sick and wounded soldiers. His special field of 
work was in the hospital of Alexajidria. He 
was faithful, assiduous and untiring in his la- 
bors, and by his unremitting kindness and at- 
tention he had gained the good will of the hos- 
pital officials and attendants, and particularly of 
the Wisconsin soldiers with whom he came in 
contact. Many of them will miss him, and with 
us will have cause to regret his death. 

13y his unremitting exertions in behalf of the 
soldiers he aggravated his old disease, which 
soon prostrated him, and has carried him to 
his final resting place, a sacrifice upon the 
altar of his country. Those of us who were 
daily brought in contact with him, and knew 
him will deepl}' mourn his loss, for a faithful 
co-laborer has left us forever. 

Mw .lones w.as thirty-eight years of age, and 
has left a wife and one child to mourn his early 
departure to the spirit-land, and well may they 
mourn, for as a liusband ,ind fathei", he was 
kind and faithful. 

His remains will betaken to l^altimore to-day, 
and buried there by the side of his father and 
other members of his famil}'. 
I remain, yours, truly. 

Norman Eastman, Sec'y. 



Sudden Death. 

[February 10, 1864.] 

On Wednesday evening of last week, John 
Ellis, of the town of York, died suddenly, as 
follows : 

He had been in our village with a load of 
grain and was driving out to the house of Sam- 
uel Truax, (some three miles from town) to 
stop for the night. When about half a mile 
this side of Mr. Truax's he su<ldenly dropped 
the lines and tumbled out of the sleigh. A 
young man named Thurston was riding with 
him, and immediately seizing the lines and 
heading the horses for the fence, he hitched 
them, and hastened back to where Mr. Ellis was 
lying in the road. Raising him up he discov- 
ered a little foam on his lips, but very little 
sign of life. He called for help, and Mr. Slirake, 
whose house they had just passed, hastened out. 
With Mr. Shrake's assistance the body of Mr. 
Ellis was placed in the sleigh, and Thurston 
drove rapidly to tlie house of Mr. Truax, but 
when he arrived there life was extinct. Justice 
Rote, of this town, next morning impaneled a 
coroner's jury, before which evidence Avas ad- 
duced showing that deceased had for some time 
been subject to occasional fainting spells, orig- 
inating in heart disease, and they accordingly 
returned a verdict that he died a natural death 
of that disease. We learn that Mr. Ellis leaves 
a wife and three children, in conifoilablc cir- 
cumstances, so far as property is concerned. 
Horrible Affair. 

[Feb. 8, 1865 ] 
A terrible tragedy was enacted in the south- 
ern part of the town of New Glaru:^ on the 
night of the 5th instant. A German named 
Jost'ph Trogner, a farmer in good cireunistances, 
who had been accustomed to loan out money 
from time to time, had just received some $800 
or more from a person who took up a mortgage. 
'I'lu' money was paid either Saturday or Sunday, 
and was kept in Trogtier's housv. On Sunday 
niffht Troifner's daughter, a <>irl some twelve 
years old, was aroused by seeing a man enter 





"-tJ -^^V^L^ItM. 't^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



561 



her bedroom, in the upper part of the house. 
Instinctively she feigned sleep, and the burglar 
went to a corner of the room and took from an 
old almanac the money which Trogner had 
lately received, and retreated down the stairs. 

As he passed Trogner's door, (who, with his 
wife, was sleeping in a room below,) Trogner 
came out to arrest him. As he opened the door 
the burglar struck him on the head with an ax, 
which seemed to stun him for a moment, but he 
quickly recovered and made at the burglar 
again. The latter struck him another fearful 
blow with the edge of the ax, cutting the whole 
side of his face and head open, and leaving him 
on the floor apparently in a dying state. Mrs. 
Trogner then came toward the door, but before 
she had reached it the miscreant met her inside 
the room and attacked her with the ax, (the girl 
looking through a stove-pipe hole from the room 
above and witnessing the assault,) and struck 
her three or four blows. With great presence 
of mind she feigned death, and the burglar left 
her, after having inflicted several severe wounds. 
The girl looked from her window, and in the 
bright moonlight saw the man, dressed as a sol- 
dier, stand by the side of the house for some 
minutes (apparently listening for sounds from 
within), but after satisfying himself that all 
was quiet he walked leisurely away up the road. 

The girl immediately descended and hastened 
to the neighbor's in the opposite direction, who, 
on hearing her story, sent for medical assist- 
ance and proceeded as soon as possible to the 
scene of the double crime. Mrs. Trogner was 
soon restored so as to be able to make a state- 
ment of the facts, but her husband, up to the 
time our informant left there on Monday morn- 
i)ig, was insensible, though still alive. It is 
thought that Mrs. Trogner may recover, though 
severely injured, but we believe there is no hope 
for her husband. 

Up to this time no one has been arrested for 
the crime, though strong suspicions are enter- 
tained of his identity. Whoever it was, it is 
evident that lie was no atranger to Trogner's 



house and the place where he kept his money, 
as he went as directly to it as if he had himself 
placed it there. We do not deem it expedient 
at present to state on whom suspicion rests, but 
we may learn something further in relation to 
the matter before we go to press. Meanwhile, 
we can only hope that the perpetrator of the 
crime will Sj^eedily obtain his just deserts, for 
society is iruleed unsafe if such criminals can 
long go unwhipt of justice. 

Neio Glarus Tragedy. 

[February 15, 1865.] 

In the account whicli we published last week, 
of the burglary in New Glarus, with its horrid 
accompaniment, there were some inaccuracies 
which we will correct to-day. We stated that 
the burglar entered a room up stairs, in which a 
young girl was sleeping, and took the money 
therefrom, and that he made no assault on any 
one until Mr. Trogner attempted to stop him, 
as he came down stairs. Later information 
shows that this was incorrect — that the burglar 
first entered the room where the old people were 
sleeping, on the first floor, and the girl was a 
spectator of what took place, (so far asshecould 
be in '.he dim light) by looking tlirough a stove- 
pipe hole in the floor, from the room above. On 
tlie first sound made by the old {)eople, the 
burglar struek them with an ax, which he had 
brought in with him, and did not cease until he 
had silenced them. Mr. Trogner's skull and 
face are even worse mangled than we stated last 
week, and we presume there is no probability 
of his recovery, though he was still alive last 
Saturday. Mrs. Trogner's arm was broken in 
several places, and she was otherwise severely 
injured. 

A young man named Friedolin Blum, a re- 
turned soldier of the 9th Wisconsin regiment, 
who had served three years in that organization, 
has been arrested for the crime, and on exam- 
ination was held to bail for his ai>pearance at 
the next term of court, in the sum of $1,500, but 
failing to give the required security, he was 
committed to the county jail, where he novv is. 



33 



562 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



We understand that Blum's character, while 
in the service, was good, and that many who 
were acquainted with him before enlisting speak 
well of him. Of course, we are not prepared to 
say whether he is or is not guilty of the crime 
attributed to him, and therefore do not wisli to 
manufacture any public opinion on the subject. 
If he is not guilty, we hope he will be acquitted; 
is he is guilty, we shall more than ever depre- 
cate the mawkish sentimentality whicli abolishiMl 
capital punishment in the State of Wisconsin. 

Jndge Dunwiddie, who was present at.the ex- 
amination, has furnisiied us with the following 
abstract of the testimony given by Mrs. Trog- 
ner and her daughter, which will make the case 
plainer to our readers than anything we can sa}': 

Mrs. Trogner swears that on Sunday night of 
the 5th of February, after they had all been in 
bed sometime, and asleep, some person entered 
the house. She and her husband were sleeping 
in the room on the ground floor. The person 
who entered the room made a noise in opening 
the door, which awakened both her and her hus- 
band, and they called out "Who is there?" Im- 
mediately the person commenced striking her 
husband on the head; struck him four or five 
times. She was making some noise, and then 
the person commenced striking her; struck her 
four or five times on right arm and hip. She 
then feigned that she was dead. Her husband 
was still, and she supposed him dead. Slie was 
now lying on her left side, with her face to the 
wall. The person who had done the deed then 
took up her husband's pants, took out a key, 
went to the bureau and unlocked it, took out a 
drawer, carried it to the table, and commenced 
working among the papers. By this time, her 
husband had come to, and commenced stirring 
and moving in bed. The person wiio then was 
at the taljle, took up the ax, went back to tlic 
bed and again struck him four or five times. 
Her husband then became siill again. The per- 
son then returned to the table and stood between 
her and the window, and she then knew who it 
was — she saw that it was Frie<lolin Blum; she 



knew him by his cap and clothes, and the way 
he stood. She did not see his face, and only 
saw him for a moment. She had before thought 
it was him by the sound of his footsteps in the 
room, but now she knew him. She was at the 
time, in the northwest cornei" of the room, in 
bed, and when she first knew Blum by his 
clothes, he was standing at the window — close 
by the window — on the east side of the house; 
the moon was shining in the window, — Blum's 
cap was part fur and part cloth. This was a 
little before 12 o'clock. There was about |4, 000 
in money taken. 

The young lady testified that she was upstairs 
in bed, and heard the noise below; was much 
alarmed; kept quiet until she heard the man 
below go out of the house, then she got up and 
looked out of the west window; saw the man 
down at the spring; he turned and looked u{> 
towards the house, and she knew it was Blum; 
lie had on soldier's clothes, blue pants, and had 
black whiskers. 

On the part of the defense, it was proved that 
Blum had on, that day and evening, citizens 
dress, and that the spring was four and a half 
rods west of the house. 

DEATH OF DAVID S. ANDRICK. 
[From Monroe Sentinel, Feb. 14, IHfie.l 

We copy the following from the Fort Scott 
Press, as many of our readers were well ac- 
quaintcMl wiih the deceased, and no doul)t will 
feel a deep sympalh}'^ for the bereaved ones 
who mourn the loss of one so favorably known 
to the citizens of Green county. The Press 
states that the deceased was buried with Ma- 
sonic honors, and that the occasion was one of 
deep interest and emotion: 

Died. — At his residence in Fort Scott, Kansas, 
on Tuesday, the 30th ult., of consumption, 
David S. Aiidrick, aged twenty-eight years and 
fifteen days. 

Mr. Aiidrick came to this county with his 
parents in IS57, from his former home in Mon- 
roe, Wis., and located with them at their resi- 
dence about a mile west of this town. A few 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



568 



years later he engaged in the drug business in 
Fort Scott, in which he continued up to the 
time of his death. During his residence here 
he has been a member of the city council, and 
has taken an active and prominent part in all 
questions of public interest. He married a 
daughter of our late townsman, A. Walker, 
who, with one child, is left to share the sympa- 
thies as well as the grief of tliis whole com- 
munity. 

Death of an, Old Citizen. 

[Aug. 39, 1866.] 

John Chadwick, for many years a resident of 
this county, died in this village on the 19th 
inst., in the seventy-seventh year of his age. 
Mr. Chadwick came to Green county from Penn- 
sylvania in the year 1837, and was a resident of 
the county ever since that time, and for the 
past ten or twelve years lived in Monroe. He 
was a member of the Baptist Church, and was 
much respected by his fellow-citizens as a man 
of sterling integrity and consistent Christian 
deportment. His remains were followed to the 
cemetery by a large concourse of our citizens. 
Mr. Chadwick was a constant patron and I'eader 
of this paper from its first issue to the time of 
his death. 

Death of Farlin Ball. 

[Dec. 18, 1867. J 

In the village of Juda, Green Co., Wis., on 
the 4th day of December, ISOV, Farlin Ball 
died, aged seventy-nine years, seven months 
and one day. This venerable man, whose sud- 
den death has caused much sensation in the 
two villages where he was well known, was 
born in the State of Virginia, on the 3d day of 
May, 1788. When a young man he emigrated 
with his parents to the now new northwest ter- 
ritory, and settled in what subsequently became 
Jefferson Co., Ohio. There he married, raised 
a large family, and spent the greater part of 
his life. In 1849 he moved to this State, and 
in 1850 settled in the town of Jefferson, where 
he remained until his death. His anccsters 
were English Quakers, from whom he inherited 
the equaiiitnity, firmness and stability of char- 



acter peculiar to that class of Christians. Near- 
ly sixty years ago he united with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and for that long period 
maintained an unblemished Christian character. 
Died. 

[Aug. 5, 1868.] 

Died, at his residence in this village, on the 
28th ult., Stephen G. Lombard, M. D., aged 
forty-seven years. 

Dr. Lombard came here from Cayuga Co., N. 
Y., in the spring of 1851, and from that time 
until his death has been engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession in our town and county. 
The doctor was extensively known throughout 
this portion of the State as a man of sterling 
character, of superior ability in his profession, 
and as a valuable citizen. He will be missed 
from among us — his place will not be readily 
filled — and for many, many years to come he 
will live in the affection of his friends and in 
the kindly regard of those who have been 
blessed by the beneficence of his professional 
ministrations. 

Death of Grotty. 

[Jan. 20,1869.] 

Last Wednesday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, 
the Monroe House was the scene of a fatal un- 
pleasantness between an Irishman by the name 
of Patrick Crotty, a well-to-do farmer of this 
county, and a servant girl, employed in the 
al)ove mentioned hotel, by the name of Ange- 
line Shroyer, whom Crotty had seduced about 
two years ago. From various parties we learn 
the following particulars concerning this terri- 
ble affair, and vouch for the truth of the re- 
ports only so far as they appear to be the ver- 
sions of many persons condensed and corrobo- 
rated: 

It seems that Crotty was a gay deceiver, and, 
among several young aiul inexperienced girls, 
Angeline was but one frail creature whom he 
had wronged, after gaining their affections and 
promising to marry them. She had obtained a 
judgment against him for §700, nnd aftersvards 
consented to a compromise for half the judg- 
ment. The Ci*<ittys proposed a less sum (?!?00), 



564 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



but the terms were not accepted. Some time 
after these transactions, on the day mentioned, 
Crotty, his wife (lately married) and mother-in- 
law came to town, and, after getting well "set 
up" with courageous whisky, went to beard the 
lioness in the Monroe House. The proposition 
to settle was again broached. Angeline would 
accept the money, but would not sign any pa- 
pers releasing Crotty from further demands; 
whereupon the negotiations were broken off. A 
few minutes thereafter Pat returned, after be- 
ing warned that Angeline could put up with no 
more of his abuse, and again commenced calling 
her names, and very indecent ones, too; where- 
upon the enraged girl drew a pistol and shot 
her seducer through the breast, near the heart, 
and sent the leaden messenger through his 
body, the same lodging near his back bone. 
Crotty rushed from the house bare headed, got 
into his sleigh, and the man who was with him 
drove off; but, on reaching a distance butafe\v 
rods from the hotel, Patrick Crotty expired. 
The Old Settlers' Meeting. 
[Feb. 3,1869.] 

The pioneer settlers of Green county had a 
very pleasant social reunion in Monroe last 
Wednesday, the 27th ult. The attendance from 
all parts of the county was unexpectedly large, 
considering the brief time the notice had been 
published. 

The meeting was organized in the court 
house in the afternoon, by the election of O. H. 
P. Clarno (the oldest resident of Green county 
now living,) as president, and Hiram Rust as 
secretary. J. W. Stewart stated the object of 
the meeting, and entertained the audience with 
some amusing and interesting incidents of pio- 
neer life in this county. After remarks of a 
similar character by B. Dunwiddie, Hiram 
Brown, Hiram Rust and others, and the trans- 
action of some business, the meeting adjourned 
till 6 o'clock at Turner Hall. 

At Turner Hall in the evening, the real fes- 
tivities of the occasion commenced. Mr. Gleiss- 
ner, of the American House, had a splendid 



supper prepared for more than 100 guests, and 
the cornet band took a position in the gallery, 
from whence they discoursed good music during 
the evening. Many of the pioneers brought 
their wives and daughters with them, and tickr 
ets were issued to a limited number of outsiders, 
so that the hall was comfortably filled with 
genial gentlemen and ladies, all intent upon 
having a good time; and so far as we could 
judge, they were not disappointed. 

After partaking of the excellent supper, the 
house was called to order, and, by request, J. 
W. Stewart read a lengthy and highly interest- 
ing paper, pertaining to the early settlement 
and history of Green county. (We will say, in 
this connection, that Mr. Stewart, who is now 
absent from home, has collected many of the 
most important facts connected with the early 
settlement of this county, and has promised to 
prepare them for publication as soon as he re- 
turns.) After brief and amusing speeches and 
anecdotes by several others, the roll was called, 
and the following persons reported themselves 
as having been voters in the county for twenty- 
five years: 

1829— Ezra Gillett. 

1831 — James Slater. 

1832—0 K. P. Clarno. 

1833— Noah Phelps, Levi Starr. 

1834 — Hiram Rust, Nicholas Cornelius. 

1835— Williain Beard, Peter Wells, John H. 
Bridge, 0. J. White. 

1836 — D. S. Sutherland, Thomas S. Bowen, 
Asa Richardson, T. J. Bragg, Allen Woodle, 
Hiram Brown. 

1837 — Franklin Pierce, Alexander Morton, 
John Chad wick, Jotham CMiadwick, Joshua 
Whilcomb, Addi Whitcomb, A. H. AVoodle, A. 
J. Sutherland, Mordecai Kelly. 

1,S3^ — David Davis, Sol. Sutherland. 

1839— John Woods, Samuel Truax, J. T. 
Sutherland, A. W. Sutherland. 

1840— Elijah Evins, J. R. Pace, Ashford 
Trickle, John Thorp. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



565 



1841 — John Morrison, Christopher Minert, 
W. D. Boice, Jesse Robinson, George Michaels, 
A. Conkey, J. V. Richardson. 

1842 — J. W. Stewart, B*. Dunwiddie, Sylves- 
ter Stephens, George Adams, Samuel D. Ball, 
F. F. West, William McDowell, J. V. Roberts, 
Thomas Stewart. 

1843— Jesse Gist, W. S. Wescott. 
Died. 

[July", 1869.] 

In Albany, Wis., Dr. S Fayette, after an ill- 
ness of fifteen days, on Friday, July 2, 1869, of 
apoplexy, aged fifty-seven years, two months 
and twenty-four days. 

Dr. Fayette was born in New Durham, Green 
Co., N. Y., April 8, 1812, and has resided in 
Albany, Green Co., Wis., since June 10, 1848. 

The remains were interred with Masonic hon- 
ors in Albany, Sunday, July 4, and a large num- 
ber of acquaintances followed to the last resting 
place, of earth, a form familiar and. beloved. 
Thus, still another old settler has passed to the 
"bourne from whence no traveler returns." 
Another Old Settler Gone. ■ 

[July 7, 1869.] 

We publish in another column the obituary of 
Hiram Dunwiddie, who died at his residence in 
the town of Jefferson, in this county, on the l7th 
of June, 1869. 

A friend of the deceased has furnished us 
with the following brief notice of his history: 

In 1843, at the age of twenty-one, he emi- 
grated to Wisconsin and settled on a farm, 
where he remained till the time of his death. 
He was a very successful farmer until his health 
failed him. He left his bereaved family suffi- 
cient i>roperty to make them comfortable. He 
was identified with tlie public ofiicers of the 
county, from soon after the settlement in the 
county until within a few years of his death, as 
a member of the county board of supervisors. 

Among his friends and neighbors he always 
manifested a deep and lively interest in their 
welfare. In politics he was an earnest and de- 
voted member of the republican parly from its 
organization. In religion he was a Baptist, and 



had, for many years been a member of the Juda 
Baptist Church. About six days before his 
death, he felt that his disease was culminating, 
and sent for his old friend and family physician, 
Dr. Hall, who, in company with Dr. Monroe, 
called to see him. He desired them to state to 
him, candidly, what they thought of his case. 

They informed him that he could live but a 
short time. He received the information with 
calmness and composure. He gave his family 
instructions how to manage when he was gone, 
made his will, called his family and friends 
around him, and advised them to make every 
suitable preparation to follow him. One of the 
deacons of the Church being present, he said: 
"Deacon Davis, tell Elder Patton to request the 
Juda Baptist Church to prepare to meet me in 
heaven." Elder Patton preached the funeral 
sermon, and made an eloquent appeal to the 
church to heed the admonition. 
The Shroyer Case. 

[Sept. 29, 1869.] 

Angeline Shroyer, who was tried last week 
for the murder of Patrick Crotty, was acquitted 
by the jury after a trial of nearly four days, end- 
ing on Thursday afternoon. The court house 
was crowded most of the time during the trial, 
but the room was as quiet as a Quaker meeting, 
and the trial throughout was conducted in a 
manner which reflects credit upon this age and 
generation. District Attorney Douglas, was as- 
sisted by Messrs. Conger, of Janesville, and 
Gardner, of Monroe; and Hons. B. Dunwiddie 
and Charles G. Williams, ably conducted the de- 
fense. 

The court house was filled to suffocation when 
the announcement went forth on the tones of the 
bell, that the jury were ready to give their ver- 
dict. When the "Not Guilty" was pronounced 
by the foreman, the accused was immediately 
released from custody, and left the court house, 
while a smile of satisfaction was visable upon 
the faces of all present. Every one in attend- 
ance had "predicted" and "told just how it would 
be." The verdict surprised no one, and the peo- 



566 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



pie are content. A purse of money was made 
up by our citizens last Friday and Saturday, and 
we are informed that Angeline will immediately 
go to her friends in Iowa. 

The Old Settlers. 

[Feb. 3, 1870.] 

The second annual re-union of the old set- 
tlers of Green county, held in this village at the 
court house and Turner Hall, was, everything 
considered, a very successful and pleasant 
affair. Several names were added to the roll of 
members, and such other business as naturally 
comes before gatherings of this nature was 
transacted in the afternoon at the court house, 
when the meeting adjourned to Turner Hall, at 
6 o'clock, p. M. Supper was served for the 
members and invited guests at about 8 o'clock, 
by J. A. Gleissner, of the American House. 
The three tables, reaching the entire length of 
the hall, were liberally patronized by the pio- 
neers of the county, who, with their wives, gave 
ample proof of the quality of the repast and 
the healthfulness of the parents of our present 
civilization. The American cornet band, en- 
livened the occasion with good music; and, with 
short speeches by a few who felt like talking, 
general greetings and talk of old times, the 
evening was pleasantly and profitably spent by 
all who attended. 

These re-unions can, and will, doubtless, be 
made a permanent institution; and there can be 
no reason why they might not be so conducted 
as to be a source of much pleasure and profit to 
those who came in advance 

To hew the forests 

And break the way, 
For greater things 

In a future day. 

Let the records be made perfect, and the last 
days on earth of those who braved the wilds of 
the unsettled wilderness, to make their circum- 
stances and open up to future generations 
happy homes, fertile farms, and the general 
prosperity which we younger citizens now en- 
joy, be a continued reign of happiness. Let us 



honor the "old settlers," for their numbers are 
few and they are passing away, while their 
children go forth to be hereafter called "old 
settlers" of other States, and, as yet, unheard 
of counties. 

THE ROLL OP PIONEERS. 

The roll as now made up by the secretary, J. 
V. Richardson, is as follows: 

1827— E. T. Gardner. 

1829— Ezra Gillett. 

1831 — James Slater, 

1832—0. H. P. Clarno. 

1833 — Noah Phelps, Levi Starr. 

1834 — Hiram Rust, Nicholas Conelius. 

1835— William Beard, Peter Wells, John H. 
Bridge, O. J. White, John Douglas. 

1836 — D. L. Sutherland, Thomas S. Bowen, 
Asa Richardson, T. J. Bragg, A. DeHaven, 
John Cameron, Allen Woodle, Hiram Brown. 

1837 — Franklin Pierce, Alexander Morton, 
John Chadwick, Jotham Chadwick, Joshua 
Whitcomb, A. H. Woodle, A. J. Sutherland, 
Mordecai Kelly, Jonas Shook. 

1838— David Davis, Sol Sutherland, A. R. 
Sylvester. 

1839 — John Woods, Samuel Truax, J. T. 
Sutherland, A. W. Southerland, William C. 
Green, Justus Sutherland, Melzer Colton. 

1840 — Elizah Evins, J. R. Pace, Ashford 
Trickle, John Thorpe, Charles Reed. 

1841 — John Morrison, Christopher Minert, 
W. D. Boise, Jesse Robertson, George Michael, 
A. Conkey, J. V. Richardson, F. H. Derrick. 

1842 — J. W. Stewart, B. Dunwiddie, Sylves- 
ter Stephens, George Adams, Samuel D. Ball, 
F. F. West, William McDowell, J. V. Roberts, 
Thomas Stewart, A. L. Cleveland, Donald John- 
son. 

1843 — Jesse Gist, W. L. Wescott, J. B. Chase, 
Daniel Dunwiddie. 

Telegraph Completed. 

[Aug. 10, 1870.1 

The first message over the wire from Mil- 
waukee to Monroe, was sent last Thursday 
afternoon, and received, in a remarkably short 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



567 



time, at this office. The following is the mes- 
sage aiiil our reply, which was published in the 
Evening Wiscoiiniii, the same evening. 

Milwaukee, August 4. 
To the Mon7-(>e Press: 

Milwaukee to Monroe sends greeting. 'Our 
lines have gone out through all the earth and 
our words to the end of the world. Answer. 

THE sentinel's ANSWER. 

Monroe, August 4. 
2'o the Milwaukee Press: 

Monroe sends greeting: Blessed be the 
Lord who created electricity; blessed his crea- 
ture who discovered its utility, and blessed be 
lie who invented the telegraph. Bully for the 
Northwestern Company whose lines touch as 
with the throbs of intelligence as they pass 
from city to city. 

The following, the same hour, was sent to the 

Janesville Gazette: 

Monroe, Aug. 4, 1870. 

To the Janesville Gazette: 

The Sentinel sends greeting. Monroe is now 
in the world instead of on the outside. We 
have it now and can keep it. 

Sentinel Office. 
Gazette Office 
Janesville, August 4 
To the Monroe Sentnel: 

The Geizette welcome you to fraternal rela- 
tions. May your energy and enterprise be equal 
to the responsibilities of your new position. 
Death of Lieutenant G. D. Jennings. 

[Nov. 15, 1871.] 

Jennings. —In Otnaha, on the 5th day of 
November, lS7l, Lieut. G. D. Jennings, aged 
thirty years, formerly of this place, recently 
of the V. R. C. U. S. A. 

The funeral of Lieut. Jennings was largely 
attended by the citizens of this place who 
deeply sympathize with the bereaved family in 
their great loss. Dud. had been a faithful 
brother and a dutiful son. Even the vicissi- 
tudes and estrangements of a soldier's life 
could not break the ties which bound him to 
kindred, nor wean him from those wdiom he had 



loved in childhood. He was attended in his 
last hours by his sister Jennie, who left her 
duties as clerk in the treasury department at 
Washington, to go across the continent on her 
mission of love, and devoted herself to the task 
of bringing her dying brother to his home. By 
a series of journeying fi'om San Diego b)^ way 
of San Rafael, Cal., they reached Onialia, where 
poor Dud. gave up his sword to the Conqueror of 
the LTniverse, and left his faithful sister to 
journey home with liis mortal remains. V^'hat 
peace must she now feel, and enjoy hereafter, to 
know that her dear soldier brother wanted not a 
sister's loving hand to sootlie his dying pillow. 
And whatocomfort and bliss t) a faitViful sol- 
dier — used to the vicissitudes of camp and 
held — when he wraps the mantle of death about 
him, to feel the parting kiss of the purest 
friendship known on earth. 

The journey from Omaha, though a sad one, 
was not so tedious. A sergeant and a file of 
soldiers were detailed to guaVd the corpse to 
this place. The party arrived on the evening 
train Friday last, and remained at the United 
States House until Saturday afternoon, when the 
corpse was taken to the home, from whence he 
had gone, when he was a mere lad, as a volun- 
teer in the old 3d Wisconsin Infantry. 

Lieut. G. D. Jennings was wounded at 
the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, in 
the side and liip, the ball passing througli the 
body. His wound was a severe one, and was 
the cau;<e of his early death, as it sapped his 
vitality, and caused liim continual pain. He 
had hoped to outgrow his injury, and live to a 
good old age, but when on his last visit to Mon- 
roe, he told the writer that he should come back 
only once more to the old town, and should not 
go away again. 

The record of his deeds, when the country 
need brave men and true, will ever remain to 
bless his name, and will be a fitting epitaph. 
Every soldier of old company C,— there never 
was such another company "C" in the hearts of 
Green county— the Jirst which took the flag to 



568 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



defend and lay down their lives to honor, will 
drop a tear, and in their hearts fire three vol- 
leys over the resting place of a brave comrade, 
gone to "headquarters," "discharged to receive 
promotion." 

The bugle note and rattling drum, 

Shall from dreams ne'er wake him more; 
The lights are out, and ceased the hum 
In the camp by the dark river's shore . 

C. . 

Death of an Old Citizen. 

[Sept. 25, 1873.] 

Charles S. Foster, Avell known by the people 
of Green county as one of the first settlers and 
public spirited gentleman, died at his residence 
in this village Sunday morning last, after a 
short illness. This community will miss Mr. 
Foster very much, his enterprise and activity 
in public matters, his many good qualities as a 
neighbor, friend and husband and father, made 
him prominent in the community. During his 
life, for nearly thirty years, he had often been 
elected to official positions, which he filled with 
credit to himself and advantage to his cou- 
stituents. He at different times aided with 
his influence and money, public enterprises, and 
was a liberal subscriber to the new manufacturing 
establishments now being built. He was also 
a member of the board of education of this 
place ; the subject of common schools having 
always received a large share of attention from 
him. His family have the sympathy of many 
friends who are called to mourn with them in 
their great loss. 

Another Old Settler Gone. 

[June 24, 18T4.J 

Jere Chandler, one of the pioneers and a 
highly esteemed and valued citizen of Monroe 
passed peacefully from earth, last Thursday, at 
his residence, where he had lived for many 
years. "Uncle Jere" as he was called by all 
who knew him, came to Monroe in 1845, and 
established his family here, for many years 
carrying on the wagon making business. He 
had acquired a good property during his work- 
ing days, and provided with the aid of her who 



survives him, a beautiful home of comfort and 
plenty. "Uncle Jere" was not a noisy man, 
though his convictions were strong, and he ad- 
hered to them constantly. He had been quite 
feeble for the past two or three years, and prior 
to his death had been confined to the house for 
nearly a year. He was seventy-one years of age 
when he died, and he leaves ahost of relatives and 
friends who will long remember his life of in- 
dustry and true worth. The funeral took place 
from the residence, last Sunday, at 9 o'clock 
A. M. Rev. E. Powell assisted by Rev. Mr. Pal- 
mer and Z. H. Howe conducted the exercises 
and a large concourse of people followed the 
remains to the^last resting place on earth. 

Our old men are passing away, one by one, 
but more rapidly now than hitherto. Those 
who came before the multitude, to break the 
way to a prosperous estate for the generations 
of the future, are growing old, and each year 
sees the clods heaped above the faithful, manly 
forms of our old men and women, the grand- 
parents of this prosperous people. Let us cher- 
ish them while they stay with us; for it has 
taken many storms to bleach their locks, and 
many days of sunshine to tune their smiles, and 
when they are gone we shall never see their 
like again. 

Death of William G. Green. 

[Aug. 5, 1874.] 

In the death of William C. Green, of this vil- 
lage. Green county has lost one of its oldest and 
best citizens, a man who had tilled the measure 
of life nearly full to its brim, and that, too, with 
consistent, straightforward works. Mr. Green 
had been in poor health for more than a year, 
and he repeatedly told his friends that he ex- 
pected to leave this country soon and go toward 
the setting sun. 

The deceased came to Green county in 1839, 
from New York State, and had lived here 
ever since, rearing a large fainily; seven chil- 
dren of whom are now living, the oldest being 
over fifty years old. He was a farmer during 
the better time of life, and his two sons are now 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



569 



carrying on the farm at "Green's Prairie" — 
named by the deceased. Besides being a good 
farmer, Mr. Green was possessed of a good 
education, and in his younger and older years 
taught school. He served several years accept- 
ably as school superintendent of Green county, 
to which i^osition he was elected by the repub- 
lican party, of which he was a faithful and stead- 
fast member. 

William C. Green was born in 1802, and was 
seventy-two when he died, at 2 o'clock Monday 
morning, Aug. 3, 1874. The funeral takes 
place to-day ,Wednesday, August 5, at 11 o'clock. 

Honors to the Dead Soldiers. 
[June 4, 1873.] 

The first upon the list is that of Capt, Oscar 
F. Pinney, of the 5th Wisconsin Battery, who 
fell mortally wounded, on the 31st day of 
December, 1862, at the fearful battle of Stone 
River, the horrors of which cannot be exag- 
gerated. 

"For three long days the battle raged 
In front of Murfreesboro, 
And cannon balls tore up the earth 
As plows turn up the furrow." 

Capt. Pinney lingered in hospital until the 
l7th day of February, 1863, when he died and 
his remains were brought home by his brother 
and buried here. 

The testimony of all the members of the gal- 
lant 5th Battery, who were with him in that 
terrific contest, and some of whom I recognize 
here to-day, is, that he was a brave man. 

Joseph Hall, a member of the 5th Battery, re- 
turned home with consumption, contracted or 
aggravated bythe hardships and exposures inci- 
dent to military duty, and died in the village 
of Monroe. 

Chaplain, C. E. Weirich, 23d Infantry, died 
at Vicksburg from over exertion on the battle 
field in behalf of the wounded. 

Lieut. Charles Ruf, of the 45th Wisconsin 
Infantry, died in Madison, Wis., and his re- 
mains were brought here for interment. 

Sergt. James McQuillian and Plinny D. Muz- 
zy, both of the 81st Wisconsin Infantry, are ' 



buried here, but the circumstances and place of 
their death I have been unable to ascertain. 

Thomas Virtue, of the 31st Wisconsin In- 
fantry, died at his home in Monroe, of disease, 
contracted in the army. 

Jacob Ruegger, also of the 31st Infantry, is 
buried here, but I have learned nothing of his 
history. 

Samuel Hopkins, of the 16th Wisconsin 
Infantry, died of disease in Monroe. 

Oliver Hancock, of the 18th and Edwin 
Gardner, of the 22d Wisconsin Infantry, died 
of disease in Monroe. 

G. W, Holmes, of the 18th Wisconsin In- 
fantry, was brought home sick from Pittsburg 
Landing, and died in Monroe. 

Hans Gulbrandson, died in Monroe, since the 
war, of disease contracted in the army. 

Elijah McGinlay, of tl^ie 23d Wisconsin In- 
fantry, was wounded in battle, returned to 
Monroe where he died from the effects of his 
wound. 

George McLain, of the 36th Wisconsin In- 
fantry, died in Madison, Wis., and his body 
was brought here for interment. 

Joseph Snyder, of the 38th Wisconsin In- 
fantry, is buried here, but the history of his 
military service, and the place and cause of his 
death, are unknown to me. 

Francis C. Glascott, of the 30th Missouri 
Mounted Infantry, died in camp at Memphis, 
Tenn., of disease, induced by the hardships of 
military service. His remains were brought 
here for burial. 

The remains of Lucius A. Belden, of the 4th 
Kansas Cavalry and of William Daggett, of the 
6th Kansas Cavalry, rest in this cemetery, but 
I am unable to give any of the incidents of 
their history. 

Capt. G. D. Jennings, of the United States 
Army, formerly of the 3d Wisconsin Infantry 
Volunteers, was seriously wounded at the battle 
of Chancellorsville. He was distinguished for 
his gallantry, fought liis way to a captaincy in 
the I'egular army, went under orders to the 



570 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Pacific coast, wliere his failing liealth, the effect 
of wounds received in his country's battles, 
admonished him that his time on earth was 
brief, and he sought to reach his home that he 
might die among kin<lred and friends, but his 
vitality was not sufiicient for tlie undertaking, 
and, at Omaha, his brave spirit passed to the 
better land, and yonder shaft of white marble 
marks its last resting place. Col. E. M. Bari- 
lett and Col. Ezekiel ('lajtp, soldiers of the 
War of 1812, were also buried here. 

Of those whose remains are not here, I have 
the following names: 

James McLain, of the 4th Wisconsin Cav- 
alry, died at Baton Rouge, his remains, I be- 
lieve, are buried there. 

John Wyatt was killed at Fort Mahone, in 
front of Petersburg. I understand his remains 
are buried somewhere in this county. 

Charles Miner fell at the battle of Gettys- 
burg. 

Oscar Haley, of the 5th Battery, died at 
Jacksonville, Tenn., Nov. 5, 18*7 -2, of sickness. 

John F. iSmith, of the 5tn Battery, who was 
well known in Monroe, was killed in the battle 
of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862. 

Jefferson Feathers was killed in front of 
Petersburg, June 17, 1804. 

Lieut. Almond Smith, of the 5th J3attery, 
died at luka, Miss. 

Capt. Moses O'Brien, of the 3d Wisconsin 
Infantry, one of the bravest of the brave, died 
of repeated wounds received in the fearful con- 
flict of Cedar Mountain. 

Stewart Moslier, of the 3d Wisconsin In- 
fantry, whom all the old residents of Monroe 
well remember, was the first hero who fell a 
martyr to liberty, from Green county, lie was 
killed at the battle of IJolivar Heights, and was 
buried near the spot where he gallantly fell, 
upon the banks of the classic Potomac, whose 
waters, as they roll through the mountain 
gorges, on their way to the sea, shall ceaslessly 
chant his solemn requiem through all the ages 
to come, till time shall be no more. 



Death of Justus Suthnhind. 

[December 17, 1873.] 
' 'Tlie circle is broken — one seat is forsaken, — 
Oue bud from ihe tree of our friendship is shakeu, — 
Oue heart from nmong us no longer shall tlirill 
With joy in our gladness, or grief iu our ill." 

.lustus Sutherland died at his residence in the 
town of Sylvester, in this county, December (i, 
of pneumonia, after a brief illness. He was 
born at Rutland, in the State of Vermont, on 
the 27th day of September, 1797. He lived for 
a long time in Madison Co., N. Y.; subse- 
quently resided in Illinois, and, in 1830 he 
moved to Green Co., Wis., where he reared a 
large and highly respectable family, and by in- 
dustry and good judgment he acquired con- 
siderable wealth, and where, at the end of a 
long and active life, he has been cut down like 
a shock of corn fully ripe in its season, and 
consigned to the "'nairovv house appointed for 
all the living." Mr. Sutherland lived in this 
county thirty-four years, and was one of its 
earliest settlers. 'i~he brave, enterprising and 
adventurous spirits who constitute the vanguard 
of civilization, who carry the implements of 
husbandry, and the habits of industry into the 
wilderness, or those of them whose rude cabins 
u-urped the places where stood the red man's 
wigwam in southern Wisconsin, knew him well, 
and called him to many positions of honor and 
trust; and the few who remain of the com- 
panions of his manhood's prime, say that he 
never betrayed the confidence which they re- 
posed in him, and that at all times, and under 
all circumstances he stood a grand specimen of 
God's no\)\e^t work, an honest 7nan. He was a 
person of most exemplary habits, and his loss 
will be deeply felt beyond the circle of his im- 
mediate relatives, beyond the neighborhood in 
which he lived, by all who knew him, but by 
none more keenly than by those who shared 
with him the dangers, har(lshi|)S and privations 
of pioneer life. Ten sons and daughters of 
mature yenrs stood arouiuJ his coifin and 
listened to the falling clods whose resonance 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



5V1 



spoke to all of man's mortality. His neigh- 
bors and friends came from far and near toper- 
form the last sad rites, and pay the last melan- 
choly tribute of respect, until the funeral cor- 
tege assumed proportions greater than ever be- 
fore witnessed in this county. It is a consola- 
tion to his friends, that his last hours were 
tranquil, and that he passed quietly and pain- 
lessly to the other, and happier shore. 

"As a cloud of the sunset slow melting in heaven, 

As a star that is lost when the daylight is given, 

As a glad dream of slumber, which wakens in bliss 

He hath passed to the world of the holy from this. 

He has gone but a little before us, 

We can only say, now, in the words of the poet: 

Farewell! a little time, and we 

Who knew thee well, and loved thee here, 

One after one shall follow thee 

As pilgrims through the gate of fear 

Which opens on eternity." 

A /Sensation for Wmsloio. 

[Au^. 19, 1874.] 

.About eleven years ago a man by the name 
of Alvy Gaylord left the neighborhood for Cal- 
ifornia, leaving a wife and childx-en. For some 
years he had been given up as lost to his family, 
and his wife was declared a widow. A few 
days since a man claiming to be the husband of 
Mrs. Gayloi-d came to Winslow and succeeded 
in making the widow and her son believe that 
he was the identical Gaylord, and he was taken 
to the bosom of his family. He immediately 
set about disposing of property belonging to 
the estate preparatory to returning back to Cali- 
fornia, Here a brother of Gaylord comes for- 
ward and declares the would be "Alvy" an im- 
poster and that he is not the true husband of 
the widow. But the son of his mother declares 
that the stranger is his own father. Now, it is 
not every boy that knows his own father — 
especially after he has been gone eleven years, 
and when he left home the boy was quite young. 
But so determined was the brother to expose 
the imposter that the wliole affair was noised 
about, and parties who had known Gaylord in 
days of yore came forward to identify him. It 



seems that Gaylord had a finger torn off by a 
threshing machine before he went away, he 
also had one foot split open on top in an early 
day. This man had no such marks. Then 
comes one certain Mr. Burbridge, who walks up 
to the stranger and offers him |2 to show his 
arm. There was a mark on it he would like to 
see. The stranger scouted the idea of showing 
his arm but he finally was induced to do so. 
There in deep blue were the initials "J. T.,"John 
Traverse, well known by all the neighbors. 
John Traverse, of California, who evidently 
knew Gaylord and his family, as he spoke fa- 
miliarly, calling them all by name. He knew 
his neighbors too, and they knew him now. He 
had married a daughter of Burbridge fifteen 
years ago, and had gone off to California. An 
old woman had recognized him a few days be- 
fore this singular denoeument, when he was 
making inquiries about the Burbridge family. 
"Did they know of a man who had married a 
daughter of Burbridge, year ago and run away 
to California." They knew such a man, and 
"Thou art the man," said an elderly woman. 
So, on Monday the brother of Alvy Gaylord 
demanded the arrrest of Traverse. A warrant 
was made and a posse undertook to capture him 
in the street at about 3 o'clock p. m. He 
drew two revolvers, and retreated to the house 
of widow Gaylord, where he barricaded him- 
self in a room up stairs. Four men, braver 
than the rest, John Gordon, Lou. Blair, Peters 
and Lloyd, volunteered to go in and take him 
for the sum of $20, well knowing that that 
amount might possibly be necessary to bury 
some one or more of them, for they were 
bearding a lion in his den. The door was 
burst open, and a rapid dring of pistols ensued, 
but without hurting anybody seriously. Traverse 
alias Gaylord, was wounded, a ball had traversed 
the arm that bore the tell tale, "J. T." and it 
was strongly suspected that the stranger had 
tried to wipe out the "dammed spot," but it 
wouldn't out. The alias is now in custody, and 
parties have gone to Winslow to identify him, 



572 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and there can be little doubt that he will be 
put "where he can do the most good." Where 
that place shall be is not for us to say, at pres- 
ent. 

Death of John Bridge. 

[June 11, 1884.] 

On Thursday evening last a telegram was re- 
ceived by George B. McLean itiforming friends 
in this city [Monroe] of the death of John H. 
Bridge, who left this place in excellent health, 
with his son, Joseph, to visit in Iowa, Kansas and 
take a trip west through Colorado, and Califor- 
nia, to see the lands beyond the Mississipi)i. A 
letter received by relatives Monday last, which 
was written from some place in Colorado, stated 
Mr. Bridge had had an attack of cliolera mor- 
bus, had been very ill, but was recovering. The 
deceased was about seventy years old, was one 
of the old settlers of the county and was unusu- 
ally vigorous. His death is a great surprise to 
his friends here. He had lived an industrious, 
plodding sort of life until within a few years, 
when he retired from farming to live in Monroe, 
investing in real estate, and receiving a hand- 
some income from his accumulated wealth. 

AN EXPENSIVE EPISODE. 

' "Bless me this is pleasant, 
Riding on a rail." Saxe. 

In a previous chapter mention has been made 
of an oath being prepared during the war for 
the citizens to subscribe to, which some refused 
to take and that, as a consequence, one citizen 
a resident of Sylvester was ordered to kec}) out- 
side the limits of the village of Monroe, and 
anothei' — a citizen of Clarno — was treated to a 
free ride part of the way home, on a rail. 'J'he 
last method of treating obnoxious persons did 
not, however, work well when again tried ex- 
cept for the time being. A Mr. Steves, of Du- 
rand, happened to be in Monroe and took oc- 
casion to denounce the proceedings which re- 
quired the taking of the oath. 



At this point, we cannot do better than give 
the particulars as recited in Miss Bingham's 
history: 

"He [Steves] was denouncing the proceed- 
ings in a violent manner, when some one re- 
marked that probably Mr. Steves had better 
take the oath. A crowd formed, and escorted 
him to the court house, and summoned Mr. 
Role from his supper table to administer the 
oaih. Mr. Rote read it and asked the prisoner 
if he would subscribe to it. Being answered 
in the negative, he said nothing more, for by 
that time the office was so full of men who 
wanted to take it that he was obliged to light a 
candle and go up into the court room to accom- 
modate them. When about sixty men had been 
sworn, proceedings up stairs were interrupted 
by a cry that those who had been laboring with 
the man below were riding him out of town on 
a rail. Mr. Steves' fate made copperheads cau- 
tious about expressing themselves in Monroe; 
and his resistance taught Union men to be less 
busy in seeking out offenses. This was the last 
encounter of the kind during the war, but it 
was long before men heard the last of this. 
Mr. Steves brought suit against twelve citizens 
of Monroe. In selecting the twelve, he was 
assisted by Monroe men whose opinion of the 
war was the same as his own. All those select- 
ed were zealous supporters of the war, and 
most of them were members of the committee 
of lifteen appointed the 29th of July; but a 
majority of them were oj)posed to such violent 
measures as were adopted in Mr. Steves' case, 
and sotue of them did not reach the square that 
night until the work was done. One of those 
sued was Mr. Rote, whose part in the affair has 
been told. On the other hand, some who helped 
carry the rail were not mentioned in the suit. 
The case was tried in 1865 in Milwaukee; Judge 
Miller presided, and during the trial gave vent 
to his feelings by exclamations of 'oh'! and 
'horrible! !' The disunion element predomi- 
nated in the jury, and damages was awarded Mr. 
Steves to the amount of $5,000 and costs." 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



573 



CHAPTER XXITI. 



COUNTY BUILDINGS AND POOR FARMS. 



When, on the 26th of March, 1838, the "com- 
missioners court" ( as the county board was 
first called) got together for the first time, there 
was no house belonging to the count)'^ for them 
to meet in, and they were compelled to hire a 
room for that purpose. At that meeting it was 
resolved by the commissioners that the district 
court should be held at the house of Jacob Ly 
Brand until otherwise ordered. Of course the 
necessity for a court house was at once felt and 
it was not long before a temporary one was pro- 
vided for. 

OF THE THREE COURT HOUSES. 

On the 8th day of July, 1840, the county 
commissioners 

'■''Ordered^ That the clerk of this board give 
notice, by posting up in three or more of the 
most public places in this county, notices that 
sealed proposals will be received by the clerk 
of this board at his office, until the first Mon- 
day of August next, for the building and en- 
closing a two-story frame house, 20x30 feet, in 
the town [village] of Monroe, for a temporary 
court house, said proposals to designate par- 
ticularly the size and description of the timber, 
quality of shingles and siding, etc. Bond and 
security will be required to the faithful per- 
formance of said contracts." 

On the 4th day of August, 1840, the follow- 
ing entry was made in the record of the ''com- 
missioners court:" 

"Whereas, Proposals were ordered to be 
received, ami have been received b}' the clerk 
of this board, for the purpose of erecting a 



two-story building in the town of Monroe, for 
the purpose of a temporary court house, be it 

" Ordered^ That the proposals of James 
Campbell and A. J. Sutherland be accepted by 
this board, and that they give bond in the penal 
sum of $900 for the faithful performance of 
said contract, to the board of commissioners of 
the county of Green, agreeable to the tenor and 
efl'ect of said proposals on file, to be completed 
oil or before the 1st day of December, 1840." 

This building was accepted on the 4th of 
November, as appears by the following entry 
upon the record of the board: 

"Whereas, James Campbell and Andrew J. 
Sutherland are bound to the board of commis- 
sioners of the county of Green, by bond, dated 
Aug. 4, 1840, to erect a two-story building for 
the purpose of a court house in the town [vil- 
lage] of Monroe, and in the opinion of the 
court, the condition of the said bond has been 
complied with, it is 

^^ Ordered, By this court that the said house 
and job of work be received and thatan order be 
made out to them for the balance due them on 
said contract, amounting to $150.30." 

But this temporary court house soon after 
took fire accidently and was totally destroyed. 
It was erected on the lot upon which is now 
(1884) the United States House, owned and oc- 
cupied by Louis Schuetze, as a hotel. 

The next spring, the county commissioners 
agreed with Demas Beach to lend him $400 for 
six vi'ars, for which consideration he was to 
erect a building in which tlie county should 
have the use of certain rooms. This building, 



674 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



afterward known as the American House, had a 
court room and county offices on the second 
floor, while the ground floor was used for a 
store and dwelling. When court was not in 
session, a shoe shop was kept in the jury room. 
The building was ready for use in November, 
1841, as appears by the following entry upon 
the record of the board: "Nov. 1, 1841, 

Ordered, That the county commissioners' 
court be hereafter held at the court house in the 
town [village] of Monroe." 

This so-called courthouse was occupied until 
April, 1846, when another one took its place. 
As to the last mentioned structure, the one 
which is still to be seen (1884) in the center of 
the public square, we have the following record 
from the "commissioners' court:" 

April 23, 1844. 

" Ordered, That William Dunten, of Roches- 
ter,5 Racine Co., Wis. Ter., be employed to 
build a court house in Monroe, Green Co. Wis. 
Ter., for the sum of $3,500, said building to be 
put up with brick and in all things agreeing 
with the i)lan and specification on file in the 
clerk's office, for which said Dunten is to re- 
ceive payment as follows, to-wit : One payment 
is to be made Avhen the foundation or stone 
work is done, to two-thirds of the amount of 
the estimated value of the work done and ma- 
terials furnislied, one-half of which payment is 
to be made in drafts on the county treasury and 
the other half to be made in bonds issued by 
the board of county commissioners, bonds 
drawing interest from the 1st day of .January 
next. One payment is to be made when the 
brick work is done to two-thirds the amount of 
labor andmaterials furnished, one-h«lf of which 
payment is to be made in drafts on the county 
treasury and the other in bonds issued by the 
board of county commissioners with interest, 
and the remainder to be paid in bonds drawn 
by the board of commissioners on the 1st day 
of August 1845 or when the job of work shall 
be completed : and. l>e it further ordered that 



said Dunten file his bond with approved security 
for the performance of said work." 

The work of "William Dunten, of Roches- 
ter," still stands ; but, as a "magnificent temple 
of justice," worthy of Green county, it cannot 
be said to be a success. It is neither useful 
nor ornamental. It will soon be torn down and 
a new court house erected. 

FIRE PROOF BUILDING. 

The increasing business of the county and 
the danger of fire consuming the valuable 
county records, induced the county board to 
order the erection of a fire proof building as an 
" overflow," so to speak, to the court house. 
Therefore, on the 4th day of June, 1857, it was 

^'■Resolved, That a building be erected for 
the county offices, and that the same be located 
on lots 132 and 133 in Ly Brand's donation to 
the county of Green, and that there be a com- 
mittee appointed by this board to superintend 
the erection of the same. 

[Signed] "William Brown." 

The following is also taken from the records 
of the county board: 

"Nov. 20, 1857. 

"The committee appointed to superintend 
the construction of afire proof building for the 
different county ofiices, beg leave to submit the 
following in addition to the foregoing report 
of the chairman of said committee now absent, 
he being sick and unable to attend the meeting 
of the board. The statement accom{)anying 
the report of the receipts and expenditures 
shows an amount of receipts of $1,000, and 
disbursements of |1,563, leaving a balance of 
$37 in the hands of the chairman, and would 
further report and beg leave to submit the plan 
and specifications, contract and bond as a part 
of their report, and would say that they have 
examined the material used, and have frequently 
examined the work in the course of its con- 
struction, and believe that Mr. I^rewer has done 
a fair, honest and honorable job in the erection 
of said fire proof building, but has not com- 
pleted the job by the time the contract called 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



575 



for it to be done. Your committee would 
rocomniend that the time may be extended to 
said Brewer for tlie completon of said job until 
the 1st day of January next, and further 
recommend that an order be issued to said 
Brewer for $400, being the full amount of 
the appropriation made at the extra session of 
the board last June, leaving a balance of |200 
due on the contract, for which no j^rovision is 
made, said sum of 1)200 will more than doubly 
cover the amount yet needed to complete the 
job, and we recommend an appropriation of 
$200 to be paid when the job is completed, and 
we would further recommend that there be 
placed two stone conductors under the eave 
spouts to conduct the water from the building, 
and the committee herewith submit the accounts 
of the diflFereut members of the committee on 
fire proof buihling, all of which is respectfully 
submitted. 

[Signed] " William Muisrsoisr, 

" Ransom Drake, 

Committee. 

This building is now (1884) occupied by the 
clerk of the board, the clerk of the court, the 
register of deeds aiuJ by the county court as a 
depository of liis records. It was completed 
Jan. 1, 1858. 

GREEN COUNTY .lAILS. 

Tlic first jail in Green county was a log 
structure — a very rickety affair. It was burned 
to tlie ground on the 2d of February, 1855, as 
appears by the following, from the Monroe 
Sentinel oi Feb. 14, 1855: 

"We omitted in our issue last week to notice 
tlie contlagration of the Green county jail. The 
fii-e oiiginated about 10 o'clock a.m , of Friday, 
the 2d inst., and before assistance could be 
rendered the Haines had burst through the roof, 
making the destruction of the building inevi- 
table. The jail proper was a log building. A 
frame addition on the north was occupied as a 
dwcUing by a Mr. Annis. In this addition the 
tire originateil from a pipe which passed through 
the roof. 



"The brewery was threateningl)^ menaced by 
the devouring elements, but was saved by the 
efforts of our citizens, who kept the roof and 
west end continually moistened with the con- 
tents of some large vats inside. Several barrels 
must have been used in this manner. We un- 
derstand that Mr. Annis saved most of his fur- 
niture." 

The burning of this building led to the erec- 
tion of a stone jail. Concerning the erection 
of this building the Monroe Sentinel, of Aug. ], 
1855, says: 

"The contract for building the new jail has 
been awarded to Messrs. Emerson & Condee, 
of this place. The known enterprise of this 
firm, and they fortunately have abundant means, 
too, will ensure the speedy completion of the 
jail. The contract specifies the 15th of Novem- 
ber next. There have been some alterations 
suggested by the contractors which it would be 
well for the building committee to consider. 
Under the contract, the roof is to be made of 
shingle. This is certainly an oversight. A 
cement roof would be vastly better, because 
more safe, and cost about the same. The con- 
tractors will put on a fire proof roof if the com- 
mittee approve. There can be no good reason 
for having a shingle roof on a building costing 
$4,500. A decided mistake is this shingle roof. 
A reversal of some other arrangements would 
be an advantage also." 

This building was occupied until 1870, wlien 
the present jail was built and took its place. 
The record of the county board shows the fol- 
lowing entries concerning the incipient steps 
taken in the erection of the former edifice: 

"May 23, 1855. 

"The committee on location of jail, through 
its chairman, Mr. Smith of Clarno offered a re- 
port as follows: 

"The committee to which was referred the 
location of a site for a county jail beg leave to 
report, lli;it after dueconsideratiou of the differ- 
ent locations proposed, would respei'tfuUy 
recommend that the site for said jail be located 



576 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



on the old site on lands owned by the county of 
Green where the old log jail stood. 

"Your committee would further recommend 
that the building committee be authorized to 
sell said old site and purchase another within 
the limits of the village of Monroe if thought 
advisable by the said building committee, pro- 
'vided such exchange should not increase the 
amount in building said jail, but to the contrary, 
provided further, that such site should not be 
located upon the public square. 

"Israel Smith, Chairman of Com, 

"Report accepted and laid on the table voted 
to take up the report of committee on estima- 
tion of cost of draft and building. Voted to 
adopt the size for the jail recommended in the 
report of the above committee. 

"On motion to build the jail of stone the 
ayes and noes were called the vote stood, ayes 
Messrs. Smith of Adams, Smith of Clarno, 
Smiley, Flood, Brown, Ball, Munson, Hurl- 
but, Jenny, Pengree, 10. Nays, Messrs. Clark, 
Leonard, Johnson, Roby and Green, 5; carrried. 

"Voted that the walls be built of range work 
in the ordinary way, except that part of the 
second story which shall enclose the cells of 
the prisoners, and which shall be of blocks of 
range work running the whole thickness of the 
wall, and of the same length both on the out- 
side and inside. 

"May 23, 1855. 

"On motion of Mr. Smith of Adams, the fol- 
lowing resolution was adopted: 

JResolved, That the height of the main wall 
of the jail edifice, from its foundation to 
the bottom of the first tier of joists be not 
less than seven feet, and its thickness not 
less than two feet, that from the bottom of the 
first tier of joists to the bottom of the second 
tier, the height be not less than nine feet six 
inches, and the thickness not less than twenty 
inches, and that from the bottom of the second 
tier of joists to the bottom of the third tier, the 



height be not less than nine feet and the thick- 
ness of not less than eighteen inches. 

"Voted to take up the report of committee on 
location. 

"Voted to strike out all of said report after 
the re-consideration. 

"On motion to adopt the remaining part of 
the report, Mr. Smith of Adams moved to 
amend by adding as follow: and that it be left 
to the building committee, either to erect that 
edifice on the ground on which it formerly 
stood or on any other lot within the village 
limits the public square excepted, as to them 
shall be deemed most advisable, and best adapt- 
ed to promote the public advantage. 

"Voted to take up the report of the commit- 
tee on finance. 

"Voted to adopt the report. Mr. Ball offered 
the following resolution which was adopted: 

Resolved, That this board appropriate the sum 
of 13,000 for the use of the building committee 
to be expended in the construction of the jail, 
leaving such other amount as may be necessary 
for its completion to be appropriated by the 
board at its November session." 

On the 24th of May, 1870, the county board 
determined to build a new jail and jailor's resi- 
dence"on the old jail site." The jail building com- 
mittee of the county board, by their final report 
showed that the cost of the new jail, including 
$1,800 "for the purchase of Beebe lots," was 
$25,405.69. This report was submitted, Nov. 
25, 1871. 

The jail is built of stone, brick and iron. The 
brick upon the outside are white. The sheriff's 
dwelling is about 40x20 feet, two stories. The 
jail part is two stories in height and contains 
eight cells. This part is of stone, brick and 
iron. The whole on the inside is encased with 
boiler iron. The cells are made also of boiler 
iron and are set inside of an inclosure of iron 
bars. There is a ward for females separate 
from the jail proper. This is likewise encased 
in boiler iron and contains room for six beds. 
No one has as yet broke this jail. The building 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



579 



is heated by a furnace. The jail is located on 
lot 152, in Ly Brand's donation. 

GREEN" COUNTY POOR FARMS. 

The first poor farm purchased in Green county 
was in the town of Mount Pleasant in 1861. It 
was used about sixteen years and then sold* 
Light is thrown on the transactions resulting in 
in buying of this farm by the followijig extracts 
from the record of the county board: 

"Nov. 21, 1860. 

"E. R. Allen made a motion that the sum of 
$1,500 be appropriated to purchase a poor farm. 

"D. S. Sutherland moved to amend by insert- 
ing $2,000 instead of $1,500. The vote being 
taken on the amendment, eight members voted 
for the amendment and seven against it. The 
amendment carried, and the sum of $2,000 was 
appropriated for said purpose, this sum to be 
placed in hand of the superintendents." 

"Dec. 21, I860. 

"Mr. Flood offered the following resolution, 
to-wit: 

"Resolved, By the county board that $2,000 
of the expected surplus in the treasury be placed 
at the disposal of the superintendents of count}^ 
poor for the purpose of purchasing a county 
poor farm and defraying suiili other expenses as 
they shall deem proper in the performance of 
their duties as superintendents of the county 
poor. 

"On motion, said resolution was adopted." 

The following concerning the first poor farm 
and poor house is from the Brodhead Meporter 
of May 24, 1861: 

"Iliram Rust, Esq., of Monroe, and D. Drake, 
Es(j., of Mount Pleasant, were in town yester- 
day, and gave us a call. They are about pur- 
chasing lumber for tlu; building on the poor 
farm in Mount Pleasant and were here getting 
piices from our lumber dealers. The building 
is to be of wood, with a basement of stone; 
three stories in height, including the basement; 
size of building 24x^6 foot. 



"The farm contains LSO acres of rich and pro- 
ductive land, pleasantly located in the town of 
Mount Pleasant. Cost of farm $2,900. 

"From all that we can learn, having heard 
both sides, the pretended dissatisfaction on the 
part of some in the county with the action 
of the superintendents arises more from 
outside causes than anything else. We be- 
lieve the superintendents acted in good 
faitl), and performed their duty as they 
understood it; and we believe farther that no 
better selection of a farm could have been 
made. They have kept within the limit of their 
means, and have made a judicious appropriation 
of them. They are candid and honorable men. 

"The work on the building will be prosecuted 
as rapidly as possible, and the building ready 
for use in a few weeks." 

"Nov. 15, 1861. 

"Money drawn from the treasury for poor 
purposes by the county superintendents of the 
[)Oor is as follows, to-wit : 

Upon May 30, by couuty order $250 00 

" July 22. " '• 2.50 00 

" Aug. 19, " " 500 00 

" Sept. 9, " " 750 00 

Making in all ^1. 7."iO On 

"With the above money the superintendents 
have built a county poor house 27x.3.3 feet, two 
stories above the basement. The cost, separate 
from boarding the hands, amounts to $77.3.88 
furnislied with ten comfortable beds, twelve 
chairs, five stoves, dishes to feed twenty per- 
sons." 

"Nov. 12, 186l'. 
"The superintendents of the county poor pre- 
sented the following report, which was adopted, 
to-wit : 
"To the Iloti. Board of Supervisors: 

"The superintendents of the 'poor of Green 
county herewith submit, this thoir annual report : 

' 'The county poor farm. \?<0 acres cost .f 2. 000 00 

' 'Iniproviuienis tiiereon since purchase . . . 850 00 

''Amount of personal properly 7'J9 53 

Total .nm't of r(^nl .tnrt pbi?bnal property $4,479 53 

I 



580 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



EXTRACT FROM THE MOISTROE SENTINEL. 

On tlie 20th of June, 1877, the county super- 
intendents of poor were instructed by county 
board to sell the old county poor farm "in the 
best possible manner." 

The poor farm (a small part having previ- 
ously been sold) was disposed of March 1, 1878, 
by William Brown, Daniel Smiley and Cyrus 
Troy, "county superintendents of poor of the 
county of Green, in the State of Wisconsin," 
to Simon Brown, for the sum of |4,000. 

On the 15th day of May, 1879, the county of 
Green purchased of Samuel Truax, "the north- 
west quarter of section twenty-seven (27) ; the 
west half of the northeast quarter of said sec- 
tion twenty-seven (27); also the east half of the 
southwest quarter of section twenty-two (22); 
all in township No. two (2) north of range No. 
seven (7) east in said county of Green, and 
State of Wisconsin," for the sum of $12,000, 
as a poor farm. The new farm contains 320 
acres, more or less, and is located in the town 
of Monroe, about two miles northwest of the 
city of Monroe. 



When on the 21st day of June, 1877, it was 
determined by the county board to build a new 
poor house on the poor farm last purchased, it 
was resolved that it "should be built of brick, 
two stories high, not exceeding in cost |6,000." 
What kind of a house was built, and what was 
its entire cost, will more fully appear liereafter. 

COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM. 

. On the 18th of November, 1881, $2,000 were 
appropriated to build an asylum for the chronic 
insane of Green county, on the poor farm, not 
to exceed in cost, $6,000. The building was let 
to Churchill, Dodge & Soaper, contractors, for 
$6,390. The building was completed in the fall 
of 1882. 

The building is 34x68 feet ; is two stories in 
height; and has a capacity for forty inmates. 
The number of the insane at present (1884) 
in this asylum, is thirty-six. R. C. Whitcomb, 
the overseer of the poor house and farm, is also 
overseer of the asylum, at this time (1884) and 
has been since its opening for patients. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



581 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



LITERATURE— SCIENCE— ART. 



LITERATURE. 

In the domain of English literature, there 
has been, in Green county, no one in the past, 
nor is there one at the present time, who has 
achieved a national reputation nor even, per- 
haps, one co-extensive with the limits of the 
State; but several have written fugitive pieces 
of poetry published in the county papers of con- 
siderable merit; and there are not a few who, in 
prose, have done themselves equal credit. One 
book, however, has been written in Green 
county, of a high order of meiit, and is deserv- 
ing of special commendation. It is the "Historj- 
of Green County, Wisconsin," by Helen M. 
Bingham. It was published in 1877 and is a 
small 12 rao. volume of 310 pages. The author, 
in her excellent preface, says: 

"In the effo.it to make this history correct, a 
great many letters have been written, and a 
great many visits have been made in the several 
towns. Assistance has been received from over 
200 persons, more than one-fourth of whom 
came to the county before 1840, some of them 
before 18:50. With all the avidity of Dryden's 
reaper, who 

' fills his greedy hands 

And binds the golden sheaves in brittle bands,' 

• I have seized upon these individual gleanings 
from memory's field and bound them together." 
And thus she concludes: 

"With just one plea in its behalf, the history 
is now submitted to the people of Green county. 
The plea is this: It is often said, though whether 
the saying originated with an unsuccessful his- 
torian cannot now be ascertained, that 'that 
people is most fortunate whose history is most 



wearisome to read.' Will those to whom this 
history is the dullest and most monotonous of 
books have the charity to infer that Green is 
the most fortunate of counties?" 

But the fair author is altogether too modest. 
She has written a book which is neither dull 
nor monotonous, and one which, it may safely 
be said, has been fortunate for Green county. 
It is the best county history, not biographical, 
written by any Wisconsin historian. The style 
of the author is terse and lively and her gener- 
alizations are marked with much more than 
ordinary ability. There is but one matter of 
regret connected with the publication of JVIiss 
Bingham's history., and that is, that so few of 
the citizens of Green county liave purchased the 
book and attentively perused it. It is worthy 
a careful reading by all. 

Helen Maria 'Bingham 
was born in Monroe, Green Co., Wis., Oct. 10, 
1845. She is the daughter of the late Judge 
John A. Bingham and Caroline E. Bingham, 
{nee Churchill) who is still living, and is a resi- 
dent of Green county. Dr. Bingham received 
her early education in Monroe. She afterwards 
attended the State University at Madison and 
Lombard University, in Galesburg, 111., gradu- 
ating from the latter in 1867. She has taught 
school not only in Wisconsin but in Arkansas, 
and was, at one time, an instructor, in lier Alma 
Mater. She was, also, employed for awhile 
on the Janesville Gazette. She is the author of 
the "History of Green County, Wisconsin," 
published in 1877, mention of which has already 
been made in this chapter. In the fall of 1877, 
Miss Bingham went to Boston, and the succesd- 



582 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ing spring began the study of medicine. She 
graduated from the Boston University School 
of Medicine, in June, 1881, with hon9rs. In 
January, 1882, she established herself in the 
practice of her profession in Milwaukee, where 
she now (1884) resides. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE MONROE SENTINEL. 

I. — Helen M. Bingham. 

[July 27, 18V0.] 

Helen Bingham, daughter of the late John 
A. Bingham, of this place, will take up the 
editorial pen and scissors for the Janesville 
Gazette,next Monday or Tuesday, as assistant edi- 
tor. Miss Bingham is a young lady of good taste, 
education, and, what is worth still more, is pos- 
sessed of that rare quality, good common sense. 
She will undoubtedly make an efficient and val- 
uable acquisition to the Gazette, as a writer and 
compiler of entertaining and instructive reading. 
We wish her success in her new vocation. 

II.— A Card. 

[March 15, 1876.1 

To Miss Helen M. Bingham: 

Monroe, March 1, 1876. 
The undersigned residents of Monroe feeling 
confident of your ability to give an entertaining 
and instructive lecture upon some literary sub- 
ject of your own choice, extend to you a pressing 
invitation to do so at some future time, to be 
selected by youi'self, for the benefit of the 
Young Ladies' High School Literaiy Society : 

A. C. Dodge, Edmund Bartlett, P. J. Clawson, 
.W. W. Chadwick, F. R. Melvin, J. Bolender, 

C. Payne, A. S. Douglas, H. Medbery, B. Dun- 
widdie, A. M. Wolcott, Z. H. Howe, P. W. Puf- 
fer, E. M. Bartlett, J. H. Foster, II. W. Whit- 
ney, Lewis Rote, John C. Hall, William Mon- 
roe, J. B. Treat, Lewis McKahn, S. W. Abbott, 
W. E. Noble, E. P. Treat, W. P. Woodworth, J. 
S. Harper, J. B. Galusha, J. II. Van Dyke, F. S. 
Parlin, C. A. Booth, N. B. Treat, William Gray, 
W. S. Wescott, J. S. Smock, H. N. Bradshaw, 
John Chadwick, L T. Carr, A. W. Goddard, C. 
E. Adams, D. W. Ball, Henry Tschudy, George 

B. McLean, Henry Ludlow, William W. Wright. 



Messrs. Dodge, Bartlett, Douglas, Chadwick, 

and others : 

I thank you for the invitation of Mai'ch 1. 
I am anxious for the society to succeed in the 
the work it has undertaken. Therefore, though 
I feel that you have done me an unmerited honor, 
I accept the invitation, leaving the time of the 
lecture to be determined by the society. 

Respectfully, Helen M. Bingham. 

Dated Monroe, March 13, 1876. 

Helen M. Bingham will lecture at the Uni- 
versalist Church, on Tuesday evening, March 
2], upon the "Early History of Monroe." Miss 
Bingham has lived here all her life. Her father 
came to Monroe in 1841, and was the first 
county judge of this county. 

SCIENCE. 

The attention of the people of Green county, 
as well as of those of other counties of the State, 
have of late years been drawn 'more and more to 
the importance of a scientific education as one 
calculated not only to develop the powers of the 
mind, but easily to be put in practice. In this 
utilitarian age, mere theories go for little. 
What is demanded is that which is practical. 
Knowledge is perpetuated and aided by litera- 
ture ; systematized, by science. As one of 
Green county's representative men in a pro- 
fession dealing largely with scientific research, 
mentioned may be made of 

Joseph T. Dodge, 
who was born at Barre, Vt., May 16, 1823, and 
who is the son of Joseph and Azubah (Thomp- 
son) Dodge, both natives of the same place. 
The "Dodge" family in the United States is 
now very numerous, but believed to have a com- 
mon ancestor. A large branch of it has de- 
scended in a direct line from Richard Dodge, a 
native of England, m'Iio became a citizen of 
Salem, Mass., Aug. 29,1638. A well autheti- 
ticated family register, in possession of our sub- 
ject, shows liiin to be a lineal descendant of the 
said Richard in the seventh generation, the in- 
termediate linkw in the genealogical chain being 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT ?. 



583 



Joseph, a younger son of (Ricliard), born 1651; 
Joseph, Jr., born 1676; Elijah, born April 18, 
1 709. Thus far the family had continued to reside 
in Beverly, Mass., originally a part of Salem. 
Elijah married Dorcas KroAvn and removed to 
Winchester, N. H., where he died at a ripe old 
age, and where his wife also died, October 1809, 
aged 100 years and six months. He had three 
SODS — Elijah, Joseph and Nathaniel Brown. 
The last named married Lydia Barber, in 1761, 
and removed to Barre, Vt., where he raised a 
large family, and died in 1823. One of his sons, 
Asa, born in 1770, married Abigail Blodgett, 
and became the father of Joseph, who was born 
in 1795, and who married Azubah Thompson, in 
1818, and became the father of our subject, who 
perpetuates his name (which seems to have been 
a favorite patronymic with the family) affixing 
to it, liowever, the maiden name of his mother. 
Thus far the successive generations had been 
tillers of the soil and had by the sweat of their 
brows wrung a frugal subsistence from the rocky 
hill sides of their native New England. Their 
habits were simple, their lives blameless and 
contented; they were a hardy and long-lived 
race, blessed with physical vigor and vital force, 
and were not disobedient to the divine injunc- 
tion regarding the perpetuation of their kind. 
On the maternal side our subject is descended 
from James Thompson, a native of the north of 
Ireland, of Scotch Covenanter stock, born 1671, 
who emigrated to America in 1712, in company 
with his son Samuel, born 1698, and settled in 
Holden, Mass. The latter was the father of 
Capt. Samuel Thompson, born 1735, who 
served in the Revolutionary War, four of whose 
sons and two of whose daughters afterward set- 
tled in Barre, Vt. The Thompsons also belong 
to the agricultural classes, and were mainlv 
long-lived. The mother of our subject, how- 
ever, was an exception to the rule; she died at 
the age of thirty-three, and bequeathed to her 
son a slender frame but an active nervous organ- 
ization. Joseph Thompson Dodge attended the 
common d istrict school till the age of sixteen. I 



1839 he entered Newberry Seminary, where he 
was prepared for Dartmouth College, which he 
entered in 1841, but not enjoying the atmos- 
phere of the institution, he was honorably dis- 
missed by letter at the end of one year, and ad- 
mitted to Vermont University, from which he 
graduated with honors in 1845, ranking the first 
in his class in mathematics. During the latter 
part of his college experience he determined to 
devote his life to the profession of civil engi- 
neering, the various lines of railroad then in 
course of construction and in contemplation 
seeming to offer an inviting field in this depart- 
ment. The Vermont Central Railroad Com- 
pany, then being organized, afforded the desired 
opening, and he served an apprenticeship of 
three years as assistant engineer of this road, 
and until the completion of the work. The 
building of a railroad through this part of Ver- 
mont was, perhaps, the best school of discipline 
that an incipient in the art of enginery could 
have enjoyed, and proved to be an excellent 
recommendation to him in after life. In 1849 
he was employed to make the preliminary sur- 
vey for a projected railroad from Montpelier to 
Bradford, Vt., by the way of his native town of 
Barre. Having completed this, he, in the fol- 
lowing autumn, removed to the west, and after 
visiting the principal cities of Illinois and Mis- 
souri, accepted a subordinate position on the 
macadamized roads of St. Louis county, in the 
last named State, his principal being J. B.Moul- 
ton, Esq., who has since played a conspicuous 
part in developing that city and the State of 
Missouri, and for nine months had charge of 
the work on the St. Charles road. In 1850 he 
engineered the Illinois Coal Company's railroad, 
from East St. Louis to Caseyville, 111. Soon af- 
ter the completion of the track, hovrever, all 
the bridges and embankments were swept away 
by the high floods of the Mississippi which oc- 
curred in 1851. The disaster proved to be a 
serious loss to the company, and for a time laid 
an embargo on the work. In 1852 be obtained 
na contract on the Missouri Pacific Railroad and 



584 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



spent that year in directing the work, but tlie 
climate proving injurious to his liealth, he re- 
solved to move farther northward, and in the 
spring of 1853 settled in Milwaukee, Wis., and 
during the five years following was engaged in 
engineering on Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, 
having control of the work, first from Stough- 
ton to Madison, and afterwards from Janesville 
to Monroe. During this period he invested 
largely in real estate in the county of Green 
and in the city of Monroe, and thereby laid the 
foundation of the large estate that has so amply 
rewarded his industry and wisdom. 

The money panic which prevailed in 1857 
and following years laid a temporary embargo 
on railroad construction, and Mr. Dodge retired 
to the then village of Monroe, and was em- 
ployed by the corporation to take the oversight 
of the improvements provided for in the new 
charter, which he carried to successful comple- 
tion. In 1860-61 he published a very complete 
map of Green county and the State of Wiscon- 
sin, which has since been the standard authority 
on matters of geography within its scope. 
During the last named year he also served sev- 
eral months as clerk of the mustering and dis- 
bursing ofticer of the United States army at 
Madison. From January, 1862, to July, 1863, 
he was principal of the high schools of Monroe, 
a position for which his thorough education and 
large experience eminently fitted him. In the 
autumn of 1863 he was employed on the Min- 
nesota Central Railroad and placed in charge of 
the woi'k between Minneapolis and St. Paul. 
He also engineered the Winona & St. Peter 
Railroad from Rochester to Kasson, and made 
its location through Dodge and Steele counties. 
In 1866 he made the location of the La Crosse, 
Trempealeau & Prescott Railroad, but owing 
to a difference of opinion which arose between 
himself and the officers of the company, he i*e- 
signed his position and for a time retired with 
his family to his early home in Vermont. 
Returning to Monroe in April, 1867, he bought 
a three-fourths interest in the Monroe Planing 



Mill Company, of which he intended to take 
the management, but receiving an overture from 
the general government, he spent the following 
year in making a survey of the battlefields in 
the Atlanta campaigy. For the next three years, 
ending March, 1871, he was resident engineer 
of the Winona division of the St. Paul & 
Chicago Railroad, and during the two succeed- 
ing years held the position of chief engineer of 
the line, completing the work at La Crescent. 

It is'worthy of note here, as illustrating the 
accuracy of Mr. Dodge, as an accountant, that 
although during the last named period, over 
$1,000,000 had been disbursed by him, yet, 
a rigid audit of the accounts, failed to reveal an 
error of even one cent. Subsequently he was 
chief engineer of the Hastings & Dakota Rail- 
road, and directed its construction from Carver 
to Glencoe. He also engineered the McGregor 
& Missouri River Railroad, from Algona to 
Spencer, Iowa. At this point we will make a 
slight digression, in order to place on record a 
matter of history, which cannot be otherwise 
than gratifying to our subject. In the fall of 
1871, he had made the location of the St. Paul 
& Chicago Railroad, from Winona to La Cres- 
cent, and after a careful survey of the river — its 
banks, channels, islands and bottom lands — for 
two miles, he made a location of the bridge that 
was to span its channel at La Crosse, and con- 
nect that line with the La Crosse division of the 
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which was 
immediately staked out, and has since become 
celebrated, as the location of the La Crosse 
bridge. The citizens of La Crosse, however, 
interposed objections to the proposed site, be- 
cause it did not terminate in the heart of their 
city, and much local feeling was engendered by 
the circumstance. The late secretary of war, 
Gen. Belknap, lent himself to the citizens of 
La Crosse, and appointed a commission of three 
government engineers, who twice reported 
against the location in question. An injunc- 
tion was obtained from the United States circuit 
court, to restrain the company from proceeding 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



585 



with 'the construction of the bridge, but the 
court in rendering the opinion conimented 'so 
severely upon the injustice of the proceeding, 
that the opinion itself became one of the strong- 
est grounds for contesting the decision. In the 
trial of the case, six of the most eminent civil 
engineers of the northwest had given their tes- 
timony, in the most emphatic manner, in favor 
of Mr, Dodge's location, and their report ulti- 
mately proved the turning point in the case. 
After a flight of years all obstacles were finally 
removed, and now a magnificent triumph of 
engineering skill spans the "Father of Waters" 
at La Crosse, having been completed and put in 
operation during the centennial year of the re- 
public, and tlie wisdom and skill of our subject 
have received the most flattering indorsements 
and commendation from the most eminent en- 
gineers of the county. The name of Mr. Dodge 
is indissolubly connected with that magnificent 
enterprise. 

The panic of 1873 being followed by a per- 
sistent "granger crusade" against railroads, 
nearly all public works were, in that year, sus- 
pended, and the year following, our subject 
made an extensive tour in Enurpe,visiting many 
of the cities and monuments of art and science 
in tliat distinguished quarter of the globe. In 
November, 1875, he removed his family to Mon- 
roe, from Madison, where he had resided for 
some years, and took charge of his interest in 
the planing mill, which he had owned since 1807. 
Mr. Dodge was raised in the communion of 
the Methodist Church, to which his ancestors 
for several generations belonged, but his theo- 
logical views have undergone a change; he now 
attends the Universalist Church. He is in poli- 
tics a republican, although reared a democrat. 
He having, in early life, become indoctrinated 
with anti-slavery principles, he joined the re- 
publican party soon after its organization, and 
is still identified withit. On the 24th of Octo- 
ber, 1850, Mr. Dodge married Melissa J. Mar- 
ble, of North Hartland, Vt. This union has 



been blessed with a family of one son and 
three daughters: — Joseph, Marion, Florence and 
Mattie. In 1862, his Alma Mater conferred 
upon him the degree of M. A., and in 1S75, 
the still more complimentary distinction of Ph. 
D., an honor worthily bestowed, 

ART. 

As the kindred art of poetry and music, that 
painting is gradually gaining a prominence in 
Green county, as, indeed, all over our country. 
That which illustrates knowledge is certainly 
worthy the consideration of the greatest and 
best of minds; and, in all ages of the world, it 
has received it, but not more generally than at 
the present time. The growing desire of the 
matrons of Green county to adorn their dwell- 
ings with beautiful pictures is one of the "signs 
of the times" of the progress of enlightened 
culture right here at home. The labor of the 
artist is more and more appreciated. This is as 
it should be. To the people of Green county 
we Avould say, cultivate the fine arts. 

Wilbe)' O. Woodworth 
war born in Monroe, May 7, 1861. He is 
the son of W. P. Woodworth and Almira 
Prescott Woodworth, both of whom are now 
living. The subject of this sketch was educated 
in the schools of Monroe. He early developed a 
talent for drawing and received his first instruc- 
tion of H. G. Austin of Monroe in colors, at about 
the age of eighteen years. Mr. Woodworth's 
flrst paintings were landscapes. Two paintings 
— Mt. Washington and Hoosatonic — have at- 
tracted much attention. Portrait painting, how- 
ever, with Mr. Woodworth is more of a specialty 
than landscape. One deserving of particular 
attention is an antique portrait of the mother 
of Mrs. A. Ludlow. Mr. Woodworth has re- 
ceived advantages in his artistic career in so- 
journing in the east, studying master-pieces and 
typical scenery, and in Chicago, where he has 
spent much time with profit. He has taught 
large classes in painting and drawing in Monroe, 
with flattering and deserved success. Mr. Wood- 
worth is unmarried. 



5«6 



HISTORY 0F::GREEN, COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



THE NEWSPAPER PRESS OF GREEN COUN'J^Y. 



Green county had "a local habitation and a 
name," thirteen years and a half before any 
newspaper was printed within its limits. It 
was in April, 1850, that J. W. Snow started the 
first Green county paper. It was called 

THE GREEN COUNTY UNIUN. 

Subscriptions to this paper which was neutral 
in politics, might be paid "in cash, grain, pota- 
toes, butter, eggs, wood, lumber, saw-logs or 
labor." It was published in Monroe, in Francis 
Emerson's stone building on the south side of 
the square. The first number contained this 
promise: "In reference to the subject -of 
politics we shall studiously avoid injuring the 
feelings of any one." It started out with about 
150 subscribers. It was in size 22x32 inches — a 
six column folio. It was first issued on Tues- 
days; then changed to Wednesdays. The 
Union lived just a year. Its materials then fell 
into the hands of John W. Stewart, who, early 
in May, 1851, changed its name to 

THE MONROE SENTINEL. 

The Sentinel, the size of which was the same 
as the Union, was a whig paper. In five months, 
it was disposed of to John Walworth and O. 
D. Moulton, who made it an organ of the demo- 
cratic party. Mr. Moulton sold his interest to 
Walworth, who conducted the paper as sole 
editor and proprietor, gradually changing its 
politics to republican. On Sept. 13, 1854, the 
paper, which had been enlarged one column at 
the beginning of Vol. Ill, was leased for one 
year, as appears by the following announce- 
ment: 



"to the public. 

"The undersigned having leased the oftice, 
rooms and fixtures of the Monroe /Sentinel, for 
the term of one year from the 13th of Septem- 
ber inst., would respectfully solicit an extended 
patronage. The paper will sustain the princi- 
ples of freedom with what ability and earnest- 
ness we may possess. All questions involving 
the interests of society (political or otherwise) 
will be freely discussed and commented upon 
without fear or favor. We shall excuse no act 
of a public nature, that shall seem to require 
comment or condemnation. While we shall 
studiously avoid all personalities, principles and 
measures will be handled without gloves, or 
any faint-hearted fear of consequences to our- 
selves. We belong, in all matters interesting 
the public, to that public, and shall not permit 
our position to be prostituted to })rivate ends. 

"N. L. Stout, 
"G. W. Tenney." 

On the 16th of May, 1855, the lessees, 
Messrs. N. L. Stout and G. W. Tenney, pur- 
chased the Sentinel outright as indicated by the 
following: 

"TO THE PUBLIC. 

"Having recently disposed of mj^ interest in 
the Monroe Sentinel iiwd the printing oftice, af- 
ter a connection with it as editor and proprietor 
for the last three years, a due regard to a long 
established custom, as well as a sentiment of 
gratitude to the friends and patrons of the paper 
require at least a respectful retiring bow. 

"Upon due reflection the only regret that we 
now feel in relation to the course pursued, and 
the principles advocated by the Sentinel, is that 
we have not accomplished more for the public 
good — but we have done what we could, and 
it has not been in vain, our political opponents 
being judges. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



587 



Within the last three years a man has been 
elected as President of the United States, who 
probably more than any other man, has disap- 
pointed the hopes of his best and truest friends, 
has with impunity trampled upon the constitu- 
tional rights of one portion of the peof)le to 
promote the unconstitutional and oppressive 
claims of another and minor portion. And no 
administration that has proceeded it will stain 
the page of our national and political history 
with so many deep and dark spots of ignorance 
or wickedness and depravity, as that of Franklin 
Pierce. But these usurpations and departure 
from the long established democratic principles, 
has called forth a just deserved constitutional 
resistance and repudiation of the present admin- 
istration, from nearly all of the free States of 
the Union. The rebuke has been loud and un- 
mistakable, and from no State has it been uttered 
with more firmness and effect than from our 
own beloved Wisconsin. 

Since the organizations of the republican party 
at the State capitol, on the 13th of July last, 
the political change has been unprecedented; 
and the trium[)]i of liberty more complete than 
its most sanguine friends would dare to antici- 
pate under circumstances so unfavorable. Every 
important election has resulted in the triumph 
of the republican part}^ or rather its principles. 
Our State legislature, a judge of the Supreme 
Court, our representatives in the next Congress, 
and a United States senator for the next six 
years, has already crowned the united efforts of 
the party, and next fall the governor and the 
entire State administration will be elected upon 
the same issue as the others, and grace the tri- 
umph of the friends of freedom over the advo- 
cates of slavery. 

In this struggle the Soitinel, though a regular 
democratic paper, took an early and a firm stand 
against the Nebraska swindle, and the usurpations 
of the slave power, the interests and prospects 
of the paper were at once laid upon the altar of 
freedom, and in this position the paper has been 
sustained in this county. Of its efficiency, the 



public will, of course, decide. Retiring for a 
time only from the perplexities, and pleasures 
of the editorial sajictum — though we carry away 
not much of the treasures of wealth, and cer- 
tainly no oflicial endowments, as the reward for 
our hard toil, yet we do feel a proud satisfac- 
tion, in the reflection that we have stood in 
truth and right — that God, and conscience and 
^oof? men approve the course which we have 
pursued, while we have contended for the same 
principles (embraced in the declaration of 
rights), for which the fathers of the revolution 
fought so nobly, and bled so freely — the doc- 
trine of the immortal Jefferson, the letter and 
the spirit of the constitution. As our successors, 
Messrs. Stout & Tenney, are already so favora- 
bly known to the readers of the Sentinel from 
their connection with the paper, it is unneces- 
sary to say more than that we hope they will 
continue to meet and receive the public confi- 
dence, and a liberal patronage. Let Green 
county give its paper a good support, it is 
abundantly able — the paper will, in time, pro- 
mote the best interests of the county. 

Wishing success and prosperity to the Senti- 
nel, its readers, and the rest of mankind — we 
ask leave of absence until they shall hear from 
us again, 

"J, Walworth." 

TO THE FRIENDS OF THE SENTIXEL, 

The undersigned, having mirchased the 
office, good will and fixtures of the Monroe 
Se)itinel beg leave to make a statement to the 
public of what they intend to do, and also, what 
they desire their friends may do. We have 
now been connected with this ofiice since the 
12th of last September. The public are the 
judges of our course, and we leave what has 
been done, with that public. The course we 
shall pursue has been partially indicated in the 
past; and if we meet with |)roper encourage- 
ment, we shall accomplish more than has been 
done, and hope to meet with the support which 
the interests of Green county, the village of 
Monroe, and the principles we advocate seem, 



588 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



at tin's particular crisis to demand. There is 
now due the office, on the last volume some- 
thing over $500. We are desirous that this debt 
should be promptly paid. If so, we shall be 
enabled to improve the Sentinel with a new 
dress throughout, and give a larger amount of 
reading matter every week. We also desire 
that a prompt advance payment will be made 
on the incoming volume. Our frieiuls will see 
the necessity for prompt action and cordial sup- 
port by material aid. If every one will render 
unto the printer the money that is due the 
printer, we shall be enabled to furnish our 
office complete with new material. Spare us 
from duns. At the present time the expenses 
attending the publication of a newspaper are 
enormous. All the stock for the business has 
recently advanced, and invariably requires 
cash, and the expenses of living, too, are vastly 
increased over what they have heretofore been, 
still we shall make no change in the terms of 
the paper. It will be furnished to subscribers 
as in times past — 11.50 in advance or |1.75 if 
paid within the year; we always preferring the 
advance payment. Within the next few weeks 
one of the undersigned will visit the different 
townships in this county with a view to extend- 
ing the circulation of the Sentind and we hope 
thereby its usefulness. 

We acknowledge the courtesies of editorial 
brethren, and shall reciprocate them as well as 
we can. 

In conclusion, we may jjroperly reiterate that 
we are {)ledged, in j)rinciple, to the cause of 
universal liberty, and shall carefully and con- 
scientiously live up to such a standard, and we 
shall endeavor to make our paper of local im- 
jjortance to the citizens of Green county, as well 
as a medium of news j»roportioned to our 
journal. 

N. L. Stout, 
G. W.Tjsnney. 
On the 12th day of September, 1855 the Sen- 
tinel contained the follovvini^ announcement: 



TO DDK PATRONS. 

"The present number of this paper closes the 
year in which the present publishers have had 
entire cliarge of the matter and manner of the 
Monroe Sentinel. It has been a year fruitful 
with events in the political annals of this State 
and Nation. The redress of great political out- 
rages have reverted to the popular will, and 
the crime against free institutions has been sig- 
nally rebuked by the popular judgment. We 
have confidence in the integrity of the popular 
heart. The consciences of the people have been 
thoroughly aroused. They will take care of the 
future. In regard to the business of this office, 
it has not been remunerating to a degree that 
will warrant the continuance of the business 
connection of the present publishing firm. The 
senior editor withdraws from the publication of 
the Sentinel, but will continue editor in connec- 
tion with George W. Tenney, who will be 
hereafter sole publisher of the Sentinel. This 
step is taken because the present publishers 
have come to the conclusion that it will be bet- 
ter for both; and the senior feels that he can do 
better pecuniarily, tli;in to have his earnings and 
interests longer in the Sentinel. 

"Thus far there has been a mutual harmony 
in the business of this office, and we trust that 
our friends have been well satisfied with the 
character of the Sentinel. We have never re- 
printed any of the many encouraging notices of 
our course by the ])ress of this State; for the reason 
that we chose to devote our room to matters of 
greater public concernment than (he favorable 
opinions expressed of us b}^ our cotemporaries. 
They have our thanks. 

"Tlie senior hopes that those who are in- 
debted to the office will pay promptly whatever 
may be due the same, immediateli/; and in 
future to keep the cash receijJts of the business 
on something like an equality with its expendi- 
tures. The business looks well enough — is well 
enough — on paper, but newspaper credit is a bad 
business at best. If a pa})er is worth having at 
all, it is best to pay for it in advance." 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



589 



Mr. Teiiney continued to edit and publish 
the Sentinel until August, 1860, when the paper 
passed into the hands of James Bintliff and E. 
E. Jiryant. Mr. Bryant retired from the Senti- 
nelm May, 1861, to enter the army in the War 
for the Union. Mr. Bintliff continued the 
paper until the 6th of November following, 
when he sold a half interest to E. E. Carr, as 
appears by the following announcement of Mr. 
Bintliff on that day, in the Sentinel: 

"We have sold a one-lialf interest in the Sen- 
tinel office to Egbert E. Carr, of ShuUsburg, 
who becomes jointly interested with us in the 
publication of the Senthiel vi\\\\ the present issue, 
and who we expect will, about the 1st of Decem- 
ber next, introduce himself to its readers as one 
of its editors. Mr. Carr is a thorough practical 
printer of more than twenty years' experience, 
and come to us with the best recommendations 
of his integrity as a man, and his qualifications 
to conduct a printing office. 

"Our only object in making this change is to 
relieve us of the responsibility of managing a 
business we do not understand, and to give us 
more time to devote to our editorial duties. We 
hope by this arrangement to improve the Sen- 
tinel, and make it still more worthy of the sup- 
port of this county. It is now fifteen months 
since we became connected with the Sentinel, 
and during that time it has received the hearty 
support of a very large class of the best citizens 
of the county. 

"Our subscription list is as a whole as prompt 
pay as any in the State, but there are a few who 
have not paid one cent since we took possession 
of the office. To such we take this opportunity 
to say that we cannot afford to send you a paper 
longer than one year unless we get pay for it. 
All the expenses of a printing office are cash, 
and no man can publish a newspaper and do 
justice to himself and those who pay him, and 
give credit to any man longer than one year. 
Come friends, pay up." 

Mr. Bintliff entered the Union army, but 
continued still as co-editor of the Seniiuel, and 



retained his interest therein. On the 28th of 
July, 1865, the paper was sold to A. J. High 
and Charles A. Booth. Their announcement 
upon assuming control was as follows: 

TO THE PATRONS OF THE SENTINEL. 

"In accordance with the announcement of 
Messrs. Bintliff & Carr last week, the under- 
signed to-day assume the editorial management 
of the Sentinel. In entering upon the arduous 
duties before us, we do so with a degree of dif- 
fidence proportionate to the great responsibili- 
ties devolving upon us; and, while we do not 
lay down any extended programme of future ac- 
tion, a due regard for the customs of the times 
and 'the opinions of our readers seems to de- 
mand a declaration of the political faith that 
will govern us in our new relation. 

"Politically, the Sentviel will remain un- 
changed . As in the past it has been the bold 
and earnest defender of moral and constitutional 
right, so in the future, while under our control, 
it will support those principles and measures 
best calculated to secure the liberties of the 
people and maintain the integrity of the govern- 
ment. We march with the great Union army. 
Whether in the field or in the sanctum, we are 
fighting in the same good cause. In the field 
we stood opposed to treason in high places, 
boldly proclaimed and defended, while now, in 
the sanctum, it is only necessary to 'change 
front' in order to meet that more contemptible, 
sneaking, cowardly treason which skulks in 
darkness and stabs in the rear. 

"In these eventful days of progress and re- 
form, party creeds are very brief. The great 
questions which once agitated the public mind 
now stand recorded in the political catechisms 
only as a part of our past history. Slavery, 
once the all-absorbing topic, the cause of bitter 
party strife, the moral and political curse of the 
Nation, has been wiped out of existence. 

"Banks, tariffs, sub-treasuries, public lands, 
internal improvements, compromises and pro- 
visos 'no more divide our choice' or gender 
strife. These questions, if not obsolete, have 



690 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



been so nearly arbitrated that the political 
lambs and lions, on common ground, lie down 
together. We believe that at the present time 
a single question involves the whole character 
and responsibility of the American citizen: 
'Are you loyal to the government of the United 
States in the maintenance of its National honor 
and the perpetuity of the Union and the Con- 
stitution undivided and unimpaired?' It seems 
to us there can be no neutral position taken 
upon the great question now at issue between 
the government and traitors. 'Ye cannot serve 
God and Mammon.' 'He that is not for us is 
against us.' Every man within the wide limits 
of our country is either a friend of the govern- 
ment or an enemy. Holding 'these truths to be 
self-evident,' our path of duty is plain, and all 
our energies shall be given to sustain the State 
and National authorities in every lawful act to 
enforce justice and to promote the peace and 
welfare of our country. 

"We will endeavor at all times to keep the 
readers of the Sentinel well informed in regard 
to the news and general topics of the day, both 
at home and abroad. It is our desire to publish 
a paper entertaining and instructive to all classes 
of society; something for the family, the pro- 
fessional and literary man, the farmer, mechanic, 
merchant, student, young and old, grave and 

gay. 

The Sentinel will be especially devoted to the 
advancement of the growth and prosperity of 
Green county. We desire to establish our 
home among this people, and therefore our in- 
terests are identical. Whatever will promote 
your welfare will benefit us, and when we labor 
for the highest good of the citizens of this 
county, we but discharge the plain duty of 
every local publisher, who should always seek 
to build up the community wliich supports him. 
In a word, we shall pay particular attention to 
the local affairs of the town and county. 

"We cannot close this article without offering 
a word of congratulation on the return of peace 



and the bright future which seems to await our 
Nation. After serving three years amid the 
toils, hardships, dangers and sufferings of a 
terrible war, how gladly we hail the day of 
peace! With gratitude we acknowledge that 
kind Providence which has safely led us through 
the great strife and back to home and friends 
again. We also acknowledge that Almighty 
Power which has given us the victory in a life 
and death struggle for National existence. 
Thank God, the Nation lives! Thank God, 
slavery is dead! That foul stain upon our 
National character is obliterated forever, and 
henceforth we can say without blushing that 
America is free! 

"Let us learn lessons of wisdom from the ex- 
perience of the past, and in the future be care- 
ful to avoid those political rocks on which our 
good ship of State was so nearly wrecked. The 
severe trials through which we have passed 
should teach us to appreciate our liberal gov- 
ernment, and at the first approach of danger, to 
stand up manfully in its defense against the en- 
croachments of corrupt politicians and the inr 
trigues of traitors. If faithful to the great 
trust committed to us, all will be well, and the 
beauty of constitutional liberty will shine forth 
as a beacon light to nations of the earth, to lead 
them to a higher and holier destiny. 
"A. J. High, 
"Charles A. Booth." 

Messrs. High & Booth conducted the Sentinel 

in partnership until the Yth day of December, 

1870, when Mr. High disposed of his interest 

to S. E. Gardner, as appears by the following — 

'to the readers of the sentinel. 

"With this number of the paper, my business 
connection with the Monroe Sentinel ceases. 
Having decided to engage in other business 
next spring, I have so'd my interest in the Sen- 
tinel establishment to S. E. Gardner. As I 
shall remain in the office for a time as associate 
and corresponding editor, I will not now bid a 
final editorial farewell to the readers of the 
Sentinel. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



6ftl 



"After a continuous terna of service of twenty- 
five years in the printing office, either at case or 
in the editorial cliiir, I am glad to be released 
from the cares and responsibilities of the news- 
paper business; and yet there is, to me, a fasci- 
nating influence about the printing office which 
may, at no distant day, draw me back to it 
again. 

"It is highly gratifying to me to be able to 
state that the permanency of the Sentinel is es- 
tablished beyond a question or doubt. After 
passing through the political and financial 
storms of nearly twenty-one years, the patrons 
and friends of the Sentinel are to-day much 
more numerous than ever before ; its subscrip- 
tion and advertising patronage has steadily in- 
creased during the past five years, and is still 
rapidly increasing. We are pleased to know 
that the Sentinel is in so prospering a condition 
at the present time, and sincerely hope that the 
san.e liberal support may be extended to it in 
the future. The members of the new firm are 
worthy young men and will leave nothing un- 
done, on their part, to merit the confidence and 
good will of the public. 

"The personal and business relations between 
Mr. Booth and myself have always been harmo- 
nious and satisfactory. I have ever found him 
to be a true and genial friend, an agreeable and 
efficient business partner. In severing our busi- 
ness relations, we part as we met — warm per- 
sonal friends. 

"Wishing prosperity and peace to the Sen- 
tinel and its many friends, 

I remain, as ever, yours, 

"A. J. High." 

SALUTATORY. 

Patrons: — The new firm greet you with a 
full determination to do their utmost in present- 
ing a readable local newspaper. We shall 
make no boast or promise as to what we may 
accomplish, but prefer to let a generous public 
judge for themselves how well we shall succeed. 
We shall ever uphold those sacred principles of 
the Constitutioti of the United States as it nbw 



is, and shall not hesitate to point out corrup- 
tion in the management of public affairs, wher- 
ever it shall come to our notice. In all things 
concerning local matters, we shall endeavor to 
act justly, though independently, and use the 
influence we may have for the greatest good to 
the greatest number. As our interests are 
identical with those of our generous patrons 
and our will is to live and let live, we have no 
fears for the future; on the contrary, we go 
forth with courage and hope that we shall re- 
ceive that hearty encouragement whicli it lias 
been the lot of our predecessors to receive for 
twenty years past. Again we greet you. 

"Charles A. Booth. 

"S. E. Gardner." 
On the 18th of February, 1P74, Mr. Gardner 
leased his half of the paper to Mr. Booth and 
the latter became sole editor. The half he 
thus leased was, on the 8th of July, 1879, pur- 
chased by him; so that he then became 3ole 
proprietor. Mr. Booth has continued to edit 
and publish the Sentinel to the present time 
(1884). 

THE SENTINEL OF TO-DAY. 

The Sentinel 18 now (18S4) a nine column pa- 
per, with a large circulation (the largest, indeed, 
of any in the county). Its size is 28.\'44 inches. 
It bpgan its 3.3d volume with a new dress 
of burgeois and nonpareil. It is all printed 
at home. It carries from seventeen to eigh- 
teen columns of local advertising — mercantile, 
manufacturing and legal. It is the official 
county paper and has been for tliirty years, 
without change. It is printed on a Fairhaven 
power press, and in mechanical point of excel- 
lence is not excelled by any office in the county. 
Its pages are always clean and bright. It is 
always free from slang or personalities. It la- 
bors for the general welfare of the people, and 
the especial interests of Green county and the 
city of Monroe. It is bold in exposing rascals 
and swindlers. It still holds to the faith of 
republicanism. It has one of the best equipped 
job offices to be fouiul anywhere outside the 



592 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



larger cities and its pamphlet, mercantile and 
general printing is first-class. Mr. Booth is a 
terse writer and edits the Sentinel with marked 
ability. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SENTINEL. 

The following brief history of the Sentinel 
appeared in that paper Jan. 19, 1876: 

"Editor Sentinel: — Having noticed on your 
return envelopes that the Monroe Seyitincl was 
'established in 1848,' I thought it would be 
proper to give you a brief history of the foun- 
dation of your paper, 

"It was on or about the 16th day of April, 
ISoO, that there appeared in the village of 
Monroe, for the first time, a small six-column 
paper, 22x23 inches. It was christened the 'Green 
County Union.'' This was the first newspaper 
printed in Green Co., Wis. The office of pub- 
lication was in Francis Emerson's stone block, 
south of the court house. The Unio9i was 
edited and published by J. W. Snow, who was 
also the sole proprietor of the concern. Mr. 
Snow was a gentleman of refined taste, and of 
extremely good habits, but of a very reticent 
nature; he made no effort to form an acquaint- 
ance with his patrons; he seemed rather to 
avoid them. Of course a man of such 'make 
up' will scarcely succeed in the publication of a 
country newspaper. Mr. Snow was not a ))oli- 
tician, he took no interest in political affairs, 
consequently the Green County Union was a 
'neutral' organ on the political (]uestions of its 
time. It was by hard work, close cutting, and 
good engineering that the editor managed to 
continue to publish the Union, for one year, 
after which it ceased to have any existence. 
Thus ended the first newspaper published in 
Monroe. 

"The type, press and fixtures of the defunct 
Green County Union, were traded to J. W, 
Stewart, who brought into existence the 
"Monroe Sentinel,'''' about the middle of May 
1851. Mr. Stewart removed the office to the 
front room of the second story of A. Ludlow's 
brick block, immediately after taking possession 



of the same. Mr. Snow took for the payment 
of his press and fixtures an old, dilapidated 
dwelling house in Monroe, considered to be 
worth about S250. The Sentinel was the same 
size as the defunct Union. 

"Mr Stewart being an active politician of the 
whig faith, of course the Sentinel was an advo- 
cate of the principles enunciated by the leaders 
of that party in its day. The Sentinel was a 
lively local paper, and names were rapidly 
added to the subscription list. Its business 
also increased. But Mr. Stewart soon became 
weary of the duties and perplexities of a news- 
paper manager, and, before he had worn the 
editorial harness six months, sold the office, 
together with its good will, to Rev. J. Walworth 
and O. D. Moulton. The new publishers at 
once changed the tone of the Se^xtinel. Now 
it advocated democratic principles. As the 
supporters of the Sentinel were mostly of the 
whig faith, this sudden change in its tone was 
severely felt by its publishers, in the loss of 
many of its best paying patrons. From that 
time to the close of the first volume the Sentinel 
only just existed. It scarcely paid expenses. 
Its ownership and its editors changed two or 
three times during the second half of its 
first year. At the commencement of the second 
volume Rev. J. Walworth was the sole proprie- 
tor. He secured Israel Sanderson, from Galena, 
to take full charge of the mechanical depart- 
ment of the oftice. Mr. Sanderson was master 
of his profession; he was also a rich and racy 
writer. Together they made a good paper of 
the Sentinel', and from that time onward the 
Monroe Sentinel has ranked among the best 
local paper of Wisconsin Mr. Sanderson was 
connected with the office about two years when 
he retired on account of poor health. George W. 
Ten ney succeeded Mr.Sanderson in the mechani- 
cal department of the Sentinel. Soon after, 
Mr. Tenney, in company with N. L. Stout, pur- 
chased the office from Rev, J, Walworth; and 
in less than two years from the time he went 
into the ofiice as foreman, George W. Tenney 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



593 



became the sole proprietor and publisher of the 
Monroe Sentinel. This was somewhat remarka- 
ble for one so young, as he was yet in minor 
years when he assumed the responsibilities in 
the publication of a first class country news- 
paper. It is proper to say the Sentinel did not 
lose any of its good qualities after it passed in- 
to Mr. Tenney's hands. He continued its 
editor and publisher till the summer of 1860, 
when he retired in favor of James Bintliff and 
E. E. Bryant, having sold the office to them. 
From 1860 to the present time the history of 
the Sentinel is familiar to all of its patrons. 

"At about the commencement of its third 
volume, in 1853, the Sentinel was enlarged one 
column to the page, or was made a seven column 
paper. During the year 1857, or 1858, I am not 
certain which, Mr. Tenney enlarged the paj)er. 

"It may not be out of place to say that your 
correspondent played 'devil' in the Green 
County Union office, corumencing with the first 
issue of that paper; and was also a typo in the 
Sentinel office, 'off and on,' for the first three 
years of its existence. 

Fraternally yours, 

L. D. Youi^G." 

Ionia, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1876." 

John 'Walworth 
was born at Big Sodus Bay, Wayne Co., N. Y., 

July 28, 1804. His ancestors emigrated from 
London, England, about the year 1765, some of 
whom located in Virginia, and others in Herk- 
imer Co., N. Y. At the age of seventeen, .John 
was sent to Norwich, in Chenango county, for 
the purpose of being educated, where he re- 
mained about six years. He afterwards engaged 
for several years in teacliing school. During 
this time, he was married to Sylvia Lamb- 
son, of Hampden Co., Mass. He then moved 
to Michigan, where he entered upon the minis- 
try as a profession. In 1840, Mr. 
Walworth went to Illinois and trav- 
eled four years as a missionary. In 1846, 
he removed to Monroe, Green Co., Wis., where 
he subseqJiently beoanip proprietor and editor 



of the Monroe Sentinel, then democratic in poli- 
tics. By constant labor, Mr. Walworth soon 
gained for his paper a large circulation for that 
day of newspapers, not only in Green but in 
the counties adjoiniiig. At this time the eii- 
croachments of the slave power upon the courts 
of justice on free territory, and the capture of 
both political parties in the enactment of the 
fugitive slave law, and the repeal of the Mis- 
souri Compromise had thrust upon the people 
very grave questions in regard to the fate of 
freedom in this country, or under our govern- 
ment in the near future. Tlie Senti7iel was the 
first democratic newspaper in Wisconsin that 
came out emphatically against the aggressions 
of the slave power, and the legislation of both 
democrats and whigs in the interest of slavery. 
On the 13th day of July, 1854, a people's con- 
vention met in Madison, without respect to 
previous affiliations ; and Mr. AValworth, in 
consideration of the active part taken by him 
in the movement, was chosen its president. 
This convention organized the republican party 
in Wisconsin. In 1858, Mr. Walworth located 
at Richland Center — he having purchased the 
office of the Richland County Observer. He 
was afterward twice elected to the legislature 
from that county. He was made chaplain of 
the 43d regiment of Wisconsin, in the fall of 
1864. Since the war, Mr. Walworth has re- 
sided at Richland Center. 

Death of Mr. Tenney. 
■ [From the Sentinel of Dee. 14, 1864.] 
George W. Tenney, for many years tlie pub- 
lisher of this paper, and for the last three 
years engaged in the publishing business at 
McGregor, Iowa, died at his home in that city 
a few days since. His remains were brought 
to this village, and were, yesterday afternoon, 
buried with Masonic honors. We understand 
that his sickness originated in a liurt jiroduced 
by excessive labor, while assisting to extinguish 
the fire in his office in September, 1863. With- 
in a few weeks it assumed the form of quick 



594 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



consumption, which speedily termina'ed his 
existence. 

James Bintliff 
was born Nov. 1, 1824, at Salterhebble, near 
Halifax, Yorksliire, England. All the school edu- 
cation )ie received was at the village school in 
England, before he was twelve years of age. 
When lie was sixteen years of age his father 
emigrated to the United Slates, leaving him be- 
hind, 'i he next year, in the spring of 1842, he 
came also. He soon after engaged in a woolen 
factory in New York State. In 184'7 he was 
married ; and soon after he commenced farm- 
ing. Having accumulated $1,0(^0, in the fall of 
1851 he moved to Wisconsin, and purchased a 
farm in Green county, where he remained two 
years, after which he moved to Monroe. After 
a two years' residence in Monroe, he was em- 
ployed as a book-keeper and cashier in a bank- 
ing office at that place. In the fall of 1851 he 
was elected register of deeds of Green county. 
In thespring of 1860 he purchased a one-half 
interest in the Monroe Sentinel^ and, one 
year later, he purchased the whole office. In 
1862 he was commissioned to raise a company for 
the 22d regiment of volunteers. He then sold 
one-half of the Sentinel to E. E. Carr, who 
edited that paper during Gen. Bintliff's absence 
from the State in the field of battle. We re- 
fer our readers to the foregoing account of Wis- 
consin in the war for Gen, Bintliff's war record. 
It will suffice here to say that he won dis- 
tinction on the battle-field. Soon after he 
returned from the war, he sold his one-' 
half interest in the Monroe Sentinel, and 
started for Missouri with the intention of 
locating tlure ; but, after traveling all over the 
State, he found society in so unsettled a condi- 
tion, that he did not deem it wise to remove 
any family there, and returned to Monroe, where 
he purchased a book, stationery and wall paper 
business, and continued in it until July, 1870, 
when he purchased a one-half interest in the 
Janesville Gazette, and became the editor of 
thnt lottrnal, He has been a membdr of the 



board of trustees of the Wisconsin Soldiers' 
Orphan Home, and president of the board. He 
was a delegate from Wisconsin to the National 
republican convention which assembled in Chi- 
cago in 1868, and nominated Grant, and again 
to the convention which re-nominated him in 
1872 at Philadelphia. 

Charles ylsa Booth 
was born in C'ovington, Tioga Co., Penn., Feb. 
15, 1839, and is the son of George W. and Ar- 
teniisa (Crandall) Booth, both of whom were 
of English descent, the former a native of 
Rhode Island and the latter of Pennsylvania. 
His father was a master builder by occupation, 
and erected many of the depots on the New 
York Central Railroad, and large blocks in 
various towns in the central and western States. 
They had a family of eight boys and two girls, 
of whom five boys and one girl are living, 
Charles A. being the second child. At the age 
of six he was taken by his parents to western 
New York, where the family remained about 
eight years. Meantime he learned a variety of 
"trades," beginning with "watching crows" on 
a cornfield stump, from sunrise till sunset, for a 
conpensation of two shillings per day; he also 
worked one season in a wool-carding and cloth- 
dressing establishment; for a time was assistant 
for a brick mason, but soon found the work 
more than he could endure. He was a pre- 
cocious youth, and when not otherwise engaged, 
attended the district school, and, like other 
boys of his station in life, learned the three 
R's — 'readin', 'ritin', 'rithmetic — but, as the se- 
quel proves, his forte lay in the middle R, and 
he has since become great in the use of the pen. 
He always sought the company of those who 
were able to give information and help him in 
his intellectual growth. Fond of antiquities, 
he read RoUin's Ancient History, Joscphus, 
Plutarch and Macauley, Emerson's prose works, 
Lowell, Holmes, and other distinguished au- 
thors, before he reached the age of sixteen 
years. 'J'he family removed to iJeloit, Wis., in 
1853, and he has n very di'tincl recollectioti of 





ZK^J^-Vf^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



59Y 



tlic [•"ic'ruoiit-Baclianan campaign of 1856, in 
which he rigorously espoused the cause of the 
former, and though he was not in a position to 
give his favorite a vote, yet he derived strength 
and political nourishment from the campaign 
that told in future times, and since then liis 
candidates have always been successful. He 
attended school one or two seasons in Wiscon- 
sin and became a fair English scholar, and in 
the spring of 1858 he came to Monroe, and in 
August of the same year entered into an ap- 
prenticeship in the Monroe Seiifinel printing 
office, which was then owned by tlie late G. W. 
Tenney, and of whicli he has since become sole 
proprietor and editor. He served three years 
as an apprentice, and at the end of his first year 
as a journeyman printer he was made foreman 
of the office; but the war was raging in the 
south, his country needed his services, patriot- 
ism triumphed over the tears of a mother and 
Jier younger children, of wliom he was the siip- 
l)ort, and in July, 1862, he enlisted in the 22d 
regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantrj^, com- 
manded by Col. Utley. At the organization of 
company G, to which he belonged, and which 
was commanded by James Bintlilf, then one of 
the proprietors of the Sentinel, he was ap- 
pointed by a unanimous vote, to the position of 
2d sergeant; from this he was j^romoted to 
the rank of orderly, and thence to that of 
2d lieutenant — all within a year. The 22d 
regiment was the first fully equipped and one 
of tlie best equipped and disciplined regiments 
tliat ever left Wisconsin. It was known during 
the earlier part of the war as the "nigger" regi- 
ment, being the first that absolutely refused to 
give up "contrabands" who came into the Union 
lines. At the battle of Thompson's Station, near 
Franklin, Tenn., which occurred March 5, 1863, 
our subject received a severe wound by a rifle 
ball, and liad his clothes riddled by bullets, but 
did not desert his post for several hours, and 
while going to the rear narrowly escaped cap- 
ture by the rebels. Tiie enemy in tliis engage- 
ment outnumbered the Union forces ten to one. 



The lines of the latter were broken and scat- 
tered, many prisoners were made, and many 
others, alas! were left on the field. Nearly 
four months intervened before he was again fit 
for duty. In the autumn of 1863 he was com- 
missioned 1st lieutenant of his company, and 
was subsequently appointed on the brigade staff 
(2d brigade, third division, 20 A. C.) as assistant 
aid-de-carap and provost marshal, and was with 
his brigade and regiment in all its subsequent 
battles. He participated in the famous Sher- 
man campaign on Atlanta, and commanded in 
person the right flank of the line of skirmishers 
which first entered that city after the battle of 
Jonesboro. He was also at the battles of 
Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Golgotha, Kenesaw, 
Gulp's House and the siege of Atlanta, besides 
numerous skirmishes, experiencing many narrow 
escapes, but never receiving a scratch after the 
first fight. He participated in Sherman's fa- 
mous march to the sea, and in the "fire and 
smoke" campaign through the Carolinas, took 
part in the battle of Averysl)oro, fought by 
a part of Sherman's men with the army of Joe 
Johnston, which had confronted the Union 
trooj^s, having disputed the march of the west- 
ern army for more than two years. Thence the 
victors marched by way of Richmond, Va., to 
Washington, participating in the "grand re- 
view" by the President, and was mustered out 
in June, 1865. In July of the same year he 
bought of his former employer a half interest 
in the Monroe Sentinel, the other half being 
bought by A. J. High, and for five years the 
business was conducted under the firm name of 
High & Booth. In December, 1870, Mr. High 
sold to S. E. Gardner, who, in 1872, leased his 
interest to Mr. Bootli, and since then tlie Sentiml 
lias been under his sole charge. It is one of 
the most ably conducted weeklies in the west. 
Its articles are spicy and readable, while it dis- 
cusses questions of National and State policy 
with an ability and pungency that makes it 
either a powerful ally or a formidable oppo- 
nent. It is the organ of the people, to whom 



35 



598 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



its columns are always open. It is, furthermore, 
conducted on tlie highest moral principles, 
strenuously opposed to all shams or humbugs, 
and excluding from its columns all advertise- 
ments of an immoral or dishonorable character. 
Mr. Booth has participated in every political 
campaign since 1865, stumped the county every 
fall for the republican party, and is one of the 
most indefatigable and successful workers in 
the Slate. During the Rebellion he was a fre- 
quent correspondent of the Wisconsin State 
Journal and the Monroe Sentinel. lie is not a 
member of any Church, and contributes his full 
share to religious and benevolent organizations. 
He is a total abstainer, and has been W. C. 
of the Good Templar organization of Moiiroe. 
He was also N. G. of the order of Odd Fellows, 
and has been representative in the grand lodge 
of the order. On the 10th of September, 1862, 
he married Elizabeth Gardner, daughter of 
Elijah T. Gardner, who was born in the first 
frame building erected in the village of Mon- 
roe, which now has a population of about 4,000. 
Mrs. Booth is a lady of genuine good sense and 
superior cultivation, to whose advice and influ- 
ence her husband is indebted for much of his 
success in life. 

THE JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT. 

This paper was commenced under the auspices 
of George C. Baker as editor, Aug. 14,1856. 
The following is his 

SALUTATORY. 

"We this day present to the public the first 
number of the Jefferaornan JJeniocrat. In estab- 
lishing this journal and assuming the control 
thereof, we but act in compliance with the ex- 
pressed will and wishes of a large number of the 
residents of Monroe and the surrounding country. 
Tliis portion of the community liave long felttlu^ 
want of a democratic newspaper in their midst, 
and it is to supply that want and to furnish a 
suitable channel for the expression of the opin- 
ions of the democracy, as well as for tiie ]>ur- 
pose of keeping them advised of the various 
political movemenLs and organizations of the 



(lay, which has induced us to spread our sheet 
before the ])eople. It would be well, perha))s, 
to mention that our own feelings have iiad con- 
siderable influence in })r()mpting us to this step. 
Tlie principles for which we shall contend are 
as dear to us as the apple of our eye, and we 
shall advocate those principles with all the love 
and ardor of an amateur. As stated, in our 
prospectus (which we publish in another column) 
the course of the Democrat, while under our 
control, shall be thoroughly and uncompromis- 
ingly democratic; and, as it will not, we pre- 
sume be considered out of place, in this con- 
nection, we shall indulge in a brief survey of 
the ground occupied by the democracy in the 
political contest now waging. Questions of 
great magnitude are at the present agitated 
among us, they will cotitinue to be agitated for 
some time, and their discussion and final de- 
cision must involve consequences of the most 
serious nature. It is the duty, therefore, (>f 
every citizen to prepare his mind that he may 
be enabled to decide properly upon them. 
When the elernents of disorder are gathering in 
their strength for the overthrow of our politi; 
cal and domestic interests, it is time for all good 
men to rally to the rescue of sound princi- 
ples. Such, we conceive, are those embodied in 
the democratic creed. 

"The present position of parties is one tliat 
calls foi' calm and dispassionate deliberation on 
the ]>art of every one who feels that he has an 
interest in the well-being of our commoii coun- 
try; and we shall, theiefore, at this time en- 
deavor to portray faithfully, yet succinctly, the 
most prominent land-marksandguido-stars which 
have always, and do still, distinguish between 
the (jcnuinc Jefferson ian democracy, and the 
base counterfeits which unscrupulous politicians 
aided by a venal and hireling ])ress are trying 
to foist upon the masses. 

"ill the first, place, then, the democratic parly 
believes that no more power should be delegated 
than is imperiously required to produce the 
good intended, because history clearly shows 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



599 



tliat, ilie tendency of power is to exceed its 
proiter limits, and that assumption and usurpa- 
tion on the part of rulers have always been de- 
structive to free governments. Again, one of 
the most prominent articles of its faith is that 
recognizing the doctrine of State's Rights, 
which doctrine forbids all interferences on the 
part of Congress with the domestic policy or 
municipal institutions of the States, thereby in- 
suring the stability of the Union by avoiding 
the exciting causes of danger. The democracy 
believe that in construing the Constitution of 
the United States, that no jurisdiction should 
be extended beyond the obvious meaning of the 
language in which it is conveyed. They be- 
lieve, furthermore, that congressional inter- 
position with regard to the Territories of the 
United States should be confined to the organi- 
zation of governments, leaving untouched the 
domestic relations, whether of husband and 
wife, of parent and child, of master and servant, 
or of any other of the social conditions of life; 
maintaining that the people of the Territories 
like those of the States, should be left perfect- 
ly untramraeled, to decide in their own way upon 
all questions relative to the domestic policy and 
domestic affairs within the limits of the Territo- 
ries. In other words, they leave with the general 
government all the powers which are granted to 
it, and claim for the people the remainder. They 
regard slavery as local and municipal, and not 
as National in its character; and, entertaining 
this opinion, they do not recognize the right of 
our National legislature to interfere with the in- 
stitution. They contend, also, for an equality 
of the States, holding that eveiy section of the 
Union has an equal right and interest in the 
general government and to the National domain 
or territory. 

"In regard to our foreign policy — to adopt the 
language of our noble standard bearer in this 
campaign — 'it ought ever' — and will be if the 
democracy triumph — 'to be based upon the 
principles of doing justice to all nations, and 
requiring justice from them in returu.' Hav- 



ing thus briefly, and truly, though somewhat 
hastily, glanced at democratic principles, we 
now ask every candid reader of our journal if 
they are not such as they can readily, nay heart- 
ily subscribe to. Are they not clear, plain 
common sense stand-points? There can be but 
one response from every American heart. 
They, and they alone, are the principles which 
have secured to us the prosperity that we now 
enjoy, and they are the only ones through the 
medium of whic?i we can hope to retain the 
blessings of civil and religious liberty. In con- 
clusion, we tender the hand of fraternal fellow- 
ship to our brethren of the quill throughout the 
State and country, hoping and trusting that 
even the heat of party warfare may not lead us 
astray from the paths of courtesy and gentle- 
manly conduct." 

The Jeffersonimi Democrat lived only to 
April 1857. 

VARIOUS MONROE PAPERS. 

In the fall of 1857, the Independent Press, ed- 
ited by S. P. Condee and E. C. Moulton, arose 
from the ashes of the Democrat. Mr. Moulton 
withdrew from the Press in January of the next 
year; and three or four nionlhs later, Mr. Con- 
dee sold it to a gentleman who transformed it 
into the Albany Times. 

The next venture in the way of a newspaper, 
was* that of N. L. Slant, who published the State 
nights a, year or two, beginning in the spring of 
1 859. The next was that of A. W. Potter, who, 
in January, 1870, started the Green County Jie- 
2n(Mican. In the fall of 1872, F. J. Mills started 
the Diberal Dress, which in September, 1873, 
was consolidated with the liepub/ican, the new 
paper being known, at first, as the Republican 
and Press, but latterly as the Green County Re- 
fortner. It was edited by A. W. Potter and 
George II. King, until January, then by Mr. 
Mills until April, then by G. J. Patton until 
J;iiiuary, 1875; afterwards by I. T. Carr, with 
whom Willianj I>nllock was associated tlie first 
year. 



600 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



THE SUN. 

A younger brother of G. R South, Laving got 
possession of an amateur novelty press and suf- 
ficient old type, rules, etc., to publish a small 
three column paper, an office was fitted up in the 
loft of an unused shop, and it was resolved by 
these brothers, to publish every two weeks, a 
paper, without advertisements, to be called the 
S/m. The first number was issued Saturday, 
Jan. 23, 1S15, with the following 

INTRODUCTORY. 

"We presume it is in full accordance with 
precedence and the eternal fitness of things, for 
us to make a few casual remarks pertinent to 
the occasion, in this, the first issue of the /Snti, 
and state what we 'propose to do about it.' 

"Well, we are going to run a peaceable little 
Sun — very peaceable. The immense interests 
of this great and glorious village — commerce and 
trade, hog and hominy, pork and beans, corn 
and its etherial essence, the fair and the fair 
sex, accidents, irregularities, circusses, weddings, 
balls, and a little genuine slander thrown in oc- 
casionally, as a gentle stimulant seasoning. 
Gentle reader! dost thou love slander and 
scandal? dost thou revel in human foibles and 
frailties? dost thou delight in frost-bites and 
back-bites and 'sich' like? Dost thou sometimes 
glory in human imperfections? If yea, we will 
feed you on some sweet morsels. Art thou sick, 
or hip-shotten, or colicky, until you feel that 
earth is full of sorrows that Heaven cannot heal 
and you want to be an angel, and with the 
angels stand? Scan our fresh and fragrant col- 
umns attentively, and, perha2)S you'll find a balm 
for every ill — a weal for every woe. The Sim 
is a public functionary and shines on all and 
for all alike. We intend to cater and caper for 
the 'dear people.' The 'body politic' is a men- 
agerie, and the different beasts require, and 
must be fed on different foods. Our 'Bill of 
Fare' is before you. If you like it, l>oard with 
us, and pay as you go, (price two cents) and 



when you get tired, quit. This is a free coun- 
try. 

"Tiie genial Sun does not propose to dapple 
in the reeking maelstrom of politics at all. It 
graciously leaves all the grave and momentous 
political questions of the day to the profoundly 
soporific pen of our great l:Jo8s Bourbon and 
finance philosopher — whose 'living lyre' has 
once more awoke to ecstacy, after a dismal and 
■protracted silence, and opened his sluices to del- 
uge a long suffering people with his 'chromatic,' 
glittering incongruities. No, the Sun will take 
no politics in his'n, but will be independent and 
outspoken in all things, and neutral in nothing. 

"With malice toward none; with charity for 
all, and firm in the right, as far as the sinuosi- 
ties of our original sin will permit us to see the 
right, we intend to express our opinion , impar- 
tially and boldly, and pursue the even (or un- 
even, according to circumstances), tenor of our 
way, without fear or favor. There (/re persons 
whom it is perfectly safe to 'go for' at any time. 
We desire it to be distinctly understood that to 
that species of hair-pins we do not belong. Our 
'composing-sticks' will be double-leaded as ac- 
cession may require, and we flatter ourselves 
that we have had sufficient practice in the 'art 
preservative of arts,' to use them with skill and 
precision. In the use of the 'shooting-stick,' 
our devil considers himself proficient, and if 
any one has a hankering to have his 'form justi- 
fied,' 'locked up' in a neat-fitting rosewood over- 
coat and 'sent to press,' he can be accommodated 
with neatness and dispatch, and on short notice, 
and — 'that's all there is of this business.'" 

Money not coming in very fast, the young 
brother who did the mechanical work on the 
pa])er grew discouraged and finally retired froni 
the "coiupany" leaving George to publish the 
pa{)er alone. The office was removed to a much 
more eligible location near to the j)ublic square, 
where, unaided by any one, thei paper was j)ub- 
lished regularly by George every two weeks. The 
first nuukber issued after the change was made, 
contained the following ; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



601 



". TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAT COME, 
GREETING. 

"The Su7i Printing Company,' having col- 
lapsed and been dissolved by the 'devil' forsak- 
ing us, we have, after an infinite amount of pa- 
ti6nt meditating, cogitating, ruminating, think- 
ing, studying, pondering and soliloquizing, 
finally settled down to the settled determina- 
tion to run our little concern alone, according 
to the dictates of our own conscience and our 
true inwardness, as guaranteed to us by the 
grand palladium of our liberties and civil rights, 
Andy Johnson, and play our own 'devil' to the 
best of our ability.^ And now let the winds that 
sweep the prairies carry the glad tidings to 
afar, that owing to the fact that Christopher 
Columbus discovered America — in consequence 
of which George (Washington) couldn't tell a 
lie, and to the additional fact that it has b en 
as cold as blazes every day that it has not 
snowed for the past thirteen months, and con- 
sequently there is not much 'bloom upon the 
rye,' to speak of, and the corn is not waving, 
Annie dear,' by along shot, we decided to issue 
semi-monthly this paper for the sole benefit of 
this fodder-stricken community, so that the peo- 
ple who have found by bitter experience that 
farming is an honest way to get a hard living, 
can store their minds with useful and orna- 
mental knowledge, while bewailing their unfor- 
tunate condition. The ends we aim at are our 
'country's, our altars and the greenbacks of our 
sires." This edition is gracefully contributed 
to this generous, confiding community, like sal- 
vation, without money, without price, and, we 
will add, without passing a contribution box, 
etc., etc." 

The little paper became immensely popular, 
and was a success from the start, and being 
confined principally to local and society matters 
it soon had a large bona fide paying subscrip- 
tion list. The publication of the paper was 
continued reglarly twice a month — with the ex- 
ception of a month or over in the heat of summer, 
when its publication was suspended while the 



editor was taking a trip somewhere — for six 
years, until the year 1881. 

About a year after the death of his father, 
which occurred in the spring of 1880, George, 
foreseeing that the support of his mother and 
sister would in all likelihood, eventually devolve 
upon him, resolved to make journalism the 
more serious and responsible business than it 
had been, and he therefore went to Chicago and 
purchased a Washington hand press and the 
necessary type and material to publish a seven- 
column folio weekly paper. Under circum- 
stances of the most depressing and discourag- 
ing nature, and with well-founded misgivings as 
to tlie success of the venture — a few democrats 
becoming alarmed at the prospect of having 
another republican paper here (it being assumed 
that the Sun was to be run in the interests of 
that party) made a desperate and successful 
effort to start a democratic paper ahead of the 
San with the avowed purpose of crowding 
the paper to the wall. And so the Gazette 
was started, the editor, a worthy but impecuni- 
ous young man having been induced by flat- 
tering promises to remove his printing office 
from Jefferson, in this State, to Monroe. But 
the editor of the Sun had gone too far to think 
for a moment of abandoning his project, and 
although it was almost "rushing in where an- 
gels feared to tread,"— starting another paper 
in a city the size of Monroe where there were 
two English and one German paper already es- 
tablished — yet he went courageously to work 
fitting up his oflice, etc., and on the morning of 
Saturday, Nov. 26, 1881, the first number of the 
weekly Monroe Su7i was given to the public, 
tiie editor making his salutatory in the follow- 
ing words, addressed 

TO THE PUBLIC. 

''With this issue the Sun makes its first ap- 
pearance as a weekly newspaper, and in an en- 
larged form, and takes hearty pleasure in pre- 
senting its greetings to all its old friends and 
patrons, and to all the new ones as would like 



602 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



to try our board. It introduces itself to the 
public with the determination to win support. 
"It is quite unnecessary, we presume, for us to 
make any announcement in relation to the po- 
litical affiliations of the Siai in the good here- 
after. It will, however, be reasonably inde- 
pendent in politics, neutral in nothing, and fair 
in all things. We shall be bound by no clique 
and no party, general or local, and the dictates 
and behests of leaders, self-appointed or other- 
wise, will, as such, have no influence with us 
whatever ; but we shall on all subjects of pub- 
lic interest, express our views unbiased by the 
dictates of any power save our own opinions 
and a desire to aid, so far as in us lies, public 
well-being. No caucus nomination or party or- 
ders will, as such, receive from us any obedience 
whatever. We believe neither in the cry of 
'party, not men,' nor in that of 'men, not party,' 
but we believe in 'men with principles.' In lo- 
cal affairs whenever any matter of considerable 
interest is at issue, we shall be guided by such 
interest. When no such interest is at stake we 
shall choose the best men for our support, or 
where no choice is warranted, we shall re- 
main neutral. It is quite possible that we may 
make occasionally, mistakes in judgment, but 
it shall be our aim to make as few as possible, 
and if made, to acknowledge them freely when 
discovered. No party owns us, and no clique 
controls us, and what we do will be done in 
what we believe to be the interest of all. This 
much we promise, and so far as we redeem this 
promise, shall we, in our opinion, have suc- 
ceeded or failed. Failure or success of our own 
views or candidates will mean to us as editor, 
little, but a neglect to labor earnestly for those 
views and candidates would mean to us a com- 
plete and disgraceful failure. We shall not thus 
fail. 

"The /Sun will be specially devoted to encour- 
agement of all commendable public enterprises 
and interests and a faithful chronicler of mat- 
ters relating to the local affairs of this- town 
and county. 



"It will open its columns at all times to courte- 
ous communications, irrespective of political, 
social, or class distinctions. 

"Special efforts will be made to continue the 
/Sun. as well-deserviiig the regards and confi- 
dence of the generous public and as welcome a 
visitor into the household as it has been as a 
semi-monthly. 

"The worth of a journal is to be ascertained 
ius it represents well or ill, the best interests of 
the people. The /Su7i, therefore, asks the pub- 
lic to judge it by its future; and as it deserves 
so may it be rewarded." 

The first year of the publication of the 
weekly Stin was not encouraging ; but the 
paper struggled along, money going out in a 
constant and never-failing stream and nothing 
but promises and "great expectations" coming 
in. However, the editor persevered and now, 
at the commencement of the 3d volume, he be- 
gins to realize the fruition of his fondest hopes 
in finding himself at the head of a prosperous 
and popular weekly newspaper. 

George Reppert South, 
oldest son of John and Sophia C. Reppert 
South, was born in the picturesque little city of 
Brownsville, situated on the banks of the ro- 
mantic Monongahela river, about thirty miles 
above Pittsburg, Penn., March 23, 1841. His 
father, after a hard two years struggle to es- 
tablish himself in his chosen field of labor, that 
of carriage building, removed in 1842 to the 
city of Allegheny, opposite Pittsburg, where 
the clear, pellucid waters of the Allegheny river 
joins Monongahela's raurkey tide to form the 
noble Ohio river. Here a much more lucrative 
and more extended field opened to the struggling 
but rising young mechanic. A few years of 
close application, endowed, as he was, with 
keen business capabilities and an indomitable 
energy that could not be discouraged, and he 
began to realize the fruition of his fondest 
hopes and aspirations, by finding himself the 
independent possessor of a large carriage 
manufactory, employing scores of skilled me- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTS'. 



603 



chanics, and with a trade extending far into tlie 
southern Stales, in addition to the large and 
constantly increasing home patronage. His 
fame as a builder of superior vehicles increased 
at home and abroad as the years came and 
went, and when the first ominous mutterings of 
the coming storm were heard, which eventually 
culminated in the great Rebellion, " Soutli's 
carriages" was the synonym of all that was 
excellent and beautiful in those vehicles. In 
the meantime the family continued to increase 
until ten children, six sons and four daughters 
were gathered beneath his roof-tree, all of 
whom are still living, excepting the youngest, 
a daughter, who died in infancy. In this city 
George's early life was passed, with about tlie 
usual unimportant events common to the boy- 
hood of all, attending the public, and occasion- 
ally select or private schools, until the spring of 
1853, in the twelfth year of his age, when the 
almost lalal event occurred which resulted, 
finally, in his losing a leg, and undoubtedly 
changing the whole tenor of his future life. It 
is, perhaps, unnecessary to go into details as to 
the causes wh'ch led to the above misfortune. 
Suffice it to say, that with the thoughtlessness 
and rashness of childhood, he plunged into the 
cold waters of the Allegheny river while over- 
heated from running, and received a severe 
chill. The effects of this indiscretion mani- 
fested themselves the morning following, when 
upon attempting to rise out of bed, he found 
himself unable to stand, in consequence of the 
intense pain such exertion subjected him to. 
This was the beginning of a long, tedious 
languishing upon a bed of pain for two and a 
half years, when, by having a leg amputated 
above the knee, he was soon able to hobble 
about on crutches and thus liberated from his 
weary confinement. Up to the beginning of 
George's illness, it had always been his desire 
and intention to follow mechanical pursuits, 
for which he alrea^dy displayed a natural 
aptitude full of promise of future excellence 
in whatever branch he might devote his ener- 



gies, but losing a leg put an effectual veto 
upon his engaging in any mechanical pursuit, 
and so from his fifteenth to his nineteenth year 
he applied himself diligently and studiously to 
acquire as thorough and practical a common 
school education as circumstances would per- 
mit, attending for this purpose a select private 
school for boys, and this was all the schooling 
he received. The eventful spring of 1860 
found George in charge of a carriage repository 
in Pittsburg, in the interest of his father, who, 
finding his southern trade liable to be cut off, 
began to give more of his attention to home 
trade. Adjoining the repository was a book and 
variety store, in which George served a clerk- 
ship, which proved very advantageous in giving 
him a drill and confidence, and what was still 
more acceptable, some money of his own earn- 
ing. The knowledge of business thus acquired 
enabled him at a later period to embark in busi- 
ness on a small scale by himself, and when, in 
the fall of 1864, his father finding bis business 
in the south entirely destroyed by the war and, 
no signs, at that time, indicating the near close 
of the fratricidal strife, he disposed of all his 
real estate, some of it at a great sacrifice, in 
Allegheny, and with the family, George alone 
excepted, removed to Wisconsin to pass the re- 
mainder of his days. George, as above stated, 
remained behind to carry on his business, sell- 
ing jewelry, varieties, etc, which had just be- 
gun to prove highly remunerative. But so as- 
siduously did he devote himself to business that 
his nervous system began to suffer and dyspep- 
sia intervening his health broke down com- 
pletely. He grew gradually worse in health 
until the spring of 1870, when he was reluctantly 
compelled to close up his business, now very 
profitable, and go home to die, as he then firm- 
ly believed. This step proved the turning 
point in his life and changed its whole course 
and undoubtedly saved him from a premature 
grave. The pure, invigorating and bracing air 
of Wisconsin, combined with the change of 
scene and living, wrought so beneficially upon 



604 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



his enervated system and debilitated digestive 
organs, that quite restored him to his pristine 
health and hopeful spirits. Two years subse- 
quent be began to take a lively interest in liter- 
ary pursuits, and got his first most needed drill 
in the use of the pen, laying the foundation for 
his future success in the field of journalism. 
His first feeble efforts were somewhat satirical 
criticisms and burlesques of the literary effu- 
sion^ of some local scribes who had got into a 
jangle upon religion, and were carrying on a 
wordy warfare in the public prints, and, 
although sent anonymously to an opposition 
sheet, were deemed of sufficient merit as to 
impel the editor to give the articles insertion, 
instead of consigning them to the waste basket, 
the general fate of anonymous communications. 
Thus encouraged he put forth still greater efforts, 
and his contributions on other topics, published 
over the nomde plume oi "I. U. N." attracted 
so much attention as to induce the editor, him- 
self, to ask in his paper, " who was this literary 
feller ?" He at length was pursuaded to take 
chai'ge of the local columns of the Liberal 
Press, in which capacity he did good work, as 
his spicely written "locals" and pungent para- 
graphs attested. He continued to act as local 
editor, more for the love of it and the disci- 
pline it gave than what money there was in it, 
until the paper, for the third time, changed 
ownership, and I. T. Carr took control. 
George took this opportunity to retire from a 
position where the pay was not near commensu- 
rate with the amount of labor entailed. But 
having once tasted of the sweets of publicity, 
he could not be content to pass much of his 
time in obscurity. He thereupon, in connec- 
tion with a younger brother, as already ex- 
plained, commenced the publication of the Suti. 

THE MONROE GAZETTE. 

A paper was started in Monroe, by J. W. , 
Odell, called the Gazette, on the 4th day of 
November, 18S1. This periodical was first 
started in Jefferson, Jefferson Co., Wis., and 
then continued in Monroe; so that the first num- 



ber issued in Monroe was "No. 15, Vol. Ill," in- 
stead of "No. 1, Vol. I." In issuing the first 
number in Monroe, Mr. Odell explains his 
views and determination in the following: 

SALUTATORY. 

"In commencing the publication of a demo- 
cratic paper in Green county, we are aware of 
the difficulties that we shall be called upon to 
encounter, therefore we realize at the begin- 
ning that to make the Gazette a success as a 
permanent institution, we must have the hearty 
co-operation of every independent thinker who 
acts up to his convictions in this country. Tiiis 
will induce the great majority of those who call 
themselves democrats and a portion of those 
who go by the party name republican, and 
quite a number of those who belong to other 
parties. 

"All the people of this county we argue, will 
agree that an independent democratic paj^er is 
needed here. Believing this to be the case our- 
selves, we come here for the purpose of publish- 
ing such a paper. We desire also to state in 
this connection, that our paper is not to be 
built up on the ruins of others that have gone 
before us, neither has it any connection with 
any democratic paper heretofore published in 
this county. We bring our own press with us 
and start out on our own hook as the saying is, 
hoping to merit the patronage of men of all 
parties and creeds. 

"Our columns will [be open to fair and free 
discussion so far as we may have the space, but 
not 0{)en for the purpose of slander and abuse 
of others. We shall endeavor from time to 
time, to set forth true democratic doctrines and 
principles, and uphold so far as we are able to 
do so, honest government. We do not deem it 
necessary because we publish a democratic paper 
that we shall be in favor of every person and 
idea called by the name democrat. Still we 
shall finally hold to the cardinal principles of 
the great National democratic party, and at the 
same time act in all these matters as becomes an 
independent citizen. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



605 



"We therefore without saying more under 
this head, ask the co-operation of the people 
generally, while we give them as good a paper 
in return as we are able under the circumstances 
to get up. In conclusion, we desire to say that 
we will do our part in helping to build up the 
business interests of this community, while our 
paper shall be conducted so as to merit a place in 
every household and be a welcome visitor to 
every family in the community who favor us 
with their patronage." 

The Gazette., when first started in Green 
county, was an eight column quarto. The editor, 
in his first editorial, emphatically declares that 
he is "in favor of free trade; or, what is the 
same thing, a tariff for revenue only." In 1883 
the paper was cut down to a six column quarto 
and the name changed to the Monroe Gazette. 
It is ably conducted. 

J. W. Odell 

j was born in Montreal, Canada, Aug, 27, 1848. 
He came to Wisconsin in 1852 and settled in 
Evansville, Rock county. He remained there 
until 1859, when he removed to Jefferson, Jef- 
ferson Co., Wis. He lived there until June, 
18*72. He served a regular apprenticeship in 
the Jefferson Banner from 1862 to 1865. Mr. 
Odell occupied the position of baggage-master 
at that city in the employ of the Chicago &, 
Northwestern Railway Company for four years 
prior to June 1, 1872, at which time he went on 
the road as brakeman, moving to Janesville, 
Wis. He continued in this employment for 
eight months, then took a job as fireman, which 
position he filled until March 13, 1876, at which 
time he severed his connection with the rail- 
road company by mutual consent and moved 
down to Grant Park, Kankakee Co., 111., a small 
place fifty miles south of Chicago on the C. & 
E. 1. Railroad, where he first started a paper 
called the Grant Park iV6?<w, a small sheet 12x16 
inches. The first issue was on July 4, 1876. 
This paper he continued in that small form un- 
til Aug. 11, 1877, when he enlarged it to a four 



column quarto and published that until June 1, 
1879, when he went to Jefferson, Wis., and com- 
menced publishing the Indej^endent. This pa- 
per he published to July 24, 1881, when he 
moved the office to Monroe and commenced the 
publication of the Gazette, a democratic organ, 
mention of which has just been made. 

GREEN COUNTY HERALD. 

The Green County Herald, a German paper 
published at Monroe, Green Co., Wis., was es- 
tablished by R. Loewenbach Sept. 15, 1877. It 
is published every Wednesday, has four pages, 
size 26x40 inches, and is independent in politics. 
R. Loewenbach, of Monroe, was born Oct. 
9, 1853, in the city of Milwaukee. He received 
an academic education and is by profession a 
printer, being engaged in his father's printing 
office. In 1877 he came to Monroe, and for the 
last seven years has been proprietor and pub- 
lisher of tlie German paper, the Green County 
Herald, which position he holds up to this date 
(1884). 

THE JUDEAN. 

On the 13th day of July, 1877, was issued No. 
1 of Vol, I of the Judean at Juda, by the ^^Ju- 
dean Publishing Company." It was an exceed- 
ingly diminutive sheet of four pages with only 
two columns to the page. "It is not the inten- 
tion," say those who started the paper, "of 
those who have it in charge, we may safely say, 
to make it a money making institution, but 
merely to collect and diffuse throughout the 
community such items of news as may be of 
general interest to the public." However, in 
the third issue is found among other matters 
of an editorial character, the following: "The 
observing ones who look over this number of 
the Judean will notice that it contains at the 
head of this column a small but important line 
reading thus: 'Terms, fifty cents a year.' " The 
circulation was thirty-six. 

During the latter part of February, 1878, 
"some indefatigable worker in the lower depths 
of arch-deviltry" notified the postoflice depart- 
ment at Washington that the Judean was only 



606 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



"an advertising dodge," and tliereupon the Jn- 
cUcut Publishing C(»mpany were notified tliut 
their paper could no longer pass tlirougli the 
mails at paper rates. The result was the dis- 
continuance of the Judean under that name and 
the establishing of a newspai)er that could not 
be in any way considered as "an advertising 
dodge." "This is the last issue," say the pub- 
lishers, March 31, 1878, "of our paper under its 
present form. Next week we shall not print a 
paper, but shall prepare for th» publication the 
week following of a larger sheet (eight pages of 
four columns each). The subscription price will 
be %\ per annum." So, on the 3d day 
of April, 1878, No. 1, Vol. I was begun of 

THE LATEST NEWS. 

This paper was published by J. B. Stair and 
H. C. Witmer. "We herewith present," say 
the editors in their salutatory, "our readers with 
the first number of the Latest Ncvs. We shall 
not urge you who have not already done so, 
to subscribe for it, but every one may by this 
feel himself especially and personally invited 
to favor us with their name and $1 for a yt-ar's 
subscription." 

On the 19th of July, 1879, Mr. Stair retired 
from the paper and Mr. Witmer became (and 
still is) the sole editor and proprietor. "Having 
assumed," says the editor, "the responsibility of 
continuing the JVtncs, our name appears at the 
head of this column. We take charge of it 
feeling as though we would not continue it 
long, not being equal to the situation" — but the 
paper "still lives" and is in a flourishing condi- 
tion, having a large circulation, and an exten- 
sive advertising patronage. It is edited with 
much alnlity. 

MONTieELLO ITEMS. 

The Monticello Items was published for a 
brief period, in Monticello, Green county, be- 
ginning in 1874, by Messrs. Stair & Lane, who 
were both editors and proprietors. The paper 
was neutral in politics. It continued about one 
year. Although a small sheet, it had quite a 
local circulation; however, it did not pay, and, 



as already explained, was soon discontinued. 
Its editors were both young men — medical 
students. 

Henry Clayton Witmer, 
was born in Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., 111., 
son of David and Catharine Witmer. He was 
two years old when the family moved to Juda, 
Wis. When he became old enough, he went to 
the village school, also in later yeais assisted 
his father in a drug store till the spring of 1873, 
when he went to Monroe to clerk in a dry goods 
store. After staying there fifteen months, he 
again returned to Juda, and re-entered the vil- 
lage school. In the beginning of 1870 he went 
to R. C. Spencer's Business College, Milwaukee, 
from which institution he graduated in May, re- 
turned home, and after his father died in June of 
the same year he assumed his business, which 
consisted in making loans and the business 
that would necessarily be connected. He also 
settled his father's estate. He was appointed 
notary public when he was twenty-one, also 
chosen a member of the school board. In 
partnership with Dr. J. B. Stair, a village phy- 
sician, he started a small newspaper called the 
Judean, in July, 1877, but the paper was en- 
larged and called the Latest Nevis, in March, 
1878. His partner retiring in March, 1879, Mr. 
Witmer assumed the responsibility of editor 
and publisher alone. In the spring of 1882, in 
company with four business men of Monroe, he 
hel|)ed to start "The Citizens' Bank," of Mon- 
i-oe, of which he was chosen vice-president. 
Duiing his stay in Juda, he took quite an in- 
terest in keeping up the life and growth of the 
village. He was one of the foremost in building 
its Town Hall. His habits are strictly temper- 
ate. He belongs to no Church; in politics is a 
republican. He is a bicyclist — no further com- 
ment. 

Joseph M. Witmer, born of the same parents 
in Juda, Wis., Aug. 27, 1858, went to the village 
school until the fall of 1874, when he went to 
school in Monroe, and in the fall of 1875 went 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



607 



to the State University at Madison, entering the 
preparatory department; remained at Madison 
three years, and in the spring, of 1878 passed 
examinations at Cincinnati for admission to 
Howard University; entered the class of 1882 
at Howard, but did not like the change, so re- 
turned home; returned to Howard College, how- 
ever, in the fall of 1879, and joined the class of 
1883, with which he graduated. He started in 
business with his brother in the fall of 1883. 
Witmer Brothers' business is mostly an out- 
growth of M. H. C. Witmer's business, and al- 
though it has been quite extensive, amounting 
to $500,000 a year, it nevertheless will be closed 
up in the fall of 1884, owing to a removal of the 
two members of the firm to Los Angeles, Cal. 

David Witmer 
born in Londonderry township, Lebanon Co., 
Penn., Oct. 1, 1813, is a son of John and Plan- 
nah Witmer, both natives of Lebanon Co., 
Penn. The family is of Swiss descent, some 
five or six generations since. The subject of 
this sketch lived at home with his parents on 
the farm until he was about eighteen years of 
age, when he went to Palmyra, a post village 
not far distant, to enter the mercantile busi- 
ness as a clerk in a dry goods store. In sj^eak- 
ing of his financial start in life in later years, 
he was heard to remark that he clerked for 82 
per month the first year, and at the end of the 
year was $36 in debt. How long he remained 
at f almyra as a clerk is not definitely known 
by the writer; but it must have been about 1837 
or thereabout that he went to Aaronsburg, Cen- 
ter Co., Penn,, to engage in a like capacity in a 
dry goods store belonging to his uncle. At 
this time he also used to buy cattle in Ohio 
for his uncle and ship them east. Having 
saved a little money, he resolved in the spring 
of 1842 to take a trip to the west, and together 
with a friend he purchased lands where now 
stands the city of Burlington, Iowa. But at 
that time Burlington consisted of but a few 
houses and the prospect of its great growth 



was not promising. The taxes on the land 
being great and the tenant careless, the land 
was sold. In the year of 1846, in partnership 
with John Harper, now of Monroe, Wis., he 
bought out his uncle's store and the business was 
carried on under their names until 1852, when 
Mr. Harper retired. Selling out in the spring 
of 1855, he again went west, purchased lands 
upon which the southern portion of Juda now 
stands, and in the fall of the same year he 
moved to Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., 111., 
where he purchased a lialf interest in a dry 
goods store. Here he remained till the spring 
of 1858, when he removed to Juda, Wis. Dur. 
ing the years 1858 and 1865, inclusive, he was 
busily engaged in the general merchandise 
business, principally in dry goods, also in grain. 
His business was quite extensive, amounting to 
$100,000 or upward a year. He built several 
large buildings and being one of the early 
settlers of Juda, he took a deep interest and 
contributed in no small degree to its growth 
and development. In 1865 he retired from 
active business and devoted most of his atten- 
tion to his lands in the vicinity of Juda, but in 
1870 he again entered the mercantile busi- 
ness, having purchased a drugstore in which he 
thought he might interest his two sons enough 
to keep them out of mischief. In the winter of 
1875-6 he sold out again and the next 
spring he prepared to go east for the 
purpose of trying to regain his health 
and restore, if possible, his shattered consti- 
tution, but he became enfeebled and a severe 
attack of the palpitation of the heart coming 
upon him, he was obliged to take his bed, from 
which he never arose. He died June 25, 1876, 
and his body was buried in the Juda cemetery. 
Mr. Witmer was married, March 12, 1846, to 
Catharine Corman, of Miles township. Center 
Co., Penn., by Rev. William Yereck. They 
had seven children, three of whom died in in- 
fancy, leaving two daughters and two sons, 



G08 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



all grown — Mary Agnes, born August 12, 
1848, now Mrs. Samuel Lewis, of Monroe; 
Anna Victoria, born Sept. 2, 1854; Henry Clay- 
ton, born Aug. 25, 1856; Joseph M. Witmer, 
born Aug. 27, 1858. Mr. Witraer's character- 
istics in brief are, straight-forward and careful in 
business transactions, successful, temperate, in- 
dustrious, benevolent, unassuming, generous, 
public spirited, friend of the people in general, 
especially of the poor, ardent republican, never 
aspired to office, but held quite a number, 
mostly township offices. Do not know that he 
belonged to any Church, yet took an interest in 
all religious societies, and generally ai ed them 
(financially). 

THE BRODHEA.D INDEPENDENT. 

The Independent was established the first 
week in March, 1860, by a joint stock company 
of which I. F. Mack, one of the original pro- 
prietors of the village, was president. The 
stockholders failed to respond and the paper 
virtually was the property of Mr. Mack from the 
outset. 

The entire outfit of the States Riglds, 
which ha<l been published at Monroe, was pur- 
chased at a low price and removed to Brodhead; 
and the first number of the new paper was 
issued. On the 1st of November, 1864, Mr. 
Mack made ajcrangements by which his son I. 
F. Mack, Jr., (now of the Sandusky, Ohio, 
lieylster) became proprietor, while he still re- 
tained the position of editor. This continued 
until Aug. 10, 1866, when the following 
notice appeared in the paper: 

"to the puulic. 
"From this date this paper will be under the sole 
control, both in its editorial and businessman, 
agementof myself. I. F. Mack, Sr., for the past 
five and a half years the editor, has withdrawn 
from the concern. I, F. Maor, Jr. 

August 9, 1866." 

On the 81st of the same month, Mr. Mack felt 
called upon to publish the following notice: 

"In answer to numerous incjuiiies, I wish it 
distinctly understood that no one whatever has 



anything to do with the editorial or business 
control of the I)Kh'pende)d save myself. No 
other pei'son has any voice in the management 
of this journal, or one dollar's interest in it. 

I. F. Mack, Jr." 

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1868, Mr. Mack an- 
nounced the sale of the paper in the following 
valedictory. 

"With this issue of the V>xodi\\Q2^^ Indepe}ident, 
I cease to be its editor and publisher, having 
sold the office and newspaper establishment to 
D. W. Tyrrell and E. O. Kimberley. 

"Four years ago I became the publisher and 
projDrietor, and two years ago last August took 
upon myself its sole editorial management. 
When I entered the office, Nov. 1, 1«64, the 
business had run down and the office was not 
paying its expenses. With what business tact 
I had, I proceeded to make it pay, which it did 
the first year about 'tl,100. Since the close of 
the first year, the business has steadily increased 
and it now pays as well as any country paper in 
the State. So much for the business. 

"Believing in radical political principles, my 
efforts since becoming the editor have been di- 
rected to making the paper thoroughly radical. 
With what measure of success the files of the 
paper will show. Manhood sufl^rage, universal 
liberty, the right of royal men to rule where 
traitors had misruled, the honorable and just 
payment of the debts of the Nation, have been 
advocated in these columns without fear or 
favor. Whatever I have said on those and kin- 
dred subjects cannot be unsaid, nor would I un- 
write one word the editorial columns have con- 
tained for the past two and one-half years. 

"In local matter I have attempted to deal justly 
with all men, and have never as a local editor 
knowingly injured the feelings of any man. 

"Helieving that liteiary honesty is the bright- 
est ornament of an editor's life, I have never to 
my knowledge failed to give proper credit for 
every line taken from an exchange, and have 
uniformly preferred to write as best I could 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



609 



rather than gain a fictitious reputation by steal- 
ing from my neighbors. 

"For many kind words from many kind friends, 
I am a thousand tijnes grateful, 

"For my successors I ask the liearty good will 
and generous support of all my old patrons 
and many new ones. My successors are well 
known to tlie peo[)le of this village and county. 
D. W. Tyrrell lias been nearly four years the 
foreman of the office, is a thorough practical 
printer, a straight forward, honorable man, and 
a far better writer than the average of country 
editors. During all our intimate connection, 
for during all these years he has been a mem- 
ber of my family, we have had no unpleasant 
word. E. O. Kimberley was for years a resident 
here, learned the trade in the old Reporter 
office, and worked for me some months. Modest, 
unassuming but straight forward and prompt; 
Mr. Kimberley will bring to the business a deter- 
mination to make tlie paper better than it has 
been under my management. It need not be 
said that both these gentlemen are radical re- 
publicans, and will never fail to advocate the 
radical policy of the republican party. In their 
hands I feel safe in leaving the IiKhpeiideut^iov 
the prosjterity of which and political soundness 
of which I shall ever pray. 

"i shall go into another paper not far distant, 
as soon as my business here is settled up. 

"To the business men of Brodhead,and to the 
people of the town and country about, who have 
encouraged me in ray business, with these last 
words as your editor, I bid you farewell. 

I. F. Mack, Jr." 

"Kimberley &> Tyrrell's salutatory was pub- 
lished Nov. 27, 1868. The partnership lasted 
until December, 1869, when Mr. Kimberley took 
full charge and so continued until July, 1873, 
when he sold to Willis J. Stone and Charles M. 
Morse. On July 2, 1875, Mr. Morse published 
the following: 

"NOriCK TO OUR I'ATKoNS. 

"With this, issue of \\\(^ ImJcpeiulent our labors 
cease as editor and projirietor. During our con 



nection with this journal or nearly two years 
we have endeavored to do our duty and labor 
foi" the best interest of our village; but in look- 
ing back we realize that errors have been made. 
We sincerely regret that it is thus, and trust 
that the people will 'forgive and forget' 

"To our many friends who have encouraged us 
both by liberal patronage and kind words we 
return our gratitude. 

"Our successor E. O. Kimberley, formerly editor 
of the Iii(h'p()idn\t needs no commendation 
from us. We bespeak for liim a liberal patron- 
age. 

"With these few words we close, bidding our 
friends farewell, and again thanking them for 
kindness in the past. 

Most Respectfully, 

Charles M. Morse." 
In taking charge of the Lulependtnt, Mr. 
Kimberley published an historical salutatory in 

these words: 

salutatory. 
"After an absence of two years we return to 
our former charge, as proprietor of the Brod- 
head Independent. During the interval we note 
some very trying changes, — in the world at 
large, and more particulaily in domestic life, 
applicable to ourself. In this will readily be 
seen the allusion to the sickness coming upon us 
and which well-nigh ended our days. Details 
of the same, herewitii, would be superfluou.s, as 
all, perhaps, are cognizant of the fact. We 
were tenderly brought home after the critical 
time declared past, not to die, but to be nursed 
in convalescency; and to-day we feel grateful 
for a degree of gooti health, such as was never 
our lot before to enjoy. To some, our return 
may seem sliange, ami others may regard it 
alike with ourself. Brodhead is and has been 
our home for many years past, and need we say 
it was with a view of being at home that 
prompted the change on our part. There are 
some very desirabU' features connected with 
city life, and there are other features of an 
unpleasant nature. The cpiiet of the country, 



610 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the never ending confusion of the city, and vice 
versa are contrasts of great magnitude, and a 
sudden change from one to the other seems 
strange indeed, and for a time almost beyond 
the powers of endurance. From country to 
city, our experiences, physically, as related, 
were anything but pleasant. Such a change 
from a two-years' sojourn in the city, we would 
very reluctantly anticipate. 

"In 1857, we took up our abode in Brodhead, 
and since then have been a citizen a greater part 
of the time. Perhaps it may be truthfully said 
that we are favorably impressed with the place, 
hence our departure at different times and sub- 
sequent return. Tliese occurrences have been 
frequent. Between ourself and the Independent 
we note the following: In the month of Febru- 
ary, 1861, a stock company, with I. F. Mack, 
Esq., president, and W. W. Shepard, (afterward 
killed at the battle of Pea Ridge), secretary, 
purchased the press and material of the States 
Rights, owned and published at our county seat, 
by F. Stout, Esq., and removed the same to 
Brodhead. Out of that material our hands set 
the first type on the Independent. These were 
the trying times of a Nation's uprising in 
armed conflict. Treason was asserting itself 
day by day, until the "first gun" was fired at 
Sumter, 

"We well remember the day when this dread- 
ful evidence of war came upon us. A messen- 
ger came to the office in great haste with the 
intelligence, and with patriotic hearts and pa- 
triotic songs the "boys". of the oftice could not 
be induced to "stick" another type. (The man- 
agement, however, succeeded in issuing their 
paper regularly.) After thirteen months of 
army life we returned home, and again to the 
Independent, then edited by I F, Mack, Jr. 
This was of short duration however, for we 
rallied the "blowers," and again donned the 
blue. After the wearisome marches attendant 
upon Sherman's campaign, and after j»eace was 
declared, we were permitted to again return to 



Brodhead and confront a "case" in the Inde- 
pendent office. Very soon after we were a resi- 
dent of the very pleasant village of Monroe. 
Remaining there among good friends two years 
we returned to Brodhead, formed a co-partner- 
ship with D. W. Tyrrell, and purchased the 
Independent, of I. F. Mack, Jr., at a good round 
price. After a partnership of about eight 
months Mr. Tyrrell associated himself with Mr. 
Potter, then publisher of the Green County 7?^- 
puhlican, at Monroe. Being tl^en left to our 
own responsil)ility we did the best we could. I)i 
July, 1873, we sold the office to Messrs. Stone & 
Morse, taking ourself to the great city of the 
northwest — Chicago. Two years have passed 
and again we are found in the Independent office, 
as proprietor, having effected the purchase on 
tlie 281 h ultimo. VVhat there may be for us in 
the dim and unknown future, we cannot of 
course predict with any degree of safety. If 
our past history has wrought anything to our 
good, the patrons of the Indej^endent shall reap 
the same at our hands as one week succeeds an- 
other, and as good health is spared us. 

"Our promises will not be numerous. We will 
promise this much, that we will conduct the 
Independent to the best of our ability, and 
always to the best interests of its patrons and 
all interested in our beautiful village. Can we 
say more? If we know what morality is, our 
paper shall he moral. If we know the meaning 
of discretion our pa])er shall be discreet. If we 
know what right is, our paper shall be as near 
the same as it lies in our power to make it. We 
shall Jiot attempt to revolutionize local business 
in excess of local capacity, but shall advocate 
the full use of that capacity to the best inter- 
ests. 

'In politics, we shall not be "on the fence" 
but shall always advocate republicanism, and 
may be depended upon as republican; and the 
Indcpenilcnt, we are sure, while in our charge, 
will labor for the best interests of republicanism 
at home and abroad. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



611 



"The fiim of Titus & Kimberley, printers, 
Cliicat^o, will continue, at 120 and 122 La Salle 
street. Under the excellent managetnent of Mr. 
Titiis, the business of tliat office will be correctly 
and judiciously managed. Charles Titus, a 
brotlier, will repr^^sent our interest. 

"While we shall be ever ready and anxious to 
accommodate our friends with any kind of ordi- 
nary job work, at this office yet there may be, 
possibly, some beyond our capacity. Anything 
of this kind will be forwarded to our city office, 
executed by the best of workmen, and returned 
promptly. 

"The former proprietors^, Messrs Stone & 
Morse have our best wishes for success. Mr. 
Stone will return to Chicago and engage in 
busir)ess. Mr. Morse, after two months more 
preparation, will present himself for examina- 
tion at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. 
We sincerely trust that his efforts may be suc- 
cessful. In the event of his being admitted, we 
are sure he will advance rapidly, do himself 
credit and honor the State of Wisconsin. 

"We now leave ourself with the good people 
of Brodhead, and surrounding country, and sin- 
cerely hope to merit their good will and patron- 
age. We want to find a friend in every one. 
Shall this be our good fortune? 

E. O. Kimberley." 

Mr. Kimberley continued as publisher of the 
paper several years. In .June, 1878, he made a 
trip to Dakota, from which he wrote some in- 
teresting letters. Returning home Aug. 23, 
1878, he offered the. office for sale. About a 
month later (September 19), he left for Sioux 
Falls to engage in business again, offering the 
office for sale, but announcing it would be kept 
up by his father and .Jolm E. IJartlett. 

On the 14th of October, 1878, Burr Sprague 
bought the office, and four days thereafter Mr. 
Kimberley issued his 

VAi,Ei)i(rroKv. 

"The last issue of the Independent (October 
11), closed our work upon its pages and in the 
office. On Monday of this week, Burr Sprague, 



Esq., purchased tlie establishment, together 
with the subscriptions of the paper. Gay 
Sprague, a promising young man and a good 
printer, will superintend the mechanical depart- 
ment, and, as we are informed, will publish the 
paper. Burr Sprague is so well and favorably 
known to all that it is not necessary we should 
say any more of him. As for ourself, we liave 
discharged our duties to suit ourself. If others 
have been suited, all right; if not, all right. 
The paper will remain republican. We hope 
the new helmsman will be liberally patronized 
by all classes of people. Sioux Falls, Dak., is 
to be our future home, and in one corner of a 
new paper will read, Kimberley & Morse. And 
now to all a fond farewell. 

E. O. Kimberley. " 
On the same day was published Mr. Spragtie's 

SALUTATORY. 

''By the transfer of the Independent^ duties 
and responsibilities with which we are not fa- 
miliar, have suddenly devolved upon us, and we 
acknowledge that it is not without some reluc- 
tance and misgivings that we assume them. 

"Trusting in the sympathy and kind wishes of 
our friends, and hoping they will not demand 
better results than w-e may accomplish, we shall 
earnestly endeavor to make the Independent as 
good a local paper in the future as it has been 
in the past. 

"In its columns shall be found as much of the 
general and local news of the day as necessary 
economy of time and space will permit. 

"Whatever measures or principles we may 
conceive to be in the interest of real r<'forni, it 
will zealously advocate and defend. 

"Upon the present political issues it will re- 
main republican in letter and in spirit; and in 
the cause of temperance it may always be relied 
upon to tally one. 

"In the interest of education, and especially of 
the public school system, it will be ever ready 
to disseminate encouraging words; and in re- 
gard to Churches and religious rites and beliefs, 



612 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



it will exhibit 'cluirity for all and malice toward 
none.' 

"Mr. Kimberley, who has established the repu- 
tation of the Independent, and' of the fine job 
office connected with it, takes his leave to enter 
upon a larger, and it is hoped a more prosperous 
field of labor, in which he has the best wishes 
of ourself and many warm friends. 

"Gay Sprague, who has served an apprentice- 
ship of nearly four years with friend Booth in 
the office of the MorxvoG ■Sentinel, will have full 
charge of the publishing and job printing de- 
partment, and we shall rely largely upon him 
for aid in the general conduct of the paper. 

Burr Sprague." 

Burr Sprague continued in charge of the In- 
dependent until May 23, 1879, when he sold to 
E. A, Charlton, and made tlie following 

VALEDIC'IORY. 

"We have sold the Independent and the sub- 
scription accounts to E, A. Charlton — who will 
fill the advance subscriptions; and lie will take 
possession of the office and assume control on 
Monday next. 

"We have had charge of the paper but little 
more thati seven months, and during the most 
of this time we have been so burdened with 
other pressing duties that it has been impossible 
for us to devote the time and attention to the 
paper that has been desirable, and seemed 
necessary; but we have thus far, to the best of 
our ability under the circumstances, fulfilled 
the promises made in our tirst number. How 
well we have succeeded during this brief period 
of time is wholly for our readers to decide — 
they having the best opportunity to know, and 
being the most competent and impartial judges 
— and be their verdict in favor of or against us, 
it will doubtless be correct, and we shall not 
complain. 

"We have always endeavored to exclude from 
our columns everything of a personal nature 
which would be liable to cause or excite ill- 
feeling, aiming to sjteak plainly and boldly for 



principles only, and not in any sense for per 
sonal ends. If, in doing this, we have unwit- 
tingly given offense, we regret such result — for 
we harbor no malice or ill-will toward any one 
— but having acted according to our best judg- 
ment, and with good motives, we liave nothing 
to retract; and only wish we might have dealt 
still heavier blows in the cause of right. 

"If we have erred or blundered at times, we 
only are responsible, for no one has dictated, 
counseled or advised us. 

"We have been constantly cheered and en- 
couraged, by kind words and substantial tokens 
of regard and appreciation, and our numerous 
exchanges have treated us very respectfully and 
kindly; for all of which we are truly gi-ateful. 

"We have become warmly attached to the In- 
dependent, and shall feel more than a common 
interest in its future welfare and prosperity. 

"After a few weeks' travel for recreation, we 
shall take up another line of business which 
awaits us. 

*'In making this transfer, we feel entirely con- 
fident that we are doing no injustice to our sub- 
scribers, fully believing that our successor is 
competent to greatly improve the Independent, 
and that it will be his aim to do so. Eight 
years' experience as president of the State Nor- 
mal School at Platteville, and the liberal en- 
dorseinciitgiven him l)y eminentand worthy men, 
oc(tii[)ying high positions of trust in our State, 
afford unquestionable |>roof of his ability and 
honesty of pur])ose; and coming among us as 
he does, a comjjarative stranger, free from the 
piques and prejudices in the personal or neigh- 
borhood differenc^es which too frequently exist 
betweeri older residents, we bespeak for him a 
hearty welcome, hosts of friends and abundant 
success. Burr SpRA(iUE " 

E. A. Charlton's salutatory was in these words: 

"In accordance with the announcement made 
last week, we have assumed control of the In- 
dependent as editor and publisher. 

"It is not witliout some misgivings tliat we 
enter upon tliese new duties and responsibili- 



'fffjr^ 



'*^-^ 
^-'*--'^ 



f'«*'(i 



0*^ 



■# 





771^ ^ ^/^^r^r^^^^l^r 





y>ri 




^^^a^4y^^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



615 



ties, but relying upon the kindness anfl forbear- 
ance of our friends and patrons, we hope to 
become "masters of the situation," and in due 
time to satisfy all reasonable expectations. 

"It will be the aim of the Independent to pro- 
mote the bestwelfareof the community in which 
it is published. Whatever we can do through its 
columns to pi'omote the moral, intellectual and 
social interests of this village, will be cheerfully 
and heartily done. We shall advocate those 
principles and practices that in our judgment 
tend to improve society and to make human life 
more happy and more useful. 

"Our long experience as a teacher has made us 
so familiar with public and private education 
and has given us such an interest in this sub- 
ject, that we can hardly refrain — if we would, 
from devoting especial attention to the interests 
of our common schools and other institutions 
of learning. The educational affairs of this 
community, and of this State, shall receive due 
attention. In this direction we shall advocate 
thorough preparation and faithful work on the. 
part of teachers; efficient and liberal manage- 
ment on the part of boards. We believe that 
teaching should be recognized as a profession, 
that only competent and skilled teachers should 
be employed, and that these should be justly 
paid for their services. 

"In politics, we shall not be partisan. While 
we shall, in general, advocate the principles of 
the republican party, as party lines are now 
drawn, we shall give credit for honesty, integ- 
rity and patriotism in public service, whenever 
and wherever found. 

"While the Independent vcw\%\,uqq.g^%^x'\\^ give 
especial attention to local matters and interests, 
we shall endeavor to present such original and 
selected articles as will prove acceptable to our 
more distant readers. In this connection it 
may not be improper to say that Mrs. Charlton 
will be a frequent contributor to our columns, 
and will aid us in our editorial work. 

"But we are aware that we shall be judged by 
what we perform, rather than by what wc 



promise. We can only assure our readers that 
whtitever can be done-by entire devotion to our 
work shall be done. 

"To the citizens of Brodhead, we beg leave to 
say that we have come here hoping to stay. 
We propose to cast in our lot with you, and be- 
come idetitified with the interests of your beau- 
tiful village, and to do our part, so far as in us 
lies, to sustain all its beneficent institutions. Our 
business will be in connection with the Inde- 
pendent^ and we ask your liberal patronage not 
only in subscriptions but in every department 
of our work. We shall make such improve- 
ments from time to time as your support will 
waiTant us in doing. 

"Thanking our friends both far and near for 
their cheering words and kind encouragement, 
we extend 

'A kindly greetinsf to old friends, 
A hearty welcome to the new.' 
Respectfully, 

.E A. Charlton." 

On Sept. 13, 1880, Mr. Charlton took charge of 
the Brodhead High School and continued through 
the school year, closing June, 1S81.. During 
this time he exercised a general oversight over 
the affairs of the office, but the bulk of the edi- 
torial work was done by Mrs. Charlton, while 
the foreman attended to the business of the of- 
fice. With this exception he has given his en- 
tire time and efforts to the paper, since he be- 
came its owner. 

On the 21st of June, 1881, Mr. Charlton pur- 
chased of W^alker & Co., Madison, a Prouty 
Power Press, turning over to them, in part pay- 
ment, the old hand press which had been in 
service from the outset, and had previously done 
duty for the States Mights, at Monroe. 

The paper was in 1864 a seven column folio. 
On Oct. 7, 1881, Mr. Charlton enlarged it to its 
present size, an eight column folio. 

The original price of the paper was $2 a year. 
In 1870 it was made $1.50, in advance, and has 
since remained at that price. 



36 



616 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Early in 1869 "ready prints" (patent insides 
or outsides) were used, and have been in use 
most of the time since. 

In Mr. Charlton's salutatory reference is 
made to Mrs. Charlton's expected help in edi- 
torial work. More recently, her name appears 
as one of the editors. 

In 1879, when Mr. Charlton took charge of 
the paper, Brodhead was suffering from the 
general depression of business which j)revailed. 
The Lidependtitt was naturally at a low ebb. 
It has to some extent shared in the general re- 
vival of business. The edition on May 30, 
1879, was 16 quires, 384 copies, it is now, Aug. 
1884, 38 quires, 912 copies. There has also 
been a corresponding increase in advertising. 
The Independent has always been a republican 
paper. 

I. F. Mack, Sr., one of the early settlers of 
Decatur and one of the founders of Brodhead, 
is now a resident of Chicago. 

I. F. Mack, Jr., (commonly known as 'Foster') 
is now senior partner of I. F. Mack & Bro., 
editors and proprietors of the Sandusky (Ohio) 
Regifiter. 

Willis C. Stone is now a publisher in Chica- 
go. Charles M. Morse is in Dakota. D. W. 
Tyrrell is a publisher in De Kalb, 111. 

Burr Sprague practices law, as shown in a 
previous chapter, in Brodhead. E. O. Kimber- 
ley has been a publisher and now has a job 
printing office at Sioux Falls, Dakota. 

Edirin A. Oharlton 
was born at Littleton, N. H., Sept. 29, 1828, and 
was the eldest child of Walter and Mindwell 
(Moulton) Charlton. His father was also a 
native of Littleton, being the son of Robert 
Charlton, who came from England in the latter 
part of the last century, and made a home upon 
thebanl'sof the Connecticut where he lived 
for many years and died at a good old agt-, 
honored and respected by all who knew hin). 
His mother was the daughter of Job and Anna 
Moulton who were among the first settlers of 
that part of the adjoining town of Lyman. 



which was subsequently named Monroe. 'V\\q 
family was of English origin and came to Ly- 
man from southeastern New Hampshire. Job 
Moulton was a ''minute man" in the Revolution- 
ary War. His wife was Anna Way, of whose 
eccentric father many stories yet linger in local 
tradition. When the subject of this sketch was 
about live years of age, his parents removed to 
Jay, Orleans county, in the extreme northern part 
of Vermont. '\ his was then a new country, heav- 
ily timbered, and but sparsely settled. It was a 
work of no small magnitude to remove the pri- 
meval forest and make a home in the wilder- 
ness. But his parents were intelligent people 
and fond of reading, and as far as their means 
would allow, supjjlied their home with books 
and newspapers, which were eagerly read. The 
district school, too, was there, which, though 
limited in its scope and imperfect in its manage- 
ment, afforded the rudiments of an education. 
There were no church edifices, but the Method- 
ist circuit rider preaclied at regular intervals 
'\\\ the school houses. Other denominations 
wer<^ occasionally represented — not omitting the 
Moinions, who from this sparsely settled com- 
munity induced at least one family to acconv 
pany them to Nauvoo. Amid such surround- 
ings his early boyhood was passed. In the 
spring of 1845, his father desiring better oppor- 
tunities for the education of his children, re- 
moved to Hanover, N. H., and some two years 
later, to Claremont, in the same State, which 
continued to be the family home for many 
years. Both parents died at Lowell, Mass., in 
the month of April, 1875. "Their children rise 
up and call them blessed." While at Hanover, 
he attended school a few terms and made par- 
tial preparation for college, but tlie lack of pe- 
cuniary means interfered with study and a con- 
siderable portion of his time was devoted to 
manual labor. At Claremont he found employ- 
n\ent in the factories, and having studied under 
private tuition at intervals, and having attended 
school a term or two, he was admitted- to Dart- 
mouth College, Hanover, N. IL, at the opening 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



617 



of the fall terra in 1850. During his college 
course lie taught school every winter and during 
two of the fall terms; still lie graduated in due 
course, in July, 1854, standing among the 
best scholars, in a class of fifty-seven members. 
Leaving college, he found employment as prin- 
cipal of the academy at Haverhill, i^. H., where 
he remained one year. He then became pre- 
ceptor of (Tilmanton Academy in the same State, 
and remained there until the close of the fall 
term, in 1856. He then returned to Claremont 
and entered upon the study of law, but soon af- 
ter he accepted an invitation to become princi- 
pal of the Union School at Lockport, N. Y., and 
entered upon the duties of this new position in 
April, 1857. His work in this place was pleas- 
ant, and the school prospered under his charge. 
In the spring of 1861 he resigned his position 
at Lockport and went to Schenectady, N'. Y., 
as vice-principal of the Union School and secre- 
tary of the board of education. In the follow- 
ing spring, March 20, 1862, he was married to 
Helen Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Hon. Alfred 
Holmes, of Lockport. In the fall of the same 
year, he removed to Gilmanton, N. H., and 
again became preceptor of the academy, Mrs. 
Charlton being preceptress. But changes hav- 
ing occurred in the schools at Schenectady, he 
was invited to return to that place as superin- 
tendent; and accordingly, in the fall of 1863, 
he resumed work in that place. Here for 
five years he performed his duties to the satis- 
faction of the board of education and of the 
entire community. But feeling that a change 
would in some respects be desii'able, in the fall 
of 1868 he accepted the position of principal of 
the high school and secretary of the board of 
education in Auburn, N. Y. His work in Au- 
burn was pleasant and his social surroundings 
agreeable, but a constitutional tendency to 
asthmatic and bronchial trouble became greatly 
aggravated, and it soon became evident that his 
only hope of relief was in a change of climate. 
Through the intervention of his old friend, 



Prof. B. M. Reynolds, then of Madison, he was 
introduced to the board of normal regents of 
Wisconsin, and was called, in the summer of 
1870, to the presidency of the State Normal 
School at Platteville, and entered on duty at 
that place at the opening of the fall term in 
September. For a little more than eight years 
— or until the close of the fall term in Decem- 
ber, 1878 — he performed the duties of his posi- 
tion to the best of his ability. Of his work in 
this school it is not necessary to speak in detail. 
That it was successful is attested by the grate- 
ful remembrance in which it is held by hun- 
dreds of his former pupils who are scattered 
through Wisconsin and other portions of the 
great northwest; and the high estimation in 
which he is held by the citizens of Platteville, 
attests his worth as a man as well as a teacher. 
After closing his work in the Normal School at 
Platteville, while still undecided as to his fu- 
ture course, Mr. Charlton accepted an invitation 
from T. C. Richmond, then county superintend- 
ent of Green county, to assist in institute work 
at Juda, and went to that place on the lOth of 
March, 1879, and remained there about five 
weeks. This was his first introduction to the 
county which was destined to become his home. 
While at Juda, he made a brief visit to Brod- 
head, and was so attracted by the beauty of the 
place, that he made a subsequent visit with a 
view to seek a business location. This resulted 
in his purchase, of Burr Sprague Esq, of the 
Brodhead Independent, of which he took 
formal possession, May 26, 1879. Of his five 
years and more of work in connection with this 
paper, including one year during which he was 
principal of the Brodhead high school, it is 
not necessary to speak in this place, as the facts 
are sufliciently set forth in the history of the 
Independent itself. Suftice it to say that under 
liiH management the circulation of the paper 
has largely increased, and it maintains a credit- 
able standing among the local newspapers of 
the State. In his earlier life he was trained in 
the democratic faith, but before he became a 



618 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



voter, the anti-slavery agitation swept ov(m- the 
land. Tn that cause he took a warm interest, 
and counted himself a "free soiler" before 
the fortnation of the republican party. And 
when that party came to the front he found in 
it the embodiment of the principles in which he 
thoroughly believed,and to which he has steadily 
adhered. As mentioned elsewhere, he was mar- 
ried March 20, 1862, to Helen Elizabeth Holmes, 
of Lockport, N. Y., whose father, Hon. Alfred 
Holmes, is now the senior member of the 
>.iagara county bar, having been engaged in 
the practice of law for upwards of fifty years. 
His wife has proved, in the full sense of the 
term, a helpmeet. She has given him valuable 
aid in his school work, and as associate editor 
of the Independent, has made frequent contri- 
butions to its columns, both in prose and in 
verse. Two children have been born to them — 
Walter Holmes Charlton, was born at Schenec- 
tady, N. Y , Jan. 4. 1866, and died at Lock- 
port, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1875, while on a visit 
with liis mother at her old home. The second 
and onl}' surviving child, Winifred Holmes 
Charlton, was born at Piatteville, Wis., May 
13, 1874. 

THE BRODHEAI) REGISTER. 

The Brodhead Megister, the latest newspaper 
venture in Brodhead, was established and its 
first number issue! Nov. 1, 1883, by Louis A. 
W. Sprague, doing business as the Peerless 
Printing Company. The salutatory of the ed- 
itor, we give entire : 

"The Peerless Printing Company commenced 
business just two years ago, on a small scale, 
with no special inducements and but little tf> 
encourage such an undertaking. 

"Thus far our work has been C(mfined to job 
printing exclusively. 

"We did not anticipate great results in so 
short a time, and in this have not been disap- 
pointed ; but we have endeavored to turn out a 
class of work that would fairly merit favorable 
consideration and a reasonable share of patron- 
age. Our hopes in tJiis respect have been fully 



realized. The (ield is small, at best, but our 
busitiess has steadily increased until we have 
deemed it both safe and expedient to secure 
pleasant and convenient rooms for a long term 
of years, and to add largely to our stock and 
materials, until v» e have every facility requisite 
to publish a small weekly paper. 

"At the earnest solicitation of very many cit- 
izens of Brodhead and vicinity, among whom 
are numbered some of the ablest and best busi- 
ness men, we have consented to commence the 
weekly publication of the Brodhead Megister, 
at the beginning of our third year. 

"Jn this enterprise we shall make no vain pre- 
tensions, but, as in our jobbing department, 
shall endeavor to give 'value received' to all 
our patrons, and submit the result to their can- 
did judgment. 

"It may be said that there are already news- 
papers enough in Green county. This may be 
said of any trade, business or profession ; and 
yet many more merchants, farmers, mechanics 
and professional men will doubtless begin busi- 
ness and sficreed in our midst, and we feel as- 
suied that no large-hearted public-spii-ited man 
or woman will presume to oppose or discourage 
the establishment of any new firm, business or 
enterprise that is honorable. 

"The writer has resided in this village since 
lie was five years old, received his schooling 
here, and learned the art of printing during that 
time. His home and his interests are in Brod- 
head. It is and has been impossible for him to 
pursue the trade of his choice af home, in any 
other way or manner than the one he has 
adopted. He believes there is rootn for him to 
earn an honest living by hard work and close 
application at home as well as abroad. 

"As announced in our New Year's greeting we 
are 'here to stay,'' and whether our pathway 
shall be strewn with more of roses or of thorns 
and thistles, we shall at least put forth a hearty 
efl'ort to overcome obstacles, and above all else 
to jilease our customers and give them the 
worth of their money. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



61 y 



k 



"We prefer to begin in a small way with a 
hope and pros])ect of steady and certain growth, 
to shouldering a burden too heavy for our youtli- 
ful shoulders ; and in so doing we trust that 
every change may be for the better. 

"We are not united with any sect or political 
party, and are consequently free to advocate 
any principles or views that may seem to us just 
and equitable. It is our purpose to remain un- 
fettered and untramroeled, and to speak fear- 
lessly in the cause of right at all times, treating 
all as friends who are willing to be such, a)id 
show themselves worthy. 

"Our subscription list is thus far composed of 
unsolicited subscribers. This issue will be 
mailed to some who are not subscribers, and 
we shall be pleased to continue the paper to 
them all, with the understanding tliat it shall 
be discontinued at any time when requested. 

"Our subscription price is |1 a year, and to 
those who pay in advance before the 1st of Jan- 
uary next we will send the paper until January, 
1885 — fourteen months from date." 

The Register is, really, an ably conducted 
paper, and though unpretentious as to size, has 
doubtless, before it, a brilliant future. 

Louis A. W. Sprague 
was born June 23, 1862, at Oxford, Rock Co., Wis. 
He moved to Brodhead with his parents— Burr 
Sprague and Vina B. Sprague — when six years 
old, and has resided there ever since. He was 
educated in Brodhead at the high school. He 
has worked at the printing business since the 
fall of 18V8, most of thetimein Brodhead. He 
opened a jobbing office Nov. 1, 1881, and has 
since kept the same in operation. He com- 
menced the publication of the Brodhead liegisfer, 
Nov. 1, 1883. He married Dec. 31, 1883, Mattie 
E. Barber, of Brodhead. 

ALBANY WEEKLY .rOURNAL. 

The first paper was a seven column folio by 
I. S. Dexter and Y. T. Lacey in 1858 or 1859. 
In the early part of the year 1860 the paper 
passed into the hands of Joseph Baker, under 
the original name of the Albany Ti??ies, who 



ran it about one year, when it was purchased by 
Dexter & Klaesy, who continued its publication 
until August, 1862, when the enlistment of th( 
junior editor (Gustave Klaesy) in United States 
service, together with the entire force of tin 
office, caused its suspension. In the fall of 1865. 
at tile close of the war, C. W. Osgood and youi 
humble servant, J. E. Bartlett, revived the pa- 
triotic old type, and under the name of tlie Al- 
bany Journal, which existed for the short period 
of six months. In June, 1878, the Journal was 
again started by Brundage & Bullock. After 
running about six months it passed into the 
hands of the present proprietor, J. E. Bartlett. 
When it was survived this time it was changed 
to a five column quarto, 26x40 inches. It had been 
a staunch republican paper. Its entire outfit, 
presses, type, etc., save the file of copies, was 
destroyed by fire on the 26th of Novembeu 
1883, together with a large part of the business 
portion of the village, but was immediately re- 
established and published, only losing one issue. 

John E. Bartlett, 
editor of the Albany Journal, was born in the 
town of Corinth, State of New York, Aug. 9, 
1847. In 1856 he came with his parents to 
Wisconsin, and located in Beloit, Rock county. 
His parents now reside in Brodhead. In 1857 
he came to Albany, and in 1858 was appren- 
ticed to Lacy & Dexter, editors and proprietors 
of the Albany Times, to learn the printer's 
trade, for which business he seemed to have a 
natural adaptation. He remained upon the 
force publishing that paper until 1862. Mean- 
while the Times had changed hands twice, be- 
ing controlled after the first change by Joseph 
Baker, who was in turn succeeded by Dexter & 
Klaesy. Upon the 6th day of August, 1862, 
the subject of this sketch, together with the 
junior editor (Gustave Klaesy), and C. W. Os- 
good and Ira A. Foster, associate employes, re- 
sponded to the call of his country and enlisted 
in company F, 3l8t regiment, Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers. This company was organized by Capt. 
C. W. Burns. This action of so many of the 



620 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



force of the Times caused the suspension of 
that paper. After three years of service in the 
army Mr. Bartlett returned to Albany, broken 
down in health, consequent upon exposure and 
hardship incident to the life of a soldier during 
those dark days of the great American conflict. 
He was a good soldier, and thus sacrificed u2)on 
the altar of his country his young strength. 
Upon his return, in company with C. W. Os- 
good, a former associate in the printing busi- 
ness, he revived the patriotic old press and 
type which had so long been silent, and under 
the name of the Albany Journal, embarked in 
a newspaper enterprise, which, on account of 
his failing health, had only a brief six months' 
duration. In 1878, upon the earnest solicitation 
of time honored friends, he resumed the publi- 
cation of the Albany Journal, and has since 
continued, with varied success. He was not ex- 
empt from the disastrous fire which laid waste 
so great a part of this thriving village, and 
everything he had went up in smoke; but with 
characteristic energy the Journal was again put 
on a footing, and is now among the better class 
of papers of the county. Mr. Bartlett was 
married Dec; 25, 1866, to Emma Payne, a native 
of New York State. They have had two chil- 
dren — Flora Stella, who died in infancy, and 
Spencer E., who was born Nov. 20, 1869. 

THE ALBANY VINDICATOR. 

The Vindicator is published every Thursday 
at Albany and is now in its first volume. It is 
published by the Vindicator Publishing Com- 
pany. It is edited largely in the interests of 
prohibition and is ably conducted. 

RANDOM EXTRACTS CONCERNING GREEN COUNTS 
NEWSPAPERS. I 

Brodhead Reporter. 
"We have received the first number of the 
Brodhead Reporter, L. Winthrop Powell, editor 
and publisher. The paper is republican in 
politics, devoted to the general interests of the 
town and county in which it is published; is a 
seven column sheet, very neatly gotten up; and 



bears evidence of earnest management. We 
wish friend Powell a good list of subscribers 
and a thrifty business." — Monroe Sentinel, May 
4, 1859. ' 

A Brief History of Txoo Papers. 

[From the Monroe Sentiuel, May 11, 1859 ] 

About the first week in May, 1850, Mr. 
Snow commenced the publication in this vil- 
lage [Monroe,] of a six column paper, neutral 
in politics, entitled the Green County Union. 
After continuing its publication one year, he 
sold the office to our fellow-townsman, J. W. 
Stewart, who put the paper partly in a new dress 
and made a regular whig organ. After con- 
tinuing as editor and publisher for little more 
than three months, he sold the office to Rev. J. 
Walworth and 0. D. Moulton, who changed 
the politics of the paper from whig to demo- 
cratic, and published it through the volume, 
when Mr. Walworth beccame sole editor and 
proprietor. He afterwards enlarged to a seven 
column size and continued its publication until 
Sept. 15, 1854. It is proper to remark 
that, about the time of the passage of the 
Kansas-Nebraska bill, Mr. Walworth took 
grounds against the step and took part in the 
organization of the republican party. On the 
15th of September, 1854, N. L. Stout and G. W. 
Tenney leased the office and fixtures for the 
term of one year, and came out wholly and 
unequivocally in favor of the republican party 
— a position the paper has maintained ever 
since. On the 16th of May, 1855, Messrs Stout 
and Tenney purchased the office and continued 
joint editors and publishers until September 
15, of the same year, when N. L. Stout retired 
and left the present publisher in sole possession. 
On the commencement of the next succeeding 
volume, in May, 1856, we put the Sentinel in an 
entire new dress, and on August 11, following, 
enlarged it to eight columns to the page. 

Gone Out—- Disapp>eared — Busted — Vanished. 

"Indepkxdent Press.— The paper which has 

been published in this village [Monroe] for the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



621 



past seven months, bearing the above title, has 
gone out, disappeared, busted, vanished 

'Without 
Word of premoaition, or sigaal of alarm,' 
sometliing after the manner in which an ideal 
vision of dimes is ofttimes dissolved by the 
introduction of a dun. It undertook to carry 
Lecompton, to which absurd idea it probably is 
in a measure indebted for its dissolution. We 
understand the materials have been taken to 
the village of Albany, in this county, at which 
place a new and distinct paper will be issued." 
— Monroe Sentinel, May 12, 1858, 
lietired. 
"By the last number of the Albany Times, we 
learn that I. S. Dexter has surrendered the 
honors, emoluments and tripod to his associate, 
Yates T. Lacy. Dexter is one of the tallest 
kind of editors and looked at matters about 
him from a high stand-point. May his shadow 
never be less." — Monroe Sentinel, May 18, 

1859. 

Editorial Change. 

[From the Monroe Sentinel, April 35, I860.] 

We hear it stated that friend Lacy of the 
Albany Times has disposed of that paper to 
Col. Baker, formerly of the Janesville Free 
Press. Mr Baker drives the pen with vigor 
and talent and we cordially extend our hand in 
welcome. Our relations with Mr. Lacy, who, 
we suppose, retires from the paper, have led us 
to regard him as a true and honorable gentle- 
man. 

To the Friends and Patrons of the Green County 
Democrat. 

[From the Monroe Sentinel, June 13, I860.] 

It is due the patrons and friends of the Dem- 
ocrat that I should make a statement of facts in 
regard to its discontin-uance. The office was 
purchased upon the following terms: Nine 
democrats of Brodhead and vicinity endorsed 
a note or bond for me, for $300, payable three 
months from date, and I gave my own notes for 
the sum of |4I2; this added to the |300 note, 
made the amount $712 in all. The $300 note 
became due on the 16th of April last, but as my 



endorsers nor myself could not raise the 
amount, I had it extended thirty days more. 
It also expired, and we could not pay. The 
16th of May one of my own notes, of $140 be- 
came due also, and I could not meet it, and thus 
the office was left in a bad situation. It was 
understood that donations from prominent dem- 
ocrats in Brodhead and other places, were to be 
made to pay off the $300 note, but no donations 
were ever made, nor were any of the gloicing 
promises, which were made to me fultiilled. I 
received but live very small sums as donations, 
three of fifty cents and two of txoo dollars. 
There was a great hue and. cry made by one 
very prominent democrat that we were ex- 
travagant in our funds and received plenty of 
money. I had no means of my own, and all 
I had to depend on to support myself, and pay 
the expenses of the office, was the subscription 
money, which was "few and far between." 
The advertising did not amount to anything; 
and here let me say that the democratic busi- 
ness men of Brodhead did lend their influence 
and patronage to the Reporter, a republican 
sheet, in preference to one of their own party — 
but four democrats advertised their business, 
and that txpon a very small scale. Mr. J. Brant, 
saddler, being the last advertiser I had. Yet 
in the face of all this, I was accused of extrava- 
gance! Kept too much help, etc. Had the 
democrats canvassed the county, and performed 
the work they promised to do, our expenses 
would not have been half of what they were, 
but the democrats failed to canvass, and it was 
left for me to do the work in the office as well 
as to canvass. Any person, of sense, will see 
that it was utterly impossible for me to do the 
work and canvass tod. I was compelled to hire 
an employe, and to keep my matters in running 
order. I was kept from home the most of my 
time in collecting money and canvassing, and 
I could not get far enough ahead without hired 
help. 

Reports of all kinds were circulated to my in- 
jury, by several disappointed democrats, because 



622 



HISTOKY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1 would not be controlled by them, and do and 
write as they dictated. It was well understood 
before I started the Democrat, that I would not 
be controlled by any one man, clique or sect, 
but was willing to be ruled and governed by a 
majority of the democrats in the county. Those 
democrats who made those glowing promises, 
had all a remunerative office in view, and as 
soon as it was discovered that they would not 
get the "loaves and fishes," their purses as well 
as their devotion to the principles of democracy 
collapsed. They are no democrats from prin- 
ciple, but from office. I have always been op- 
posed to such democracy and always will be. I 
want a man to be one thing or the other, out 
and out. There are several sound and live 
democrats in Green county, and the most prom- 
inent are S. P. Condee, of Monroe, Samuel North-' 
croft and Samuel Rowe, of Decatur, and John 
Taylor, of Brodhead. To John Taylor I 
am indebted for many favors extended towards 
me, and he is a true and tried democrat. For 
the past four weeks I did not receive $2, and 
we could not buy our, paper on credit and run 
in debt for board. Last Monday the office was 
closed by Messrs. Rounds & Langdon. I 
never toiled and devised ways and means to 
keep the office running, as I did in Brodhead, but 
all to no purpose. The office closed and I am 
$50 in debt, and borrowed $3 with which to 
leave town. I think it will be a long time be- 
fore they get a printer in their clutches. I am 
a democrat and always have been, and always 
expect to be, but I shall never stoo]:) to low 
trickery to gain laurels and fame. The above 
statements I can corroborate, and I do not pub- 
lish them for the purpose of injuring the party 
in Little Green, but for the purpose of placing 
the blame where it belongs. More could 
be told, but I think this sufficient. 

Elijah H. Ever, Editor Democrat. 
Sidney, Ohio, June C, 1860. 



New Paper. 

[Oct. 18, 1865.] 

We have received the first number of the 
Albany Weeldy Journal, published at Albany, 
in this county, by Osgood & Bartlett. C. W. 
Osgood is the editor, with Joseph Baker assist- 
ant editor. The paper professes to be "free 
and independent, and will not intermeddle with 
party quarrels or controversies." What do you 
mean, Mr. Osgood, by "free and independent?" 
You say that you will publish other men's 
opinions ; but have you no political opinions of 
your own? You say you have served in the 
army; what did you fight for? Were there no 
political principles involved in that great strug- 
gle with Rebellion? Is there nothing for 
patriots to do now'i Have you no opinion to 
express on the great and vital issues which now 
convulse the Nation? We cannot understand 
how any man can be neutral, with all these 
momentous National questions before him. 

[June 29, 1870.] 

Gen. James Bintliff, for a long time a promi- 
nent citizen of Green county, takes up his pen 
to edit the Gazette, in Janesville, Wis., to-mor- 
row, Thursday, June 30. By those who know 
him best, Mr, Bintliff is regarded one of the 
ablest writers and speakers of this State. He 
has a rich store of practical knowledge of hu- 
man nature, and the history of the important 
events of modern times. He has always taken 
a front rank in the republican party, since its 
organization; served his party and the great 
principles of freedom faithfully, on the stump, 
in the field of war and in the sanctum. He will 
take to the Gazette a degree of energy, good 
will, ability and experience in the things which 
make men valuable, excelled by none, equaled 
by few. His going will take from us a valuable 
citizen, and will add to the editorial fraternity 
of Wisconsin, one more bright particular star, 
who will, we predict, rise rapidly to that high 
position for which he is so fitly qualified. Yet 
we are satisfied that his zeal and labors for the 
welfare of Kock county will not prevent his 
taking some interest in the affairs of his old 
"stamping ground." 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



623 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE SWISS COLONY OF NEW GLARUS. 



BY JOHN LUCHSIXGER. 



In the northern part of Green Co., Wis., 
about sixteen miles north of Monroe, is situated 
the little village of New Glarus. This village, 
as well as the township in which it lies, was so 
named after the canton and town of Glarus in 
eastern Switzerland, of which place the inhabi- 
tants are natives or their descendants. Pleas- 
antly located on the west bank of Little Sugar 
river, on sloping ground, and in the midst of 
varied, rather rough, yet pleasing scenery, it 
presents a romantic and somewhat un-American 
appearance, owing to the diversified style of its 
buildings; and its plain yet queer church-tower, 
unlike any other outside of the old country. 
The houses are mostly built on the border of 
the streets, there being no sidewalks for foot pas- 
sengers, nor space in front for shade trees. The 
village contains about fifty dwellings, with 
barns and other out-buildings. There are two 
churches, two school houses, a grist and saw 
mill run by water-power, a large cheese factory, 
a brewery, three stores and four hotels and 
saloons. 

The population is about 200. A physician, a 
minister of the Swiss Reformed Church, and 
two schoolmasters reside in the place, and at- 
tend to the medical, religious and educational 
wants of the people. There are, besides, arti- 
sans, mechanics and laborers of all trades and 
occupations needed by a community of this size, 
thus rendering this settlement quite independ- 
ent of the surrounding villages — in fact, it is a 
community within itself. 

The people of the village, as well as of the 
surrounding country, speak among themselves 



almost exclusively the German-Swiss dialect. 
All school and town meetings and elections, 
and even proceedings in justice's courts, are of 
necessity conducted in this language. A 
stranger stopping here for the first time could 
easily imagine that he had dropped down upon 
a portion of Switzerland. They occupy, with 
the exception of a small portion on the northern 
and eastern boundaries, the whole of the town- 
ship; the only persons of other Nationalities in 
the town being three or four families of Nor- 
wegians and Irish. In fully one-half of the 
town of Washington, and large portions of half 
a dozen other towns in Green county, and also 
in the southern part of Dane, a number of Swiss 
have gained a foothold. The number of Swiss 
and their descendants in Green county alone ex- 
ceeds 3,000, comprising about one-seventh of 
the entire population of the county. The vil- 
lage of New Glarus is the central point of 
gathering on all holidays and festivals; and is 
also the place where religious services are held 
for most of the Swiss in the county. 

The people of this settlement are noted for 
their industry, frugality and economy, qualities 
which with them are inherited, their ancestors 
having from necessity been obliged to prac- 
tice them for many centuries, owing to the 
sterile and mountainous character of their 
fatherland, where nature yields her bounties 
grudgingly, and with scanty measure. One can- 
not help observing, on entering the settlement, 
the effects of these good qualities; good, com- 
fortable houses, spacious and substantial barns, 
and other out-buildiugs are seen everywhere; 



624 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and nowhere in Green county is so mucli money 
expended in permanent improvements as here, 
and that, too, in tlie face of the fact tliat the 
country is very broken and rough, the soil on 
tlie uplands thin, liable to wash away at every 
heavy rain, and in many places stony. 

But the people at an early period betook 
themselves to dairy farming and the raising of 
cattle. To this branch of industry they were 
well adapted, and thoroughly understood it, that 
being of necessity the only branch of agricul- 
ture possible among the mountains of their old 
home. This vicinity is also well suited for the 
purpose; for the hill pastures produce sweet, 
nutritious, if scant, gi'asses, . while the natural 
meadows in the bottoms yield an abundance of 
good hay, and springs and streams of pure, cool 
water abound, almost every farm being supplied 
with running water. All these are requisites in 
order to produce excellence in the product, and 
health in the stock. 

The people, as a rule, are hard-working, be- 
lieving that honest, old fashioned, sturdy strokes 
and blows are required to secure a livelihood 
and competence. They are economical also, to 
the verge of penuriousness; spending less than 
they earn, the mystery is easily explained why 
they get on in the world better than many of 
their neighbors of American or other National- 
ities, who are so often heard to express wonder 
how people with so many obstacles, natural and 
artificial to contend with, should have done so 
well. Industry and economy will bring about 
the same good result in any Nation or country. 
The people are generally less involved in debt, 
and less complaint of hard times is heard here 
than in other sections of the country. 

Prior to the year 1845, for about fifteen years, 
the times in Europe were prosperous. A long 
reign of peace had given an impetus to trade, 
and manufactures had greatly increased, so that 
the large surplus population of Switzerland, that 
had formerly. found vent by enlisting in foreign 
armies now found employment in the factories; 
and ai long as trade was gopd, every one pros- 



pered. About this period, a general stagnation in 
business occurred, which threw large numbers of 
tlie poor out of employment; and added to this, 
a partial failure in crops caused a rise in the 
price of the necessaries of life, so that distress 
was great among the working classes, and it be- 
came a serious question to the governments of 
the Swiss cantons as to what would be the fate 
of many of those who had hitherto obtained 
bread, and were contented, during prosperous 
times. 

The portions of arable land which were owned 
by the different parishes, and allotted to each 
citizen for cultivation annually, were becoming 
smaller and smaller as the population increased, ^, 
being at that time from forty to 160 klafters of 
six feet square each, for the head of every fam- 
ily, according as the parish he happened to be- 
long to, was rich or the reverse. The parishes 
and communes in many instances not only owned 
these portions of arable land, but also the sum- 
mer pastures on the Alps, which were leased 
from time to time to private parties. The in- 
come from this source, and also from the for- 
ests, which are mainly owned in the same way, 
is applied to the payment of salaries to preach- 
ers and the civil officials; taxation, in con-e- 
quence of this large income, is very light in 
many localities. 

Every citizen in Glarus is entitled to the use 
of one of these portions, which he may cultivate 
liimself or by others; or he may give or lease it 
to others, if not in condition to use it himself. 
When any left the country, the value of such a 
sliare, together with other privileges, was esti- 
mated, and paid in money to those who migrated, 
being, in fact, a premium on emigration These 
small parcels were mainly planted with potatoes, 
beans and other vegetables, the raising of grain 
being almost unknown in Glarus, the people de- 
pending for breadstuffs partly on Italy, but 
mostly on Hungary. In times of depression, 
the food of the poorer working classes is mainly 
potatoes, with salt or green cheese, called schab- 
zieger, for spice or seasoning. The cheese is 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



625 



made from skira-milk coagulated with acid whey, 
then packed in casks and left to ripen, which 
occurs in about four weeks. It is tlien ground 
in a mill, and mixed with a certain pi'oportion 
of leaves of a species of blue pansy, which are 
previously dried and pulverized for the purpose. 
After being tlioroughly mixed, the cheese is 
pressed into conical moulds, which hold about 
two pounds; and, after drying, is ready for use. 
When ripe, it is of a dark green color, and so 
hard that it can be grated like a nutmeg. The 
so-called sap-sago cheese is its counterpart. 
Coffee is made from the roots of chickory, and 
is drank without sugar, and in many families, 
without milk. The supply of bread, even in 
prosperous times, is limited, the house-wife al- 
lotting to each a certain portion, and no more. 
The leading men of the canton of Glarus 
cast about for means by which this over-popu- 
lation and consequent distress could be relieved. 
Meetings were held, and it was thought that an 
emigration under the care and control of the 
government would be the best method of relief. 
Another meeting to devise ways and means was 
called, and was largely attended at Schwanden, 
and a committee was appointed to wait on the 
authorities and ask their co-operation. This 
was extended, and the sum of 1,500 gulden 
or florins was appropriated for the pur- 
pose of sending two pioneers to the United 
States of America, to seek and locate a tract of 
land for a colony. An Emigration Society was 
also formed, and took charge of the funds, 
which were increased by private subscription ; 
and appointed two intelligent men to select a 
suitable location, and purchase lands on which 
to plant the colony — one was Nicholas Duerst, 
then forty-eight j-ears old, who came out only 
to see the settlement well under way, and then 
returned to Switzerland, where he died in J874, 
at the good old age of seventy-seven years ; his 
associate was Fridolin Streiff, then twenty-nine 
years of age. Mr. Streiff agreed to remain 
three years with the colony, and extend to them 
every assistance and advice. Before tiiat time 



expired; he sent for his family, and now resides 
at Monroe, Wis. 

On the 8th of March, 1845, the pioneers 
started on their voyage and search for a new 
home, accompanied by the warmest wishes for 
their success of those who remained behind, 
but were soon to follow. In due time they ar- 
rived in this country, and sought W. H. Blumer, 
in Allentown, Penn., a fellow Swiss, who as- 
sisted them with his advice ; and from his many 
years' residence in America, was well capable 
of rendering them very essential aid by his 
knowledge and experience. 

They had received from the Emigration So- 
ciety, instructions to buy 1,200 acres 
of land in one body, with sufficient timber. 
After wandering through several States in 
search of a location, which, according to their 
instructions, must have a healthy climate, good 
walei', and plenty of timber, they came into the 
vicinity of Mineral Point, and proceeded to the 
land office, then located there, for advice and 
directions. They first examijied a tract in Rock 
county, close to the line of the Mineral Point 
and Milwaukee land district; but on return- 
ing to the Point, found that it had just been 
bought. After further fruitless search in the 
Wisconsin river valley, in Dane and Sauk 
counties, they were finally directed to Little 
Sugar river, where, on both sides of the Mineral 
Point and Milwaukee road, they found and 
located a tract according to instructions. Twelve 
hundred acres were purchased in one body, 
and eighty acres of heavy timber two miles 
south of the main location. 

It was considered an excellent selection. 
Springs abounded, the soil appeared good ; and 
as it was on one of the. most frequently traveled 
roads at that time in the State, a railroad 
seemed to be a possibility ; but this expecta- 
tion has not yet been realized. Owing to loca- 
tion, and the difficult character of the country, 
railroads have passed us by ; the nearest station 
is Brooklyn, fifteen miles east, on the Chicago 
tfc Northwestern Railroad. If the pioneers had 



62tJ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



not literally followed the instructions to buy in 
one body, it would have been better, as the 
1,200 acres included much rough and worthless 
land which could have been avoided, and val- 
uable land bought instead ; but it is of little 
consequence now, as it all, good and bad, be- 
longs to the colonists, their children or their 
countrymen. 

As soon as possible after taking possession of 
the land, the two pioneers commenced building 
a little cabin on the western bank of Little 
Sugar river, near the east wall of the old grave- 
yard, covering it with boards ; it was a small 
affair, and is only recollected, and referred to, 
as the primitive hut of the settlement. 

And here we will leave them awhile, and re- 
hearse the story of the migration, and final ar- 
rival, of the little colony of which they were 
the precursors. On the 10th of April, 1845, 193 
persons, of all ages and both sexes, were col- 
lected on the banks of the Linth canal, which 
runs alongside of the Linth river, a tributary of 
the Rhine, in the canton of Glarus. They were 
the colonists who had declared their readiness 
to venture into the strange, far-off land, called 
America, of which they had read and heard so 
much, as being the home and haven of the poor; 
and where those who came with stout hands 
and willing hearts were sure eventually to reap 
a ricli reward. But among all who were ready 
to go, but few could look back upon the frown- 
ing, yet beloved mountains, on whose sides they 
had left their poor homes, humble friends and 
kindred, without feeling their courage tried al- 
most to failure. But in the land they were 
leaving poverty stared them in the face, and 
want and oppression were always the lot of the 
poor, with no hope of improvement. Before 
them lay the land of golden j)romise, where 
they believed that honest labor would meet its 
just reward, and where they could lift them- 
selves and their children to competence, inde- 
pendence, and equality with other men, by their 
own exertions — which was well nigh impossible 
in their old home. Therefore, with hearts full 



of grief, and tearful eyes, they took leave of 
friends and father-land; and with few earthly 
goods, but with bright hopes for the future, 
they embarked in an open boat or barge. 

Before starting, M. Jenny, a delegate from 
the government, addressed them in a feeling 
manner. He urged upon all the necessity of 
industry and concord as indispensible to their 
success, and after commending them to the 
care of providence, bade them God speed, and 
amid the tears and good wishes of hundreds of 
friends, who had come to witness their depart- 
ure, the emigrants started on the way, and 
slowly commenced their wearisome juorney to 
the New World. 

The emigrants chose two of their number, 
George Legler, Sr., now of New Glarus, and Ja- 
cob Grob to act as leaders and spokesmen dur- 
ing the migration, and to preserve order among 
the party, and exercise general care and super- 
vision over everything connected with the jour- 
ney. The colonists,»on their part, promised to 
render due obedience to their directions and 
commands. On reaching Zurich the weather 
became very inclement, and snow fell. The 
women and children would have suffered great- 
ly, but for the kindness of a Swiss gentleman, 
Cosmos Blumer, the then representative of the 
canton of Glarus in the Swiss legislature, who 
accompanied them on this part of their journey, 
and provided covered wagons, in which they 
followed the boat on shore until all reached 
Basle. 

The journey from this place to Rotterdam, in 
Holland, was continued on the Rhine; it was 
slow and tedious, which, combined with the 
cold wintry weather, and an uncertain future 
prospect, was the cause of much depression to 
all. Arriving at Rotterdam on the 0th day of 
May, they learned that tlie ship on which they 
were to sail lay at New Dieppe. Proceeding to 
that place, the ship was found to be not yet 
ready to sail; it having been engaged in carry- 
ing cotton from New Orleans to Europe, was 
liot provided with berths, etc., for the accom- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



627 



modation of passengers. The colonists were 
thus delayed six days, until the ship was fitted 
for their reception. This caused the already 
needy people a great expense, which, however, 
was partially alleviated by an advance of 
100 gulden by a warm-hearted Swiss gen- 
tleman, P. Jenny. However, on the 12th of 
May, they embarked for Baltimore; and, after 
a stormy, toilsome voyage of forty-nine days, 
arrived at that place on the 30th of June. 

They there contracted for passage to St. 
Louis, that being the point where they were di- 
rected to await orders from the pioneer agents, 
Duerst and Streiff. At Baltimore they were, 
for the first time, put on railwaj^ cars and were 
carried about fifty, miles, to Columbia, Penn. At 
the point where the road crossed a mountain, 
the first cars were drawn up by an engine on 
the top, by means of wire ropes, and then the 
descending cars were made to pull up the 
others. At Columbia they were placed on board 
canal boats, in which they were conveyed to 
Pittsburg, Penn. From thence they descended 
the Ohio in barges to Cincinnati; thence for 
the first time they rode in a steamboat, which 
took them to St. Louis, where they arrived on 
the 23d of July. They were here kindly re- 
ceived and entertained by Swiss countr3'men 
who were settled in that city. 

No intelligence, no directions, had yet been 
received from the pioneer agents. On the con- 
trary, after waiting some days, the discourag- 
ing but false rumor reached them, that in pene- 
trating into the interior those adventurous 
agents had lost their lives. What was to be 
done? Long delay would inevitably break up 
the party; some had already, through fear, dis- 
satisfation or other causes, dropped off, and 
sought and found work at some of the various 
stopping places by the way. 

After remaining, with no little anxiety, in St. 
Louis two weeks, with no tidings from their 
agents, it was resolved that two of the party 
should go and search for them. Jacob Grob 
and Matthias Duerst were selected for this ser- 



vice. They proceeded to Galena, 111., and there 
learned that those whom they were seeking had 
been there some weeks before, and had gone 
northward. They were advised to go to Min- 
eral Point, where there was a government land 
office, and where the pioneer agents would have 
been likely to enter land, in case they had 
bought in Wisconsin. The searchers went to 
"the Point," as it was termed; and, on inquiry 
at the office, found that their agents had bought 
land in township 4, range 7, on Little Sugar river. 
The men were much rejoiced when this good 
news was communicated to them, and at once 
sent back word to St. Louis for the party to 
start for Galena immediately. They then re- 
solved to find the location. Theodore Ro- 
dolph, now of La Crosse, who was then at Min- 
eral Point, offered his services as guide, which 
were thankfully accepted. They commenced 
their journey at once, over a trackless country 
for thirty-two miles, fording creeks and streams, 
with a compass to direct their course, until they 
came to a point directly north of the location 
about three miles, according to a corner stake 
which was found on a hill. 

Rodolph led the men due south, and, on 
rounding a point of brush land, came directly 
upon the pioneers, on the 8th of August, who 
were busy erecting the primitive hut of the set- 
tlement. After the first joyous greetings were 
over, it was decided that Nicholas Duerst should 
go to St. Louis and guide the colonists to their 
new home. 

The two new comers were eager and anxious 
to remain, and assist in the work of building. 
Duerst at once left, and had proceeded as far as 
Galena, wlien, just as he was about to leave for St. 
Louis one morning, he heard some one remark 
that a large party of emigrants had arrived in 
town the evening before. Curiosity caused him 
to make inquiries, when, to his astonishment, he 
found that those whom lie was going to St. 
Louis to escort, were already in Galena. He at 
once directed that the able bodied men should 
start for the* new settlement, and assist in build- 



628 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ing the necessarry shelter for tlie reception of 
the colonists, while lie would arrange to follow 
with the main body. 

On the afternoon of the same clay, eighteen 
men started on foot for the settlement, with 
eager steps, a distance of sixt3^-two miles. 
They traveled all night ayd the next day, when 
they arrived at Wiota, in Lafayette county. 
There they obtained a night's shelter in a stable; 
and the next morning, after procuring the ser- 
^ vices of a guide, there being no traveled track 
there, and buving some flour at a mill on the 
Yellowstone river, they, without much diffi- 
culty, walked the rest of the way to their land, 
arriving late in the evening, foot-sore and 
weary. 

They related that every person whom they 
met fled at their approach, and no wonder; for 
bearded, unkempt, and ragged as they were, car- 
• rying axes and tools of every description, and 
bags of flour and provisions, they at a distance 
more resembled a band of robbers than a party 
of lionest emigrants. 

Upon their arrival they united with their 
three predecessors, and erected a much larger 
hut than the primitive structure. This was lo- 
cated near the west wall, and within the en- 
closure of the old grave yard, and close to 
where the district school house now stands. Its 
size is not recollected. A large excavation was 
made in the hill side, posts were inserted in the 
ground, the sides inclosed with boards hauled 
sixty-two miles from Galena, and covered with 
boughs and wild hay. Tlie floor was construct- 
ed of split poplar logs, the riven side ujiper- 
most; and no windows, nor chimney. All pos- 
sible dilligence was used to complete the rude 
structure, and have it in readiness for the com- 
ing colonists. Autumn was at hand, and winter 
Sipproaching. Some of the men were c.u'pen- 
ters, who had brought their tools with them 
from their old Switzerland home. 

After the shelter was prepared, which took 
but a few days, the colonists all arrived, teams 
having been hired at Galena to *convev the 



women and children, provisions and other 
necessaries; but not in sufficient numbers to 
carry them all. So they had to take turns in 
alternately riding and walking. The main 
body arrived on the 15th of August, the whole 
long journey having been made by water, except 
the short distance from Baltimore to Columbia, 
aiid the sixty-two miles from Galena to New 
Glarus. One hundred and eight persons, out 
of the original 193 remained, the rest hav- 
ing, from various causes, become discouraged, 
and dropped off along the way. Many of 
these, however, in after years, rejoined their 
friends, and shared in the fortunes of the 
colony. 

Many of these original colonist brought 
their pots, pajis, kettles and other utensils all 
the way from the Old World, all of which did 
duty for a long time in the colony, in the days 
of its infancy, when it required all the means 
the people possessed, and could obtain, to sup- 
ply food and clothing. About a dozen pans 
and kettles had to do duty for all the families; 
and it is related, that for some time a single 
broom sufficed for the whole settlement. It 
was, no doubt, better than the modern made 
article. 

When the colonists arrived, there was scarce- 
ly any food on hand, as their arrival had not 
been so soon expected, and the necessary pro- 
vision had not been made. In this emergency, 
the streams were largely drawn upon for food, 
being abundantly stocked with fish. As there 
were not many hooks and lines, the party was 
divided — some caught fish, and others bait — 
namely, grass-hoppers. In this way a plenti- 
ftU supply of fish was caught, which were 
cooked and eaten without seasoning, as the 
su|)ply of salt had given out. 

Even in latei- NH'ars, owing to unforeseen uir- 
cu>nstances, the necessary food for the colonists 
was sometimes very short; fo.r as late as the fall 
of 1850, the Rev. Wilhelm Streissguth, the first 
preacher, wrote that there were not fifty pounds 
of flour in the settlement, on account of the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



fi29 



tlireshing machine having broken down, and 
no wheat tlireshed. The threshers had to 
go to Milwaukee, 100 miles, for repairs, which 
trip could seldom be made in less than a 
week. Oxei) were used to run the first thresh- 
ing machine for several seasons. The good 
pastor wrote that he frequently made his meals 
three times a day upon boiled potatoes alone, 
and with relish, for "hunger is the best of 
sauce." 

The clannish spirit of the native valleys, in 
spite of the common poverty, early asserted 
itself in the I*Jew Glarufe settlement. The in- 
habitable portion of Old Glarus is mainly sepa- 
rated into two natural divisions — the Great and 
Little Valleys. Each locality has some peculi- 
arity of language and customs tliat differ from 
each other; and consequently the inhabitants of 
each section cherish a sort of clannish affection 
for their own clan-people, whether Great or 
Little Valleyites. This is more particularly 
true of the people of Little Valley, perhaps 
from coming less in contact with the rest of the 
canton and the w^orld, because of their secluded 
location. About one-quarter of the original set- 
tlers of New Glarus were from Little Valley; 
and very soon after their arrival, began to evince 
their ancient spirit of clannishness, finding some 
cause of disagreement over often very trifiing 
matters. This Jsoou led to a secession, on a 
small scale— some twenty-five persons, includ- 
ing the Little Valley portion, retiring from the 
contracted quarters of the common hut or cabin, 
and erecting a separate shelter for themselves 
on the east side of Little Sugar river, about 
eighty rods from the main habitation, and close 
to the bridge, on the road leading east from the 
settlement. But in the ensuing spring, they 
assisted the others in building additional cabins, 
and rejoined the main body. Several families, 
however, at an early day, abandoned the colony, 
removing some twelve miles east, into the towns 
of Mount Pleasant and Sylvester, where much 
prosperity has attended them. The people have 
since become more homogeneous, and little, if 



any, of the old*clannish feeling of distrust to- 
ward each other is seen or cherished by the 
younger generation. 

The beginning was now made, it is true; the 
land was bought and the people were on it, but 
the immediate outlook was dismal enough. In 
a strange land, among strangers, ignorant of the 
language, manners, customs and mode of farm- 
ing of the country, and baie of clothing and the 
necessaries of life, with winter approaching, it 
certainly looked dark to these settlers; and if it 
had not been that the sum of ^1,000, to meet 
their necessities, had arrived from the old home, 
and been made available, it would have gone 
hard with the colonists. This money was ex- 
pended for food, tools, and some stock of vari- 
ous kinds, and for builditig material. 

The large cabin or hut, built partly in the 
hill-side, answered the intended purpose of a 
make-shifl until others could be erected. This 
original shelter for the colony was so contracted 
that at night, and on rainy days the inmates 
were crowded together like sheep in a pen. 
New log houses, of rude structure, were erected, 
some twelve to sixteen in number, so as to ac- 
commodate the several families, by putting tw^o 
in each cabin. So, by Christmas the several 
families were distributed in their new homes, 
' and somewhat prepared for the e.xpected sever 
ities of the season. 

The first winter was thus encountered, indif- 
ferently provided for, but fortunately it proved 
a very mild one. In the following spring, the 
land was portioned off into sixty lots of twenty 
acres each, and, according to the arrangement 
made in Switzerland, each colonist who was the 
liead of a family, twenty-two in number, re- 
ceived twenty acres of tillage or meadow land, 
the location being determined by lot. The tim- 
ber lot was, for eight or ten years, lield in com; 
mon, each using, under certain rules what he 
required ; but it was at length divided into two 
and a half acre lots, and apportioned among the 
heads of families. It was understood that the 
value of the land at the time of the purchase, 



630 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



$1.25 per acre, should be repaid within ten 
years, by the colonists, without interest ; and 
should any persons abandon their portion bo- 
fore payment, the next emigrant settler arriving 
might make claim tliereto. However, few por- 
tions were abandoned, and all were paid be- 
fore the allotted time expired. The remainder 
of the allotment tracts, after supj)lying the 
original emigrants, was subsequently granted 
to new comers, to several single men of age, 
and, in some cases, to widows who claimed 
them. 

After the division had thus been made, each 
colonist began to clear and break up his lot in 
small way, in which labor the women rendered 
assistance, as most of them were accustomed 
to out-door work from childhood. This break- 
ing was slow and laborious, as teams and 
plows had not yet been obtained. Most of the 
first breaking was done with spades and shovels. 

Some time during the spring of 1846, drovers 
from Ohio brought a lot of cows to Exeter, a 
mining town eight miles east of New Glarus. The 
colonists hearing of it, at once set out to pur- 
chase some ; and, being excellent judges, soon 
selected the best animals of the herd in sufficient 
numbers to give each family one. These cost 
|!12 apiece, and were paid for out of the unex- 
pended balance of the 1 1,000 aid, before men- 
tioned. Additional log huts were now erected 
in sufficient numbers, so that eacli family had 
one for its occupation. These were built close 
together, apart from tlie twenty acre apportion- 
ments, so as to form a small village. In after 
years, when the several lots had been increased, 
houses were built upon the farms, while me- 
chanics and tradesmen occupied those in the 
village. 

Progress toward the hoped for independence 
was for some years very slow, owing in part to 
poverty, and yet more to ignorajice in tilling 
the soil, and handling the crops after the fash- 
ion of this country. Generally in their old 
Switzer liomes, no liorses nor plows were 
used in agriculture ;_all spading, sowing, mow- 



ing, etc., being done by hand. The hay and 
other crops are carried on the backs of men and 
women ; even manure was, and is still carried 
there in tubs made for the purpose, up to the 
steep mountain slopes where it was used. In 
fact they were ignorant of all modes of farm- 
ing, except the care of cattle, in which they ex- 
celled. 

This beginning certainly looked discouraging 
to the people. Without money, witliout skiP 
in a strange land, and among those whose lan- 
guage was different from their own, it required 
firm determination, courage and faith to hold 
out. With some, it is likely it was only the 
want of means to return that prevented their 
leaving. Most of the men, hwever, made up 
their minds to win success by unceasing efforts. 
They, as well as the women, sought and found 
work elsewhere, the men at the lead mines at 
Exeter, and Mineral Point, and on the farms 
of older settlers; the women as domestic serv- 
ants, washer-women, in fact anything by which 
they could honestly earn something. Their 
earnings were scanty — about fifty cents a day 
being a man's wages, and even this was paid 
mostly in fiour, meat, potatoes and other pro- 
duce, which they carried home on their backs, 
often a distance of twenty-five miles. Money 
was an almost unknown commodity. In this 
way they managed to live until ithey could cul- 
tivate enough land to enable them to find work 
and food at home. 

As the year advanced, Mr. Streiff purchased 
four yoke of oxen for the common use of the 
colony. They were used, in turn, by each 
family, for breaking up land, drawing wood 
from the timber tract, or anything else neces- 
sary to be done. After one person had used. a 
yoke of cattle the allotted time, he turned 
them over to the next on the list entitled to 
them. The oxen are reported to have had as 
hard a time of it as any of the colonists, if not 
harder fare, and harder service. 

When the colonists went into winter quarters 
about the close of 1845, "much to the regret of 



■£0f^^m^^^ 




m^;^ 



Hon.James Campbell 




••E*#^'^--«&sg 



rs.James Campbell 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



633 



all, Nicholas Dueist, one of the pioneer adven- 
turers and locators of the colony, returned to 
his native Switzerland. J. J. Tschudy was pre- 
vailed upon by the friends of the enterprise to 
take Mr. Duerst's place as leader and advisor to 
the colonists, and reached New Glarus in the 
autumn of 1846, and continued hi.s residence 
there until 1856, securing, in a high degree, 
the confidence and esteem not only of his coun- 
trymen, but of all classes of people. About 
this time, the connection between the colony 
and the father-land was, in a great measure, dis- 
solved, the lots having all been disposed of, 
and paid for. Mr. Tschudy, now advanced in 
years, resides in Monroe, highly respected for 
the good services he rendered the New Glarus 
colony in its infancy, and for his worth as a 
man and good citizen. The names and memo- 
ries of the two Duersts, Streiff, Tscliudy, Legler, 
P. Jenny, Sr., Egger, Streissguth, Zimmerman 
and Etter, will long be held in grateful remem- 
brance by the people of New Glarus and their 
descendants. 

From this time, 1846, onward, although the 
progress of the Swiss emigrants was slow, it 
was sure. The money earned by most of them 
was carefully hoarded; and as soon as enough 
was saved to buy a forty acre tracf, it was thus 
promptly invested. The journey to the gov- 
ernment land office at Mineral Point, a distance 
of thirty-two miles, was often made on foot, for 
prior to 1850, there were few horses in the set- 
tlement. 

The early unfavorable reports sent home by 
the discouraged ones, very naturally tended, 
for some years, to deter others from following; 
and, until 1850, their numbers were not much 
increased. After that time, owing to the better 
and nearer markets, and afterward the outbreak 
of the Crimean War, and the consequent rise in 
the price of wheat, at that time the principal 
product in the New Glarus settlement, a steady 
acquisition of emigration from Switzerland was 
received each year, and that mostly of a class 



who possessed means to buy land and stock, and 
make needful improvements. 

At length the long toiled-for result, so anx- 
iously hoped for, yet so long doubted and de- 
spaired of by some, was realized beyond expec- 
tation. Strong and self-reliant, the colony is 
not only a success, but is a standing proof of 
what a small amount of money, well directed 
and expended, may do to better the condition of 
the honest poor of over-crowded cities, towns 
and localities in the old and new world. The 
money expended has long since been refunded, 
so that in fact the founding of this colony cost 
literally nothing, while the benefit to thousands 
has been priceless. 

Owing to the fact that the cheap lands have 
all been taken up, and there being little disposi- 
tion to sell among those possessing landed 
estates, immigration has now almost altogether 
ceased. On the other hand, many young men, 
far more in number than the original colonists, 
have gone to the fertile prairies of the west, in 
some instances again forming sn.all colonists; 
but many have dispersed, each striking out for 
himself. 

Many of those first comers, who had nothing 
but their poverty and their willing hands, are 
now not only in good circumstances, but 
wealthy. And all, without exception, of those 
who retained and practiced the old-time habits 
of industry, economy, and, above all, sobriety 
are much better off than it would ever have 
been possible for them to have become in the 
country they left, to which, though dear the 
memory be, few would return to stay. And 
little need is there to return, for here the Swiss 
finds everything he left at home, language, peo- 
ple and customs the same, only lacking the 
towering snow-clad mountain to complete the 
I'eseml^lance. 

Ill sketching briefly the customs and institu- 
tions as they now exist here, it is proper that 
the Churcii and religion of the colonists should 
be first in order. The first lionse of worship 
was built of hewn logs, in 1849, by voluntary 



37 



634 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



contributions of labor and money, and was for 
the time a roomy and substantial structure. It 
was also used for school ancl town jMirposes. 
The villaoje school district bougjht it when the 
present structure was erected ; and when, in 
process of time, a new scliool house was needed, 
it was sold .to a farmer living three and a half 
miles east of the village, who removed it, and 
now occupies it as a dwelling. The present 
church was built of stone, in 1858, at a cost of 
$1,950 in moiie)% and 550 days' work by 
the members of the congregation. It 
is a j)lain structure, with a square tower, 
surmounted by a dome, and provided witli 
two bells. The first bell was bought by the 
Rev. Mr. Streissguth in Milwaukee, in 1852. 
It weighs 3 27 pounds, and cost $112. 'J'he 
second was bought in 1859, weighing 408 
pounds, and cost $172.50, of which $120 was 
raised by subscription. 

Before the arrival of a clergyman. Mi'. 
Tschudy conducted religious services. The 
first preacher was the Rev. Mr. Streissguth, 
now of St. Paul, Minn., who was sent to the 
colony in 1850, and was supported fen- two years 
at the expense of parties in Switzerland. He 
remained five years. He is spoken of as a man 
of good ability, a true Christian, and in every 
way worthy and charitable. He liad some 
knowledge of medicine, which lie exercised 
gratuitously for the relief of the sick, at a time 
when physicians resided at a distance, and the 
people were too poor to employ them. His 
successor was the Rev. John Zimmerman, now 
of Burlington, Iowa, wlio was pastor from 1855 
to 1859. He was engaged wlien Mr. Streissguth 
left, and oji his recommendation. He ies~igned 
on account of disagreement with the trustees 
in matters of government, rules, etc. Tlui 
present minister, Rev. J. '1\ Etter, came in 
1860, and has uninterruptedly served the con- 
gregation ever since ; and during the eighteen 
years of his pij.storate,.he married 115 couples, 
christened 861 children, and attended the burial 
of 267 persons. 



The second church belongs to the Evangeli- 
cal Association ; the members are few, and the 
manner of worship is identical with tliat of the 
Methodists. The first itinerant preachers came 
into the vicinity in 1847. They gained some 
converts in spite of the opposition, distrust and 
dislike with which the colonists regarded any 
religious innovations. In 1869, they built a 
large, frame church, on the hill, about two 
miles from the village ; not daring at that time 
to build in the village, so strong was the preju 
dice against them. In 1865, this feeling hav- 
ing considerably moderated, tlie church was 
removed into tlse village, and worship is held 
regularly without molestation or disturbance 
from others. They now seldom receive any ac 
cession to their numbers, which are few ; but 
among them are some of the most worthy and 
substantial citizens of the colony. 

The reason why the New Glarus people have 
so generally adhered to the faith of their fa- 
thers, is, doubtless, because at an early day they 
organized a Church with regular services aftov 
the customs of the father-land, which, with peo- 
ple disposed, as tliese are, to venerate every- 
thing that their ancestors did, went far to 
strengihen their attachments to their ancient 
forms of worship. 

Of the two Churches, the Reformed Church 
was first organized in 1849. It has a member- 
ship of 170 heads of families, representing 
about 600 persons. The men of families a.re 
alone called upon to contril)ute for its support; 
and this is done by levying a tax equally upon 
all, whether rich or poor, sufficient to pay ex- 
penses. The amount is determined by the an- 
nual meeting of the male members, at wliich all 
rides for the government of the cotigregation 
are made and altered ; and all such meetings 
are almost always fully attended, great interest 
being taken in the ])r()ceedings. 'Ihe congre- 
gation is independent of any other Church or 
synod of the same denomination in America. 
Repeated efforts have been made by synods to 
bring them into connection, but all attempts in 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



635 



that direction have encountered an independent 
sj)iiit of opposition on the part of this society, 
which would not brook even tlie semblance of 
control. 

The Church is nominally in connection with 
the synod of Eastern Switzerland, but the re- 
lation is practically of little benefit to 
either party. The hymn books and catechisms 
are the same as those used in Switzerland, and 
are imported as required, none of this kind V)e- 
ing printed or used elsewhere in this country. 
The liturgy is also from the same source, con- 
taining prayers which are read for each Sun- 
day, holiday and other occasions of worsliip. 
Prayers are always read — never extempore in 
Church service. 

As it may be interesting to others to know 
how the services are conducted, the following 
order on Sundays, will give a proper idea: At 
about 9 o'clock the first bell is rung, not tolled, 
as in many other churches; and between the 
first ringing and 10 o'clock, the worshipers be- 
gin to come in, taking seats where they please, 
except that the sexes sit separately on either 
side of the church. At 10 o'clock both bells are 
rung, which is the signal that the minister has 
started from his house, about eighty rods away, 
the ringing continues until he enters the building, 
when the people rise as he enters, and remain 
standing until lie reads prayers, and announces 
the text, and also during the singing, which is led 
by a good choin-of male voices, accompanied by 
an organ. After the sermon is over, prayers are 
again read, followed by singing and the benedic- 
tion. Then follows the singular custom of the 
female part of the congregation leaving the 
church first, the bell ringing the while, and the 
men standing; and not until the last skirt has 
passed the door, does the male part follow, led 
by the pastor. 

The origin of this custom, according to tra- 
dition, is as follows: Some 500 years ago, 
the Austrians being at war with tlie Swiss, 
attempted to surprise the town of Nafels, in 
Glarus; or, as other traditions have ii, a battle 



occurred between the combatants in the neigh- 
boring canton of Grisons or Graubundten. In 
either case, the circumstances were the same — 
the people were at church — whether Sunday or 
holiday is not recorded; but a woman leaving 
church during service discovered the enemy, 
and gave the alarm; and, it is related, that the 
women on that day did valorous service, rolling 
and throwing rocks upon the enemy, and aiding 
in a great measure, to gain a decisive victory 
over their old enemies, the Austrians. Since 
that time, tradition says, the right and honor 
are accorded to the female worshipers in all 
the churches of the canton of Glarus, to leave the 
church first, the men standing in deference 
while they pass out. This custom is rigid- 
ly, and without exception, kept up here, no 
matter what the occasion for meeting and wor- 
ship. 

Weddings are for the most part solemnized by 
the ministers; seldom by a justice of the peace. 
Tuesdays and Thursdays are the only days on 
which a Swiss will be married; the latter is the 
favorite day. The other days of tne week are 
not regarded as fortunate; Wednesday is espe- 
cially considered the most unlucky. Persons 
about to enter matrimony, sometime before the 
ceremony takes place, go together to the houses 
of those whom they wnsli to invite as guests to 
the wedding, and verbally request their presence. 
Wedding feasts are of late mostly arranged at a 
hotel; but formerly at the home of the groom or 
bride. After being pronounced man and wife, 
at the church or in the minister's house, the 
couple, with the invited guests, partake of the 
wedding dinner, after which dancing is indulged 
1n till a late hour. Before and after the 
marriage ceremony, the lads and young men 
salute the bridal party with a profuse discharge 
of fire-arms. The more noise, the greater the 
honor. Very rarely do the Swiss here inter- 
marry with the people of other nationalities; 
almost without exception, they marry among 
tlieir own country folks. 



636 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



The baptism of infants is another occasion 
for a feast. Children are usually christened 
when Ies>i than three months old; and the cere- 
mony takes place in the church, except in a few 
instances, a god-father and god-mother invari- 
ably witnessing the baptism at the altar. Ac- 
cording to Church rules, parents are not jjer- 
mitted to act as sponsors. If parents are Church 
members, no fee is required for weddings, 
ba])tisms or funeral services; otherwise a fee is 
collected, which is paid into the Church fund, 
and not as a perquisite to the preacher, as in 
other societies. 

When a person dies, the relatives, friends and 
countrymen are notified by messengers of the 
time of death and burial; and \}\e accompany- 
ing of the dead to their last resting place is a 
duty which is faithfully fulfilled, over 150 teams 
being often seen at a funeral. The church 
bells arc made to do duty on all of these occa- 
sions. A couple of bell-tolls give notice to the 
sponsors that the minister is at the altar, ready 
to proceed with the baptism. On account of 
the baptisms being always performed at the 
close of the regular services, the god-mother 
and child lemain in some convenient dwelling 
near the church, until summoned by the bell. 
This is so arranged that the congregation may 
not be disturbed by any fretful ness on the 
part of the infant, to whom no doubt the ser- 
vices would often become as tedious as they 
sometimes do to older children, not only in this, 
but in numerous other churches. 

At weddings they ring a merry peal ; and at 
funerals the bells are tolled until the coffin is 
lowered into the grave. They are also rung 
twice each day, as is the custom in Switzerland, 
at 1 1 A M., and at dusk every evening, for five, 
minutes each time ; and at midnight of the 3 1st 
of December they are rung a whole hour, to 
welcome in the New Year. 

Kilbi, as it is termed here — a corruption of 
Kirchwet/i(-, or church halhnving — is the holiday 
of all days. The 4th of July is celebrated with 
American fervor ; but Kill)i is a blending of all 



holidays into one. This dny occurs on the last 
Sunday of September of each year; and, as its 
name denotes, is strictly a religious festival, 
being the anniversary of the dedication of the 
church. On that day the pastor, at the close of 
the services, dedicates the building anew ; and 
this is as far as religious observances are kept. 
In the afternoon, target-shooting, and dancing, 
.are moderately indulged in ; but Monday is the 
great day. Strangers come from a distance, 
and neighbors and friends meet, and roiew 
friendships, over loaded tables and foaming 
glasses. The youth, and, in fact, almost every- 
body, repair to the village ; and music and 
dancing begin about noon, and are kept up until 
next morning, at three or more different halls, 
and all are crowded. In spite of tiie crowd, 
and the quantities of beer and wine drank — 
but stronger drinks are scarce, and consequently 
so are quarrels— the best of humor and hilarity 
prevail. 

The way these dances are managed is a nov- 
elty to Americans. Usually there is a com- 
mittee of three manngers at each dancing place, 
whose business it is to provide the music, keep 
order, collect the entrance fee from the male 
dancers ; and, above all, supply them with fe- 
male partners. Foi- this purpose, the best look- 
ing jnauager is sent with a gay and ribbon- 
bedecked team, to all places where it is known 
young ladies live, and |»oliteIy invite them to 
take seats in his carriage ; and, unless there is 
a prior engagement, the lasses are always ready 
to comply. When his carriage is full, he drives 
to the hall at which he is a manager, unloads, 
and again sallies forth in another direction until 
a sufficiency of partners is secured, or the sup- 
ply of lasses are exhausted. His fellow mana- 
gers in the meanwhile keep order, airange the 
c<>ni)les, and dii-ect things generally, for the en- 
joyment and con\fort of all. 

A good time is had at the homes, as well ; 
llu" best that can be afforded is cooked and 
eaten ; and among all the cakes and dishes of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT i^. 



63 V 



every kind, honey is accorded a prominent place. 
Few there are who do not eat bread and butter 
and honey on Kilbi. The general good time 
extends into Tuesday, sometimes, but usually 
Monday night closes the feast, which not only 
is kept up by the Swiss, but by American youth 
from a distance, who have learned to share in 
the celebration. 

The earliest attempt at English education was 
made under difficulties. The first district ■school 
was taught in 1847, by Mr. Cowan* — only a 
short term — in a small log house belonging to 
Balthasar Schindler. The next school was kept 
in the house of Matthias Schmidt, in 1848, by a 
certain James Kilroy, an Irishman, who, as 
report says, walloped learning into the youth 
well. But conceive the circumstances : A 
small log house, a family of nine persons, .an 
Irish pedagogue and about twenty Swiss schol- 
ars, all in one room, and not very large at that. 
Many are still living in this vicinity who be- 
longed to that primitive school ; and the log 
house, the scene of these" early pedagogic ex- 
hibitions, is still standing. 

A school house was built in 1849 in the vil- 
lage, and Peter Jenny was teacher for some six 
years. Afterwards J. C Zimmerman taught 
three years; and since, with few intermissions, 
Matthias Steussy has taught the district, school 
in the village for the last eighteen years. All 
these teachers were Swiss. The outlying dis- 
tricts in the township are taught as is usual by 
different persons almost every term. Several 
young men of Swiss descent have qualified 
themselves for teaching at academies elsewhere; 
but no "school-marm" has New Glarus ever 
produced. The reason for this is not apparent, 
unless it be the general l)elief here entertained, 
that much education for a girl will spoil her 
for a house-wife. A knowledge of reading, 
writing and arithmetic is considered sufficient 
for women. A girl is early taught the myster- 
ies of cooking, washing and sewing; and her 



♦About the time, or since, this wiis written, Mr. Cowan 
died in the Green county poor house. 



education is not considered complete unless she 
also understands milking, making butter and 
cheese, and binding grain in the harvest field. 
In consequence of the active out-door labor, 
which in addition to their household duties the 
females perform, they are in general more 
healthy, robust and fit to fight the battle of life 
that awaits all, than are their American sisters 
who seldom allow the summer sun to sliine 
upon their unprotected hands and faces, and 
who as a rule are hardly allowed the needful 
exercise which health demands. Weak nerves 
and hysterics are often the rule with the latter, 
while with the former they are unknown. 

The German schools in the village have been 
fully as ably conducted as the English. First, 
a Mr. Ernst and Mr. Tschudy, and then the 
Rev. Mr. Streissguth, and subsequently Rev. 
Mr. Zimmerman, taught the German school; 
and, in addition to the ordinary branches of 
study, included such religious instruction as the 
rules of the Church required. In 1867 F. Kno- 
bel, a teacher from the canton of Glarus, set- 
tled here, and has taught German uninterrupt- 
edly since his arrival. Christian Luchsinger 
has taught a German evening school for those 
who, more advanced in years, and employed in 
labor, could not attend in day time. German 
school books were first brought from the old 
country; but the supply giving out, American 
printed boobs were adopted. The desire for 
education is universal; and, as a whole, the 
people of New Glarus compare favorably in 
learning with other rural sections of the coun- 
try. 

The political partialities of the people are 
largely with the democratic party, two-thirds 
usually voting that way; and it is another in- 
stance of the conservatism of these Swiss set- 
tlers that they have adhered, through all 
changes, to the political creed they first em- 
braced when they settled here. For a man to 
change his political belief is quite as rare as to 
change^liis religion. Among the younger gen- 
eration the leaning is toward the republican 



638 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



party; but members of both parties have almost 
unanimously supported at the polls deserving 
persons who were well known to them, without 
regard to party affiliations. 

Politicians are few; politics being a subject 
not so much discussed as among Americans. 
Elections are always conducted quietly, with 
but little of the jobbing and pettifogging usual 
at some places. J. J. Tschudy was the first 
Swiss elected to a county office in Green county. 
He served as recorder, tlien register, and after- 
ward served four terms as county clerk. Mat- 
thias Marty was county clerk while Mr. Tschudy 
was register. John Luchsinger has, for the 
fourdi time, been elected to represent the north 
district of Green county in the legislature, and 
was the first person of Swiss birth sent to the 
legislature from Green county, and has served 
longer than any other representative from that 
county. 

No lawyers have ever found any encourage- 
ment to locate in the settlement. The few 
cases where their aid has been required were 
managed by the Monroe attorneys. There has 
been little need of the profession, as the people 
are too busy and economical to think of litiga- 
tion. 

Mr. Tschudy was the first to render assistance 
to the sick, having some knowledge of medi- 
cine and being provided with a stock of medi- 
cines from his father, an experienced physician 
in Old Glarus. Rev. Mr. Streissguth after- 
wards administered medical aid to the settlers. 
A perfeon by the name of Bonjour, a French- 
Swiss, dispensed drugs; but, in 1853, he was 
displaced by Dr. Samuel Blumer, a good physi- 
cian, who arrived from Glarus. He remained 
here until 1866, when he removed to Iowa. 
His son, J. J. Blumer, M. D., who received his 
medical education at the University of Pennsyl- 
vania, is now located here, and is justly consid- 
ered an excellent physician. 

There is a fine glee club organized, which 
contains some good voices, and is, as well as the 
church choir, under the direction of F. Knobel, 



the German teacher. The songs and ballads of 
Switzerland are sung with the same pathos and 
feeling here as there, and seldom any others. 
A rifle club, consisting of about twenty mem- 
bers, is active in drill, and numbers many ex- 
cellent shots, who have won prizes at the an- 
nual competitions in this and other States. 
There are no secret societies whatever, and, as 
far as known, no members of any in this settle- 
ment. 

When the Civil War broke out, the Swiss in 
New Glarus and vicinity furnished their full 
proportion of volunteers, according to the best 
authority, about ninety-eight boys in blue, who 
did not dishonor the memory of their sires who 
fought at St. Jacob, Nafels, Morgarten, and 
other well-fought fields in the father-land. 

The people are very conservative in most 
things, especially in their adherence to the cus- 
toms and usages of their ancestors, and in their 
language, religion and politics. It is illustrated 
by the fact that the same pastor has preached, 
and the same schoolmaster taught, for eighteen 
successive years. There has been scarcely any 
perceptible change or diminution in the hearty, 
homely manners of the New Glarus people and 
their descendants; nor in their disposition to 
work, to economize and achieve independence in 
all things. Even dame fashion has been able to 
make but small inroads among the fair sex ; a 
])asque, pin-back overskirt, or any other fash- 
ionable contrivance, is looked upon as a snare 
and an abomination by the elderly women; but 
their daughters trespass somewhat, in a mild 
way, in that direction. And happily the bar- 
barous fashion of banged-hair has not yet ap- 
peared. Should any girl thus attempt to dis- 
figure herself, there would, without doubt, be 
banging enough from the unfashionable mater 
familias. 

Attachment to the father-land is strong and 
sincere. From time to time, fully thirty per- 
sons, who have gathered a competency here, 
have returned to Switzerland, some having 
been twice and even three times; but not to ex- 



HISTORY OP GREEN COUNTY. 



63d 



ceecl half a dozen have returned to remain. The 
large farms, grand distances, and enlarged 
thouglit of this country tend to give larger 
views to both sight and mind; so that, it is said, 
everything in the Old Country appears close and 
contracted by comparison; and, as some have 
expressed it, that there seemed to be hardly 
room to breathe there. Still the love for the 
''old home," as it is still affectionately termed 
by all, is undying; and few vvho were adults 
when they came here but cherish the wish and 
hope to behold their loved native mountains 
once more before they go hence to the undis- 
covered country. 

How long this reverential feeling will con- 
tinue, will depend upon circumstances; but it 
would seem, from past experience in Pennsyl- 
vania, Oliio and New Yoik, where many whose 
ancestors migrated 200 years ago, still speak 
only German, that unless the iron horse finds 
his way to these hills and valleys, it is more 
than likely that 100 years hence will make little 
change in the language and customs of the New 
Glarus people. With all this adherence to 
what is ancient, and aversion to mixing, and 
inter-marrying with those of other Nationalities, 
those who read, and few do not, are well in- 
formed, and quick to comprehend whatever is 
of advantage to themstlves, and of general in- 
terest. From being almost entirely ignorant of 
the modes of American fai'miiig, they are now 
considered the equals of the best farmers in the 
country, taking advantages of, and purchasing 
the best labor-saving machinery, and in enter- 
prise and endurance are scarcely equalled by 
any. 

In public spirit they are not lacking. In ad- 
dition to the fine district school house, there has 
also been built another in which German is 
taught. In 1870 when a railroad was projected 
in the vicinity, the township promptly voted 
$20,000 to aid in building it, besides $100 in 
cash to assist in defraying the expense of sur- 
veying. As yet there is no prospect of the 
road beina: built. In 1861 news was received 



that the town of Glarus, Switzerland, was al- 
most destroyed by fire. In a short time, the 
sum of $1,250 was contributed, and sent there 
for distribution among the suffering people. 

In 1850 the })arsonage was built of hewn logs 
and framed. It was then considered the finest 
house in the village. It is still the parsonage, 
but it is sadly the worse for wear; and we may 
safely conclude, that in the onward march of 
improvement, it will soon be supplanted by a 
much belter one. 

In 1852 the scarlet fever raged in the colony, 
and in a short time seventeen children died. 
In 1854 a new comer anived, by the way of 
Fieeport, 111., who was infected with the 
cholera; and the disease spread, and proved a 
very sad scourge, no less than twenty-two per- 
sons, adults, dying in a siiort time from its 
ravages. 

The town of New Glarus was organized in 
April, 1850; prior to whicli, the settlement had 
been generally known as the Swiss colony, but to 
those ill Switzerland as New Glarus. The territo- 
ry comprising it had been hitherto attached, for 
all civil purposes, to the adjoining town of York. 
The village of New Glarus was laid out and 
platted, in 1851, by Mr. Spangler, of Monroe. 
During the year, the first framed house was 
erected by Ott Bros., since of Madison, who 
o}>ened the first store; and the same year 
Joshua Wild built a saw mill with an under- 
shot wheel. 'J'he first hotel was erected by 
Baumgartnei' Brothers in 1858. In 1862 David 
Klaessy built a grist mill, with two run of 
stones, propelled by water power; and with 
this mill was probably connected the first bar- 
ley hulling machine in Wisconsin. The de- 
mand warranted the outlay, as hulled barley 
soup is a favorite dish among the New Glarus 
people. In 1867, a brewery was built by Dr. 
Blumer & Co ; and beer has been brewed since, 
supplying the settlement, which formerly re- 
ceived its national beverage from Madison and 
Monroe. 

Swiss cheese was made by many farmers as 
early as 1854, and much of an excellent quality 



640 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



was sold; but dairy cheese making has given 
way to the factory system. The first cheese 
factory was established in 1870; and since then 
eight others, large and small, have gone into 
operation. Three-fourths of the cheese made 
is Limburger, and is said to pay the maker bet- 
ter than any other variety. The number of 
oows whose milk is brought to these factories is 
about 2,500; and fully 600,000 pounds of cheese 
are now made in a season in the township of 
New Glarus alone. It is a branch of farming 
that, on these rolling lands, assures the farmer 
a steady income. There are no fortunes made 
quickly by it, but it gives a surer return for la- 
bor than any other branch of farming industry, 
and is a direct benefit to the soil, more land be- 
ing in grass, and better manured than with 
grain culture. 

The factories are built by the farmers, and 
leased to cheese makers, who buy the milk at a 
fixed price, thus differing from many other 
places, where the farmers hire the cheese maker 
and divide the net proceeds. Some Swiss 
cheese is still made here, but not to compare 
with former years in quantity. Of the cheese 
product, the most was formerly shipped to Mil- 
waukee, Chicago and St. Louis; but of late, 
cheese has been sent to Great Britain, and, in- 
credible as it may seem, some even to Switzer- 
land, that land of cheese. 

In the year 1849 the stock in the colony, ac- 
cording to the report of the Rev. Mr. Streiss- 
guth, consisted of oue horse, one' bull, forty- 
one oxen, forty-nine cows, forty heifers and 
steers two years old, fifty-one calves, fiiteeii 
sheep and 482 hogs. Tlie crop of that year 
was sixty-five bushels of oats, 545 of corn and 
495 of potatoes — the product of 104 acres of 
cultivated land. The population was then rated 
at 125. 

Bilten is the name of a branch of this colony, 
in the adjoining town of Washington, and was 
founded in 1847 by the authorities of the parish 
of Bilten, in Glarus, Switzerland. In that year 
sufficient funds were sent to Fridolin Streiff, 



one of the pioneers of New Glarus, to purchase 
seventeen forty acre tracts; and in the same 
year twelve families, mostly from the above 
named parish, settled thereon. The Bilten set- 
tlement has shared with the main colony in 
reputation for thrift and industry; and the peo- 
ple, as a class, are doing well. They have by 
purchase extended the original boundaries, 
which were about five miles from New Glarus, 
so that now the two settlements have blended 
into one, with no intervening settlers of other 
nationalities. 

The pastors of New Glarus formerly held 
divine service in Bilten once in four weeks ; but 
for some years this has been discontinued, and 
those who do not come to New Glarus for wor- 
ship have themselves built a handsome church, 
at which preacliers from Monroe officiate. The 
chief branch of farming in this settlement is 
also the making bf cheese, for which the land 
is well adapted, being rolling, and well watered 
by brooks and springs ; and it now comprises 
about one-half of the township, being the north- 
ern and rougher portion. 

Thus, from feeble beginnings, has the New 
Glarus colon^^, with its adjacent Swiss settle- 
ments, expanded from something over 100 pov- 
erty-stricken people, to fully 4,000 in number; 
and from 1,280 acres of wild, uncultivated land, 
to over 60,000 acres, transformed into comfort- 
rble homes, with all the conveniences, and 
many of the luxuries of life. With comforta- 
ble residences and barns, churches and sshool- 
houses, fruitful orchards, well cultured fields of 
golden grain, well filled granaries, with herds 
on many a hill-side, horses and carriages, and 
pianos and melodeons scattered here and there 
through the settlement, the people of New Gla- 
rus and their descendants have abundant cause 
to thank God for the success of the past, and 
put their trust in him for the future. 

December, 1878. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON NEW GLARUS. 
[By J. Jacob Tschudy.] 

The colony of New Glarus was founded by 
an association of several political communities 



HISTORY OP GREEN COUNTY. 



641 



of the canton of Glarus, in Switzerland, who 
organized themselves into a society under the 
sanction of the government of the canton, in 
the year 1844 ; and had the following aims or 
purposes in view for the benefit of the over- 
crowded population of that small and moun- 
tainous canton, which are copied from the 
records : 

1. The emigration shall be executed in com- 
mon, and directed to one of the States in the 
northwestern portion of the United States. The 
idea is to found a community similar to that of 
the canton of Glarus. The States of Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois and Missouri shall be first ex- 
plored in seeking for a suitable locality for the 
colony. 

2. In the course of 1844, two agents shall be 
sent to visit those States for the purpose of se- 
lecting a tract of land large enough for the ex- 
periment, and to arrange the necessary steps to 
execute the plan in view. These agents shall 
have the necessary instriictions for their work, 
and be fully empowered to carry the design into 
execution. 

3. Every family willing to emigrate shall re- 
ceive twenty acres of land ; the money to pay 
for the land shall be advanced by the associa- 
tion. All the expenses of the voyage or emi- 
gration must be provided for by the emigrants 
themselves. 

4. The expenses of the agents the association 
agrees to pay. 

5. 'The several communities are invited to 
ratify these resolutions, and thereby become 
members in fact of the association. 

These resolutions were ratified by the several 
communities, and by the government of the 
canton, who also donated a large part of the 
expenses of the agents, say about |600. A 
committee was appointed who drew up the 
regulations for the rule of the association, 
which were accepted and ratified; and in the 
persons of Messrs Nicholas Duerstand Fridolin 
Streiff, were found and selected the agents for 
the important trust. They departed for their 



far-away field of responsible labor the 8th day 
of March, 1845; and, after a stormy and disa- 
greeable voyage, landed on the shores of the 
New World, where they were directed to con- 
sult a commercial house in New Y^ork, and an 
old countryman, Mr. Blumer,in Allentown,Penn., 
who would assist them with counsel and every 
needful help. Mr, Blumer secured Joshua 
Fry, a man able to speak English, to accompany 
the agents to the far west, and to aid them in 
carrying out their instructions, which were as 
follows: 

1. The agents will journey from Switzer- 
land, via Havre, to New York. 

2. They will find an amountof money (about 
$2,500) deposited with a house in New York, 
sufiicient to buy a certain quantity of land for 
the emigrants, according to the respective 
shares to which they will be entitled. 

3. This money they will not draw before 
they have selected and bought the land, or are 
ready to buy; and shall be guided in this matter 
by the counsel or advice of Mr. Blumer, of 
Al'entown. 

4. As soon as they arrive in New Y^ork, the 
agents will proceed to the said Mr. Blumer, and 
ask him either to accompany them, or aid them 
with his knowledge of the relative advantages 
of the country in the northwest. 

5. In regard to the purchase of the lands, 
the agents will consider the climate and the 
nature of the soil, which ought to be as near as 
possible similar to those in the old country, and 
suitable for the production of grain and cattle. 

6. The agents are not positively bound to 
purchase government land; but they shall, if 
possible, try to secure enough that each colonist 
may have twenty acres, for the amount of 
money, $1.25 per acre, which is the price of 
government land. 

7. The agents shall try to buy all the land 
in one tract, well situated in regard to com- 
munications with the rest of the State, by 
means of roads, etc. 



642 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



8. After the purchase, the land shall be 
divided in timVier, bottom and field land, so as 
to make as just a partition as possible. 

9. The ao;ents will take charge oi the emi- 
grants from St. Louis, where they will wait for 
them; and wlien they arrive on the land, the 
lots shall be equitably distributed to each 
family. 

10. The agents will also liave the oversight 
of the families on their first arrival in the 
colony; but the emigrants must defray their 
own expenses. 

11. In all important matters, the agents 
must consult, besides Mr. Blumer, the heads of 
the commercial house in New York, from which 
they draw the money. 

12. It will be necessary to provide for the 
breaking up of some land to raise produce for 
man and beast, for which the agents shall make 
provisions. 

13. The purchase of the land shall be made 
in the name of the "Emigration Society of 
the Cairton of Glarus." Mr. Duerst will have 
a plat made of the lands, divided into lots, and 
numbered, with the names of the owners. The 
head of every family will draw his lot of twenty 
acres, and be the exclusive owner. The price 
thereof, as well as advances made afterwards, 
must be repaid within ten years, without inter- 
est. Mr. Streifif will keep a copy of said plat, 
and all the papers; also keep an accurate record 
of the names of all owners, their increase or 
decrease, etc. 

14. The agents will do their utmost to pro- 
vide, as soon as possible, for the establishment 
of a Church and school, and for the relief of the 
poor of the colony. 

15. When the agents think that they have 
executed these instructions according to the 
best of their ability, Mr. Duerst will promptly 
return to his father-land. 

16. Mr. Streiff will remain with the colonists, 
and report to the association concerning every- 
thing of interest from time to time; he will also 
keep accounts of all expenses, etc. 



17. Mr. Duerst shall receive for iiis service 
$1 per day till his return, with all ex- 
penses. Mr. Streiff shall have his ))ersonal 
expenses paid from his departure from home 
until Mr. Duerst returns to Switzerland; after 
which he shall receive such remuneration for 
his services as the executive committee of the 
association sliall consider just and proper. 

When the people arrived on tlie land, in 
August, 1845, wholly destitute of money, and 
unable to live through the approaching winter 
without help, the agents drew on the associa- 
tion, which honored the draft, to the amount of 
$1,000, which was used to make advances to the 
families in provisions, cattle, tools, seed, etc. 
This money had to be refunded, with the price 
of the lots, within ten years from the founda- 
tion of the colony. In 1855, all these debts 
were fully paid and cancelled, and deeds issued 
by the association to each owner. Messrs. 
Fridolin Streift' and Fridolin Egger were at that 
time the agents representing the association, 
with full authority to settle with every colonist. 
The last ])apers were issued, if I am not mis- 
taken, in 1856; and from that time the so-called 
colony was perfectly independent of the parent 
association, alttiough there existed, and yet 
exists, only the kindest remembrances and re- 
lations. 

In the fall of 1846, a successor to Mr. Duerst, 
and assistant to Mr. Streiff, was sent from the 
old country by the association, in the person of 
J. J. Tschuddy, who arrived at New Glarus, in 
October, when he at once proceeded to collect 
some statistics in relation to the financial and 
agricultural })rogress of the colony up to that 
time. On a visit made to every cabin, he found 
that, altliough some families were suffering from 
sickness, and liad yet only poor accommodations, 
still, in general, there was a steady improve- 
ment, a hopeful out-look for the future, and 
reasonable contentment with the new home and 
tlie progress thus far made. The winter of 
1846-47 was a hard one. From January till 
the spring of 1847, men and beasts suf- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



643 



fered much from exposure in the rough, unfin- 
ished huts and stables, and with scarcity of 
fodder for the cattle. Still, spring found all 
well, and ready to go to work with a will, and 
with new courage, to break land, plant and im- 
prove according to their best ability. They 
were, however, often hindered and retarded for 
want of teams, tools, and other necessaries, 
which were provided, as far as possible, by ad- 
vances from the association. 

As information was sent by the parent asso- 
ciation that more emigrants would be sent in 
the spring of 1847, the agents bought, by in- 
structions given them, another tract of land in 
the adjoining town of Washington, on the south, 
which was also divided into twenty acre lots, 
and distributed among the new comers in that 
year. But this second colony never kept to- 
gether so exclusively as did the men of New 
Giarus, who named the whole township after 
their old country home, together with the vil- 
lage therein. The settlers of New Giarus 
founded their own Church — the Reformed 
Church — according to the rights and usages of 
the Old Country; and had their German school 
from the beginning, as well as an English one. 

In 1853, the first celebration of the 4th of July 
was held by a few of the colonists, associating 
with it the vivid remembrance of a day of festi- 
val kept in their father-land — very similar to 
the American holiday; and, from that time, In- 
dependance day has been celebrated every year 
more or less in the village by all the people, 
old and young. A number of the primitive set- 
tlers have gone to their everlasting rest; but 
those remaining may be seen on these festive 
occasions, taking part in the celebration of the 
4th of July, which serves to remind them of 
their native land, and of the battle-dav which 



delivered their ancestors from the tyranny of 
their oppressors on the 9th of April, 1388, when 
800 men of Giarus defeated several thousand 
Austrians. 

I now append the statistics of the colony as I 
took them on my arrival in the autumn of 1846: 
Land broken for tillage, 100 acres, which I think 
was well done under the circumstances, oxen 
and plows being owned in common, and had 
necessarily to be used in rotation, making it 
often rather difficult to keep the work all going 
on in peace and harmony. Up to Nov. 20, 1846, 
there were two births and seven deaths in the 
settlement. On the 19th of November, in that 
year, Mr. Streiff brought the first sheep to New 
Giarus. Lot No. 13 was" selected as the village 
plat, and had thirteen cabins at the time. There 
were then twenty cabins in the whole colony. 
Poultry was largely kept, but no enumeration 
of the number was taken. Garden produce of 
various kinds was planted on all lots cultivated, 
and gave very rich returns. 

There were at that time in the colony of New 
Giarus 129 persons, men, women and children; 
and the number of twenty acre lots taken, and 
partly improved, twenty-nine. One settler had 
two horses, while another was the owner of a 
bull; four yoke of working oxen were held in 
common by the whole settlement; eighteen cows 
were held separately, fifteen heifers, twenty-five 
calves and 199 hogs. Their first harvest, that 
of 1846, yielded the settlers 700 bushels of corn, 
and enough potatoes for the use of the colony. 
All things considered, this was a good showing 
for the first year's operations, and all seemed 
satisfied with the results, trusting in the good 
providence of God that still better days were 
yet in store for them. Nor were their hopes 
disappointed. 



644 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



TOWN OF ADAMS. 



The town of Adams embraces congressional 
township 3 north, range 6 east. It is bounded 
on the north by the town of York, on the east 
by Washington, on the south by Jordan, and 
on the west by Lafayette county. The surface 
of the town is rather broken, and a good share 
of it is covered with timber, yet many valuable 
and well cultivated farms are found here. 
There are 22,752 acres of farming land in the 
town, the assessed value of which is |6.01, and 
total assessed value, $136,849, The total as- 
sessed value of all real and personal property is 
$2 1 '7,902. In 1875 the population of the town 
was 913; in 1880,930. The stock in the town 
is estimated as follows: 765 milch cows valued 
at $17,406; 485 horses, assessed value $45.97 
total $22,297; 2,295 head of cattle, assessed 
value, $14.22, total, $32,655; 8 mules, assessed 
value $47.50, total, $380; 1,272 sheep, assessed 
value $1.77, total $2,256; J, 713 swine, assessed 
value $3.88, total, $6,663. The principal farm 
products grown in the town of Adams in 1882 
were as follows: 3,598 bushels wheat, 68,750 
bushels corn, 54,130 bushels oats, 320 bushels 
barley, 1,954 bushels rye, 4,312 bushels pota- 
toes, 1,360 bushels apples, 40 bushels clover 
seed, 1,540 tons hay, 42,685 pounds butter, 128,- 
000 pounds cheese. The principal farm pro- 
ducts growing in the town at the time of mak- 
ing the assessment in 1883 were as follows; 348 
acres wheat, 2,621 acres corn, 2,050 acres oats, 
14 acres barley, 155 acres rye, 87^ acres potatoes, 
65.V acres apple orchard, 3,260 acres growing 
grasses, 5,1 24 acres growing timber and 2,137 
bearing apple trees. 



EARLV SETTLEMENT. 

James Biggs, of Ohio, made the first settle- 
ment within the limits now comprising the 
town of Adams, lie came here before the 
Black Hawk War, intrusted by the government 
with the work of surveying and subdividing 
range 6. He finished this work in 1834. While 
prosecuting his work he discovered on section 
8, in this town, a rank growth of what is 
termed "lead-weed," or more properly "lead- 
plant," called masonic in an early day, whose 
roots are said to extend forty feet below the 
surface. Gen. Biggs knew that both scientists 
and Indians regarded a line of this weed on the 
surface as an indication of a fissure that might 
contain lead, and at odd moments he began to 
dig there. In 1835 he settled here, but for sev- 
eral years his family spent much of the time at 
"Hamilton Diggings." 

William Brazel, a native of Illinois, came 
here in 1837, and made a claim on sections 32 
and 33 ; erecting a log house on the latter sec- 
tion. Three years later he moved into what is 
now the town of Jordan, and entered land on 
section 4. He erected a log cabin and lived 
there until 1849, when he sold out and removed 
to section 32, in the town of Adams, where he 
had previously entered land. Here he lived 
until the time of his death, which occurred in 
1851. His family still occupy the homestead. 

In June, 1837, Jonas Shook arrived in Wiota, 
where he settled. In 1838, he removed to the 
town of Adams, this county, locating on section 
24, where he purchased forty acres of land on 
the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter. 



« 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



645 



He built a double log cabin, afterwards putting 
in a substantial stone basement. - He lived in 
tlie town of Adams until 1881, when he re- 
moved to Monroe. Shook's Prairie received its 
name from this pioneer seitler. 

Richard Gabriel, a native of Ohio, came to 
this county in 1838, and entered land on section 
13, this town. He lived here a few years, when 
he removed to the town of York, where he slill 
resides. 

William L., James H. and David D. Bailey, 
sons of Robert Bailey, came here in 1840, and 
entered land on section 23. William improved 
a farm and lived here until 1874, when he sold 
out and removed to Bremer Co., Iowa, where he 
still lives. James H. lived here several years, 
then sold out and removed to Monroe, where he 
died in 1882. D.ivid lived on his farm until the 
time of his death, which was caused from a 
cancer in his face. 

Matthew Cunningham, a Virginian, came in 
1842 and settled on the northwest quarter of 
section 24. He improved a farm and lived there 
for several years when he sold out and removed 
to Iowa county, where he died. 

Michael Crotty, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Adams, was born in county Sligo, Ire- 
land, in 1819. He was there reared to man- 
hood, and was unite.i in marriage with Mary 
Sweetinan, who was also born in county Sligo. 
In 1842, Mr. Crotty emigrated to America, and 
took a claim on section 28, township 3, range 1 
east, now known as the town of Adams, in this 
county. Not having the means to enter the 
land, he engaged with Jonas Shook, and fol- 
lowed mining during the winter. In the spring 
he went to Wiota and engaged in mining there. 
He was there joined by his wife and two chil- 
dren. They lived in Wiota two years, during 
which time he had entered his land, and had 
some impiovements on it. In 1845, he removed 
to the Badger Digging on section 11, and en- 
gaged ill raining there. He employed a man to 
improve his farm, and he also erected a log 
cabin. He continued to follow mining until 



1846,^then removed to his farm, and devoted 
his time thereafter to farming, and is now one 
of the substantial moneyed men of the town. 
He owns 640 acres of land, and is extensively 
engaged in stock raising. He also owns valua- 
ble mill property in Argyle. His wife died in 
1857, leaving four children — John, Patrick 
Nancy and Joseph. He was married the second 
time to Marcella Gavigan. They have five 
children — Michael, Sarah, Francis, George and 
Joseph. 

In 1843 Cutler Wilkins came from near the 
State line and settled on the northeast quarter 
of section 31. He remained a few years, then 
sold to Richard Scott, and moved away. 

Davis Roub came in 1844 and claimed the 
southeast quarter of section 33. He remained 
there seven or eight years, and then removed to 
Dane county, where he still lives. 

Samuel Kelly, a native of Kentucky, came 
here from Ohio in 1844 and lived for two years 
in the town of Clarno. In 1846 he settled on 
section 34, "in the town of Adams, where he im- 
proved a farm and remained until the time of 
his death, in 1870. 

Maftin Mullin, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Adams, was born in county Sligo, Ire- 
land, in the year 18U0. When twenty years old 
he left his native land and came to America. 
He spent four years in the States of New York 
and Mew Jersey, then returned to Ireland and 
was married to Jane Wallace, also a native of 
county Sligo. Four months later he came to 
America, accompanied by his bride. They first 
settled in New Jersey, where they lived two 
years, then removed to the State of New York, 
and lived there three years. They then immi- 
grated to Illinois and settled near Joliet, where 
he was engaged upon a canal. Four years later 
they removed to Stephenson county, in the 
same State, and there bought and improved 
land near Davistown. They remained there 
until the spring of 1844, when he came to Green 
county and made a claim on section 19, town- 
ship 3, range G. During the summer he erected 



646 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



a log cabin and cut some hay upon his claim. 
He then retnrned to Illinois and harvested his 
crops. He traded his land there for stock. In 
the fall of the year he removed with his family 
to this county. The following spring he broke 
a small tract of land and put in a crop of cort). 
He also rai.sed a crop in Stephenson county up- 
on land which he )»ad rented. He afterwards 
devoted his time to farming upon his own land, 
clearing and fencing over 100 acres. He built 
a frame liouse and barn, and made this his home 
until the time of his death, which occu'-red in 
March, 1872. His widow still resides at the 
homestead. They w^ere the parents of six chil- 
dren — James, Frank, Mary A., Robert, Charles 
and John. Mary A. died at the age of two 
years and four months. 

Frank Mullin, chairman of tlie town board of 
Adams, was born in the State o"f New York, 
Feb. 18, 1837, and was seven years old when he 
came to Green county with his pareiats. He re- 
ceived his educa ion in tlie schools of Stephen- 
son Co., 111., and those of the town of Adams. 
He was married Feb. 28, 1867, to Mary Barry, a 
native of Green county. He had previously 
traded for a farm of 200 acres on sections 7 and 8, 
of the town of Adams. Upon the place was a log 
cabin in which they began housekeeping. Four 
years later he built the frame house they now 
occupy. They have six children-^Joseph, 
Frank, Martin, Elizabeth J., Edward and Wil- 
liam. Mr. MuHiii has been a member of the 
town board several terms, and is serving his 
second term as chairman. 

Another old settler of the town of Adams 
Avas William Morrison, who came from Ohio at 
an early day and located on section 35. 

R. M. Jackson, a native of Pennsylvania, 
came from Illinois in 1845 and entered land on 
section 12. He improved part of the land and 
lived here until 1861, when he sold out and re- 
moved to Monroe, where he kept the Junction 
Hotel (which he erected) for a short time, and 
then went to Missouri, 



Reuben Holcomb came at about the same 
time. He was a native of the State of New 
York, but came here from Iowa Co., Wis. In 
the fall of 1845 he purchased the northeast 
quarter of section 13, but did not settle here 
until 1850. He still lives on that section. 

David Covey, a native of Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
came to Green county in 1845 and settled on 
the Rust Branch, in the town of Jordan, where 
hf purchased 200 p.cres of land. He was a shoe- 
maker by trade, and spent a good deal of time 
working at his trade, aside from improving his 
farm In the fall of 1847 he sold out and moved 
to what is now the town of Adams, purchasing 
200 acres of land on section 19. He put up a 
log house near Dougherty's Branch, and lived 
there six years, then removed to Argyle, where 
he worked at his trade and bought the Cottage 
Inn, and ran hotel. In 1861 he sold the hotel 
building and erected a larger one, naming it 
the American House, and ran this hotel until 
the time of his death, in April, 1874. His 
widow still lives in the village, and his son, 
David S., now manages the hotel. 

George Devoe, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Adams, was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
March 14, 1806. He was married to Elizabeth 
Kinney, a native of the same county. In 1815 
they emigrated to Michigan, going by land, to 
Buffalo, thence by the lakes. They lived in 
.Jackson county, where they rented land until 
1845, then with one ox team, the family started 
west to seek a home, taking with them their 
household goods and camping out by the way. 
They came to the Territory of Wisconsin and 
made a claim near the jiresent site of the vil- 
lage of Wayne He built a log cabin and 
lived there until July of that year, then sold 
out and came to Green county, making a claim 
on section 6 of what is now the town of Adams. 
He had three yoke of oxen and engaged 
in teaming lead from Mineral Point to Mil- 
waukee, a distnnce of 125 miles. He built a 
log house and made some improvement on his 
land that fall, and the following year raised a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



647 



crop of spring wheat and some corn. At that 
time he had seven sons, some of them grown, 
and the boys were engaged in mining, teaming 
and farming. Game was plenty, and tlie boys 
being expert deer hunters, kept the family well 
supplied with meat. In 1861 Mr. Devoe re- 
moved to Argyle, where he bought a house and 
lot and spent the remainder of his days. He 
died July 8, 1802. His widow now lives with 
her i-on, William A., in the town of Cadiz. 
There were twelve children born to them, six of 
Avhom are now living — Orson B., George S., 
Loron 13., William A., Phebe A. and Mary A. 

George S. Devoe now owns and occupies the 
old homestead. He was born in Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., April 4, 1833, and was but four years old 
when his parents moved to Michigan, and 
twelve years old when they settled in this 
county, where he grew to manhood. He as- 
sisted his father in clearing a farm, in mining, 
teaming, etc., and shared with his brothers the 
pleasures of hunting and fishing. He was 
married, Dec. 6, 1855, to Oretta M. Oviatt, 
who was born in the State of Ohio, June 9, 
1839. He bought forty acres of land on section 
1. He built a house on liis father's land and 
lived there one year, then moved to Lafayette 
county and rented land three years, then re- 
turned to the town of Adams and setttled on 
the old liomestead. They have six children 
living — William S., Richard L., Lawrence G., 
Ch^irley \\'., Clarence O. and Millie A. 

Reuben Holcomb, one of the early settlers of 
tlie town of Adams, was born in Monroe Co., 
N. Y., May 16, 1816. When he was one year 
oKl his parents moved to Niagara county and 
settled in the town of Hartland, where, six years 
later, his father died. After this -he lived in 
different |)laces in the State of New York, until 
he was twenty-live yeirs old. He then went to 
Micliigan and located in La Pere county, living 
there and iji Oakland county until 1844. In 
tliat year he came to the Territory of Wiscon- 
sin, and settled in that part of Iowa county naw 
known as Lafayette ^onnty, remaining there 



until the spring of 1845, when lie came to Green 
county and spent two mojiths. He then went 
to Michigan and remained through the summer. 
In the fall of that year he returned lo Iowa 
county and entered land in the town of Fayette. 
The next four years he sj^ent in Iowa and 
Green counties, working as carpenter and joiner. 
In 1849 he bought eighty acres of land of Rich- 
ard Gabriel, on section 13, of the town of 
Adams, and soon after entered adjoining land. 
He was married in 1855, to Sarah E, Wilder- 
man, who was born in St. Clair Co., 111. They 
settled upon his land on section 13, going to 
house-keeping in a small log house that was 
standing upoti the place. In 1866 he built a 
good frame house which they now occupy. He 
now owns 300 ncres of land, and is engaged in 
grain and stock raising, also keeps a dairy. Mr. 
and Mrs. Holcomb have had live children^ — • 
.lames A., Ernest, Florence M., Reuben and 
Jennie L. In 1853 Mr. Holcomb's mother came 
to Green county, and died here in the fall of 
that year. Their daughter, Florence M., died at 
the age of seventeen months. 

Russell Allen, a stone mason by trade, came 
here in 1846 and erected a cabin on section 24. 
He remained in the town, working at his trade 
in the summer and minir.g in the winter for 
several years, and then removed to Iowa. 

Levi C. Allen, a native of New York, came at 
the same time and settled on the northeast quar- 
ter of section 1. He died there about twelve 
years later, and his family soon afterward went 
to Polk Co., Iowa, where they now live. 

Uriah G. Bailey, a pioneer of the town of 
Adams, was born in Jackson Co , Ga., in March, 
1808. In 1811 his parents moved to Kentucky 
and settled in Logan county, where they lived 
three years, then removed to Illinois and set- 
tled at Saline Salt Works. Two years later 
they removed to Sullivan Co., Ind., where they 
were among the early settlers. They remained 
there six years, then removed to Vermilion 
Co., Ind., thence to Vermilion Co., III. Here 
his father bought timl)cr and prairie land and 



648 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



improved a farm. Tlie subject of tliis sketch 
remained with his parents until the time of his 
marriage in 1835, to Harriet McMillan, a native 
of Lickini!; Co., Ohio. He bought land in Ver- 
milion county, on which they settled, and lived 
until 1846. He then sold his land and came to 
Green county, moving with teams and bringing 
their household goods. They also drove some 
cows and sheep along with them. He entered 
200 acres of land on section 13, of the town of 
Adams, upon which he built a log house in 
which they lived several years. He then erected 
a good frame house. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey had 
five children, only one of whom is now living — 
William E. Mrs. Bailey died in 1878. 

William E. Bailey was born in Vermilion 
Co., 111., in January, 1836, and was ten years of 
age when he came with his parents to Green 
county. He grew to maturity in the town of 
Adams, receiving his education in the district 
school. He was married in April,l85'7,to Jane 
McDonald, and settled on his father's farm. In 
September of the same year, his wife died. He 
was again married in 1859, to Synthia Long, 
who died April 10, 1870; leaving three children 
— William G., John R. and Priscilia. His 
third wife was Lydia Shrake, and they were 
married in October, 1S74. Five children have 
been born to them — Elsie, Edith, Florence, 
Alma and Adam. Florence died in infancy. 

Oliver Fuller, a native of Cornwall, Conn., 
came in 1846, and settled on the southeast 
quarter of section 19. In 1850 he sold out and 
removed to Monroe, and later to Wiota, where 
he died in June, 1882. 

Adam Shrake, a native of Licking Co., Ohio, 
came to the county in the fall of 1847 and set- 
tled in the town of Monroe. In 1869 he came 
to the town of Adams, settling on sectiori 24, 
and remained until 1881 when he went to Brule 
Co., Dak. 

Orville Spaulding, a New Yorker, came in 
J 847 and entered land on section 1. In 1849 lie 
built the first frame house in town. He remained 



here six or seven y.ears, then sold out and 
went to Ohio, "where he has since died. 

Robert P. Grinnell, a native of New York, 
came here in 1847 and entered forty acres on sec- 
tion 1. He improved a farm and lived there 
several years, and then moved to section 12, 
where he died. 

Robert P. Grinnell, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Adams, was born in Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., July 16, 1795. When he was young 
his parents moved to Fulton county, where he 
grew to manhood and was married to Esther J. 
Montgomery, who was born in Rensselaer 
Co., N. Y., in 1805. They lived in Fulton 
county until 1836, then removed to Monroe 
county in the same State, where they rented a 
farm until 1847. In that year they came to 
Wisconsin, traveling upon the Erie canal to 
Buffalo, and thence upon the lakes to Racine, 
where he hired teams to complete the journey 
to Green county. He entered land on section 1, 
township 3, range 6, now known as Adams. 
He built a log cabin and commenced improving 
the land. He soon after entered other land on 
section 6 of the town of Washington, a portion 
of which he improved. In 1859 he traded for 
land on section 12, to which he removed, and 
built a frame house and barn. He made this 
his home until the time of death which occurred 
in 1 868. His widow lives with her son Amos, in 
Iowa. They were the parents of five children 
— AmosL., Willard E., Silas M., John F. and 
Elizabeth M. 

John F Grinnell is the only one of the chil- 
dren now living in the town of Adams. He was 
born in Fulton Co., N. Y., July 21, 1829, 
and was eighteen years old when he came with 
his parents to Green county. Here he was em- 
ployed in farming in the neighborhood, in the 
summer seasons, and attended school winters. 
In the spring of 1849 he went to the pineries on 
the Wisconsin river and engaged in rafting 
lumber down stream to St. Louis. He was 
man-led in 1853, to Catharine Shook, who was 



I 



.(Mi- '-^ 










^y e^^^€^^^ i/^-T^le/C 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



651 



born in St. Clair Co., 111., Oct. 3, 1831. He 
built a log house on section 12, where he- had 
previously purchased land, and commenced 
housekeeping. He has since improved a large 
farm and erected a good frame house and barn. 
He now owns 320 acres of land, and is engaged 
in raising grain and stock. He pays particular 
attention to the raising of fine horses, and always 
drives a good team. Mrs. Grinnell died Jan. 
6, 1871, leaving two children — Garrett C. and 
Harry B. Mr. Grinnell was again married June 
4, 1873, to Sarah Perkins, a native of the 
province of Ontario, Canada. By this union 
there are two children — Dorman M. and Edith. 

Among the arrivals in 1848 were James Land, 
Giles M. King and E, D. Jackson, who came 
from Ohio. Mr. Land entered land on the 
south half of section 11, and improved a farm. 
About 1860 he sold out and removed to Cadiz. 
He died in Monroe in 1881. Mr. King settled 
upon the southeast quarter of section 2. He 
lived here until 1863, when he removed to Mon- 
roe, where he 'now lives. He is a carpenter 
and joiner. Mr. Jackson located on the south- 
west quarter of section 12. He improved a por- 
tion of the land and lived there about twelve 
years, when he removed to Monroe. He now 
lives in Illinois. 

George Smith, a native of England, came in 
1850, and settled on the southwest quarter of 
section 17. He was a single man, and kept 
"bachelor's hall" in the little log cabin which 
he erected upon his place. He remained in the 
county a number of years, and then removed 
to Iowa, where he died. 

Edmund Barry, a native of Ireland, came here 
ill 1850, and lived nearly one year on Shook's 
Prairie, then settled on land he had entered on 
sections 20 and 21, erecting a house on the lat- 
ter section, where he still lives. 

Richard Scott came to Green county in 1851, 
and purchased 120 acres of land on section 31. 
Twenty acres of improved land, a log house 
and stable constituted the improvements on the 
place at that time. He now owns 280 acres of 



good land, and is engaged in farming and rais- 
ing stock. He was born in that part of Wayne 
county now known as Ashland Co., Ohio, Nov. 
2, 1819. In September, 1840, he was united in 
marriage with Sarah McCauley. They settled 
on his father's farm, and lived there six years, 
then removed to Illinois by team. They started 
on the 10th of May, and arrived in Stephenson 
county on the 9th of June. He purchased 
sixty-five acres of land, which he improved, 
living there until 1851, when he removed to 
Green county, as before stated. Mrs. Scott was 
born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., July 26, 
1821. She died Jan. 31, 1867, leaving five chil- 
dren — Jacob, Sarah J., Franklin P., James B. 
and Lizzie A. 

HISTORICAL ITEMS. 

The first birth in the town was Julia, daugh- 
ter of Gen. James and Angeline Biggs, who 
was born in 1835. She is now the wife of 
Jackson Andrews, of Lyon Co., Kan. 

The first death was that of an infant daugh- 
ter of William and Mary Brazel, in 1838. She 
was buried at Wiota. 

The first election in the town was held at the 
house of James H. Baile} . 

POSTOFFICES. 

Willett postotfice was established in 1848, 
wdth Jonas Shook as postmaster. It was on the 
route from Belvidere and Beloit to Mineral 
Point. Mr. Shook served as postmaster for 
eight and a half years, when he resigned and 
the ottice was discontinued. It was soon after- 
wards re-established, with Eliphalet Bray as 
postmaster. He served several years. The 
present postmaster, William Montieth, was ap- 
pointed in 1884. Mail is received tri-weekly. 

William Monteith, the postmaster of Willett, 
was born in Wigtownshire, Scotland, ]\(arch 18, 
1827. When he was eighteen years old, he went 
to England and spent two years, then returned 
home and engaged to learn the trade of stone 
mason, at which he worked in his native coun- 
try until the fall of 1850, then came to America, 
first stopping in Caledonia Co., Vt., where he 



38 



662 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



spent the winter, then starting west, spent some 
time in Ohio and Indiana, then come to Grant 
Co., Wis., where he worked at his trade for 
several years. His parents joined him there and 
he bought a farm on which tliey settled. In 
1856, he went to Kansas, and was there two 
years of those stormy times preceding the 
"Great American Conflict" at arms. In 1858, 
he returned to Grant county and there remained 
until 1860, then went to the Carabou mines in 
British Columbia and lived two years, then to 
Oregon, California and Nevada, engaging in 
mining, principally, until 1864, when he came to 
Green county and engaged to build a flouring 
mill for Mathew Newkirk. After the mill was 
completed he was employed by Newkirk, to take 
charge of the farm and the mines. In 1868, he 
bought the place and has since made it his home. 
The farm contains 240 acres, all improved ex- 
cept twenty acres of timber. He was married 
in 1866, to Mary Bleiler, a native of Germany, 
They have eight children — Jessie, St. Clair, 
William, Henry, Robert, John, Edward and 
Isabella. 

A postofiice, called "Walnut Springs," was es- 
tablished in 1848, with James Biggs as post- 
master. The office was on a route from Madi- 
son to Wiota, and mail was received once each 
week. It was discontinued after a few years. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The town of Adams was organized in the 
spring of 1849, at an election held at the liouse 
of J. H. Bailey, on section 23. There is no 
record of this election, but the following, it is 
learned, were among the officers elected at that 
time: Supervisors, Samuel Kelley, chairman, 
Mathew Cunningham and John Morrison; clerk, 
T. M. Biggs; treasurer, James H. Bailey; school 
superintendent, James ]>iggs; constable, J. F. 
Wescott; justice of the peace, Amos L. Grinnell. 

At an election held on the 2d of April, 1850, 
of which Reuben llolcoinb and Silas Grinnell 
wer(! clerks, the following officers were elected: 
Supervisors, Samuel Kelley, chairman, Russell 
Allen and .John Morrison; superintendent of 



schools, James Biggs; clerk, R. M. Jackson; as- 
sessor, James Tickuor; justices of the peace, 
James Biggs, Amos L. Grinnell, Cutler Wilkins 
and Russell Allen; constables, Erastus R. Allen, 
W. E. Grinnell and Thomas Steele. For the 
office of treasurer there was a tie between Levi 
C. Allen and Samuel Kelley, which by lot, re- 
sulted in favor of the former. Among others 
who have been prominent in town affairs are 
the following: Jonas Shook, John F. Grinnell, 
William Montieth, Adam Shrake, Frank Mullin, 
Thomas Byrne, Fred Hunnell, Jonas Land, A. 
L. Grinnell, James Smith, Royal M. Jackson, 
Richard Scott, L. P. Duncan, Joel Kelly, T. M. 
Biggs, E. D. Jackson, C. M. Ball, Henry Gilli- 
gan and Gen. E. D. Bray. 

A very sad accident occurred in the town of 
Adams, at the raising of a log house for a Mr. 
Morrison, which resulted in the death of James 
Brown. In fitting the logs at the end it became 
necessary to cut away a small portion, and in 
turning the log over Mr. Brown slipped and 
fell, the log following, striking hijn on the head 
and killing him. Mr. Brown was a young man, 
and well known, and the accident cast a deep 
gloom over the entire community. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first school house in district No. 1 was 
erected on section 13 in 1848, before the dis- 
trict was organized. U. G. Bailey, Jonas 
Shook, R. M. Jackson and ]Matthew Cunning- 
ham furnished the logs, and Richard Gabriel 
helped them erect the building. Mr. Cunning- 
ham went to Milwaukee and got the sliingles. 
Mrs. Ann Carr taught the first school in this 
district. The school house was in use but a 
few years when a frame school house was 
erected on the south line of section 14, in which 
Addie Newman was first to teach.. 

The first school in district No. 6 was taught 
by Elizabeth J5razel in 1866 in the house of 
Knud M. Lee. During the same year a stone 
school house was built in the northern part of 
section 10. Francis Cleveland was the first 
teacher in this house, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



653 



The first school house in district No. 2 was 
on section 35. It was built in 1864. The first 
teacher in this house was W. H. Morgan. 

The first scliool house in district No. 5 was 
erected of logs on section 22, in 1854. Sarah 
Scott and Sarah Wilderman were the first 
teachers in this house. Since then another log 
school house — the only one in the town — has 
been erected on the northeast quarter of section 
20. 

The first school taught in district No. V was 
in a log cabin on the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 24, in 1841. Jeff Wescott was the teacher. 

The first school house in district No. 7 was 
erected in 1851, and was a brick building. 
The first teacher was Mrs. Freeman Derril. She 
went to the town superintendent for a certifi- 
cate, and upon her return one of the neighbors 
asked if she had passed the examination, and 
she answered, "yes." The neighbor then en- 
quired how many questions were asked and she 
replied: "Two; the first was "can you write?" 
and the second was "can you write your certifi- 
cate?" She replied that she could, and did. 
The first school hoHse was used until the pres- 
ent building was erected near the old site, in 
1875. 

The first school house in district No. 3 was 
erected in 1852 in the northern part of section 
32. Sophia Scott was the first teacher in this 
building. The school house was removed to 
section 29 and used until 1879, when the present 
building was erected on section 32. William 
Dowling was the first teacher in this house. 

The first school house in district No. 4 was 
erected of logs in 1851, near the centre of sec- 
tion 8. Miss A. Corbin was the fii'st teacher 
in this house. The present school building was 
erected in 1881, on the same section. It is 
frame. The first teacher in this house was 
Clara Corson. Previous to the erection of the 
first school house, Altheda Corbin taught a 
term of school in Gen. Biggs' house; 



MILLS. 

In 1845 a saw mill was erected on section 21, 
by Charles and Chauncey Smith, the power 
being derived from Daugherty's creek. It was 
run by a scroll wheel with some reaction buckets. 
The mill did a good business for several years 
when it was washed away by a flood. At this 
time it was owned by Hilliard & Ball. Soon 
afterward they erected a woolen factory which 
was run successfully for several years. Lean- 
der Stevens bought the mill and put in two 
run of stone for grinding corn and wheat, and 
ran it for some time. 

RELIGIOUS — LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

The first meetings of this denomination were 
held at private houses by Rev. Monk, from 
Wiota, services were held at different private 
houses until 1865 when a neat frame church 
building was erected on section 3, Rev. J. Fjld, 
from Danecounty, was the first preacherto hold 
services in the church. Since then Rev. Halend 
and Rev. C. Aas, have served as pastor, Rev. T. 
Reamstad, from Argyle, is the present pastor. 
There are now about sixty f;imilies belonging 
to this church. 

ST. FUAXCIS CHLRCH. 

The first mass in the town of Adams was held 
at the house of JVIichnel C'rotty in 1852, by 
Father Dailey from Shiilisliurg. Services were 
held at other private houses for some years, 
including those of Martin Mullin, Edward 
Barry, Eugene Knight, Stephen Murphy and 
John Finn. In 1861, a frame church was 
erected on the southwest quarter of section 21, 
in which Father O'Conner was the first priest to 
say mass. 

There is a cemetery in connection with the 
Catholic Church. The first burial in it was of 
the remains of John Gallagan. 

LEAD MINES. 

In early days the lead n)ines of Adams bore 
the names of Badger and Kewkirk diggings. 
They were located on sections 4, 5,8, 10, 11 
and 24. Tliis matter received further attention 
elsewhere in this volume, 



654 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The following are a few, of the representative 
and prominent citizens of the town of Adams: 

Levi P. Duncan, an early settler in Green 
county, was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Jan. 18, 
1827. When a young man he engaged with a 
brother-in-law. Steward McMillan, to learn the 
trade of wagon-maker. In 1847 they came to 
Monroe, Green county, where Mr. McMillan 
opened a wagon shop, and the subject of this 
sketch worked with him until 1851. In that 
year he bought a farm on section 31, of the 
town of Adams. The improvements upon the 
land, at the time of his purchase, consisted of a 
partly completed log cabin and a few acres of 
broken land. He now has a good frame house, 
and quite a tract of land under cultivation. He 
was married in 1850, to Adeline A,, daughter 
of Amos and Elizabeth (Haynes) Doane. They 
have one daughter — Jennie. Mr. Duncan is a 
preacher of the Baptist denomination. He first 
preached, under special license, in the town of 
Jordan, in 1854. He was ordained at Juda, in 
1858, since which time, he has been engaged in 
preaching at different points in Green, Lafayette 
and Dane counties. Their daughter, Jennie, 
was married to Alex. E. Patterson, who was 
born in Scotland, and came, when very young, 
with his parents to America. He grew to man- 
hood in Lafayette county. In 1862 he enlisted 
in the service of the United States, and was 
mustered in as corporal. He served, until the 
close of the war. He was with Sherman on his 
march to the sea and through the Carolinas to 
Washington, participating in many of the im- 
portant battles of that memorable campaign. 
He was discharged in July, 18H5, and returned 
home broken down in health. He never re- 
covered his former vigor, and died April 7, 
1874. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson had three chil- 
dren — John, Charles and George. 

Eliphalet D. Bray came to Green county in 
1851, and settled in the town of Adams. He 
purchased 640 acres of land on sections 5, 8, 9, 
1-3, 15 and 16. He built a log house on section 15, 



and commenced improving the land. He made 
his home there until the time of his death, 
Sept. 5, 1860. He was born in Oxford Co., 
Maine, in 1798. When he was quite young his 
parents removed to Franklin county in the 
same State where his father bought timber land 
and improved a farm. There the subject of 
this sketch spent his youth. When a young 
man, he joined the State militia, and was com- 
missioned as colonel and breveted general. 
He was known throughout the State as " Gen. 
Bray." He became interested in lumbering, 
and for several years was prominent among the 
lumbermen of Franklin and Somerset counties. 
He was at one time a member of the legislature 
from his district. In 1834 he was married to 
Caroline Chipman, a native of Oxford county. 
They settled at the time of their marriage, in 
New Portland, Somerset county. He bought 
unimproved land and made a farm. They be- 
gan housekeeping in a log house, but soon after 
built a frame house, in which they lived until 
1848, when he sold his farm and removed to 
Franklin county, where they remained till 1851. 
Sixteen children were born to them, nine of 
■\yhom are now living. Mrs. Bray remained at 
the homestead until 1863, when she was mar- 
ried to Benjamin Thompson, and lived on sec- 
tion 1. Mr. Thompson died a few years later 
and she returned to Maine, where she now 
lives with her youngest son, in Somerset county. 

George Bray was born in Somerset county, 
Sept. 21, 1835, and is the son of Eliphalet and 
Caroline Bray. He was sixteen years old when 
he came to Wisconsin. He resided with his 
parents until his fatlier's death. He was mar- 
ried in 1861, to Annie E Garrison, a native of 
Augusta, Maine, and settled upon the home- 
stead farm, where he lived two years. He then 
built a frame house on section 16, upon land 
which his fatlier had entered. He improved a 
farm and remained there until 1869. In that 
year he sold his farm and went to Maine and 
staid five months, returning at the end of that 
ti)ue, to the town of Adams. In 1870 he bought 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



655 



a farm on section 14, upon which he now resides. 
He owns 260 acres of land, and is engaged in 
raising grain and stock. Mr. and Mrs. Bray 
have two chiklren — Norris E. and George W. 

Erastus Mosher was a pioneer of Lafayette 
county, having settled there in 1845. He made 
a claim in township 3, range 5, now the town of 
Argyle. He remained there until 1854. In 
that year he sold out and came to Green county. 
He purchased ninety-three acres of land on section 
7, of the. town of Adams, upon which he built 
a log house and later a frame house, and 
resided here until the time of his death 
Aug. 10, 1882. He was born at Biugham- 
ton, Broome Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1807. 
When he was quite young his parents moved to 
Tioga county in the same State, where he grew 
to manhood and worked at farming summers, 
and at lumbering winters, rafting lumber down 
the Susquehanna river. He was married in 
Bradford Co., Penn., in 1832, to Polly 
Smith, who was born in Vermont in 1808. 
He bought a farm in that county and remained 
there until 1845. In that year they came over- 
land to Wisconsin, traveling with a team of 
horses and wagon, and bringing a portion of 
their household goods. They were five weeks 
on the road, arriving in Lafayette county on 
the 12th day of June. ' Mr. and Mrs. Mosher 
had nine children — Alba D., Lucy C, JEzra, 
Lettie, Frank, Caroline, James D., Lucinda and 
Charles A. Mrs. Mosher died in April, 1882. 
Alba D., Lucy C. and Charles A. now live at 
the homestead. Ezra lives in Lyon Co., 
Kansas. Lettie is the wife of George Statser, 
of Argyle. Frank and James D. died in the 
service during the late War. Lucinda is the 
wife of Levi Helm, of Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. 
Caroline died April 20, 1857. 

Milo Smith is a native of Bradford Co., 
Penn., born Nov. 12, 1823. He was reared 
upon a farm, and in 1844, came to the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin and located in Lafayette 
county where he remained about a yeai\ He 
then came to Willet and worked few mouths 



in his brother's saw mill. He was taken sick 
here, with fever and ague, and was unable to do 
any work for several months. He next went to 
Lafayette county a^d entered land near Fayette 
and engaged in farming. March 13, 1850, he 
was married to Caroline Kelley, daughter of 
Samuel and Mary (Henderson) Kelley, and set- 
tled at Moscow, Iowa county, where he operated 
a carding machine five years. He then moved 
to Mitchell Co., Iowa, where he entered 200 
acres of land, and lived two and a half years, 
then sold out and went to Grundy Co., Mo., 
remaining there also three and a half 
years, after which he returned to Green county 
and settled near Monroe, In 1864 he rented a 
farm on section 34, of the town of Adams, and 
in 1866, purchased his present farm, in another 
quarter of the same section. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith havenine children — Mary, Joel, Miranda, 
Amy, Ella, Lizzie, Kate, Esther A. and John. 

Ezra and John Blumer, sons of John and 
Dorothy Blumer, settled on their present farm 
in 1867. It is located on sections 12 and 7, of 
the towns of Adams and Washington, and con- 
tains 348 acres. They erected" a frame house 
and a frame barn with a stone basement and 
have since engaged in grain and stock raising, 
making a specialty of Holsteiu cattle. 

Ezra Blumer was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, Aug. 18, 1839, and came to Ameri- 
ca with his parents when fourteen years of age. 
He worked at farming in different parts of 
Green county until 1863. In that year he en- 
listed in company K, of the 16th Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, went south and joined 
Sherman's army. He participated in the march 
to the sea and through the Carolinas to Wash- 
ington, taking part in the many important bat- 
tles of that memorable campaign. He was dis- 
charged in July, 1S65, and returned to Green 
county. In 1867 he was married to Henrietta 
Grosse, a native of Germany. Ten children 
have been born to them — Rosa, John, Wilhelm, 
Ezra, Annie, Edward, Ferdinand, Henrietta, 
Bertha and Caroline. 



656 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



John Bliuner was born in 1840, and was 
thirteen years of age when he came to Amei'ica 
with his parents and settled in Green county. 
He was employed in farming until 1861, when 
he enlisted in company K, of the 9th Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry. He veteranized^ in 1863, 
and served until the close of the war. He was 
discharged with the regiment in February, 



1866. He is unmarried and resides with his 
brother, Ezra. They came to this county poor, 
but were industrious and prudent, and at the 

time when they purchased their present farm 
had, each, $1,000 which they had earned. They 
now rank among the solid farmers of Green 
county. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



657 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



TOWN AND VILLAGE OF ALBANY. 



The town of Albany is one of the eastern 
tier of Green county's subdivisions, comprising 
congressional township 3 north, range 9 east, 
except 320 acres of section 6, which has been 
annexed to Brooklyn. To the north of Albany 
lies the town of Brooklyn; its east line forms 
the Rock county boundary; and to the west and 
south are the towns of Mount Pleasant and De- 
catur, respectively. The surface is diversified. 
In the southwestern portion of the town the 
surface is made up of a gently undulating prai- 
rie. Along Sugar river — which stream crosses 
the town from north to south — a good deal of 
sand is found. In the northeastern part of the 
town the soil is a rich dark loam, underneatli 
which is a subsoil of clay. Originally there 
was a good deal of timber covering this terri- 
tory, much of which still remains. 

The town of Albany is reported as having 
22,412 acres of land, assessed at $15 per acre. 
The total value of real and personal property is 
assessed at $490,650. The population of the 
town in 1880 was 1,133. The principal farm 
products grown in the town during the year 
1882 were as follows: 1,640 bushels of wheat; 
89,250 bushels of corn; 84,810 bushels of oats; 
1,070 bushels of rye; 6,755 bushels of potatoes; 
4,000 bushels of apples; 15 bushels of clover 
seed; 65 bushels of timothy seed; 2,200 pounds 
of tobacco; 47,070 pounds of butter. The 
principal products growing in the town at the 
time of making the annual assessment in 1883 
were as follows: 88 acres wheat; 3,308 acres 
corn; 2,811 acres oats; 5 acres barley; 78 acres 
rye; 96 acres potatoes; 130 acres apple orchard; 



3,050 bearing trees; 5 acres tobacco; 2,273 acres 
grass; 2,850 acres growing timber. There were 
635 milch cows, valued at $15,695. The live 
stock in the town was divided as follows: 586 
horses, average value $50.70, total $29,290; 
1,602 head cattle, average value $14.13, total 
$22,695; 2 mules, average value $35, total $70; 
6,065 sheep and lambs, average value $1.63, 
total $9,935; 1,620 swine, average value $3.69, 
total $5,990. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settler within the limits now com- 
prising the town of Albany was James Camp- 
bell, a native of the State of Pennsylvania. As 
early as 1839 he came here and made a claim of 
the northeast quarter of section 32, and during 
that year he commenced improvements and 
hired some breaking done. During the winter 
of 1839-40 Mr. Campbell erected the first cabir. 
in the town, locating it in the timber land on 
the southwest quarter of section 30. He had 
come here for the purpose of getting out rails 
with which to fence the land. He was accom- 
panied by John Sutherland, who cut and split 
the rails while Campbell teamed them to his 
land. At that time they were both single men, 
and kept "bachelor's hall" for about six weeks 
in their little log cabin. In 1840 Campbell put 
in his first crop. Late in the fall of the same 
year, he was married, and the following spring 
they settled upon the farm. This family wore 
the only settlers in the town until 1842. The 
Campbell family receives such elaborate atten- 
tion in the general chapters, that it is unneces- 
sary to mention them further in this connection. 



658 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Hiram Brown, a native of Massachusetts, came 
here in March, 1842, and entered the southeast 
quarter of section 22, and later, land on sec- 
tions 23 and 26. He improved a large farm 
and lived here until 1874, when he sold out and 
removed to Nebraska, settling in Harlan county, 
where he still lives. He was an enterprising, 
well educated and informed man, and was promi- 
nently identified with all public moves in 
this region during his residence in Green 
county. At an early day he was admitted to 
the bar and was one of the first justices of the 
peace for the town of Albany. 

John Broughton, a native of the State of 
New York, came here in 1842 and entered land 
on section 36, where he still lives. 

John Broughton, one of the earliest settlers 
of the town of Albany, was born in the town 
of Hoosic, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and was 
there reared to agricultural pursuits, receiving 
his education in the district schools. When a 
young man he engaged with a carpenter and 
joiner to learn the trade, after which he be- 
came a contractor and builder. In 1841 be 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin, and lo- 
cated in Racine county, where he bought a farm. 
In June, 1842, he came to Green county and en- 
tered 120 acres of land on section 36, township 
3 north, range 9 east now known as the town of 
Albany. At the same time he contracted with 
a party to build him a log cabin 15x20 feet, 
to be covered with shakes, the contract price be- 
ing $10. He then returned to Racine county, 
where he lived until August, then moved here 
with his family and moved into the log cabin, 
which they occupied for about a year, then 
built a small frame house, in which they lived 
until 1864, when he built the commodious frame 
house he now occupies. He has also erected a 
frame barn 36x73 feet, with a stone basement. 
He has made desirable and useful improve- 
ments, among which are shade and ornamentftl 
trees, and an orchard composed of a good va- 
riety of fruits. He is now the owner of 710 
acres of land in one body, the greater part of 



which is in a good state of cultivation. He 
was married in 1838, to Amanda Griffin. She 
was also a native of Rensselaer county. They 
have eight children — John A., Russell, now 
practicing physician in Brodhead ; Albert L., 
Delilah, William, Hannah Mary, Eugene and 
Harriet E. Mr. Broughton has been prominent 
in town affairs, and held offices of trust and 
honor. He has assessed the town a number 
of times, has served as chairman of the board 
and been justice of the peace. He is a public 
spirited man and has the respect and confidence 
of the community in which he lives. Politic- 
ally Mr. Broughton adheres to the democratic 
party. 

John Warner, a native of Germany, came 
here from Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1842. He 
entered the east half of the southeast quarter 
of section 36, and ei'ected a frame house. In 
1844 he sold to Jeremiah Brewer and moved to 
Rock county. He afterward started for Cali- 
fornia and was massacred by the Indians while 
crossing the plains. 

John Snell, a German, also came in 1842 and 
"claimed" the northeast quarter of section 36. 
In 1843 he sold his claim and removed to the 
town of Sylvester, where he and his family 
were found by C. Meinert, in 1845, in very poor 
circumstances. The whole family were sick in 
bed, the fire was out and the water in the tea- 
kettle was frozen. Martin Sutherland and Mr. 
Meinert removed the family to Mr. Sutherland's 
house for better treatriient. 

Lathrop Abbott came in 1842 and settled on 
section 26. He fenced forty acres of the land 
and made other improvements. In 1850 he sold 
to Abel Peckham and moved west. 

S. L. Eldred, another native of the Empire 
State, came here in 1843 and entered land on 
section 36, which he still occupies. 

Rev. Stephen Leonard Eldred was born in the 
town of Petersburg, Rensselaea- Co., N. Y., July 
29, 1815, where his younger days were spent in 
school and on the farm. He made his home 
with his parents until November, 1836, at which 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



650 



time lie was married to Roxanna Broughton, 
who was born in the town of Hoosic, Rensse- 
laer Co., N. Y., in February, 1818, and rented a 
farm in the town of Petersburg and there en- 
gaged in farming until 1843. On the 4th of 
January of that year, he started overland for 
Wisconsin with a team of horses, a wagon and a 
sled. Wherever there was plenty of snow, he 
loaded the wagon on to the sled, and when 
wheeling was the best, loaded the sled on the 
wagon, thus accommodating himself to all con- 
ditions of travel. They reached their destina- 
tion in Green county February 8. He entered 
land on section 36, township 3 north, range 9 
east, now known as the town of Albany. He 
erected a small frame house, drawing the lum- 
ber from Milwaukee. The family occupied this 
bouse a few years, when he erected another 
frame house in which they lived until 1879, 
when he built the more commodious house they 
now occupy. He also built a frame barn 40x60 
feet, with a stone basement. He united with 
the United Brethren Church in 1853, soon 
afterward commenced preaching and continued 
in active service until 1874, and has since been 
engaged in preaching a considerable part of the 
time, traveling to various parts of the country 
and carrying the good tidings of great joy. In 
1867 he left the farm in charge of his son and 
moved to Brodhead, where he lived until 1874, 
when he returned. He has made large addi- 
tions to his landed estate, and now owns 680 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Eldred are the parents of 
seven children — Hannah, Fernando C. now an 
Episcopal clergyman, now in Pierce Co., 
Nebraska ; Stephen R., Mary R., Sarah L., 
Alonzo II. and Henry E. Mr. Eldred was one 
of the first justices of the peace in the town of 
Albany. Mr. Eldred was originally a Jackson 
democrat, but has long voted with the republi- 
can party. 

Stephen R. Eldred, son of Stephen L. and 
Roxanna Eldred, was born July 31, 1843, in the 
town of Albany, and was the first male child 
born in the town. He grew to manhood on his 



father's farm, receiving his education in the dis- 
trict school. He was married Dec. 25, 1863, to 
Mary J. Douw, daughter of Cornelius Douw. 
She was born at Johnstown, in Rock county. 
They settled on the old homestead and lived 
there until 1875, when he located on his present 
farm on ihe north half of section 22. The farm 
contains 360 acres, upon which he has good im- 
provements. Mr. and Mrs. Eldred have three 
children — Alfred L., Ina M. and Lillie J. 

Joshua Whitcomb, one of the first settlers of 
Green county, was born in the town of Lisbon, 
Grafton Co., N.II., Jan. 17, 1797. He was joined 
in marriage to Hannah Clement. In 1836 they 
came to Green county and located five miles 
southwest of where Monroe now stands, and re- 
mained there until 1842, then moved to township 
3 north, of range 9 east, now known as the towyi 
of Albany, and entered land on section 33. Mrs. 
Whitcomb died Dec. 4, 1874. 

Erastus Hulburt was born in Onondago Co., 
York State, June 18, 1803. He was married 
there Jan. 20, 1825, to Laura Webster, born Feb. 

4, 1806. He came to Green county in 1839. He 
first entered land in township 2 north, range 8 east. 
He improved a portion of the land and lived in 
that township fouryears, then moved to township 
2 north, range 9 east, .and entered land on section 

5, and on section 32, township 3, range 9 east. He 
cleared a farm here of about 200 acres, and lived 
here until 1865. That year he went to Iowa to visit 
his sons who were living there. He died there, 
December 11, of that year. His remains were 
brought back to Green county and interred in 
the Gap Church Cemetery. His wife died Sept. 
6,1863. Six children, that were born to them, 
grew to man and womanhood — John, Lydia, 
Hiram, Judson, Webster and Lorrain. Webster 
was a soldier in the late war, and died in the 
service. 

Harry M. Purington came to the Territory of 
Wisconsin, in 1847, and settled in what is now 
the town of Albany, where he still resides. 



660 



History of green cotiNTY. 



Christopher Meinert came to this county in 
1841. He was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, 
July 13, 1818. His father was German, who 
came to this country when a young man, and 
located in New York city, where he found em- 
ployment in a sugar refinery in which he worked 
until he had laid by enough money to buy a 
team. He then engaged in draying, and was 
also employed as night watchman. While liv- 
ing here, he made the acquaintance of Catha- 
rine Wonderly, to whom he was married. She 
was born in Germany and came with her par- 
ents to America, when quite young. In 1812 
Mr. and Mrs. Meinert emigrated to Ohio and 
settled in Pickaway county, where they rented 
land and lived nine years, then removed to 
Indiana and located in Vermilion county, 
where he remained until the time of his death. 
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in 
that county, and was married to Elizabeth Fra- 
zier, also a native of Pickaway Co., Ohio. 
In the fall of 1841, concluding to emigrate to 
Wisconsin, he started with a pair of horses and 
a wagon which contained his family, and house- 
hold goods. They camped out upon the way, 
thus making an inexpensive trip. On his 
arrival in Green county he had $6.60, which 
with his team, comprised the sum total of his 
worldly wealth. He spent the first winter with a 
brother, and in the spring rented a piece of land 
of him, near Monroe, on which he erected a log 
cabin. In 1842 he raised a crop, also some flax 
which his wife spun and wove into cloth. In 
1843 he came to township 3, range 9 east, now 
known as Albany, and took a claim on section 
30, on the center of which he erected a log 
cabin. The following winter he entered forty 
acres of land, and some time later, purchased 
eighty acres more and moved his log cabin to 
the south line of the one-fourth section. In 
1850 he built a frame addition to his cabin in 
which he lived until 1861, when he erected the 
brick house he now occupies. His farm now 
contains 240 acres, the greater part of which is 
improved. He has engaged iu raising grain 



and stock, paying particular attention to sheep, 
and usually keeping a flock of 300. Mrs. Mein- 
ert died in 1851, leaving four children, — Martha, 
Eli, Mary and Sarah. Martha, the eldest, was 
born in April, 1840, and died in Idaho Territory, 
April 7, 1878. Eli and Mary now live at Sal- 
mon City, Idaho. Mr. Meinert was again 
married in November,1851, to Mrs. Abigail Dora 
Mead, widow of Amos Mead. They have five 
children, — Statirah, Garet H., Irad C, 
Frances M. and Dora. Mr. Meinert was the 
first treasurer of the town of Albany, and has 
also served as supervisor. Originally Mr, Mein- 
ert was a whig, but is now a "national green- 
backer." 

James Spencer came at about the same time, 
and entered land on the southeast quarter of 
section 23. He was a "New Yorker." He 
remained here but a short time when he sold to 
Jeremiah Corliss and left the country. Mr. 
Corliss was also a native of the State of New 
York. He improved the farm" and made this 
his home until the time of his death. 

In the winter of 1843-4 Thomas McVee came 
and entered the northwest quarter of section 
28. He erected a log cabin near where the 
parsonage now stands, thus becoming the first 
settler on the present site of the village of Al- 
bany. He remained there until the time of his 
death, which occurred late in 1846. This was 
the first death in the town. His widow died 
some years later. 

Jeremiah Brewer was an early settler in the 
town of Albany, having come here in 1844. He 
is a native of the Green Mountain State, born in 
Franklin county, Aug. 23, 1802. In 1819 he 
left home and went to Rensselaer Co., N. Y., 
and engaged in farming in the town of Peters- 
burg. He was married there in July, 1834, to 
Mal'.ala Croy. They remained in Petersburg 
until 1844, when he sold out and started over- 
land for the Territory of Wisconsin, coming 
with two teams, bringing family and household 
goods. They started in the month of May and 
did not arrive at their destination until August 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



661 



having been detained in Ohio on account of the 
sickness of Mrs. Brewer. The family moved 
into the house that John Warner had partly 
built, and immediately commenced to clear a 
farm. He has since purchased other land 
until he now owns 430 acres. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brewer are the parents of four cildren^ — John 
W., Peter W., Hannah M., now the wife of M. 
S. Milks; and George W. Mr. Brewer was the 
first and only postmaster of Hoosic postoffice, 
established as early as 1849. 

Daniel Smiley, one of the settlers of Green 
county in 1844, was born in the town of EUery, 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 19, 1812. His 
father, Joseph Smiley, was an early settler in 
that county, where he bought timber land from 
the Holland Company, and improved a farm. 
There the subject of this sketch grew to man- 
hood, assisting his father in clearing a farm and 
tilling the soil. He was married May 18, 1836, 
to Ellen Bemis, born in the same town Sept. 
29, 1813. The following May he started west, 
leaving his bride with her parents. He was ac- 
companied by Marcus Fenton, and they started 
with a pair of horses and drove to Cleveland, 
Ohio, where they took a boat for Chicago, 
thence went to Racine, where he sold his team. 
He then proceeded to Rock county and selected 
land a short distance from the present city of 
Janesville, now known as the Culver farm. He 
was joined the following winter by his wife. 
Her father, Charles Bemis, had accompanied 
her from New York, starting upon their journey 
in January with a sleigh, but fearing the snow 
would not remain long enough, they brought 
with them a wagon. At Freeport, 111., they left 
the wagon, and made the entire journey from 
New York to Janesville on runners. Mr. Bemis 
stopped with them a short time and then re- 
turned to New York. Mr, Smiley made some 
improvement on the land and lived there until 
1841, then came to this county, and located in 
the then flourishing village of Exeter. There 
they opened a boarding house, over which Mrs. 
Smiley presided, while he engaged in teaming. 



They remained there until the spring of 1844, 
then came to Albany. While in Rock county 
he was appointed by the governor a justice of 
the peace, and was one of the first officers of 
that description in the county. He entered 160 
acres of good laud on sections 29 and 30, of 
township 3 north, range 9 east, now known as the 
town of Albany. He was an enterprising, en- 
ergetic man, and a great worker. He came 
here with but little means, but kept steadily at 
work and in a few years he was able to buy 
more land and erect large frame buildings for 
his extensive herds of stock. He managed the 
farm until 1874, when he gave it up to his sons, 
but still continues to make it his home. Mr. 
and Mrs. Smiley are the parents of six children 
— Lorinda, Sarah R., Charles B., Julia A., 
Florence E. and William. Mr. Smiley was for 
many years prominently identified with town 
affairs and has held many offices of trust in the 
town. The youngest son, William, now owns 
and occupies the homestead. He is largely en- 
gaged in raising cattle and sheep, paying 
special attention to the Merino breed, of which 
he has a large flock. In Januar}^ 1884, he, in 
company with others, bought two imported 
Percheron horses, paying for them $3,800. The 
farm is said to be one of the best in the county, 
and has many good improvements, among them 
two large barns, a large granary, and a wind- 
mill, which is utilized in pumping water, grind- 
ing corn, etc. 

William Siiiiley was born Sept. 6, 1854. He 
grew to manliood on his father's farm, receiv- 
ing his education in the district schools. He 
was married Oct. 8, IS'76, to Ida May, daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Mary Flint. They have three 
children — Arnold, Edna and one not named. 
William Smiley, like his father, possesses 
good executive ability and is a valuable citizen 
of the town in which he lives. He has been 
called apon to fill local offices of trust at differ- 
ent times, and has always discharged such du- 
ties with credit to himself and satisfaction to 
the people. Another son, and brother to Wil- 



662 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



liam, named Cbarles B., was born in the town 
of Exeter, Green county, Oct. 25, 1843. He 
grew to manhood in the town of Albany, re- 
ceiving his education in the district school. He 
was married Jan. 14, 1869, to Anna E. Smitli, 
wlio was born at Cape Vincent, State of New 
York, Dec. 13, 1846. Four children blessed 
this union — Nellie, Daniel, Anna and Weltha 
T. In 1873 he bought the Brown farm, located 
on sections 22, 23 and 24, town of Albany. In 
1882 he sold that farm and purchased another 
near Janesville, Rock county, which he occupied 
until 1884. In February of that year he bought 
the Julius Hulburt farm, located on section 31, 
town of Albany, containing the north half of 
that section, with the exception of twenty acres. 
This is a fine farm, and thought by many to be 
the best in the county. The year previous his 
brother William had bought for him the farm 
adjoining on section 30, so that he now has 300 
acres of choice land in a body, and in the neigh- 
borhood where he was brought up. His wife 
died at Janesville, July 25, 1882. His mother 
now presides over his household. 

Another settler of 1844 in the town of Al- 
bany was A. S.. Holmes. He still resides on 
sections 25 and 26, on the land he entered when 
hefii'Jst came here. 

Albert S. Holmes and Sarah A. Cass were one 
of the first couples. married in the town of Al- 
bany. The ceremony was performed by Hiram 
Brown, justice of th6 peace, at the residence of 
S. L. Eldred, July 26, 1846. Mr.' Holmes was 
born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Feb. 10, 1820. 
He was brought up on a farm, and in his youth 
learned the carpenter and joiner's trade. In 
1844 he was engaged by James Eldred to come 
to Green county and build a house for him. 
He came with the expectation of returning, but 
was so well pleased with the county that he 
concluded lo settle here, and accordingly en- 
tered eighty acres of land on sections 25 and 26, 
and commenced housekeeping in the log cabin 
that Snell built on section 36, where he lived 
until the spring of 1847. He then removed to 



his own land. He now owns 200 acres of land 
in one body, the greater part of which is im- 
proved. He has erected a large frame house 
and barn, and other farm buildings. In 1873 
he went to Minnesota and purchased a farm in 
Mc Leod county, on which his son Ezra now 
lives. Mrs. Holmes was born in Rensselaer Co., 
N. Y. She was one of the first school teachers in 
Albany. They are the parents of four children 
— iSzra S., Mary F.,Vivus C. and Lee G. 

Thomas Pryce, a native of Wales, came in 
1845 and entered the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 22 and the north half of section 27. He 
made this his home until the time of his death. 
Three of his sons are still living in the town. 

Thomas Pryce, Sr., was born in Montgomery- 
shire, Wales. When a young man he learned the 
stone masons trade at which he worked in his 
native land. Pie was married to Elizabeth 
Evans, also a native of Wales. Nine children 
blessed this union, six of whom are now living 
— Edward, Caroline, Thomas, Eliza, Richard 
and Evan. In 1845 he emigrated to America, 
coming in a sailing vessel and was about three 
months on the way. He landed at Quebec and 
then came immediately to Green county and 
entered land, which he afterwards divided 
among his children. He made his home here 
until his death in 1865. His wife had previous- 
ly died in 1847, 

Edward, eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
(Evans) Pryce, was born in Montgomeryshire, 
Wales, June 22, 1824 and there grew toman- 
hood, being brought up on a farm. He came to 
America with his parents, yith whom he made 
his home until the time of his marriage, Sept. 
9, 1848, to Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin and 
Jane Swancutt, also a native of Wales. At that 
tinie he settled on his present farm on sections 
26 and 27, and they lived in a log cabin until 
he built the stone house he now occupies. 
They had ten children — Emma, Mary J., Martha, 
John, William, Delena, Elizabeth, Benjanjin, 
Cora B. and Gracie. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



663 



Thomas Pryce, Jr., was born in Montgomery- 
shire, Wales, March 13, 1881, and was fourteen 
years old when his parents emigrated to 
America. He made his home with them until 
1856. He was married in March of that year 
to Sarah Nichols a native of Canada. He then 
settled on his present farm on section 27. They 
lived there in a log house until 1883, when he 
built the commodious frame house they now 
occupy. They are the parents of three children 
— Addie, Thomas and Lettie. The daughters 
are teachers in the public schools. 

John Chase came in 1845. He was a native 
of Pennsylvania. Entering the southwest quar- 
ter of section 13, he began improvements, and 
still occupies the place. 

John B. Chase was born in Erie Co., Penn., 
Feb. 18, 1823. He is a son of Ambrose Chase, 
a native of Rhode Island. When he was about 
nine years old, his parents emigrated to Ohio 
and settled in Ashtabula county, where they re- 
mained one year, then went to Erie Co., N. Y. 
John B. Chase resided in that county with his 
parents until he was twenty years old, then 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin and spent 
one year in farming and carpentering in Wal- 
worth county. He then went to Dane county 
and purchased a farm, just on the line, in Rock 
county, which he sold six months later and went 
to Rock county. In 1845 he came to Green 
county and entered the southwest quarter of 
section 13, township 3 north, range 9 east. In No- 
vember, 1852, he was united in marriage with 
Martha Baker, a native of Ohio. He has im- 
proved his land, and engaged in mixed farming, 
raising grain, stock and tobacco. He is some- 
thing of a speculator, and is generally engaged 
in some kind of trade. In 1863 he bought 
tobacco and shipped it to the eastern markets, 
and has engaged at different times in shipping 
poultry to Boston, making frequent trips to that 
city. In 1876 he took the agency for the sale 
of the W^aupon windmill in this and adjoining 
counties. The wife of Mr. Cliase was the 
youngest daughter of Aaron and Anna Baker, 



and was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Sept. 5, 
1835. She removed from there with her par- 
ents, in 1836, to Stephenson Co., 111. Her 
father dying in December, 1841, her mother 
and the remainder of the family one year later 
removed to the town of Union, Rock Co., Wis., 
where she lived until the fall of 1852, when she 
was married to John B. Chase, as before stated, 
and came to this county. Her mother died 
April 13, 1873. She was a native of Penn- 
sylvania. Her father was born in Vir- 
ginia. John B. and Martha A. Chase have 
four children. The eldest, Clark L., was 
born Dec. 14, 1853, and was married to Minnie 
Elemier in 1882. They are now living in Ne- 
braska. The second child was a daughter 
(Phila A.) born Dec. 14, 1855. She was mai'- 
ried to V. C. Holmes Jan. 20, 1881, and lives in 
Evansville, Rock county. He is treasurer of 
the Evansville Mercantile Association. The 
two remaining children — Franklin B. and Wil- 
liam B., the former born Dec. 14, 1859, and the 
latter May 9, 1862 — are living with their par- 
ents. Mr. Chase was formerly a member of 
the democratic party, and still adheres to the 
principles originally advocated by th:it organi- 
zation, but now exercises the right of suffrage 
intelligently, voting for whom he considers the 
best men. He may be considered a democrat. 
Mrs. Chase is a member of the First Baptist 
Church at Albany. Mr. Chase received a limit- 
ed education in the district schools, and has fol- 
lowed various occupations. He is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, having been a member 
since about 1850. 

Albert L., son of John and Amanda (GritKn) 
Broughton, was born in Albany, Wis., Dec. 28, 
1845. Here his younger days were spent. He 
obtained his <?arly education in the district 
schools, and afterwards attended Evansville 
Seminary one term and Milton College four 
terms. In the meantime he had engaged in 
teaching school during the winter season, teacli- 
ing five terms in Green county and two in Rock 
county. He was married iu 1868 to Hattie 



664 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Bump, a native of Rock county. He then set- 
tled on section on 34, where he lived two years, 
then removed to his present location on section 
36, on the place where his father settled in 
1842. They have four children — Marvin E., 
Dora A., George E. and Floyd L. 

William, son of John and Amanda (Griffin) 
Broughton, was born in Albany, Oct. 22, 1848. 
He was reared upon a farm and educated in the 
district schools, and attended two terms at Al- 
b.niy. He engaged in teaching at the age of 
eighteen, teaching his first term in his home 
district. He was married in September, 1870, 
to Mary J. Coburn, born in Walworth Co., 
Wis. He then settled on section 34, where he 
resided until December, 1883, when he removed 
to section 35. Mr. and Mrs. Broughton have 
three children — Lena J., Walter J. and Jessie A, 

Asa Comstock, settled in Albany in 1845. He 
was an early settler in Wisconsin, having locat- 
ed at Janesville in 1836. He was born June 8, 
1800, in Chittenden Co., Vt. In his youth he 
went to Canada and spent some time with an 
uncle, then returned to Vermont, and made his 
home with his parents, until the time of his 
father's death. He afterwards went to the 
State of New York, where he was married to 
Clarissa Swan, and settled in Chautauqua county, 
where his wife died. On coming to Green 
county he entered land on sections 29 and 30, of 
township 3 north, range 9 east. Here he im- 
proved a large farm, erected good buildings, and 
made his home until the time of his death. He 
was again married in Janesville, in March, 1839, 
to Lydia Smiley, who was born in Chautauqua 
Co., N. Y., in 1814. Eight children have 
blessed their union — Harriet, Mary, Charles, 
Alice, Jane A., Leander, Clara and Albert Bion. 
Jane Ann died at the age of seventeen years. 
Albert liion, who now occupies the homestead 
Avith his mother, has managed the farm since 
the death of his father. He was born April 
5,1855, and married March 6, 188:5, to Mary 
Lewis, a native of Mount Pleasant, (^i-cen 
county. 



Among the arrivals in 1846 were James Trow 
and William Reese, natives of Wales Mr. 
Trow located on the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 15, where he lived until the time of his 
death, in 1873. He was one of the first justices 
of the peace elected in the town. Mr. Reese 
settled on the southeast quarter of section 14. 
He still owns the place, but lives in Rock 
county. 

During the same year Hezekiah Wheeler and 
his son Carquil, natives of the State of New 
A''ork, caino and settled on the southeast quarter 
of section 13. The old gentleman died there 
some years later, and the young man sold out 
and removed to Nebraska. James Townsend, 
a son-in-law of Mr. Wheeler, came at the same 
time and settled on the northeast quarter of- 
section 13. A few years later he sold out and 
removed to California, where he was murdered 
by the Indians. 

Seth V. Peebles was a native of Massachu- 
setts, born in the town of Petham, Hampshire 
county. May 1, 1803. When he was an infant 
his parents emigrated to the west and settled 
in Madison Co., N. Y., where he grew to man- 
hood and was married to May Stevens, in 1828. 
She was born in Madison county, in 1804. They 
removed to Chautauqua county, where he pur- 
chased timber land. He hewed a farm out of 
the wilderness and made that his home until 
1843, when he sold out and emigrated to Mich- 
igan, and stopped in Branch county, until May, 
1845, then removed to Illinois and lived in 
Boone county until February, 1846, when he 
came to this county and entered land on section 
24 of township 3 north, range 9 east, remaining 
here until death called him away, Feb. 21, 1884. 
His widow lives on the homestead. They were 
the ))arents of four children, all now living — 
William H., Edwin M., Diana E. and Hial. Mr. 
and Mrs. Peebles have lived together fifty-six 
years, and his death was the first break in the 
family circle. 

William H., the eldest son of Seth and May 
Peebles, was born in the town of Arkwright, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



665 



Chautauqua Co., N. Y., May 1, 1829, and came 
to Wisconsin with his parents, with whom he 
made his home until the time of marriage, in 
October, 1851, to Betsey Wheeler, also a native 
of York State. He tlien settled on his- present 
farm on section 24. Tliey commenced house- 
keeping in a log cabin in which he lived until 
1868, when he erected the neat frame house he 
now occupies. His wife died in June, 1853, and 
in October, 1854, he was again married to 
Fanny M. Griggs, a native of Chautauqua Co., 
N. Y. She died April 15, 1880, leaving three 
children — Lura D., Carrie A. and Watson 
G. Their first child, Orville, died when fifteen 
years old. His third wife, to whom he was mar- 
ried Dec, 16, 1880, was Emily A. Griffin, a na- 
tive of York State. 

Edwin M., another son of Seth V. Peebles, 
was also born in the town of Arkwright, April 
14, 1834. He made his home with his parents 
until 1866. He was married April 8, of that 
year, to Sarah Kyes, who was born in the town 
of Theresa, York State. He had purchased 
land on section 23, and erected a log house, into 
which they moved and lived until 1882, then 
built the fine frame house he now occupies. 

Silas P. Wheeler, a " New Yorker," came 
during the same year and settled on the south- 
east quarter of section 23. He lived here for 
a few years, then removed to Iowa. 

The northwestern portion of the town is 
mostly settled by Norwegians. The first of 
that nationality to settle here was Aslak Aarhus, 
who came in 1848, and bouglitl and on sections 5 
and 8. He lived here about two years, and then 
sold out and removed to Iowa. 

The next Norwegian settlement was made in 
December, 1849, by Syver Gothompson and 
family, and his son Thomas and family. Syver 
entered 160 acres of land on section 17, and 
made tliis his home until the time of his death. 
Thomas also located on section 17, and lived 
there until his di^ath in 1857, which was caused 
by an accidvuit. He slid Irom (he top of a hay- 
stack and fell upon the prongs of a fork which 



penetrated his vitals, causing death in twenty- 
two hours. His widow, married again, still oc- 
cupies the old homestead. 

Syver Gothompson, one of the first Nor- 
wegian settlers in the town of Albany, was 
born in Norway in 1800. He was married in 
January, 1826, to Barbara Halgerson, who was 
born in 1810. In 1849, he, with his family, 
consisting of his wife and ten children, emi- 
grated to America. They landed at New York 
city, and proceeded up the Hudson river to 
Albany, thence by the Erie canal to Buffalo, 
where they took passage for Milwaukee. On 
their arrival there, he hired a team to take them 
to Rock county, where they remained until 
December of that year, then came to Green 
county and purchased 160 acres of land on sec- 
tion 17. There was a log house on the northeast 
quarter of the northwest quarter, to which he 
built an addition, making it a double house. 
This was, for a time, the stopping place for all 
Norwegian emigrants who passed this way. At 
one time there were sixty-five persons, includ- 
ing the family, who spent the night at this 
house. In lg56 he moved to another part of 
the section where he remained until his death, 
in December, 1880. He had erected good frame 
buildings, including a large house and barn. 
His widow still lives upon the farm. Thirteen 
children were born to them, all of whom at- 
tained an adult age, and eleven are now living — 
Harry, Sarah, Ann, Barbara, Peter, IMary, 
Bertha, Andrew, EUef, Syver and Julia. 

Peter was born in Norway in 184U, and was 
nine years old whH>n his parents came to America. 
He grew to manhood in the town of Albany, re- 
ceiving his education in the district schools. 
In 1862 he went to Minnesota and spent one 
year with his brother-in-law in Goodhue county. 
In the fall of 1864 he went to the pineries and 
engaged in chopping through the winter, and 
returned to Albany in the spring. He was 
married in 1866 to Bertha Gilbertson, and set- 
tled at that time uj)on his present farm on sec- 
tion 17, where he has 196 acres, and is engaged 



666 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



in raising gi-ain and stock. He has erected a 
good frame house and a large barn, and is a 
successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Gothompson 
are the parents of five children — Sophia, Lena, 
Laura B., Samuel G. and Henry A. Peter 
Gothompson is at the present time, and has 
been for several years, one of the town board 
in town of Albany. 

Andrew was born in March, 1848, and was 
one year old when he came to America. In his 
younger days he attended the district school 
and assisted his father on the farm. He was 
married in January, 1875, to Josephine Swager, 
a native of Janesville, Rock Co., Wis. They 
have twe children — Norman S. and Bennie A. 
He owns and occupies the old homestead. 

Ellef Gothompson was born in the town of Al- 
bany, Jan. 4, 1851, and was one of the first 
children born of Norwegian parents in tliis 
town, where he grew to manhood, and was edu- 
cated in the district school. Re w^as united in 
marriage in November, 1879, with Cornelia Lev- 
erson, also 3. native of the town of Albany. 
They settled at the time of marriage upon his 
present farm, which is located on section 8 of 
Albany. They have two children — Bertha and 
Syver. 

In 1850 the settlement was increased by the 
arrival of another party of Norwegian pioneers, 
consisting of Ole Harrolson, Haken Christian- 
sen, Ole Johnson, Torkel Jacobson and liis son 
Gilbert and their families. Harrolson settled 
on the southeast quarter of section 7. Two 
years later he sold out and removed to Iowa. 
Christiansen settled on the southwest quarter of 
section 8. He improved the farm and lived 
there until 1872, when he sold out and moved 
to the western part of the county. Johnson 
also settled on section 8, and is still a rosidetit. 
Jacobson located on the same section and died 
tliere in 1853. His son, Christian, still occupies 
the homestead. Gilbert Jacobson st^ttled on the 
southeast quarter of section 8, where he still 
lives. 



Ole Mickelsen came here in 1851, and settled 
on section 17. He now lives in Minnesota. 

Among the Norwegian settlers who came in 
1852, w. re Ole Gilbertson and son, Ole, An- 
dreas Albertsen, Ole Leverson and Ole Broton. 
Ole Gilbertson Sr., bought land on sections 8 
and 9. He died there in 1854. Ole Gilbertson, 
Jr., and Ole Broton bought the Dexter place, 
including land on sections 8 and 16. Gilbertson 
still lives there. Broton has since moved to the 
Red River Valley, in Minnesota. Albertsen 
settled on section 5, where he died in 1854. 
Leverson purchased the Harrolson place on sec- 
tion 7, where he still lives. 

Reuben Fulson, familiarly known as "Old 
Ruby," a native of Canada, came to the county 
in 1841, and first stopped at Mr. Baxter's in the 
town of Spring Grove. He was soon employed 
by Erastus Hulburt, whom he served eighteen 
months. He resided in the county until his 
death, in 1875. Previous to his coming here he 
had served in the regular army. He was a very 
peculiar man and spent a great portion of his 
time in hunting and trapping. He no doubt 
killed more wolves than any other man who 
ever lived in the county, and on this account he 
became known through Green and Rock coun- 
ties as "Old Ruby, the Wolf Hunter." He had 
no family and his many peculiar whims fur- 
nished many a hearty laugh for those who knew 
him. 

In 1845, "Governor" Ford made a claim on 
section 1 6, erecting a cabin on the corners of 
sections 8, 9, 16 and 17, and his claim surrounded 
it. He remained here for about three years, 
then left the county. All of the old settlers will 
remember "Gov." Ford, as he was known. He 
_was accompanied by a son-in-law, and they sup- 
posed by building their cabin as they did, they 
could claim on either section. 

John I>. Preston purchased the "Gov's.," claim 
and remained until 1857, when he removed west. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

The first birth in the town was that of 
Stephen^ a son of Stephen L. and Roxanna El- 





^'4 



cyrr^^^ 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



669 



dred, born July 31, 1843. He is still a resident 
of the town. 

About the first marriage in the town, was 
that of Albert S. Holmes to Sarah A. Cass. Tlie 
ceremony was performed by Hiram Brown, jus- 
tice of the peace, July 26, 1846, at the house of 
S. L. Eldred. The couple still live in the town. 

ORGANIC. 

The town of Albany was organized April 3, 
1849. When the first town meeting was held, 
E. O. Pond, Asa Comstock and Joshua Whit- 
comb were inspectors of the'election. The fol- 
lowing were the first town officers, chosen at 
this election: Aaron Br(>ughton, chairman; 
James Campbell and George W. Bagley, super- 
visors; S. P. Wheeler, assessor; Christopher 
Meinert, treasurer ; Gilbert McNaught, clerk; 
Samuel F. Nichols, superintendent of schools; 
Erastus O. Pond, S. L. Eldred, James Trow, 
Jepiha Davis, justices of the peace; S. T. Bag- 
ley, H. Purrington and John Jones, constables. 
The record states that "Old Ruby" received 
three votes for constable. 

At the first town meeting it was voted to 
raise $75 for the support of schools; |125 for 
contingent expenses. 

RELIGIOUS. 

At an early day a Methodist Episcopal class 
was organized at the school house on section 
35, by Elder Hussey. The following were 
among the first members: Jeremiah Brewer 
and wife, B. Davenport and wife, John Ash 
and wife, and Thomas Ash and wife; John Ash 
was tlie first class leader. Among the preachers 
who at different times filled the pulpit for this 
class were: Revs. White, Hazeltine, Wheeler, 
Bradley, Ferguson and Allen. As nearl}'^ all of 
the members of this class have moved away, 
the organization has been abandoned. 

UNITED BRETHREN. 

In 1852 a United Brethren class was organ- 
ized at the school house on section 35, by Rev. 
William Haskiii. Among the first meml>ors 
were: S L. Eldred and wife and two children; 
Washington Adams and wife, father, mother 



and two daughters; William Murray and wife; 
Alexander Murray and wife; William Webb 
and wife, and Mrs. Cyrus Phillips. S. L. 
Eldred was the first class leader. Among the 
pastors v/ho preached for the class were: Revs. 
S. L. Eldred, James Johnson, Elisha Bovee, S. 
A. Potts and W. Reed. This class has long 
since been discontinued. 

NORWEGIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

The first meetings of this denomination were 
held in Syver Gothompson's log house in 1850, 
by Rev. Clauson, from Rock county. The Nor- 
wegian element met at the same place, and, 
during pleasant weather, under the shade of a 
burr oak tree near by, until the log school house 
was erected, when that building was used as a 
place of worship. In 1864 a neat stone church 
was erected on section 8. Rev. Derrickson 
was the second preacher. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Magelsen, who was pastor for twenty- 
one years. Succeeding him, came Rev. Thor- 
vildsen, the present preacher. There are now 
(1884) nineteen families belonging to this 
Church, besides several individual members. 
Meetings are held once a week. The present 
officers of the Church are: C. Jensvald, dea- 
con ; Ole Gilbertson, Sr., secretary; Andrew 
Gothompson and Ole Gilber.tson, trustees. 

HOOSIC POSTOFFICK. 

Hoosic postoffice was established in 1849. 
Jeremiah Brewer was appointed postmaster, and 
kept the office at his house on the southeast 
quarter of section 36. When first established, 
it was on a route from Beloit to Mineral Point, 
mail being received tri-weekly. During the 
war Brewer resigned and the office was discon- 
tinued. 

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS. 

The first school in district No. 4 was taught 
by Martha Taggart, at Syver Gothompson's 
house, in 1853. During the same year a log 
school house was erected on section 8. Martha 
Taggart and Ellen Tiirmin were the first teach- 
ers in this house, This building was in use for 



39 



070 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



some years, when a more substantial building 
was erected on the old site. Martha Magoon 
and Ellen and Syver Gothompson were early 
teachers in this house. 

Tlie first school house in district No. 5 was 
built about 1849. The people of the neighbor- 
hood held a "bee," and cut and drew the logs 
together and thus erected the building. It is 
located on the northeast quarter of section 15, 
and is still in use. Orisna Higday was the first 
teacher in the house. David Jones was the 
teacher in the winter of 1883-4. 

The first school in district No. 6 was taught 
by Susan J. Taggart, in a log house belonging 
to James Spencer. This was as early as 1850, 
Lydia A. Abbott and Phebe Rockwell were 
also early teachers in this district. In the fail 
of 1852 a log school house was built on section 
23, in which Phebe Rockwell was the first 
teacher. This house was in use until 1864, 
when a frame building was erected on the south 
line of the northeast quarter of section 23. 
Warren Gardner was the first teacher in this 
house. 

The first school house in district No. 7 was 
erected in 1846. It was a log building and was 
located on the southeast quarter of section 35. 
Sarah A. Cass, now the wife of A. S. Holmes, 
was the first teacher. The first building was 
in use for a number of years, when it was 
superseded by the present school house, which 
was erected on the old site. Irene Hall was 
one of the first teachers in this house. 

Joint district No. 9 was organized in 1845 or 
1846, and embraced a great deal of territory. 
The first officers were James Campbell and 
Daniel Smiley. The first teacher was Mary 
Parry. The first school house in the town was 
erected the same year that this district was or- 
ganized. It was located on the northern part 
of section 32. It was a log building erected by 
the people of the neighborhood. The cracks 
were filled with mud and the roof covered with 
shakes. This house was only in use for a few 
years, when school was held for a time in a 



house belonging to Daniel Smiley, which was 
located on section 29. In 1855 the present 
house was erected on the northwest quarter of 
section 32. It is a substantial stone building 
and is in good repair. 

The first school in district No. 10 was taught 
in a house belonging to William Rolfe on sec- 
tion 16, in 1853-4. Emily Gleason and Ellen 
Stanley were the first teachers. The first school 
house was erected about 1855, on the northeast 
quarter of section 16. It is still in use. Carrie 
Lockwood taught the term of 1883-4. 

District No. 11 was organized in 1865, and 
the first term of school was taught during the 
same year in William Frances' house, on sec- 
tion 1, by Peter P. Pierson. In 1866 a stone 
school house was erected on the southwest quar- 
ter of section 1, in which Sarah Carle taught 
the first school. This building is still in use. 

KKMINISCENCES. 
[By Hiram Brown. 1 

In this connection is presented a series of let- 
ters regarding events of early days from Hiram 
Brown. The correspondence was directed to 
Hon. C. Meinert. As far as possible the letters 
are given verbatim, only being altered where it 
was necessary to leave out purely private or 
personal matters. Mr. Brown has a peculiarly 
interesting style of writing; and his graphic 
description of things and relation of events will 
be read with pleasure by his many friends 
throughout Green county. 

The first letter bears the date of "Orleans, 
Harlan Co., Neb., Feb. '27, 1884." It is as fol- 
lows: 

"Seeing a notice in the newspapers from 
Green county that a liistory was about being 
published, I concluded to write some facts to 
you, and if anything can be gathered from it of 
benefit to you or worthy of a place in the his- 
tory, you are at liberty to use it or any part of 
it. Mine I think was the second family in the 
town of Albany but perhaps Samuel Mitchell 
was a few days in advance of me. I located 
there about the 20th of March, 1842, Mr. James 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



671 



Campbell being the first tliere, I put up a small 
shanty to camp in whilst getting a set of logs 
for the house. Mr. Campbell, Samuel Mitchell, 
Laurie True and Justus Sutherland was at 
the raising from the west side of the river, and 
Mr. Fox and Mr. Foshler from the east side of 
the river. Mr. Mitchell sold his claim to Dan- 
iel Smiley, who soon came and still lives on it. 

"The winter of 1842-3 was one of the severest 
I ever saw; snow fell on the night of November 
8, from four to six inches deep, and did not 
go off till the next April; most of tlie winter the 
hnow was four feet on the level and cattle suffered 
severely, many dying by sheer starvation and 
I lost a few myself. Mr. Brown lost a large 
number. The ground was unfrozen when the 
first snow came and remained so during the 
winter. In the latter part of May or 1st of June 
a very severe and long rain storm filled the 
ground with moisture and in many places cov- 
ered the surface of the ground with a sheet of 
water, making it very difficult for teams with 
even a light load to pass along. Brown's Marsh, 
in particular, was then and for some time after 
an eye sore to loaded teams, as you well know. 

"Ill August 1844, I shot and killed the first 
bear known to be in that section of country; 
afterward there were several killed in Green 
and Dane counties. 

"The first case of litigation arising in what is 
now known as Albany, was between James 
Campbell and Joshua Whitcomb, originating in 
Mr. Whitcomb's entering a piece of land on 
which Mr. Campbell had a fence near his land, 
and lie supposed said fence and improvements 
were on his own land, but by tracing lines closely 
it was found to be on government' land, and Mr. 
VV'hltcomb entered it and claimed the fence and 
the crops then growing on it. Mr. Whitcomb 
employed as his attorney the Hon. John W. 
Stewart, of Monroe, and Mr. Campbell employed 
your humble servant; the court, Jacob Linzie of 
Exeter. The case was almost one like that of 
David and (Toliah. Mr. Stewart, the Goliah,awell 



read lawyer, and myself a perfect stripling in 
legal lore; but after some two or three ad- 
journments there was an agreement to arbitrate 
the matter which closed that suit with some 
pro's and con's on both sides. The next suit 
was before the writer and between Samuel 
Mitchell and another party, in which Mr. 
Mitchell came out second best or rather Mr. 
Mitchell did not have the best witnesses. 

"Wolves, deer and wild honeybees were quite 
plenty, say from 1842 to 1850, deer going first. 

"As to the further settlement of Albany, I 
leave to better hands, except that the first year 
of my residence in Green county, Justus Suth- 
erland was road supervisor and his district 
included Albany, Sylvester and other territory 
now forgotten. He came and notified me to 
work on the bridge across Allen creek at or 
near where the bridge now is leading towards 
Attica, soon after known as Winneshiek." 

"Orleans, Neb., Feb., 28, 1884. 
" In haste I wi'ote you some facts relative to 
the early history of Green county. After sleep- 
ing over the matter, I recollect some other facts 
and jottings of tlie people, and first, snme facts 
of its natural liistory. First, you can probably 
recollect of William Dysert undertaking to dig 
a well about half way between my house and 
that of Joshua Flint's, nnd dug in what is now 
the highway some forty-three or forty-four feet, 
but found no water. He expected to strike the 
vein that supplied the spring at my house, and 
get an overflowing artesian well — but having 
hurt his hand he was prevented cutting off the 
supply to my spring. On the last day of liis 
digging, near night fall, I was there, and he 
sent up the bucket of dirt, he asked me to look 
at some things he had found in digging a short 
time before. On examination it clearly appeared 
to be originally some pieces of^ bark, one 
piece, say 2x3 inches surface size, two other 
pieces less size, but where they were recently 
broken, they had to me every appearance of 
coal, and were afterward also declared to be 



672 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



coal by the principal of the high school at Mil- 
ton. There coming a rain soon after, filled 
his well with water to within three or four feet 
of the top, and there ended the fame of that 
well. 

"Mr. Holmes, west of Mr. Philips, dug a well 
a little way from his present house, and at, or 
near the bottom, some twenty-five to twenty- 
eight feet, he found some splinters of wood, 
grass roots, and the appearance of that place 
being once the surface of the ground. 

"Julius llulburt, (I think, if not him, 
some one near by), in digging a well, found, as 
told me, about thirty feet below the surface, a 
root of some tree, laying in a nearly horizon- 
tal position about the size of a man's wrist. I 
had a piece of it for some time. (There were 
several black walnut pieces.) Another report 
.was of a person digging a well somewhere near 
Footville, when some twenty-five or more feet 
down, he came across a stick of wood laying 
across the well a little one side of the middle 
of the well, and about eight to ten inches in 
diameter, partly decayed. When at a later day 
I was living at Attica, there was on ray land 
there a limestone quarry, and in breaking- 
through pieces of sound rock, we once in a 
while found pieces of good galena or lead ore 
of different sizes — one piece I saw about as 
large as a hen's egg and somewhat of that 
■foi'm; the stone was broke so as to leave about 
one half of the ore in each part of the stone. 
How and when did it get there ? Echo an- 
swers, how did it get there ? The petrifactions 
of the Mollusk tribe are too common about 
there for me to say anything about, but will 
barely mention that at a time Thomas Fenton's 
hired man, while plowing west of his house, 
plowed up the image of a duck carved out of 
hard flint like stone, and gracefully formed as 
any live duck and neatly polished. Mr. Fen- 
ton's brother from Ohio took it back with him 
with a promise of return, and if he returned it, 
I was to have it. T never got it. Perhaps Dr. 
Person's widow knows about it, or possibly has 



it.* I at one time found in the road going toward 
Madison, a little north of Mr. McLaughlin's, a 
piece of native copper, weighing between one 
quarter and one half a pound, and have it yet. 
Another piece was found, before that, not far 
from Francis Stockburn's, weighing about eight 
pounds, and afterward sold to a tin-])eddler for 
some forty to fifty cents. 

"We will now change the matter. The first 
wedding in Albany was of Mr. Holmes before 
spoken of, and celebrated at Mr. Eldred's, 
the second one between Benjamin Broughton 
and Hannah Valentine at my house, in 1846, in 
both of which the writer acted the part of the 
grand mogul. The third one, I think, was be- 
tween Daniel Baxter and Jeanette Nichols. 
Of other and further weddings, this deponent 
saith not. If anything more is required to be 
known about the Baxter wedding, call on Adi 
Whitcomb. 

"Following events reveals an instance of 
meanness that has scarcely a parallel, in which 
your honor was made an unwilling actOr. I 
allude to that cuss who entered a part or the 
whole of claims im])roved by their owners. He, 
like some others I know of, pretended to all vir- 
tue, but practiced all sin- -so far as he knew, by 
first staying on your free generosity for a few 
days, and then snake like, turned around and 
entered a portion of your claim, if I recollect 
aright, also a part of I). Smiley's, Erastus 
Hulburt's, all of Price Hill's, claim forty acres, 
and I think some of Samuel Bagley's, but after 
one year, he sent a stool-pigeon from Rockford 
to come and sell you the land. 

"After consulting together, the persons who 
had their claims taken, or a part thereof, went 
to Monroe to try and make some arrangements 
by which they could recover their land again, 
ajid your humble servant was also one of the 
party. When at Monroe we found that the 
stool pigeon had a valid power of attorney to 
convey the land in (juestioii. His first price we 
could not think of l>ayirg, and after arguments 
*Xt is no\r io tho Clovolanfl Ohio'Miisouni. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



673 



and statements pro and con, getting him to 
lower tlie price several times, till it was thought 
best to comply with his reduced offer. We then 
began to cast about for the money, and suc- 
ceeded in making a raise. But some of the 
people of Monroe who sympathized with us, 
thought it would only be right to pay him some 
of the "queer," and as we had a right to con- 
sider that the peojjle of Monroe knew better 
than what we did in the county as to what was 
the just rule of morals between him and us, 
and they actually furnished us some |8 to $10 
worth of the "queer," by count, which he 
packed off, and I never heard any one say bnt 
that is morally right to thus take the advice 
of the citizens of Monroe in the matter. God 
bless them." 

Orleans, Neb., March 2, 1884 
"Well, here it goes again. Being somewhat 
crowde;^ as to time, I forgot some things, as 
some folks will do, and first I will say that I 
have a stone pipe supposed to be an Indian 
relic, found near Sugar river by Mr. Fenton, on 
the north part of the town of Albany; color of 
stone, red and hard; bowl of pipe about one 
inch long, and stem of same length — no com- 
parison to a large sized meerschaum pipe of 
the present day. I also liave a stone about 
three inches long, of an oval form, with ends 
cut off. It has a hole through it near one end, 
and is counter-sunk on both sides, and about 
one-fourth of an inch in thickness, or a little 
over; the ends cut off square and beveled on 
both sides; stone hard, of a light brown color. 
And I have seen two other ones here, of a like 
description and similar rock, one a little larger 
than mine, and one a little smaller. Have never 
seen any other rock of a similar kind. I also 
have two round and flat pieces of flint rock, of 
a dark color, except some lighter cloudy parts, 
one stone about six and a half inches in diame- 
ter, the other about five inches in diameter, and 
say one and a fourth inches thick at the center, 
and then becoming thinner to near or quite the 
side. It appears to have its shape or form by 



scaling off pieces from the sides, leaving them 
somewhat irregular, breaking as all or most all 
flints do. They were found by Benjamin Swan- 
cutt near where he lived, and he gave them to 
me. What their use, I cannot conceive. Per- 
haps others can tell. 

"The year I first moved into Green county 
(1842), Mrs. Robert Taylor, living in the very 
west part of Rock county, on the road from 
Decatur to Janesville, almost weekly for some 
time would take a pail of butter on her arm, 
with cool grass on top of the pail, and carry it 
on foot to Exeter, and sell it and return home, 
making a journey of sixteen miles, more or 
less, each way. My wife would frequently have 
tea about the time Mrs. Taylor got back, and 
they took tea together. If such acts of Mrs. 
Taylor do not fulfill the old adage of 'Time, 
patience and perseverance overcome all things,' 
I no not know where to find such. 

"There was another incident I desire to say 
something about. In early times there was a 
mail route from Janesville to Mineral Point by 
way of Monroe. The mail carrier's name was 
Mr. Downs. But at a certain time, say in 1840 
or 1841, in coming from Mineral Point to Janes- 
ville, coming to the Sugar river east of Decatur, 
he found the stream so much swollen as to pre- 
vent his crossing, and he turned back to John 
Moore's, about one and a half or two miles, 
where he put up for the night; and he found 
there Charles Stevens, who kept the only hotel 
in Janesville, and who had been to Galena for 
some groceries. In the morning they started 
for Janesville, but found Sugar bank, or over 
bank, full of water, with anchor ice and other 
pieces of ice running quite freely. But they 
attempted to cross, and the mail carrier depos- 
ited his mail bag on Mr. Stevens' load, and 
hitched his horse to the hind end of the wagon, 
pulling off his pants and boots to keej) the mail 
company. They undertook to cross, but the 
current and shape of the ford prevented their 
making the outcome aright, the team being 
drifted down stream some, bnt the mail carrier 



t)74 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



got across by jumping ashore when the wagon 
was near the bank, but with difficulty. Mr. 
Stevens got back to the ford, and barely man- 
aged to get out of the river on its west side, 
and the mail carrier on the east side, with no 
house between there and Janesville, for which 
he started in his stocking feet and a pair of 
drawers on — ground frozen and a cool wind. 
He finally, before the day was gone, came to 
Janesville; but on the west side of the river 
there was no house, and the ice running so 
much in Rock river, with the height of the 
water, prevented their crossing to get him, but 
told him to go down to Judge Holmes', about 
one-half or three-fourths of a mile down the 
river, which he did, introducing to two young 
daughters of the judge's family, sans boots 
and pants. Here he staid several days, their 
guest, with frost bitten limbs." 

Orleans, Neb., March 24, 1884. 
"Yours of a late date received yesterday, and 
in answer I begin by saying that I thought, and 
still think there are others in your vicinity who 
are better able, both by talent and a better 
knowledge of the early part of the residence of 
R. Folsom than I have, but at your request will 
say something. I think that when I first knew 
anything about him he was living or staying 
about Mr. Thompson's, Justus Sutherland's and 
others in that neighborhood ; though he built 
(if 1 have been informed aright) a sort of a 
shanty near, or at the spring on the road to 
Monroe, not far beyond Mr. Sutherland's, in a 
southwesterly direction, where he would lay in 
wait for deer that came there to drink. Don't 
know if he absolutely killed any, though he 
made some fair reports of badly wounding 
some. Probably others can correct this as to 
facts, and if so, get them to do it by all means. 
Now I wish to refer you to John Broughton 
and Stephen Eldred for correction of facts, 
dates and names. Mr. Broughton and Mr. El- 
dred were threshing in the winter of 1842-3, at 
Capt. Hulburt's, south or southwest of the afore- 
spoken spring about half or three-quarters of 



a mile — threshing with flails for a share of the 
grain; the floor they used they must describe if 
anything different from the threshing floor so 
famous near where King Solomon built his 
temple at Jerusalem. According to my memory 
from Mr. Broughton's statement, Reuben was 
stopping there and hunting, and to get the 
family up so as to get breakfast, so that he 
could go out hunting by daylight, he would get 
up by 3 or 4 o'clock, and go towards the hen- 
house, and there begin to crow lustily, and the 
roosters in the henhouse would set up a general 
crowing, but could not beat Reuben, That 
worked like a charm for a few days, giving him 
time to hunt and the threshers more time to 
thresh their grain in. But the crowing dodge 
did not last but a few days. 

"One day Reuben went out with his dog and 
gun in regal style, and after no long time he 
shot at a deei-, and at night reported the deer 
badly wounded, and at any rate Reuben and his 
dog followed the deer that day, there being some 
crust on the snow, and the chase came so near 
that the threshing party could see it. Reuben 
would cut corners off so as to be in advance of 
the dog sometimes, and then the deer, by some 
turning, would give the dog a fair chance again. 
He and the dog barking nearly alike might have 
sometimes deceived the deer. At night he 
came in and made a good report that the deer 
had bled profusely, and was weak and could 
hardly ever get up again. Reuben, next morn- 
ing remembering the adage that the early bird 
was the one who got the worm, was after his deer 
in good season, and the chase continued as the 
day before, till 2 or 3 p. m., when the deer ex- 
hausted, Reuben came up and killed it with a 
club, but on close examination no break of the 
skin could be found except on one of the fore 
legs below the knee which miglit or might not 
have been made by the ball. These are the 
statements of the case as related to me by Mr. 
Broughton, not long after the event. 

"It is said that every person has a penchant for 
something, and if properly cultivated will make 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



6Y5 



the owner famous in that particular. I think 
Reuben's must have been hunting, and the climax 
was reached by killing wolves. At least he 
'beat all of my first wife's relations in that 
way.' William Webb can tell you something 
about his penchant for wolves. I am sorry that 
I could not give a better and more extended de- 
tail of his career as a wolf hunter. 

"1 will here make some further statement rela- 
tive to the year when the snow was deep and 
fodder became scarce. I was clean out, say by 
the 20th of February, or before, with sixty-three 
head of cattle old and young. James Campbell 
told me he had some straw under the snow 
where he threshed in the fall previous, and 
that I might have that and welcome, and could 
take my cattle there to eat it, and he would take 
no pay for it although offered. I accordingly 
drove my cattle there; but the next day about 
noon he told me they could not stay there 
longer than that night at any rate. I then went 
to John Dawson's and got a chance to dig 
out the straw at his threshing floor for my cattle 
to which place I drove my cattle ; and here let 
me say that there was one of the best Christian 
families I ever met with. Him, his wife and 
Ed. Fleck. When that straw was gone I got 
hold of a little money and went down to Mr. 
Bowen's, some six or eight miles southwest of 
Monroe, and bought some corn for my cattle, at 
twenty-five cents per bushel, but the snow was 
80 deep and the roads drifted so full as to make 
them higher than the snow on either side, and 
I could not get my cattle to work, as they would 
crowd each other off the track. After upset- 
ting some two or three times, I hired a man by 
the name of Starr and gave bim a sow to draw 
me up about three loads of twenty bushels 
each load of ears. With that and cutting burr-oak 
trees for the cattle to browse upon, I carried 
my stock then on hand, through, and in May 
began to kill some and take the meat to Exeter; 
sell what I could there, and then on to Madison, 
where I usually arrived on or before sunrise; 
sell what meat I could for from two to four cents 



per pound, and then start for home, usually get- 
ting near Belleville to stay over night, and next 
day home. Chose rather to do that way than to 
have a visit from the sheriff. This I done, 
driving cattle for the team, till the first of July 
when I sold my team in Madison, and left off 
carrying meat to Madison. 

"Exeter at that time, and for a time after 
was our postoffice address and our place for 
holding elections including the now town of 
Albany as a part of Exeter precinct." 

Orlbaks, Neb., March 24, 1884. 

"I think of one more fact that may have some 
interest for the history of Green county. It is 
this. Perhaps you will remember an oak tree of 
large size standing close by the spring, on the 
south side of it, into which a swarm of my bees 
went (into a limb). The tree was so near the 
house that if blown over in the right direction 
would strike the dwelling pretty hard, and 
I cut it down, say in 1838, for safety and 
bees and honey. When near the cen- 
ter, say when the tree might be ten, or possi- 
bly twelve inches in diameter, I found old ax 
marks and a part of an upper chip, in the tree, 
after counting the consecutive rings from there 
outward, I found them to be 184, showing the 
mark to have been made 184 years previous." 

The followinginterestiug reminiscence of one 
of the pioneer settlers of Green county was 
written by H. B. Jobes, a well known citizen of 
this town: 

"The history of Green county would be in- 
complete without mention of Reuben Fulsom, 
one of the early pioneers of the county, famil- 
iarly known and recognized by the first settlers 
as 'Old Reuben' the hunter, who came from 
the State of New York, and settled in Green 
county about the year 1842. There was noth- 
ing remarkable nor preposessing in the make-up 
of this strange individual that should single him 
out as more noted than his fellow man, but his 
eccentricities and peculiar mode of living gave 
him notoriety, and his success in his chosen 
pursuit, soon made him famous as a daring and 



676 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



sagacious hunter. But little is known of his 
early history. His ancestry are reputed as 
highly respectable — a brother having attained 
celebrity in the practice of medicine. Though 
not strictly confined to the chase, having per- 
formed odd jobs of work from time to time, 
living here and there, principally, however, in 
the neighborhood of Albany. Still it was 
natural for him to hunt, and his happiest mo- 
ments would seem to be when he was on the 
trail with dog and gun. Disappointed hopes 
and blighted love it has been thought led him to 
lead the life of a partial recluse and to become 
an habitue of the woods and caves, gaining a 
livelihood in the traffic of furs and scalps of 
"wild beasts. Kind and hospitable people gave 
him shelter and a home when the inclemency 
of the weather rendered it impracticable for 
him to follow his chosen pursuit, but when 
everything was favorable he was off on the 
trail, and the scalps of captured denizens of the 
forest would do honor to the wigwams of many 
a brave. 

"From Mrs. F. Lewis we learn that he was a 
hunter at five years of age. His education was 
limited. One day while at school, he saw from 
the window, a fox, making tracks across an ad- 
joining field. Without excuse or leave of ab- 
scence he rushed from the room with a whoop, 
and after the fox with his favorite dog, and 
succeeded in capturing the fox. This completed 
his education and he was free to pursue the, to 
him, more pleasant calling. Reuben was three 
times married. The marriage ceremony was 
performed the fourth time but the process was 
afterwards found to be illegal and the con- 
tractingparties agreeing to disagree took differ- 
ent paths in life; Reuben seeking a home in the 
west. In an early day when the country was 
sparsely populated, game was more abundant 
than at the present time; wild deer made this 
section their favorite haunt, until the rapacity 
"of over greedy huntsmen thinned them out and 
drove the remainder further north. Wolves were 
quite numerous in those days, and were a source 



of great annoyance to settlers, especially stock 
raisers whose flocks became decimated by oft 
repeated raids. As a means of ridding the 
country of a miserable pest, bounties were 
offered for the scalps of these animals. This 
stimulated our hunter to carry on a war of ex- 
termination by which to realize on that class of 
booty. He was measurably successful in thin- 
ning out a portion of these destructive animals, 
probably to a greater extent than most men of 
his time. 

"He seemed to live and move in a world of 
wolves, became wolfish in nature, looked and 
talked like a wolf. He could outwalk any 
ordinary man, taking great strides as though 
some phantom form was dogging his footsteps. 
A story is told of Reuben in connection with 
early reminiscences of the county. If not an 
adept, our old friend was not slow at the game 
of poker. On one occasion he was invited to 
take a hand with one of our prominent bankers, 
who was suspicioned by him of tricking with 
the cards. As the game progressed, without a 
word of warning, he jumped to his feet and 
with a well directed blow tumbled banker, mei*- 
chant and table and all in promiscuous con- 
fusion on the floor. 

"Tradition has it that Reuben was partial to 
young wolves, as the scalps secured by him were 
mostly of that class, from which we infer that 
he had a keen eye to the future in the exigency 
of supply and demand. This may account in part 
for the lingering traces of a subdued but by no 
means extinct species. Be this as it may, how- 
ever, it can truly be said of Old Reuben, the 
hunter, he was a harmless, inoffensive man whose 
sum of usefulness would over-balance all the 
harm he ever did. 

"On the left bank of Little Sugar river to the 
northwest of the village of Albany may be 
found the cave, which has become historical as 
'Reuben's Cave'. — a hollow cavern in the mas- 
sive rocks where slept the hereof our tale many 
a lone night through, while round him prowled 
the wolves. Time whitened his locks as the 



HISTORY OF GRKEN COUNTY. 



677 



years went by, and the once elastic step, en- 
feebled, bore him to that home which charity 
had kindly provided for the unfortunate of 
earth. Years have passed since the veteran 
hunter passed from earthly scenes, but the in- 
cidents of his life and early exploits are still 
fresh in the memory of the old settlers of Green 
county." 

VILLAGE OF ALBANY. 

This is the third village in importance in 
Green county. It is located on section 28, of 
the town of Albany, on the banks of Sugar 
river. A branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Paul Railway, extending from Brodhead 
connects Albany with the main line of railway, 
and affords excellent shipping facilities. The 
Sugar river at this point furnishes a valuable 
water power, which is now fully utilized and 
improved. About the village lies some of the 
most valuable farming and stock raising lands 
in Wisconsin. The farmers, as well as the in- 
habitants of tiie village, are well to do, as a 
rule, and this is a guarantee of permanent, ever 
increasing trade. 

THE BEGINNING. 

The locality which is now known as the vil- 
lage of Albany was first called "Campbell's 
Ford," the land having been entered by James 
Campbell and Thomas Stewart. The excellent 
water power at this point they agreed to do- 
nate to any one who would erect a saw and grist 
mill, and it was this proposition which first at- 
tracted Dr. Samuel F. Nichols and Capt. Eras- 
tus O. Pond to this place. Of these two gentle- 
men, Dr. Nichols was the first to move his 
family. He came in March, 1846, and erected 
a double log house on what is now block 13, 
and thus became the first settler. Capt. Pond 
arrived with his family the following June, and 
lived in the log cabin with Dr. Nichols until iie 
could build a frame house. With a yoke of 
oxen, S. A. Pond, a son of E. O., then sixteen 
years of age, hauled the lumber for their new 
house from Amos Sylvester's mill, being obliged 
frequently to first cut the logs, then take them 



to the mill to be transformed into lumber. But 
notwithstanding the attendant disadvantages, 
in about three weeks the building, which was 
16x24 feet in size, was completed and the fam- 
ily moved into the same. This house was also lo- 
cated on what is now block 13. In one corner 
of the building Mr. Pond opened Albany's first 
store, having brought the limited stock of 
goods all the way from Newark, N. Y. 

Erastus O. Pond, one of the founders of the 
village of Albany, was born in Oneida Co., N. 
Y., Aug. 4, 1799. When a young man he was 
a sailor on the lakes, and finally became master 
of a ship. He was married Aug. 6, 1826, to 
Margaret L. Bartle, who was born in Chenango 
Co., N. Y. They settled in Wayne county, 
where he purchased a woolen mill and operated 
that tvvelve years. He then moved to Newark, 
in the same county, and engaged in the manu- 
facture of carding machines, remaining there 
until 1846. In that year he came to Wisconsin. 
He stopped a few weeks in Rock county, then 
came to Green county and settled on the present 
site of the village of Albany, of which he was 
one of the founders. He was the first post- 
master and merchant, and was prominently 
identified with the interests of the town and 
village until the time of his death, Oct. 19, 
1854. Mrs. Pond died Feb. 19, 1881. They 
were the parents of three children — Maria, now 
the wife of C. S. Tibbetts; Chloe, wife of R. 
H. Hewitt, of St. Louis, and Samuel A,, now of 
Janesville. 

Another family named Hills, came with the 
Pond party, but after shaking with the ague for 
a few months they returned to the place from 
whence they came. 

Tliere was no further additions to the settle- 
ment in 1846; but in 1847 several families ar- 
rived, and it was not long until Albany had 
taken a position of importance among the vil- 
lages in this region. 

VILLAGE PLAT. 

In 1847 Dr. Samuel F. Nichols and E. O. 
Pond, assisted by J. V. Richardson, a surveyor. 



678 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



made the necessary survey and laid out twenty 
blocks into village lots. The population in- 
creased rapidly and it soon became necessary to 
make additions to the plat, which has been 
done from time to time. Of the several addi- 
tions there were annexed by Pond and Nichols, 
one by J. H. Warren and one by the Railroad 
Company. 

The village was governed by the same laws 
and under the same authority as the town of 
Albany, until 1883, when the territory which 
comprises section 28 was incorporated as a vil- 
lage, and the first village election held on the 
17th of October, 1883, resulted in the election* 
of the following named officers: L. H. War- 
ren, president; William Green, W. W. Hill, E. 
Van Patten, W. H. Knapp, D. Osborn and F. 
J. Carle, trustees ; J. B. Perry, clerk ; T. G. 
Mitchell, treasurer; H. B. Jobes, supervisor; C. 
S. Tibbitts, marshal ; Warren Howard, police 
justice; Gabriel Jackson, justice of the peace. 

The trustees elected would not grant liquor 
license and thus the newly incorporated village 
started out on temperance principles. 

EARLY EVENTS. 

The first building on the plat of the village 
was erected on what is now block 13, in March, 
1846. It was a double log cabin, and was 
erected and occupied by Dr. Samuel F. Nichols. 

The first frame building was erected in June, 
1848. It was also located on what is now block 
13. It was occupied as a store and dwelling by 
Erastus O. Pond. 

The first brick building was the dwelling 
house of Zebina Warren, which was erected by 
him in the spring of 1851. It was located on 
lot 4, block 13. In 1884 it was owned and oc- 
cupied by C. S. Tibbitts. 

The first marriage in the village was solem- 
nized in 1847. The contracting parties were 
Daniel Baxter and Chloe Nichols. '1 he cere- 
mony was performed at the house of the bride's 
father, Dr. Samuel F.Nichols, by Hiram Brown, 
a justice of the peace. Mrs. Baxter is still a 
resident of Albany. 



The first birth was that of Philander Nichols, 
son of Dr. Samuel F. and Julia A. Nichols, 
born Sept. 6, 1846. 

The first death was that of Thomas McVee, 
which occurred in 1846. His remains were 
buried in the grounds now occupied by the vil- 
lage cemetery. 

The second was the death of a daughter of 
C. Meinert, which took place in 1847. 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. 

The first general store in the village was 
opened in June, 1846, by Erastus O. Pond. He 
kept goceries, dry goods, drugs, etc., and re- 
mained in business for about two years. 

The next general store was established by R. 
H. Hewitt. 

Shortly afterward R. J. and William Richard- 
son established a general mercantile business 
and made arrangements to open a large stock of 
goods; but on the 1st of June, 1851, William 
was drowned, after which R. J. became dis- 
heartened and closing out his business left the 
place. 

In 1851 James Campbell opened a store in a 
building on lot 10, block 10. 

In 1852 Zebina and John Warren were en- 
gaged in general merchandising in a building 
located on block 13. 

J. T. Chapman opened a store in 1853 in the 
south part of the village. In October, 1861, 
Mr. Chapman enlisted in company A., 13th 
reginient, Wisconsin Volunteers. He was com- 
missioned major, was promoted to the rank of 
of lieutenant-colonel, and served until Novem- 
ber, 1864. 

Many changes have taken place during the 
past twenty-five years and it is impossible to 
trace with any degree of accuracy the history 
in detail of any line of business. Among 
others who have been prominent in the general 
mercantile trade here, are the following: Troy 
& Kellogg, E. Bowen, Jobes & Dolson, H. B. 
Jobes, Burt & Harris and Charles Campbell. In 
1884 this line was represented by W. H. Knapp 
& Co., J, F. Litel, William Green and Beukirk 



HISTORY OP GREEN COUNTY. 



Q19 



Brothers. The last named firm deals princi- 
pally in gents furnishing goods and boots and 
shoes. 

The first hardware store on the present site 
of Albany was established by Zebina Warren 
in 1853. E. B. Noble was the second hardware 
merchant and continued in trade about twenty- 
five years, then closed out and left the State 
R. H. Hewitt, the third hardware dealer, con- 
tinued in trade until he enlisted in the army. 
When Mr. Noble closed out his business, Roach 
& Bloom, of Monroe, established a branch 
store at this place. They were succeeded in 
turn by C. O. French, French & Lemuel and 
French & Brodrick. The latter firm sold to 
John Lemuel, who continued until the disas- 
trous fire of 1883. In 1884 the hardware trade 
was represented by Lemuel & Clemons and 
Osborne & Howard. 

Warren Howard, of the firm of Osborne & 
Howard, dealers in hardware, farming imple- 
ments of all kinds, wagons and carriages, also 
dealer in leaf tobacco, was born in Herkimer 
Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1849. His parents emigrat- 
ed to Wisconsin and settled in Rock county, 
when he was but an infant. He received his 
education in the district school and at the 
Evansville Seminai-y. When twenty-one years 
old he engaged in teaching, and followed that 
occupation during the winter season for ten 
years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits 
and manufacturer of spring bed bottoms the 
rest of the time. In 1881 he came to Albany 
and established his 'present business. He was 
married Dec. 25, 1871, to Jane E. Budlong. 
They have three children — Ella, Alice and 
Emmett B. 

The first man to deal in drugs at this place 
was E. O. Pond, who kept a few necessary drugs 
in connection with his general stock of goods. 
S. A. Pond succeeded him in this line and also 
kept books, after which the following firms 
were in the business: Dr. Shavalia Fayette, 
Parker & Drake, H. Medbery, Robinson & 
Dodge, C. Robinson, Gillett & Dolson, Wins- 



ton & Roberts, Winston & Pludson, Hudson & 
Bartlett and Bartlett & Roberts. This busi- 
ness is now (1884) represented by G. W. Bart- 
lett, successor to Bartlett & Roberts and J. W. 
Hicks, successor to G. W. Roberts. 

G. W. Bartlett, druggist, was born at Schuy 
lersville, Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 10, 1845. He 
is a son of L. C. Bartlett, who is now a resi- 
dent of Brodhead. G. W. Bartlett was thir- 
teen years old when he came with his parents 
to Wisconsin. They located in Beloit, where 
they remained two years, then came to Albany. 
At the age of sixteen years, he began clerking 
for Freeman Lewis. He afterward clerked for 
other parties, and was thus employed until 
1869, when he engaged in trade in company with 
W. H. Hudson. Mr. Hudson afterwards sold 
out to Dr. G. W. Roberts, with whom Mr. 
Bartlett was associated until 1879. He then 
purchased his partner's interest, and has since 
carried on business alone. He was burned out 
by the fire of November, 1883, but soon resumed 
business. In addition to drugs, he carries a 
stockof groceries, books, stationery and notions. 
He was married in 1865, to Kate A. Dolsen, 
and they have had three children — Franky, 
who died in infancy, Robert E. and Willie. 

J. W. Hicks, druggist, commenced business 
in Albany, in August, 1883, and in March moved 
into the Murray block, where he is at present 
located. He keeps a full line of drugs, toilet 
articles, paints and oils, also a stock of groceries. 
He was born in the town of Rushford, Winne- 
baga Co., Wis., Dec. 18, 1856. He obtained his 
early education in the schools at Eureka, gradu- 
ating from the high school in that place, in 
1875. He then taught until 1876, when he en- 
tered the State University at Madison, where 
he graduated in 1880. He then again engaged 
in teaching, which he continued until 1883. He 
was married in June, 1882, to Edith Stearns, a 
native of Green county. Mr. Hicks' father, 
Oliver Hicks, was a native of New York. He 
was married to Sarah Powell, a native of the 
same State, and ia 1846 came to the Territory 



680 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of Wisconsin, and settled in Winnebago county, 
wliere he purchased land of the ' Fox River Im- 
provement Company," and improved a farm, 
making it his residence until the time of his 
death in 1882. His widow resides in the vil- 
lage of Omro. 

Sampson and Edward Tilley, in 1852, erected 
a slab building, 14x20 feet in dimension, with a 
thatclied roof, and here opened tlte tirst wagon 
shop in the village. After a space of three 
years they erected a better building, and in 
1884 they were still enjoying a large patronage, 
being engaged in the manufacture of wagons, 
buggies and sleighs, besides running a general 
repair shop. 

The tirst blacksmith was C harles Barton; the 
second was Peter Parsolon; the third was E. B. 
Dorr. Mr. Dorr opened a shop in 1851, also 
worked as a millwright, and continued in busi- 
ness until the tire of 1883. This trade is now 
represented by J. S. Smith. 

Daniel S. Smith was born in Orleans Co., Vt., 
Jan. 7, 1807. When a young man, he learned 
the blacksmith trade in his native State. When 
twenty-two years of age, he located in Madison 
Co., N. Y., opened a shop and worked at his 
trade. He remained there until 1836, then re- 
moved to Pennsylvania, and settled in the city 
of Erie, where he followed his trade for eleven 
years. In 1847, he removed to the 'J'erritory of 
\^'isconsin, and located in Beloit, where he was 
joined by his family one year later. He was 
one of the tirst blacksmiths in that town. He 
remained there, working at his trade, until 1850, 
when he came to Green county, and located in 
Clarence, remaining there until 1854, then re- 
moved to Albany and opened a shop. His 
health becoming bad, he had to stop work. In 
a few years he removed to Kansas. His home 
is now in Springtield, Dak. He was married 
in 1830, to Algina Wentworlh, a native oC Ver- 
mont. This union was blessed with nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are now living. 

James S. Smith, eldest son of Daniel Smith, 
was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in July, 1833. 



He came to Wisconsin with his parents, and 
made his home with them until seventeen years 
of age. He had learned the blacksmith trade 
of his father, and engaged in that business in 
Beloit. He remained in Beloit four years, then 
went to Janesville. In 1854, he removed to Al- 
bany and commenced work at his trade. In 1864, 
he went to Idalio and Montana, working at his 
trade while there. After remaining there about 
a year and a half, he went to Michigan, and 
located in Plainwell, Allegan county. He run a 
shop there for about two years, and returned to 
Albany, where he has since resided. In 1858, 
he was united in marriage with May J. Hess, 
born in Herkimer Co., N. Y. This union has 
been blessed with two children — Nellie and 
Frank. 

The tirst livery barn was opened in 1855, by 
Harry Van Wart. It was located on block 17. 
In about 1857; Mr. Van Wart closed the barn 
and took his horses across the plains to Cali- 
fornia. This line of business is now represented 
by Frank Warren. 

The tirst shoe maker to locate in Albany, was 
William Lee. The second was J. A. Hahn, who 
came in 1855, and, in 1884, was still in business. 
Austin Darling also runs a shop. 

Tiie tirst meat-market was kept by Freeborn 
Lewis; but before his time a Mr Nipple had 
peddled meat about the town. 

'i'he tirst coopers were Samuel DeLaps and a 
Mr. Shaw. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. Samuel F. Nichols was the first to admin- 
ister medicine to the sick at this place. Since 
then the following have been located in the vil- 
lage and practiced medicine: Shavalia Fayette, 
Dr. Lewis, E. H. Winston, William Fayette, 
Horace T. Persons, Robert Van Dusen and 
Marvin Bemis. The present physicians are: G. 
W. Roberts and W. E. Ziegenfuss. 

Samuel F. Nichols, one of tl»e pioneers of the 
town of Albany, and one of the founders of the 
village, was a native of the Green Mountain 
State, born at Bennington, Nov. 14, 1801. His 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



681 



father was a sea captain, and an early settler in 
Bennington. Samuel was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and at the age of seventeen years 
he engaged in teaching, thus obtaining money 
with which to advance his education, and en- 
tered Castleton Seminary, from whence he grad- 
uated. He then turned his attention to the 
study of medicine, and graduated from the 
Castleton Medical Institute. He then went to 
Newark, Wayne Co., N, Y., and commenced 
practice. He was there married in 1826 to 
Julia Bartle, born in Newark, in 1811. He con- 
tinued to reside in Newark until 1845, then 
came to Wisconsin and engaged in the practice 
of his profession at Janesville, one year. He 
then came to Green county and settled on the 
site of the present village of Albany. Soon 
after coming here, he was obliged, on account 
of failing health, to discontinue his practice, 
and he engaged as mail contractor, and did an 
extensive business in that line, his routes ex- 
tending to four different States and Territories, 
Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. He 
employed hundreds of men and horses. This 
business he continued until 1868. In 1866 he 
purchased a fruit farm in New Jersey, and spent 
the fall and winter seasons there. In Septem- 
ber, 1874, he visited Colorado Springs, in the 
liope of finding relief from asthma, from which 
he was suffering, but he grew steadily worse and 
died there on the 14th of November following. 
His remains were brought back to Albany, and 
placed in the family vault. Mr. and Mrs. Nich- 
ols had seven children — Cliloe J., Martin V., 
Louisa A., Rartle W., Philander K., Louis A. 
and Maggie. Dr. Nichols was one of the Pres- 
idential electors of district No. 2, in 1848, in 
the State of Wisconsin, and was chosen to trans- 
mit the result to the seat of government. 

Louis A. Nichols, their youngest son, was 
born at the Nicliols House, Albany, Feb. :i, 
1849. His early education was obtained in tin* 
common schools of liis native town, after whic.li 
he spent five terms :i( EvansviMc Seininaiy. In 
1«7U he went to Philadelphia and entered 



Philadelphia College, and studied one year. 
He then went to- Madelia, Minn., Avhere he re- 
mained one year, and from thence to Chicago, 
and was clerk in a real estate office until 1874, 
when he went again to Philadelphia and grail 
uated from the Philadelphia Dental College. 
He went to St. Louis and commenced practice, 
but, his health failing, he remained but a short 
time. He went from there to Colorado and 
spent nearly a year, then returned to Albany, 
where he was married, in 1875, to Ella Warren, 
daughter of Zebina and Maria (Pond) Warren. 
He has erected a fine residence on the west 
bank of the river, and has his office in his house. 

LAWYERS. 

The first attorney in the vicinity of Albany 
was Hiram Brown. The second was J. B. Per- 
ry, who is still in practice; the third, E. L. 
Warner; and the fourth, H. Medbery. 

HOTELS. 

During the first few years of the settlement, 
of course every one who had a home was will- 
ing to entertain strangers without money or 
price. But as people came flocking in faster 
and faster, it became necessary to establish 
some public stopping place. In 1847 John B. 
Sawyer and A. K. Stearns erected a buildingon 
what is now lot 2, block 18, corner of Mill and 
Main streets, it now forming the upright part 
of the Nichols House. In 1848 Dr. Samuel 
Nichols purchased the property, completed the 
building and opened it to the public for hotel 
purposes, and it is still used as such. In 18f^l 
tlie building was enlarged by a brick addition, 
and it now presents quite an attractive appear- 
ance. The property is now owned by M. V. 
Nichols and Mrs. J. H. Warren. It is leased 
by S. S. Hills, a gentleman well qualiHed for 
the place, and under whose management the 
Nichols House has become a favorite of the 
traveling jiublic and the pride of the citizens of 
the village. 

Sylvester Hills was a native of Conneclieiit, 
born March 7, l7i>U. When a young man he 
went to Onon<laga Co., N. V., where he eij-= 



683 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



gaged in farming until 1838. He then started 
with two teams for Wisconsin, taking liis fam- 
ily and household goods. He drove to Buffalo, 
where they embarked upon the lake and went 
to Toledo, completing the journey from that 
point to Green county with the teams. He 
bought government land in what is now the 
town of Sylvester, erected a log house and com- 
menced improvements. He was a natural me- 
chanic, and manufactured many of the articles 
of furniture used by his own and his neighbors' 
families; also built a loom and spinning wheel, 
which were used by the women of the family 
for weaving cloth from flax, which was raised 
upon the farm. There were maple trees upon 
the place, from which they obtained sugar, 
which, with the wild honey that they gathered, 
furnished the sweets used by the family. Game 
and fish were abundant at this time, and nearly 
all the articles they were obliged to buy were 
tea and tobacco. He lived upon this place two 
years, then bought a prairie farm in the same 
town, on which he built a log house and frame 
barn. The latter was built in 1841, and the 
boards with which it was covered were hauled 
with teams from Chicago; the shingles were 
made of oak and rived by hand. In 1856 he 
sold this farm and removed to section 29, in 
the town of Albany, where he purchased land 
and remained several years, then sold his farm 
and removed to the village, and there remained 
until his death, which occurred Feb. 25, 1881. 
He was twice married. His first wife was for- 
merly Chloe Webster, and they were married 
in Onondaga Co., N. Y. Eleven children 
blessed this union, nine of whom are now liv- 
ing — William, Asliael, Price, Lorinda, Miranda, 
Nelson, Elizar, Betsey and Electa. Mrs. Hills 
died March G, 1832. Mr. Hills' second wife was 
Hannah Sutherland, a native of Vermont. She 
was a woman of much ability, and in her youth 
was a school teacher, which occupation she fol- 
lowed in her native State, and alterwards in. 
New York, where she became accpiainted with 
Mr. Hills, to whom she was married, Dec. 27, 



1832. She was noted for her kindness in cases 
of sickness or distress, and seemed to feel the 
misfortunes of others more than her own. She 
lived to a ripe old age, each succeeding year 
adding new acts of kindness and generosity to 
her children and friends. Her memory, always 
remarkable, was especially so in her old age, 
and up to almost the day of her death she re- 
tained a perfect recollection of past events, and 
of the names and ages of all the people resid- 
ing in the neighborhood where she was brought 
up. She died Oct. 27, 1882. Her children 
were — Sylvester S., born Dec. 17,1833; Chloe 
P., born Jan. 28, 1836; and Isabelle M., born 
June 6, 1838. 

Syvester S. Hills is the present landlord of 
the Nichols House, at Albany. He was born in 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 17, 1833, and was 
but four years old when he began pioneer life 
in Green county, where he grew to manhood. 
In 1852, in company with a brother and cousin, 
he opened a tin shop in the village of Monticel- 
lo. Soon after he purchased the interest of his 
partners and then purchased a stock of mer- 
chandise from Mathias Marty, continuing in 
business there until 1857. He then sold out, 
and the following year went to Mitchell (^o., 
Iowa, and opened a tin thop at St. Ansgar, 
where he remained but a short time, then sold 
out and went to Minnesota, stopped there a 
short time and entered 160 acres of land in 
Freeborn county, after which he spent one year 
in Kansas and Nebraska. He then returned to 
Green county and was there married April 18, 
1S61, to Sarah A,, daughter of Jeptha and Har- 
riet (Conger) Davis. She was born in Varys 
burg, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Oct. 28, 1838. Af- 
ter marriage, Mr. Hills went to Cross Plains, 
where he engaged in buying and shipping pro- 
duce one year, then went to Woodman, Grant 
county, and engaged in the same business, also 
acted as station agent. He continued to follow 
the sime business at different points on the 
(vliiciigo, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad for a 
rnunber of years, after which he was employed 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



683 



by the Victor Scale Company as general agent, 
and traveled in the interest of that firm two 
years in the northwestern States. He then re- 
sumed railroading, becoming station agent at 
Plainfield, on the Wisconsin Central road. In 
1880 he leased the hotel at Evansville and en- 
gaged in hotel keeping, which he continued 
there three years, then came to Albany and 
leased the Nichols House. As a landlord Mr. 
Hills is a decided success, his house bearing the 
reputation of being the best hotel in Green 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Hills have had three 
children, only one of whom is now living — El- 
mer E., who was born Oct. 27, 1867. Erwin F. 
was born July 13, 1866, and died Sept. 9, of the 
same year. Their eldest son, Arthur, was born 
Nov. 10, 1862. He was an unusually precocious 
child and when twelve years of age became 
messenger boy in the State Senate of Wiscon- 
sin, which position he filled during two sessions. 
He was so honest and trustworthy that, at the 
age of fifteen, he was appointed station agent 
on the Wisconsin Central Railroad, having en- 
tire charge of the station, including express 
and telegraph business. He resigned this po- 
sition to accept a situation as telegraph operator 
in the city of Milwaukee, in the employ of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Com- 
pany, where he soon after met his death, Oct. 
13, 1879, in a railroad accident. This young 
man was universally esteemed, and the High 
School at Evansville, of which he had been a 
member, thus expressed themselves: 

Since (irod has, by a mysterious providence, allowed 
death to come into our midst and has taken away one, 
who, but lately, went in and out among us, we. the 
members of the High School, desire to express our sor- 
row and deep sympathy with the family so suddenly 
bereft, and to add our testimony that, while with us, 
Arthur was always cheerful in spirit, of obliging dis- 
pofition, and faithful in iLeperformarce of duty. 

By wish of the school. 

PQ. , -, CM. Merriman, Principal. 

L»ignea.J L. N. Bushnell, Assistant. 

Mr. Hills was for twenty years a republican, 
but joined the greenback party at its organiza- 
tion, in 1876, and was a member of the first 



State central committee, also a delegate to the 
Chicago convention in 1880 that nominated 
Weaver for President. 

Ashael Hills, son of Sylvester and Chloe 
(Webster) Hills, and pioneer of Green county, 
was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., March 31, 
1815. He was married in 1837 to Julia A. 
Shults, a native of Montgomery Co., N. Y. In 
1839 they removed to Steuben county and lived 
until 1849. They then came to Green county 
and purchased a farm on sections 29 and 32, of 
the town of Albany. There was a log house on 
the place, in which the family lived two years. 
He then erected a frame house. He improved 
a large farm here, and erected a large frame 
barn. He still resides upon the place. Mrs. 
Hills died Feb. 12, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hills 
were among the first members of the M. E. 
Church at Albany. They had one child — 
Helen, now the wife of William H. Hudson. 

The second hotel was built in 1850, by J. B. 
Perry and Aaron Kellogg. It was located on 
lot 3, block 19. When first opened, it was 
known as the "Green County House," and J. 
B. Perry was the accommodating landlord. In 
August, 1853, Z. Warren purchased the prop- 
erty and it was used as a dwelling until 1879, 
when William Hayden bought the same and 
again opened it as a hotel. The building was 
enlarged and neatly refitted in 1882, and in 
1884 it was owned by Peter Benston. It is 
known as the "Central House" and is an excel- 
lent place to stop at. 

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. 

The water power furnished by Sugar river at 
this point was purchased from the' government 
by James Campbell and Thomas Stewart. From 
them it passed to Dr. S. F. Nichols and E. 
O. Pond, in 1846, and the following year these 
gentlemen improved the power. During the 
fall of 1847 they erected a saw mill, putting in 
one of the old fashioned sash saws, and thus for 
several years furnished the settlers with lum- 
ber. In 1848 Z. Warren purchased an interest 
in the water power and during the winter fob 



684 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



lowing erected the first grist mill. The mill 
used three run of stone and was operated as a 
custom mill by Mr. Warren until his death in 
1854. After this it was owned by his heirs 
until washed away by the flood of 18G7, After 
the flood the property was purchased by E. F. 
Warren and C. W. Tomkins. These gentle- 
men rebuilt the mill, and in 1881, enlarged the 
same, so that it is now 30x74 feet in size, two 
and a half stories high. It has three run of 
stone and is equipped with all modern machinery 
fordoing first-class work. It is still owned by 
Warren & Tomkins, who operate it as a custom 
and merchant mill. 

Charles W. Tomkins, manager of the Albany 
flour mills, of which he is a one-half owner, is 
a native of Ireland, born in county Wicklow, 
Feb. 29, 1832. His father was the owner of a 
flour mill in which the subject of this sketch 
went to work as soon as large enough to be of 
assistance, and continued to work until he was 
eighteen years old, when he came to America, 
He first located at Janesville, where he engaged 
at his trade until 1852, when he came to Al- 
bany, where he had been previously engaged by 
Zabina Warren to operate his mill. In 1853 
he went to Jo Daviess Co., 111., and lived one 
year, then returned and engaged again in the 
Warren mill, which he continued to operate 
until 1860, when he rented the "Kellogg mill" 
and operated that on shares two years, then 
again returned to the Warren mill and run it 
until it was washed away in 1867. In 1868 the 
firm of Warren, Tomkins & Erolc was formed, 
and the present mill was built, and has since 
been under *the supervision of Mr. Tomkins, 
who bought Erolc's interest in 1879, since which 
time the firm name of Warren & Tomkins was 
adopted, and has secured for it an enviable repu- 
tation. He w^as married in 1860, to Lucy A. 
Hoyt, from the State of Maine. They have 
had three children born to them — Estella, War- 
ren and Arthur. The former, Estella, was the 
only daughter, she was born in 1861 and died 
in 1873. 



The second grist mill was erected in 1857 by 
T. Kellogg, and was located on the west side 
of the river. This mill was 40x60 feet in size 
and used three run of buhrs, Mr. Kellogg 
owned the mill about ten years then sold to 
William Nye and J. Montgomery, who, in 1877, 
removed the machinery and sold the building 
and water privilege to the Albany Woolen 
Manufacturing Company. This company put 
in the necessary machinery and established the 
"Albany Woolen Mills." In 1881 E. F. War- 
ren, then superintendent, purchased the proper- 
ty and has since operated the same. The line 
of goods manufactured embraces flannels,blank- 
ets, yarns and skirts. The mill furnishes em- 
ployment to about eighteen operatives. 

In the fall of 1883 Lemuel Warren added a 
saw mill to the woolen mill, which is also in 
operation. Thus it will be seen that the water 
power is being well utilized; but there is still 
room for more as Sugar river is a never-failing 
stream and at this point furnishes an eight foot 
head of water 

Prominent among the names identified with 
the history of Green county, that of Warren 
stands conspicuous from the early history to the 
present time. The ancestors of these Warrens 
were natives of New England for a number of 
generations. Their great-grandfather, a black- 
smith by occupation, having served as a soldier 
in the French and Indian War, participating in 
the battle of Quebec. The grandfather, 
Lovewell Warren, was born in Marlborough, 
Mass., Oct. 2, 1764, and was of a family of 
Howes, and was married to Ama Holden. She 
was born at Charlestown, N. H., in 1794 and 
was of a family of Adams. Lovewell Warren 
removed from Leominster, Mass., and settled 
at Montpelier, Vt., purchased government land, 
and became a pioneer in the place. The land 
lie improved is still owned by a family of War- 
rens — his descendents. It was there that Lem- 
uel Warren was born Oct. 27, 1791, and hisearly 
life was spent on his father's farm. When a 
young man he wont to Franklin Co., N. Y., 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



68Y 



I 



where he formed the acquaintance of Betsy R. 
Richardson, to whom he was married in 1817. 
She was born in Granville, Washington county, 
Aug. 1, 1793. Lemuel Warren was overseer of 
Hogan's mills, and remained a resident of 
Franklin county until 1836, then removed to 
Chautauqua county, and two years later with liis 
family emigrated to Wisconsin, landing at 
Milwaukee on the 5th of July, 1838. They pro- 
ceeded to Janesville which was at that time but 
a small town, where, although times were hard, 
they succeeded in making a living. In 1841 
they settled on a farm in the town of Union, 
now known as Center, situated on the Madison 
road at a distance of twelve miles from Janes- 
ville. At that time there were eight children, 
five sons and three daughters, of whom several 
had attained their majority, and the older boys 
— William, Zebina and John H,, left home to 
battle with the world on their own account. 
Sept 13, 1846, the father died, and a few 
years subsequently the family were stricken 
with grief by the death of the three daughters. 
Those of the family who remained could hardly 
recover from such a blow, but they struggled 
on and finally succeeded in paying for the farm 
by hard work and prudent economy. The 
mother afterwards came to Albany, this county, 
to reside with her sons, where her remaining 
days were spent. She died Aug. 17, 1870. 

Zebina, the second son, was born at Hogans- 
burg, Franklin Co., N. Y., May 2, 1821. When 
sixteen years old he went to Michigan, and 
lived one year in Kalamazoo; then in 1838 
joined his parents in Rock county and lived 
with them two years, then made a claim of gov- 
ernment land in the town of Center, Rock 
county, but not having money to pay for it, 
started out in search of employment. He drove 
to Milwaukee, and arrived there with money 
enough to pay for one horse feed. He soon 
found employment at various things, among 
others he took a contract from the government 
to dig a well at the light house, and by winter 
he had made enough money to outer his land. 



In December of that year he engaged as book- 
keeper for the firm of Holton & Goodell, and 
remained with them three years, then returned 
to Rock county and settled on his land, where 
he continued to live until 1847, when he came 
to Albany and erected a grist mill. In 1851 he 
engaged in the mercantile trade in company 
with his brother. His death occurred in De- 
cember, 1854. He was married to Maria, 
daughter of Erastus and Margaret (Bartle) 
Pond. Two children blessed that union, one 
of whom is now living — Ella, now the wife of 
L. A. Nichols. Mr. Warren was a man of good 
education and fine business qualifications. He 
was prominently identified with the interests of 
both town and village, and was in ofiice from 
the time of the town organization. 

Lemuel IT., the fourth son, was born at Ho- 
gansburg, Franklin Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1830, 
and was but eight years old when the family 
came to Wisconsin, and he grew to manhood 
in Rock county. In 1850 he came to Albany 
and engaged in clerking for his brotlier two 
years, then in 1854 he engaged in mercantile 
trade in company with his brothers, J II. and 
E. F., and continued that business until 1865, 
when he sold his interests and engaged in the 
lumber trade five years. He then became a 
mail contractor and has, while attending to 
that business, traveled extensively. In 1882 lie 
bought a farm near Madison, where he lived 
one year and then returned to Albany. He was 
married March 26, 185i, to Martha Stanley, 
who was born in Susquehanna Co., Penn. Four 
children blessed this union — Frank, Carrie, 
Fred and Eva. The former, Frank S., was 
born in the village of Albany, where he grew 
to manhood, his younger days being spent in 
school and assisting his father in the store. 
When eighteen years old he was engaged as 
clerk in E. F. Warren's store. At twenty years 
of age he was married to Clara Trousdale, who 
was born in the village of Fayette, Lafayette 
Co., Wis. They then went to Monroe, where 
he engaged as clerk for F. S. Parlirt a few 



40 



688 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



months, then went to Yankton, D. T., in com- 
pany with his father, who was going there to 
look after his stage interests. In 1878 he had 
full charge of tbe stage line from Yankton to 
Sioux Falls, and remained there until 18*79, 
when he returned to Monroe, bought a livery 
stock and managed a stable two years, then, in 
the spring of 1881, he started west and visited 
Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Returning in 
the fall, he bought the omnibus line at Monroe 
and ran that during the winter of 1881-2. In 
the spring of 1882 he went to Dane county and 
purchased a farm in company with his father, 
and lived there one year, then returned to 
Albany, and during the summer was in the em- 
ploy of the Western Stage Company. In the 
fall of 1883 he bought the livery stock of E. F. 
Warren, and is now engaged in the livery lousi- 
ness. Mr. and Mrs. Frank S. Warren are the 
parents of two children (twins) — Bessie and 
Jessie. He is a good business man, accommo- 
dating and affable, and has many friends. 

Of the five sons, Eugene F. Warren was the 
youngest. He was born at Fort Covington, N. 
Y., June 30, 1833, came with the family to Wis- 
consin, and at an early age commenced those 
minor duties of farm life which his extreme 
youth could compass, and in which he displayed 
great energy and facility. He was but thirteen 
years old when his father died, but as his older 
brothers had left home, the care of the farm 
naturally devolved on him, and he found little 
time or opportunity to attend school, spending but 
three months each winter, in that manner. For- 
tunately his mother was a woman of refinement 
and education, knd he received from her the 
most important elements of early instruction. 
After acting one year as express messenger on 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, at 
the age of twenty-one, with a capital of $500 
he came to Albany, and entered into a co-part- 
nership with his brothers, John H. and Lemuel, 
in mercantile business, which he pursued for 
sixteen years, when he bought out the interests 
of his partners, and continued in the trade alone 



for five years. Meanwhile, in 1861, he assisted j 
in recruiting company E, 13th Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers, and was mustered in as 1st lieutenant 
of the company. In 1862 he was in the army of 
Kansas, where there was no hard fighting, but 
long and tedious marches to be endured, over 
the ice and snow clad prairies, and the following 
year being sent to the army of the Tennessee, 
he was engaged in fighting "bush-whackers," 
and in scouting most of the time at Forts Henry 
and Donelson While there, he was detailed as 
judge-advocate of a general court-martial which 
continued in session for three months, fifty-two 
cases being tried, and five men receiving the 
sentence of death. In the fall of 1863, he was 
ordered to Huntsville, Ala., thence to Stephen- 
son, Ala., where after a long and weary march, 
on short rations, he remained until November, 
when he left that place and encamped in the vil- 
lage of Edgeville, opposite Nashville, Tenn., 
where he remained until the summer of 1864, 
and then returned to his family and business. 
He had been at home but one week, however, 
when he received, from the secretary of war, an 
appointment to a captaincy, in Major-Gen. Han- 
cock's corps, but as one of his brothers had ac- 
cepted an appointment to the position of United 
States revenue collector, and the other was in 
very poor health, and his business in conse- 
quence was left entirely in the hands of em- 
ployes, he was obliged to decline the appoint- 
ment. Mr. Warren was a brave soldier, compe- 
tent for any position, and repeatedly refused 
promotion, having promised to remain with the 
boys with whom he enlisted and among whom 
he was a great favorite. In 1869, he built the 
flouring mill of Warren & Tomkins, and in 
1881 purchased the Albany Woolen Mill. He 
has, also with his brothers, been engaged in the 
mail and stage business, which furnishes em- 
ployment to hundreds of men, and requires 
hundreds of horses, their lines extending from 
the Great Lakes to the Pacific Slope. Mr. War- 
ren is a republican in [jolilics, a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and in his religious views, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



689 



broad and liberal, holding to the belief of uni- 
versal salvation. His business success is attrib- 
utable to honesty, industry, perseverance and 
the good advice early given him by his parents. 
Mrs. Warren was formerly Sarah S. Gleason, 
and was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., and was mar- 
ried to E. F. AVarren, Sept. 9, 1855. In the 
year 1863, she shared equally with her husband 
the hardships and privations of camp life, thus 
showing that constancy and affection, which has 
rendered their union one of happiness. They 
have been blessed with five children — Mary, 
Nelly, Willie, (who died in 1867, aged three 
years) Grace and Charles. 

POSTOFFICK. 

The postoflice at Albany was established in 
1848, Erastus O. Pond being appointed the first 
postmaster. The office was kept in his store, 
on block IH. Mr. Pond was succeeded as post- 
master by E. F. Warren, and he in turn by An- 
drew Burgor, Hiram Brown, Charles Campbell, 
Ferdinand Eldred, Hamilton Coates and John 
Lemmel, the present incumbent. Mr. Lemmel 
took the office on the 7th of August, 1866. In 
1868, the office building was destroyed by fire, 
but Mr. Lemmel was successful in saving all 
mail records and postage stamps. Nov. 27, 
1883, the office building was again consumed 
by fire. Mr. Lemmel, this time, succeeded in 
saving the mail, but some postage stamps and 
the Old records were destroyed. The office be- 
came a money order department Oct. 28, 1878, 
and up to March 18, 1884, had issued 9,286 
orders. The income of the office is about $500 
annually. 

John Lemmel, postmaster at Albany, and a 
prominent citizen of this county, was appointed 
to that position in 1866, and has since continued 
to serve the people in that capacity in a satis- 
factory manner. He is a native of France, born 
in Hiertigheim, near Strassburg, Nov. 2, 1825. 
He attended school as he had opportunity, 
until sixteen years old, when he was apprenticed 
to an older brother to learn the trade of tailor. 
After serving his time, he went to Strassburg 



and worked as journeyman for some time, then 
opened a shop at Hiertigheim, and continued 
in tlie business until 1853, when he left bis na- 
tive land and came to America, landing at New 
York, October 29, of that year. In June, 1854, 
he came west to Madison, Wis., and thence to 
New Glarus, where he purchased a farm, on 
which his father and only daughter settled. He 
then went to the town of Sylvester and worked 
in the store of C. F. Thompson seven months, 
then engaged with S. S. Hills, at Monticello a 
few months, then came to Albany and had a 
position with Charles Campbell until 1862, 
when he opened a shop and carried on the busi- 
ness of merchant tailor until the fall of 1864, 
when at his country's call, he enlisted in the old 
5th Wisconsin Volunteers, company I, Capt. 
Thomas Flint being his captain. He belonged 
to the sixtli army corps, Army of the Potomac, 
Gen. Meade commanding. On tlie 2d day of 
April, 1865, he was seriously wounded at 
the battle of Petersburg, After being seven 
months in the hospital, he returned again to iiis 
family, who had in the meanwhile lived in the 
country with his father-in-law. He settled 
again in the village of Albany, and engaged in 
in his old trade — nn reliant tailor — and did a 
flourishing business. InlF82, he sold out and 
only retained the postoffice. He has been twice 
married. His first wife was Eva Baszler, who bore 
him two children, one of whom is now living. 
Mrs. Lemmel and an infant son died on the 
ocean while on the way to America. His second 
wife was Orphia Stauffacher, born in Switzer- 
land, coming to this country when six years old. 
Six children blessed this union — Lydia, Mary 
E, William T., Emma, Ella and John. Mr. 
Lemmel has the confidence and esteem of 
his fellow men to a goodly degree, and belongs 
to the best class of Green county citizens. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES. 

There are several societies represented in 
this village, and the most of them are in a pros- 
perous condition. The A. F. & A. M. and 
the I. O. O. F. fraternities had the misfortune 



690 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of having their charters and all records de- 
stroyed by the fire on Nov. 27, 1883, and thus in 
order to obtain their history, the historian is 
obliged to rely on the memories of the older 
members. Albany Lodge, No. 75,1. 0. O.F,, was 
organized on the 19th of February, 1854, with 
the following named charter members : Hiram 
Brown, J. H. Warren, Ira S. Dexter, C. S. 
Gleason, Yates Lacy, Charles Robertson, E. L. 
Warner and A. Thomas. The lodge was 
in a flourishing condition, and in 1861, its 
membership numbered nearly ninety. But 
when the Civil War broke out, and our 
Nation was calling for brave and patriotic 
citizens, so many of the leading members re- 
sponded, that the lodge had its last meeting on 
the 20th day of July, 1861. In October, 1865, 
the members returning from the field of battle, 
re-organized, and the lodge in a short time re- 
gained its former vigor. Their lodge room, 
with contents, was destroyed by the fire. But 
as they had money in their treasury, they at 
once rebuilt without calling for or accepting 
aid from other lodges. Their present room 
cost them about $750, which amount has been 
fully paid. The following named members of 
the lodge are past noble grands : John H. 
Warner,Thomas Flint, J. B. Perry, C. W. Burns, 
M. T. Gloason, Ira S. Dexter, S. A. Pond, C. S. 
Gleason, L. A. Nichols, L. H. Warren, E. F. 
Warren, C. S. Tibbitts, W. H. Howard, Thomas 
Gravenor, Richard Glennon, N. B. Murray, 

A. L. Weston and J. F. Carle. The ofiicers 
in 1884 were: A. W. Murray, N. G.; A. 
L. Whitcomb, V. G.; C. S. Tibbits, secre- 
tary; Thomas Gravenor, treasurer; and J. 

B. Perry, John Lemrael and J. F. Carle, trus- 
tees. Regular communications every Tuesday 

evening. The present membership is fifty. 

• 
Albany Lodge, No. 36, A. F. & A. M., was 
organized under dispensation March 1, 1851, 
and was granted its charter June 9, 1852. H. 
B. Jobes is the present W. M., and Thomas 
Gravenor, secretary. Regular meetings are 



held on the first and third Wednesdays in each 
month. 

Hiram B. Jobes, a native of the town of 
Brant, Erie Co., N. Y., was born Jan. 30, 1838. 
In his childhood he attended the district school 
until twelve years of age. He then entered a 
printing oftice in the village of Gowanda where 
he served three years. In 1855 he came to Al- 
bany and engaged as clerk with his uncle, E. 
Boweuj by whom he was employed nine years; 
then in company with E. W. Persons boughthis 
uncle's stock of goods and they carried on busi- 
ness together one year. His partner then sold 
his interest to Hiram Bowen, who was succeeded 
one year later by Gilbert Dolson, with whom 
Mr. Jobes continued in business u)itil 1871. In 
that year they were burned out, and Mr. Jobes 
purchased his partner's interest in the stock that 
was saved. He continued business alone until 
September, 1883, when he sold out to J. F. 
Litel. He has been three times married. 
His first wife, Ophelia H. Stetson, of Erie 
Co., N. Y., was born March 8, 1837, and died 
July 19, 1870. He was again married in 1871 
to Sarah Van Curen, who died in the spring of 

1873. He was married the third time in July, 

1874, to Mrs. Frances Usher Banks, who was 
born in Alexandria, Licking Co., Ohio. Mr. 
Jobes is a member of Albany Lodge, No. 36, of 
A. F. & A. M. and has been connected with 
temperance work for a number of years. 

Thomas Gravenor, the present clerk of the 
town of Albany, is a native of Wales, born 
March 17, 1840. He attended school in his 
native country until eleven years old, was then 
apprenticed to a shoemaker to learn the trade. 
He served four years, then at the age of fifteen 
years he came to America with his parents, with 
whom he remained until the death of his father, 
which occurred in Monroe Co., Wis., Feb. 9, 
1859. The family then came to Green county, 
where he traded for a farm in the town of Mount 
Pleasant and engaged in farming. In 1864 he 
went to Colorado, and engaged in mining three 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



691 



years, then returned and resumed farming. In 
IS^e, on account of failing health, he moved 
with his family to California and remained one 
year. He then went to New Mexico and en- 
gaged in the livery business, while his family 
returned to Green county. A few months later 
he returned to Albany and engaged in the gro- 
cery and provision business, in which he still 
continues. He still owns his farm in Mount 
Pleasant, which he rents. Mr. Gravenor has 
been twice married, first to Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Ann Pryce who died Aug, 
21, 1872, leaving one child — William J. He 
was again married April 25, 187o, to Araminta 
Dorman and they have one child — Jesse Thomas. 
Mr. Gravenor's father, William Gravenor, was 
born in the southern part of Wales. In 1855 
he emigrated to America and first settled in 
Mount Pleasant, Green county, where he pur- 
chased a small improved farm, and lived there 
three years. He then sold out and moved to 
Monroe county, where he died in 1859, soon 
after which his family returned to Green county 
where his widow, Margaret Gravenor, died in 
1866. They had four children — William, 
Jane, Thomas and Margaret. William is dead; 
Jane is the wife of W. L. Baldwin and lives in 
Minnesota; Margaret is the wife of Amos St. 
John, and lives in Mount Pleasant. 

Erastus Hoyt Post, No. 69, G. A. R., was 
organized on the 24th day of March, 1883. The 
officiating officer being L. O. Holmes of Bara- 
boo; mustering officer deputy of Wisconsin. He 
was assisted by comrades James Brown, Wal- 
lace Eastman, Delos Williams and Wilson 
Brown of Evansville. The following were 
elected as the first officers: Capt. Thomas 
Flint, commander; Capt. C. W, Burns, S. V. C; 
Capt. J. F. Annis, J. V. C; F. J. Carle, adju- 
tant; John Gillett, quartermaster; N. B. Mur- 
rey, officer of the day; Peter Benson, officer of 
the guard; S. F. Smith, sergeant-major, 

Erastus Hoyt, after whom the lodge was 
named, came to Albany in about 1860, He was 
a young man, and soon became a favorite among 



his associates. He entered the employment of 
Timothy Kellogg, as teamster, and in a short 
time united in marriage with Betsy Kellogg, 
a sister of his employer. When the Civil War 
broke out he responded to the call of his coun- 
try by enlisting under Capt. C. W, Burns, in the 
old company F., 31st regiment, Wisconsin Vol- 
teers, in August, 1 862. While on duty as a 
soldier, he contracted that dreadful disease, 
chronic diarrhoea, which resulted in death, while 
he was yet in service, and his body now lies 
mouldering by the side of other brave comrades 
in the village cemetery. He is justly entitled 
to the tribute of respect shown him by his sur- 
viving comrades. He was born in 1840, and 
died in 1863. 

In the fall of 1859, the first literary society 
was organized in the village of Albany, Wis. — 
the Albany Lyceum, which held its first meet- 
ing on Nov. 2, 1859, at high school building on 
east side of Sugar river. It was presided over 
by J. H. Warren, who was chosen president and 
William Gould, secretary. A constitution and 
by-laws were submitted and adopted. Promi- 
nent among the members who took an active 
part in the deliberations, may be mentioned the 
names of H. Medbery, Jr., C. W. Tomkins, 
Ira Dexter, J. B. Perry, E. R. Rock wood, H. B. 
Jobes, William Gould, J. H. Warren, J. H. 
Barnes, Gustave Klaesy, N, D, Tibbitts, H. 
A. Elliott, E, F. Warren and Warren Osgood. 
The following question chosen for discussion 
at a subsequent meeting of the society, reflects 
great credit for the mark of appreciation and 
esteem bestowed on the gentler sex : 

Resolved, "That the education of females is 
of greater importance to society than that of 
males." 

The society expended its forces in a little 
over two years, and was known as an event of 
the past, October 15, 1880 witnessed a re-or- 
ganization, and a new membership, virtually a 
distinct society, as it embraced only three of 
the original members — J. B. Perry, C. W. 
Tomkins and H, B. Jobes, but retained the 



692 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



name and adopted the same constitution and 
by-laws which governed the first. H. Medbery, 
Jr., again became a member in the winter of 
1883. The present membership includes the 
above, also Prof. J. L. Sherron, Aaron Brough- 
ton, Warren Ploward, S. S. Hills, Richard Glen- 
nan, Warren Tomkins and others. The society 
has made rapid progress in the pursuit of use- 
ful knowledge. It holds regular meeting each 
week, in Grange Hall, Albany. 

The leading citizens of Albany have always 
opposed the liquor traffic, and have thus kept 
up a continual battle with the demon alcohol. 
The first temperance society organized was 
Albany Lodge, No. 38, I. O. G. T., which was 
chartered Dec. 25, 1856. This was succeeded in 
June 10, 1857, by Rescue Lodge, 117, I. O. G. T. 
Among the charter members of Rescue Lodge 
were : Mr. and Mrs. L. Warren, E. F. Warren, 
Mrs. Maria Warren, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Tibbitts 
and Mrs. Werner. This lodge surrendered its 
charter after a few years, as likewise did several 
succeeding Good Templar lodges and was re- 
peatedly resurrected. The lodge, in 1884, was 
known as Crystal Fountain Lodge. 

Sons of Temperance, Drunkards' Friends, No. 
198, was organized Nov. 22, 1882, with nine- 
teen charter members. The following were 
the first officers elected : H. B. Jobes, W. P.; 
Nellie Warren, W. A.; J. F. Carle, W. R. S.; 
Charlotte Roberts, W. A. S.; Freeman Roberts, 
W. F. S.; V. D. Burt, W. T.; Rev. Tyacke, W. 
Chaplain; C. M. Lockwood, W. Cond.; Mrs. 
Ella J. Kellogg, A. C; Mrs. Tyacke, J. S.; 
George Owens, O. S.; Mrs. John Lacy, P. W. P.; 
Nellie Warren, D. P. The lodge is now in a 
flourishing condition and numbers seventy-five 
members. Weekly meetings are held at the 
Grange Hall. 

Crystal Fountain Lodge, No. 478, 1. 0. G.T., 
was chartered Jan. 25, 1879, with twenty-one 
members. The first officers elected were as fol- 
lows : N. B. Murrey, W. C. T.; Erva Ma) nard, 
W. V. T.; Rev. S. E. Sweet, W. C; J. F. Annis, 
W. S.; Eddie Dorr, W. A.S.; G. II. Turner, W. 



F. S.; Mrs. A. Burt, W. T.; D. Atkinson, W. M.; 
Viola Burt, W. D. M.; Mrs. Alba Murrey, I. I. 
G.; F. L. Roberts, W. O. G; Mrs. Olive Annis, 
W. R. H. S.; Mrs. Susan Alverson, W. L. H. S.; 
V. D. Burt, P. W. C. T. Meetings are held 
every Wednesday evening. The present mem- 
bership of the lodge is eighty-seven. 

RELIGIOUS. 

There were no ministers of the gospel among 
the early settlers, but through the untiring ef- 
forts of Chloe Pond, Louisa M. Nichols and 
Maria I. Pond,* who canvassed every family in 
the neighborhood, a Sabbath school was organ- 
ized in 1846. The meetings were at first held 
in a log school house west of the village. But 
when cold weather set in they met in the vil- 
lage. The people all took an active interest, 
and by prompt attendance, a wide-awake and 
instructive Sabbath school was continued for 
several years. 

Rev. J. D. Stevens was the first Congrega- 
tional preacher to hold services at Albany. He 
came here first in 1853. Elder G. R. Patton, a 
Baptist preacher from near Juda, was the first 
minister of the gospel to preach west of the 
river in Albany. He held services in the little 
log school house in 1847. Rev. Church, a 
Presbyterian, preached the first sermon in the 
village of Albany proper, in 1848, in a small 
frame building located where J. B. Perry's 
office now stands. This was his only visit to 
this place. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Albany 
was organized at the stone school house in 1855. 
Among the first members of the class were: 
Mrs. Ann Eliza Jobes, V. H. Vancuren and 
wife, D. S. Smith and wife, Ashael Hills and 
wife, and Henry Dickinson and wife. Among 
the preachers who have fiilled the pulpit for 
this class are the following: Revs. Cauley, 
Ferguson, Wheeler, Coleman, Budlong, Butler, 
Wilde, Hammond, [The last named served 
during the war as chaplain of the 5th Wis 



Chloe Pond is now the wife of R. H. Hewitt ; Louisa M. 
Nichols is now the wife of Dr. J. H. Warren; Maria I. Pond 
is now the wife of C. S. Tibbetts. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



693 



consin regiment. He is now post chaplain in 
the U. S. Army.] Russell, Smith, Allen, Bene- 
dict, Haskins, Lewis, J. J. Walker, Pengilly, 
Clifton, Evans, Briggs, Tnll, Allen and Rev. 
Mr. Tyacke. The last named is the present 
pastor. The class met for worship in the 
Congregational church until 1883, when they 
erected a frame church building, valued at 
$2,000. Francis Atkinson is the present class 
leader. 

Francis Atkinson was born in Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, May 28, 1837. He is a son of Richard 
and Mary (Nelson) Atkinson, pioneers of Green 
county. In 1842 they emigrated to America 
and located in Champaign Co., Ohio. In 1846 
they removed to Wisconsin, locating in the 
town of Albany, this county. Francis helped 
his father and older brothers fence and clear a 
farm; working on thefairm in the summer and at- 
tending school in the winter, until the winter of 
1859-60, when he commenced work for himself. 
He was mari-ied in the spring of 1860 to Sarah, 
daughter of John and Sarah (Wilding) Jones. 
He rented a farm in the town of Decatur, and 
at the end of one year, purchased the same 
farm. In 1871 he bought 145 acres more. He 
followed teaching in the winter time for five 
years. In 1882 he purchased 170 acres in the 
town of Albany, adjoining his old farm, and 
moved thereon, and in 1883 erected a new barn. 
He is engaged in raising grain and stock, Mr. 
and Mrs. Atkinson were both converted in early 
life, and joined the Church, He joined the 
United Brethren Church, when meetings were 
held in the old log school house. He served as 
class steward for a number of years. In 1877 
he joined the M. E. Church, and has since been 
appointed class-leader. Mr, and Mrs. Atkinson 
are the parents of eight children — Owen O., 
William F., Russell B., Mary A,, Annie M., 
Lillian M,, Nellie W, and Ettie May, 

On the 11th of June, 1854, a Congregational 
society was organized by Rev. J, D. Stevens in 
the old stone school house. Among the first 
members were: Everett Dodge and wife, John 



Flint and wife, Thomas Flint and wife, Mrs. 
Julia Nichols, Mrs. Dr. Fayette, Mrs. Chloe Bax- 
ter, Mrs. John Burt and E. S. Gillies and wife. 
The first deacons were Everett Dodge and John 
Flint. For a number of years the society met 
at the school house, and then a frame church 
was built. This church was erected by the peo- 
ple as a union church and was to be open to all 
denominations. Rev. J. D. Stevens was the 
first pastor of the Congregational Church. Af. 
ter him came Revs. James Jameson, Mr. Webb, 
Mr. Foot and Mr. Jameson. As most of the 
members have left, this organization has been 
abandoned. 

A union Sunday school was organized at 
about the same time that the Congregational 
society was organized, Chauncy Hurlburt was 
the first superintendent. This Sunday school 
is still in existence and is in a flourishing condi 
tion. The following named have acted as 
superintendent: Chauncey Hurlburt, James 
Barnes, Thomas Flint, Marshall Kellogg, 
Thomas Flint, G. W. Roberts and Thomas Flint. 
The latter is the present superintendent. 

ALBANY CEMETEKY. 

Albany cemetery is located in the south- 
western portion of the village plat between 
Warren's addition and the Monroe road. It is 
triangular in form and contains about five acres. 
The ground was donated to the village for 
burial ])urpose8 in 1851, by Erastus O. Pond and 
Dr. Samuel F. Nichols. 

OUR nation's birthday. 
The first celebration of our Nation's birth- 
day, at Albany, took place July 4, 1846. On 
that day the people from miles around met on 
the east bank of Sugar river, near the residence 
of Erastus O. Pond. There were present at 
this gathering, counting old and young, large 
and small, just seventy-five souls. Dr. Samuel 
F. Nichols was orator of the day, and the 
young ladies furnished the music, which con- 
sisted of singing the "Star Spangled Banner." 
All present enjoyed themselves and went to 



694 



HISTORY OF GREEN^^COUNTY. 



their respective homes feeling that the day had 
been well spent. 

The second celebration took place July 4, 
1853, at which time there was a much larger 
crowd than at the first, and a pleasant time was 
had. 

LOSS OF LIFE BY ACCIDENT. 

The first fatal accident in the town, occurred 
on the Ist of June, 1851. On that day William 
Richardson, a merchant, was drowned in Sugar 
river while attempting to cross in a small boat. 
He was accompanied by S. A. Pond. When 
they reached the river, Richardson said he 
would return to the house for his rubbers, as he 
didn't want to wet his feet, "if he did get 
drowned." In the middle of the stream the 
current was too strong for them and they were 
swept over the dam. The boat went over all 
right, but the under current drew it back under 
the falls and it was then capsized. Pond was a 
good swimmer and struck out for the shore, but 
the current was swift and he was carried below 
the bridge before he could reach shore. Rich- 
ardson could not swim and was drowned. Al- 
though every possible effort was put forth, his 
body was not found until June 21, when it 
was accidentally discovered, lodged against 
some drift-wood a few miles below the village. 
Isaac T. Armsbury, a farmer by occupation, 
was missed from his home in 1858. Diligent 
search was made in the surrounding country and 
the river was dragged with grapples and after 
unceasing efforts, his body was found in Sugar 
river. 

In 1858 a son of William Firm, age, thirteen 
years, took off his clothes, jumped into the 
river and was drowned. It is thought the boy 
did not know that the water was deep enough to 
drown him. 

In 1872 a party took a boat to go fishing, and 
were carried over the dam. One of the party, 
a Norwegian, was drowned. 

Gabriel Baglinger, a tailor by occupation, 
was drowned while bathing in 1874. 



Aaron Peckham was drowned in 1874, while 
washing sheep in the river about two miles be- 
low the village. 

In 1866 Herbert Atkinson was accidentally 
shot with a revolver in the hands of John 
Pace, Jr. The shooting took place in a saloon. 
Mr. Atkinson was a promising young man, 
about nineteen years of age. 

Eddie Dodge, son of J. M. Dodge, was killed 
by falling walls at the fire, Nov. 27, 1883. 

John McFarland, while in the employ of the 
C, M. & St. P. R. R. Co., as brakeman, was 
killed near the depot, on Dec. 8, 1883. He was 
in the act of coupling cars, when he was caught 
between the locomotive and a flat car, the coup- 
ling link passing through his body, causing 
death in a few hours. He was thirty-four years 
of age, and left a wife and two children. 

FIRES AT ALBANY. 

Few towns have been so unfortunate with 
fires as Albany. For, although only a village 
of about 400 inhabitants, it has suffered the loss 
of over $100,000 worth of property by fire. 

The first large fire occurred in 1866, when the 
Charles Campbell block, at the time occupied 
as a hotel, was destroyed; loss, about $2,500. 
Two years later five stores, including postoffice, ■ 
were consumed; loss, nearly $20,000. In 1872 
five more stores were destroyed, and a loss of 
about $20,000 sustained, and in June, 1880, the 
Warren block, occupied as a hardware store, 
was laid in ashes, causing a loss of $8,000. 
But the largest and most destructive of the 
conflagrations occurred in 1883, and was accom- 
panied by loss of life. 

Albany's great fire. 

At an early hour Tuesday morning, Nov. 27, 
1883, the family of J. A. Lockridge, who were 
occupying rooms on the second floor of Mur- 
rey's block, were startled by discovering that 
their rooms were filled with smoke so dense as 
to almost suffocate. The family had barely 
time to give the alarm to J. E. Flood's family, 
occupying an adjoining suite of rooms, clothe 



HISTORY OF GREEN-COUNTY. 



695 



themselves and beat a hasty retreat, before the 
flames were on their track. 

Theory of "Fire! Fire! Fire!" rang out on 
the night air, and before many minutes nearly 
all the inhabitants of the village were at the 
scene of disaster. The flames spread with such 
rapidity that all efforts to stay their progress 
proved futile, and the work of saving goods 
was begun, but this was soon cut off by the fire 
breaking through the upper floors. 

While the citizens were performing eflicient 
work in the store of John Lemrael, carrying out 
goods, an explosion occurred from gunpowder 
stored on the premises, tearing down a portion 
of the walls of Murrey's building, throwing 
the end walls into the street and instantly kill- 
ing Eddie Dodge, a promising son of J. M. 
Dodge, who, with others, was occupied in car- 
rying out goods. He had just reached the side- 
walk when the crash came, and he was almost 
buried in the debris. His skull was crushed 
and a terrible gash cut in the right side of his 
neck, thus causing instant death. The iron 
columns in front of the building remained 
standing, otherwise the loss of life would have 
been much greater. However, a number of 
persons were precipitated into the cellar and 
narrowly escaped with their lives. Some would 
have perished had they not been extricated 
from their perilous position. 

Excitement now ran high. Union block and 
Murrey's block were one sheet of flames. The 
flre crossed the street and destroyed several 
wooden buildings, and it was with herculean 
efforts that the mill of Warren & Tomkins 
was saved. 

The financial loss by this fire was about $00,- 
000; insurance, $20,000. Those who suffered 
the loss were: N. B. Murrey, Murrey block; 
John Lemmel, hardware and building; J. A, 
Lockridge, restaurant; J. F. Litel, general 
store; G. W. Bartlett, drugs and building; J. 
Benkirk, clothing ; John Hahn, boots and 
shoes; C. S. Tibbitts, harness; A. Darling, boots 



and shoes; A\ha,nj Journal; Alha,nv Vindicator; 
S. A. Pond, Pond's Hall; A. F. & A. M. Hall; 
I. O. O. F. Hall; E. B. Dorr, blacksmith; Parker 
Dodge, J. F. Maynard, furniture; Humes & 
Bliss, harness; Charles Humphrey and E. Bag- 
ley. The following sustained bodily injury: 
Thomas Dorman, collar bone broken; Charles 
Mathews, bruised about the head; Thomas 
Gravenor, face cut; Richard Glennan, Fred 
Roberts, Will Roberts, John Lemmel, Charles 
Roberts and others, sustained more or less in- 
jury. How the fire originated is a mystery, but 
was no doubt accidental. 

ON THE DEATH OF EDDIE DODGE. 
[By Mrs. Nellie Jacobson.] 

Little Eddie was killed in his heroic efforts 
in the great fire at Albany, on the night of Nov^ 
26, 1883. Just after returning from ringing the 
church bell, to arouse the citizens. 

Ob! the cruel, cruel fire! 

'Tis a hungry, raging fiend, 
Sweeping with it worldly treasures 

By hard hours of labor gleaned. 

'Tis a sight to touch the heart cords. 

Even of the direst foe; 
Gazing on those smouldering ruins, 

Burying treasures in their glow. 

Many heads are bowed in thinking 
Of hard spent, toilsome days, 

Gathering that which, in a moment, 
Vanished in that awful blaze. 

The future seems all cheerless. 

To many hearts to-night, 
Thinking of the toils and crosses, 

To bring back those treasures bright. 

Yes, Ah! many a lonely hearth-stone, 
Has been sadly robbed of bliss. 

And the cruel, cruel fire fiend. 
Is the only cause of this. 

But while mourning worldly losses. 
Cast your eyes, dear friends, around, 

See ye that no vacant chair 
At your fireside can be found. 

Then in thankfulness, for mercy. 
Breathe within a silent prayer, 

That this cruel grief has spared you 
All the dear ones gathered there. 

Then think ye, of a lonely home 

Where lies a boyish form, 
Which, but a few short hours ago, 

With life, was pulsing warm, 



696 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



He hastened with the many, 

To lend a helping hand. 
To quell the fiery monster. 

That rose so wild and grand. 

But ah! how brief the moment, 

Till sadly, back they bore 
A crushed and mangled body, 

A breathing form no more. 

Think of the lonely father, 
And hear his anguished moan, 

Say, do you bring my darling thus, 
5ly jewel, has it gone? 

In what, is life worth living now, 

The stricken parent cries. 
My idol, it is broken. 

And here in ruin lies. 

He seeks to clasp the mangled form, 

That once had been h s joy, 
As if to warm the frozen blood, 

And wake to life, his boy. 

The sad and weeping sister. 
Bathes the cold face with tears. 

Gazing on the dear companion, 
Of herhappj' childhood years. 

No more, as in the happy past, 

His coming shall she wait, 
Or gladden at the welcome sound, 

His foot-fall at the gate. 

Among his young companions. 

And his many, many friends, 
His name is softly spoken. 

In the tone that sorrow lends. 

For to know )iim was to love him, 
And his presence all shall miss, 

Oh! the cruel, cruel fire fiend. 
Its most cruel work was this. 

FLOODS. 

In the spring of 1867 the ice in Sugar river 
was thirty inches in thickness, and when the 
thaw came it broke up and went out with a rush 
causing high water. The ice went out with 
such force as to destroy everything it came in 
contact with. Thus all the bridges in the town 
were swept away, outbuildings were removed 
and the "Albany Grist Mill" was destroyed. 
The damage done in the town of Albany 
amounted to at least $40,000. The mill- 
destroyed being valued at about one-half that 
amount. 

The greatest flood, however, occurred on the 
30th of June, 1880. on which date Sugar river 
was about eiglit feet above low water mark 
and thus flooded nearly all of the streets in the 



village. But as there was no ice no serious 
damage was done, further than wetting the 
buildings and inconveniencing the inhibitants. 

ALBANY IN 1854. 

The following article was published in the 
Janesville Gazette in 1854, and has been pre- 
served by J. B. Perry, Esq.: 

"In regard to population Albany ranks as the 
second town in Green county — Monroe being 
the first — yet Albany is a small village and one 
would get but a very inadequate idea of its busi- 
ness importance from the number of its in- 
habitants. The population of Albany is greatly 
disproportionate to the amount of its business. 
In fact it can be safely said that there is no other 
town, of its size, in the State of Wisconsin 
whose business transactions equal that of this 
village. The reason of this is found in a great 
measure in the extremely favorable position 
this village occupies. It is a central point in 
reference to a large and populous section of 
country whose trade isbest acsommodated here, 
being sufiiciently distant from any surrounding 
village which can pretend to offer this place 
any effective rivalry. This village possesses 
another advantage the importance of which can- 
not be overlooked by business men. It has a 
capital vmter power. It is with no desire to 
make invidious comparisons, or with any un- 
friendly feelings toward other villages that the 
statement is made, that, all things considered, 
the hydraulic power of this place is superior to 
any other on Sugar river. There is one large 
flouring mill already in operation and there 
will probably be another erected here the com- 
ing season. There is also a good saw mill at 
this place, and there is to be a cabinet and 
carriage manufactory built here the ensuing 
spring which will make use of some of this 
water power. But all of the above -{JTll fall 
far short of exhausting it. 

"In regard to th.e country immUdiate'iy sur- 
rounding Albany, no higher praise can be ac- 
corded it than to say, it is as good, as rich, and 
as productive as any in Wisconsin. It is such a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



69Y 



country as demands and guarantees the growth 
and prosperity of the place. 

"That Albany is bound to increase rapidly in 
wealth and population there can be no doubt, 
unless, indeed, some unwise policy, or rather, 
obstacle is interposed to avert for the time its 
'manifest destiny.' The statistics given below 
have been caref uly collected by J. B. Perry, Esq., 
and they can be relied upon as correct. They 
will be found, we think, to substantiate the 
claims we have made for Albany: 

"The Albany dealers have purchased since 
November last: 

Pork 236,337, lbs. 

Wheat 25,876, bu. 

Corn, since October lust, 18,800, ' ' 

Oats 6,500, " 

Quails, l,166,doz. 

Poultry, 3,050, lbs. 

Number of Prairie Hens 400, 

Wtieat ground at mill for customers, 8,622, bu. 

Oats and other fetd 3,933, " 

Flour packed, 2,000, lbs. 

Capital invested in trade outside of the 

above, $41,250. 

"Albany, Feb. 15. 1854." 

PIONEER SETTLERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS. 

The following named are those composing 
the bone and sinew of the town and village of 
Albany. If not early settlers, they are citizens 
who by their enterprise and general popularity 
are deserving of mention in the annals of pro- 
gress. Their names occur in order of their 
settlement as near as possible: 

William P. Murrey, one of the pioneers of 
Green county, was a native of New York, born 
in the Mohawk valley, July 16, 1814. When a 
young man he emigrated to Michigan and set- 
tled in Hilldale county, where he was married to 
Susan A. Wright, a native of Oneida Co., N. 
Y., born in 1821. They lived in Hillsdale 
county until 1844, then came to the Territory of 
Wisconsin. He rented land in Waukesha 
county and put in a crop, then came to Green 
county and entered land on sections 2 and 11, 
township 2, range 9 east, now known as Deca- 
tur. He then returned to Waukesha county and 
harvested his crop. In the fall he came back 
to Decatur and built a log cabin, and worked 



through the winter at rail-splitting. In the 
spring of 1845 he was joined by his family. He 
continued to live upon this farm until 1861. In 
September of that year, he enlisted in company 
E, of the 13th Wisconsin regiment, and served 
until after the close of the war. He was dis- 
charged in the fall of 18&5, when he returned 
home and resumed farming. He died in April, 
1881. In the fall of 1882 his widow removed 
to Colorado where she resides at present. Five 
children were born to them — Napoleon B., Wil- 
liam li., Albert W., Lou P. and Emeline A. 
Napoleon B. Murrey was born in Michigan, 
Aug. 29, 1840, and was four years old when 
he came with his parents to Wisconsin. His 
early life was spent in the town of Decatur. 
He enlisted on the day that he was twenty-one 
years old, in the 5th Wisconsin Light Artillery, 
and served until the expiration of his term of 
enlistment. Among the more important battles 
in which he participated are: Island No. 10, 
siege of Corinth and Jackson, in Mississippi; 
Perryville, Ky., Stone River and Chatta- 
nooga. He was taken sick at Chattanooga and 
sent to the hospital, where he remained three 
months. He was then sent to Murfreesboro and 
was there one year, then again joined his com- 
mand at Atlanta, where, after participating in 
the capture of that city, he was honorably dis- 
charged, and returned home. He engaged in 
farming until 1871, when he went to Texas and 
remained two years, then returned to Green 
county. In 1874 he removed to the village of 
Albany, where he now lives. In 1881 he erected 
a business house on block 13, which was de- 
stroyed by tire Nov. 27, 1883. He then built a 
brick block, 40x90 feet, with a hall in the second 
story. He was married in June, 1865, to Abby 
Caleff, a native of Dixon, 111. 

Daniel Hill started, in 1845, from Pennsyl 
vania for Wisconsin, with one horse and a 
wagon. He was accompanied by his wife and 
four children. Mr. Hill was taken sick the day 
he started, but kept on until he reached Trum- 
bull Co., Ohio. There he stopped, and a few 



698 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



days later, died. His remains were there 
buried. After the funeral, the family again 
started on their lonely way for the Territory of 
Wisconsin. Having cooking utensils with 
them, they camped and cooked by the road-side. 
After a long and tedious journey, they reached 
Green county and located in the town of Syl- 
vester, where three of the children had previ- 
ously settled. The family lived there for sev- 
eral years. In 1874 Mrs. Hill went to Monti- 
cello to live with her daughter, Mrs. Hanford 
Selleck. She lived with her until the time of 
her death. Mr. Hill was born in Northumber- 
land Co., Penn., in 1796. Mrs. Hill's maiden 
name was Margaret Shaner. She was born in 
Northumberland Co., Penn., in 1798. There 
were eleven children born to them, six of whom 
are now living—Eliza, married to Nathaniel 
Edgar, lives in Iowa; Mary, wife of A. White, 
living in Monroe; Julia A., wife of J. T. Suth- 
erland, resides in Grant county; Sarah J,, wife 
of H. M. Selleck, of Monticello; William, born 
in Northumberland Co., Penn., June 9, 1833, 
and Henry, born in Northumberland Co., Penn., 
in 1855. The two boys went to work for an 
older brother, to raise means to keep the family 
together. They remained with him between 
two and three years, then William engaged to 
work at $10 per month, for J. J. Dawson, of 
Decatur, on his farm. At the end of fourteen 
months, Henry rented the farm, and his mother 
and two sisters moved thereon. They remained 
there six years, when the two brothers pur- 
chased a farm on section 4, in the town of Syl- 
vester. In about four years afterward, Wil- 
liam purchased Henry's interest in the farm, 
and continued farming until 1875, when he re- 
moved to Brodhead and engaged in the lumber 
business. He remained there in business until 
1883, when he removed to Albany and engaged 
in the same business, with H. E. Burnham as 
partner. He was married on the 17th of Novem- 
ber, 1863, to Miss F. L. Whitlier, born in 
Greenfield, Franklin Co., Mass. They had three 
children — Harry B., Charlie and Willie II. 



Henry now lives in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. He 
was a soldier in the late war, serving in an Iowa 
regiment. 

Arden H. Colton, son of Pliny and Rizpah 
Colton,was born in the town of Ripley, N. Y., 
Sept. 6,- 1822. When he was three years old 
his parents moved to Erie Co., Penn., where 
they lived ten years, then moved to Mercer 
county in the same State. When the subject of 
this sketch was twenty-two years old, he started 
for the west. He traveled by way of the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers, to Belleville, Iowa, 
thence to Jackson county, of the same State. 
He engaged in driving a breaking team until 
harvest, then worked at harvesting until fall. 
He then returned to Pennsylvania and worked 
through the winter in an iron furnance. In the 
spring he went again to Jackson Co., Iowa, 
rented land, and engaged in farming. In the 
fall of 1845 he came to Green county and drove 
team from Exeter, to different points, which 
business he continued fourteen months. He 
was married March 22, 1847, to Margaret J. 
Rima, daughter of John and Armelia (Fuller) 
Rima. She was born in Pennsylvania. At 
this time he bought a piece of timber land on 
section 10, and soon after traded twenty acres 
of this land for forty acres of prairie 
land on section 10, where he erected 
a log house and commenced housekeeping'. 
They lived there two years, then traded for 
forty acres one mile north, to which they re- 
moved. One year later he sold that land and 
bought eighty acres in the town of Exeter, 
erected a log house and lived there one year, 
then sold, and in the fall of 1854, removed to 
Richland county and bought 240 acres in the 
town of Willow. He built a log house in 
which he lived four years, then erected a frame 
house, and lived there until 1859. He then 
traded his farm for land in Floyd Co., Iowa, re- 
turned to Green county and rented land in the 
town of Mount Pleasant. He lived there 
through the summer and then bought fifty acres 
on section 11, which he lost. He lived there 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



699 



through the winter and in the spring rented a 
farm adjoining, and worked that summer. In 
the fall he removed to Monticello and rented a 
house during the winter, then went to look after 
his Iowa land. He lost pretty near all he had 
there, and traded what interest he had left for 
forty acres in the town of Jefferson, Green 
county, built a frame house and lived there two 
years, then bought eighty acres in the town of 
"Washington, on which he lived six years, then 
sold and bought a farm on section 11, of Mount 
Pleasant, where he remained ten years, then 
traded for a farm of eighty acres on section 10. 
He lived there one year, then rented out his 
land and removed to Albany, where he rented 
a farm three years, then bought a farm on sec- 
tions 16 and 20, also the lots in block 18, of the 
new addition to Albany, and sold his farm on 
section 10, town of Mount Pleasant. He 
erected a frame house and barn and has since 
made this his home. Mr. and Mrs. Coltonhave 
five children — Rizpah A., Mary E., Armelia, 
Sarah J. and Phebe D. 

Richard Hamer, a pioneer of Green county, 
was born atGlanravon, in the pai-ish of Llanba- 
darn-fCynydd Radnorshire, South Wales, March 
23, 181Y. He was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits until he was eighteen years old, when he 
was apprenticed to Benjamin Davis, of Mou- 
ghke, blacksmith, with whom he served two 
years. He afterwards worked at Dolver and 
Llanbadarn, as journeyman. He, however, re- 
turned to farming, at which he remained until 
he emigrated to America. On the 1st of May, 
1845, he was married to Mary larman, daughter 
of Ezekiel and Maria larman, of Bryngwain, 
in the parish of Llandinam, Montgomery- 
shire, North Wales, and on the 7th day 
of May, in the same year, they took passage 
across the Atlantic from Liverpool, in the sail- 
ing ship, John Bentley. After a voyage of six 
weeks and three days they landed at Quebec, Can- 
ada. He, however, was for two weeks laid up in 
the quarantine, suffering from rheumatism. From 



Quebec he started and traveled by steamer to 
Kenosha. They then traveled by ox team from 
Kenosha to Burlington and Green county, 
to the same spot where he has ever since resid- 
ed. The first night in his new home was one 
that will ever be remembered by him and his 
wife, they having to encounter a terrific thunder 
storm, the like of which they had never seen 
before or since. The only shelter was a wagon, 
and the vivid flashes of lightning served them 
as a lantern. Mr. Hamer pre-empted land on 
section 14, of township 3, range 9 east, now 
known as the town of Albany. He erected a 
log cabin and covered it with hay; the next sum- 
mer he undertook to cover it with boards, but 
having only half enough, a portion of the origi- 
nal hay roof remained on through the summer. 
A blanket was hung in the doorway which an- 
swered the purpose of the more modern and 
substantial wooden door. He found employ- 
ment in the neighborhood, working for fifty 
cents a day. At harvest he undertook to cut 
grain by the acre, getting fifty cents an acre. 
In this way he cut 1094^ acres. That same year 
(1846), a dutchman named Shomaker cut 111 
acres, it taking him three days longer than Mr. 
Hamer. In the fall of 1846, Mr. Hamer 
and his wife had the ague very bad, 
Mrs. Hamer suffering with it for seven 
months ; at this time they felt the 
necessity of having a good house, for 
their house had no door, and the roof only half 
covered, and no stove whatever, only a little 
fire on the ground in one corner and the smoke 
finding its way out between the logs as best it 
could. Mr. Hamer did considerable work dig- 
ging out cellars and wells and fencing. He 
made 11,000 rails in the winter of 1847. He 
also undertook to cut out a cellar 18x24 feet 
and six and one half feet deep, for $5, which 
task he completed in four and one half days. 
It was that winter that he assisted to build the 
first house (which belonged to Dr. Nichols) 
ever raised in Albany. He also worked out, 



700 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



earning $9 a month. In the spring of this year, 
by his saving and industry, he had been en- 
abled to buy his second forty acres, giving 
twenty-five per cent for tlie money with which 
to pay for it. The following season he raised 
the first crop of wheat, at the same time work- 
ing out whenever an opportunity offered itself. 
In this way he was soon able to get a little 
stock, and an ox team, with which he worked 
his farm for twenty years or thereabouts. At 
the present time he has a good, new house 
standing on a splendid farm of 160 acres, fitted 
up with all modern improvements. Richard 
and Mary Hamer have been blessed with thir- 
teen children, eight of whom are now living — 
Henry G., Mary Ann, John R., Ada Eliza, 
Thomas D., Eli M., James A. and Willie R. 

George W. Bagley, one of the early settlers 
of Green county, was born in Chautauqua Co., 
N. Y., May 12, 1818. There he made his home 
nntil twenty-one years old, then went to Michi- 
gan and located in Jackson county, where he 
was engaged in railroading and farming. In 
1842 he came to Wisconsin making the greater 
part of the way thither on foot. He entered 
eighty acres of timber land, forty acres of which 
was on section 30, township 3 north, range 9 
east, and forty acres on section 25, townshi]* 3 
north, range 8 east. He returned to Michigan and 
there remained until 1846, then came back to 
Green county and entered land on section 32. 
He erected a frame house, and commenced to 
improve the land. In 1848 he returned again 
to Michigan, and was married to Mary A. Weed. 
She was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 15, 
1821. He then returned with his bride to their 
new home. Here he improved a farm, erected a 
good set of buildings, and made his residence 
until the time of his death, which occurred 
June 1, 1883. He has been prominently iden- 
tified with the county and its interests, and 
was a member of the first board of supervisors 
of the town of Albany, and later held other 
offices of trust. He left a widow and three 
children to mourn his death. The children 



were — Hattie, Orastus P. and Lorrain L. The 
son, Lorrain L., now occupies the homestead. 
He had charge of the farm some time previous 
to his father's death. He was born in the town 
of Albany, May 30, 1856, and always made his 
home with his parents, his younger days having 
been spent in school, and in assisting his father 
on the farm. He was married in 1876, to Susan 
Reese, also a native of Albany. They have one 
child — Harry J. 

John Flint, a pioneer of Green county, was 
a native of New Hampshire, born in the town 
of Antrim, Hillsborough county, May 26, 1800. 
There he grew to manhood, and was brought up 
on a farm, and taking advantage of every op- 
portunity secured a fair education. He was mar- 
ried in his native county, to Sally Atwood. She 
was born in the town of Antrim, Oct. 20, 1803, 
In 1828 they started west to seek a home, and 
first located in Erie Co., N. Y., and remained 
two years, then removed to Chautauqua county, 
which at that was attracting the attention of set- 
tlers, and there they were pioneers. He pur- 
chased a tract of timber land built a log cabin and 
went to work to hew out a farm, and cleared about 
100 acres. In 1844 he again started west, com- 
ing to Wisconsin and locating in Rock county, 
where he rented land until the fall of 1846, 
when he came to Green county, as before stat- 
ed. Here he cleared a good farm, erected a 
a comfortable bouse with good outbuildings, and 
made it his home until the time of his death, Nov. 
18, 1878. Mrs. Flint died Feb. 16, 1884. Eleven 
children were born to them, eight of whom 
reached an adult age, six now living — Thomas, 
Joshua, Lynda, Caroline, Sanford H. and Elsie. 
Lynda married Aaron Broughton, and now lives 
in Rock county. Caroline, now Mrs. Swan- 
cutt, lives in Dodge Centre, Minn. Elsie mar- 
ried G. Lockwood, and lives in Brookly. 
Their oldest son, Tiiomas, was born in the 
town of Antrim, Hillsborough Co., N. H., July 
31, 1822. He grew to manhood in Chautauqua 
county. In November, 1843, he came to Wis- 
consin, and in 1845 visited Green county and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



701 



purchased government land on section 19, of 
township 3 north, range 9 east, now known as 
the town of Albany. He did not make a settle- 
ment at this time, but returned to Rock county, 
where he was married July 2, 1846, to Mary 
Simmons. On the 4th day of that month they 
started with a team of horses and wagon for 
their new home. They remained about two 
days, then returned to Rock county and engaged 
in farming. Jan. 2, 1848, they again came to 
this county and made a permanent settlement, 
built a log house 16x16 feet, and commenced to 
open up a farm. The first season he broke up 
about twenty acres and raised a good crop of 
wheat. Not having money to make improve- 
ments, he spent a good deal of the time the first 
two seasons in breaking land for others. The 
second year he broke twenty acres more, and 
secured a good crop. Thus from a small begin- 
ning he has by industry and frugality secured 
a good property. In August, 1864, he enlisted 
as a private in the United States service, and 
was appointed captain of company I, 5th Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered 
into service at Camp Randall, September 29. 
On the 2d day of October they started for the 
front and joined the army of the Potomac in 
the Shenandoah valley. He served with the 
regiment until the close of the war. The fol- 
lowing are among the more important of the 
many engagements in which he participated: 
Hatcher's Run, Petersburg, Fort Steadman and 
Sailor's Creek. Daring these engageiuents 
seventeen of his men wex*e lost. After his dis- 
charge he returned home and resumed farming. 
He has been an industrious man, has had good 
health and been able to accomplish much, and 
is now the owner of 600 acres of land. The 
farm which he now occupies contains 240 acres, 
the greater part of which is improved. His log 
cabin has been replaced by a frame house that 
cost $3,000. He also has two frame barns, one 
for horses and one for cattle, and all other nec- 
essary farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Flint are 
the parents of six children, five of whom are 



now living — Ella, Alta, Merlin, deceased; My- 
ron, Floyd and Ida. Ella was born Feb. 22, 
1850; Alta was born Aug. 3, 1861; Merlin was 
born Oct. 13, 1852, and died Sept. 13, 1853; 
Myron was born March 13, 1854; Floyd was 
born July 9, 1855, and Ida was born Nov. 21, 
1859. Mr. Flint has assessed the town several 
times, and has served on the board of supervis- 
ors. He has been connected with the Congre- 
gational Church and the Sabbath school since 
their organization. He is a man of energy and 
perseverance, and has the respect and confidence 
of the community in which he lives, and is a 
representative man of the best class of Green 
county citizens. 

Their son, Sanford H. Flint, was born in the 
town of Ellicott, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 
24, 1836, and was but ten years old when he 
came to Green county with his parents, with 
whom he made his home until 1860. He was 
married in November of that year to Harriet 
Comstock, daughter of Asa and Lydia (Smiley) 
Comstock. She was born at Janesville, Rock 
county. After his marriage he settled on a 
tract of unimproved land on section 20, town of 
Albany, where he cleared a farm and lived until 
1878, when he purchased his present farm, lo- 
cated on section 19. Mr. and Mrs. Flint are 
the parents of seven children — Bertha, Grace, 
Charlie, Lenora, Nettie, Perley and Coyla. 
Frankie, their first child, died when about two 
years old. 

Israel Phillips, present chairman of the board 
of supervisors, was one of the pioneer settlers 
of Green county, having come here in the year 
1846. He entered the east half of the northeast 
quarter of section 26, in what is now the town 
of Albany, and at the same time pre-empted the 
northwest quarter of section 25. He erected a 
log house on the west half of the northwest 
quarter and occupied it for a few years, then 
moved it to the south line of the east half of 
the same quarter and lived in it there until 1864, 
when lie built the frame house he now occupies. 
He is a native of York State, born in the town 



702 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of Grafton, Rensselaer county in 1820. In 1840 
he went to Genesee county and was there em- 
ployed in farming, two yeai's, then returned to 
Rensselaer county and remained one year, then 
went to Vermont and lived in Rutland county, 
where he was married to Miss L. S. Hill, a native 
of that county. They remained there until 1846, 
then started west to seek a home, and came di- 
rectly to Wisconsin by the way of Champlain 
and Erie canals, thence by Lake Erie to Cleve- 
land. They remained in Cleveland two weeks, 
then embarked on a steamer for Milwaukee, and 
there hired a team to take them to Green county. 
Here he stopped with John Broughton until he 
•. had erected a log cabin. Like many other early 
; settlers, his means were limited, and he could 
enter but eighty acres of land at that time, but 
was enabled to purchase more, soon after. His 
farm now contains 440 acres, the greater part of 
which is improved. He is engaged principally 
in stock raising, and has a farm adapted to the 
business, well improved, and well located. Mr. 
and Mrs. Phillips have but one child living — 
Marcella, who is the wife of W. H. Kelley, and 
lives in Smith Co., Kansas. Their son, Charles, 
was born Nov. 15, 1847, and died March 22, 
1878, and was married to Elizabeth A. Gear. 
Two children blessed that union — William J. 
and Charles E., who live with theirgrandparents. 
Mr. Phillips is among the substantial citizens of 
the county, has been chairman of the board for 
a number of years, and has the respect of the 
community in which he dwells. 

Robert Thomson, a pioneer of the town of 
Brooklyn, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 
June, 1815. When he was ten years old, he 
went to work in a cotton mill. His father had 
been in good circumstances, but in consequence 
of signing notes for other parties, lost the whole 
of his property, and Robert, at the age of twelve, 
was entirely dependent upon his own exertions 
for a livelihood. He continued to work in cot- 
ton and silk mills until 1842, when he left his 
native land and came to America. He first en- 
gaged in a carpet factory at Amsterdam, N. Y., 



where he remained until 1846, when he came to 
the Territory of Wisconsin and settled in Green 
county. He had purchased a land warrant from 
a Mexican soldier, which called for 160 acres of 
land, for which he paid $130. When he arrived 
in Green county he had $14 in cash, and his 
land warrant, which constituted the sura total of 
his worldly wealth. He had, at this time, a 
wife and five children. He made a "dug-out" 
to live in, and with the $14 purchased a cow, 
which, three days later, broke into a neighbor's 
wheat bin and ate so much wheat that she died. 
He had no money or team with which to im- 
prove his land, and was obliged to work for his 
neighbors. He engaged a great part of the time, 
in digging wells. The family felt the need of 
a cow, greatly, and one morning he started from 
home, promising not to return without one. He 
took the road leading to Madison, and when 
about three miles from home, met a man who 
was coming after him, who wished to employ 
him to dig a cellar, and to take a cow in part 
payment for it. This seemed providential, and 
he proceeded to the place, about three miles 
from Madison. He was absent from home nine 
days, then returned with a cow and $4 in money, 
which he had earned by digging the cellar. He 
then began building a house for his family. He 
quarried stone moonlight nights, made a wheel- 
barrow, in which he wheeled the stone from the 
quarry to his building spot, ten rods distant. He 
had no hammer, but used an old ax instead, and 
a wooden trowel of his own manufacture. By 
the time cold weather came on, the house was 
ready for occupancy, he having done all the 
work himself, and assisted a man to burn a kiln 
of lime. The house was 18x24 feet, and one 
story in height. Their furniture was home- 
made, except the table, which was a dry goods 
box, and also served as a cupboard. The chairs 
were made of slabs, with sticks for legs, and the 
bedsteads were made of poplar poles. By this 
time his clothes were wearing out, particularly 
his overalls, and it was a serious question how 
to get another pair. He finally killed two dogs 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



705 



and tanned their hides, which were made into 
a pair of overalls. He continued to work out, 
the greater part of the time, at ditching, for 
tliree years. He then had some stock which he 
had taken in payment for work, and a pair of 
calves he had bought when he first came here, 
Avere then large enough to work, so he broke 
them and commenced to improve his land. The 
first wheat that he raised, he took to Janesville, 
and there sold it for twenty-five cents per bushel. 
He worked out a portion of the time for some 
years, until he had seventy-five acres broken, 
after which he devoted his whole time to his 
farm. In 1872 he sold his farm and moved to 
Albany where he purchased village property 
and engaged in carpet weaving, but for the last 
few years he has lived at ease, having earned a 
fortune, wliicii places him beyond the reach of 
want. His marriage took place in 1837. His 
wife was formerly Janet Laury, a native of 
Scotland. Their children are — Agnes, Ann, 
Janet, Mary J. and Kiltie, Mrs. Thomson died 
in 1872. 

Walter Tait, an early settler in the north 
part of the town of Albany, was born in Staf- 
fordshire, England, in November, 1819. When 
eighteen years old he left !iis native land for 
America, landed at New York and went directly 
to Saratoga county, where he engaged in farm- 
ing a few years, then returned to England and 
spent a year in visiting. In 1843 he retiiriied 
to America, and came directly to Wisconsin 
and settled in Rock county. In 1847 he sold 
out and came to Green county, where he en- 
tered land on section 9, township 3, range 9 
east, now known as the town of Albany. He 
has opened up a farm, erected buildings, and 
still makes that his home. He was married, 
Jan. 1, 1844, to Susan Green. She was born in 
the town of Hanover, Luzerne Co , Penn. 
Nine children were born to them, seven of 
whom are now l.ving — Sarah A., Nancy M., 
Clara L., Almira IL, Alben D., Charlotte M. 
and .Myron J. Sarah is the wife of Cl)arles 
Purrington; Nancy is the wife of Tfieodorc 



Shaffer; Clara is the wife of Frank Gilbert; Al- 
mira is the wife of Frederick Shaffer, and 
Charlotte is the wife of Eugene Andrus. 

Daniel N. Shaw, an early settler of Green 
county, is a native of Vermont, born in the 
town of .Jericho, Chittenden county, Feb. 2, 
1815, where his younger days were spent in 
school and on his father's farm. In 1837 he 
lie started west and spent three years in Indi- 
ana and Michigan, then returned to Vermont. 
He was married in his native State to May Jor- 
dan, and in 1846 they started for the Territory 
of Wisconsin. They took passage on a boat at 
Burlington, and went down Lake Charaplain to 
the Champlain canal, thence by that route and 
the Erie canal to Buffalo; thence by way of the 
lakes to Milwaukee, then hired a team to White- 
water. He left his family at Whitewater and 
started out on foot to seek a suitable location. 
He bought a claim and entered land in town- 
ship 4 north, range 10 east, now known as the 
town of Union, Rock county. He then went 
back to Whitewater, and soon returned with his 
family. He built a small frame house and lived 
there two years, then sold out and came to 
Green county. He purchased a claim on sec- 
tion 18, township 4, range 9 east, now known 
as the town of Brooklyn. He went on to the 
land and built a log cabin, in which the family 
lived one summer, when he built a frame house. 
He improved quite a tract of land and lived 
there seven years, then sold out and bought a 
partly improved farm on section 17. There he 
ei'ected good buildings and made many im- 
provements. In the fall of 1882 he sold this 
farm, and the following May removed to Al- 
bany, where he purchased a residence and now 
lives a retired li.fe. He met with an irreparable 
loss in the death of his wife, which occurred 
Feb. 12, 1884. She was born in the town of 
Underbill, Lamoille Co., Vt., Sept. 1, 1822. 
They were the jiarents of six children — Mary 
J., now the wife of J. R. Devlin, and living in 
Sauk county; Adney N., Erwin D., Eva A., Eu- 
soba A. and Elmer F. Adney, the oldest son, 



41 



700 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



enlisted in company F, 3l8t Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and went south. While at the 
front he was taken sick. His father was sent 
for and went to see him, and obtained a fur- 
lough for him, and they started home, but the 
young man died at Chicago while on the way. 
The youngest son, Elmer, died at two and a 
half years old. 

William Webb was a pioneer of Green coun- 
ty, having settled here in 1848. He purchased 
government land on section 25, township 3 
north, range 9 east; also bought land adjoining, 
on section 30, township 3 north, range 10 east, 
in Rock county, making 312 acres in all. He 
erected a frame house on section 24, and made 
this his home until 1882. During that time he 
had improved the land, made an addition to his 
house, and built two commodious frame barns, 
one for cattle, the other for horses; also a large 
granary, ^nd other smaller buildings. In 1882 
he purchased land near the village of Albany, 
and now within the corporate limits, and built 
on it a good frame residence, where he is now 
living a retired life. He is a native of York 
State, born at Utica, Oneida county, May 16, 
1819. He made his home with his parents un- 
til eighteen years old, then went to Painesville, 
Ohio, and spent two years with an older brother, 
thence went to Green Bay, Wis., and engaged 
in lumbering two years, then went to Walworth 
county, thence to Rock county. He was mar- 
ried April 27, 1841, to Fanny Rice. She was 
born in the town of Boston, Erie Co., N. Y. 
He bought somci 4and in Jofinston county, put 
up a log cabin and commenced improvements, 
remaining until 1848, when he came to Green 
county, as before stated. Mr. and Mrs. Webb 
have five children living--Albert A., Jennie A., 
Roswell, Charles and Eram». Mr. Webb has 
always been a member of the democratic party, 
although he exercises the right to vote for the 
best men. 

Capt. Charles W. Burns is a veteran of two 
wars. His first enlistment was in 1847,H|>an 
independent company of cavalry that wq.s or- 



ganized at Newark, Ohio, by Capt. John Dun- 
can. He went to Mexico and served exactly one 
year, then returned and was honorably dis- 
charged and mustered out at Cincinnati. In 

1862 he was commissioned as captain and raised 
a company which was designated as company 
F, and attached to the 31st Wisconsin regiment, 
Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in Oct. 
9, 1862, at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien. 
They remained in the State until the spring of 

1863 then went to Columbus, Ky., and performed 
garrison duty at Fort Halleck through the sum- 
mer. From there they went to Nashville, thence 
to LaVergne, and did guard and picket duty two 
months, then went to Murfreesboro, where the 
company was detailed to do provost duty, and 
in January, 1864, Capt. C. W. Burns returned 
to Wisconsin for State duty at Camp Randall, 
Madison, where he with his company, were dis- 
charged in July, 1865. The subject of this 
sketch was born in Wheeling, W. Va., July 18, 
1825. When quite young his parents removed 
to Licking Co., Ohio, where he grew to man- 
hood. When lie was seventeen years old he 
engaged with a blacksmith to leai'n the trade, 
and served three years. After his return from" 
the Mexican War he formed a business partner- 
ship with his former employer at Newark. In 
the spring of 1849 he came to Green county, 
and in company with Daniel Counet opened a 
shop at Monroe. There he carried on business 
seven years, when he removed to Clarno and 
engaged in farming until I860, when he came 
to Albany and opened a blacksmith shop, where 
h^ continued to work until the time of his 
enlistment in the army. He returned from 
the service, with, health impaired to such an 
extent that for some time he was unable to en- 
gage in active business. In 1875 he opened a 
blacksmith shop in Albany, and continued in 
the business until October, 1883, when he sold 
out, and is now retired from active business life. 
He was married in 1852, to Mai-y Counet. Seven 
children blessed this union — Ellen, Hester, 
Frank, Carrie, (Jcrtie, one son who died in iij- 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



101 



fancy and Edward, who died at the age of three 
years. 

James Hudson, a pioneer of Green county, 
was born on the south branch of the Potomac 
river, in Virginia, Feb. 17, 1796. In 1802 his 
his parents moved to Wheeling, where his 
father built a hotel, and kept it until the time of 
his death, in 1812. The subject of this sketch 
was soon afterward appi'enticed to a wheelwright 
to learn the trade, at Chilicothe, Ohio. He 
served three years, then worked as journeyman 
three or four years, and then engaged in farm- 
ing. He was married to Mary L. Bobeau, Oct. 
28, 1819. They began life together at Chili- 
cothe, and remained there till 1842. The 
county was very new at that time, and he often 
had to crack corn with a pestle, for food, as 
there were no mills. In 1842 they started west 
and located in Miami Co., Ohio, lived there 
three years, then again started westward and 
went to Marshall Co., 111. He purchased land 
on which he made a email improvement and re- 
mained until 1849, then sold out and came to 
Green county on the 10th of June the same year, 
making the trip overland with a team. He 
bought land in the town of Decatur and im- 
proved a farm upon which he lived until 186-3, 
when he sold and removed to Brodhea'd, where 
he died two years later. Mrs. Hudson lives with 
her eldest son's widow, at Fulton, Whitesides 
Co., III. Her son's name was John, and he was 
killed OM Sunday morning at 2 o'clock, March 17, 
1879,by three burglars who had etitered his house. 
A re ward of 1*15,000 was offered for their capture, 
but the villains escaped. The reward still remains 
standing should they ever be brought to justice. 
He was an old and highly respected citizen of 
th.at place. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson were the par- 
ents of ten children, six of whom are now liv- 
ing — Sophia, William H., Mary L, George W., 
.Tared B. and Elza. William Hudson was born 
at Chilicothe, Ohio, June 17, 18-33, and he was 
sixteen years old when he came to this county 
witlt his parents, with whom he made his Immo 



two years, then went back to Marshall Co., 111., 
and was engaged in agricultural pursuits two 
years, when he returned to Green county. 
He was married in 1858 to Helen, daughter of 
Ashael and Julia (Shultz) Hills, who was born 
in Prattsbnrg, Steuben Co., N. Y. At the time 
of his marriage he settled in Albany, (January, 
1864,) and engaged in buying, selling and ship- 
ping live stock, and continued the same until 
1879. In 1866 he purchased land on sections 17 
and 20. In 1881 he removed to his father-in- 
law's farm, where he now resides. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hudson have one daughter — Ada E., born 
at Albany, July 11, 1866. 

Abel Peckham came to Green county in 1851 
and bought a farm of Lathrop Abbott, on section 
26. He then returned to New York State, and 
remained until the following year when he came 
back, bringing his family with him, and settled 
upon his farm. There was a log house on the 
place, into which they moved and lived in until 
1856. In that year he erected a commodious 
brick house, in which he lived until his death in 
1864. He was born in Grafton, Rensselaer Co., 
N. Y., in 1798. He was reared upon a farm, 
and in his youth learned the cooper's trade. 
He was married in 1820 to Ada BroAvn, who 
was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., 
in 1800. In 1822, they moved to Trenton, 
Oneida county, where he worked at his trade un- 
til 1852, then moved to Chautauqua county, and 
purchased land and cleared a farm, living there 
until 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Peckham were the 
parents of eleven children, ten of whom are now 
living — Sally W., who was born in Rensselaer 
county; Rhoda D., John F., Nelson A., Win- 
field S. and Ada, boin in Oneida county; Joshua. 
Obadiah, Lucy J., Polly R., and Halsey, born 
in Chautauqua county. 

Winfield S. Peckham was born March 19, 
1829. He made his home with his parents un- 
til 1849, then started for the Territory of Wis- 
consin. He stopped near Milwaukee, where he 
worked four years at the cooper's trade, then in 
fR.')R, came (o Albany and purchased eighty 



708 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



acres of land on section 35, which he improved 
and also worked at his trade. He was joined 
in marriage, Jan. 1, 1862, to Eleanor Bailey, 
widow of Merritt Turner. She was born in 
Luzerne Co., Penn. He erected a small frame 
house on his land, in which they lived one year. 
He then purchased eighty acres of land on sec- 
tion 27, and removed to it. Since 1866 he has 
occupied the homestead, where he has erected 
good buildings, including hog and stock barns. 
Being a natural mechanic he did the work him- 
self. He has a shop upon the place, which is 
furnished with the necessary tools for doing 
wood and iron work. His farm now contains 
500 acres, all under fence. Mr. and Mrs. Peck- 
bam have two children — George T. and Lydia M. 

Judson M. Purinton, son of David H. and 
Chastina (Messinger) Purinton, was born in 
Allegany Co., N. Y., Nov. 20, 1829. When he 
was fifteen years old his parents emigrated to 
the Territory of Wisconsin and settled in Wau- 
kesha county where they remained two years, 
then came to Green county. The subject of 
this sketch, however, remained in Waukesha 
county until 1851. In that year he came to this 
county and purchased land on section 4, where 
he erected a log house and immediately com- 
menced to make improvements. He was mar- 
ried in 1854, to Isabella, daughter of Sylvester 
and Hannah (Sutherland) Hills. She died in 
1856, leaving one son, Sylvester. Mr. Purin- 
ton was again married in 1857, to Chloe Hills, a 
sister of his first wife. Seven children blessed 
this union, four of whom are now living — 
David, Edith, Amy and Agnes. Mr. Purinton 
was killed by lightning, Feb. 27, 1876. He was 
an industrious man and had improved a good 
farm and erected a comfortable frame house, 
thus leaving his family in comfortable circum- 
stances. Since his death, his son David has 
successfully managed the farm. 

Ole Gilbertson an early settler in the town of 
Albany, was born in Norway, in 1796. He was 
reared to agricultural pursuits in his native 
country. He was the oldest son of his parents, 



and at his father'.s death inlierited his farm. 
He was married in 1817, and in 1827, his wife 
died, leaving four children. He was again mar- 
ried in 1828, In 1851 he sold his farm in Norway, 
and in the spring of 1 852, started for America with 
his wife and eleven children. With them came 
seventeen of his neighbors, whose passage he 
assisted in paying. They took passage in the 
sailing vessel, Fedreyiesmincle, at the port of 
Holmestrard, and landed at Quebec after a voy- 
age of six weeks and three days. They remained 
a short time at Quebec, then took passage on a 
steamer up the St. Lawrence river to Niagara, 
thence by land to Buffalo, where they shipped 
to Detroit, thence by rail to Chicago and to 
Milwaukee by water. Tliere he hired teams to 
take the family overland to Green county, while 
the men followed on foot. He brought with 
him from the old country a wagon and harness 
which were curiosities to the natives here. He 
purchased land on sections 8 and 9, bought stock 
and made preparations to open a farm, but the 
climate did not agree with him, and his health 
continued to fail until he died in 1854. Of his 
first wife's children, three are now living — Gul- 
brand. Filing and Thorra. His second wife is 
still living, and also eight of her children — 
Jacob, Ole, Thorra, Andreas, Bertha, Anne, Ka- 

rine, Anton and Johan. 

Ole Gilbertson, Jr., son of Ole Gilbertson, 
one of the pioneers of Albany, was born in Nor- 
way, July 25, 1833. He received a common 
school education, and was nineteen years old 
when he came with his parents to America. He 
was married on the 12th of October, soon after 
his arrival here, to Guri Brondbakke, who was 
born in Norway, Dec. 16,1832. Heboughtland 
in company with his brother-in-law on sections 
8 and 16 and began housekeeping in a log cabin, 
which was partially furnished with home-made 
furniture. This humble abode was their home 
until 1864, when he erected a good frame house. 
In 1868 he built a good frame barn. He has 
engaged iii raising grain and stock, including 
cattle, sheep, iiorsos and hogs. Ho has been 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



709 



prominent in town affairs, and has served as 
justice of the peace and member of the board 
of supervisors. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson are 
the parents of seven children — Guri, Ole, Beret, 
Simen, Tonetta, Johanus and Hans Oscar. 

Sampson Tilley, Sr., was a native of Shrop- 
shire, England, born in 1796. He was reared 
upon a farm, and married to Martha Hintz, also 
a native of Shropshire. Nine children blessed 
their union, foiir of whom are now living — 
Sampson, Edward, Martha and Mary. In 1852 
he left England and came to America and set- 
tled at Albany, Green Co., Wis., where he re- 
sided until his death in 1862. Mrs. Tilley died 
in 1859. 

Sampson Tilley, Jr., was born in Shropshire, 
England, March 31, 1830. At the age of fifteen 
he was apprenticed to a wagon maker to learn 
the trade. He served five years, then worked 
as journeyman until 1852. In that year he came 
to America and located in the village of Albany 
where he opened a shop and has continued in 
the business since that time. He was married 
in 1 859 to Eliza Tompkins,who died Dec.25,1869. 

Edward Tilley was born in Shropshire in 
1833. He was reared to agricultural pursuits 
and came to America with his parents. He en- 
gaged with his brother to learn the trade of 
wagon maker, and has been associated with 
him since. He owns land which he works 
during the summer season. He was married in 
1854 to Elizabeth Williams. The have two 
children — Belle and Fanny. 

John Wood, one of the pioneers of Green 
county, was born in the city of Philadelphia 
Feb. 13, 1818, When he was quite young his 
parents moved to Northampton county, and 
lived a short time, then moved to Center county 
and remained until fifteen years of age, then 
moved to Preble Co., Ohio. There Mr. Wood 
was employed on public works for some time. 
When sixteen years old he took a contract to 
grade on a turnpike from Hamilton City to 
Eaton, a distance of twenty-four miles. It was 



in 1839 that he first came to Wisconsin and 
located in Green county. He first engaged in 
the lead mines for six months, near Monroe, 
then engaged with Vansant, Deniston & Irion 
to operate their saw mill, and continued in their 
employ three years, then went to Browntown, 
and in company with William Brown and Hen- 
son Irion, erected a saw mill. He was married 
in 1844 to Clarissa, daughter of Joshua and 
Hannah (Whitcomb) Wood. In 1850, he left 
his family at Mr. Whitcomb's and went to 
California across the plains, and was about five 
months on the trip. Upon his arrival, he en- 
gaged in mining. In 1852 he sent home money, 
and his people purchased a tract of land on sec- 
tion 31, Albany township. He continued to 
mine in California until 1856, then started on 
his return, not across the plains, but across the 
Isthmus, thence to New York. On his arrival 
here he settled on his land on section 31, and 
now has the place in a good state of cultivation, 
and is engaged in mixed farming. Mrs. Wood 
died in 1865, leaving seven children, six of whom 
are now living — Robert Emmett, John Q., Flora 
A., Anson C, Joshua W. and Frank. His 
second wife, to whom he was married in 1868, 
was Jane Miller, widow of John Bell. For- 
merly Mr. Wood was a whig, but became a re- 
publican upon the organization of that party. 
Religiously, he has no settled belief. 

James W. Carver came to Green county in 
1853, and purchased a tract of unimproved land 
on Jordan prairie, town of Decatur, for which 
he paid $450. He broke and fenced about 
twelve acres, built a log cabin, raised one crop 
and then sold out for $800, and went to Mount 
Pleasant, where he purchased eighty-two acres, 
raised one crop, then sold that at an advance of 
$60, and returned to Jordan prairie, and bought 
land. Sickness and bad luck generally had so 
depleted his purse, that for this land he was 
obliged to go in debt. A failure of the first 
crop, upon which so much depended, was dis- 
astrous, and instead of selling out at an advance 
as heretofore, he lost the whole thing, and was 



VlO 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



in debt besides. Then with characteristic en- 
ergy and phick, he rented land, went to work, 
raised a good crop and paid off liis obligations. 
In 1859, lie went to Iowa, and settled in Linn 
county, where he liad previously bought ninety 
acres of land. This place he had tried to sell, 
but could not do so to any advantage, so con- 
cluded to improve it. He enlisted Aug. 5, 
1862, in the 20th Iowa, company I. During 
the same month he was elected 2d lieuten- 
ant, and went to St. Louis, thence through the 
State of Missouri to Arkansas in pursuit of 
Gen. Price and his command. The roads were 
rough and the march almost continuous, with nu- 
merous skirmishes from time to time on the route. 
On the 'Zth of December they participated in the 
battle of " Prairie Grove," Arkansas, where he 
was wounded. His haversack was probably the 
means of saving his life, the bullet passing 
through it, thus breaking its force. The regi- 
ment remained in Missouri and Arkansas until 
May, 1863, then went to Vicksburg, and partici- 
pated in the siege and capture of that city, 
then went to Texas to operate with Banks, on 
his Red River expedition, remaining there eleven 
months, then went to Alabama and participated 
in the siege of Forts Morgan and Gaines, then 
returned to Arkansas again, pursued Gen. 
Price, and remained there three or four months. 
They then went to the Peninsula of Florida, 
thence to Alabama, and engaged in the siege 
and capture of Fort Blakely. He served until 
after the close of the war, and was honorably 
discharged July 26, 1865, and joined his family 
in Albany. In 1867, he bought a farm on Jor- 
dan prairie for 83,000, and lived there until 1873 
when he purchased a place on section 31, town 
of Albany, for which he paid $11,000. In 1875, 
he sold his Jordan prairie farm for |4,500. He 
lived on section 31 until 1883, when he rented 
the farm and bought a place in the village of 
Albany, which is his present home. In Feb- 
ruary, 1884, he sold his farm for $16,000. He 
was married Jan. 11, 1853, to Almira, daughter 
of Zebulon and Rebecca (Burt) Sutton, who 



was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio. They have 
four children living — Thomas M., Julius H., 
Addic May and Carrie R. One child, Alice M., 
died in 1863. In 1852, Mr. Carver voted for 
John P. Hale, subsequently he voted with the 
republican party, and affiliated with that organ- 
ization until 1883. He still adheres to tbe 
principles of the republican party, but is a 
strong prohibitionist, and will vote for the in- 
terests of that principle. Mr. and Mrs. Carver 

are members of the Baptist Church. 

Zebolon Sutton settled in the town of Albany 

in 1853. He purchased at that time a tract of 
land on section 31, and built a frame house upon 
it, for which he brought the lumber from Sauk 
City, and did the work himself. He was born 
in Washington Co., Penn., Oct. 14, 1801. His 
early life was spent in his native county. When 
eighteen years old he was apprenticed to learn 
the cabinet maker's trade. After serving three 
years he returned to his home and opened a 
shop, and did custom work five years, then re- 
moved to Cornersburg, Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 
1828. On Jan. 24, 1831, he was appointed 
postmaster of the place, and ran his shop and 
office till 1838, at which time he sold put, re- 
signed his office and moved to Delaware county, 
remaining there until 1853. He then came to 
Green Co., Wis,, where he now lives in the en- 
joyment o"f good health and plenty to eat. 
Since coming to Green county he has devoted 
his time principally to agricultural pursuits. 
He has since resided on section 31, where he at 
first settled. At his trade he is a skillful work- 
man, and has in his house some fine specimens 
of his handiwork, done since he was eighty 
years old, and without the aid of glasses, as his 
eyesight has not yet failed. He is also able to 
read and write without glasses. He was mar- 
ried in 1827 to Rebecca Burt, who was" born in 
Westmoreland Co., Penn , May 27, 1807. They 
have three children living — Almira, George and 
Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have been mar- 
ried fifty-seven years, and are in the enjoyment 
of good health and in possession of good mind 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTS'. 



711 



and memory. On the fiftieth anniversary of 
their marriage their friends and relatives, to 
the number of eighty-two, gathered at their 
residence to congratulate them on their long and 
happy wedded life, and on their departure left 
many valuable tokens of their respect and es- 
teem. Their son, George, vyas born in Trumbull 
Co., Ohio, Sept. 9, 1835, and came to Wisconsin 
with his parents, with whom he made his home 
until 1870. He then went to Kansas and settled 
in Pottawattamie county, and remained until 
1876, when he returned to Albany, where his 
wife died in 1880. He now lives with his par- 
ents and carries on the farm. 

Jacob Abley was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, in February, 1823. He attended 
school until sixteen years of age, and was then 
employed in farming. In 1847 he came to 
America and settled in Montgomery Co., N, Y,, 
where he engaged in farming four years. He 
then went to work at the carpenter and joiner's 
trade, at which he was employed two years, 
then came west to Indiana and spent eighteen 
months in Lafayette, working at carpentering. 
In 1854 he came to Monticello, Green county, 
and worked on the mill there one winter. He 
continued to work at his trade in different 
parts of the county until 1860, when he bought 
land on section 30, of the town of Albany, upon 
which was some slight improvement, consisting 
of forty acres broken and a loghouse,in which he 
lived seven years, then built a commodious 
brick house. He has since erected a frame barn 
and other farm buildings. He owns 180 acres 
of land. He was married in 1859 to Angeline 
Meinert, and they have six children — Maria, 
Cassie, Lizzie, Ida, Willie and Vena, 

Even Kittelson Lee came to Green county in 
1854, and purchased a farm on sections 5 and 8. 
There was a log house standing upon the place, 
into which he moved and lived for a time. He 
then built a more substantial one, which was 
his home for a number of years when he erected 
a good frame house, which he still occupies. 
He was born in Norway, in 1810, and spent his 



early life upon a farm. He was married to 
Aaste Olson Falkestad. They remained in 
Norway until 1854. They then decided to emi- 
grate to America, where some of his relatives 
had preceded them. They embarked in a sail- 
ing vessel and arrived in Quebec after a voyage 
of six weeks and three days. From Quebec 
they traveled by water and rail to Beloit, where 
they hired a team to complete their journey to 
Green county. He had a brother living in the 
town of Decatur, with whom they stopped. His 
brother Ole was living in Albany, and came to 
Decatur with an ox team and conveyed them to 
their new home. They have three children — 
Ole E., Halvor and Even. 

Ole E. Kittelson was born in Norway, April 
17, 1841, and was thirteen years old when he 
came with his parents to America. He grew to 
manhood in the town of Albany, and received a 
good education in the public schools. At the 
age of twenty-three he went to Chicago, and 
was there employed to drive a carriage for a 
private family. He there made the acquaint- 
ance of Randena Anderson, to whom he was 
married. She was a native of Norway, but 
came to this country when six months old. Her 
parents were early settlers in the town of 
Greenwood, McHenry Co., 111., where they still 
reside. After an absence of three years, Mr. 
Kittelson returned, to Albany and settled on a 
farm that he had purchased in company with a 
brother, two years previously. He located on 
section 6, where he has erected a comfortable 
frame house and now owns 140 acres of land, 
and has sixty-five acres in a good state of culti- 
vation. Mr, and Mrs. Kittelson are the parents 
of seven children — Charles Edwin, Anna O., 
Augusta M., Olen B., Carrie M., Andrew A. and 
Ingelbert R. 

Lewis Comstock settled in Green county in 
1854, at which time he purchased a tract of land 
on section 4, town of Albany, but as there was 
no improvement there, he rented a farm one 
year in the town of Brooklyn, on section 33. 
During that year, he built a small log cabin on 



712 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



his place and broke up aud farmed teu acres, 
lu the spring of 1855 he erected a frame house 
and settled on the place. He has, at the present 
time, eighty-five acres improved and fenced. 
He also has seventy-two acres on section 2, 
meadow and pasture land. In 18G5 he erected 
a more commodious frame house, which he now 
occupies. He is a native of the ''Old Bay 
State," born at Williamstown, Berkshire county, 
Sept. 23, 1825. When he was seventeen years 
old he went to York State and found employ- 
ment on a farm in Herkimer county, remaining 
there until 1850, wlien he came to Wisconsin 
and spent four years in Waukesha and Wal- 
worth counties. In 1854 he came to this county, 
as before stated. He was married March 19, 
1846, to Louisa Cross, who was born in Fulton 
Co., N. Y., in March, 1826. 

William Lewis came to Green county in 1860, 
and lived for a time with his father-in-law on 
section 12, Albany township. He there pur- 
chased eighty acres of unimproved land on sec- 
tion 14, erected a frame house and commenced 
improvements. He now has the greater part of 
this land in good condition and under fence, has 
built a good frame barn for stock and purchased 
other land until he has 160 acres in his farm. 
He is a native of Wales, born in the parish of 
Lanyre, Radnorshire, July 30, 1839, and was 
there reared on a farm. He was married May 
6, 1857, to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Jane 
(Boundford) Lloyd. They remained in Wales 
until 1860, then, in company with Mr. Lloyd and 
his family, came to America to seek a home 
and settled in the town of Albany, as before 
stated. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of 
six children, now living — Eliza A., John L., 
Mancel W., Mary J., Maud E. and Edwin T. 
A sou, William T., died when four years old, 
and one child died in infancy. 

John A. Hahn, custom boot and shoe maker 
at Albany, established business here in 1855, 
and has carried it on continually since that 
time, also dealer in hides, pelts and raw furs. 
He is a native of France, born Feb. 20, 1833. 



He attended school until fourteen years old. 
He was then apprenticed to a boot and shoe 
maker to learn the trade, and served eighteen 
months. He then went to Paris aud did jour- 
neyman work two years. From there he went 
to Lyons, worked at his trade there and in other 
places until 1853, when he left his native 
land and came to America. He landed at 
New York and worked at his trade in the 
city three months, then went to Chicago 
and worked at his trade there one year, then 
went to Milwaukee and worked nine months. 
From there he went to Janesville and spent 
three months, then in July, 1855, he came to 
Albany and established himself in business, as 
before stated. He was married in Milwaukee, 
in 1854, to Teresa Nipower, a native of Bavaria. 
Two children blessed this union — Katie and 
William J. Mr. Hahn has been successful in 
his business. By honest dealing and good 
work, he has merited and received a good pat- 
ronage. In 1856 he was unable to purchase a 
house and lot. But in 1884 he was the owner 
of seven dwelling houses in Albany, besides 
his commodious shop. Like many other inhab- 
itants of the village, he suffered from the tire 
in November, 1883, losing at that time his store 
building and his shop, including stock and 
tools. 

Harlow T. Bough ton came to Green county 
with his parents in 1855. He continued to re- 
side with them in the town of Spring Grove 
until 1862. In August of that year he enlisted 
in company K, of the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and went south, joined the army of 
the Tennessee, and participated in the battles of 
Spring Hill and Brentwood Station. At the 
latter place he was taken prisoner and conveyed 
to Libby Prison. After thirty days he was ex- 
changed, aud joined his command at Nashville, 
Tenn., and from there went to Chattanooga and 
started for Atlanta, participating in the many 
engagements on the way. He was wounded at 
the battle of Peach Tree Creek, July 22, 1864, 
and sent to the hospital at Lookout Mountain, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



713 



and then to Nashville. He joined the command 
again as soon as able, and went to Hilton Head, 
thence to Charleston, S. C, his couiraand being 
the first to enter that city. From there they 
pushed on to Raleigh, where they joined Sher- 
man's army and with it went to Washington, 
attended the grand review with the regiment, 
and was dischared in Milwaukee in June, 1865, 
and returned to his home. He was born in 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in January, 1837, and 
remained there with his parents until 1855, 
when, as before stated, he came to Green coun- 
ty. He was married in the fall of 1865 to 
Sarah, daughter of Zebulon and Rebecca (Burt) 
Sutton, pioneers of Green county. They have 
one child — Harvey. In the spring of 1866 Mr. 
Boughton rented a farm in the town of Sylves- 
I ter, where he lived four years, then bought Isis 
present farm on section 31, of tlie town of 
Albany. He lias the land well improved, and 
has erected a fine house and barn. 

Harry Van Wart, Sr., son of Bishop and 
Lydia Van Wart, was born in Chautauqua Co., 
N. Y., Jan. 10, 1830. His father was a native 
of Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and went to Chautauqua 
county when a young man. He was married 
there to Lydia Gordanier, who was born in Jef- 
ferson county, of the same State. He purchased 
land of the Holland Purchase Company, upon 
which he settled and lived ujitil 1844, then, tak- 
ing his wife and family of eight children, started 
with a pair of horses and wagon for the Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin. They took their cooking 
utensils with them and camped out on the road, 
and were thirty days in reaching Janesville, 
Wis. It was in the fall of the year, and they 
spent the following winter four miles north of 
Janesville. In 1845 he rented land of Lovewell 
Warren, in the town of Center, Rock county, 
and in 1846 bought land in the town of Porter, 
where he improved a farm and resided until 
the time of his death. His wife also died 
there. Of eleven children born to them, four 
are now living — Harry, David, Orrilla and 
Newton. liarry resided with his parents until 



1852, then started for California overland with 
a team, and was four months in reaching his des 
tination. He was employed by the California 
Stage Company until November, 1854. He then 
returned to Wisconsin by way of the Isthmus 
and New York city. He was married Jan. 10, 
1855, to Lucy Schofield, a native of Erie Co., 
N. Y., born April 18, 1832. They lived in 
Janesville one year, then removed to Albany, 
where he engaged in the livery business until 
1859. He then took his stock of horses to Cal- 
ifornia and sold them in Sacramento. He im- 
mediately returned to Albany and engaged in 
keeping a board and feed stable in connection 
with the American (now Nichols) House. He 
continued here but a few months, and in 1860 
went to Rock county and leased the old Ball 
Tavern one year, then engaged in farming one 
year. In 1862 he went to Mitchell Co., Iowa, 
and bought land in the town of St. Ausgar. 
There he improved a farm and resided three 
years, then again returned to Albany, purchased 
village property and has continued to reside 
here since. Mrs. Van Wart died Sept. 29, 
1871, leaving four children — Kasie May, Annie, 
Bessie and Helen. Mr. Van Wart was again 
married April 23, 1875, to Louisa Hamilton, a 
native of New York city. 

Albert L., son of Ephraim and Mary (Treaster) 
Berryman, was born in Stephenson Co., 111., 
Dec. 14, 1851. He was six years old when his 
parents came to Green county and settled in the 
town of Sylvester, where his younger days were 
spent. He obtained his education in the dis- 
trict school. Feb. 8, 1877, he was married to 
Ida A., daughter of Jacob and Eliza (James) 
Hammond. The following spring he rented a 
farm in the town of Clarno, where they lived 
one year, then removed to the homestead in 
Sylvester and remained one year. He then 
rented a farm in the town of Mount Pleasant, 
upon which they lived until 1883, when he pur- 
chased his present farm, the west half of the 
southeast quarter of section 20, and the west 
half of the northeast quarter of section 29, 



714 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



township 3, range 9 east, containing 160 acres, 
in the town of Albany, near the village. He 
has the land well improved and good frame 
buildings. They have two children — Gertie 
M. and Stella E. 

Richard Glennan was an early settler in the 
town of Stark, Vernon county, having entered 
land at the mouth of Otter creek in 1854. He 
erected a log cabin there, and assisted in the 
organization of the town in 1850, and was its 
first town superintendent of schools. He also 
surveyed the village of Viola, in Richland coun- 
ty. In 1857 he traded for land in the town of 
Forest, Richland county, and during the winter 
of 1857-8, taught school near tiie county line, 
being the first school in that section of country. 
In the spring of 1858, he sold his land in Richland 
county and came to Green county and located in 
the village of Albany. He bought a carding ma- 
chine, the first ever operated in the town, which 
he set up in a small building near the saw mill, 
running it by water power. The next year he 
put the machine into the Kellogg flour mill, 
where he operated it one year. He then sold 
it. In 1860 he went to Cedarville, Stephenson 
Co., 111., and in partnership with J. F. Jackson, 
set up a woolen mill, the first one in the county. 
In the spring of 1861, he sold his interest there, 
and went to Belleville and operated a carding 
machine until the fall of 1863. He then en- 
listed in battery D., 1st Wisconsin Heavy Ar- 
tillery, and served until the close of the war. 
He was discharged Aug. 30, 1865, having been 
stationed at Fort Jackson, La., and at JJrashear 
and Fort Berwick, the greater part of the time. 
In 1866, he helped to start a woolen mill in the 
town of Adams, Green county. He was em- 
ployed there until the spring of 1867, when he 
sold his interest, and accepted a position as 
clerk in the surgeon general's oftice at Wash- 
ington, where he remained tliree years, then 
returned to Albany. Since that time he has 
followed his trade, in different places. In 1878 
he assisted in starting the Albany woolen mills, 
of which he has since had charge. He was 



born in county Meath, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1823, 
and when four years old, came to America with 
his parents, who located at Rochester, N. Y. 
When quite a young man, he went to work in 
a woolen mill and learned his trade. He lived 
in the State of New York, until 1850, then went 
to Springfield, 111., where he remained a short 
time. In the spring of 1851, he engaged in a 
woolen mill at Beloit, and worked there one and 
a half years. During the winter of 1852-3 he 
taught school at Spring Grove, and the follow- 
ing winter, taught in Waukesha county. He 
was married, in 1852, to Cynthia Jenks, a native 
of Erie Co., N. Y. They have five children — 
George, Emma,Sarah,Mary and Richard. George 
is a young man of good education and possessed 
of superior talent and ability. 

Thomas Lloyd settled in Green county in 
1860. He purchased at that time, the north 
half of the northeast quarter, and the southwest 
quarter of the northwest quarter, of section 12, 
in the town of Albany. A portion of the land 
was improved and there was a log cabin on it. 
He commenced making farther improvements, 
but the climate did not agree with him and his 
health failed in consequence. He died Dec. 
28, 1863. He was a native of Wales, born in 
1815, and was married, in 1841, to .lane. Bound- 
ford. He rented land and engaged in farming 
in his native country until 1860, then with his 
wife and family emigrated to America. They 
made the voyage in a sailing vessel and were 
five weeks and three days in reaching New 
York city. They came directly to Wisconsin 
and settled, as before stated, in the town of 
Albany. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd had ten children 
— Mary, Jane, Martha, Thomas, James, William, 
Elizabeth, Sarah, Joseph and Edwin T. Their 
oldest son, Thomas, was eighteen years old at the 
time of his father's death, and for two years, 
took charge of the farm. James now manages 
the farm successfully. The land is well im- 
proved and fenced, and the log cabin has been 
replaced by a neat frame house. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



715 



Rev. Edward J. Meredith was born in north 
Wales, March 7, 1833, where he grew to man- 
hood and was brought up on a farm. In June, 
1853, he enlisted in the British service, and 
served five years in the Scotch Fusileer Guards. 
He was honorably discharged at the expiration 
of his term of enlistment. He was drill ser- 
geant the first four years, and the last year was 
color sergeant. After his discharge he opened 
a store in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, north 
Wales, and was in trade until 1865 when he sold 
out and came to America, locating at Albany, 
Green county and engaging in the shoe business. 
In 1867 he bought land on section 2, southwest 
quarter, where he settled and engaged in farm- 
ing. He joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church 
in 1855, and commenced pi'eaching during the 
same year. In 1866 he joined the M.E. Church 
at Albany and commenced preaching for that 
denomination, since that time up to Feb. 26, 
1884, he has officiated at 179 funerals in Green 
county, including people of all denominations. 
He is now a local preacher of the M. E. Church 
and resides at Albany. He was married in 1852 
to Mary Evans. Eight children have been born 
to them — Mary A., Jane, Edwin, Polly, Thomas, 
James, Annie and Rosa B. Mary A. died in 
Wales; James died in Brooklyn. All were 
born in Wales but Anna and Rosa B. 

William John Way was born in Summit Co., 
Ohio, Jan. 31, 1847. When two years of age 
his mother died and lie was adopted by Timotliy 
Mills, who soon after removed to Marquette Co., 
Wis. There he grew to manhood, being edu- 
cated in the public schools. He enlisted in the 
7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and joined 
the array of the Potomac. He lost his left 
arm in the battle of the Wilderness. He was 
discharged from service on account of disability 
and returned to his home in Marquette county. 
In May, 1868, he was married to Martha J. Law- 
rence, born in Onondaga Co., N. Y. They 
made their home in Marquette for one year, and 
then removed to Indiana. They remained 
there six months. He then spent six mouths in 



Milwaukee at the soldier's home, where he was 
under medical treatment. In 1869 he came to 
Albany and located about a mile north of the 
village, remaining there three years. He then 
removed to the village, living there until the 
time of his death, which occurred on -Feb. 27, 
1876. Mrs. Way purchased a residence in the 
new addition to Albany, which is an excellent 
location. She occupies this residence, but still 
retains the old home. She has an adopted 
daughter — Etta. 

John J, Putnam, one of the pioneers of Green 
county, was born in Hampshire county, in what 
is now West Virginia, July 3, 1801. He grew 
to manhood in his native State, being reared to 
agricultural pursuits. He was married in 1823 
to Mary Magdaline Fleck, a native of the same 
county, born July 7, 1803. In 1825 they went 
to Ohio, and lived a short time in Lancaster, 
Fairfield county, then removed to Athens county 
and purchased timber land and cleared a farm. 
In 1832, he sold out and moved to Licking 
county, where he bought land and cleared two 
farms. He made his home there until 1849, 
then sold and again started for a new country, 
taking his family, which consisted of his wife 
and six children, with two teams of horses, and 
bringing a portion of their household goods 
with them, and shipping the remainder to Mil- 
waukee. They arrived in Green county after 
twenty-five days travel, and settled in Sylvester 
upon land which he had purchased the previous 
year. They lived there but a short time, and re- 
moved to another tract of land which he had 
also purchased previously. It was located in 
the town of Decatur, where he opened a farm 
of 300 acres, and erected good buildings and 
made his home until the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1856. His wife died in 
1876. They left a family of seven children, 
all of whom are now living — Hiram D.,AnnE., 
John J., Oliver S., Olive E., Henry C. and Vir- 
ginia. The last named was born in Green 
county, where they are all living at present, 
except John J., who lives at Fort Worth, Texas, 



716 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Hiram D. Putnam was born in Lancaster, 
Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 31, 1826. He assisted 
his father in clearing the land, and tilling the 
soil. Taking advantage of such opportunities 
as offered, he obtained a good education. He 
came to Wisconsin with his parents,where he en- 
gaged in teaching school winters and farming 
the remainder of the year. He was married 
Dec. 18, 1856, to Sarah Cannet, who was born 
in Licking Co., Ohio. They settled upon land 
that he had previously bought, on section 4, of 
the town of Decatur, where he improved a farm 
of 400 acres, 155 of which is on section 33, 
town of Albany. In 1871 he came to Albany 
and purchased land which is within the village 
limits, on which he built the line brick residence 
he now occupies. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam are 
the parents of three children— Charles W., 
Lutie V. and John H. The sons, Charles W. 
and John H. carry on the farm. Upon the 
place is a large spring, which was in early times 
called "Indian spring," from the fact that near- 
ly all the farm was formerly au Indian camp- 
ing ground. About four rods west of the 
spring are five mounds, near which are traces of 
an Indian burial ground. The bottom lands 
were their corn field. Many relics have been 
picked up here. 

Samuel Mitchell removed from Boone Co., 
111., to Green Co., Wis., in the spring of 1842. 
He made a claim on the southwest quarter of 
section 29, which, a few months later he sold 
and bought the west half of the northwest 
quarter of section 23, and entered the east half 
of the same quarter, also the southwest quarter 
of the southwest quarter of section 28. He 
erected a log cabin near the spring, and broke 
some of the land. In 1844 he went to the 
pineries at Little Bull Falls, where he engaged 
in lumbering, and kept tavern awhile, then 
went to Warsaw, where he was also engaged in 
lumbering and hotel keeping. He remained in 
the pineries fifteen years, with the exception 
of one summer. He then returned and settled 
in Green county, upon his land. He afterwards 



erected a brick house upon the farm, which he 
occupied until 1874. He then rented the place 
and removed to Albany and bought the Green 
County House, and occupied that one year, then 
removed to Clark Co., Iowa, where he bought 
land and improved a farm, upon which he lived 
three years, then rented, and returned to Al- 
bany. Soon after he traded his Iowa farm for 
a farm on sections 4 and 5 of Decatur. He 
also sold the Green County House and bought 
a lot near by, to which he moved a frame house 
from his farm. He has since made this his 
home. He was born in Fayette Co.,Penn., Jan. 
15, 1816. He spent his younger days upon a 
farm in his native State. When he was twenty 
years old, his parents removed to Indiana and set- 
tled in Fountain county. He remained with 
them until 1838, when he was married to Jane 
Frazier, a native of Pickaway county, born in 
1814. They lived in Fountain county until 1839, 
then removed to Boone Co., 111., where they re- 
mained until 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have 
two children — Thomas and James. 

'Jhomas Mitchell was born in Boone Co., 111., 
March 19, 1841, and was one year old when he 
came with his parents, to Green county. He 
resided with them until 1868, when he was 
married to Lura West, better known as Ida 
Pond. He had purchased the Campbell farm on 
section 32, which was the first place settled in 
the town of Albany. Here he settled and en- 
gaged in raising grain and stock, and later, in 
the dairy business. In 1881 he rented the farm 
and moved to Albany, where he bought village 
property and erected a nice frame house which 
he now occupies. In 1882 he engaged in the 
lumber business and also deals in coal and 
wood. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents 
of two children — Jennie and Louie. 

Henry Brockway, station agent at Albany of 
the C. M. & St. P. R.. R., was born at Milan, 
Erie Co., Ohio, June 4, 1846, where in his youth 
he attended the public schools. When he was 
eleven years old he went with his parents to 
Wisconsin and located at Palmyra, Jefferson 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



717 



county. In 1862 he entered the United States 
service as teamster, went south and served the 
government in that capacity one year. In Au- 
gust, 1863, he enlisted in company B, Ist Wis- 
consin Heavy Artillery, and went to Forts Jones 
and Terrill, at Munfordville, on the Green 
river, Kentucky, and performed garrison duty 
one year. His company was detached from 
the regiment and went in pursuit of Morgan, 
having frequent skirmishes with that notable 
band in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. He 
was discharged with the company at Fort Clay, 



Lexington, Ky., in September, 1 865, and returned 
home. Soon afterwards he commenced the 
study of telegraphy in the railroad station, at 
Whitewater, and since that time has been in the 
employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company. He has had charge of the 
telegraph office at Whitewater, Madison, Bosco- 
bel, Monroe and other places. He went to Mon- 
roe in 1878, and remained until 1883, when he 
came to Albany. He was married in 1868 to 
Lydia A. Barlow. They have three children — 
James F., William H. and Ada A. 



718 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



TOWN OF BROOKLYN. 



The town of Brooklyn forms the northeast- 
ern corner of Green count)'^, comprising con- 
gressional township 4 north, range 9 east, and 
the north half of section 6, township 3 north, 
range 9 east, of the fourth principal meridian. 
Dane county bounds the town of Brooklyn on 
the north. Rock lies adjacent to the east, 
while to the west and south lie the towns of 
Exeter and Albany. The surface of this town 
is gently undulating, except along some of 
the small streams where it is low and flat. The 
soil on the uplands is a sandy loam, mixed with 
decayed vegetable matter ; on the prairie it is 
a rich dark loam ; and on the low lands it is of 
a black mucky nature. There is an abundance 
of natural timber in nearly all parts of the 
town. "Sugar river, the principal stream, enters 
the town by way of the northwest corner of 
section 30, and flows in a southerl}' direction 
to enter the town of Albany. At the present 
day the inhabitants are principally American 
born, but there is a large foreign element, 
among which the Irish predominate. As a 
class, the inhal)itants are very intelligent and 
industrious, and have made many valuable im- 
provements. Fine farm houses and large sub- 
stantial barns are found on every hand, show 
ing that the citizens are proud of their homes, 
and wish to have them surrounded wit)) all the 
comforts of thf btst social life. 

The assessment rolls show that the town of 
Brooklyn has 22.895 acres of farming lands, as- 
sessed at 1^14 per acre. '^Phe total valuation of 
real and personal property was. 8459, 984. In 
1880 the populiilion of the town was 1,17(1. 



The principal farm products grown in the town 
during the year 1882 were as follows : 822 bush- 
els wheat ; 82,475 bushels corn ; 58,945 bushels 
oats; 7,1 72 bushels potatoes; 3,015 bushels 
apples ; 13 bushels clover seed ; 36,300 pounds 
tobacco; 1,530 tons hay ; 33,070 pounds butter; 
18,800 pounds cheese. The acreage growing in 
the town at the time of making the annual as- 
sessments for the year 1883, was as follows: 
74 acres wheat; 2,495 acres corn; 2,135 acres 
oats ; 2 acres barley ; 44 acres rye ; 83 acres po- 
tatoes ; 78 acres apple orchard ; 3,183 bearing 
trees; 30 acres tobacco; 1,809 acres grass; 
3,877 acres growing timber. There were 814 
milch cows in the town, valued at $26,420. The 
live stock in the town was as follows : 648 
horses, average value $54.69, total 135,440; 
1,755 head cattle, average value 115.05, total 
$26,419; 2 mules, value $120; 2,645 sheep, 
average value $1 .99, total $5,278 ; 2,048 swine, 
average value $4.87, total $9,992. 

EARLY SETTI.KMENT. 

'{'he honor of being the first settler in the 
territory which now comprises this town be- 
longs to W. AV. McLaughlin. He was born 
near Urbaiia, Ohio, in 1807, and was converted 
and joined the M. E. Church when sixteen 
years of age. He united in maniage with 
Sarah Robinson in 1830 ; went to La Porte Co., 
Ind., in 1836, and, in 1838, married as a second 
wife, Emily Hazlotine. In the fall of 1842, he 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin and settled 
on the south half of section 3, township 4 north, 
range 9 east, of the fourth principal meridian, 
now in the town of Brooklyn, Here he resided 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



119 



until his death, April 2, 1877. The winter of 
1842-3 was very severe and is known among 
old settlers as the " hard winter." Mr. Mc- 
Laughlin moved into his log cabin about the 
1st of November, and on the 6th inst., winter 
began with a fall of six inches of snow, and 
continued until the 23d of April following. 
During this long and severe winter, he strug- 
gled with great difficulties and hardships, 
drawing straw fifteen miles. Out of a stock of 
thirty-four head of cattle, he had but few left, 
and an entire flock of sheep perished before 
spring. Such hardships as he endured would 
now appall the stoutest heart. During the fol- 
lowing spring he organized the first Methodist 
class in the neighborhood — there being neigh- 
bors in the adjoining counties. The meetings 
were held at his house, and he was the leader 
for many years. During the Civil War he was 
active and efficient in raising men, thereby 
avoiding drafts on the town for soldiers. He 
twice represented his district in the assembly, 
and often held town offices. In all positions he 
acquitted himself with credit. He was never 
known to use a profane word. 

J. F. Egglestone was born in Oxfordshire, 
England, June 2, 1799. He emigrated to the 
United States in 1838, arriving in Milwaukee, 
Wis., in May. He was a stone mason by trade 
and worked on the capitol building in Madison 
for a shprt time, but not liking the wild-cat 
money with which he was paid, he left there 
and returned to Milwaukee, where he worked 
on the light house for a short time. He and 
his brother then erected a light house at Racine, 
Wis. He then removed to Waukesha, where he 
and his brother had each taken a claim of 100 
acres of land. He there .worked at his tra<le, 
during which time he took a contract to built a 
school house, which was the first erected in the 
town. He afterwards sold liis farm, and in 
September, 1841, removed to Exeter, Green 
(county. He was soon after appointed by the 
county board to open up a road from Rock 
county to Exeter. Ho served as roar) supervi- 



sor for two years, and took his pay in county 
orders. In 1844 he removed to the farm he 
now owns. He has 235 acres, well stocked, and 
also has good buildings. He was married to 
Jane Gomm, in June, 1820. She died Feb. 19, 
1857, leaving eight children, five of whom have 
since died. He was married to Alice Brombert, 
Oct. 18, 1859. For a man of his age, he has 
most excellent health. When he first removed 
to this county, it was no uncommon sight to 
see deer and wolves every day. 

Leonard Doolittle came into the county in 

1843. He was a young man, and being poor, 
worked at whatever he found to do. As soon 
as he had earned a little money, he entered 
eighty acres of land on section 10, in this town, 
and in 1845, had some breaking done. He also 
made a claim on section 10, on which, assisted 
by his brother Ezra, he erected a good hewed 
log house in 1846. But as he was absent from 
home for a short time, his claim was "jumped" 
and entered by Daniel Northrup. Mr. Doolit- 
tle then erected a frame house on his own land, 
united in marriage with Adaline Simmons, of 
Dane county, and followed farming in this 
town until 1855. He then removed to Lake 
Co., III., where he has since become a promi- 
nent and well-to-do farmer. 

Chaj-les Sutherland settled on section 1, in 

1844, and was there engaged in farming for 
about ten years. He was afterwards engaged 
in a general mercantile business in Rock county, 
l)ut finally returned to the State of Illinois, 
where he had formerly resided. 

Martin Flood entered land on section 17, and 
settled on the same in 1844. He was a native 
of New England, a good citizen 'and possessed 
many warm friends. He was elected the first 
treasurer of the town of Brooklyn, afterwards 
served as chainnan, and 1856 represented his 
district in the assembly. When the Civil War 
broke out, he responded to the call by enlisting 
in company C, 3d regiment, Wisconsin Volun- 
teers, was elected captain and served as such 
until mustered out of service. He then re- 



720 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



turned to his home, but soon moved out of the 
State. 

Sylvester Gray, wife and five children — 
Charles S., Oscar A., A. A., D. A. and Mary L. 
— settled on section 9, town of [Brooklyn, in 
1845. Mr. Gray at first entered forty acres, 
purchased forty acres and pre-empted eighty 
acres; the pre-emption claim he also entered 
soon afterwards. He built a log cabin and en- 
gaged in farming. He subsequently removed 
to section 3, where he resided at the time of 
his death. Mr. Gray was born in Syracuse, N. 
Y. He was married to Louisa B. Judd, re- 
moved to Pennsylvania, thence to Ohio, and 
from there came to Wisconsin. Mrs. Gray, in 
1884, was still living on the old homestead. 

C. S. Gray was born in Warsaw, N. Y., Jan. 
25, 1827, and came with his parents to Wiscon- 
sin in 1845, and at once entered land on section 
4, of what now is the town of Brooklyn. In 
1851 he married Emarilla Smith, daughter of 
Stephen Smith. He followed farming until 
April, 1871, then removed into the village of 
Brooklyn, where he has since been manager of 
the branch store of the Evansville Mercantile 
Association. Politically he is a republican. He 
has been a member of the town board and served 
as treasurer. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have three 
children— O. C, E. H. and Luta. 

O. P. Stowell, a blacksmith by trade, settled 
at Attica in 1845. When the town of Brook- 
lyn was organized, he was elected the first town 
clerk. He afterwards removed to Nebraska. 

Alonzo Fenton joined the pioneers in this 
town on the 4th of July, 1845. He resided 
near W. W. McLaughlin's for a few months, 
then settled at Attica, and lias lived in that 
vicinity ever since. Mr. Fenton is a native of 
Chenango Co., N. Y., and was bred to farm life, 
which occupation he still pursues. Mrs. Fen- 
ton was formerly Ann Whipple. 

J. W. Hazeltine settled on the north half of 
section 3 in 1845, he having entered the land 
on the 26th day of December, 1839. Mr. Ha- 
zeltine still resides on the site he first chose. 



Harvey P. Starkweather came to the Terri- 
tory of Wisconsin in June, ] 845, and stopped 
in Rock county until the year following, when 
he came to this county. He was at that time 
unmarried, and worked out for SlO per month. 
In 1848 his parents, Anson and Luoretia Stark- 
weather, came to the county, and Harvey then 
resided with them. Aug. 22, 1850, he was 
married to Sarah Ryan, then of Rock county, 
but a native of New Brunswick. Her parents, 
Philip and Susan (Howell) Ryan, settled in 
Rock county in 1844, Mr. Starkweather has 
given his attention to farming, and now owns 
110 acres, with first class improvements, and is 
considered one of the well-to do men of the 
town. He was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 
March 7, 1825, and resided in his native county 
until he came to Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. 
Starkweather have had six children, five of 
whom are now living — Ellen P., Joseph P., 
Harvey R., Kate and Mabel. Susie May is de- 
ceased. Politically Mr. Starkweather is anti- 
monopoly. His father, Anson Starkweather, 
was the oldest person in the town of Brook- 
lyn in 1884. He was born in Rutland 
Co., Vt., Feb. 25, 1796. In 1822 he went 
into the State of New York and soon 
afterwards purchased land in the *own of 
Clymer, Chautauqua county, where he was the 
first settler. In September, 1823, Lucretia Price 
became his wife. She was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, Jan. 5, 1807. In 1848 they emigrated to 
Wisconsin, and settled where he now resides. 
They reared twelve children, two of whom were 
living in 1884 — Harvey and Emma, wife of F. S. 
Warner. They had two sons enlisted in the 
United States service. Melvin in company D, 7th 
Wisconsin. He was killed in battle May 24, 1864. 
Erastus A., enlisted in company E, 13th Wis- 
consin, ai:d died at Fort Donelson, March 28, 
1864, aged eighteen years. 

W. R. Smith came to Wisconsin in the spring 
of 1845, and in the fall of that year entered 
eighty acres on section 22, and has since been a 
resident of this town. He was born in Canada 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



723 



on the lltb day of August, 1827. He united 
in marriage witli Ann D. Foster in October, 
1845. She was born in Essex Co., N. Y., on the 
24th of May, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have 
had three children — Henry, Warren and Arti- 
missa. 

Robert Godfrey and his two sons, G. G. and 
Clark, settled on section 32 in 1845. He after- 
wards removed to Monticello. 

William R. Smith, Sr., in the fall of 1845, 
settled on section 15, and there resided until 
his death in 1856. Mr. Smith was born in Lon- 
don, England. When a mere youth he went on 
board a ship as cabin boy, and for many years 
subsequently followed the life of a sailor. 
While in Canada he was married to Catharine 
Eldridge. He subsequently lived in the States 
of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, coming 
from the latter to Wisconsin. Mrs. Smith died 
on the 22d of July, 1880. Of the eight children 
born unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith, six are now liv- 
ing — William R., Caroline, George L., Lucy 
Ann, Cyrus and Maiy. 

James Nelson Patterson became a resident of 
the town in 1846, in October of which year he 
pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 22. 
The first to\^n meeting was held in his log 
cabin. He remained a resident of the town 
until April, 1881, then removed to Evansville 
and retired from active life. Mr. Patterson 
was born in the State of New York, removed 
with his parents to Ohio, then united in mar- 
riage with Harriet VanDusen, thence came to 
Wisconsin, making the journey with a team, 
and became a resident of Green county. 

Emerson Patterson, a young man and brother 
J. N. Patterson, also came in 1846. He, how- 
ever, remained but a short time, then went into 
the pineries. He died at Necedah in 1868. 

Jeremiah Anderson in 1846 settled on section 
23, and was there engaged in farming for many 
years. He afterwards resided in the village of 
Brooklyn, where he died. He had a son — 
Amos, who went to California. 



Ezra Doolittle is one of the pioneers of 1846. 
He was born in Washington Co, N. Y., Nov. 
23, 1817. His parents, Leonard and Anna 
Maria (Atwater) Doolittle, were natives of 
Connecticut. In 1824 the family moved to 
Mercer Co., Penn., where Ezra grew to man- 
hood, and united in marriage Dec. 17, 1840, 
with Jane Potter. He followed farming and 
lumbering. His wife died Dec. 20, 1843, leav- 
ing one daughter, Margaret Jane, born Oct. 31, 
1843, who is now the wife of D. H. Glidden, 
living in the town of Brooklyn. In June, 
1846, he came to Wisconsin. His brother Leon- 
ai'd, who came here before Ezra, settled on sec- 
tion 10, where he lived until 1854, then moved 
to Lake Co., 111., where he now lives, engaged 
in farming. Here Ezra took an invoice of his 
worldly goods and found that his capital 
amounted to |23.60. He went immediately to 
work at whatever he found to do. In 1847 he 
made a claim on section 10, now in the town of 
Brooklyn, and hired some breaking done, and a 
few acres of wheat put in. In the fall of the 
year he returned to Pennsylvania, where he 
had a small sura of money due him, but he was 
unable to collect it and was oblige«l to remain 
there all winter. On his return to W^isconsin 
he found his claim entered, but he bought the 
claim, paying 25 per cent, interest for three 
years for the money. Here Mr. Doolittle set- 
tled and followed farming for several years. 
March 16, 1854, he was married to Caroline M. 
Mack. In November, 1859, he moved to his 
present home, located on section 9. His wife 
died April 6, 1862, leaving one daughter, Ida. 
Jan. 6, 1868, he was married to Sarah A. Jones. 
He now owns 200 acres, and his improvements 
are among the best in town. He is engaged in 
general farming. In politics Mr. Doolittle was 
formerly a democrat, but since 1860 has voted 
with the republican party, and has held local 
otHcp. Mr. Doolittle's present wife was Mrs. 
Sarah Jones, previously Sarah A. Roberts, and 
fornierly Sarah A. Melvin. She was a native 
of Maine, and came to Wisconsin in 1856. She 



42 



724 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



was first married in Ohio, then moved to Rock 
county, where her husband died. She then re- 
turned to Oliio and was again married and re- 
moved to Illinois, where her second husband 
died. She then moved to Sheboygan Co., Wis., 
thence to this county, where she was married 
to her present husband. William E. Doolittle 
also came here from Pennsylvania, about 1852, 
and settled in the town of Brooklyn and engaged 
in farming, where he lived fourteen'^years, then 
moved to Jones Co., Iowa, where he now re- 
sides on a farm. The two daughters of Mr. 
Doolittle — Margaret Jane, was born Oct. 31, 
1843; and Ida was born Dec. 16, 1859, and is 
now living at home. Samuel Doolittle came 
to the county in the spring of 1848, remained 
a few years, then went to Janesville and 
learned the painters trade. He was mar- 
ried to Frances Arnold. When the war 
broke out he enlisted in the 12tli Wiscon- 
sin Battery and was killed at Allatoona, Ga. His 
only daughter is now the wife of Herbert Gray. 
Alfred Doolittle came to the county and re- 
mained about two years, then went to Min- 
nesota. 

Jonathan Smith was born in Ohio, March 7, 
1820, and came with his parents, Stephen and 
Philura (Love) Smith, to Wisconsin, in July, 
1843. He resided with them in Walworth 
county until December, 1846, then came to 
Green county and entered land on section 11, 
of the town of Brooklyn, where he has since 
resided with the exception of eighteen months 
spent in Iowa. He owns eighty acres of land. 
He was married in January, 1878, to Mrs. Mary 
A. (Thompson) Anderson. They have one son — 
Forest A. Mrs. Smith has one daughter by her 
former marriage. 

George Lozer came in 1846, and resided on 
section 18 for about twenty years, then left the 
State. One of his daughters is now the wife 
of James Root. 

Rev. John Sawin and three sons — Alvin, 
Ethan and Lorenzo — settled on the southwest 
qtittrtfer of f<t'Ction 12, in the spring of 184R. He 



was born in Williiigton, Tolland Co , Conn., 
/ind at the age of eleven years removed with 
his parents to Washington Co., N. Y., and after- 
wards to Herkimer county in the same State. 
His early life was spent on a farm. He received 
a good common school education, and spent a 
part of his time in teaching. He was united in 
marriage to Orrel Tennant, June 25, 1813, in 
Herkimer Co., N. Y. She was born in Spring- 
field, Otsego Co., N. Y., April 28, 1793. He 
was ordained a Baptist minister in the town of 
Exeter, Otsego Co., N. Y. In 1828 he moved 
to Springfield, N. Y., where he resided four 
years, devoting his time to the ministry. In 
1832 he went to Ripley, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 
where he also labored as a minister of the gospel. 
On Feb. 19, 1846,. he started with a team and 
three of his children, and emigrated to Wiscon- 
sin, then a Territory, and arrived in Walworth 
county. He returned to New York by steamer, 
starting from Racine, Wis., and reached home 
May 7. June 10, of the same year, he bid fare- 
well to his relatives and friends, and with the 
remainder of his family, started from Erie, 
Penn., up the lakes, reaching Racine, Wis., 
June 14. From there he went to Walworth 
county, where he remained until the following 
September, when he located at Brooklyn, Green 
county. Hauling lumber from Racine, he built 
a shanty 18x30 feet in size, on section 12, town- 
ship 4, range 9 east, and moved his family there. 
He was the first Baptist minister in the Terri- 
tory. Here he labored until the weakness of 
old age suspended his work as a minister. His 
death occurred in 1866. His wife died in 1873. 
They were the parents of thirteen children, 
eleven of whom are now (1884) living— Aurilla, 
Ann Eliza, Alvin J., Clarissa, Eihan P., Lucinda, 
Lorenzo D., Mary Jane, Marinda, Eleanor M. 
and Julia. 

Alvin J., son of John Sawin, was born in Che- 
nango Co., N. Y., in 1819. He came to Wis- 
consin in 1844, and settled on Spring Prairie, 
Walworth county. In 1846 he came to Green 
couniy in company with his father. The old 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



725 



homestead is owned by Aurilla, Alvin J., and 
Marinda, who have retired from tlie farm, and 
are residing in Evansville, Rock Co., Wis. 

Amos D. Kirkpatrick came from Ohio and 
took up his abode in this town in 1846. He 
settled on section 18, and was the first to im- 
prove what is now known as the Dalryraple 
farm. Mr. Kirkpatrick at once became promi- 
nent among the pioneers, and at the first town 
meeting he served as one of the judges of elec- 
tion, and was elected chairman of the board of 
supervisors. In the fall of 1854 he was elected 
to the legislature and thus served his district in 
the assembly the following year. In 1864 he 
sold his farm and removed to Missouri. 

William Kirkpatrick came with his brother 
Amos and settled on section 7, where he was 
engaged in farming until his death. 

Ralph Ray came in 1846 and resided ou sec- 
tion 20, for about twenty years. He then re- 
moved to Dayton and afterwards to Iowa. 

Abram Stopp, a wagon maker by trade, 
located on section 18, in 1846. He died in 
about 1856, and his widow subsequently went to 
California. 

Edward Klace settled on section 18, in 1846, 
and resided there until after the war. 

Charles Snow came in 1847, and settled on 
section 17, where he resided until his death in 
1856. His wife, formerly Ellen Paylor, still re- 
sides on the place, and is now married to Ste- 
phen Lewis. 

Robert Tomson, familiarly known as "Scotch 
Tomson," came to the United States in 1842, 
and in 1848 became a resident of Green county, 
settling on section 34, Brooklyn. He was a 
poor man and experienced many hardships of 
pioneer life. He resided in this town for about 
twenty-five years, then removed to Albany. 

Edward N. Kerby, a native of England, who 
possessed consideral)le of this world's goods, 
became a resident of the town in 1848. • He 
])urc1".ased considerable land and was afterwards 
engaged in a general mercantile busineBS at 
Attica. 



John Henderson settled on section 20, In 1848. 
He was a carpenter by trade. In the fall of 
1849 his house was destroyed by fire, after 
which he left the county and when last heard 
from was a soldier in the Civil War. 

William Carter came from New York and 
resided on section 18, until his death in about 
1860. He had a large family of children, all of 
whom have left the county. 

George Henderson and family were among 
the pioneers who came in 1848. 

Monroe Carpenter, an early pioneer, resided 
on section 17. He died in November, 1848. 

The following named persons voted at the 
election in the town of Brooklyn, in 1850, and 
again cast their ballots at the election in this 
town twenty-five years later: Davis Fenton, 
Jonathan Smith, C. D. W Leonard, Franklin 
Patterson, J. N. Patterson, Alonzo Purintun, 
David Heathraan, John Pace, D. N. Shaw, 
Ezra Doolittle, C. A. Montgomery, O. P. 
Stowell, Otis Tompson, J. F. Eggleston, Joel 
Smith, J. W. Hazeltine, Jereniiali Anderson, 
W. R. Smith, Jr., ChnH-s W. Gray, William 
Kirkpatrick, Powell Shell, W. W. McLaughlin 
and Sylvester Gray. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

The first child born within the territory, 
which now comprises the town of Brooklyn, 
was Delila Victoria Gilbert, the date of her 
birth being Jan. 1, 1846. The first marriage 
ceremony was performed by Jacob Linza, Esq., 
at the residence of W. R. Smith, Sr. This 
was in February, 1846, the contracting parties 
being D. R. Corsaw and Caroline Smith. 

The first religious services were held at the 
house of W W. McLaughlin. There was a 
Methodist Episcopal class organized at this 
place in the spring of 1843, and Mr. McLaugh- 
lin was the first class leader. 

The first death was that of Henry Montgom- 
ery, which occurred in 1846. His remains 
were first buried on section 13, but afterwards 
removed to their final resting place in the 
Bfobklyn rtfemetfery. Mr. Montsfomery had 



726 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



settled on section 13, in 1845. He was a native 
of Vermont, and served as a soldier in the War 
of 1812, 

ORGANIC. 

In 1849, a meeting was held at the house of 
Robert Godfrey, for the purpose of selecting 
delegates to send to Monroe, and have congres- 
sional township 4 north, range 9 east,of the fourth 
principal meridian, organized as a civil town- 
ship. The delegates were: J. W. Patterson, 
W. B. Patterson and Addison Barton. They 
chose the name " York." But when they ar- 
rived at Monroe, they found a delegation from 
the northwest part of the county had already 
presented the name of " York," and thus the 
gentlemen who were a little late, contented 
themselves with the name of "Brooklyn." 

The first town meeting was held at the house 

of James Nelson Patterson, on the 7th of April, 

1849. Amos D. Kirkpatrick, Wilson I. Day 

and Daniel A. Dustin, served as judges, and G. 

G. Godfrey and J. W. Hazeltine as clerks of 

this meeting. The following named were 

elected as the first officers : Supervisors, Amos 

D. Kirkpatrick, chairman, D. A. Barton and 

Sylvester Gray ; town clerk, O. P. Stowell ; 

treasurer, Martin Flood ; assessor, W. W. 

McLaughlin ; superintendent of schools, G. G. 

Godfrey ; justices of the peace, Leroy IIudsoTi 

and William Kirkpatrick ; constables, Leonard 

Doolittle, Allen "Whipple and Joseph Atwood. 

J. W. Hazeltine carried the election returns 

to Monroe, the county seat. The county board 

of supervisors in equalizing the assessment of 

the several townships, fixed the valuation of all 

the real and personal property in the town of 

Brooklyn at S34,415. The amount of State tax 

to be raised was four mills on the dollar. The 

amount of school tax was two and one half (2^) 

mills on the dollar, and the amount of county 

was six mills on the dollar. The following 

amounts were charged the town treasurer: Town 

tax S250, State tax Il37.6fi, school tax 186.04 

and county tax $206.89, the total amount 

of tax $680.19. The following is the 



roster of officers from 1849 to 1884, as copied 
from the record : Chairman, Amos D. Kirkpat- 
rick ; Chester Witter, H. M. Allen, Martin 
Flood, W. W. McLaughlin, Levi Crawford, J. 

A. Sawin, D. N. Shaw, H. R. Allen, C. D. 
W. Leonard, James Root, F. R. Melvin, John 
Dalrymple, E. J. Andrew, Stephen Swan. 
Town clerks: O. P. Stowell, Edmund Hill, W. 

B. Patterson, II. M. Allen, James McCoy, 
Tracy Montgomery, E. J. Andrew, Edward 
Netherwood, J. W. Hazeltine, M. F. Ross, B. 
S.Axtel and Henry Smith. Assessors: W. W. 
McLaughlin, Andrew Bennett, Thomas Kelley, 
William Kirkpatrick, Zelo Benningham, H. B. 
Capwell, Jacob Deremer, D. N. Shaw, C. D. 
W. Leonard, Harvey Church, James Root, W. 
W. Young, L. D. Dalrymple and O. F. Walliham. 
Treasurers: Martin Flood, D.N.Shaw, C.S. Gray, 
F. B. Patterson, A. Z. Bennett, A. Leonard, F. R. 
Melvin, C. A. Montgomery, Henry B. Lay, S. 
Andrews, D. O. Lockwood, C. M. Fuller, Hi- 
ram Patterson, Frank Pratt, A. G. Ellis and 
John Bell. 

BROOKLYN CEMETERY. 

For several years after the first settlement 
was made, there was no regular cemetery and 
thus the remains of those who died were buried |, 
in various places. Every time the people were 
summoned to bury one of their number they 
regretted that they had not a regular burying 
ground. This continued until March 26, 1853, 
on which day, W. W. McLaughlin, H. M. Allen, 
George Fletcher, W. B. Patterson, Thomas 
King, Andrew Bennett, Daniel Northrum, 
Stephen Smith, E. Collier, Otis Tompson, 
Jeremiah Anderson and J. N. Patterson met at 
the scl->ool house in district No. JO, and formed 
the "Brooklyn Cemeteiy Association" for the 
purpose of procuring and holding land to be 
used exclusively for a cemetery. H. M. Allen 
was chosen as chairman and W. B. Patterson, 
as secretary of the meeting. W. B. Patterson 
W. W. McLaughlin, Thomas King and Stephen 
Smith were chosen as a committee to select and 
purchase a suitable ground. They chose three 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



121 



acres located on the southeast corner of section 
15, and the same has since formed the Brook- 
lyn cemetery. The first burial took place in 
1853, a daughter, Amelia, of Thomas Campbell, 
of Exeter. The first trustees of the association 
were: Stephen Smith, H. M. Allen and W. W. 
McLaughlin. The annual meetings are held on 
the first Saturday in March. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The pioneers in the territory which now com- 
prises Brooklyn were an intelligent and wide- 
awake class of citizens, who realized the neces- 
sity of education. Thus, as soon as a few fam- 
ilies had settled in a neighborhood a school 
house was built and a teacher employed to give 
instruction to the young. The teacher's wages 
was usually paid by subscription, or by a tax 
levied upon the patrons of the school in pro- 
portion to the number of days their children 
had attended. 

The first school house was erected in the 
spring of 1846. It was located on section 3, 
and Lavina Godfrey was the first teacher. 

The second school house was built in the fall 
of 1846. It was located on what is now dis- 
trict No. 11. To build this house each citizen 
in the neighborhood furnished three logs and 
willing hands soon had the building complete. 
The first teacher at this place was Mrs. Caro- 
line Corsaw. There was also a school house 
erected on section 13, in 1846. 

In 1884 there were ten school districts in the 
town, and educational facilities here are equal to 
those of any town in the county. 

In 1849 the town of Brooklyn was organized 
into school districts, and the people in district 
No. 10 erected a stone school house on the 
southwest corner of section 14. The first teach- 
er in this building was Kate Kilroy. 

The people in the northern part of the town 
of Albany and those living in the southern part 
of the town of Brooklyn organized a joint dis- 
trict for school purposes in 1850, and the first 
school was taught in a claim shanty located on 
section 32, Brooklyn, Mary Barnes being the 



first teacher. The money necessary to defray 
the expenses of the school was raised by a per 
capita tax which was collected by Alouzo Pur- 
intun. 

VILLAGE OF ATTICA. 

In 1845 a traveler passing through the vicin- 
ity of Attica — then called Winneshiek — would 
have found a saw and grist mill, owned and 
operated by Newell Dustin; Elijah Thompson, a 
son-in-law of Dustin, assisting about the mill; 
Ben Cross]" working at the cooper's trade; 
Chester Whitler engaged in farming; Lorenzo 
Barnes doing the blacksmith work, and a man 
by the name of Doane assisting Mr. Cross. 

The village was first called Winneshiek, then 
Milford, but soon changed back to Winneshiek. 
When the postoffice was established it was 
called Attica, as there was, at that time, one 
postoftice in the State named Winneshiek. 
The name, Attica, was suggested by Jeptha 
Davis, formerly from Attica, N. Y. The vil- 
lage did not grow very rapidly, although for 
several years it received the trade from quite a 
large scope of country. In 1884 we find a good 
flouring mill owned and operated by Joseph 
Bartlett; one general store kept by S. A. Scott; 
a wagon shop by Joshua Clark; a blacksmith 
shop by Benjamin Cleveland; a hotel by Oscar 
Persons; a school house, one Church society and 
a postoffice. 

S. A. Scott, son of Amos Scott, was born in 
Livingston Co., N. Y., on the 16th day of Sep- 
tember, 1827. He was reared upon a farm, and 
remained in his native State until 1852. He 
then went to Ohio where he was married to 
Martha Archer. In 1856 he came to Green 
county, and followed farming in the town of 
Exeter until 1879. In that year he engaged in 
general merchandising at Attica. Mr, Scott 
was formerly a democrat in his political prefer- 
ences but is now a liberal. Ho has held the 
office of assessor, and in 1884, was postmaster 
at Attica. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have four chil- 
dren — Benjamin, Orrin, Emmett and Adalbert. 



128 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Joshua Clark settled at Attica on the 12th 
day of May, 1857, and has since given his atten- 
tion exclusively to his trade, wagon making, 
and is therefore one of the oldest wagon makers 
in the county. He was born in Washington Co., 
Vt., and in 1833 made a claim on land now oc- 
cupied by the city of Janesville, and in the 
same year helped erect the first log cabin at 
that place. 

In 1846 Jeptha Davis purchased of Newel 
Dustin an interest in the water power. A new 
dam was built, and in the fall of that year Mr. 
Davis built a wool carding mill, and also oper- 
ated a dye house. He expected to afterwards 
build a large woolen mill, but as his sons did 
not like the business and he was getting old, he 
gave up the project. The carding mill was 
afterwards owned by James Cromj^ton, and was 
operated for thirty years. 

Jeptha Davis, a pioneer of the town of 
Brooklyn, was born in Massachusetts, in 1795. 
He remained in his native State until twenty- 
three years of age, then went to Wyoming 
Co., N. Y., and was married in Varysburg, in 
1820, to Harriet Conger, a native of Paris, 
Oneida Co., N. Y. He built a woolen mill in 
Varysburg, also owned a saw mill. He engaged 
in oporating the former about twenty-five years. 
In 1846 he came to Green county and settled in 
Brooklyn, where he entered about 400 acres of 
land, and engaged in farming. He built the 
first frame house in Attica, also erected a 
woolen mill in which he carried on carding and 
cloth dressing. He continued in business here 
until 1858, when he sold out and retired from 
active business. He resided in Attica until the 
time of his death, which occurred in 1863. He 
was prominently identified with the business 
interests of the town of Brooklyn for a number 
of years, and was a highly respected citizen, 
Mr. and Mrs. Davis had eight children, five of 
w^hom are now living — Corintha, now Mrs. Hill, 
and living in Lincoln, 111.; Truman P., living 
in Aliens Grove, Walworth county; Romanzo 
E., of Middleton, Dane county; Amanda, now 



Mrs. Best, of Washington, D. C, and Sarah, 
wife of S. S. Hills, of Albany. Alvira, wife of 
Everett Dodge, an early settler of Brooklyn; 
Louisa, wife of Alpheus Laird, of Attica, and 
Electa, wife of Henry L. Hyde, of Middleton, 
are deceased. Mrs, Davis is still living, at the 
advanced age of eighty-two, and resides, the 
greater part of the time, with her son Romanzo 
E., at Middleton, Dane county. 

At the point where Attica is located on sec- 
tion 31, Sugar river furnishes a good mill privi- 
lege, a six foot head of water. This power was 
first utilized in 1845, in which year a man 
named Lytchfield, generally known as "the 
Wild Yankee," built a dam across the stream 
and erected a saw and grist mill. He operated 
the mill but a short time, then sold to Newell 
Dustin. In 1846 he sold to Lucius and Wilson 
Day, and Chester Whitter, who added a whisky 
still, established a store and carried on a large 
and paying business. In about 1850, Wilson 
Day went to California, and one year later was 
followed by Chester Whitter, thus leaving 
Lucius Day sole proprietor. He afterward sold 
the property to Mr. McKinney. In 1854 Wel- 
ton & Bartlett purchased the property, rebuilt 
the mill in 1855, and operated it until 1866, 
since which time Joseph Bartlett has been sole 
proprietor. The mill is 30x50 feet in size, has 
two run of stone and is operated as a custom 
mill. 

Joseph Bartlett, proprietor of the Attica Mills, 
is a native of Wiltshire, England, where he was 
born on the 1st day of August, 1825. He 
learned the miller's trade in his native country. 
In 1849 he emigrated to the United States and 
first stopped in the State of New York. He 
also spent one winter in Canada, then came to 
Wisconsin and stopped a few months at Janes- 
ville; and in 1851 chose Green county as his 
future home. He first worked at Albany, but 
in 1854, in partnerskip with Mr, Welton, he pur- 
chased his present mill property. Mr. Bartlett 
is a good financier and has accumulated con- 
siderable of this world's goods. The children 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



729 



are — Henrietta, Elizabeth, Chauncy, Cliarlotte, 
Sarah, Lillie, Myrtie and Gertrude. 

The postoffice of Attica was established at an 
early day and E. N. Kerby was the first post- 
master. He was in turn succeeded by J. E. 
Hunter, Nelson Evans, Joshua Clark, David C. 
Heathman, C. D. W. Leonard and S. A. Scott. 
Mail is received daily by stage, Attica being 
on the route between Albany and Belleville. 

An M. E. class was organized at this place at 
a very early day in the history of the county, 
and meetings were held quite regularly for 
many years. The present class was organized 
in 1874, and in that year the people built the 
present church edifice. It is a stone building 
and cost $2,250. The house of worship is to 
be free to all denominations, but the Methodist 
Episcopal are to have the preference. The so- 
ciety now has a membership of about thirty- 
five and the pulpit is supplied from Albany, 
the same pastor officiating at both places. 

VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN. 

No sooner was the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railroad completed, than H. B. Capwell platted 
a village on the northeast corner of the town. 
The railroad company proposed to call the sta- 
tion Capwell, but as Mr. Capwell objected to 
the use of his name that of Brooklyn was 
chosen. 

H. B. Capwell, the founder of the village of 
Brooklyn, became a resident of the State of 
Wisconsin in Octobor, 1854; the following win- 
ter he taught school at Union, Rock county, 
and in the spring purchased the land now occu- 
pied by the village of Brooklyn, this county. 
The land was covered with timber, but he soon 
cleared a portion and engaged in farming. In 
1864 the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was 
completed through this section of country, and 
the company, upon the request of Mr. Capwell 
and others, established a depot in Green county. 
They proposed to call the station "Capwell," 
but as Mr. Capwell objected they gave it the 
name of "Brooklyn." He was the first station 
agent and resided here until 1868, then sold out 



and went to Fayette Co., Iowa, where he died 
in 1881. Mr. Capwell was born in Wyoming 
Co., N. Y. He was married to Elizabeth Lock- 
wood, daughter of Horace and Maria Lockwood. 
He was a republican in politics, and served one 
term as sheriff of Green county and one term in 
the same position in Fayette Co., Iowa. He 
was a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the M. 
E. ("hurch. 

The first building erected was a warehouse 
built by H. B. Capwell, D. O. Lockwood hew- 
ing the first stick of timber for the same. 

The second building was erected by B. S. 
Axtell and was occupied by him for store pur- 
poses. 

The village has made a steady growth and in 
1884 we find four general stores, one drug store, 
one hardware store, a large elevator, two hotels, 
a graded school, one church, postoffice, two 
blacksmith and wagon shops, harness shop, 
meat market, lumber yard, creamery, shoe shop, 
and barber shop. 

FIRST THINGS IN THE VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN. 

First settler, H. B. Capwell, 1855; the first 
merchant was B. S. Axtel, 1864; the first post- 
master, H. B. Capwell; first blacksmith, T. B. 
Conradson; first shoemaker, Thomas Qualley; 
first warehouse, H. B. Capwell; first elevator, 
E. J. Andrew; first lumber yard was owned by 
J. C. Carpenter. 

PHYSICIANS. 

II. C. Leach was the first physician to locate 
at this place. He came here a number of years 
ago, and practiced for several years. In 1884 
he was proprietor of the Northwestern Hotel. 
The second physician was Dr. H. R. Bulsou; he 
located here in 1878. He was well liked and 
had a good practice. In 1880 he removed to 
Evansville. The third and present physician is 
Dr. W. F. Howe, who located here in March, 
1880. He is a graduate of Rush Medical Col- 
lege, Chicago. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The Methodist Episcopal society is repre- 
sented here, but their place of worship is 



780 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



located in the eastern part of the village and is 
consequently in Dane county. The society was 
organized in 1854, and services were held at 
Union, Rock county, until 3 866, when the 
church was removed to its present location. 
Rev. Chadeen was the pastor at that time. He 
was a wide-awake gospel worker, and at the 
same time he was not afraid of manual labor, 
for during the rebuilding of the church he 
took the part of a common laborer and assisted 
in whatever he found to do. During the winter 
of 1866-V, ho conducted a series of revival 
meetings through which the membership of the 
society increased to nearly forty. The society at 
present has a good membership and holds meet- 
ings regularly. 

BROOKLYN GRADED SCHOOL. 

A school was taught at the residence of H. 
B. Capwell, at an early day, the teacher being 
Miranda Smith. But the first teacher who 
taught within the present limits of the village 
of Brooklyn was Julia Wheelock. A joint 
district was formed, comprising territory in 
Green, Dane and Rock counties, and in 1883 the 
present school building was erected. It is a 
two-story edifice, veneered with brick, and cost 
about $3,000. The first teachers in this build- 
ing were Nellie Gillis and Nellie Drown. The 
school is well graded and furnishes every op- 
portunity necessary in receiving an education, 
which will fit the young for any of the common 
walks in life. 

FIRE AT BROOKLYN. 

On the 2d of April, 1882, at about 10 o'clock 
p. M. a fire was discovered in the elevator of E. 
J. Andrew. The flames spread rapidly and soon 
the elevator, ice house, depot and a saloon 
building were destroyed. The people had just 
returned to their homes when, at 4 o'clock a. m. 
the cry of fire again rang out. This time 
smoke was seen issuing from the store of E. 
W. Whitrnore. In a few moments the flames 
burst out and in a short time E. W. Whitmore's 
clothing store, A. G. Ellis' drug store, and a 
meat market were burned to the ground. The 



loss by this fire was about $25,000. Insurance, 
|1 5,000. This was a severe blow to the citizens, 
but they went manfully to work and soon re- 
built. 

BUSINESS INTERESTS. 

The first merchant in the village of Brook- 
lyn was B. S. Axtel, who erected a small build- 
ing and opened a store in 1865. As his busi- 
ness increased, he enlarged his store and con- 
tinued in trade until his death, in October, 1880, 
since which time the business has been owned 
and conducted by Mrs. Axtel. 

The second store was opened by Samuel An- 
drews, who, in 1867, established a hardware 
business. Mr. Andrews sold to E. J. Andrew, 
he to Joseph H. Wood and he in turn to O. O. 
Gordon, the present owner. 

The third store building was erected by Mr. 
Turner, but the tix'm of L. J. Wilder & Co., 
was the first to occupy it. The firm consisted 
of L. J. Wilder, W. F. Smith and A. Eager. 
They established their business in 1872. In 
1875 L. J. Wilder became sole proprietor and 
still conducts the business. 

The Evansville Mercantile Association estalj- 
lished a branch store here in 1876. The store 
is still owned by the association, and has a good 
trade. C. S. Gray is the business manager. 

A. G. Ellis was the first to embark in the drug 
trade. He established business in the spring of 
1879. One year later he added a stock of jew- 
elry, which he has since carried in connection 
with drugs, books and stationery. 

E. W. Whitmore became a resident of the 
town of Brooklyn, in March, 1865, where he was 
engaged in farming until 1879. He then estab- 
lished a clothing business at the village of 
Brooklyn. Unfortunately his store and goods 
were destroyed by fire, but he at once rebuilt, 
and has since carried on a general mercantile 
business. He was born near Attica, N.Y., June 
26, 1832. His parents were James and Margaret 
(Edwardfs) Whitmore. He assisted his father, 
who was a contractor, in building the bridges 
and cattle guards on the New York & Erie Rail- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



731 



road, between Attica and Warsaw, and after- 
ward served as locomotive engineer for a num- 
ber of years. He was married July 29, 1853, to 
Miss L. A. Lockwood, daughter of Horace and 
Maria (Brainard) Lockwood. 

The first lumber yard was established by J. 

C. Carpenter. He was succeeded by Hiram 
Graves, and then in 1875 came the present 
proprietors, Lovejoy & Richards, both of whom 
are non-residents. The business is conducted 
by J. W. Blair. About 1,500,000 feet of lumber 
are handled annually. 

The first public house opened under the pre- 
tentious name of "Hotel," was kept by Mr. 
Ames, but H. B. Capwell had, for several years, 
kept a boarding house. D. H. Glidden built a 
hotel and ran the same until 1879. It is now 
owned by Mr. Berg. The Northwestern Hotel 
is owned and run by Dr. II. C. Leach. 

The first blacksmith sliop was opened in 1865, 
by T. B. Conradson, who is still in business. 
The second was Robert Clough. He remained 
but a short time, however. Tiie shop is now 
owned by A. J. Leonard. 

WAREHOUSES AND ELEVATORS. 

The first warehouse was erected by H. B. 
Capwell, in 1864. He sold to L. Parker, he to 

D. H. Glidden and he to E. J. Andrew. 

E. A. Foot, of Footville, also built a ware- 
house, which was afterward purchased by E. J. 
Andrew. 

The first elevator was built by E. J. Andrew 
& Sons, in 1874. It was destroyed by the fire 
in 1882. They then built the present elevator, 
which has a capacity of nearly 100,000 bushels, 
and is considered the best elevator between 
Chicago and Winona. It is now owned by 
Andrew Bros. This firm is the successor to 

E. J. Andrew & Sons, and the members are: 
Homer, W. W. and G. II. Andrew. They are 
all wide-awake business men, and through their 
energy, lirooklyn has become noted as an ex- 
cellent market for all kinds of farm products. 
The firm handles about 160,000 bushels of grain 
and 200 car loads of live stock annually, besides 



dealing extensively in wool, poultry, game, 
butter, eggs and mill feed. 

E. J. Andrew was born Oct. 31, 1821, in Her- 
kimer Co., N. Y., three miles east of the city 
of Utica, on the "Mohawk Flats." At the age 
of twenty-one he became a student at Clinton 
Seminary, receiving an academic education. In 
1846 he was married to Martha E. Bettinger, of 
Little Falls, N. Y., by whom he had eight chil- 
dren, four sons and four daughters. In 1860 
he removed to Wisconsin, and settled at Foot- 
ville, Rock county. In January, 1863, he formed 
a co-partnership with Hon. E. A. Foot in the 
grain and. produce business at Oregon, Dane 
county, taking charge of the business at that 
place, under the firm name of Foot & Andrew. 
After carrying on the business at that place 
for three years he removed to the village of 
Brooklyn, his present place of residence, the 
firm having first established a warehouse at that 
place. In 1870 he bought out the entire inter- 
est of his partner (E. A. Foot), and formed a 
new partnership with three of his sons — Homer 
Andrew, William Wallace Andrew and George 
Howard Andrew — continuing the business un- 
der the name of E. J. Andrew & Sons. In 
1882, after establishing branch warehouses at 
Footville and Oregon, he retired from active 
business, owing to failing health, first, however, 
turning over the entire business to his three 
sons, who still carry it on under the firm name 
of Andrew Bros. 

BROOKLYN CHEESE FACTORY. 

This factory was built in 1873 by F. R. Mel- 
vin and Hiram Graves. These gentlemen 
operated under the firm name of Graves & Mel- 
vin two years, when Mr. Graves sold his inter- 
est to A. A. Melvin and J. W. Blair, and the 
firm became Melvin & Blair. In 1880 F. R. 
and A. A. Melvin sold their interests to L. J. 
Wilder, and the firm became Wilder & Blair. 
This firm continued in business until 1883, in 
which year the property was purchased by E. 
Devereaux, who, in the spring of 1884, trans- 



732 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



formed the factory into a creamery, and is now 
operating it as such. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The Brooklyn postoffice was established with 
II. B. Capwell aa the first postmaster. He was 
succeeded in 1865 by B. S. Axtel, who held the 
office until liis death, in 1880, when it passed 
into the hands of Mrs. B. S. Axtel, the present 
incumbent. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The following named are a few of the enter- 
prising citizens of the town of Brooklyn who 
deserve notice in the history of their town and 
county. 

A. C. Puriiigton is a son of H. M. and Eunice 
Purington. He was born in Jetferson Co., N. 
Y., on the 4th day of December, 1842. When 
he was five years old his parents emigrated to 
"Wisconsin and settled in Albany. He was 
married Dec. 4, 1873, to Julia Trow, daughter 
of James Trow. They now reside on section 
33, of Brooklyn, where he owns 140 acres. 
They are the parents of three children — Albert 
J., Andrew H. and Lura May. Mr. Purington is 
politically a republican. 

James Root, a prominent farmer of the town 
of Brooklyn, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., 
April 27, 1841. He came to Wisconsin with 
hia parents, Francis and Permelia (Spaulding) 
Root, and now owns the land entered by his 
father and Mr. Shell. Farming has been his 
occupation, and he now has 186 acres, with 
good improvements. Feb. 5, 1865, lie enlisled 
in company I, 46th Wisconson, and served until 
mustered out. He was married in 1861 to Bar- 
bara Lozar, daughter of George Lozar. Tiiey 
have four children — Fred, Plinney, Homer and 
Ida. Francis Root, wife and two children, and 
Powell Shell, settled in the town of Brooklyn 
in 1847, the former on section 20 and the latter 
on section 29. Each of them entered forty 
acres. They dug a well and erected their cabins 
near the section line. Mr. Root died in 1848, 
leaving two children — James and Harriet. 
Mrs. Root subsequently was married to John 



McClarrinon, and by this union gave birth to 
seven children. She died in 1871. 

Stephen Smith is mentioned among the pio- 
neers of 1847, having come here from Walworth 
county in May of that year, accompanied by 
his wife and six children. He settled in what 
is now the town of Brooklyn, and entered the 
southwest quarter of section 11, where he 
erected a log house. Here he resided, giving 
his attention to farming until the time of his 
death, in 1856. Mrs. Smith died in August, 
1877. They were the parents of six children — 
Jonathan, Charles, Emmarilla, Euphrasia, Em- 
ory and Caroline. Stephen Smith was born in 
Massachusetts in l'i98. He removed with his 
parents to Ohio, where he was married to Phil- 
ura Love, a native of the State of New York. 
After his marriage he followed farming in Ohio 
until he came to Wisconsin in 1843 and settled 
in Walworth county. In politics Mr. Smith 
was formerly a whig, and afterwards a repub- 
lican. He would not accept office, but always 
attended elections and voted. His religious 
preferences were with the Congregational 
Church, but after coming to Wisconsin he did 
not unite with any Church. 

Emory Smith was born in Ohio, May 12, 
1833, and came with the family to Wisconsin in 
1843, and in 1847 to Green county, since which 
time he has been a resident of Brooklyn. He 
is still living on the land entered by his father, 
of which he owns 120 acres, and has first-class 
improvements. In November, 1856, he was 
married to Almira Smith, daughter of Roswell 
and Jane (Brown) Smith. She is a native of 
Michigan. Mr. Smith is a member of the Pa- 
trons of Husbandry. He is a member of the 
republican party and has held local office. 

Charles Smith, son of Stephen Smith, came 
with his parents to Green county. He was 
married to Sarah Earl, and afterwards moved 
to Iowa. He now resides in Missouri. 

Alonzo Purintun was born in the State of 
New York, Nov. 23, 1825. His father, David 
H. Purintun, was also a native of the Empire 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



13S 



State, and his mother, Chestina (Messenger) 
Purintun, was born in Connecticut. Alonzo 
attended the district school and feu- four years 
worked on the Rochester and Olean canal. At 
the age of eighteen he came to Wisconsin, first 
stopping in Jefferson county, and later in Wau- 
kesha county, and followed teaming as a busi- 
ness, drawing freight to and from Milwaukee. 
In 1847 he came to Green county, his parents 
having preceded him. Here he helped to till 
the soil, also followed teaming. On the 14th 
day of April, 185U, Nancy Young became his 
wife. She was born in Erie Co., Penn., Dec. 
25, 1827. He has since been engaged in farm- 
ing in the town of Brooklyn. In 1884 he re- 
sided on section 29 and owned 200 acres of 
land. Feb. 4, 1865, he enlisted in company I, 
46th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served 
until mustered out of service. He is a member 
of the G. A. R., and is a Royal Arch Mason. 
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Purintun are — 
Elvira A., who married M. X. Sisson, and died 
leaving one daughter; Talburt G., Elliott E., 
Leander A., Seymour J., Bertha, wife of James 
P. Ingals; Lois, wife of James Davis, Jr.; Hi- 
ram B. and Archill^s. 

Talburt Purintun, son of Alonzo and Nancy 
Purintun, was born in Green county, Nov. 16, 
1852. He was educated in the common schools, 
and is a farmer by occupation. In 1875 he was 
married to Viola E., daughter of L. W. P. and 
Sarah A. (Boyles) Morton. They had three 
children — Emerald L., (deceased,) Everett L. 
and Lewis V. Mr. Purintun resides on section 
32, where he owns a farm of eighty acres. 

Franklin Patterson is numbered among the 
pioneers of this county. He left Norwalk, Ohio, 
during the month of September, 1844, and as- 
sisted in driving 1,000 head of sheep to Elgin, 
111. He then visited friends at Geneva Lake, 
Wis., where he joined two of his cousins and a 
young man from Massachusetts, and the four 
started westward on foot. On the third day 
they dined at Monroe, and then continued their 
journey to Galena. There had been high water 



in the Mississippi river, and they expected to 
find employment consequent upon the damage 
occasioned by a flood, but they were disap- 
pointed. Then they went to Dubuque, from 
which point they started down the river, finding 
occasionally a few days work chopping wood, 
and thus continued their journey to New Or- 
leans. March 5, 1845, they left New Orleans 
on the steamer John Aha, and after a trip of 
fourteen days' duration arrived at St. Louis. 
There they went on board another boat and 
went up the Illinois river as far as Ottawa, and 
from there they returned on foot to Geneva 
Lake. Mr. Patterson then worked for a farmer 
in Racine county until January, 1846. He then 
went to Manitowoc county, where he met a 
a friend with whom he took a circuitous route, 
and soon again brought up at Geneva Lake. He 
then went to Ohio, but returned again to Wis- 
consin, accompanied by his brother James Nel- 
son Patterson and family. They made the 
journey with teams, and in October arrived in 
Green county. They pre-empted the north- 
west quarter of section 22, in the territory now 
comprised in the town of Brooklyn. The fol- 
lowing summer Mr. Patterson worked at Geneva 
Lake, and then again went back to Ohio, and 
was married to Maria McCreedy, a daughter of 
Thomas and Catharine (Holt) McCreedy, and 
again came to Wisconsin. He resided with his 
brother one season, then with a younger brother, 
Emerson, he purchased 200 acres located on 
sections 27 and 28. He built a log cabin 
on section 28, where he may now be found. 
The log cabin, has, however, given way 
to a good brick house, and Mr. Patterson 
now owns 260 acres. Pie was formerly a 
republican, but is now a national green- 
backer. The children are— Hiram, William 
and Lawrence. Mr. Patterson was born in the 
State of New York, April 17, 1823. His father 
died in tlie State of Ohio in 1840, five children 
surviving him. The mother, in 1847, came to 
Green county, and in 1884 resided with her son, 
the subject of this sketch. Although now 



734 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



eighty-three years old, yet she is in good health 
and sound mind. 

Francis B. Stockburn has been a resident of 
Green county since 1848, with the exception of 
four years spent in Madison, during which he 
was engaged in d raying. He is a native of 
England, born Nov. 8, 1805. His early life was 
spent upon a farm, but he afterwards engaged 
in various occupations, among the rest, pub- 
lished a newspaper four years. In 1841 he 
went to France, and in 1843 came to the United 
States. He stopped, for a short time in New 
York city, then visited other localities, but was 
not favorably impressed with eastern people as 
a class, and emigrated westward. He first locat- 
ed in Milwaukee, and there worked at shoe- 
making. In 1846, in company with E.M. Kerby, 
he purchased considerable land in Green county, 
but resided in Sheboygan county until 1848. 
He then settled at Attica, in the town of Brook- 
lyn, where he at first worked at the shoemaker's 
trade, but soon drifted into farming, which he 
has since continued with the exception before 
mentioned. He was married in 1845 to Ann 
Walker, who died March 15, 1882. They had 
reared nine children, three of whom were living 
in 1884 — Clara, wife of Samuel Watkins; Isabel, 
wife of Thomas George, and Maria, wife of 
Frank Butts. 

Frank Butts is a son of John and Susan Butts. 
He was born in Rock Co., Wis., Sept. 5, 1857. 
He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and edu- 
cated in the common schools. In 1880 he was 
united in marriage with Maiia Stockburn, and 
they have two children — William F. and Olive. 

James McCoy settled on section 17, of Brook- 
lyn, in September, 1848. He at first purchased 
160 acres, to which he has added until his farm 
now contains 360 acres. He is engaged in 
stock farming, in which he has met with marked 
success. He has a good dwelling, four fine 
large barns, and other improvements. Mr. Mc- 
Coy was born in Ireland June 23, 1821. He re- 
ceived a good education and at the age of eigh- 
teen engaged as bookkeeper until May 10, 



1848, when he was married to Margaret Galli- 
gan, and the same day sailed from Dublin for 
the United States. On reaching New York 
city, he intended to engage in his former oc- 
cupation, but, as no opportunity presented it- 
self, he left his wife with his brother who 
lived in that city, and started westward. At 
Milwaukee he found employment a few weeks 
as copying clerk in the oflice of John L. Doran. 
He soon became tired of this occupation and 
came to Green county and bought a farm. He 
had not worked on a farm since he was quite 
young, and his young wife was unaccustomed 
to the labors of housekeeping, and consequently 
getting a start on the frontier was somewhat 
difticult, but they did not despair, and are 
now enjoying the fruits of their labor. Mrs. 
McCoy is a self-educated woman, refined in her 
tastes, and highly esteemed by all who know 
her. They are the parents of ten boys and one 
girl. Those living in 1884 were — Joseph, bookj 
keeper at Burkhardt's, St. Croix county; John, 
cashier in the New Richmond Bank; Mary, 
wife of Charles Burnhani, who is cashier in the 
bank at Edgerton; Edward F., wiio is engaged 
in farming in Dakota; Robert H., bookkeeper 
for the New Richmond Lumber Company; and 
Charles, George and Arthur, who are still at- 
tending school. Politically, Mr. McCoy is a re- 
publican. His first ballot was cast for Gen. 
Winfield Scott. lie served as town clerk for 
eleven years, and has been elected justice of the 
peace. 

Andrew Bennett was born in Scotland. In 
1828, he being then a young man, he emigrated 
to the United States and first stopped in the 
State of New York, where he was married to 
Lucinda Baxter, daughter of Zebulon and Lu- 
cinda Baxter. In 1848 they came to Wisconsin 
and settled in Green county. He engaged in 
farming in the town of Brooklyn until 1864, 
then removed to Austin, Minn., where they 
have since died. They reared five children — 
A. Z., Christie, Thomas, (deceased) George and 
laabelle. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



735 



A. Z. Bennett, oldest son of Andrew and Lu- 
cinda (Baxter) Bennett, was born in Franklin 
Co., N. Y., Feb. 25, 1831, and came with the 
family to Green county in 1848, since which 
date he has been a resident of the town of 
Brooklyn. He now resides on section 14 and 
owns ninety-nine acres of land. In February, 
1854, he was married to Marion Hickok, a na- 
tive of Ohio, born March 29, 1835. Their chil- 
dren are — Lucinda, (deceased) Carrie E. and 
Fred E. Mr. Bennett belongs to the republi- 
can party and has held the othce of town treas- 
urer and supervisor. 

Zebulon Baxter was a native of Vermont, 
where his early life was spent. He served as a 
soldier during the War of 1812. He was mar- 
ried to Jjucinda Oglesby and resided in Canada, 
where his wife died, leaving two children. He 
subsequently was married again in the State of 
New York, and came to Wisconsin about 1830. 
He first stopped in Milwaukee, and afterwards 
followed mining at Mineral Point. In 1848 he 
came to Green county and resided in the town 
of Brooklyn until 1854. He then went to Aus- 
tin, Minn., where he died at the age of 103 
years, 

C. D. W. Leonard was a pioneer of 1848, in 
the fall of which year, with his wife, he came to 
the county and chose the town of Brooklyn as a 
location. He was also accompanied by his 
brother Arab, then an unmarried man, and 
together they entered three quarter sections of 
land and improved the same. They also for a 
few years carried on a general mercantile busi- 
ness at Dayton. Arab Leonard was married to 
Mary Day, and in 18G6 emigrated to Webster 
Co., Iowa, where he is now a prominent citi- 
zen, having held the oftice of county treasurer 
four years. C. I). W. Leonard continued farm- 
ing; also for some time carried on a store at 
Dayton and finally moved to Attica where he 
was engaged in the general merchandise busi- 
ness until 1884, when he sold out his business 
and moved to Rockton, 111. Mr. Leonard was 
born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1818. His 



parents being Ariah and Lavisa (Slocum) Leon- 
ard. The father died in Ohio and the mother 
and one daughter came with her sons to Wis- 
consin. She died in Green county, in 18fi0. 
The daughter married John Utley and died in 
1867. Mr. Leonard received an academic edu- 
cation and taught school. He was married to 
Margaret Widrig and in 1842 emigrated to 
Ohio from whence he came to Green county. 
His wife died in 1866, leaving four children — 
Ella, Hattie, Ardella and Charles. In 1867 he 
was married to Mary Ann Wood and by this 
union one child was born — Vernie. In politics 
Mr. Leonard was a republican until after the 
war, when he became rather liberal in his views. 
He represented his district in the assembly 
two terms, was superintendent of schools in 
Brooklyn under the old town system, and was 
chairman of the town several terms. Tiius it 
can be seen that he is not alone an early pioneer, 
but his conduct was such that he enjoyed the 
confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. 

Lorenzo Amidon came to Green county, July 
10, 1848. At first he followed the trade of car- 
penter and afterwards that of cabinet maker at 
Monroe. In 1850 he came to the town of 
Brooklyn and purchased land on section 13 and 
has since been a resident of the town. In 1884, 
he resided on section 12 and owned 160 acres of 
land. Mr. Amidon was born in Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., July 7, 1825. He learned his 
trade and resided in his native State until he 
came to Wisconsin. He has been twice married. 
In 1850 to Olive Starkweather, daughter of 
Anson and Lucretia Starkweather. She died in 
1874, leaving four children — William A., Etta, 
Ella and Emma. In 1879 Mr. Amidon was 
married to Fannie Lord and by this union two 
sons have been born — Gilbert and Byron. 
Politically he is a national greenbacker but was 
formerly a republican. He is not, however, a 
strict partizan, and believes in casting his 
ballot for a good man rather than a good party. 

-John Flood and family, in 1849, came to 
Green county, and, June 0, entered 100 acres of 



736 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



land on section 21, of Brooklyn, upon which he 
settled. He was born in Ireland, and was there 
married to Elizabeth Mahar. In 1847 they 
emigrated to the United States and first located 
in the State of New York, where Mrs. Flood 
died, leaving eight children — James, Edward, 
Mary, Anna, John, Betsey, Ester and Nora. In 
1849 Mr. Flood came with his children to Wis- 
consin and settled in the town of Brooklyn, 
where he resided until his death, March 26, 1871. 

Edward Flood was born in Ireland in 1826. 
He came with the family to the United States, 
and in 1849 to Green county, which has since 
been his residence. He is now the owner of 
146 acres of land, located on section 16, of the 
town of Brooklyn. In 1857 he was married to 
Bridget Flannigan, also a native of Ireland. 
They have had eight children, four of whom 
are now living — Lizzie, William, James and 
Maggie. Mr. and Mrs. Flood are members of 
the Roman Catholic Church. 

Austin Melvin was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, 
Aug. 10, 1842. He came with his parents to 
Wisconsin and became a resident of the town 
of Brooklyn. In 1865 he enlisted in company 
C, 49th Wisconsin, and served until the regi- 
ment was mustered out of service. He was 
afterward engaged in the manufacture of cheese 
in Fayette Co., Iowa. The remainder of his 
life has been spent on the farm he now owns, 
consisting of 200 acres adjoining the village of 
Brooklyn. He has good improvements on his 
land, and is engaged in general farming. He 
was married April 18, 1880, to Amy M. Blair. 
They have one son — Maurice B. Mr. Melvin is 
a Royal Arch Mason, a republican in politics, 
and has held local offices. 

Alonzo Melvin was a native of Cummington, 
Mass., born Oct. 2, 1794. He grew to manhood 
in his native State, spending one summer in 
New York. The year following, accompanied 
by John Bryant, a brother of William Cnllon 
Bryant, he went to Ohio. One year later he 
went to Mississippi, where he remained five 
years. He then Tetdrned to his native <t^*e 



and persuaded his parents to remove with him 
to Ohio. In 18':!5 he was married to Roenna 
Lyman, She was at that time a resident of 
Geauga Co., Ohio, but was born in Massachu- 
setts. In 1851 Mr. Melvin came to Wisconsin 
and purchased land in the town of Brooklyn, 
where he resided until his death in 1873. Mrs. 
Melvin died in March, 1880. They reared a 
family of thirteen children, twelve of whom 
grew to maturity. Those living in 1884 were — 
Fidelia, Addison S., F. R., Sarah, E. O., Austin 
A., Edward P. and H. N. Mr. Melvin was a 
good citizen and a successful farmer. At his 
death he owned a farm of 475 acres, with excel- 
lent improvements. Physically he was slim 
built, and tall, being over six feet in height. 
Politically he was a republican but took no 
more interest in politics than to perform his 
duty as a citizen. His religious connections 
were with the Presbyterian society. 

Samuel Cole was born in Gloucestershire, 
England, in 1814, learned the trade of bricklay- 
ing and was married to Winnefred Ilenshaw. 
He emigrated to the United States in 1852, 
came to Wisconsin and settled on section 4, 
town of Brooklyn. His wife died in 1873. 
They had two children, both now deceased. In 
May, 1880, he was married to Mrs. Catharine 
Shell. They now live on section 29. 

S. W. McCreedy is numbered among the pio- 
neers of 1853. He was married in 1859 to Am. 
arancy Purintun, daughter of David Purin- 
tun. In 1861 he enlisted in company E, 
13th Wisconsin, and served three years, 
since which time he has followed farming in the 
town of Brooklyn and now owns the land en- 
tered by his father-in-law. The children are — 
William and Sarah. Mr. McCreedy was a re- 
publican during the war, subsequently voted 
with the national greenbackers. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, of the G. A. R., 
and has many friends. 

Stephen Swan became a resident of Brooklyn 
in the fall of 1853, at which date he purchased 
:.'no '.\cri^B of uiiimprov^d land on seblibti 19, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



737 



erected his log cabin and started in life anew. 
He has devoted his time and attention entirely 
to his farm since that time, and is now the own- 
er of a fine farm of 280 acres and has good im- 
provements. He is largely engaged in stock 
raising, Mr. Swan was born in Cheshire, Eng- 
land, July 12, 1827, and with his brother, Tay- 
lor, emigrated to the United States in 1845. He 
first purchased land in Rock county where his 
brother still resides. In 1851 he was married 
to Isabel Taylor and came, two years later, to 
this county. He is a republican politically and 
has held the office of chairman of the board. 
Their children are — Robert, Frances, Mary, 
Eliza, deceased; William, John, Archie, Ralph, 
Armmna, Sarah, Walter, James and Charlie. 
Mrs. Swan is a member of the Presbyterian 
society. 

Henry Kingdon, Sr., was born in Devonshire, 
England, in 1815. He was married to Mary 
Caroline Snow, and emigrated to the United 
States, first stopping in Illinois, from whence 
he came to the State of Wisconsin. He resided 
in Dane county one year, then settled in Green 
county. His death took place in 1875, at which 
date he resided on section 32, town of Brooklyn, 
and owned an improved farm of 130 acres. 
Mrs. Kingdon died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kingdon left five children — Henry, Jr., Mary, 
James, and John and Jessie, twins. Mr. King- 
don became a citizen of the United States in 
1868, and afterwards voted the democratic 
ticket. He was a kind father and good neigh- 
V)or. 

Henry Kingdon, Jr., was born in Green 
county on the 2d day of November, 1854, and 
resided with his parents until the death of his 
father. In August, 1875, he was united in the 
holy bonds of matrimony with Eliza Swan. She 
is a daughter of Stephen and Isabel Swan, He 
now resides on his father's estate. The chil- 
dren are — Isabel, Willie, Harry and Robert, 

Thomas Crompton came to this county in 
April, 1854, and first resiik^d in the town of 
Mount Pleasant, m-xt in E:^etor) and subse- 



quently settled in the town of Brooklyn, where 
he now resides on section 30. He owns 200 
acres and is engaged in general farming. He was 
born in Lancasterhire, England, July 3, 1830. 
His parents were James and Betsey Crompton. 
The father emigrated to the United States in 
1847, and one year later the mother with two 
of her children followed. They first lived in 
Ohio, from whence they came to Green county. 
In 1854 Thomas Crompton was married to 
Magan Miley, a native of Ireland. The chil- 
dren are — Rachel, Thomas, Mary Ann, Charles, 
Robert, James, (deceased) Jessie and Helen. 

D. O. Lockwood was born near Attica, N. Y., 
July 28, 1830, His parents were Horace and 
Maria Lockwood. July 28, 1 850, Mr. Lockwood 
was married to Maria E. Andrews. He resided 
in Wyoming county until 1855, when he came 
to Wisconsin and became a resident of Brook- 
lyn. He gave his attention to farming until 
1875, when on account of failing health he 
moved into the village of Brooklyn and en- 
gaged as clerk in a general store. His wife 
died March 19, 1879, leaving three children — 
Serepta P., Mary E. and Fred S. In 1878 he re- 
turned to his farm, and in March of that year, 
was married to Hannah M. Slauson, then of 
Rock county, but a native of Orange Co., N. Y. 
By this marriage two children have been born 
— Edith L. and Frank M. In 1879 Mr. Lock- 
wood sold his farm and again removed into the 
village, and has since been engaged as a travel- 
ing salesman. Politically he adheres to the re- 
publican party. He has served as town treas- 
urer and has been a member of the M. E. Church 
since 1857. 

William Darkin came to this county in 
December, 1854, and settled on section 21, of 
the town of Brooklyn, where he has since given 
his attention to farming. He now owns 140 
acres of land. He was born in England, in 
October, 1816, where in his youth, he learned 
the trade of plumber, glazier and painter. He 
was married to Mary Ann Candler. He left 
England on dcbbuiit of poor health, iteiiig af- 



738 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



flicted with the gout, and came to America. He 
returned to Engl and, on a visit,in 1880, l)ut found 
that great changes liad taken place during liis 
absence, and he even failed to recognize his own 
brother. Mrs. Darkin died in the fall of 1881, 
leaving one daughter— Mary Ann. Mr. Darkin 
is a member of the M. E. Church, and a republi- 
can in politics. Mary Ann was married to Wil- 
liam Winter, who died in the United States 
service, during the War of the Rebellion. She 
was afterwards married to William Buff. 

E. T. Wing came to the State of Wisconsin, 
in 1854. He first stopped in Evansville, where 
he worked at his trade, (carpenter) building the 
Congregational church and other buildings in 
that place. In January, 1855, he became a res- 
ident of Green county, settling on section 2, of 
]irooklyn, where he had previously purchased 
eighty acres of unimproved land, upon which 
he has since resided, engaged in farming, and 
also, at different intervals, working at his trade. 
He now owns 205 acres of land, adorned with 
good improvements. Mr. Wing is a native of 
Addison Co., Vt., born Nov. 13, 1822. He grew 
to manhood, and learned his trade in his native 
State. He subsequently lived in various places 
previous to his coming to Wisconsin. In Sep- 
tember, 1847, he was married to Sarah A. Ward, 
also a native of Vermont. They have three 
children — Allen J., Genie, now the wife of 
Willis Searles, and Ada. Mr. Wing is a repub- 
lican and has held local office. 

George Winter came into the county in 1855, 
and purchased sixty acres on section 12, of 
Brooklyn, and eighty acres in Rock county. This 
land was oitered by A. Tupper, but Mr. Winter 
purchased it of Harvey Church. There was 
some of the land broken, but the improvements 
were very meagre at that time. The place is 
now adorned with a tine residence and good 
barns. Mr, Winter now owns 200 acres, andliis 
son, Alfred, forty acres. Mr. Winter was born 
in Suffolk, England, Jan. 12, 1827. His parents 
were John and Sarah Winter. He remained in 
his native country until 1854, then emigrated to 



the United States and first settled in Rock Co., 
Wis. In 1855, he was married to Elizabeth 
Winter, also a native of England. They have 
four children living — Alfred, Walter, Nellie and 
Earnest. Mr. Winter is a member of the M. E. 
Church. 

J, W. Brewer came to this county with his 
parents, Jeremiah and Mahala (Croy) Brewer, in 
1844. At this time, he was but nine years old. 
He was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Jan. 20, 
1835. He resided with the family in the town 
of Albany, and in 1857, was united in marriage 
with Lucy Jane Peckham, who is a daughter of 
Abel and Adah Peckham, and was born in 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 19, 1837. In Jan- 
uary, 1858, Mr. Brewer settled on section 33, 
Brooklyn, where he has since followed farming, 
and now owns 214 acres, the greater part of 
which is nicely improved. Politically he is a 
republican, but not a strict party man. The 
children are- -Lettie, Elmer E., Eddie L., J. 
Grant, Janie M., Rufie J. C, deceased, and an 
infant son. 

Gaylord Lockwood came to this county in 
1857, and in 1858 was married to Elsie A. Flint, 
daughter of John Flint. In 1873 he went to 
Minnesota, and remained eighteen months, then 
returned to Green county and now resides on 
section 32, of J^rooklyn, where he owns eighty 
acres. Their children are — Fred, Mary, Carrie, 
Frank and Ellen. Mr. Lockwood was born in 
Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1834. He went 
to Ohio in 1852, from whence he came to Green 
county. He is a member of the democratic 
party. 

W. W. Young came to this county in 1859, 
and the same year was married to Margaret 
Dobbs, a daughter of Jeremiah and Susannah 
(Loring) Dobbs. He was tlien engaged in farm- 
ing in S|)ring Grove. In 1866 he came to 
Brooklyn and purchased a farm near Attica, 
upon whish he settled. He subsequently rented 
his farm and engaged for about three years in a 
general mercantile business at Attica, being in 
partnership with C D. W. Leonard a portion 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



■741 



of the time. He then returned to his farm, and 
has since been extensively engaged in stock 
raising. His farm contains 317 acres, and his 
improvements are among the best in town. 
Mr. Young was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., 
Oct. 24, 1837, and is a son of Robert and Jane 
Ann (Beam) Young, who came to Wisconsin in 
1839, and settled in Walworth county, wliere 
they spent the reraaioder of their lives. The 
subjectof this sketch went, in 1856, to Waupaca 
county, from whence he came to Green county. 
Politically he is a national greenbacker, but 
was formerly a democrat. He has been chair- 
man of his town, and held other local offices. 
He is a member of the United Brethren Church. 
Mr. and Mrs. Young have had six children, five 
of whom are living — Porter H., Jerry R., Frank, 
Ida May and Willie H. Their third child,Wil- 
liam W., died Jan. 21, 1864. The children are 
all at home except his eldest son, Porter, who 
went to Idaho in the spring of 1881, where he 
has been engaged in the mining business up to 
the present time. 

George Gabrey, in 1860, purchased eighty 
acres on section 32, land formerly owned by 
Edward Walker, where he has since resided 
and followed farming. In 1865 he enlisted in 
company G, of the 49th Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served until fall. He was then 
discharged on account of sickness, from the 
effects of which he has not recovered. He is a 
native of Canada, born in November, 1823. He 
learned the trade of mason and stone cut- 
ting in the State of New York. At the age of 
nineteen years he went to the State of New 
York, and was married in Oneida county, of 
that State, in 1840, to Jane Kelley, a daughter 
of Benjamin and Elizal)eth Kelley, who after- 
wards became early settlers of Green Co., Wis. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gabrey liave two children — 
Nancy, wife of James Fryer, and Emogene, 
wife of William Lormer. 

George Hollerbush settled on section IS, town 
of Brooklyn, in 1860, where he still resides and 
owns ISO acres. He was born in Pennsylvania, ' 



Jan. 8, 1816. In 1830 the family removed to 
Ohio. In 1843 George came to Wisconsin, and 
first stopped at Fort Atkinson. He afterwards 
purchased a farm near Madison, from whence 
he came to Green county. He was married in 
1840 to Susanna Fascett, born in Allegany Co., 
N. Y., in 1818. They have nine children — 
Jacob, George, John, Sarah, Elliott, Caroline, 
Violette, William and Rosanna. 

John Dalrymple is a native of Green Co., 
Penn., born Nov. 25, 1819. His parents, Lewis 
and Mary (Headley) Dalrymple, were natives 
of New Jersey. In 1827 they removed to Jef- 
ferson Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming. 
Here the subject of this sketch was educated in 
the common schools, and on the 3d day of Feb- 
ruary, 1842, was united in marriage with Selina 
L. Newell, who was born in Ohio Aug. 14, 1826. 
Mr. Dalrymple was at that time engaged in 
farming, but a few years later he coinmenced 
dealing in horses, buying in Ohio and selling in 
Philadelphia. He was thus employed until 
1850. Then, accompanied b}^ his wife and four 
children, he came to Wisconsin, making the 
journey with a good team and carriage. He 
chose Belleville, Dime county, for a location, 
aiul in tlie fall of said year erected a dwelling 
house, which was built of p'ne lumber liauled 
from Milwaukee. This was the first pine house 
in l>elleville. In the fall of the same year he 
purchased 400 acros of land, for which he paid 
|1,500, and which increased in value so that in 
a few years he sold a portion of it for at>100 ])er 
acre. In 1859 he sold his property and pur- 
chased a farm near Madison. At the breaking 
out of the war he commenced buying horses for 
the government, which he continued about four 
years, in which enterprise he was successful 
financially. In 1864 he purchased 360 acres on 
section 18, town of Brooklyn, upon which he 
settled. It was covered with timber, but he 
made numerous improvements, and soon had 
one of the finest stock farms in the county. 
Here lie resided in 1884, surrounded by all the 
comforts necessarv to make home pleasant, but 



43 



742 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



he has become weary of farming and therefore 
sold his farm for $35 per acre, agreeing to give 
possession in 1885. Mr. Dalryraple is a man 
who tips the scales at 190 pounds, and possesses 
a vast amount of energy. He is prompt in the 
fulfillment of his obligations, and always does 
with all his might whatever he undertakes. He 
became a Mason when twenty-one years of age, 
and is at present a member of Dayton Lodge, 
No. 198. He is also a member of the I. O. O. 
F. In his religious views he is liberal. Politi- 
cally he has always been a democrat, although 
his father was a strong whig. He has never 
aspired to office, but has been chosen chairman 
of the town board, which position he accepted 
more to please his friends than to gratify his 
own desires. Mr. and Mrs. Dalrymple have 
had nine children, three of whom died in in- 
fancy, and their eldest son, Lewis, died in June, 
1882, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a 
wife and four sons. Their five children living 
at present are — Harriet E., Mary E., Sarah J., 
D. S. and J. F.; all married and settled for 
themselves, leaving their parents in their old 
age in prosperity, peace and quietness. 

D. H. Glidden became a resident of the State 
when but five years old. He was born in Or- 
leans Co., N. Y., in 1836, on the 14th day of 
June. His father, Andrew Glidden, was a na- 
tive of New Hampshire. The farm on which 
he was born has been owned by Gliddens, his 
ancestors, for more than 200 years. Andrew 
Glidden was married in the State of New York 
to Mahala Crosby, a native of that State. In 
1842 the family came to Wisconsin and were 
pioneers in Kenosha county. Eight years later 
they I'eraoved to Dane county and settled near 
Oregon, where the parents died, the father. in 
1867, and the mother in 1864. They reared 
nine children, three of whom were in the ser- 
vice during the War of the Rebellion — D. H., 
Jacob N. and Lysander II. Jacob N. died at 
New Orleans from the effects of wounds re- 
ceived at the battle of Vicksburg, twelve balls 
piercing his clothing, Lysander II. died at St. 



Louis from sickness while in the service. D. H. 
enlisted in the same company and regiment, 
company B, of the 1 1th Wisconsin Volunteer In 
fantry, and was wounded at the battle of Vicks- 
burg, May 22, 1863. On his recovery he was 
transferred to the veteran corps and served until 
September, 1864. He then went to Clermont, 
Iowa, and engaged in general merchandising one 
year. In the fall of 1866 he came to Brooklyn 
and dealt in grain for eight years. He also 
built the hotel and ran the same until 1879. 
He then purchased his present farm of 142 
aci'es, located on sections 10 and 11. Mr. Glid- 
den has been twice married, first in the fall of 
1865, to Elizabeth Thomson, of Madison, who 
died May 23, 1869, leaving one daughter, three 
days old at the date of her mother's death. 
Her name is — Lizzie A., and she now resides 
with her father. July 10, 1870, Mr. Glidden 
was married to Jennie M. Doolittle, daughter 
of Ezra and Jane (Potter) Doolittle. They 
have three children — Ida May, Burton H. and 
Ezra A. Mr. Glidden is a member of the re- 
publican party, and has been justice of the 
peace nine years. 

C. M. Fuller, son of M. H. and Mary E. Ful- 
ler, was born in North Ferrisburg, Vt,, March 
21, 1840, and resided in that State until 1868. 
In that year he came to Wisconsin with his 
parents, and has, since that time, been a resi- 
dent of Green county. Feb. 17, 1875, he was 
married to Maggie Montgomery, daughter of 
C. A. and Mary Montgomery. They have one 
daughter — Florence Ina. Mr. Fuller now re- 
sides on section 14, of the town of Brooklyn. 
He is a republican politically, and has served as 
town treasurer and supervisor. 

M. H. Fuller became a resident of this county 
in 1868, and soon after purchased 160 acres of 
land on sections 11 and 14, of Brooklyn, and 
has since been engaged in farming. He was 
born in Bristol, Vt., where he grew to manhood. 
In his youth he learned the carpenter and 
joiner's trade, which he followed in his native 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



V43 



State until he came to Wisconsin, He was mar- 
ried in 1846 to Mary Ward, a native of Al- 
bany Co., N. Y. They haye three children — 
Cassius, Eupheraia M. and Ella G. 

Henry Smith, son of W. R. and Ann D. 
Smith, was born in the town of Brooklyn, Green 
Co., Wis., Oct. 6, 1849, He has always been a 
resident of his native town. June 22, 1871, he 
was married to Mary Dean, of Brooklyn, but a 
native of Pennsylvania. They have one daugh- 
ter — Effie A. Mr. Smith is a republican and 
has served two years as town treasurer, and 
seven years as clerk. 

Peter DeRemer has resided in the State of 
Wisconsin since 1843, In that year his father, 
Jacob DeRemer and family, stopped in Racine 
county, and in the fall, settled in Walworth 
county. In 1847 they removed to Rock county, 
from whence they came to Green county and 
located in the town of Brooklyn. Jacob DeRe- 
mer was born in the State of New York, where 
he spent his younger days, and was married to 
Gittie Runkle. After his marriage he remained 
in New York until 1843. They had nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom came with them to Green 
county. The following named were living in 
1884 — Margaret, Mary, Peter, Cornelius, John 
and James. Peter, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in New York, and, as before stated, 
came with his parents to Rock county, where in 
1853 he was married to Clista Domy, a native 
of Vermont. On the 1 2th of September, 1855, 



his son Peter was born, and on the 27th of the 
same month his wife died. In October, 1856, 
he was married to Rosa Domy. Nine children 
have been born to them, of whom seven are 
now living— Jennie, Albert, Frank, Gittie, 
Philip, Rosa and Queenie. Mr. DeRemer is in- 
dependent in politics, but takes little interest in 
political affairs. He now resides in Brooklyn, 
where he owns 340 acres of land, with first 
class improvements. 

Edwin P. Blair, when but a lad of thirteen 
years, accompanied by his brother, James W,, 
two years younger than he, came with an uncle 
to Oregon, Dane Co., Wis., in April, 1850, fol- 
lowed by his mother, Mrs. Polly Blair (a widow) 
and sister Amy M , in June of the same year. 
As a resident of Oregon, Dane county and Brook- 
lyn, Green county and vicinity, Edwin P. grew 
to manhood, and in June, 1881, married Mary 
J. McPherson, who was born and reared in 
Spring Dale, Dane Co., Wis. Mr. Blair is en- 
gaged in insurance and agency business, and 
now resides on a beautiful eminence just nortli 
of the village of Brooklyn, where he owns five 
acres of land; it being in the extreme northeast 
corner of Green county. Edwin P. was born in 
Girard, Erie Co., Penn., March 2, 1837. His 
father, Robert Blair, died July 1, 1841, leaving 
his mother a widow, who reared her three chil- 
dren and now lives with them. Mr. and Mrs. 
E. P. Blair have one child, a daughter — Clara 
McPherson. 



744 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



TOWN OF CADIZ. 



The town of Cadiz comprises the southwest 
corner of Green county, embracing congressional 
township 1 north, range 6 east, of the fourth prin- 
cipal meridian. It is bounded on the north by 
the town of Jordan; on the east by Clarno; on 
the west by Lafayette Co., Wis.; and on 
the south by Stephenson Co., 111. The 
surface of the town is somewhat broken, the 
soil generally consisting of a rich black loam. 
Some clay is found in portions of the town, and 
in the northern part the soil is of a lighter qual- 
ity, containing much sand. As a whole the 
town is scarcely excelled in the county for fertil- 
ity of soil. Along the streams the land is fre- 
quently low, and liable to overflow in times of 
high water. These lower lands afford excellent 
pasturage, and an abundance of hay. The gen- 
eral excellence of this town for agricultural pur- 
poses is indicated by its large assessed valua- 
tion. This town excells in the quantity and 
quality of its timber. Nearly the entire surface of 
the town east of the river was originally heavily 
timbered. About all of the deciduous native tim- 
ber of the county is found here. A large propor- 
tion of the timber, of course, has been removed, 
as is attested by the large number of beautiful 
farms that are found here, and especially since 
the advent of the railroad which furnished a 
ready and convenient market for wood and 
timber, has (he destruction of the timber been 
carried on. 

Tlie streams of this town are numerous and 
impiHtant . The j)rincipal water course is tlie 
Pecatoni(;a river, which flows across nearly the 
entire western portion of the town. This 



stream enters the town from the west by way 
of section 6, flowing in an irregular southeast- 
erly course to the south-central part of section 
5, where it receives the waters of Skinner creek. 
It then flows due west for a short distance, and 
from thence in an irregular southerly course to 
leave the town by way of section 33, near the 
village of Martin, where its waters are utilized 
for milling purposes. This stream receives 
several branches in this town, the most impor- 
tant of which is Skinner creek, which flows 
across sections 3, 4, 5 and 8. From the latter 
section it flows back to section 5, and makes 
confluence with the Pecatonica. Numerous 
springs, giving rise in some instances to con 
siderable streams, are found. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The earliest settlers of this town were from 
the mining regions of this State, farther west. 
The flrst settler of Cadiz was George Lot, who 
settled on the southeast quarter of section 36, 
in 1834. Lot came directly from the mines, 
where he had gone previous to the Black Hawk 
War. He was originally from the State of 
Pennsylvania. He remained here but a short 
time then moved to near Winslow, 111 , where he 
built a saw mill. Later ho became crazy and 
hung himself. 

Soon after Lot, came the ex-miners William 
Boyles, formerly from Indiana, and Stephen G. 
Hale, Nicholas Hale and Bennett Nolan from 
Illinois. 

Jesse W. ShuU, one of the earliest settlers in 
ihis town, was born in Philddelphiain 1786. He 
was a soldier in the War of 1812. He came 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



745 



west and followed the business of an Indian 
trader at Dubuque and Prairie du Chien, years 
before the Black Hawk War, in which he served. 
He established a trading post at what is now 
Shullsburg, in 1828, where he remained several 
years. He had, at the same time, trading houses 
at other points. In 1836 he bought the claim 
of George Lot, on section 36, in the town of 
Cadiz, to which he removed with his family 
and lived for many years. He afterwards re- 
moved further north in the town, and settled 
where he died in 1875. His widow, whom he 
married at his trading post at Shullsburg, in 
1827, is now living with her daughter at Wins- 
low, 111. 

In the fall of 1838 Mordecai Kelly settled 
on section 1, where he still lives. He was born 
in the State of Ohio in 1808, and came to Mon- 
roe with his family in the spring of 1837, where 
he lived until his settlement in Cadiz. 

William Bridges also settled on section 1 the 
following year, where he lived until the time of 
his death. His widow 'Still lives in the town at 
the advanced age of eighty-three years. 

In 1840 Martin Burt and Felix O'Fling locat- 
ed on section 3, and began the erection of a 
saw mill on Skinner creek — the first in the town. 
The mill was finished by Gardner & Burt in 
1841 and was known as their mill. 

In 1841 came John Billings, Philip, Michael 
and Elias Deyo. 

In 1843 John W. Deniston and Abner Van 
Sant, the former a son-in-law of the latter, came 
from Clarno and settled on the southwest quar- 
ter of section 23. They built a saw mill on 
Honey creek at that point which was the second 
one built in the town. Here, soon afterward, 
they laid out the village of Cadiz. 

David Cline soon afterward located at Cadiz, 
and a little later John Saucerman. 

Henry Rush, the present chairman of the 
board of supervisors of the town of Cadiz, in 
which capacity he is serving his fifth term, -was 
born in Bavaria, Germany, Feb. 24, 1822. In 
1830 his father emigrated to the United States 



with his family, but before they reached their 
destination, which was Seneca Co., Ohio, the 
mother died in Canton, Ohio. The family set- 
tled in Venice, Seneca Co., Ohio, where the 
father died about two years later. Henry Rush 
was brought up in the family of Michael Ous- 
tine, who settled in this county at the time that 
Mr. Rush came here, but soon after removed to 
Minnesota, where he died Feb. 14, 1863. Mr. 
Rush was a volunteer soldier of the Mexican 
War. He enlisted at the beginning of the war, 
in May, 1846, in company F, of the 3d Ohio Vol- 
unteers, which was commanded by Samuel R. 
Curtis, who became quite noted during the War 
of the Rebellion. He served about fourteen 
months under Gen. Zachary Taylor, and took 
part in the battle of Buena Vista, in which he 
was wounded. At the expiration of his term of 
service he returned to Ohio, and the following 
spring came to this county. His first wife was 
a native of Ohio, and by that union he has three 
children — Lusetta E., Nancy J. and Rufus H. 
He was again married, and by the second union 
had two children — R, E. and Flora B. Mr. 
Rush is the owner of 433 acres of land. 

Soon afterward came Andrew Rabb and son, 
Samuel, who located on section 19, and Reuben 
Tuttle on section 20. The former removed to 
Dakota, in the spring of 1883, and the latter re- 
mained but three years, when he removed to 
Sheboygan. 

Tracy Lockman came with Tuttle and also 
settled on section 20. He removed to Helena, 
Iowa county, and from thence to the State of 
New York. 

Jonathan Robinson settled on section 7, in 
1854. Ezra Wescott settled on section 6, at 
about the same time. He lived there until the 
time of his death. His widow and family still 
occupy the place. 

EVENTS OF INTEREST. 

The first mill in the town of Cadiz was a saw 
mill, erected by Martin Burt and Felix O'Fling, 
which was finished in 1841. It was located on 
Skinner creek, on section 3. It was afterward 



740 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



known as Gardner & Burt's mill. In 1848 it 
was burned to the ground. It was rebuilt im- 
mediately, by Joseph Wilford, who owned the 
property at the time it was destroyed. It was 
afterward owned by Brown & Williams, and 
later by Arabut Ludlow, who sold to Divan & 
Michael. Mr. Michael soon bought Divan's in- 
terest, and in 1884 sold the property to Mr. 
Woodle. 

The second mill was a saw mill, erected by 
John W. Deniston and Abner Van Santin 1843, 
on Honey creek. One year later, arun of buhrs 
was added for grinding corn and feed. This 
mill burned in the spring of 1848, and the saw 
mill part was rebuilt, but the "corn cracker" 
was not resurrected. The ruins of the saw mill 
still mark the spot. 

The "Buck Horn Tavern " was the first hotel 
in this town. It was built by Joseph Paine in 
184*7. It was a hewn log building, located on 
section 6. Itwasonthe mail route from Mon- 
roe to Wiota — a road much traveled in early 
days — and this was a noted stopping place for 
the traveling public for many years. Paine 
ran the hotel until the winter of 1849-50, and 
it continued to be used for tavern purposes for 
about ten years afterward. Paine sold to John 
Bringold, and in April 1850, killed him, as is 
related elsewhere. 

In 1850 William Dale erected a large frame 
house on lot 13, section 3, which he opened as 
"Dale's Tavern." This was on the road from 
Monroe to Galena, which was much traveled 
in those days. He also had a large frame barn 
to accommodate teams, and erected a shingle 
mill, which he ran with horse power. He was 
an enterprising man, and did an extensive busi- 
ness here for some time. Two of his sons are 
now in business at Browntown. 

The first child born in the town of Cadiz, as 
near as can now be ascertained, was Marietta 
Shull, a daughter of Jesse W. and Melissa 
Shull, born in the fall of 1838. She died at the 
age of twenty-one years. 



The first wedding in the town of Cadiz, and 
the second in Green county, was that of James 
Hawthorne and Massy R. Boyles, which occured 
in August, 1836. 

The first death in this town was that of 
Christopher Curdner, in 1837. He died at the 
house of Jesse W. Shull, and was buried on 
the farm of Mr. Shull, where several other 
bodies were interred. This was the first bury- 
ing ground in the town. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first school in the town of Cadiz — and it 
is claimed the first in Green county — was 
taught by Ralph Hilderbrant, in January and 
February, 1837, in Bennett Nolan's smoke house 
on section 36. 

The first school house in the town was a log 
one erected on section 3, in 1840. Miss Churchill, 
a sister of Norman Churchill, of Monroe, 
taught a term of school in this building in the 
summer of 1841. She afterward married John 
A. Bingham, (now deceased). She now lives 
in Monroe. Her school was the first taught in 
the northern part of the town. 

The second school house in the town was 
built on the northeast quarter of section 11, in 
1842. James Cowan taught school in this 
building the following winter. 

In 1884, there were eight full and four joint 
districts in this town. 

District No. 1 has a frame school house,valued 
at $600, on the southeast quarter of section 3. 
There are forty-four pupils in this district. 

District No. 2 is the Browntown district. It 
has a small frame school house, valued at $400, 
on section 4. There are eighty-four pupils here. 

District No. 3 has one of the best houses in 
the town, valued at $945. There are seventy- 
eight pupils here. 

District No. 4 has a white frame house, 
valued at $825, located on the northeast corner 
of section 21. There are seventy-one pupils 
here. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Y47 



District No. 5 has a school house in the 
south-central part of section 27, valued at $260. 
There are fifty-ei.^lit pupils here. 

District No. 8 has a school building on the 
northwest quarter of section 30, valued at $285. 
They have sixty pupils here. 

District No. 9 embraces the village of Mar- 
tin, and has an old stone school house, valued at 
$200, on section 32. There are seventy-four 
pupils here. 

District No. 13 has a school house on the 
southwest corner of section 9. It is a white 
frame building, valued at $454. There are 
forty-four pupils here. 

Joint district No. 1 embraces territory in the 
town of Jordan, the school house being located 
in that town. There are eight scholars of this 
district residing in this town. 

District No. Y, joint with Clarno, has a school 
house located on section 1, valued at $150. 
There are sixty pupils belonging to this town. 

Joint district No. 10 embraces territory in the 
town of Wayne, Lafayette county. The school 
building is located on the northeast corner of 
section 30, and is valued at $310. The number 
of pupils belonging to this district residing in 
Cadiz is forty-one. 

Joint district No. 12 also embraces territory 
in the town of Wayne. The school house is an 
old building located on section 7. There are 
twenty-two scholars in this town. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The first public religious services in the town 
were held at the school house on section 11 in 
1843, by the Rev. Mr. Mast, of the United 
Brethren denomination. He was a traveling 
minister, and held services here occasionally for 
some time. Rev. Connor, a Methodist preacher 
and a son-in-law of Martin Burt, held services 
at Burt's house at about the same time, and 
perhaps as early as 1842. 

Many of the early settlei's in the northern 
part of the town belonged to the United Breth- 
ren Church. Rev. Riley Curry, now of Monroe, 



was among the early and frequent preacbers of 
that denomination here. 

A Methodist Episcopal church edifice was 
erected on the southeast quarter of section 15, 
in 1870. It is a frame building, 32x46 feet in 
size, eighteen feet high, and painted white. 
The first preaching of this denomination in 
tliis part of the town was held at the house of 
Hugh Hastings, on section 15, in 1854, by Rev. 
Dyer. At that time a class was formed. A 
school house was afterwards built on the same 
section, at which services w^ere held until the 
church was built. Rev. Hurd followed Dyer. 
Other preachers here have been: Revs. Gould, 
Brainard, Jacob Miller, Jackson, Smith, and 
others. This was called the Cadiz circuit. 
The class formerly numbered seventy. There 
are. now only about a dozen. The present 
preacher is W. H. Kellogg. 

In the fall of 1879 a church building was 
erected at Martin by what was called the 
"Church Society of Martin." The greater part 
of this society was made up of United Breth- 
ren people, but the church was intended for all 
denominations. The building is fi-ame, and 
cost, including bell and furniture, about $1,800. 
It is used principally by the United Brethren 
and evangelical denominations, although other 
societies occasionally occupy it. 

TOWN ORGANIZATION. 

The first regular town meeting in the town of 
Cadiz was held on the 3d of April, 1849, when 
the town was organized. At this election there 
were fifty-one votes cast and the following of* 
ficers were elected: 

John Wood, chairman, John Kennedy and 
John Billing, supervisors; Wesley Swank, 
clerk; Philip Michael, treasurer; Elisha Ullom, 
assessor; John Kennedy, superintendent of 
schools; John Kennedy, John Wood, Isaac 
Diven and Benjamin Buchanan, justices of the 
the peace; John Denney, George Michael and 
Stephen Vanhorn, constables. The clerks of 
this election were: John Kennedy and John 



748 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Wood, and the judges were: John Saucerraan, 
.Tol)U Billing and ITirara Smith. 

In 1884 the officers of the town were as fol- 
lows: 

Henry Rush, chairman, Thomas Crow and 
N. C. Tyler, supervisors; John W. Lynch, 
clerk; Michael Shank, assessor; B. C. Curtis, 
E. Vanhorn and Gustav Shultze, justices of the 
peace; James White, John A. Black and W. D. 
Sanders, constables; J. W. Montgomery, sealer 
of weights and measures. 

A building for town purposes, known as the 
town house of Cadiz, was built in 1867 at a cost 
of $685. It is a frame building, located on the 
northwest quarter of section 22. All town 
elections, meetings of the board, caucuses, etc., 
are held here. 

CEMETERIES. 

The first burials in the northern part of the 
town were* made on the southeast quarter of 
section 3. The first burial there was Thomas 
Michael, youngest son of Philip and Lovicy 
Michael, who died in January, 1843, aged three 
months. This was the usual place of burial in 
the town before grounds were regularly laid 
out. In 1851 Philip Michael, on whose ground 
the burial ground was located, laid out grounds 
for a cemetery, which were surveyed by the 
county surveyor, Samuel Spangler. The ceme- 
tery includes four acres, and is still used for 
burial purposes. 

The cemetery on section 1, which is in use at 
present, was laid out many years later than the 
one just mentioned. It is kept in good condi-* 
tion. 

A private cemetery was laid out on section 
31, on the farm of N. Martin, a number of years 
ago. 

A cemetery at the village of Cadiz was laid 
out and used at an early day. But few burials 
are made here at present, the cemetery in con- 
nection with the Cadiz Methodist Church being 
generally used. 



VILLAGE OF BROWNTOWN. 

The original plat of the village of Browntown 
contained twenty acres, embracing the north half 
of the northeast quarter of section 9, township 1 
north, range 6 east. It was laid out and platted by 
James Dale on the 3d and 4th of March, 1882- 
He had owned the land two years previous to 
that time. An addition known as Sullivan's 
addition, consisting of about nine acres, was 
made by James White in May, 1882. The ad- 
dition joins the original plat on the west, and 
was called Sullivan's additions from the fact 
that the land comprising the addition belonged 
to the estate of John Sullivan, and Mr. White 
was the administrator of the estate, the addition 
being made in the interest of the heirs. 

This has been a place of some local impor- 
tance since 1846. Attracted by the excellent 
water privilege at this point, Messrs. William 
Brown, Henson Irion and John Wood in 1846 
purchased theeast half of the southwest quarter, 
and the west half of the southeast quarter of 
section 4. Thir was purchased of Washburn & 
Woodman, who were agents of the owners. 
The new proprietors began at once to improve 
the water power, and began the erection of a 
saw mill that year. In 1847 they built a dam 
and finished the saw mill, and also put up 
during that year a corn mill or "corn cracker." 
The first dwelling house was erected by Mr. 
Brown in 1846, and, in the fall of 1848 he 
erected another building which is still occupied 
as a dwelling. These gentlemen ran the mills 
I and owned the same until 1853, when Brown 
purchased Wood's interest. In 1862 Mr. 
Brown's was sold on mortgage to Arabut Lud- 
low. Mr. Irion disposed of his interest to Mr. 
Ludlow in 1863. The latter gentleman owned 
the property until 1875, when he sold it to 
Emanuel Diven, and from thence it passed into 
the hands of Emanuel and Plenry Diven, who 
put in tl>e mill the present improved machinery 
during the winter of 1875-6. The original 
saw mill and "corn cracker" disappeared many 
years ago, and the present mill building was 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



74y 



erected in 181 5, by Mr. Tobias. The mill 
property is now owned by Andrew Sutherland, 
having been purchased of Green Brothers, who 
succeeded Diven & Son. The mill contains 
three run of buhrs and is doing an extensive 
business. The mill is located just outside the 
plat, on section 4. 

This point for many years was known as 
Brown, Irion & Wood's mill. It afterwards 
came to be called Browntown, when the vil- 
lage was laid out. This name was applied to 
the village after William G. Brown. 

Mr. Brown came from Missouri, where he 
was born, although he was reared in New Or- 
leans. His early life was passed on the Missis- 
sippi river and its branches, first as cabin boy 
and afterward reached the position of second 
mate. Later in life he learned the business of a 
millwright, working with Abner Van Sant for a 
number of years. He was an uneducated man, 
but was possessed of much natui-al ability. He 
held the office of county commissioner in 1 847-8, 
and later was chairman of the board. In 1858 
he was elected to the assembly branch of the 
legislature. In 1859 he started to Pike's Peak, 
but at Fort Laramie he abandoned the project 
and went to California. He is now in Idaho 
Territory. He went to California first in 1849. 
Previous to that time he was known as William 
Brown; but afterward took the name of "Will- 
iam Grizzly Brown." He was a peculiar char- 
acter and his characteristics almost became 
proverbial. 

Mr. Wood now resides in the town of Al- 
bany. 

Henson Irion is still living in the town of 
Cadiz. He is a native of Ohio. He came to 
what afterwards became the State of Wisconsin, 
in 1832, and served in the Black Hawk War. 
In 1837 he came to what is now Green county 
and settled in the town of Clarno. Not until 
1854 did he become a resident of the town of 
Cadiz, although, as stated, he owned an interest 
in Browntown in 1846. 



The first store at what since become Brown- 
town was opened by Henson Irion, in 1856. He 
kept a general stock of goods and continued in 
business until 1859, when he closed out and ac- 
companied Mr. Brown to California. 

After Brown & Irion went to California there 
was no business carried on here except running 
the saw mill for two years, when it was closed 
and has not been reopened. After this there 
was a period of several years when nothing 
was done. After the grist mill was erected, in 
1876, Alfred Kelly opened a small store, and 
business has gradually increased until the pres- 
ent time. 

The advent of the railroad, in 1881, gave a 
new impulse to business; the village was laid 
out and Browntown became an important point. 

In 1884 the business of the village was repre- 
sented as follows: 

General merchandise — Diven & Frisley. 

Groceries and drugs — .James Dale. 

Groceries, hardware, boots and shoes — Daw- 
son & Tomlinson. 

Blacksmiths — Erickson & Meighen. 

Steam saw mill and lumber dealer — Samuel 
Kelly. 

Grist mill — Sutherland, Ball & Jackson. 

Hotel — James White. 

Billiard Hall — Joseph Stover. 

Physician — J. H. Stealy. 

Postmaster — Henry Frisley. 

James Dale, dealer in groceries and drugs at 
Browntown, is a son of William Dale, who 
came to the town of Cadiz, July 9, 1850, and 
located on section 4, where he bought forty 
acres of land of William Van Horn. Mr. Dale 
erected a building and kept hotel three years, 
then sold and bought a farm adjoining on the 
west, where he lived until his death, Oct. 23, 
1857. He was born in Manchester, England, 
and came to the United States in 1838. He 
lived in Niagara Co., N. Y., and then in Ashta- 
bula Co., Ohio, remaining in the latter place till 
he came to Green county. At that time his 
family consisted of himself, wife and five sons 



750 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



— George, Joseph, John, James and Abel. The 
youngest three are now residents of this 
town. George and Joseph are deceased. 
George enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin Battery 
in the fall of 1861, and died the following year 
at luka, Miss. Joseph served in the same regi- 
ment for nearly four years. He died March 23, 
1874. John served one year in the 1st Wiscon- 
sin regiment, company A, was then transferred 
to company A, of the 21st regiment, in which he 
served eight months. He was born in the State 
of New York in 1840, and came here with his 
parents in 1850. James Dale was born in Niag- 
ara Co., N. Y., in 1843. He enlisted in Febru- 
ary, 1864, in the 5th Wisconsin Battery, and 
served eighteen months. He has lived in this 
county since he came here'^with his father, 
except one year in Kansas and one year 
in Minnesota. His wife was Orpha M. Loomis, 
daughter of John Loomis, an early settler in 
this town, but now living at Walnut Grove, 
Red Wing Co., Minn. Mrs. Dale was born in 
this town, Jan. 19, 1848. They have two chil- 
dren — Nettie and Effie. 

The Brov/ntown Hotel was built by the pres- 
ent proprietor, James W. White, in 1881. It 
is located on the main street of the village, and 
is a frame building, two and a half stories high. 
Including the furniture, its cost was about 
$3,000. Mr. White purchased the location on 
which was then a small building, of Samuel 
Kelly, in 1881, for $600. It includes five lots. 
Mr. White is a genial and popular landlord, and 
is esteemed by both his neighbors and the 
traveling public. 

James W. White, landlord and proprietor of 
the Browntown Hotel, was born at Plattsburg, 
N. Y., in May, 1851. He came to this town 
with his parents, Michael and Fanny White, in 
1854. They settled on section 5. Wlien James 
opened the hotel at Browntown, his parents 
came here and resided with him. His father 
died in June, 1883. His mother is still living 
here. James W. was married to Elizabeth 
Stover, daughter of Thomas Stover, an early 



settler in this town. They have one son — 
Michael. Thomas Stover was of English de- 
scent, born in Virginia. His wife, Sarah Helt- 
man, was a native of Pennsylvania. They 
were married in Ashland Co., Ohio, and removed 
to Stephenson Co., 111., and settled near Free- 
port, wliere they remained till 1854, when they 
came to this town and located on a farm of 160 
acres. He was a blacksmith by trade and an 
excellent workman. He carried on blacksmith- 
ing at his farm. He was fatally injured by a 
threshing machine. His widow still lives in 
this town, and her mother, who is nearly 100 
years old, resides with her. 

VILLAGE OF MARTIN. 

In 1849 Edward S. Hanchett obtained a right 
of Cyrus Woodman, who was agent of the 
owners of the land, to improve a water power 
on the Pecatonica river, at the point where 
Martin is now located, and began the construc- 
tion of a dam across the stream. In the spring 
of 1850 Nathaniel Martin came here and joined 
Mr. Hanchett in the enterprise. The same sea- 
son they finished the dam and erected a saw 
mill. They worked together for one year, 
when Mr. Martin bought out Hanchett. The 
saw mill was operated for many years, when it 
was removed and replaced by the present mill. 
The next improvement of importance here, was 
the erection of a grist mill in 1854, by Mr. 
Martin. The grist mill now contains three run 
of buhrs and still does a good business. Isaiah 
Martin, a brother, was associated with Nathaniel 
for a time. 

Nathaniel Martin, of the village of Martin, 
in the town of Cadiz, was born in West Vir- 
ginia, in 1816. When twenty years old, he 
went to St. Louis, and one year later, came to 
Cadiz, in the year 1849. He was married to 
Hannah Strader, daughter of Jacob Strader, an 
early settler in Stephenson Co., 111. She was 
born in Vermilion Co., 111. They had fourteen 
children, six of whom are living — Elias, Nellie, 
Horatio, Emma A., Mary L. and Julia. Mr. 
Martin was, in early life, a whig, later a repub- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



751 



lican. He has been for many years a member 
of the United Brethren Church. He is an un- 
qualified temperance man, and strongly favors 
prohibition. Mr. Martin's father settled at 
what is known as Richland Timber, in Stephen- 
son county, and afterwards removed to Jordan, 
in this county, where he died in February, 1864. 
His widow is still living at the age of eighty-five 
years. In 1868, Mr. Martin laid out the village, 
having it surveyed by surveyor Dodge. Ac- 
cording to the record the plat contains forty- 
seven acres of thesoutheastquarter of section 32. 

J. W. Mitchell kept the first store in the vil- 
lage after it was platted. He was succeeded by 
Hodges & Hodges, and they by Martin & 
Hodges. 

Jacob Hodge and W. H. Martin kept a store 
for a time. 

The present merchants are Wright & Ed- 
wards, who established their business in April, 

18*75. 

The other branches of trade represented 
here are as follows : 

Saw and grist mills — Nathaniel Martin. 

Cabinet maker — Carl Haase. 

Wagon maker — Frank Luke. 

Blacksmith — Gustav Schultze. 

William Edwards, of the firm of Wright 
& Edwards, general merchants at Martin, was 
born at Guilford, Surrey, England, Aug. 10, 
1827. He came to the United States in July, 
1855. He learned the trade of miller, in his 
native country, and after coming to the United 
States, worked at that trade in Franklin, Sussex 
Co., N. J., one year. He then came west and 
worked in a mill near Galena, 111., one year. 
He came to Martin in 1858 and engaged in 
working in the mill at this place. In 1876 he 
began mercantile business. He was married to 
Nancy ShuU, daughter of Jesse W. and Malisse 
Shull. She was born near Louisville, Ky., in 
March, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have 
five children — Thomas P., William, Morgan G., 
Eliza M. and Nora Ida. They have lost one 



son — Miller, at the age of two years and seven 
months. 

The postoftice at Martin was established in 
1865. The first postmaster was William 
Hodges, who was succeeded by Mrs. Mary Ann 
Tyler. She was succeeded by the present in- 
cumbent, W. W. Wright. 

VILLAGE OF CADIZ. 

In 1846 a village was platted by Deniston & 
VanSant, on section 23, called Cadiz. But it 
never acquired any importance. A small store 
was kept by David Cline at his residence for a 
time, and later, Asbury Brown was proprietor. 

The first postoftice in the town was estab- 
lished here in about 1850, which is still con- 
tinued. The first postmaster was Wesley Swank, 
who kept the ofiice at his residence. He was 
the postmaster until the fall of 1855, when he 
was succeeded by Charles R. Deniston. The 
latter gentleman held the office until 1860, 
when he was succeeded by Philip Ward. On 
the 11th of July, 1864, Brant C. Curtis, the 
present incumbent, was appointed, and has held 
the ofiice since that time, a period of twenty 
years. The postoftice is all that remains of 
Cadiz. 

Brant C. Curtis resides on the southwest 
quarter of section 23, where he settled in March, 
1864. He came to the county in April, 1861. 
He was born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., in Novem- 
ber, 1820. He lived in the same house in which 
he was born forty years. His father, Charles 
Curtis, was born in Duchess Co., N. Y. His 
mother was Margaret (Bennett) Curtis, a na- 
tive of Schuyler county. They lived in that 
county until their decease. Brant C. Curtis 
came here directly from Schuyler county. He 
was employed by Mr. Deniston, in a saw mill, 
for eighteen years. He has been engaged in 
lumbering much of his life. His wife was for- 
merly Sarah Stone, a native of Kingston, Canada 
East. They have seven children — Elmira, Jane, 
James S., Samuel D., Addie, Edith and Oscar. 

MILLS. 

The saw mill, known as Shattuck's steam 
saw mill, on the southeast quarter of section 



752 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1, was erected in 1855 by Barber & Chenoweth. 
Henry Barber owned and operated the mill 
for a number of years. Roberts & Land then 
owned it until 18t)6, when it was purchased by 
the present proprietor, J, E. Shattuck. The 
mill has been improved very much by Mr. Shat- 
tuck, and is now equipped with a forty horse 
power steam en«fine. It does mostly custom 
work in hard wood, and has a capacity for 5,000 
feet per day. 

There are three grist mills in the town of 
Cadiz. Those at the villages of Browntown 
and Martin are mentioned elsewhere. 

The third is located on Honey creek, on sec- 
tion 34. It was erected in 1868 and 18(39, by D. 
Klasey, the present owner. The mill has two 
run of stone, and is a good mill, but it does less 
business than in former years. As there is at 
times an insufficient supply of water, a steam 
engine has of late years been added. 

A few years after the erection of the grist 
mill, Mr. Klasey built a saw mill which is ope- 
rated by the same power and does an extensive 
business. 

POSTOFFICES. 

The second postoffice in the town was known 
as "Skinner," and was located on section 3. It 
was established in 1854, and Isaac Williams was 
the first postmaster. The next postmaster was 
Isaac Phillips, who held the office for a number 
of years, when he was succeeded by George 
Michael. Mr. Michael was postmaster for six- 
teen yearSjUntil 1881, when the office was discon- 
tinued and the postoffice at Browntown was 
created. 

The first postmaster of the Browntown office 
was Henry Diven. He was succeeded by Henry 
Frisley, the present postmaster. 

A postoffice called "Wausemon" is kept by 
Mrs. N. L. B. Wescoit, on section 6. This 
office was established in 1871, when the present 
incumbent was appointed postmistress. Mail is 
now received here daily from the eastern bound 
train; a catcher being employed to receive and 
give mail. 



THE PAINK-BRINGOLl> TRAGEDY. 

Joseph Paine was one of the earliest settlers 
in Green county. He first located in what has 
since become the town of Clarno; but in 1836, 
entered land where the city of Monroe now 
stands, and erected a tavern which he ran for 
several years. From Monroe he came to the 
town of Cadiz, and at one time owned an inter- 
est in Michael's mill. In 1847 he erected the 
well known "Buck Horn Tavern" on section 6, 
in connection with which he owned a farm of 
175 acres. In the winter of 1849-50 he sold this 
property to a German, named John Bringold, 
and purchased the farm adjoining, on the west, 
now owned by Augustus Picket. Bringold was 
a peculiar man. Hard to get along with, never 
pleased with anything, and never losing an op- 
portunity to give a neighbor a dig. On the 4th 
of April, 1850, a dispute arose between Paine 
and Bringold, regarding the removal of a rail 
fence. It ajjpears that this fence had been built 
by Paine while he owned Bringold's farm; but 
through some mistake regarding the exact line 
of division between the two farms, the fence 
had been laid by Paine on the land he had re- 
cently purchased. Bringold claimed the rails 
as his own and determined to move this fence 
and rebuild it on the line between the two 
farms. To this Paine objected and wanted the 
fence to remain where it was. He offered to 
give Bringold newly split rails, instead, if he 
would let the fence remain where it was. But 
Bringold stubbornly refused; he would not take 
new rails, but was bound to tear down the fence 
to get these particular rails. Paine appears to 
have been a man quick to take offense, and of 
uncontrollable temper when aroused. He told 
Bringold that if he attempted to remove the 
rails he would shoot him; but the latter disre- 
garding the thieat, proceeded to remove the 
rails, when Paine, going to the house, procured 
his rifle and came back. He again warned 
Bringold and then shot him through the body 
inflicting a wound which produced death in a 
short time. Paine afterward claimed that he 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



-753 



did not intend to kill Bringold, but simply to 
"burn him" as he expressed it; but that a sud- 
den movement of his body just as the shot was 
fired, produced a fatal result. Paine gave him- 
self up and was indicted for murder; but just 
before the time set for his trial, in March, 1851, 
he succeeded in eluding the guard and escaped. 
To-day there is an impression that the sheriff, 
who was related to Paine, aided the prisoner; 
but this is erroneous and unjust. Paine was in 
charge of a deputy. As he stated it afterward 
to a pioneer of Green county, who met him in 
California, his escape was effected in the follow- 
ing manner: There being no jail here at that 
time,a room in the court house(later known as the 
American Hotel) was fixed up for a cell. Mrs. 
Paine accompanied her husband to the cell, and 
the deputy locked them both in. No sooner 
had the jailor locked the door (which had a 
common lock), than Paine picked it open. He 
got to the head of the stairs in time to see tlie 
deputy sheriff vanish in the darkness. He then 
made his way to the northwestern part of town 
where he found a horse, which he mounted and 
struck out southwest. He was met by a relative 
who furnished another horse and took the first 
one back. A few miles further he was met by 
George Paine, who furnished him with a race 
horse, and the following morning at daybreak. 
he crossed the Mississippi river at McGregor. 
From there he made his way to California, where 
his wife joined him the following year. His 
whereabouts were known for years; but no ef- 
foi't was made to re-capture him. On the morn- 
ing following his escape the deputy sheriff went 
to the door to awake his prisoner. After raj)- 
ping several times a liusky voice inquired: 
"What's the matter?" "Time to get up," was 
the reply, and the deputy left. This was re- 
peated several times until finall}^ the deputy 
unlocked the door and entered, to find Mrs. 
Paine alone. The hue and cry that was raised 
is remembered by all old settlers, b«it no trace 
could be found, until several years had elapsed, 
when all inclination to punish had disappeared. 



Joseph Paine died in California, in December, 

1875. 

ANOTHER SHOOTING AFFAIR. 

Another sad and fatal shooting affair occurred 
in this town on the 20th of February, IBVl. 
Jose|)h Morton and Libbie Gorton, who had 
been recently married, were staying temporarily 
at the house of Mordecai Kelly. A sleigh load 
of boys and young men, four of whom were 
brothers of the bride, went to the house of Mr. 
Kelly, on the evening of the day mentioned, to 
charivari the newly married couple. Kelly, af- 
ter making some threats, ■ which were not 
heeded by the boys, took down his shot gun 
and deliberately discharged its contents into 
the sleigh load of boys. Augustus M. Gorton, 
a young brother of the bride, but twelve years 
of age, was almost instantly killed, and Mat- 
thew Curran and "Lane" Campbell were 
slightly wounded. Kelly delivered himself up 
and was indicted for murder, but through some 
compromise the principal prosecuting witness 
did not appear, and the case never came to final 
trial. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

James Morton came with his parents to Cadiz 
in 1843. They settled on section 1, where 
James Morton still resides. His father, James 
McConnell Morton, was born in Nashville, 
Tenn. He removed to Kentucky w^ith his par- 
ents when about eleven years of age. There 
he grew to manhood, and was married to Mary 
Montgomery, who was born in Kentucky. 
They removed from Kentucky to Indiana, and 
thence to Illinois, coming from there to Green 
county in 1840, when they settled in the town 
of Clarno. He had come there the previous 
year and put in a crop. He remained in Clarno 
till 1843, when, as before stated, he came to 
Cadiz. His wife died here in 1864, and his 
death occurred in 1869. They had twelve chil- 
dren,- five sons and seven daughters, all of 
whom grew to maturity, but only six are now 
living. James was born in Indiana in 1827. 
He served in the 16lh Wisconsin regiment dur- 



764 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUKTY. 



ing the Rebellion, and spent two years in Cali- 
fornia and Oregon. lie has owned the home- 
stead farm since 1852. It contains 141 acres. 
He was married to Sophia Kelly, daughter of 
Mordecai Kelly, and eleven children, six boys 
and five girls, have been born to them. 

George Michael is the eldest living son of 
Philip Michael, who settled in the town of Ca- 
diz with his family in 1841. Philip Michael 
was born in Bedford Co., Penn., March 12, 1791. 
He removed with his father to Ohio when a 
boy, where he grew to manhood. He served in 
the second war with Great Britain. After the 
war he was married to Lavicy Hall, who was 
born at Harper's Ferry, Va., Aug. 1, 1799. She 
is still living, and resides with her children in 
the town of Cadiz. She draws a pension for 
services of her husband in the War of 1812. 
Philip Michael removed to Indiana with his 
family in 1829, where he resided until he came 
to Green county in 1841. His first location was 
on section 2, in this town, where he lived sev- 
eral years. He then purchased a farm on the 
northeast quarter of section 10, where he re- 
sided until his decease in September, 1852. He 
died from a cancer, from which he suffered a 
number of years. The family, when they came 
here, consisted of the parents, nine sons and 
three daughters. All of the children are now 
living except the oldest son, William. One 
son was born here, and died in infancy. Three 
sons and two daughters are living in Nebraska. 
The others reside in this town. Like most of 
the early settlers, Mr. Michael came here poor, 
but by industry and economy secured a compe- 
tence, owning at the time of his decease 320 
acres of valuable land. He was a man much re- 
spected for his excellent traits of character. 
George Michael was born in Ohio, in 1820. He 
came to Cadiz with his father in 1841, being- 
then in his twenty-second year. He was mar- 
ried in 1848 to Jane Bridges, daughter of Wil- 
liam Bridges, who settled early in this town. 
Mr. Michael resided at the homestead until af- 
ter the death of his father, when he received a 



part of the homestead estate, on which he set- 
tled and remained until 1866, when he settled 
where he now resides on section 3. Politically, 
Mr. Michael was a whig until the formation of 
the republican party, since which he has been 
identified with that party. Probably no man in 
the town has held official positions for a greater 
number of years than he. He has been in town 
office almost continually for thirty years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Michael have six children — Charles 
H , Philip B., George A., James E., Ellen and 
Emma. 

Jarvis W. Montgomery was born in the town 
of Saybrook, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, in 1831. He 
removed with his parents to Erie Co., Penn. 
He came to this county in May, 1842, in com- 
pany with his brother-in-law, Samuel Ball, trav- 
eling all the way from Pennsylvania with 
teams. He lived in the town of Sylvester until 
seventeen years old, then went to work for him- 
self. In 1865 he settled on section 7, in the 
town of Cadiz, where he purchased a farm of 
Joseph Briggs. This was the first farm he ever 
owned, and he has made all the improvements 
upon it. It contains 100 acres. He was mar- 
ried to Amanda Ball, a daughter of Gary Ball, 
who died in Illinois. She came to Green county 
with her mother from Erie Co., Penn., in 1844. 
Her mother died at the residence of Mr. Mont- 
gomery in March, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Mont- 
gomery have six children — Robert and Marion, 
born in the town of Monroe; and Louisa, Grace, 
Frank and Leroy, born in the town of Cadiz. 
\/' John V. Roberts came to the town of Clarno 
in 1842, but is now a resident of section 12, of 
the town of Cadiz, where he removed in 1863. 
He was born in Preble Co., Ohio, in 1825. His 
father, Isaac Roberts, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and removed to Ohio with his parents 
when a boy. He came to Green county with 
Elmer Clark and David Bridge. Mr, Clark 
still lives in the town of Jefferson, where he 
then settled. The latter located near Mr. 
Clark and is now deceased. Isaac Roberts en- 
tered land at that time in the town of Clarno, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



755 



and returned to Ohio, where he died in 1840. 
Christiana Roberts, his wife, removed with 
her twelve children to the land which her hus- 
band had entered in Clarno, in September, 1842. 
The family consisted of eight sons and four 
daughters, the eldest about twenty-five years 
old. On reaching their destination their 
worldly goods consisted of a team, three cows 
and $2 in money. They put up a log house 
that fall. The following winter was a severe 
one, yet, although the family was a large one, 
they managed to pass the winter with but little 
suflFering. The family centinued together for a 
number of years, working by the month during 
the summer reason, till most of them reached 
maturity. The mother removed to Monroe 
about 1862, where she died in 1864. Eight of 
the children are now living, six sons and two 
daughters. One of the sons served in the 21st 
Wisconsin regiment, Volunteer Infantry, dur- 
ing the War of the Rebellion. He is now in 
Texas. John V., subject of this sketch, is the 
only one of the children now living in Green 
county, the others being scattered throughout 
the different States of the Union. He re- 
mained at the homestead until 1854, when he 
went to Monroe, where he operated a saw mill 
for eight years, after which he came to Cadiz. 
He returned to Ohio in the fall of 1849, and in the 
spring of 1850 was married to Sarah Ann 
Brooke, a native of Ohio. They have four 
children — John W., Harriet Beecher, Sarah C-. 
and Naomi O. They have lost three children. 



Mr. Roberts' farm contains 400 acres. 



J^ 



Augustus Pickett settled in December, 1867, 
in Green county, where he purchased a farm. 
This farm in an early day was owned by Joseph 
Paine, and it was here that the old "Buck 
Horn" tavern was located, and here that the 
noted "Paine-Bringold" tragedy occurred. Mr. 
Pickett's father, Hiram Pickett, was born in 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., March 30, 1809, where he 
was reared and married. After marriage he 
removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, and thence to 
Hancock Co., III., and was there at the time the 



trouble occurred with the Mormons at Nauvoo, 
previous to their removal to Salt Lake. In 
1843 he removed from Illinois to Green Co., 
Wis. The following year he settled at Wiota, 
where he resided till the spring of 1867. He 
then moved to Monroe, where he died Dec. 12, 
1872. His wife was Harriet Pulsipher, a native 
of New York. She died at the residence of 
her son, in 1878. They had seven children, 
five of whom are living, Augustus, the subject 
of this sketch, is the only one of the family 
residing in this town. He was married to Sarah 
E. Connor, a daughter of Samuel Connor. They 
have three children — Clarence U., Asa S. and 
Myrtie L. Mr. Pickett's farm is situated on sec- 
tion 6, township 1, range 6, and consists of 
235 acres. 

^"^Hiram Smith, of Browntown, came to Cadiz 
in 1845, since which time this has been his 
home. He was born in Langdon, Cheshire Co., 
N. H., in 1810. He removed with his father to 
Vermont when he was six years old. When he 
was nineteen years of age, he went with his 
father and family to Canada, where his parents 
continued to reside until their decease. In 
1835 he left home and went to the Territory of 
Michigan, and two years later to Wisconsin. 
He located in the town of Gratiot, now in La- 
fayette county, where he took government land. 
On coming to Cadiz he entered about 600 acres 
of land, and has always dealt largely in real es- 
tate. He owned, at one time, 640 acres in this 
town. He has no family, and has been quite 
liberal in disposing of a considerable part of 
his real estate, by gifts to friends. He still 
owns 548 acres. He has been assessor of this 
town four terms, three terms in succession. He 
has never sought office, but was induced to ac- 
cept the office of assessor, and is said to have 
made one of the most faithful, efficient officers 
that the town has ever had. He has never 
tasted of any intoxicating drinks since he was 
eighteen years old. Never joined a secret so- 
cietv, nor had an account against him in a store. 



756 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Miles Smith settled on the northeast quarter 
of section 36, in 1846, although he first came 
to the county in 1845. He purchased forty 
acres of land, to which he has since added 
enough to make 100 acres. He was born in 
Highland Co., Ohio, Nov. 12,1822, where he 
was reared to manhood. He was there married 
to Ruth Wright, and came to Green county in 
1845, as before stated. He enlisted in the 37th 
Wisconsin and served through the War of the 
Rebellion. He was at the siege of Petersburg, 
and at the surrender of Gen. Lee. Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith have had nine children, three of 
whom are living — Chester, Amerida and Isa- 
belle. Mr. Smith owns 100 acres of land. His 
father, Daniel Smith, now lives in Oneco, 
Stephenson Co., 111. He was born in 1783, in 
North Carolina. He is now 101 years of age. 

l^William Dinger resides upon section 10, of 
the town of Cadiz, where he purchased forty 
acres of land in 1846. The following year he 
built a log house upon the place, in which the 
family lived for twenty-six years, and which is 
Btill standing where erected. He was born in 
the State of Ohio, iu 1815. He grew to man- 
hood, and was married in his native State, to 
Susan Diven, a native of Green Co., Ohio, born 
in 1818. Mr. Dinger's family, at the time ol 
their removal to Green county, consisted of his 
wife and four children. They had six children 
born in this county, making ten in all, six of 
whom are now living — Jeremiah, Polly, widow 
of Joseph Dale; Solomon, Hiram, Maranda and 
Elmira. Solomon was born in Licking Co., 
Ohio, in 1845. He enlisted in the 16th Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, company K, Dec. 25, 
1863, and served until the close of the war, 
being all of the time in active service. He 
took part in the siege of Atlanta and Sherman's 
marcli to the sea. He was in about thirty bat- 
tles and skirmishes. He is now married to 
Mary L. Snow, daugliter of John C. Snow, and 
resides at the homestead. They have five 
children. 



/^Emanuel Diven is a settler of 1846. He was 
born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Jan. 9, 1813. His 
father, Henry Diven, was born in Washington 
Co., Penn., and when a young man removed to 
Belmont Co., Oliio, where he was married. The 
subject of tills sketch, with his parents, removed 
to Coshocton county in his native State in 1815, 
where he was reared to manhood. His early 
life was spent on the farm. In November, 1846, 
he came to Green county. He purchased 160 
acres of land on the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 10, on which he resides; and entered forty 
acres on section 15, adjoining. His homestead 
consists of 280 acres. He also has 100 acres on 
section 4. "^riiis is one of the best farms in the 
town. It was formerly heavily timbered, and has 
required an immense amount of hard labor to 
improve. As his surroundings indicate, he is a 
successful farmer. He has been married three 
times. His first w^ife was Jane Delong. She 
died in Ohio. By this union there were seven 
children, three of whom are living. His second 
wife was Sally A. Morehead, whom he married 
in Ohio, just previous to coming to Wisconsin. 
She died in July, 1854. By this union there 
were two children, one of whom is living. He 
was married the third time on the 15th of April, 
1855, to Mary Beitler, born in Buck Co., Penn., . 
in 1833, When eight years of age she moved 
with her parents to Ohio, and from there to 
Grant Co., Wis. The result of this union was 
ten children, eight of whom are living. Two 
sons, James and Walter, served in the army. 
The latter, a son by his second wife, was killed 
at the battle of Jonesboro, Jan. 28, 1 865, at the 
age of seventeen years. 

/^enry Diven is a son of Emanuel Diven, who 
came to Green county in 1846. Henry Diven 
was born in Ohio, in 1839, and came to this 
county in 1846, with his father. He engaged 
in tlie mercantile business here in the fall of 
|ss(), and has continued it ever since that time, 
with the exception of one year. FJe was married 
to C-atharine Carrothers, a native of Illinois, 
where her parents died. She came to thiscoun- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



761 



ty about 1854. They have three children— 
Enieline, James M. and Elmer E. 

Isaac T. Williams resides on section 14, where 
he settled in the fall of 1864. He has been a 
resident of this town since 1847. He was born 
in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1824. In 1832 
he removed with his parents, John L. and Nancy 
(Colestock) Williams, to Maryland, he being 
then seven years old. In 1844 the famil}'^ moved 
to Rock Island, 111., and then lo this county, 
settling in the town of Sylvester. They after- 
wards removed to Mount Pleasant, where the 
father died, in 1846. His wife was again 
married to Capt. R. R. Jennison, and died 
July 24, 1873. John L. Williams brought four 
children with iiim to Green county — Isaac, Sid- 
ney, Joseph and Cliarlotte. All are living ex- 
cept Charlotte who died in 1846. Sidney is the 
widow of Albert Jennison, Joseph is in Cali- 
fornia. Isaac, on first coming to Cadiz, worked 
on the construction of the mill at Browntown. 
He afterwards bought an interest in a saw mill 
of Mr. Brown, and was employed in running 
that from 1854 to 1859. In 1859 he went to Cali- 
fornia and was absent from the county three 
years. He was married to Martha J. Johnson, 
a native of Pennsylvania. She came to this 
county with her father in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. 
Williams have eight children — Mary, Joseph, 
John, James, Abner, Jasper, Homer and Edith. 

Mason Palmer, upon section 8, entered a part 
of his farm in April, 1847, and bought the re- 
mainder of Joseph Jones. He has 140 acres. 
It was heavily timbered, but is now well im- 
proved, and has all been plowed except thirty 
acres that is still timber. He was bora in Co- 
shocton Co., Ohio, in 1819. There he grew 
to manhood and was married. He came to 
Green county in 1846, with his family, and set- 
tled upon his present farm the following year. 
His first wife was Eliza Maxwell, a daughter of 
George Maxwell. She was born in Ohio, Nov. 
7, 1818, and died in the spring of 1856. His 
present wife was Elizabeth E. Day, a daugliter 
of Daniel D.iy, who canie to the town of Clarno 



with his family, from Coshocton Co., Ohio, in 
the fall of 1845. Mr. Day died three weeks 
after his arrival in Wisconsin, leaving a wife 
and seven children. Elizabeth Day, the present 
Mrs. Palmer, was born in Ohio, in 1837. Mr. 
Palmer had, by his first marriage, five children, 
two of whom are living — Ellen and Maria. By 
his second marriage he had fourteen children, 
seven sons and seven daughters. William 
Palmer, a brother of Mason Palmer, formerly 
lived in this town, but now lives in Missouri. 
Another brother, James, lives at Browntown. 
^Villiam Clarno, proprietor of a restaurant at 
Browntown, is a son of Andrew Clarno, the first 
settler of the town of Clarno. William Clarno 
was born in the town of Clarno, July 6, 1841 . He 
enlisted in company C, of the 3d Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the battles 
of Winchester, Gettysburg, and many others. 
He lost his right leg at the battle of Pine Knob, 
Ga., June 16, 18G4, and remained in the hospital 
till July 25, 1865, when he was discharged. He 
was married to Elizribeth Peregoy, daughter of 
John Peregoy. This union has been blessed with 
six children, four of whom are living. 

Jesse Raymer settled upon section 14, April 
13, 1849. He first bought forty acres of Henry 
Downs, Avho entered it, and afterwards twenty 
acres on the east, of David McKibbin. At tlie 
time of his purchase this land was covered with 
timber and underbrush, only two acres of which 
was improved. Mr. Raymer was born in Mary- 
land in 1816, and removed, when a child, to 
Pennsylvania, with his father. He lived in 
Green county, of that State, until he came to 
Green Co., Wis. He was married in Pennsyl- 
vania, to Maria Kelley, a native of Green county, 
in that State. They have had seven children, 
four of whom are living — John, Jesse, Freeman 
and Jane. Mr. Raymer is a cooper by trade, 
and was poor when he came here. He paid his 
last half dollar to a guide to conduct him to the 
village of Cadiz. He began at once to work at 
his trade, making sixteen barrels the week after 
his arrival. He followed his trade here for 



44 



762 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



seven or eight years. He now has a good farm 
and comfortable buildings. In 1883 Mr. Ray- 
mer visited Green Co., Penn., to review the 
scenes of hi8 early life, and was absent several 
weeks. 

^Nathaniel Dinger is a son of Solomon Din- 
ger, who was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, and 
was a brother of William Binger of this town. 
He (Solomon Binger) came here with his fam- 
ily in the autumn of 1850, and settled upon 
forty acres on section 15, but afterwards re- 
moved to section 9, which he sold, and moved 
to Kansas with his family. He returned and 
located on section 17, where he resided until 
his death in September, 1881, His widow, Har- 
riet (Lynch) Binger, still lives in the town. 
She owns 284 acres of land. They had eight 
children. Those now living are — Nathaniel, 
Emily, wife of Edmund Weldon; Francis Oli- 
ver, Sarah A., wife of Thomas Toralinson, 
Brant W. and Sidney Ulysses. Nathaniel was 
born in the town of Cadiz, Nov. 29, 1850. He 
was married to Charlotte E., daughter of Wil- 
liam Austin, an early settler in this county. 
They reside upon section 8. 

i^Simon P. Lynch settled in 1850 on section 
15, where hepurcliased 200acresof unimproved 
land of C. C. Washburn and Cyrus Woodman, 
agents for the sale of lands. He built a log 
house and barn upon the place in'the fall of 
that year. He has resided here since that time. 
He now owns 320 acres. He was born in Coshoc- 
ton Co., Ohio, in the town of West Bedford, 
June 15, 1824. He remained in his native 
county until twenty-six years of age, when he 
came to Green county. His father, William 
Lynch, was a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. 
Lynch, subject of this sketch, was married to 
Margaret Divan, daughter of Henry Divan, and 
they have eight children — Mary E., 'I'homas A. 
who now resides on section 21 in this town; 
Mattie J., wife of Frank Ullora; John W., Ellen, 
Annie M., wife of John Howe; Simon P. and 
Hester. They have lost five boys, three of 



whom died in Ohio. Mrs. Lynch was born in 
Coshocton Co., Ohio, Feb. 25, 1824. 

Lyman Lockman resides on section 33, where 
he settled in 1860. He first settled on section 
16 in 1855. Mr. Lockman was born in Madi- 
son Co., N. Y., in 1828, When ten years old 
he went to sea as cabin boy, taking a trip 
around the world on his first voyage. He was 
on the sea fifteen years. During the war with 
Mexico he was in the naval service, and was 
present at the capture of Vera Cruz. He came 
to Wisconsin in 1851, since which time his home 
has been in Green county. He was married to 
Elizabeth Hastings, daughter of Hugh Hast- 
ings. She was born in Pennsylvania. They 
have six children — John, Hugh, Acta, Benjamin, 
Eda and Arthur. One son, William, was 
drowned while bathing in the Pecatonica river, 
June 20, 1880. He was in his eighteenth year. 
Mr. Lockman's farm contains eighty acres. 
^Lorenzo Fuller lives on section 32, where his 
father, W. M. Fuller, settled Feb 22, 1854. 
The latter was born in the State of Massachu- 
setts about 1805. When a young man he went 
to Canada and from thence to Wisconsin in 
1853. He bought this farm of Josiah Martin, 
which was then unimproved. He died Aug. 11, 
1879, and his wife has since died. They had 
six children, three boys and three girls. Lorenzo 
owns the homestead farm, having bought the 
interest of the other heirs. He was born in 
Cajiada in 1844. He was married to Lana 
Chawgo, a native of the town of Clayton, Jef- 
ferson Co., N. V. They have four children — 
Walter, Frank, Clark and Collie, 
v/^ Henry Shank, upon section 3H, owns the 
homestead where his fattier, J. B. Shank, settled 
in 1855. J. B. Shank was barn in Lebanon 
C/o., Penn., in 1809, where he grew to manhood 
and in his youth learned the trade of miller. 
He was married to Catharine Bambergar. In 
1855 he left his home in Pennsylvania and 
came directly to this county and purchased the 
farm before mentioned, of George Shaffer. He 
first bought 240 acres, which he increased to 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



763 



400 acres. He died in October, 1875. His 
widow now lives in Stephenson Co., 111. They 
had ten children, six of whom grew to matur- 
ity, and five of whom are now living — J. B., 
Malinda, wife of Jared Wahlford; Michael, 
Henry and John H. Michael, Henry and J. B. 
are residents of Cadiz. Henry, who lives at 
the homestead, was born in Lebanon county in 
1848. He was married to Elmira, daughter of 
Elisha Ullom, of this town. They have one 
son— Willie A., born Jan. 20, 1874. 

John A. Meacham came to Green county 
with his father, Hosea Meacham, in 1857. He 
was born in Crawford Co , Penn., in 1841. In 
1863 he enlisted in the 4th Wisconsin Cavalry, 
and served in the department of the gulf, until 
the close of the war. He was married to Mary 
E. Robb, a daughter of Andrew Robb, and they 
have four children — Ed. L., Nellie, John Arthur 
and Alta. Mr. Meacham was a teacher in 
Green county for a number of years, teaching 
fifteen winter terms. He now resides on sec- 
tion 21, where he settled in 1867. He owns 
120 acres, upon which he has made all of the 
improvements, and has a good farm. He has 
served as town clerk seven years, member of 
the town board one year, and town treasurer 
one year in the town of Cadiz. His father, 
Hosea Meacham, lives on section 16, where he 
settled in 1857. He was born in Chenango Co., 
N. Y., in 1807. His wife was Mary >:ic1)ols. 
She died in 1882. They had six children, four 
sons and two daughters. 

William Bratley lives upon section 14, of the 
town of Cadiz, where he settled in 1859. He 
was born in Lincolnshire. England, in 1824. 
He came to the United States in 1840, as a sailor 
on board of an English brig called Streetlam 
Castle. On reaching New York he left that 
ship and shipped on board an American 
vessel. He continued to follow the sea until 
1850. He then located at Savannah, Ga., where 
he kej)! a restaurant four 3'ears. In 1854 lie re- 
moved to the State of Now York and engaged 
in farming. Tn the fall of 1«57 he returned to 



Savannah and again engaged in the restaurant 
business. In the spring of 1859 he came to 
Green county. His wife was Mary C. Cain, 
who was born at Newburg, N. Y. They 
have eiglit children, three sons and five daugh- 
ters. Mr. Bratley's farm on section 14 contains 
120 acres, and is an excellent farm. He also 
owns land elsewhere. In consideration of the 
fact that he spent so much of his life at sea and 
in following other pursuits, he is an exception- 
ally successful farmer. 

John Whitehead first settled on sections 
13 and 24, town of Cadiz. He was born in 
Ohio, Aug. 20, 1825, and died at his home in 
this county, Jan. 6, 1879. He was in good cir- 
cumstances and in an apparent condition to enjoy 
life, and be a blessing to his family, and a valu- 
ble member of the society in which he moved. 
At the time of his death he owned 280 acres of 
land, and also 100 acres of his father's estate, 
who soon after died. His farm was formerly 
covered with a fine body of timber, a good 
part of which he liad cleared off and put the 
land in good conditioM. He was married to 
Sarah Iseminger, a native of Ohio, who removed 
to Green county with her parents. They have 
six children — Emma, William .J., Isnac E., Min- 
nie M., Effie J., and Milton. William J. lives 
with his mother on the old homestead and car- 
ries on the farm. Mrs. Whitehead is a member 
of the United Brethren Church. 
^Frederick M. Bradford was born at Plymouth, 
Mass., Oct. 27, 1834, and is a son of John Brad- 
ford, a native of Plymouth, and direct descend- 
ant of Gov. William Bradford, who came 
over in the JMayfioioer, and was the second gov- 
ernor of the Plymouth colony. He, Frederick 
M., came west with his father's family in 1840, 
and settled in Stephenson Co., 111., where he 
remained until he came to Cadiz, in 1861. His 
farm consists of 1 20 acres on section 31. He 
was married to Cynthia V. Peters, a daugh- 
ter of C'omfort Peters. Slie was born in 
Bradford Co., Pen 11. 'i'liey have two chil- 
dren—Blanche, borti April 25, 1862, a 



764 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



teacher of music for the past four years ;and John, 
born Dec. 24, 1868, and is now owner of the 
baptismal blanket brought over in the May- 
Jlower. Every oldest son is named John, and 
takes the blanket. Frederick's oldest brother, 
John, a private of Capt. Silas W. Field's com- 
pany A, 11th regiment of Illinois Infantry died, 
unmarried, June 4, 1862. 

John Bradford, father of Frederick M., now 
a resident of Winslow, Stephenson Co., 111., was 
a machinist by occupation, and came west in 
1838. He erected the shot tower at Helena for C. 
C. Washburn and Cyrus Woodman, and in- 
vented the machinery for finishing shot at 
Helena, and put the same in operation in the 
shot tower at Chicago, that he superintended 
the building of forE. W. Blatchford. While 
there he invented a machine for cutting, print- 
ing and folding shot sacks, ready for sewing, 
also a machine for manufacturing buck shot, 
both of which are in operation at the present 
time. 

Thomas Crow, on the southwest quarter of 
section 13, has eighty acres on that section and 
forty acres on section 15. He was born in Park 
Co., Iiid., in 1842, where he was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits, and remained until 1864. He 
came to Green county with his father, Abraham 
Crow, who settled one mile west of Monroe, in 
the town of Clarno, where he still lives. 
Thomas Crow and his father bought the farm 
where he (Thomas) now lives, in 1870. He 
also owned eighty acres on section 2, which he 
sold in 1884. He was married to Margaret, 
daughter of John Hartwig, of the town of Jor- 
dan. They have three children — Frederick M., 
Frank L. and Mary Edna. Mr. Crow is a mem- 
ber of the town board of supervisors for 1884, 
and has also served a preceding year. 

George W. Stites settled upon section 34 in 
the fall of 1868. He is a native of Pennsylva- 
nia, born in 1831. He remained in that State 
till October, 1852, when he came west and lo- 
cated in Stephenson Co., 111., living there until 
he came to Cadiz, where he owns 150 acres of 



land. Mr. Stites was married to Martha J. 
Graves, daughter of Hubbai-d Graves, who set- 
tled in Stephenson county about 1834. 

Michael Kratzer was born in Lebanon Co., 
Penn., about 1823, where he was married to 
Rebecca Fessler, born Nov. 14, 1824, also a na- 
tive of Lebanon county. They removed to 
Stephenson Co., 111., about the year 1852, and 
in the spring of 1868 came to the town of 
Cadiz, settling at that time on the southeast 
quarter of section 23, where Mr. Kratzer died 
May 7, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Kratzer were the 
parents of two sons — John, born at Cedarville, 
111., Sept. 13, 1855, and married to Sarah M. 
Whitehead; and Daniel, born June 14,1859. 
Mr. and Mrs. John Kratzer have one child — 
"Viola. They all reside at the homestead farm, 
which contains 160 acres. 

'^William M. Rinehart purchased the farm on 
which he now resides, of John and C. R. Den- 
iston, in 1868. It contains ninety acres and was 
then unimproved, Mr. Rinehart being the first 
resident upon it. He now has eighty acres im- 
proved. He was born in Champaign Co., III., 
in 1841, where he lived until fifteen years of 
age. He then came to Green county with his 
parents. His father, Martin Rinehart, a soldier 
of the Black Hawk War, settled in this town in 
1857. He was a native of Green Co., Ohio. 
In 1880 he sold his farm here, and since that 
time has resided with his children, here and 
elsewhere. His wife died Aug. 19, 1878. Mr. 
and Mrs. Martin Rinehart had nine children, 
seven of whom are living. William M. and 
Albert are the only ones residing in this town. 
William M. was drafted, in 1864, in company K, 
of the 16th Wisconsin regiment, and served till 
the close of the war. He participated in Sher- 
man's march to the sea, and was at the battle 
of Bentonville. He was married to Mary C. 
Trickle, daughter of Ashford Trickle, of Mon- 
roe. They have five children — Ira, Nettie, 
Anna Bell, Myron and Leroy. 
1^ M. P. Rhoades settled, in 1874, upon section 
11, of the town of Cadiz, where he purchased 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



765 



land of Ashford Trickle, which was at that 
time heavily timbered. Mr. Rlioades was born 
in Champaign Co., 111., in 1838. His early life 
was spent in his native county. His father, 
Walter Rhoades, a native of Maryland, re- 
moved to Ohio, and thence to Illinois. From 
Illinois he removed to Iowa, where he died. 
The subject of this sketch came to this county 
first in 1863, remaining here then only a few 
weeks, and then removing to Iowa. In 1870 
he removed to California, and returned in 1873 
to this county. He served three months in the 
army, in 1862, as a member of the 7 1st Illinois 
regiment. He was married March 4, 1863. to 
Julia A. Trickle, daughter of Ashford Trickle, 
of Monroe, and they have eight children, four 
boys and four girls. Mr. Rhoades owns a port- 
able saw mill, and is engaged in running the 
same. His father, Walter Rhoades, was a sol- 
dier in the Black Hawk War, also in the War 
of 1812. 



^"T'rank Long located on section 4, in 1874. 
He was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, in 1838. 
His father, Abner Long, died in Ohio. Frank 
removed to Illinois with his step-father when 
ten years of age, and came to this State in 1860. 
He was married to Julia Craig, daughter of 
James Craig, an early settler of Stephenson 
Co., III., where Mrs. Long was born. Mr. and 
Mrs. Long have had nine children. He owns 
160 acres of land. 

K" William G. Morse, residing on section 23, 
was married to Mrs. Malissa (Raymond) Robb, 
widow of James Robb, on the 26th of July, 
1883, Mrs. Morse was born in Pennsylvania, 
April 26, 1838, and removed to Illinois with 
her father, Calvin Raymond, who now lives in 
Minnesota. She was married to James Robb, 
who, on the 16th of January, 1871, was killed 
by a runaway team while returningfrom Church. 
This union was blessed with four children — 
Clara E., wife of Joseph McGill; Eva May, 
Jaspar C. and Lester. 



« 



766 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



TOWN OF^CLARNO. 



The town of Clarno is in the southern tier of 
towns; bounded on the south by Illinois, on the 
west by the town of Cadiz, on the north by 
Monroe, and on the east by Jefferson. It em- 
braces township 1 north, range 7 east, contain- 
ing 23,222.87 acres of land. The surface 
of this town is considerably diversified. In 
places it is quite broken and inclined to be 
bluffy, yet in but very few localities is it suffi- 
ciently abrupt to make it useless for agricultural 
purposes. Interspersed with the timber land is 
found, patches of prairie and clearing, and the 
town contains many of the finest farms in Green 
county. A local writer in speaking of this town 
says: 

"One of the things worthy of notice in this 
vicinity is the noted spring on section 11, on the 
place now occupied by F. H. Smock. It is famous 
for once having been the head-quarters of Black 
Hawk, the noted Indian chieftain. By the side 
of this fountain of sparkling water, the dusky 
warrior gathered his braves around their coun- 
cil fires, to plan the midnight raids against the 
pale-faces who had raised their solitary cabins 
here and there on the hunting grounds of the 
red man. The spot is lovely and romantic, 
sloping gently to the south. Near the spring 
stands an oak tree, whose deep foliage casts a 
dark shade over the watei*." 

It is estimated that there are over 23,000 
acres of farming lands, in this town, of average 
value of $23.06 per acre, and total value $536,- 
834. The total value of real and personal proj)- 
erty in the town is $693,073. The population 
of the town in 1875 was 1,510; in 1880 1,429. 



The stock in the town is as follows: Horses 
674, average value $59.09, total $39,831; 3,132 
head of cattle, average value $17.91, total $56,- 
111; thirteen mules, average value $75.76, total 
$985; 2,839 sheep, average value $2.41, total 
$5,674; 3,283 swine, average value $5.30, total 
$17,418; there are 1,047 milch cows, valued at 
$21,789. The principal farm products grown in 
the town in 1882 were as follows: 4,163 bush- 
els of wheat, 161,546 bushels of corn, 84,325 
bushels of oats, 540 bushels of barley, 6,050 
bushels of rye, 6,772 bushels of potatoes, 723 
bushels of root crops, 23^ bushels of cranber- 
ries, 3,735 bushels of apples, 49^ bushels of 
clover seed, 146^ bushels of timothy seed, 31, 
000 pounds of tobacco, 4,880^ tons of hay, 64,- 
169 pounds of butter, 61,500 pounds of cheese. 
The acreage of the principal farm products 
growing in the town of Clarno at the time of 
making the assessment in 1883 was as follows: 
451^ acres of wheat, 4,206 acres of corn, 2,545^ 
acres of oats, four acres of barley, 623:|^ acres of 
rye, 119f acres of potatoes, four acres of root 
crops, 1^ acres of cranberries, 159 acres of ap- 
ple orchards, 5,088 bearing trees, six acres of 
tobacco, 2,878 acres of growing timber and 3,- 
288 acres of grasses. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The territory which now comprises the town 
of Clarno was first explored by whites, with the 
view of settling, in 1827. During this year, 
Andrew Clarno came from Illinois, and trav- 
eled all over this portion of the State in search 
of a suitable home for himself and family. In 
passing through the territory now included in 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



161 



Green county, he was much impressed with 
the beauty of the locality, the fertility of the 
soil and unequalled natural advantages, and 
finally selected land which afterward became a 
portion of section 30, township 1, range 1 east. 
After prospecting for some time he returned 
to Illinois. In 1832, accompanied by his two 
sons, O. H. P. and Stephen E., he again came 
to Wisconsin — this time to stay. Cabins were 
erected and pioneer life was commenced in 
earnest. They all settled together on section 
30, where the old gentleman, Andrew, remained 
until the time of his death in 1850. Stephen 
E., after a few years, entered land on section 
29, and remained until 1840, when he went to 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa; later he returned to Illi- 
nois, and located in what is now Logan county, 
where he lived for a number of years. He is 
now a resident of McLean Co., Ill, O, H. P, 
Clarno, at the time of his arrival with his 
father and brother, was but a lad of fourteen 
years. 

O, H, P. Clarno is a resident of the town of 
Clarno, where he has resided since 1832. He 
was born in Sangamon Co., 111., near Spring- 
field, March 10, 1818. He was reared upon a 
farm and remained in that county till fourteen 
years of age, when he came to Clarno. He was 
married to Lucy Huffman, who died May 11, 
1853, leaving four children, all of whom are de- 
ceased. His second wife was Catharine Solo- 
mon, a native of Union Co., Penn. She died 
Nov. 24, 1876, He was again married to Polly 
Starr. Mr. Clarno owns 320 acres on sections 
29 and 30. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk 
Wai", serving as a private. Thurraan Crago 
is an adopted son of Mr. Clarno, with whom he 
has lived since six years of age. He (Mr. 
Crago) was married to Emma Clarno, who died 
June 6, 1881, aged twenty-two years and eleven 
months. She left two children — Kittie M. and 
Lewis P. Mr. Crago was again married to 
Minnie B, Wickwire and they have one child. 
Although the Clarno party were the first actual 
and permanent settlers, just before they arrived 



in 1832, another little party of pioneers had 
made their appearance and selected homes. The 
party consisted of Hugh Wallace and family, 
Joseph Paine and family, and Josiah R. Black- 
more. Upon their arrival, early in the spring 
of 1832, Wallace located on section 19; Payne 
selected land just east of him, on the same sec- 
tion; and Blackmore took a claim on section 20. 
Before the pioneers had fairly got settled the 
Black Hawk War broke out, and upon the news 
reaching the settlement that the Indians were 
coming, the entire population fled to neighbor- 
ing towns, where preparations had been made 
for defense. In the fall the party returned, to 
find that the only two cabins in the town had 
been burned by the red men. However, the 
cabins were soon rebuilt, and pioneer life began 
anew. Wallace and Blackmore remained here 
until 1835, when they J'emoved to Stephenson 
Co., Ill,, where the former hung himself a few 
years later in consequence of land troubles. 
Blackmore remained in Stephenson county, un- 
til 1838, when he moved to, and erected a mill on 
Rock Run, the first in that region. He remained 
there for a number of years and finally removed 
to Warren, 111,, where he still lives. Joseph 
Paine remained in the town of Clarno until 
1836, when he removed to the present site of 
the city of Monroe, and made a claim, erecting 
a cabin near the present residence of Dr, Byers. 
Paine opened his house as a tavern, and many 
were the weary travelers who were sheltered 
and fed under his hospitable roof. Later he 
erected the first frame house in the town; it is 
still standing, now forming a portion of the 
planing mill. In 1850 Paine got into trouble 
and left the county. 

In 1833 Stephen Hale, a Tennessean, came 
here from Lafayette Co,, Wis, and settled on 
section 31. He remained until 1835 when he 
sold his place to William Bo wen, and moved 
across the line into the town of Cadiz. He is' 
now dead. Nicholas Hale came a year or two 
later, and also removed to Cadiz. They were 



768 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



twins and to some it was hard to distinguish 
one from the other. 

James Hawthorn, a native of New York, 
came here in 1833, from the mining regions 
near Blue Mounds, Wis., and settled on a farm 
on sections 9 and 10. He erected a log cabin 
and for a number of years kept bachelors hall. 
"Many a time have we eaten mush and milk 
with him from the old black kettle," says an 
old settler in speaking of the lonely, yet pleas- 
ant days, which "Uncle Jimmie" passed upon 
the old homestead. Mr. Hawthorn still owns 
the land. Four of his children still live in this 
town. 

W. B. Hawthorn was born in this county, in 
the town of Clarno, Sept. 5, 1842. When 
twenty-four years old he went to Montana and 
engaged in stock dealing. He also traveled 
through all the western States, California, New 
Mexico and Arizona; in the latter place he was 
in the lumber business. In Idaho he was rail- 
roading six years. He spent about ten years 
in traveling, then returned, and in 1876 went to 
the centennial, and afterward traveled through 
the west until 1878. He then bought a farm on 
section 4, containing 160 acres. He now owns 
300 acres of choice land and is extensively en- 
gaged in stock raising. He was married at 
Elk Point, Dak., to Mrs. Hattie (Chenoweth) 
Jones, a native of Indiana. This event occurred 
Feb. 3, 1878. They have one child. Mr. 
Hawthorn is a member of the I. O. O. F., a 
good citizen and an industrious man. 

Andrew J. Hawthorn, a prominent citizen of 
the county, was born in the town of Clarno, 
this county, on the old Hawthorn place, where 
he lived with his parents until twenty-six years 
old. He is the son of James and Mersey 
(Boils) Hawthorn. His father is now living in 
the town of Clarno with his daughter, and his 
mother is dead and buried in Bethel cemetery. 
At one time Mr. Hawthorn moved to the town 
of Cadiz and lived three years, then returned 
to Clarno and bought eighty acres of land from 
Isaiah Starr. He now owns 240 acres of supe- 



rior land and is engaged in mixed farming. He 
has a tine flock of Shropshire-down sheep. He 
was married Oct. 19, 1862, to Abigail Chamness, 
of Monroe. They have four children — CoraL., 
William I., Edwin E. and Andrew R. The 
entire family, except the youngest, are members 
of the Evangelical Church. 

John Hawthorn, a brother of W. B. and An- 
drew, is also a native of this county, having 
been born here April 10, 1855. He has spent 
all his life in Green county. Although a young 
man, he seems to have had business qualifica- 
tions above the average, and has a good prop- 
erty, consisting of 307 acres of choice land. He 
has this season erected a tasty farm house, at a 
cost of $3,000. He has given considerable at- 
tention to stock, and now owns some of the 
l)est breeds of Durham cattle in the county. 
His farm is excellently watered. 

John VV. Deniston and wife and his father- 
in-law, Abner Van Sant, came from Missouri in 
1834. They settled on section 17, and erected 
a cabin on the northwest quarter. Their 
cabin turned out to be on section 16, so on sec- 
tion 17 they built cabins, three in number, all 
connected together, and this for several years 
was the favorite place for neighborhood gath- 
erings, dances, meetings, etc. In 1837 they 
erected a mill on Honey creek, putting up a 
good building, throwing a brush dam across the 
stream and putting in one run of stone. For 
ten years they ran the mill and it finally went 
into disuse. Messrs. Deniston & Van Sant 
remained here a few years and then removed to 
the town of Cadiz where they both died. 

James Campbell and Cutler Wilkins also 
came with the Deniston and Van Sant party. 
Campbell worked about here for a few years 
and then started a colony in the northeastern 
part of the county. About ten years later he 
removed to Madison where he died. He is 
noticed at length elsewhere in this volume. 
Wilkins was a cousin of Deniston's wife, and 
was a mere lad. He remained ten or twelve 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



769 



years and then removed to Missouri where he 
died. 

During August and September, 1835, a large 
number of settlers arrived and found homes in 
this town among them were: O. J. White, Wil- 
liam Bowen, William Baird, Mathew, William 
and Peter Wells, Joseph and James Kelly and 
Judge Jacob Andrick. 

O. J. White and William Bowen came from 
Illinois and settled on section 30. Mr. Bowen 
remained here until 1855, when he went to Rich- 
land county, where he died in 1858. Mr. While 
still resides upon the old homestead. 

William Baird selected land in what was then 
called "Richland Timber." lie lived there for 
several years and then removed to the town of 
Sylvester, where he still lives. 

The Wells family all settled near together in 
Richland Timber. Mathew, the old gentleman, 
died many years ago. William died in Iowa, 
to which State he removed at an early day. 
Peter Wells now lives in Monroe. 

James Kelly was a single man. He remained 
here until a short time before the war, when he 
went to Minnesota where he died. 

Joseph Kelly settled with his family on sec- 
tions 3 and 4, where he lived for a number of 
years. 

Judge Andrick came from Indiana, and se- 
lected land adjoining the present site of Monroe, 
on the south. He brought his family in 1836. 
He remained here for about twenty years, when 
he went to Kansas. He is now dead. 

Late in the fall of 1835 William Blunt, Jacob 
Stair, Mr. Draper and John Owen came. 

William Blunt was a native of Ohio. He 
came here from Illinois, with his family, and 
settled in Richland Timber. He remained here 
for about twenty-five years, when he went to 
Missouri. He returned a few years later and 
met his death in Clarno, as the result of an acci- 
dent. Mr. Blunt was a Campbellite preacher, 
and in early days frequently held services in his 
neighborhood. Before the war broke out he 
was a bitter democrat; but while taking a trip 



through Texas he made a speech or delivered a 
sermon, which displeased some of his hearers, 
and he was taken in hand by the crowd and 
brutally whipped. It was a long time before 
he recovered from the injuries inflicted by the 
beating. This changed his politics, and when 
the war broke out he was very anxious to go into 
the service and get "some revenge on the south- 
erners." It was with difhculty thathe succeeded 
in being mustered in as he was too old; but hair 
dye and lively actions accomplished his object, 
and he went south with one of the regiments of 
Wisconsin volunteers. Whether he succeeded 
in getting the "necessary revenge" is a matter 
of conjecture. He was honorably discharged, 
unharmed. 

Jacob Stair located on section 34. He was a 
Virginian, but came here from Indiana. He 
married here and remained until the time of his 
death, which occurred shortly after the close of 
the war. 

Mr. Draper came from Illinois, and located 
upon a farm on section 2, where he died a few 
years later. 

John Owen did not become an actual settler. 
He came from near Dubuque, atid only remained 
a short time. 

Joab Enos, an "eastern man" was another of 
the settlers who came in 1835. He settled in 
the Richland Timber, and lived there for several 
years; then moved to the town of Monroe, and 
a number of years later, started for California; 
but died on the road. 

A man named Brandenberg, came from Ohio 
in 1835, and for a short time, worked for James 
Hawthorn, devoting considerable time to hunt- 
ing deer and bees. He was a single man but 
was earnestly searching for a wife. He pro- 
posed to each of the Deniston girls — the only 
marriageable ladies in the town — and upon be- 
ing refused, married an Indian squaw. Heonly 
remained in this vicinity about one year, and 
then left the country. 

Father Asa Ballinger, a Methodist preacher, 
and a Kentuckian, came here in 1836, and 



110 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



bought land in the towns of Clarno and Cadiz, 
and also some adjoining in the State of Illinois. 
In 1837 he came with his family. There was a 
beautiful spring on his land in Illinois, and he 
built a log cabin convenient to that. He held 
services in the neighborhood, and soon became 
popular, both as a citizen and preacher. About 
1859 he sold out and moved to Winslow, 111., 
where he has since died. 

In March, 1836, T. S. Bowen came from New 
York, and located on section 33. His family 
arrived in May. Mr. Bowen made this his 
home until the time of his death in 1883, and 
his widow still occupies the old homestead. 

The Chilton family came from Sangamon 
Co.. 111., early in the spring of 1836, and also 
found homes in this town. The father, Wil- 
liam, bought the claim of Joseph Paine. His 
wife and son, James, died here, and he finally 
removed to Missouri, where he died. The 
other son, Gus, removed from here to Illinois, 
where he died. 

Ashford Trickle came during the same year, 
and located in Clarno. He still owns a farm 
here but now lives in Monroe. 

Joshua Whitcomb came from Ohio in 1836 
and bought the Blackmore claim. He now lives 
in the town of Albany. 

Julius and Seth Austin, and Rev. Robert 
De Lap were also settlers of 1836. The Aus- 
tin's settled west of the city limits. One of 
tliem died a few years ago ; the other as early 
as 1852 removed to Minnesota, where he still 
lives. 

Robert De Lap was a Methodist Episcopal 
preacher. He located near the Austin's and 
remained in this vicinity for a number of years, 
when he removed to Richland county, where 
he died in 1883. 

Adam Starr came in the spring of 1836, with 
his family, and bought the Owen claim. There 
he and his wife died. One son, Solomon, still 
lives in the town. 

John Cameron, and his brother-in-law, A. 
DeHaven, came in 1836. The latter entered 



government land on section 33, and then re- 
turned to Ohio, leaving Mr. Cameron, who en- 
tered land near by. Mr. DeHaven came back 
in the spring of 1839 and settled upon the land 
he had selected. Here he lived until 1882, when 
he moved to Monroe. He still owns the farm. 
Mr. Cameron yet resides on section 33. 

For a number of years the settlement of the 
town progressed slowly, but a good and indus- 
trious class of people came and so this fact, 
that tlie development was measured, has proved 
benlicial. Among others who came in prior to 
1845 are the following: Bezekiah Blunt, George 
Adams, Samuel Rayraer, Robert Trickle, Abner, 
Samuel and Jeff Drake, Joseph Smith, William 
Brown and Henson Irion. 

William McDowell came here from Ports, 
mouth, Ohio, about 1839 and settled on section 
30, where he still lives. 

FIRST KVKNTS. 

The first birth in the town of Clarno was a 
girl, born to Mr. and Mrs, Nicliolas Hale, in 
the fall of 1833, at the residence of Andrew 
Clarno. The girl is now in Texas. 

The first death in the town was that of Mrs. 
Jacob Stair, in the spring of 1836, of consump- 
tion. 

The first marriage in the town, as well as the 
first in Green county, was that of .Tosiah R. 
Blackmore, to Nancy Wallace. The ceremony 
was performed at the residence of the bride's 
parents, in June, 1834. 

The second marriage, in which residents of 
Clarno were interested, was that of James 
Hawthorn to Massey Boyls. The ceremony 
was performed by Rev. Mr. Harcourt, a Meth- 
odist preacher, at the residence of the bride's 
parents, in the town of Cadiz. In those days 
it was fashionable to "put the bridegroom to 
bed," and in this case that part of the ceremony 
was performed by O. H. P. Clarno and O. J. 
White. They undressed Mr. Hawthorn and 
tucked him in bed beside Mrs. Hawthorn amid 
a good deal of sport on their side and blushes 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



771 



and stammers on the part of the bride and 

groom. 

The second wedding to occur within the 

limits of the town of Clarno, was that of Craw- 
ford Million to a young lady who was stopping 
at Mr, Deniston's. The ceremony was per- 
formed in 1«38, at the residence of J. W. 
Deniston. 

The first religious services in the town were 
held at the house of Mathew Wells, by Rev. 
Robert De Lap, a Methodist preacher. The 
first camp meetings in Green county were held 
at the same place. 

The first school in the town was taught by a 
Mr. Jones, during the winter of 1837-8, in a 
building that had been erected for the purpose, 
on section 30. This building was a primitive 
affair. It was of logs 16x18 feet in size. In 
the side a hole was cut which was covered with 
one pane of glass. This served as a window. 

The first grain in the town was raised by 
Andrew Clarno, in 1833. Seed wheat was pur- 
chased at Galena for $3 per bushel, and ten 
acres was sown, which yielded thirty-five bushels 
per acre. This was what was then called "vel- 
vet wheat." In those days such a yield as this was 
not considered remarkable. In 1843 — following 
a winter in which there was an average of three 
feet of snow coveiing the ground — O. J. White 
raised forty five bushels of wheat per acre, and 
many of the early settlers report similar yields. 

Andrew Clarno also raised the first corn in 
the town. They "deadened" the trees and 
chopped seed into about two acres. 

The first blacksmith was Calvin Hale, who 
opened a shop on section 9, in 1837. He im- 
proved land there and remained five or six 
years, when he sold and moved to the timber, 
where he died a few years later. 

Abner Van Sant made the first fanning mill 
manufactured in Green county. In 1838 [or 
1839] a man named Bean settled on the Denis- 
ton place. He was a good mechanic and made 
a business of manufacturing fanning mills, 
which he used to peddle through the country. 



In 1844, John Shober erected a mill on sec- 
tion 24, near the town line. He put up a frame 
building, put in an old fashioned "up and down 
saw," and run the machinery with horse power. 
For several years he operated the mill, and then 
sold to Fritz & Beckman ; Charles Timms 
finally purchased the property, and now runs it 
with steam power. 

Charles Timms, a native of Prussia, was born 
near Doelitz, Oct. 15, 1845. He is a son of 
Christ and Mary (Maltzke) Timms. Hismother 
is now living in Nebraska, and his father is 
dead and was buried in Prussia. The early 
life of Charles was spent upon a farm, that 
being the occupation of his father. At the age 
of sixteen years he concluded to learn the 
miller's trade, and was engaged in a saw and 
grist mill until twenty years old, when he came 
to America. He first stopped in New York, 
where he was occupied in running a steam saw 
mill, thence he came to Juda, in this county, 
worked on a farm' three months, and then re- 
moved to Waukesha county, where he ran a 
grist mill one year. He then hired out to 
Messrs. Fritz & Beckman to run their saw mill, 
where he has since been engaged. He thor- 
oughly understands the business, and has suc- 
ceeded in changing this mill from an old style 
inferior machine to one of the best of its size in 
the country. Mr. Timms was married Oct. 17, 
1872, to Augusta Fritz. They have had six 
children, three of whom are now living — Lydia 
IL, Mary M. and Hattie A. Mr. Timms owns 
140 acres of land where he lives, upon which is 
a saw mill and cheese factory. He has been a 
successful business man, and is now in the en- 
joyment of a competency. 

THE BLACK HAWK WAE. 

In the spring of 1832 there was only one 
cabin within the present limits of the town of 
Clarno. This had been erected by — or at least 
for — Andrew Clarno. It was at that time occu- 
pied by Joseph Paine, Hugh Wallace and Jo- 
siah Blackmore, as well as the Clarno family. 
Early in the summer of 1832 the news was re- 



772 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ceived that the red men were coming. Tlie 
news raised the greatest excitement among the 
little band of pioneers, and a "council of war" 
was at once called. After talking the matter 
over it was decided that the best plan was to 
flee. It was understood that the Indians were 
coming with their war paint, and were murder- 
ing and burning everything that came in tlieir 
patli. Joseph Paine and Hugh Wallace went 
to Willow Springs, while the Clarno party fled 
to Wiota. Upon the same day that they left 
the Indians arrived and burned the cabins. 
They came from the Rock river country, swim- 
ming the Pecatonica river. Previous to this 
there had been some trouble between the In- 
dian tribes and the whites, and also among the 
Indians themselves. The friendly and hostile 
red men were distinguislied by the fact that 
usually the friendly ones wore a rag or cloth 
tied about their foreheads. As near as the lit- 
tle band of Glarno pioneers could learn, the 
depredations through this region and the de- 
struction of their homes was the work of those 
Indians whom they had supposed were friendly. 
It was supposed that the Winnebagoes were re- 
sponsible for it, and the excitement was intense 
all through this country, as will be seen by the 
fact that the settlers in township 1, range 7, all 
fled from twenty-five to fifty miles to escape 
the impending danger. In the fall they all re- 
turned, having spent the summer at the fort. 
At least that is where the (Jlarno party re- 
mained, while the others may have scouted 
through this region more or less. Mr. Clarno 
and his son, O. H. P., or "Perry," were on sol- 
dier duty most of the summer, guarding the 
fort; and Perry, notwithstanding the fact that 
he was only fourteen years of age, was drafted 
twice. Upon the return of the party in the fall 
of 1832, they found where there had been a 
large Indian encampment on section 19. There 
had been a large spot cleared, and it seemed as 
though when the Indians had crossed the Peca- 
tonica they had scattered, and then found their 
way to this spot, which is secluded. They had 



cut a considerable portion of the brush and 
thrown it back for breastworks. Although 
much discouraged at finding their former home 
in ruins, they at once rebuilt, and set about mak- 
ing permanent improvements. The Black 
liawk War did not cease, but this was the ex- 
tent to which Clarno was affected by it. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The first religious services in the town of 
Clarno were held at the house of Matthew 
Wells in the fall of 1835, by Rev. D. Harcourt, 
a local Methodist preacher, who had located 
here. He gathered the settlers together and his 
meetings were attended by many from "clear 
across the timber." 

The first class was formed at the same place, 
in 1836, by Rev. James McKane, from Ogle Co., 
111. Among the members at the time of organi- 
zation were: Matthew Wells, Sarah Maria Blunt, 
Jane Wells, wife of Peter Wells, and William 
Baird. All these had been members in the 
eastern States. Rev. DeLap was the first resi- 
dent pastor after Dr. Harcourt. He came here 
in 1837. This was then a part of the Rock 
River Conference. In 1838, Rev, T. W. Pope 
was sent here. Then came Rev. McKane. 
Among others who preached for the class were: 
Revs. Pillsbury, James Ash and Charles Mc- 
Clure. For several years services were held at 
Matthew Wells' house, and then the house of 
Daniel Harcourt was used. Finally the class 
was merged into the Monroe organization. 

In 1858, a Reform Church was organized 
which was afterward united with the Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran Church. Among the Reform min- 
isters who preached here were: Revs. John Hay- 
man, who served seven years; Henry Knepper, 
six years; C. O. Hulhorst, two years; and F. W. 
Strunk, six years. Rev. Grosscup is the present 
pastor. 

'J'he Salem English Evangelical Lutheran 
Church of Shueyville, town of Clarno, was or- 
ganized in 1868, by Rev. J. K. Bloom, of the 
Synod of Northern Illinois. He took charge as 
pastor in 1869. The following is the list of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



113 



charter members and first officers: Zachaviah 
Albright, Robert Shaw, Mary Shaw, Peter 
Lichtenwalner, Sarah Lichteiiwalner, Joseph 
Lichtenwalner, Benjamin Neese. Robert Shaw, 
Sr., elder; Joseph S. Lichtenwalner, deacon. 
Rev. Bloom resigned the congregation in 1870. 
He was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Hammond, who 
took charge April 16, 1871, and served four 
years, resigning Sept. 26, 1875. Rev. James 
M. Rees took charge Nov. 21, 1876, and 
resigned April 1, 1880. Rev. D. E. Rupley 
took charge April 1, 1880, and resigned July 1 
1881. Rev. D. P. Grosscup, of the Synod ol 
Iowa, took charge Aug. 1, 1881, and resigned 
April 1, 1884. The church building was erected 
in 1869 by the joint contributions of the Luth- 
eran and German Reformed congregations, 
costing both parties $2,500. It is a frame build- 
ing 38x48 feet in size. It was dedicated in 
December, 1869, by Revs. J. K. Bloom and G. 
J. Donmeyer of the Lutheran Church, and Rev. 
Henry Knepper of the Reformed Church. One 
acre of ground was donated to the church by 
Albert Albright of the Reformed congregation. 
The present officers are: Joseph S. Lichten- 
walner, elder; Emanuel Painter, deacon. The 
present membership is nineteen. Beneficial 
revivals were enjoyed in 1869, and also in 1870. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUKCH. 

There was occasional preaching in the old 
log school house as early as 1849. In 1859 Kev. 
J. C. Brainerd sometimes occupied the frame 
school house known as Enterprise, a name first 
given in ridicule to the former log house in the 
same neighborhood. In 1861 Rev. J. C. Brain- 
erd preached in the Thorpe sciiool house, and 
formed a class there, with John DeLong leader, 
and members as follows: Axa DeLoiig, Fran- 
ces DeLong, Harrison King, Nancy King, 
George Clingman, Susan Clingman, Annie E. 
McDowell, Sarah A. Thorpe, Frances H. Simp- 
son, Ephraim Miller, Catharine Clarno and 
Harriet Iscminiger. This organization was dis- 
continued in 1862, and names transferred to 
Shueyville, with Alpheus De Haven leader. In 



February, 1867, a class was formed at Honey 
creek. Enterprise school house, by Rev. J. J. 
Walker, minister, and Eli Chapin, leader, and 
the following members: Sarah Chapin, Susan 
M. Chapin, P. Jane Chapin, M. A. Chapin, K. 
J. Chapin, M. J. Chapin, Samuel Drake, E. 
Drake and A. E. Anderson. In 1877 a new 
school house was built, and it was voted at the 
school meeting that the house should not be 
used excepting for school purposes. Accord- 
ingl)'^, this little band of worshippers, feeling 
the need of religious instruction for their chil- 
dren, resolved to erect a little church, which 
was done the same year — in the fall of 1877. 
It was dedicated sometime in January, 1878, by 
Rev. D. W. Couch, presiding elder. The plan 
given by Rev. W. H. Kellogg, minister at that 
time — size 34x36, and eighteen feet high — cost 
$1,500. Three-fourths of an acre of land was 
given by S. Drake, as long as used for church 
purposes. Rev. J. J. Clifton first occupied the 
new building, and remained two years. Then 
Rev. A. L. Tull remained two years as pastor, 
followed by Rev. P. E Knox, who staid eigh- 
teen months and then removed to Faulk Co., D. 
T., to build him a home, and is there becoming 
identified witli the e.trly settlers of that part of 
God's vineyard as a minister, farmer, father of 
the State, county official, etc. Rev. E. T. Briggs 
tilled the vacancy until fall, when Rev. W. H. 
Kellogg was appointed to take charge of the 
Monroe circuit. There has been but one revival 
held in the church. This was by Rev. P. E. 
Knox, and resulted in four conversions. Mem- 
bers in good standing March 31, 1884: Samuel 
Drake, Eliza Drake, Sarah Truman, William 
Truman, Kate McDowell, T. B. Wells, Amanda 
Wells, Garry Wells, Abbie Wells, Dora Wells, 
Sarah MeCammant, Minnie McCammant, Annie 
E.Anderson and Etta B. Anderson; Rev. W. H. 
Kellogg, minister; T. B. Wells, leader; S. 
Drake, T. J. Anderson and T. B. Wells, trus- 
tees; Rev. E. L. Eaton, INIadison, Wis., elder; 
William Truman and A. A. E. Anderson, stew- 
ards. This little society has never been strong 



774 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



either financially or in membership, but in 
twenty-three years has kept about the same in 
numbers, and is to-day in a flourishing condi- 
tion. 

TOWN ORGANIZATION. 

The first town meeting in Clarno was held on 
the first Tuesday in April, 1849, at John Blunt's 
barn, on section 22. The following is a list of 
the first town officers — elected at this time: 
Supervisors, Thomas S. Bowen, chairman, O. J. 
White and William Boyls; clerk, J. H. Shuey; 
treasurer, J. II. Blunt; assessor, Barnett Starr; 
superintendent of schools, William McDonald; 
justices of the peace, John W. Shuey, Henson 
Irion, George Adams and Hamilton C. Miller; 
constables, John M. Bryant, Elijah Otterraan 
and O. H. P. Clarno. 

Among others who have been prominent in 
town affairs and filled local offices at different 
times, are the following named: Alpheus De 
Haven, Hiram Ticknor, Jonathan Snyder, Jacob 
Mason, Israel Smith, John Fisher, E. P. Eddy, 
Alfred Wrisberg, Ashford Trickle, Joseph Cat- 
tips, John Walter, Samuel Raymer, All)ert Al- 
bright, Peter Wells, Oliver Cessna, Edmond 
Stair, W. I. Hodges, .Jacob Adams, J. H. Eaton, 
James Roberts, Absalom Huffman, Thomas 
Bowen, Simon Bartlett, Edward Reugger, Peter 
Gnagi, William Henthorn, Charles Adams, .Jo- 
seph Kleckner, John Raymer and Benjamin 
Fair. 

The Clarno "town house" is a brick structure, 
located on the southeast corner of section 16. 
It was erected in 1857, at a cost of about $1,200. 
The building committee, which was formed in 
April, 1857, was composed of Alpheus De 
Haven, George Adams and Hiram Ticknor. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In 1850 the territory now comprising the town 
of Clarno was divided into seven school districts 
In the superintendents report for that year, dis- 
trict No. 1, was not represented; but aside from 
that there were 237 scholars in the town. The 
following named were teachers at that time: 



John D. Buchanan, M. O. Hoyt, John Andrick 
and Jabez Johnson. 

In 1883 there were 511 scholars in the town. 
They were distributed among the different dis- 
tricts as follows: No. 1, 61; No. 2, 44; No. 3, 
33; No. 4, 23; No. 5, 66; No. 6, 60; No. 7, 29; 
No. 8, 75; No. 9, 28; No. 10, h7; No. 9, (joint) 5. 

In 1884 til ere were eleven school districts in 
the town, with school houses located as follows: 
No. 1, on southeast quarter of section 2; No. 2, 
on southeast quarter of section 16; No. 3, on 
southwest quarter of section 27; No. 4, on north- 
west quarter of section 32; No. 5, on northwest 
quarter of section 20; No. 6, onsouthwest quar- 
ter of section 4; No. 7, house in Cadiz; No. 8, 
on northwest quarter of section 1; No. 9, on 
southeast quarter of section 26. 

SHUEYVILLE POSTOFFICB. 

The postoffice generally called Shuey's Mill, 
was established in 1859. John H. Shuey was 
appointed postmaster and served two years, 
when he was succeeded by Alpheus De Haven, 
who kept the office until 1876, when he resigned 
and John Lock wood was appointed. Mr. Lock- 
wood held the office until 1883. 

THE CLARNO GRANGE 

was organized July 3, 1873, with the following 
officers: 

T. H. Eaton, master; Peter Gnagi, overseer; 
F. M. Hannah, lecturer; Jacob Adams, treas- 
urer; Eli Chapen, chaplain; Charles Wetzles, 
secretary; William Hodges, steward; W. E. 
Connet, assistant steward; James Hawthorn, Jr., 
gatekeeper; Mrs. Alvira Gnage, lady assistant 
steward; Miss Frank Eaton, Flora; Mrs. T. J. 
Anderson, Pomona; Miss Malissa Adams, ceres. 
The grange continued in operation for sev- 
eral years, and was a source of much pleasure 
and some profit, to its members. The member- 
ship was widely scattered, some having a long 
distance to travel, to attend the meeting of the 
grange. It was reported, at the last meeting of 
tlu! grange, that a couple of families had moved 
into the town who were in very straitened 
circumstances. There was Considerable money 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



115 



in the treasury. On motion it was voted that 
the furniture belonging to the grange be sold 
and the proceeds together with the money in 
the treasury be divided between the said fam- 
ilies, and on vote the grange surrendered its 
charter to the State grange, together with all 
the records. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Among the old settlers and prominent citi- 
zens of the town of Clarno, are the following: 

John Cameron came to this county April 9, 
1837, from Cincinnati, and settled on section 33, 
the southwest quarter, where he owns 120 acres. 
He was born on the Alleghany mountains, 
Westmoreland Co., Penn., thirty-five miles 
northeast from Pittsburg, Dec. 6, 180T. He is 
a son of Daniel and Jane (Carney) Cameron. 
When three years old, he was taken by his 
parents to Cincinnati, where he lived until 1837, 
when he came here as before stated, and has 
since resided on the same farm. He was mar- 
ried May JO, 1832, to Elizabeth Tilson, of Ham- 
ilton county. Slie died in 1865, and was buried 
in Shueyville cemetery. He was again married 
April 24, 1872, to Malinda ,T. Dunmeyer, of 
Stephenson Co., 111., daughter of George and 
Mary Grossmen, who are still living in Stephen- 
son county. Mr. Cameron is a democrat. 

T. B. Wells, son of Peter and Jane (Bow- 
man) Wells, was born Jan. 22, 1841. He was 
born on the farm he now owns, in the town of 
Clarno, on section 22. He now owns 380 acres 
of land. He is principally engaged in stock 
raising, and has a good farm finely improved. 
He was married in 1861 to Amanda M. DeHav- 
en, a native of Illinois, and daughter of T. G. 
and Mary (Stair) Dellaven, who are living in 
the town of Clarno. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have 
seven children — Oren, Abbie .J., Garry E., 
Birtram C, Dora E., Grant IT., Treat L. and 
Prudie M. Twochildreii died and were buried 
in Clarno. Mr. Wells is a republican and a 
successftjl business man. His niother and five 
children are buried in Monroe. His father and 
step-mother live in Monroe. 



T. J. Mill man came with his parents to 
Green county in 1844. He was born in Ran- 
dolph Co., Ind., Aug. 19, 1836, and is a son of 
Robert and Abigail (Adarason) Millman, both 
of whom are dead and buried in Hawthorn 
cemetery. Robert Millman, on coming to this 
county, took a claim on section 32, of the town 
of Monroe, on which he lived until his decease, 
in December, 1867. His wife died Oct. 5, 1876. 
They were of English-Scotch extraction. Mr 
Millman, of this sketch, continued to reside in 
this county from 1844 until 1863, when he went 
to California for the benefit of his health, and 
remained until 1865. He clerked in a hotel one 
year, then worked in a saw mill a few months. 
He then returned and cared for his aged parents, 
who lived with him till their death. He next 
went to Nora Springs, Iowa, and remained 
three years, from 1868 to 1871, after which he 
returned to section 32. In 1880 he erected a 
handsome residence on section 5, lot 4, where 
he now resides. He owns 203 acres of fine land 
in one body, and is engaged in mixed farming. 
He was married in 1859 to Ella Hawthorn. 
They have three children-^Mary A., Francis E. 
and Ellen M. Mr. and Mrs. Millman are mem- 
bers of the United Brethren Church. He is 
politically, a republican. 

John Strader has been a resident of this 
county since he was seven years old, and was 
born in Stephenson Co., 111., Jan. 22, 1838. He 
is a son of Jacob and Rachael (Starr) Strader. 
His mother is living with him on the farm, and 
his father is dead and buried in Franklin ceme- 
tery. Mr. Strader first live<l in Jordan, where 
in after years he owned a farm, which he sold 
and removed to the town of Clarno, on section 29, 
where he now owns 240 acres of good land. He 
was married to Adelade D. Blair, Jan. 22, 1868, 
who died Sept. 24, 1871, and was interred in 
Monroe cemetery. There were two children 
born to them — Homer 11. and Sebert B. Mr. 
Strader was again married Feb. 21, 1878, to 
Henrietta E. Harris, a native of INIichigan. 
Two children blessed this union — I^essie R. 



776 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and John S. Mr. Strader is a practical farmer, 
and during the winter is engaged in supplying 
hard wood lumber for the railroa's, wagon 
shops and other places. He is independent in 
politics, and a member of the Baptist Churcii. 

Andrew J. Trickle, a native of Vermilion 
Co., 111., was born Sept. 10, 1825. He is a 
son of Robert and Mary (Bensyl) Trickle, who 
came here in 1848, and first settled on section 6, 
the town of Clarno, where they lived, or near 
there, until -the time of the death of Robert 
Trickle, Andrew's father, which occurred April 
3,1873. Mrs. Trickle (Andrew's mother) died 
in 1884, and both the parents were buried in 
Franklin cemetery. The subject of this sketcli 
came to this county in 1851, liaving previously, 
in March, 1849, been married to Elizabetli 
Cruthers. They settled on section 5, town of 
Clarno, having at that time forty acres of 
land. He now owns in the county 440 acres, 
and 240 in Seward Co., Neb. He makes slock 
raising a specialty. His wife is now dead and 
buried in the Franklin cemetery. They had 
three children. He was again mai-ried to Mrs. 
Charlotte Huffman, a resident of Green coun- 
ty, Dec. 3, 1858. Thirteen children have 
blessed this union — Jessie, Charles, Andrew, 
Laura, Martha, Tilla, Charlotte, Lewis, Clara, 
olive, Joseph, Albert and Everett. They are 
all living but Sarah Ellen, who was buried in 
Franklin cemetery. Mr. Trickle is one of tlie 
leading citizens of Clarno, and is respected by 
all who know him. 

Edward Trickle came to this county with his 
])arents when he was ten years old. He was 
born in Vermilion Co., 111., Dec. 12, 1837. 
He now lives on the old homestead, which he 
has much improved, having added among other 
things, a commodious dwelling at a cost of over 
§3,0u0. The old house is yet standing near by, 
a relic of the past, and around its hearthstone 
cluster many happy recollections of days gone 
by. Mr. Trickle now owns about 400 acres of 
land and makes stock raising, buying, selling 



and shipping, a business. He was married 
Dec. 1, 1866, to Matilda Hawthorn, a 
daughter of James Hawthorn, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere. She was a resident and 
native of Green county. They have nine chil- 
dren — James R., George W., Amy C, William 
E., Alfred R., Elmer, Mary E., Benjamin F. 
and Alonzo E In politics Mr. Trickle is in- 
dependent, acting according to his judgmenl, 
and not being bound by party ties, or subject to 
the dictations of any clique or party of men. 
He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, 

Eugene A. White is a native of the town of 
Clarno, this county, and was born Sept. 27> 
1848. He is a son of O. J. White, one of the 
earliest settlers. Eugene has lived almost con- 
tinually in his native county, having been away 
only once, which was in 1871, when he went to 
Osceola Co., Iowa, and took up some land. Af- 
ter proving up on it he returned to Green 
county. He was married Dec. 23, 1874, to 
Helen Adams, also a native of Green county, 
and daughter of Geoige and Jemima Adams. 
The father and mother are now living in Mon- 
roe. Mr. and Mrs, White have one child, a 
son — Leland C, born Dec 3, 1875. Mr, 
White owns 120 acres of land on section 32, 
which makes one of the best farms of its size 
in the county. The situation of his improve- 
ments is pleasant and attractive, and the grounds 
and buildings indicate taste and thrift, Mr. 
White adheres to the republican party, and is a 
whole souled, genial gentleman, 

Fridolin Tschudy, was born in Swandon, 
Switzerland, March 22, 1822, and came to Green 
county in 1868. He was married in Switzerland 
to Elizabeth Sweifle, who died in that country, 
Dec. 8, 1862, leaving five children — Fridolin, 
Catharine, Margaret, Ursula and Henry. Mr, 
Tschudy was again married April 30, 1863, to 
Catherine Beylinger, a native of Glarus, Switz- 
land. His death occurred June 19, 1882, His 
son, Henry, now owns and carries on the farm. 
He is an energetic and industrious young man. 
The farm contains sixty-four acres in all, thirty 



HISTORY OF GilEEN COUNTY. 



Ill 



acres of which are on section 12, where he re- 
sides, and thirty-four acres on section 7, in the 
town of Jefferson. 

Alexander Campbell did not emigrate to this 
county, for here he was born Jan. 30, 1849. He 
is a son of T. J. and Eliza (Blunt) Campbell, the 
latter is now dead and buried in Bethel Church 
cemetery, the former lives in the town of Clarno. 
In 1873 Alexander went to Nebraska and re- 
mained eight years in Saunders county on a 
farm. With tliis exception Green county has al- 
ways been his home. He was married July, 11, 
1869, to Aquilla Deal, of the town of Clarno, 
daughter of Levi and Margaret Deal now living 
in Monroe. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have seven 
children — Flora B., Dewitt C, Joseph T,, Min- 
nie M., Abbie E., Maggie B. and Emery L. Mr. 
Campbell is a prohibitionist. He is a member of 
the United Brethren Church; also his wife and 
daughter. Flora. 

Fridolin Tschudy, a son of John J. and Bar- 
bara (Hoddinger) Tschudy, was born in the 
town of New Glarus, Dec. 3, 1849. His parents 
are now living in Monroe. He remained in his 
native town until five years old when he went 
with his parents to Dayton, town of Exeter, 
thence to Monroe, where he lived until sixteen 
years old, then removed with his parents to the 
farm he now occupies. He was married Nov. 
28, 1872, to Mary A. Lauz, a native of Switzer 
land, born Nov. 8, 1850. She died Feb. 25, 
1884, and was buried in the cemetery at Monroe. 
Six children were born to them — John J., Louisa 
E., Annetta B., Emma F., Andrew R. and Fri- 
dolin. They are members of the Evangelical 
Reform Church. The farm consists of 135 
acres on sections 1 and 2, the old homestead, 
which is conveniently located one and one quar- 
ter miles southeast from Monroe, where he is 
engaged in raising, breeding and selling blood- 
ed stock, the firm name being J, J. Tschudy 
& Sons. They are importers and breeders of 
pure Chester white swine, Ayrshire cattle and 
Southdown sheep. Of this stock they are con- 
stantly selling to breeders and stock men, and 



can guarantee satisfaction. He also is engaged 
in the manufacture of Swiss cheese. 

William Henn was born in Germany, but 
came to Green county when one year old. His 
parents, Philip and Bena Henn, are living in 
Monroe. He was married Nov. 15, 1876, to Isa- 
bel Conkey, an adopted daughter of Amos and 
Mary A. Conkey. Mr, Henn owns thirty-eight 
acres of land on section 1, in the town of Clarno, 
where he is desirably located, and has good 
buildings. He is politically a republican. Mrs. 
Henn's mother resides with them. 

Amos Conkey was a native of New York, 
born April 8, 1809. While he was quite young 
his father died, and he went to New Hampshire 
to live with a Mr. Huff, remaining with him un- 
til twenty-one years old. He then went to 
Grand Rapids, Mich., where he remained until 
1842, when he came to Green county, and set- 
tled on Green's Prairie upon a farm. He died 
in 1874, on the 21st of December. He was 
married to Mary A. Slater, April 8, 1856. She 
is a native of England and now resides with 
their adopted daughter, Mrs. William Henn. 
Mr. Conkey was in the service during the War 
of the Rebellion, enlisting in 1862. 

Samuel Weismiller was born in county of 
Bane, Switzerland, Nov. 1, 1820. He is a son 
of Samuel and Mary (Wertley) Weismiller, 
both of whom are dead and buried in Switzer- 
land. The subject of this sketch left his native 
country when thirty yeai's old, and came directly 
to the town of Clarno, in this county. This 
was in 1866. He bought a farm from Jere- 
miah Bender, consisting of twenty-eight acres. 
He now owns fifty-eight acres. Mr. Weis- 
miller has been twice married, first to Mary 
Wattrailler. She died and was buried in Mon- 
roe cemetery. He was maiTied again Feb. 12, 
1876, to Mrs. Elizabeth Strickey, of the town 
of Clarno. She had three children by a former 
husband— Cornelia, Maurice and Henry. Mr. 
and Mrs. Weismiller are members of the Luth- 
eran Church. 



45 



IIS 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



George W. Bloom came to the town of Clarno 
in 1882 from the town of Sylvester. He was 
born in Centre Co., Penn., April 13, 1841, and 
is a son of George and Elizabeth (Kooken) 
Bloom, both of whom are now living in the 
town of SylvevSter, the former at the mature 
age of eighty-one, the latter seventy-eight at 
this time (1884). George lived in his native 
State until 1851, when he moved to Illinois, 
thence the year following to Wisconsin and 
Green county, where his father settled on sec- 
tion 32, town of Sylvester. In 1863 Mr. Bloom 
went to Nevada, prospecting, and there remained 
about two years, then returned home, and Dec. 
11, 1864, was married to Mahala Chryst, daugh- 
ter of John Chryst. By this union there were 
nine children — Emma J., Florence E., Mary E., 
Lena B., Ruth A., John C, Ray, Clara and 
Fred. Emma J. is married to Mathias Schind- 
ler, and is living in Beloit, Wis. Mr. Bloom 
owns 120 acres and has a pleasant home. He is 
a member of the Lutheran Church and a demo- 
crat. He is of a family of eight living chil- 
dren, and all attended the golden wedding of 
their parents in 18*76. 

Jacob Jones is a native of Maryland, born 
Jan. 5, 1820. He is a son of Thomas and Su- 
sanna (Trotton) Jones both of whom are dead 
and buried in Baltimore Co., Md. Jacob came 
to this county in 1853, and settled in the town 
of Monroe, on the Mineral Point road, where he 
lived until 1862, then returned to Maryland arid 
remained one year on account of his health. In 
1863 he came again to this county and bought 
ten acres of land from Dr. Sherman, and now 
owns twenty-four acres, located a short distance 
fram the village of Monroe. He was married in 
Maryland to Mrs. Emeline Wilkinson, a native 
of that State. She died in May, 1867, and was 
buried in Monroe cemetery. She left two chil- 
dren — John T. and Mary A. Mr. Jones was 
again married Dec. 28, 1871, to Nancy Crow, 
daughter of Abram and Elizabeth Crow, who 
are living in the town of Clarno. By this union 
there are four (children — Harry F., IJertha M., 



-lacob Arthur and Robert R. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jones are both members of the M. E. Church. 
John T.,the son from first marriage, is a master 
mechanic on the Texas & St. Louis Railroad, 
and stationed at Jonesboro, Ark. Mary A., the 
daughter, is running a millinery and dress mak- 
ing establishment in Wayne, Lafayette county. 

John C. Smock is a son of Peter and Eliza- 
beth Smock, and vras born in Jefferson Co., 
Ohio, in 1821. He was married June 10, 1847, 
in Columbiana Co., Ohio, to Hannah Grisell, 
daughter of Joseph and Letitia Grisell. Pre- 
vious to his marriage, Mr. Smock resided in 
various places in Ohio. After marriage he lived 
four years in Columbiana county, then went to 
Logan county, where he was engaged in run- 
ning a saw mill, and remained three years. He 
removed from the latter place to Green county, 
in 1854. Soon after arriving here he purchased 
the place where he now lives. In 1869 he re- 
moved with his family to Story Co., Iowa, re- 
maining there until 1872, when he returned to 
his farm in this county. When Mr. Smock 
came to Green county in 1854, the country was, 
much of it, in an uncultivated state. Land was 
worth $20 per acre at that time. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smock had six children, four of whom are liv- 
ing — F^'^rank, Letitia, Douglas, Libbie, Lincoln 
and John. 

Frank H. Smock is a native of Ohio, born in 
(lolumbiana caunty, July 12, 1848, and is a son 
of .J. C and Hannah (Grisell) Smock, both of 
whom are living iii the town of Clarno, near their 
son. When Frank was three years old, his 
parents removed with him to Logan county and 
remained three years on a farm, thence they 
came to this county and settled on section 11, 
town of Clarno. Here the subject of our 
sketch continued to live with his parents about 
fourteen years, then went to Story Co., Iowa, 
and lived about five years, and thence to the 
town of Clarno and settled on section 14, where 
he remained one year, then went to Lafayette 
county and lived about two years. He then 
move<l to sections 11 a»id 14, where he now 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



779 



owns about 135 acres of land, and is engaged in 
handling stock. His farm is an excellent one 
and well adapted for his business. He was 
married Sept. 2, 18'72, to Belle McHose, of Illi- 
nois. They have had four children — Eva May, 
Elma L., Ida D. and Fannie. The latter died 
Jan. 24, 1881, and was buried in Greenwood 
cemeterjr. Mr. Smock has been a greenbacker 
ever since the organization of that party. He 
has held offices of trust in the county, and is a 
citizen of many good qualities. 

Andrew Dinges was born in Centre Co., 
Penn., Jan. 21, 1828, and is a son of John and 
Sarah (Swartz) Dinges, of German descent. 
The subject of this sketch was a farmer and re- 
moved from his native State to Stephenson Co., 
111. When twenty-six years old he came to 
this county and settled on section 22, (JIarno, 
where he purchased 120 acres of choice land. 
He now owns 200 acres and makes stock rais- 
ing a specialty. He was married in Centre Co., 
Penn., Jan. 21, 1851, to Elizabeth Dulwiler, a 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ulrick) Dul- 
wiler, both of whom are dead and buried in 
Aaronsburg. Mr. Dinges' parents are both 
buried also in Aaronsburg cemetery. They 
have thirteen children — Lydia A., Willoughby 
H., Florence V., Andrew C, Sarah E., Elenora, 
Charles W., Emma R., Mary A., AVinnie M., 
Frederick C, Olive E. and Winona E. The 
four oldest are married. Mr. and Mrs. Dinges 
arc members of the Reform Church, and in 
politics he is a democrat. 

John McCammunt, a successful farmer and 
s'ock raiser of the countj'^, was born in Mus- 
kingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 31, 1830. He is the son 
of Samuel and Rebecca (Coe) McCammunt, w1k> 
are dead and buried in a private cemetery upon 
Mr. McCammunt's farm. He came from Ohi(» 
directly to Green county and settled on section 
21, of the town of Clarno, where his father for- 
merly owned the south half of the northeast 
quarter, lo which he has added IGO acres ad- 
joining, and has a good residence aTid other im- 
provements. Upon his farm are four springs of 



excellent water, and the place is well adapted 
for stock raising. He was married Jan. 11, 
1856, to Adaline Wells, daughter of Peter 
Wells, of Monroe, and sister of T. B. and 
Charles Wells, of the town of Clarno. They have 
eight children — Mary, Temperance, Angelina, 
Sarah, John, Minnie, Joshua and Caroline. 

Emanuel Painter came to Shueyville in 1855, 
and went to work in the blacksmith shop of 
Cornelius Henry, for whom he worked six 
months. He then bought the shop of Mr. 
Henry, and began business oii his own account; 
which he has since continued, at the same place. 
He was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., May 
29, 1830, and is the son of Daniel and Esther 
(Crawshard) Painter. He came to Green county 
directly from Pennsylvania. He was married 
May 6, 1855, to Mary Michael, a native of that 
State, Clearfield county. Ten children have 
been born to them — Huldah, Lucy A.. Flora D., 
Amanda E., Nettie B., Rosa A., Tillie M., Allie 
M., Eda E. and Palmer A. Mr. and Mrs. 
Painter are members of the Lutheran Church. 
Mr. Painter is doing a prosperous business, and 
since coming to Shueyville, has never been out 
of work. He has accumulated some property, 
and now owns his shop and a good house in 
town, and seventy-five acres of land located a 
short distance north of the village. 

Joshua Wiley was born in Chester Co., Penn., 
Sept. 6, 1816. He is a son of William and 
Lydia (Frame) Wiley. The former is now buried 
in Chester Co., Penn., and the latter in Lancas- 
ter county. In 1833 the family removed to 
Chester county, and in 1854, Joshua went to 
Freeport, 111., and lived three years, then came 
to Green county and settled on section 19, 
where he owns eighty acres of land. He was 
married March 2, 1854, to Elizabeth Strode, of 
Wilmington, Del., and they now have three 
children — William, now foreman on a railroad, 
and stationed at Yankton, Dak.; Mary and Ella. 
They belong to the Society of Friends, and 
are comfortably situated to spend their declining 
years in peace and happiness. 



780 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Alfred Clark came to Green county when 
but seven years old. He is a native of Massa- 
chusetts, born March 8, 1853. He is a son of 
Elam and Tirzah (Brown) Clark. The foi-mer 
is now dead and buried in Monroe cemetery, 
the latter is living in the village of Monroe. 
Alfred, the subject of this sketch, lives on sec- 
tion 3, near Monroe, and owns 397 acres of 
good land. He cultivates a fine vineyard and 
manufactures wine, but is principally engaged 
in raising stock. His wife was Elizabeth Fitz- 
gerald, a native of New York, to whom he was 
married Nov. 1, 1863. They have had four 
children — Charles L., now in Montana on a 
cattle ranch; Nellie M., Mamie P. and Alfred 
C, all at home. Near the residence of Mr. Clark 
was erected the fii'st frame house between Free- 
port and Madison, and it was built by Joseph 
Kelly. The lumber was drawn from Galena, 
and it was used for a hotel, Mr. Clark has a 
beautiful residence, and seems surrounded by 
all the comforts of life. 

Solomon Starr was born in Ohio, Preble 
county, July 7, 1822. He is a son of Adam and 
Mary (Kick) Starr, who are buried in Monroe 
cemetery. Mr. Starr's father was one of the 
earliest settlers in this county, having located 
nine miles below Mineral Point, in 1826, where 
he worked at blacksraithing for a time, then 
removed to the place now owned by Peter 
Lichtenwalner, on section 28. He remained 
there for eleven years. Solomon was married 
in 1842 to Sarah Blunt, of the town of Clarno, 
daughter of William and Nancy (Smith) Blunt, 
both of whom are dead, the latter is l)iiried at 
Sedalia, Pettis county, the former lies in Shuey- 
town cemetery. Mr. Starr lives on the north 
and east side of the east half of the north- 
east quarter of section 25, and owns 104 acres. 
There are seven children living — Daniel, Wil- 
liam, Levi L., May C, Susan E., Martha E. 
and Farmer D. Mr. Starr is a member of the 
Christian Church, and politically is a democrat. 
William Beckman was born Oct. 3, 1841, in 
the northern part of Prussia, near the city of 



Slettin. His parents, Christian and Louise 
Beckman, are dead and buried in Prussia. 
When fifteen years old, William left his native 
country and came to America. On coming to 
Green county, he first lived in Monroe one and 
a half years, afterwards working on a farm till 
1864, then purchased the mill property known 
as tlie "Thober Mill," which he operated about 
ten years, then sold and removed to his present 
farm, on section 26, of the town of Clarno, 
where he owns 125 acres of land, 
also a saw mill. He has a hand- 
some residence surrounded by trees. His farm 
is watered by the Big Richland creek, and is 
very desirable property. He was married Feb. 
2, 1866, to Mrs. Louisa Beckman nee Ohm, 
widow of his brother, Michael Beckman, who 
died in the army. He belonged to the 36th 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, company D. 
Mrs. Beckman had one child by her first mar- 
riage — Emma F., now Mrs. Grimnert, of Mon- 
roe. Mr. and Mrs. William Beckman have four 
children — Amanda, William, Martha and Fred- 
erick. They are members of the German 
Evangelical Synod of North America. Mr. 
Beckman was educated in Prussia, and also at- 
tended school after coming to America, about 
seven months. 

Abner A. Drake is one of the men who has 
always made this county his home, having set- 
tled here at the time of his birth. He is a son 
of Robert M. and Sarah (Jones) Drake; the 
former is also a resident of this county. Abner 
was married to Catherina Zweifel, a native of 
Green county, and daughter of Jacob and 
Verena Zweifel. They have two children — 
Frank R. and Arthur J. Mrs. Drake is a mem- 
ber of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. 
Drake is a member of the republican party. 
Their home is located on sectioji 6, on the 
southeast quarter, where he owns eighty acres 
of land, and makes stock raising his principal 
business. 

T. J. Anderson was born March 12, 1838, and 
is a son of Garland and Elizabeth (Lutts) An- 



HISTuRY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



781 



derson, both of whom are dead and buried at 
Freeport, 111. The father of the subject of this 
sketch was a shoemaker by trade. In 1854, T. 
J., with his parents, went to Stephenson Co., 
111., and lived near Freeport on a farm until 
1862, when he came to this county locating in 
the town of Clarno. He was married at 
Monroe in 1864 by Rev. Fairbanks to Annie E. 
McDowell. They lived for a time in the south- 
east part of the town, but in 1869 removed 
to section 20, where they have since lived. He 
owns eighty acres and is principally engaged 
in raising stock. They have two children liv- 
ing — Etta B. and Katie J. They have lost four 
children, three of them within nine days by 
diptheria in 1879. They were buried in the 
Hawthorne Cemetery near the United Brethren 
Church in Green county. 

Thomas Hawkins Eaton, was born April 13, 
1822, in the town of Elk Run, Columbiana 
Co., Ohio. His great-great-grandfather, John 
Eaton took up arms against the infatuated 
despot, James the Second; and, for gallantry and 
good conduct at the battle of the Boyne, July 
1, 1690, was rewarded by William the Third, 
Prince of Orange, with a liberal donation of 
land in Ireland, where he established his family. 
The great-grandfather of Thomas was also 
named John. He was born on the paternal es- 
tate which he finally disposed of and emigrated 
to America, settling on the shore of the Chesa- 
peake bay. He had, by his first wife, three 
children — James, Hugh and Mary. James, 
the eldest of the children, was born Dec. 
25, 1733, on his father's estate in Ireland; 
and, after the death of his mother and the sec- 
ond marriage of his father, he took up his resi- 
dence in liondon. After living in that city 
seven years, he enlisted in the English navy and 
served seven years on a British man-of-war. 
During his term of service he was engaged in 
several battles with the French, both on land 
and sea. After his term of service had expired, 
he traveled extensively in Europe, and finally 
came to America, settling at Hagerstown, Md., 



where he married Elizabeth Downey. Their 
children were — John, Hugh, James, Elizabeth, 
Nancy, Rebecca and Sarah. The father was a 
pioneer settler of Washington Co., Penn., 
where he located in 1779, on the headwaters of 
Pike Run. He died there March 31, 1814. 
John, the eldest of the children, and father 
of the subject of this sketch, was born April 
25, 1778, at Green Spring Furnace, near Hagers- 
town, Md. He'^came with his father to Wash- 
ington Co., Penn., where he spent his youth and 
early manhood and where, at eighteen years of 
age, he was married to Catharine Marker. The 
fruit of this marriage was eleven children, two 
dying in infancy. The others were — Eliza- 
beth, Rebecca, William, Nancy, Sarah, Horace 
P., James Harvey, Reason Beall and Thomas 
Hawkins. John Eaton, the father, was a pio- 
neer in eastern Ohio, arriving in Columbiana 
county about the year 1809. He served in the 
War of 1812-15, under Gen. William Henry 
Harrison and was one of the early settlers in 
Crawford county, in that State, taking up his 
residence in the town of Liberty, in 1830. 
During the next winter (1830-31), he was in- 
strumental by the aid of the father of the 
"fighting McCooks," who was then clerk in one 
of the branches of the Ohio legislature, in per- 
manently fixing the county seat of Crawford 
county. He died in Holmes township, that 
county, July 23, 1850. He was a man of ar- 
dent temperament, generous, unsuspecting, 
benevolent, honest and fearless. The young- 
est of his sons, Thomas Hawkins, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was raised on the pater- 
nal homestead in Liberty township, Craw- 
ford Co., Ohio. He was, to a large extent, de- 
prived of even a common school education, as 
that part of Ohio was then a "howling wilder- 
ness." Whatever of education he acquired in 
after life was the result of his own energetic 
efforts. He was married, on the 9th of April, 
1845, to Martha Albert, grand-daughter of the 
celebrated Dr. Breniman, of Lancaster, Penn., 
the result of which marriage is six children — 



782 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



three tlyiiig in infancy. The others are — 
Mary Frances, the wife of McCletus Cliapin; 
James Harvey and George West. The fa- 
ther, with his family, consisting of his wife 
and one child, emigrated to Wisconsin in 
1851. He settled in Monroe, Green county, en- 
gaging for two years in house building. He 
then began the study of the law and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1856. He opened a law ottice 
the following year in Monroe, continuing in the 
practice until the second year of the War for 
the Union, when he enlisted as a private in 
company G, of 22d regiment of Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers. He was immediately commissioned as 
1st lieutenant, but was taken sick and obliged 
to resign his commission, returning home in 
March, 1863. Mr. Eaton has served as justice 
of the peace three terms in Monroe and four 
terms in Clarno. He has served one year 
as chairman of the board in the town last men- 
tioned. In consequence of disease contracted 
in the service, he was upon his return, unable to 
resume the practice of his profession, and 
has for the last twenty-one years resided on his 
farm on section 16, in the town of Clarno. 

William M. Dodson was born in Nortliamp- 
tonshire, England. When old enough he en- 
gaged in gardening. During the last seven 
years he spent in the old ^country, he lived in 
Kent. He emigrated to America, locating i- 
Monroe, this county, when tliirty-three years 
old. Remaining there three or four years, he 
purchased eighty acres of land on the west half 
of the northeast quarter of section 15, of Wil- 
liam Brown. He also owns ten acres of timber, 
and is engaged in dairying and stock raising. 
He was married Dec. 20, 1877, to Elizabeth 
Moreland, a native of Mercer Co., Penu. She 
is a daughter of Robert and Martha (Mann) 
Moreland, botii of whom are dead. They are 
both buried in Monroe cemetery. Mr More- 
land settled in the town of Clarno in 1848,' and 
owned a nice farm on section 15. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dodson are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. 
Dodson is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hunt) 



Dodson. His father is buried in England, and 
his mother in Ireland. 

Frederick Hadinger was born in Wurtem- 
burg, Germany, June 2, 1837. When he was 
three and a half years of age his father died. 
When fourteen years of age he came to this 
country, locating in Pittsburg, Penn., where he 
learned the trade of cabinet maker. Remain- 
ing there four years, he went to Bartlett county 
and engaged in the manufacture of wagons, 
buggies, etc. Remaining tliere about seven 
years, he removed to Janesville, Wis., and en- 
gaged in the same business. Then he removed 
to the town of Jefferson, this county ; thence 
to the town of Clarno, where he purchased 
sixty acres of timber of Isaac Newman on sec- 
tion 13. He now owns 300 acres, 200 acres of 
which is broken, the rest being timber and pas- 
ture. He was married on the 20th of February, 
1861, to Jane Henderson, a native of Ohio. 
They had five children — William J., Elizabeth, 
Harvey, Emma and Minnie. In politics he is 
a republican.William J. is clerk of district No. 8. 

David Disher was born in Switzerland, March 
22, 1827, and is a son of Christian and Magda- 
lena (Mimmick) Disher, both of whom are dead, 
and were buried in the State of Ohio. They 
came to America in 1851, settling in Lucas Co., 
Ohio. David came to Tuscarawas county with 
them and remained in that county two months. 
He then went to Lucas county, where he was 
married to Elizabeth Joberg. She was of Swiss 
extraction, and was born in Tuscarawas county. 
He was married Aug. 18, 1855, From that 
count}' Mr. Disher removed to Lucas county, 
and thence to Green Co., Wis., and first settled 
ten miles north from the county seat, in the 
town of Washington. From there he removed 
to the town of Clarno in 1867, settling on section 
24, where he now owns fifty acres of land. Mr. 
and Mrs. Disher have had four children — So- 
phia M., now married to William Tinn, and 
living in the town of Clarno; John C, Luther F. 
and Barbara A. They are members of the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



78^; 



German Evangelical Church. Mr. Disher ad- 
heres to the principles of the democratic party. 

A. Morton was born in Spencer Co., Ind., 
Nov. 29, 1814. He is a son of James and Mary 
M. (Montgomery) Morton, who are dead, and 
buried in Franklin cemetery. A. Morton 
moved from his native place to Vermilion 
county, and remained fifteen years. Then came 
to Green county and settled on the Calvin Hale 
place, living there three years. He next went 
to what is known as the "George Adams' place," 
on Honey creek, and lived there one year, then 
purchased a farm on section 5, lots 5 and 11. In 
1859 he was burned out. In 1863 he moved to 
the place he now occupies. In 1850 he went to 
California and remained two years in the gold 
mines, having crossed the plains with an ox 
team. There he met with good success, and re- 
turned in good spirits. He subsequently spent 
three years in the lead mines at Galena, 111., 
and returned home in 1847. He now owns 200 
acres of fine land with fifty-five acres of timber. 
He was married March 2, 1848, to Amy Kelly, 
a daughter of Mordecai and Catharine (Y^eazle) 
Kelly, both of whom are living in the town of 
Cadiz. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have had twelve 
children, seven of whom are now living — 
Joseph, James F., Mary C, Olive, Eliza- 
beth C, Laura E. and Charles. Joseph 
was married in Jaunary, 1870, to Eliza- 
beth Garton. In 1872 they removed to Poca- 
hontas Co., Iowa, where they now reside. James 
F. was married in April, 1879, to Emaretta Dye, 
and now resides on the farm with his father. 
Mary C. was married in May, 1874, to Urias 
Diven, who resides in the town of Clarno. 
Olive was married to A. V. Adams, in June, 
1877; they reside in Clarno. Laura E. was 
united in marriage in February, 1882, with 
William Layton, of the city of Monroe. Eliza- 
beth and Charles live at home with their par- 
ents. Politically, Mr. Morton is a republican. 

Martin Heinzelmann, a prosperous farmer of 
Clarno, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, 
Dec. 15, 1825. He served six years in the army, 



in his native country, and, at the age of twenty- 
eight came to America. He first went to Con- 
necticut where he worked on a farm, by the 
month, six years, then came to Milwaukee, and 
a month later to Monroe. He worked in a brick- 
yard one Slimmer, and four years on the farm 
of Mr. Newton. He then bought forty acres of 
timber land, of Alexander Morton, at 810 an 
acre, which he cleared and improved. To this 
he has continued to add, until he now owns 125 
acres of choice land, with 115 acres under culti- 
vation. He has erected good buildings, and 
everything about the place indicates thrift and 
comfort. He makes stock raising a specialty 
He was married in Monroe, to Sophia Grose, a 
native of Mecklenburg, and nine children have 
been born to them — William L., and Mary E., 
(twins); Henrietta E., Martin F., and Annie, 
who is dead, and buried in the United Brethren 
cemetery; Herman S., Matilda A., Georgie C, 
and Bertha R. Mr and Mrs. Heinzelmann are 
members of the Lutheran Church, and he is, in 
politics, independent of party. 

Eli Chapin is a native of Coshocton Co., Ohio, 
born Aug. 30, 1818. He is a son of James and 
Susanna (Seward) Chapin, natives of Luzerne 
Co., Penn. Mr. Chapin's grandfathers were 
both Yankees. On the 20th of August, 1840, 
Mr. Chapin was united in marriage with Sarah 
Drake, a native of Ohio. This union was 
blessed with eight children — Susan M., married 
to John Myers; Enoch J., James A., who died 
in Andersonville prison, having been taken 
prisoner at Martinsburg, Va.; Philena J., mar- 
ried to Charles Anderson; Marjora A., married 
to .Joseph Reynolds; McCletus and McLeta, 
twins; the latter is dead, the former married 
Frances Eaton, and lives in the town of Clarno; 
and Sarah M., married to Alonzo Drake. Mrs. 
Chapin died July 1, 1879. Mr. Chapin was 
married the second time, in 1880, to Maria E. 
Hawthorn, widow of James Hawthorn, Jr. In 
April, 186G, Mr. Chapin came to Green connty 
and purchased, of John Hanver, 200 acres of 
laud on sections 19 and 20. He has erected 



784 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



good buiklings and made various improvements 
on his farm, until now he has one of the best 
farms in the county. In 1881 he removed to 
Monroe, remaining there until in March, 1883, 
when he returned to his farm, where he now 
lives a retired life, enjoying the fruits of an in- 
dustrious career. In 1861 he enlisted in the 
army, but was not mustered in until 1802, serv- 
ing until the close. of the war. He belonged to 
an independent company of sharp-shooters in 
the western and central division. 

Enoch J. Chapin was born May 27, 1843. He 
enlisted in the service at the commencement of 
the war, veteranized and was mustered out at 
the close of the war. He married Jane Mike- 
sell, Jan. 17, 1866, and lives in Lafayette Co., 
Wis. 

Henry Trumpy, miller of Shueyville, was born 
in canton Glarus, in the southern part of Swit- 
zerland, Feb. 18, 1827, and is a son of Joseph 
and Catharine (Baker) Trumpy. He came to 
America in company with his father, and they 
were among the earliest settlers in the town of 
New Glarus. On the first night after his arri- 
val in that town, he, with a number others, slept 
in a straw shed, which fell down on him during 
a rain in the night. With his father, he took 
twenty acres of land of the company who set- 
tled the township, which they afterwards per- 
mitted to revert to the company. Henry went, 
in 1847, to Stephenson Co., 111., where he was 
employed in a saw mill, two years, then returned 
to New Glarus, and purchased a farm, on which 
he remained until 1866. He was married on the 
^ 22d of May, 1849, to Elsbeth Abley, a native of 
Switzerland. In 1866 they removed to Shuey- 
ville, where they now reside. Mr. Trumpy is 
the owner of the mill property at Shueyville, 
and 313 acres of land, having purchased the 
same of A. Ludlow, for $20,000, and now runs 
the saw mill and grist mill. Mr. and Mrs. 
Trumpy have ten children — Joseph, Catharine, 
Sarah, Henry, Betsey, Solomor, Fred, Magda- 
line, Annie and Daniel. Sarah married Michael 
Witt, and lives in California. Catharine mar- 



ried R. H. Jones, and lives in Stephenson Co., 
111. Mr, Truin})y and his family are members 
of the Evangelical Church. He is a republican, 
and an enterprising and useful citizen. 

Joseph Lichtenwalner was born in Lehigh 
Co., Penn., June 20, 1829, and is the son of Jo- 
seph and Catharine (Michael) Lichtenwalner. 
The former is dead, and buried in Lehigh 
county; the latter, still a resident of that coun- 
ty. The subject of this sketch came to Green 
county in 1868, and settled on section 16, where 
he owns 125 acres of land. He was married 
May 20, 1853, to Mary A. Fenner, daughter of 
Barnet and Mary (Roer) Fenner, both of whom 
are dead, and buried in Pennsylvania. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lichtenwalner have had nine children, 
seven of whom are living — Albert F., Montana, 
Valentine, Catharine M., Simon F., Nietta and 
Harvey. Albert F. is married to Mary McCam- 
munt, and living in Monroe. Mr. Lichtenwal- 
ner is a member of the Lutheran Church, and 
his wife of the Reform Church. He is politi- 
cally a republican. They have two sons dead 
(Maurice and Barnet), and buried in Lehigh 
Co., Penn. 

Frank Preston is a native of Vermont, hav- 
ing been born there at Stratford, Orange county, 
Feb. 18, 1843. He is a son of Benjamin and 
Sophia (Bowles) Preston, both of whom are 
dead, and buried in Greenwood cemetery. 
When he was three years old he was taken to 
Mongolia, Rock Co., Wis., and remained until 
March, 1868, then he came to Green county and 
selected a home on section 11, town of Clarno, 
where he now owns forty acres. He was mar- 
ried Sept. 24, 1869, to Jennette Noyes, daugh- 
ter of Lyman B. and Phebe (Sellick) Noyes. 
Her father is dead, and was buried in Richland 
cemetery, and her mother is living in Roches- 
ter, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Preston have had four 
•hildren — Nettie L., Jessie and Emily A. Nel- 
lie was a twin sister of Nettie, and is dead, and 
buried in Greenwood cemetery. Mr. Preston 
was a soldier in the Union army, having served 
fifteen months, commencing Fel). 25, 1864, in 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



785 



company E, 22d Wisconsin, He was with 
Sherman on his memorable march to the sea. 
He was not in the hospital during time of ser- 
vice, but contracted disease from which he has 
never recovered, and of such a nature as to pre- 
vent him from doing manual labor. In conse- 
quence, he receives $30 per month as a pension. 

Albert Albright is a native of Millheim, Cen- 
tre Co.,Penn., born Jan. 27, 1825. He is a son 
of Zachariah and Elizabeth (Cramer) Albright. 
The former is now living on section 28, at the 
advanced age of eighty-eight years. When 
two years old Albert went with his parents to 
Mifflin county and lived there nine years. He 
learned the trade of gunsmith, at which he 
worked a good many years. Subsequent!} he 
went to Centre county and lived eight years, 
thence to Bedford county and remained three 
years, thence to Stephenson county, where he 
was engaged in farming twelve years, and from 
that place to this county, making a settlement 
on section 28, town of Clarno, where he had 
purchased a farm of 137 acres from Daniel 
Starr. He now owns 185 acres, raises stock 
and manufactures butter. He was married 
.Feb. 27, 1851, to Sibia Babb, daughter of Dan- 
iel and Sarah (Close) Babb, both living in Ste- 
phenson county. Mr. and Mrs. Albright have 
had thirteen children — Andrew J., Emeline, 
Mary J., James, David, John, George, Perry, 
Albert, Sarah E., Edward, William and Alta E. 
Mr. Albright is a member of the Reform 
Church, and an active Christian worker. He 
has been prominent in the town and county, 
having held local offices of trust and honor. 
Politically he is a democrat. 

Martin Dreibelbis was born in Berks Co., 
Penn., Nov. 13, 1812, and is the son of Daniel 
and Magdaline (Keifer) Dreibelbis. When 
thirty-one years of age he removed to Centre 
Co., Penn., and followed farming until 1868, 
when he removed to Orangeville, Stephenson 
Co., 111., thence to Green Co., Wis., and located 
on section 27, where he owns 160 acres of land, 
which he purchased from Jacob Mason. He 



rents out his land, but resides in the house on 
his farm. Mr. Dreibelbis was married Jan. 
26, 1834, to Hannah Kothermal, of Berks Co., 
Penn. She is a daughter of Peter and Magda- 
line Rothermal, both of whom are dead, being 
buried in Berks Co., Penn. The result of this 
union was thirteen children, nine of whom are 
living — Daniel, Esther, Mary M., John, Re- 
becca, Sarah, William, Joseph and Hannah. 
Mrs. Dreibelbis died Aug. 17, 1873, aged fifty- 
nine years and two months, and is buried in 
Shueyville cemetery. She, with her husband, 
was a member of the Reform Church. Mr. 
Dreibilbis has fifty grand-children and four 
great-grand-children, of whom he is proud. Al- 
though advanced in years somewhat, he retains 
the vigor of youth, and is a very agreeable 
companion. Being a great reader, he talks in- 
telligently on all subjects broached to him. 

John G. Eitel, a native of Germany, was 
born in Wurtemburg, Sept. 15, 1811. His par- 
ents, John G. and Margaret (Diem) Eitel, are 
dead, and buried in VV^urtemburg. He left his 
native land, and came to America, in 1848. He 
stopped in New York a short time, then went 
t) Connecticut and worked upon a farm, about 
five miles from Norwich, one year, then hired 
to work in a foundry, in Norwich, where he re- 
mained about two months. He next went to 
Hartford, Conn., and worked in a green house 
one year. He was a practical florist, having 
learned the art in his native country. From 
there he went to Brattleboro, Vt., and two 
years later to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was em- 
ployed in a nursery six months, then, conclud- 
ing to go farther west, removed to Green county 
and hired out to work upon a farm, one and a 
half miles from Monroe. He, at first, purchased 
twenty acres of his present farm, on section 27, 
town of Clarno. He now owns 110 acres, hav- 
ing a desirable farm, which his son Edward 
assists him in cultivating. He was married 
in Wurtemburg, to Madeline Fisher, and they 
have seven children — Louis, Mary, Robert, Pau- 
lina, Lena, John and Edward. Four of the 



786 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



children are married and living in Franklin Co., 
Iowa, also Robert, who is not married. Mr. 
Eitel enlisted in 1864, in company K, of the 
16th Wisconsin Infantry, and was mustered in at 
Madison. He participated in the battle of 
Kingston, N. C, and at the close of the war, 
was mustered out at Madison. 

S. P. Noble was born March 11, 184Y, in 
Stepljenson Co., 111. He is a son of Carey and 
Catharine (McCauley) Noble, both of whom 
are living in Monroe. In 1872 Mr. Noble pur- 



cliased sixty acres of land in the town of 
Clarno, section 36, and has since added forty 
more, making 100 in all. He was married on 
the 8th of June, 1868, by Rev. Squire Rote, of 
Monroe, to Isabel N. Bridge, a daughter of G, 
W. Bridge, of Monroe. The result of this 
union is two children — Frank B., born Feb. 12, 
1871; and George W., born Aug. 17, 1874. Mrs. 
Noble is a member of the Christian Church. 
Mr. Noble is engaged in raising stock, keeping 
on hand a fine breed of Durham cattle. He is 
a member of Richland Cheese Company. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



181 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



TOWN OF DECATUR. 



The town of Decatur lies in the eastern tier 
of Green county's sub-divisions, embracing con- 
gressional township 2 north, range 9 east. It 
is bounded on the north by the town of Al- 
bany; on the west by Sylvester; on the south 
by Spring Grove; and on the east by Rock 
county. The surface of this town is quite varia- 
ble. What is known as Jordan j^rairie — which 
comprises sections 6, 7, 8, 17, IS, 19, 20, 21, 22, 
27 and 28 — is a rich productive portion of the 
town and was the first settled. Here located 
John Moore, Thomas Chambers, John J. Daw- 
son, Samuel Rowe, Robert Mattox, E. T. Fleek, 
William Jones, Benjamin H. Fleek, Samuel 
Northcraft, Donald Johnson, David Bigelow, 
Thomas Stewart, J. I. Bowen, Perry and Wash- 
ington Mitchell and others. The soil of this 
prairie consists of a rich loam mixed with sand, 
and is superior corn land. It also produces ex- 
cellent crops of small grain and grass, and on 
the whole, is not excelled perhaps in the State 
for its general excellence. Of late years much 
attention has been paid to the raising of stock 
by the farmers here. South of Jordan prairie 
the land is lower, or more inclined to be marshy, 
the soil being composed of more or less clay, 
and in places a black loam. This portion of 
the town, however, contains a number of valua- 
ble farms, among which are those belonging to 
French Lake, John Douglass and KufusColton. 
Along Sugar river, which runs entirely across 
the town from north to south, the surface is 
generally low, and composed alternately of sand, 
clay and marsh. In fact the entire surfjKJe of 
that portion of the town which lies east of 



Sugar river may be thus described. Among 
the successful farmers and stock raisers on the 
east side of the river are: W. E. Gardner, A. 
Murray, N. L. Lewis, R. J. Day and C. D. 
Wooster. 

A ridge, considerably elevated, enters this 
town on section 6, from the town of Albany, 
passing southeasterly and terminating on sec- 
tion 22. Several bluffs of considerable height 
— which are really a part of this ridge — are 
found on Sugar river. The highest of these 
bluffs is on section 15, where it rises to a 
height of 200 feet above the river. The view 
from the top of this bluff is fine, the surround- 
ing country and river being brought into view 
for miles in every direction, The principal 
stream in the town is Sugar river, which enters 
from the town of Albany, by way of section 
3. It pursues an irregular southerly course, and 
leaves the town from the southwest corner of 
section 35. This is the most important stream 
in Green county, and at Brodhead affords an 
excellent water power. There are several 
branches of this stream which make confluence 
in this town. Little Jordan creek enters the 
town on section 18, flows eastand northeast and 
enters Sugar river on section 15. Sugar creek, 
which is quite an important stream, affording 
several mill privileges, enters this town on sec- 
tion 19, flows southeasterly, and leaves the town 
from section 34. It enters the Sugar river in 
the town of Spring Grove. Riley's creek, a 
branch of Sugar creek, rises in the town of Jef- 
ferson, enters this town on section 31, and makes 
confluence with Sugar creek on section 28, 



788 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Broughton's creek rises in the town of Albany, 
enters this town on section 1, flows southwest 
about three miles, and on section 14 flows into 
S. C. Pierce's mill race. 

The ridge which has heretofore been de- 
scribed, was formerly heavily timbered with 
different varieties of oak, poplar, and some 
black walnut and hickory. The greater part of 
this timber has been removed "long years ago," 
In the southwestern portion of the town, par- 
ticularly on section 31, in early days, was found 
a heavy body of white oak ; and throughout 
nearly all of the territory east of the river 
were found oak openings. Almost all of the 
original timber has been removed, giving place 
to a second growth. In fact, at present, a 
greater area is covered with timber than when 
the town was first settled. 

BAELY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settler within the limits now com- 
prising the town of Decatur was John Moore, 
who came here in the early autumn of 1839. 
He entered 160 acres on section 20, and eighty 
acres of fine timber land on section 31, and did 
some breaking the same fall preparatory to a 
crop the following year. This was the first 
breaking, and his crop of 1840 the first in the 
town. He erected a log house on section 20, in 
the fall of 1839, which was the first building in 
the town. This house is still occupied as a 
dwelling, John Moore was formerly from the 
Sciota valley, Ohio, but came here with his fam- 
ily from Stephenson Co,, 111,, where for several 
years he had been living on a claim. His fam- 
ily, when he came here, consisted of a wife and 
seven children, four sons and three daughters. 
He sold out about 1859 and removed to Mis- 
souri, where he died at an advanced age several 
years ago. The family all removed to Missouri 
at about the same time. 

John J. Dawson and Samuel Rowe came in 
the spring of 1840 and entered land, settling 
thereon in the fall. They both located on sec- 
tion 20, where Mr. Dawson still lives. Mr. 



Rowe has been dead a number of years. His 
son, Amos C, owns and occupies the old home- 
stead. 

John J. Dawson is the oldest resident of the 
town now living here. He was born in Hamp- 
shire Co., W. Va., Sept, 15, 1814, and when 
twenty-one years old went to Licking Co,, Ohio. 
In August of the following year he went to Ga- 
lena, 111. He had worked at the trade of mill- 
wright in Virginia, which knowledge proved 
an available resource, and was the means of se- 
curing him employment at times when a little 
money was with him a necessity. After re- 
maining in Galena a few days, and earning a 
few^ dollars to enable him to continue his jour- 
ney, he went to what was called "Buffalo 
Grove," Ogle Co., 111., where he engaged to 
work at his trade, and during his stay in that 
vicinity assisted in building a number of saw 
mills. In January, 1837, he went to Stephen- 
son Co., 111., where he bought a claim and built 
a log cabin. In the spring next following he 
returned to Ogle county, but soon afterward 
went to what is now Sabula, Jackson Co., Iowa, 
where he built a saw mill. He worked also at 
the same business in Carroll Co,, 111, During 
the fall of 1838 he returned to his claim in 
Stephenson county, where he remained the fol- 
lowing winter. He was accompanied by Samuel 
Rowe, who came to this county with Mr, Daw- 
son, and became his partner. Mr. Rowe 
worked and improved the claim, and Mr. Daw- 
son continued his business of millwrighting. 
In the spring of 1840 he returned to Jackson 
county with the intention of buying land, but 
came back to Stephenson county without hav- 
ing made a purchase. Green Co., Wis,, having 
been highly recommended as a desirable place 
to settle, Mr, Dawson and his partner, Mr. 
Rowe, came here in the spring of 1840 and en- 
tered 240 acres of land, 160 of which was a 
part of his present homestead farm, where he 
has since lived. Here he commenced life's 
work in earnest, and has been successful. He 
now has a farm of 360 acres, and for many 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



789 



years has been known as one of the prominent 
farmers and stock raisers in the town of De- 
catur. Mr. Dawson has been twice married, 
first in November, 1840, to Mary Ann Parriott, 
a native of West Virginia, She died in 1862. 
By this union there were eight children, six of 
whom are now living, three sons and three 
daughters. His present wife, to whom he was 
married Oct. 22, 1871, was Harriett Baird, 
daughter of William Baird, and a native of the 
town of Clarno, this county. They have had 
six children, four of whom, two sons and two 
daughters, are living — George Elmer, May 
Elisabeth, Sarah Fannie and Jessie W. The 
children by first wife are — John P., deceased; 
Ann Genett, Adrianna, deceased; Bevans Adie, 
Samuel N., Elmira Ann, Wolford P. and J. F. 
Mr. Dawson was originally a whig, then a re- 
publican, now he is a republican and prohibi- 
tionist. He is a member of the M. E. Church. 
Thomas Chambers came early in 1840 with 
his family, and settled on section 19. He w.is 
a son-in-law of John Moore, the first settler in 
the town. After a few years residence in the 
town Chambers removed to Galesburg, 111., 
from thence to Kansas, and finally went to 
Colorado, where he died. 

Edmund T. Fleek and Robert Mattox came 
in the fall of 1841. Mr. Fleek entered eighty 
acres of prairie and forty acres of timber land 
on section 17, where he still lives. Mr. Mattox 
entered eighty acres on section 17, adjoining 
Mr. Fleek's on the north ; and bought eighty 
acres of timber land on section 4. He remained 
here until 1848 when he removed to Baraboo, 
and afterward went to Missouri. 

Edmund T. Fleek, one of the most prominent 
men in the town of Decatur, was born in Hamp- 
shire Co., Va., Jan. 20, 1817. His parents were 
Adam and Mary Ann (Putnam) Fleek, wlio re- 
moved from Virginia to Licking Co., Ohio, in 
1836. The following spring the family settled 
on a farm adjoining tlie city of Newark. His 
father was a miller and distiller, at which busi- 



ness Edmund engaged when a boy. Mr. Fleek 
is a half brother of John Dawson. The first 
winter of his arrival in this county he cut and 
split 10,000 rails and stakes on shares, receiving 
one-half for his work. This was his start in 
this country. Many a young man might profit 
by this example. He at once began improving 
his farm, and has kept adding from time to 
time to his first purchase, until he now owns 
1,000 acres in a body, being one of the largest 
grain and stock farms in the county. During 
the past four years he has expended for land, 
over $17,000. Thus it may be seen that Mr. 
Fleek is a man of energy and good business ca- 
pacity. His parents, Adam and Mary Ann 
Fleek, came to this town in 1846, accompanied 
by seven children. Of the family already here at 
that time, beside Edmund and Benjamin fleek, 
were John Dawson and Mrs. Northcraft, who 
were children of Mrs. Fleek by a former mar- 
riage. Adam Fleek settled on section 17, where 
he lived until his death, which occurred in 1854, 
at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother 
survived him until October, 1883, when she 
died, in her eighty-eighth year. Adam Fleek 
was twice married. By the first marriage there 
were seven children, and by the second nine, 
who lived to an adult age. Edmund T. Fleek, 
the subject of this sketch, was married to 
Sarah Ann Howen, daughter of John and Isa- 
bell Bowen, who was born in Fayette Co., 
Penn , Feb. 20, 1828, and removed to Johnson 
Co., Iowa, during the spring of 1844. Her 
father died the following August. Her mother 
died at Waukon, Iowa, where she was visiting 
her children, Dec. 25, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. 
Edmund Fleek have ten cliildren, four sons and 
six daughters — Rinaldo, Emma V., Fannie F., 
Arthur E., Florence L., John L., Annie L., 
Alta J., Nellie M. and Howard H. Mr. Fleek 
originally was a whig, and still adheres to those 
principles, but votes with the republican party, 
as they most nearly represent those principles. 
Religiously, he was at one time a Uriiversalist, 
but for many years has been a Materialist. He 



790 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



is now well advanced in years. Adam Fleek, 
the father, first married Ebiotut TJmstott. By 
this marriage there were seven children, all of 
whom reached an adult age, but are now all 
deceased. 

In 1842 William Jones came and settled on 
section 22, where he improved a farm. He 
threw a dam across Sugar river, on section 15. 
and in 1847-8 erected a saw mill, the first in 
the town. He was also the original owner of 
the plat of Decatur village. About I860 he re- 
moved to Kansas and is now deceased. Mr. 
Jones was a native of the State of New York, 
but came here from Racine Co., Wis. 

Among those who came during the years 
1843 and 1844, were Donald Johnson, David 
Bigelow, Thomas Stewart and Perry iMitchell. 

Mr. Johnson settled first on section 28, where 
he lived for a few years, then went to the vil- 
lage of Decatur. He finally removed to Wa><I)- 
ington Territory, where he died. 

Mr. Bigelow settled on section 23, where he 
died in 1846. His was the first death in the town, 

Mr. Stewart settled on section 5, where he lived 
until the time of his death, which occurred in 1875. 

Perry Mitchell located on section 29, where he 
lived until the time of his death. He was a 
native of Fayette Co., Penn., and a man who 
was held in the highest esteem by all who 
knew him. 

Daniel Dye came from Cattaraugus Co., N- 
Y., at about the same time. He made several 
claims which he held and sold for speculation. 
He finally removed to the far west. 

J. I. Bowen and A. B. Axtell came in 1844. 
The former is still a resident. The latter went 
to California in about 1850. 

Jared I. Bowen resides on section 17, town 
of Decatur, where he settled in December, 1882, 
which place is the original homestead of Adam 
Fleek. Mr. Bowen was born in Fayette Co., 
Penn,, near the Monongehala river in the Forks 
of Cheat, in 1823. He learned the trade of cabi- 
net maker and carpenter. In the spring of 1844 



his father, John Bowen, removed with his 
family to Johnson Co., Iowa, where he died the 
same season. His mother with family came 
immediately afterward to the town of Decatur, 
this county, where her brother, Thomas Stewart, 
then lived. Jared I. did not accompany the 
family to Iowa, but learning of the death of his 
father and of the removal of the family to 
Green county, came here at once, reaching Mon- 
roe on the last day of December, 1844, and im- 
mediately afterward settled in the town of 
Decatur, where he has since lived. He resided 
for nianv years on section 5. He was married 
to Lacey Ann Fleek. Tliey have three chil- 
dren — Dr. D. H., now practicing physician at 
Waukon, Iowa; Wilder Lee and Edmund Fleek, 
The two younger sons live on the homestead 
farm, on section 5, which Mr. Bovven still owns. 

In 1845 Benjamin H. Fleek and Samuel 
Nortlicraft came. Mr. Fleek settled on section 
17, where he died Jan. 2, 1883. At the time 
of his death, he was the wealthiest farmer in 
the town of Decatur. When he came here, 
with his wife and two children, he :wa.s a poor 
man, having no money or property. Industry, 
economy and good management made him a 
rich man. 

Benjamin H. Fleek was born in Hampshire 
Co., Va., Oct. 27, 1818, where he was reared. 
At the age of eighteen years he removed t<> 
Ohio with his fath.er. When he came to Green 
county his family consisted of a wife and two 
children. All the goods, chattels and money he 
possessed at that time did not amount to 1200 
He took a claim of forty acres, which he sold t<> 
his father in 184(>. With the money he received 
for this land he began a successful career. At 
the time of his death he owned about 1,000 acres 
of land, besides having previously distributed 
several hundred acres among his children. He 
also possessed many thousand dollars' worth of 
personal property. His success was attained by 
his skill in raising large crops of grain, and the 
safe and jnofilable investment of his money, 
lie was an honorable and upright citizen, liberal 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



791 



in providing for his family, and for all charita- 
ble purposes, and in the support of the gospel, 
being a consistent member of the M. E. Church. 
He was married in Ohio, on the 2d of Septem 
ber, 1819, to Susan, daughter of Henry Fleek. 
She was born in Hampshire Co., Va. The re- 
sult of this union was nine children, six of 
whom are living — Adam G. B., John J. D., Al- 
len, Clementine C, Hattie and Tamson. Three 
children — Henry M., Demarius and Samuel J. 
are deceasetl. The children are all married ex- 
cept the youngest and live within two miles of 
the old homestead. Adam lives on section 27 ; 
John J. D. lives on section 19; Allie, wife of 
Jacob Roderick, lives on section 20 ; Clemen- 
tine C, wife of Sylvanus D. Fisher, lives on 
section 16 ; Hattie, wife of John C. Murdock, 
living in the town of Sylvester, and Tamson, 
living at home. John J. D. Fleek was born in 
the town of Decatur, Aug. 29, 1845. He mar- 
ried Martha Erickson, born in Wisconsin. He 
lives on the homestead farm. 

Samuel Northcraft resides on section 28, where 
he settled in 1847. He came to this town Nov. 
7, 1845, and for two years worked the farm of 
John Dawson. He was born in Washington Co., 
Md., Feb. 15, 1812, where he lived until seven- 
teen years old, when he went to Hampshire Co., 
Va., where he was married in 1832 to Elmira 
Ann Dawson, a sister of John Dawson of this 
town. He then went to Allegany Co., Md., 
worked in a mill three years, then returned to 
Hampshire Co., Va., and engaged in farming, 
where he lived until he came to Green county. 
With his wife and five children he came all the 
way by wagon, beitig twenty-seven and one-half 
days on the route. The parents of Mr. North- 
craft liave but two children— Michael, the brother 
of Samuel, lives in Minnesota. Mrs. North- 
craft was born in Hampshire Co., Va., April 17, 
1819. They have had ten children, seven of 
of whom are now living — Mary E., Lucie Ann, 
Thomas J., Lewelan M., Franklin P., Martha C. 
and Josephine. One son, Isaac, died in Grundy 
<'o.,Mo., Sept. 4, 1872, in his thirty-eighth year. 



Emily Jane died Sept 15, 1846, in her ninth 
year, and John M. died Sept. 5, 1846 at the age 
of five years. 

Many came in 1846, some of whom will be 
mentioned in this connection. 

William Frazee came during this year and 
settled on section 18. In 1881, he removed his 
family to Iowa, but still owns the farm, and 
intends to return. 

Fitch Armstrong came at about the same 
time and settled on section 21. He died in the 
fall of 1856. 

A. Armstrong, a resident on section 21, is a 
son of Fitch Armstrong, who was married in 
Portage, N. Y., to Amelia Scoville, a native of 
Connecticut. After his marriage he removed to 
Genesee county, where his wife died, leaving 
him with four children to mourn her loss. In 
the fall of 1845 he started with his family in a 
lumber wagon for Wisconsin. It took him 
about eight weeks to reach Green county. That 
fall he purchased a claim of 160 acres on sec- 
tion 21, for which he paid $40, He died on the 
old homestead in August, 1856. His children 
consist of two sons and two daughters — Ar- 
minda, wife of B. F. Coon, residing in Iowa; 
Arteus, Lura, widow of Sylvanus Graham of 
this town; and Lycurgus, residing in Waverly, 
Iowa. Arteus was born in the town of Port- 
age, Livingston Co., N. Y., Sept. 5, 1831. He 
came to this county in 1845. In 1852 he went 
to California, overland, with an ox team, being 
six months on the road. He was absent two 
years, and returned by the Isthmus route. He has 
been married twice. His first wife was Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Anson Sheflield His present 
wife was Mrs. Pluma (Howard) Bryce, daugh- 
ter of Philander Howard, of the town of Avon, 
Rock Co., Wis. Mr. Armstrong had five chil- 
dren by his first wife—Mary, w ife of diaries 
Thompson, residing in Waverly, Iowa; Charles 
F., mayor of Clyde City, Kansas; Frank, resi- 
dent of Waverly, Iowa; Orr, a station agent 
and telegraph operator; and Nettie. Mr. Arm- 
strong has one child by his presetit wife — 



792 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Madge, born Aug. 10, 1876. Mr. Armstrong 
purchased his present farm of Donald Johnson, 
and settled thereon in 1856. 

W. B. Mack, of Brodhead, is a son of I. F. 
Mack, the original proprietor of the village of 
Decatur, also one of the original proprietors of 
the village of Brodhead, and for many years a 
prominent citizen of Green county, but since 
1869, a resident of Chicago. I. F. Mack is a 
native of Springfield, Mass, where he was born 
in September, 1806. His father was a clergy- 
man. I. F. was educated at Munson Academy, 
one of the oldest and best institutions of learn- 
ing in Massachusetts. He went to Rochester, 
N, Y., when twenty years of age and engaged 
in teaching school about eighteen months, when 
he went to Cincinnati and taught the first public 
school in that city for one year, during w.hich 
time he was instrumental in initiating the pub- 
lic school system there. He returned to Roches- 
ter and engaged in teaching again. He took a 
course of law, reading during the time. He 
afterwards engaged in mercantile operations, 
built two stores and tHree flouring mills and 
operated one for twelve years. This was at the 
time when Rochester possessed the largest 
milling interests of any city in the United 
States, if not in the world. He was for many 
years prominently connected with the educa- 
tional interests of that city, and was the first 
superintendent of the city schools, under the 
free school system, of the State of New York. 
He came to Green county in 1848. He laid out 
the village of Decatur and was the principal 
business man of that village, being engaged in 
merchandising, milling and farming, also prac- 
ticing law, having been admitted to the bar 
after coming to Decatur. He dealt largely in 
real estate, and was owner of a large amount of 
land on Sugar river. He was attorney and land 
commissioner of the Northern Iowa Railroad 
Company, and invested extensively in lands 
along the line of that road. He was also in the 
employment of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
road coni[»iU)y, settling claims, etc. In IH.^G the 



village of Brodhead was laid out on land owned 
largely by himself, and he being one of the 
principal proprietors transferred his business 
headquarters to that place, also taking up his 
residence there in 1864. He was the first super- 
intendent of schools under the present charter. 
He drew up the first charter for the village, and 
upon its incorporation was made president of 
the board of trustees. In 1870 he removed to 
Englewood, a beautiful suburb of Chicago. 
There he also aided in building up the schools, 
which now rank among the best in Illinois. He 
was one of the officers of the school board 
there. Seven buildings were erected under his 
supervision, and he erected seven residences, 
and dealt largely in real estate. He moved 
into Chicago proper in 1878, where he now lives. 
Although he has reached an advanced age, he 
is still actively engaged in business. He re- 
tains his powers of mind and body to a remark- 
able degree. He has been twice married. His 
first wife was Clarissa Beebe, a native of Ver- 
mont. She died in Rochester in January, 1848. 
He was married in August, 1848, at Oberlin, 
Ohio, by Rev. Dr. Finney, to Frances S. Day. 
He had by Lis first marriage seven sons, two of 
whom died quite young. The others came here 
with their father and four of them are still liv- 
ing — W. B., the subject of this sketch, is the 
eldest; I. F., Jr., is editor of the Sandusky, 
(Ohio) Daily Register^ and is president of thi- 
Editorial Association of Ohio; William C. is 
postal clerk between Chicago and Central ia, 
and is also engaged in business in Chicago; 
John T. is associate editor and part proprietor 
of the Sandusky Register. E. B. Mack, de- 
ceased, was a journalist, and at the time of his 
death, which occurred in December, 1881, was 
the eastern manager for the Chicago Titnes, 
the St Louis Republican, the Louisville Courier- 
Journal and the Cincinnati Gazette. He was 
an able journalist and a successful business 
man. There are also four surviving children 
by the second marriage, one son and three 
daughters. W. H. Mack was boi'n in Roches- 



HISTORY OF GREEN" COUNTY. 



I^S 



ter, N. Y., April 22, 1832. He received hi? 
education at the public schools in Rochester, 
N. Y., and at Oberlin, Ohio. He came to Green 
county in February, 1849. In March, 1852, he 
went to California where he engaged in mining 
and mechanical work, atid for two years was 
book keeper for the Yuba River Water Ditch 
Company. In 1858 he returned to Green county 
and engaged in farming and mechanical occuj)a- 
tions. He was for three and one-half years 
with the F. B. Gardner Company, of Chicago, 
at their milling and ship building establishment 
on Green Bay as head joiner; having charge of 
finishing their vessels. For nearly two years 
he was book keeper for the lumber firm of A. 
M. Spear & Co., on the east shore of Green 
bay. He has held the oflice of treasurer for 
two years, also held the ofiice of justice eight 
years for the town of Decatur, and is at present 
village justice in Brodhead. He was married 
in June, 1858, to Ophelia Wicks, of New York 
city. They have four children living — Martha 
Wicks, Edward A., Ophelia and Cornelia M. 
They lost one child in May, 1879, Freddie, aged 
ten and a half yeai's, 

Jerome Bonaparte Fleek is one of the seven 
children of Adam Fleek, who came with his 
parents to this county in 1846. He was born in 
Hampshire Co., Va., Aug. 23, 1830. After 
coming to this county he remained with his 
parents until his twenty-eighth year. He was 
then married to Margaret Hightshoe, daughter 
of David Hightshoe, of the town of Sylvester, 
'and settled on section 21, where he resided till 
1868. In that year he sold his farm to Philip 
Kilwine, and removed to his present residence. 
He now owns 490 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fleek have three children — Kate, Virgil and 
Wade Hampton. Mr. Fleek was the youngest 
of nine sons. Like other members of the nu- 
merous Fleek family in the town of Decatur, 
hi' lias acquired a competence. 

Warren E. Gardner resides on section 2, 
wli('r<' his fivtluM-. Di'SNi'v (Jardner, settled in 
^i<4H. Dcvvev Gardnci- was born in Benninirton, 



Vt., Sept. 10, 1807, where he was reared. He 
was married to Samantha Wadsworth, also born 
in the town of Bennington, Dec. 9, 1806. In 
1845 he brought his family, consisting of a 
wife and three children, to Wisconsin, locating 
in Waukesha county. He only lived there one 
year, however, when he came to Green county. 
He improved his farm, and afterwards increased 
it to 508 acres. His widow still lives on the 
homestead with her son. They had three chil- 
dren — Gurdon, Warren E. and Martha. The 
latter is now the wife of Andrew Hall, who re- 
sides in Minnesota. Warren owns the home- 
stead. He was born in Bennington, Vt., in 
1839. He owns 548 acres of land, and is exten- 
sively engaged in stock raising. 

Between 1845 and 1850 the town settled rap- 
idly. Among the arrivals during this period 
were: John L. McNair, I. F. Mack, Samuel 
Mott, Anson Sheffield, J. B. Fleek, Dewey 
Gardner and a Mr. Pettibone. 

Samuel Mott had a large family and made 
several claims. He joined the Utah Mormons 
in 1854. 

Anson Sheffield came in 1846 and entered 
forty acres. In 1853 he sold to J. W. Stewart, 
joined the Mormons and went to Utah. 

Mr. Pettibone came from IMilwaukee in 1846 
and located on the Sugar river, on section 10. 
With him came his two children, Harmon and 
Loretta. Mr. Pettibone died of cholera in 
1849. The farm upon which he settled was 
divided between the children. The girl re 
turned to Milwaukee, where she married and 
died. Harmon was rather an awkward boy, and 
fond of reading. He went to Ohio and at- 
tended school, his teacher being James A. Gar- 
field, who was his cousin, and finally graduated 
at the Michigan State University in 1859. He 
studied law with Hon. J. E. Arnold, at ^lilwau- 
kee. Wis., and entered into practice at La 
Crosse. When the war broke out he enlisted, 
and became major of the 20th Wisconsin regi- 
ment. In 1865 he resumed the practice of his 
profession at Greenville, Tenn., under the name 



46 



794 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of A. H. Pettibone. He has grown to be a 
prominent man, and is now serving his second 
term in Congress. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

The first birth in the town was that of Caro- 
line Chambers, daughter of Tliomas and Rebecca 
Chambers, born in 1840. Slie is now the wife 
of Dr. Stair, of Black Earth, Wis. 

The first school in the town was taught by 
Jabez Johnson, in a log school house, on section 
20. on Mr. Moore's land. This was in the win- 
ter of 1844-5. 

The first sermon preached in the town was de- 
livered at the house of Thomas Chambers, in 
1842, by Rev. Ash, a Methodist divine. 

The first marriage in the town was that 
of Delilah J. Moore, daughter of John Moore, 
to William Riley, of the town of Jefferson. 
This was in 1842. Riley died in the town of 
Sylvester. His widow married again and re- 
moved to Kansas, where she died. 

The first mill in the town of Decatur was 
erected in 1845-6, by William Jones, on section 
15, on Sugar river. 

During the early autumn of 1846, the first 
deaths in the town occurred. The season was a 
very sickly one. The first adults to be called 
away by death were: David Bigelow, and a 
young man named William Nipple, a brother of 
Fred. Nipple. The first children to die were: 
John M. and Emily J. Northcraft. The former 
died Sept. 5, 1846, aged five years; the latter 
Sept. 15, 1846, aged nine years. These were 
children of Samuel and Elmira Northcraft. 

The first blacksmith in the town was J. D. 
Cooper, who opened a shop in the village of 
.Decatur in 1842. 

The first dwelling was a log house erected by 
John Moore, on section 20, in the fall of 18:J9. 
It was on the farm now owned by Jacob L. 
Roderick. The cabin was removed from the 
spot where it first stood by Mr. Roderick, and is 
now used as a tenant house on his farm. 

The first bridge in the town of Decatur, as 
well as the first in Green county, was built 



across Sugar river on section 14, in 1842. It 
was 100 feet in length. All the neighbors for 
miles around gathered to raise the bridge, but 
as there was no one to engineer the work the 
gathering did not succeed in the undertaking, 
and the structure was afterward raised with 
machinery by a man from Beloit. Joseph 
Woodle, of Sylvester, built the bridge. It was 
in use until 1856, when, the road having been 
vacated, it was taken down. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

There are seven full school districts in the 
town of Decatur, and educational facilities here 
are fully equal, if not superior, to those of any 
town in Green county. The districts are num- 
bered 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9. The following 
items, showing the condition of the various dis- 
tricts, were taken from the reports of the dis- 
trict clerks for the year ending .June 30, 1883: 

District No. 1. W. E. Gardner is clerk of 
this district. Number of pupils of school age, 
twenty-three; have a frame building, first cost 
of which was $400, present valuation, $200. 

District No. 2. William II. Murray, clerk. 
Total number of pupils of scliool age, twenty- 
eight. The school house in tiiis district is a 
brick building. 

District No. 3. W. L. Bowen, clerk; number 
of pupils of school age, nineteen; frame build- 
ing in good condition, cost $800; present 
value, $500. 

District No. 4. J.N. Davis, clerk; total num- 
ber of pupils of school age, thirty-seven. This 
district has a brick house which cost $1,200; at 
present it is in good condition and is valued 
at $800. 

District No. 6. E. D. Hall, clerk; number of 
pupils of school age, forty-three. This district 
has a stone school house, which cost aVjouL 
$1,000. Its present valuation is $500. 

District No. 8, A. A. TenEyck, clerk; num- 
ber of pupils, thirty. The district has a frame 
structure, the present valuation of which is $75. 



HISTORY OF CiKEEX COUNTY. 



^95 



District No, 9. J. L. Roderick is clerk. 
Number of pupils thirty-three. The district has 
a frame building which cost $600. 

There are two joint districts which embrace 
territory in this town. District No. 9, joint 
with Sylvester, has a building in the latter 
town. Nine of the pupils belong to this town. 
District No. 1, joint with Albany, embraces 
some territory in Decatur. 

KELIGIOUS. 

There are but two churches in the town of 
Decatur, outside of Brodhead : theM.E. Church 
on section 19, and the Baptist on section 6. 

The first services of a religious character in 
the town, were held at the residence of Tliomas 
Chambers, on section 19, in 1842. They were 
conducted by the Rev. Mr. Ash, a Methodist 
Episcopal missionary. Services were also held 
at the house of John J. Dawson at about the 
same time. Late in 1842 a class was formed. 
Among the members were: John and Mary A. 
Dawson, Thomas and Rebecca Chambers and 
Mrs. John Moore. Services wei'e held at pri- 
vate liouses until about 1844, when the Iol; 
school house was erected on section 20. In 
1848 a frame church 24x30 feet in size was 
built. The class increased gradually after its 
formation, and revivals were frequently held. 
John J. Dawson is the only one left of the 
original members. Nearly all of them are de- 
ceased. Regular services continued to be held 
until 1883, since which time most of the mem- 
bers have attended at Juda. 

OFFICIAL ORGAXIZATION. 

The town of Decatur was organized in 1849. 
The first election was held at the school house, 
near William Jones' residence, on the 3d of 
April, 1849. At that time the following town 
officers were elected : Supervisors, George 
Gardner, chairman. Fitch Armstrong and 
Horace Countryman ; clerk, Martin Mitchell ; 
treasurer, Roswell D. Bigelow ; asse'Ssor, Perry 
Mitchell ; superintendent of schools, Erastus 
Hurlburt ; justices of the peace, Thomas Stew- 
art, Martin Mitchell, William Wilford and 



John B. Sawyer ; constables, Samuel Rowe, 
Walter W. Wheaton and Stephen B.Saunders ; 
overseers of roads, Nelson F. Roberts and 
Charles A. Warner. At this meeting $120 was 
appropriated for school purposes, and $240 for 
contingent expenses. The judges of this elec- 
tion were: William Jones, Thomas Stewart and 
E. T. Fleek; D. Johnson was clerk of the 
election. 

CEMETERIES, 

In early days the dead of Decatur were 
buried on section 20, on the farm of John 
Moore. This was continued for a number of 
years, when a cemetery association was organ- 
ized, to which Mr. Moore donated one acre ol 
ground. This took the name of Moore's Ceme- 
tery. It is located not far from the spot for- 
merly used for this purjjose, and most of the 
bodies have been removed from the old to the 
new gi'ounds. 

The Monticello Baptist Church association 
have acemetery in connectioti with their church 
on section 6, in this town. It was laid out in 1856. 
The first burial here was of the remains of Ed- 
mund Wheeler, who died Dec. 28, 1858. Bodies 
from other cemeteries, generally belonging to 
Baptist families, in adjoining towns, were re-in- 
terred here. The cemetery and church lot con- 
tain three acres. 

DECATUR VILLAGE. 

Decatur village was laid out in the spring of 
1848, by William Jones. He had already built 
a house and soon afterw^ard erected a hotel. A 
few years later I. F. Mack bought the greater 
part of the village. At this time the plat had 
not been recorded, Mr. Mack platted eighty 
acres and liad it put upon record as Floraville, 
as a compliment to liis wife's mother. Mr. 
Jones insisted that it should be called Decatui-, 
and in 1852 it was so named by an act of the 
legislature. In 1 857, the village had five stores, 
two hotels, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, 
a shoe shop and about 400 inhabitants. 

A postofiice was established in the winter of 
1841-2, with John Moore as postmaster. He 



796. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



had the office named Decatur, in honor of Com- 
modore Decatur. From that tlie election pre- 
cinct took the name, and later the village and 
town. 

EARLY DATS IN DECATUR, BY I. F. MACK. 

The following is a letter received from I. F. 
Mack, regarding the early history of Decatur: 
Chicago, March 18, 1884. 

"Your favor of the 10th inst., was received at 
my office during a weeks confinement at my 
home from a very severe attack of winter 
cholera. I am now in poor condition to either 
write or think. You can learn from my son, 
residing in Brodhead, inanj^ facts of Decatur's 
early history, and also from the iMessrs. Fleek, 
of that town, who were among the earliest set- 
tlers. I readied Decatur in September, 1848, 
and found, settled in the township, four Fleek 
brothers, two brothers-in-law of theirs and John 
J. Putman, an uncle, all of them energetic, 
thrifty men. 

"William Jones had run out his shitigle from 
the door of a log house, and there kindly en- 
tertained strangers in that part of the town 
afterwards platted as the 'village of Flora- 
ville,' subsequently changed to 'Decatur.' 
Poetic names did not take well on the frontier 
at that day. 

"In the spring of 1849 the village was platted 
and soon it numbered 100 souls. Martin Mitch- 
ell was the first man to dispense candy, pins 
and needles to the children and ladies, and Dr. 
R Morris was the first disciple of Esculapius 
that dared to meet the straggling Indians 
(squaws) that yearly came to fish and traj) in 
the bayous of the river, the Indian name of 
which was 'Sweet Water.' 

'*The doctor and merchant above reached there 
in 1848, a few days or weeks before the writer, 
but it was reserved for the latter and liis 
family to purchase William Jones' squatter 
rights in the town, complete tlie platting, and 
finish the paw mill begun by him. 

"In 1851 M. B. Edson and John Brown were 
attracted to tlie place and erected a small mill 



near the site of the saw mill and operated it a 
short time until fever-heat, resulting from 
severe friction, led to their separation and sale 
of the mill to the family of the writer, by 
whom it was operated for a time until sold to 
the Messrs. Hendries, who afterwards merged 
it with the Brodhead mill property and razed 
it for that ])urpose. 

"In 1851 or 1852 Mr. Mitchell left for thegold 
mines of California, and J. B. Sawyer figured 
for a time as merchant in Decatur, but soon 
gave place to William, Joseph and Isaac Por- 
ter, who conducted a very respectable store of 
general merchandise for several years, and 
until some time, even, after Brodhead started, 
and until many of the buildings in Decatur had 
been taken down and removed to the new town, 
insisting that Brodhead would not 'make much 
of a shower,' and that Decatur would prove 
the lode-stone for the country around. They 
succumbed at last and removed to the town of 
Porter, Rock Co., Wis., where they are now 
thrifty farmers. 

"Monroe furnished a man who was a sheriff, 
and who was charged with letting a murderer 
escfipe from his custody at a hotel, who erected 
and run for years previous to 1856 a very good 
public house at Decatur. * (This man was C. H. 
Thomas.) Others will give you his history. 
William Jones sold his remaining lands in 
DecaUir soon after Brodhead started, and re- 
moved with his family to lola, Kansas, where 
he died many years ago. 

"The writer has witnessed the opening up and 
settling of more than one new settlement of 
farmers, and he has never known one compare 
with the town of Decatur, in regard to the 
frugality, integrity and unyielding energy of 
its early settlers, and if their descendents fail 
to make a judicious use of their inheritance, 
tiie guilt of great ingratitude will lay at their 
door." 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Among the prominent farmers of the town 
of Decatur are the following named: 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTS'. 



79'; 



Adam Fleek, oldest son of Benjamin H, 
Fleek, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1842, 
and came with his father to Green county in 
1845. He was married to Margaret Dixon, 
daughter of Martin Dixon, and they have three 
children — Fanny, Llewellyn and Adam. Mr. 
Fleek purchased his farm, which is located on 
section 27, of his father. It was entered by 
Christopher Waterkot and Anson Sheffield, and 
contains 282 acres. He also owns considerable 
land elsewhere in this town. Mrs. Fleek was 
born at Juda, in this county, in 1850. Her par- 
ents were early settlers in the town of Jeffer- 
son. They now reside in Evansville, Rock 
county. 

Franklin J. Burt lives on section 6, town of 
Decatur, on a farm (on Jordan Prairie) which 
his father purchased in 184 7. He is a son of 
John Burt, who was born in Washington Co., 
N. Y., Jan. 13, 1800, and came here with his 
family in 1847, and remained until his death, 
which occurred in 1853. His wife, Samantha 
(Lamb) Burt, was born in \^'ashington Co., N. 
Y., in 1799. They were married in Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., in 1825, and she died in 1873. Two 
sons and one daut^hter came with them — Frank 
J., Harriet and Russell. The latter was always 
an invalid, and died in October, 1865, agei 
thirty years. Harriet was married to Lyman 
Dexter in 1847, and died in 1852. Frank J., 
the subject of this sketch, was born in Chautau- 
qua Co., N. Y., in 1826, and came to Decatur 
with his father, as before stated, in 1847, from 
which time he has been a resident. He was 
married to Emily A, Turman, daughter of Ben- 
jamin Turman, who came to Green county from 
Indiana in the fall of 1847. She was born in 
Sullivan county, that State, iii November, 1826. 
Benjamin Turman was born near Harper's Fer- 
ry, Va., in 1802, and when but a boy removed 
with his parents to Urbana, Ohio, and was mar- 
ried at Vinceiines, Ind., to Prudence Nash, also 
a native of Virginia. Until he came here in 
1848 he owned the homestead in Indiana, and 
was always a large land owner. Among other 
real estate, he owned for a number of years 



that part of Milwaukee known as "Walker's 
Point." Merchandif^ing in Perrysville, Ind., 
was a part of his business while tbere. A year 
previous to his coming to this county he resided 
in Texas, and was a man of ability, having 
served a number of times as a member of the 
legislature from Indiana. Politically he was a 
democrat, and took quite an interest in the wel- 
fare of that party. He removed to Missouri in 
1867. His first wife died in 1841. His second 
and present wife was Mrs Mary (Miller) James. 
They reside at Higginsville, Mo. Mrs. Burt 
was born in Sullivan Co., Ind., on the old home- 
stead, in 1826, and had good advantages for se- 
curing a good education. Her father, being in 
affluent circumstances, was able to give his 
family such opportunities. She came to this 
county with her father in 1847, and taught 
school for three years, being among the early 
teacher's of the county. She is a lady of more 
than ordinary culture and ability. Mr. and 
Mrs. Burt have two sons — John A. and Frank 
Henri. The former was born Dec. 13, 1854, 
and the latter Feb. 25, 1864, They lost one 
son, called Charlie, at the age of fifteen years. 
Mr. Burt is a thorough going, successful farmer, 
and is engaged quite extensively in stock rais- 
ing. He makes the raising of fine horses a 
specialty. Although he seems to have had his 
share of reverses, yet by the energy and perse- 
verance of himself and his wife he has secured 
a competence, and is now in the enjoyment of 
a home lionestly gained. 

Frederick Enfield is a resident of section 29, 
where he settled in 1848, and which he pur- 
chased of the government. Mr. Enfield has re- 
sided in the county since April 29, 1844. He 
lived in the town of Spring Grove, about one 
year, then removed to the town of Jefferson, 
where he also lived about one year. He finally 
settled in the town of Spring Grove in 1846, on 
forty acres of land, which he entered. He came 
here from that town. Mr. Enfield was born in 
Somerset Co , Penn., Jan. 13, 1819, where he 
was reared to manhood on a farm. He is a son 



798 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



of Frederick and Catharine (Boyer) Enfield, 
who resided in Pennsylvania until their decease. 
His father was born in Somerset county, and 
his mother was born just across the line in the 
State of Maryland. The subject of this sketch 
came direct to this county from Pennsylvania. 
His wife wasMatikia Mitchell, daughter of John 
A. and Rebecca Mitchell. Mrs. Enfield was 
born June 9, 1825, in Somerset Co., Penn. They 
had thirteen children, eleven of whom are liv- 
ing. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Enfield enlisted in 
the 22d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served until the close of the war. 
He was captured at the battle of Spring Hill, 
Tenn., and was sent to Libby prison, where he 
remained a prisoner one month, when he was 
exchanged. Although his prison life was short 
he had passed through trials and hardships that 
he will ever remember. Being too ill to accom- 
pany Sherman on his march to the sea, he re- 
joined his regiment on the Atlantic coast and 
took part in the grand review at Washington. 
He was formerly a strong man, but his army life 
left him broken in health. He slill suffers much 
from disease contracted in the army. Mr. and 
Mrs. Enfield began life in limited circumstances, 
in Green county, but by industry and economy, 
have secured for themselves and family a beau- 
tiful home. His farm contains 160 acres. 

John A. Clemmer, who now lives on section 
6, town of Decatur, has been a resident of this 
county since April 12, 1850. He was born in 
Fayette Co., Penn., in 1832, His parents are 
Jasper and Delilah Clemmer, of the town of 
Sylvester, where they settled in 1850. John A. 
came to the county with his parents. He was 
married to Rhoda U. Whitcomb, daughter of 
James and Nancy (Goltry) Whitcomb. She 
came to this county with her parents, in 1849, 
and settled in the town of Mount Pleasant. Mr. 
Whitcomb was a native of Steuben Co., N. Y., 
born May 17, 1812, where he was married and 
removed to Indiana with his family, coming here 
from Indiana. Mrs. Clemmer was born in the 
State of New York, in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. 



Clemmer have six children — Laura A., Clara L. 
C, Nannie D., Cora A., Letha J. and John F. 
The farm contains 188 acres. 

L. N, Lewis, a resident of section 3, was born 
in Rensselaer Co., N, Y., in 1830. He settled 
in Green county, in 1850, but had entered his 
land in 1849. He entered 132 acres, but now 
owns 180 acres. He is a son of Leonard 
and Elizabeth (Allen) Lewis, also natives of the 
same county. They came to Wisconsin in 1852, 
and settled in Dane county, in the village of 
Mt. Vernon, where they lived until their decease. 
They had ten children, eight of whom grew to 
maturity. L. N. is the only one of the family 
who was an early settler of this county. A 
brother, John L., settled in Dane county very 
early. He is now chief-of-police of Madison. 
The subject of this sketch was married near 
Stoughton, Wis., toSophronia A. Stillwell,born 
in the State of New York, in 1825. They have 
six children — Frank B., Laura, Arthur, Minnie, 
Ethan Allen and Marion Stillwell, twin boys. 
Mr. Lewis' mother, Elizabeth (Allen) Lewis, 
was a decendant of Ethan Allen, of Revolution- 
ary fame. Mrs. Lewis' parents were Ezra and 
Polly (Howe) Stillwell. They came to Wis- 
consin, from New York, in about 1852, and set- 
tled in Dane county, where her father died the 
following year. Her mother now lives in Wau- 
kon, Iowa. 

Samuel Rowe was born in Lancaster Co., 
Penn., in 1808. When a young man he re- 
moved to the State of Illinois, where he was 
married. He came to Green county with John 
Dawson. He located on section 20, of the town 
of Decatur, where he made a claim of 160 acres, 
eighty acres of which he entered. The other 
eighty acres was "jumped" by a man named 
Mott, who entered the same, and of whom Mr. 
Rowe purchased it. His wife, Margaret Brown, 
was a native of Centre Co., Penn. Mr. Rowe died 
April 18, 1872. Mrs. Rowe died on the 13h of 
the following September. They had eight 
children, seven of whom are living — John B., 
Catharine A., Amos C, Elmira (deceased). 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



799 



Elizabeth M., William F., Emma S. and Viola 
M. Amos C, who owns and occupies the home- 
stead, was born here in 1846. He was married 
to Emma V. Fleek, daughter of Edmund T. 
Fleek. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have two children 
(twins) — Lola B. and Lee B., born Dec. 18, 
1883. Mr. Rowe's farm contains 213 acres. He 
also owns twenty acres of timbered land. 

Jesse Mitchell resides on section 31, town 
of Decatur, where he settled in 1853, upon 
a farm bought from his father, who obtained it 
from the government. Jesse Mitchell was born 
in the town of Wharton, Fayette Co., Penn., in 
1813, where he was reared and married. A 
brother-in-law, Allen Woodle, had come to 
this county about 1835, and through his influ- 
ence Mr. Mitchell was induced to emigrate 
from Pennsylvania to this county. On the 14th 
day of March, 1837, he left his home in Fayette 
county with his wife and child, and the follow- 
ing day took a steamer at Br.ownsville, on the 
Monongahela river, thence went down the Oliio, 
and up the Mississippi to Galena, and from 
there with ox team to the town of Sylvester, 
which place they reached April 19, forty-seven 
years ago. His brother-in-law, Joseph Woodle, 
with a wife and five children, accompanied 
him, and these men were the first settlers of 
what is now the town of Sylvester. Mr. 
Mitchell resided in that town until he came 
here, as stated, in 1853. He has been twice 
married. His first wife, who came with him 
from Pennsylvania, was formerly Priscilla 
Woodle, born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1813. 
She died in 1849. His second and present wife 
was Mrs. Lucina (Oviatt) Damon, who was born 
in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 1823, where in 1842 
she was married to Alexis G. Damon, and came 
with her husband to Sylvester in 1843. Mr 
Damon died in 1846. Mr. Mitchell had six 
cliildren by his first marriage, four of whom 
are still living — Martha A., Hannah, Abner and 
Thomas. By his present wife he has seven 
children — Owen, Frank, Lois, Lucretia, Julia A., 
Cynthia and John A. Mrs. Mitchell had two 



children by her marriage with Mr. Damon — 
Samuel, who was a member of the 22d Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, and died in the service 
of his country at Danville, Ky., and one daugh- 
ter, who died in infancy. Mr. Mitchell has 
been a member of the Baptist Church for fifty 
years. His wife is also a member of the same 
Church. His father, Abner Mitchell, came to 
the town of Spring Grove in 1844, and died in 
Decatur in the fall of 1883, on his eighty- 
fourth birthday. He was a man of considerable 
ability, and in 1853 was a member of the Wis-. 
consin legislature. 

Thomas Munger, of the town of Decatur, re- 
sides on section 28, on a farm purchased from 
Sanford Cochrain, who bought it from Noah 
Ball, the original owner. It contains 175 acres. 
When Mr. .Munger purchased the farm, in the 
fall of 1854, but little improvement had been 
made. A log house had been built and about 
thirty acres broken. For this place he paid $15 
per acre. Mr. Munger was born in Erie Co., 
Penn., in 1825, where he continued to live until 
he came to this county. His parents, Thomas 
and Pattie Munger, were natives of the State 
of New York, and removed to Pennsylvania in 
1824, where they lived until death, the father 
reaching the age of sixty-six years, and the 
mother seventy-two. Thirteen children were 
born to them, of Whom Thomas is the youngest, 
and he was married Feb. 13, 1847, to Nancy 
Colton, a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. 
They have four children, one son and three 
daugiiters — Judson, Polly A., Mary E. and 
Sophrona. 

Walgrave Atherton came to the town of De- 
catur in 1854. He settled on section 9, in 1855. 
He was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1826. 
His parents were John and Clarissa Atherton. 
Tlie former was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., 
the latter in the State of New York, and they 
moved to Licking Co., Ohio, where they lived 
until their decease. Walgrave Atherton is the 
only one of his father's family who settled in 



800 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Green county. He was married in 1852 to 
Ann Elizabeth Putnam, a daughter of John J. 
Putnam, and she was born in Athens Co., Ohio, 
in 1829, and caine here with her parents in 1849. 
Mr. Atherton came to Decatur from Oliio, for 
his wife, with whom he was acquainted in Ohio. 
Mr. and Mrs. Atherton have had nine childien, 
eight sons and one daughter. Their daughter, 
Florence V., was the eldest, and died when 
nineteen years old. Their son, (deceased,) was 
Charles Ernest, who died April 4, 1873. Their 
living children are — Edwin P., born April 27, 
1855 ; John J. P., born Feb. 23, 1857 ; Oliver 
H.jborn June.21, 1858; George W., born April 
28, 1860; Elmer E., born June 13, 1862 ; Harry 
C, born June 2, 1864, and Fred. V., born Dec. 
11, 1871. Mr. Atherton first purchased 157 
acres without improvements. The farm now 
contains 300 acres. He also owns the farm set- 
tled by Thomas Stewart in this town, containing 
192 acres. 

Philip Kilvvine lives on section 21, where he 
has a fine farm of 158 acres, where he settled in 
March, 1868. This farm was obtained from 
Jerome B. Fleek. He was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, in 1820, and learned the trade of mason. 
He came to this country in 1853, and first lived 
in Illinois three yetirs, where he worked at his 
trade. He was married to Julia Bach, who 
was born in Baden, Germany, in 1824. They 
have one son, Philip, who was born in Germany 
in 1845, and now lives on section 29, town of 
Decatur. Mr. Kilwine is one of the prominent 
farmers of the town Decatur. His residence, 
costing 82,000, was burned April 24, 1883. He 
rebuilt at about the same cost a fine dwelling, 
which he now occupies. 

Russell J. Day settled on his present farm on 
section 13, of the town of Decatur, in 1855. The 
farm was purchased from Myron Hulsted by 
Warren Day, father of Russell, who received 
the deed from his father in 1864. The first 
transfer of the place was by Henry Hubbard to 
Franklin W. Day, in 1851 ; the consideration 
being $600. The next transfer was to Myron 



Halsted, the same year, cunsideration 8850; and 
thence to Warren Day for 83,500. The farm con- 
tains 100 acres, and is situated one and one-half 
miles north of the railroad depot, at Brodhead. 
Russell J. Day was born in Herkimer Co., N. 
Y., in 1829, where he lived until 1856, then came 
to Brodhead, and has lived on this place since 
that time. His father, Dr. Warren Day, was a 
a native of Vermont, and practiced medicine 
for forty years in Herkimer county. He 
came to this county in 1863, and lived with his 
son until his decease in 1871. Dr. W. Day's 
wife died here in 1865. Russell J. Day was 
married in Herkimer county, to Sarah Wood, a 
native of Herkimer county. They have three 
children— Will R., Jane W. and Fayette W. 
Mr. Day has made many improvements on the 
place, and the farm is now a beautiful and at- 
tractive place. 

George W. Chace came to Green county in 
1856, and the first few months of his residence 
here, was employed in driving a stage which 
carried the mail from Albany to Footville,'for 
S. F. Nichols. He then engaged in keeping 
the hotel, that is now the Nichols House, at 
Albany, about nine months. After this he 
joined the surveying corps, that was surveying 
the Albany Railroad, then engaged in farming 
in the town of Albany. In 1862 he enlisted in 
the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 
served till the close of the war. He continued 
witli the regiment eighteen months, after which 
he was detailed in the quartermaster's depart- 
ment until the end of the war. He was very 
near worn out in health when he returned from 
the army to Albany, where he opened a restau- 
rant and meat market, which he continued one 
year, then exchanged his property for a farm at 
Spring Valley Corners, Rock county, where he 
resided five years. He then exchanged his farm 
for a meat market in Brodhead, which he carried 
on for about two years, then traded it for his 
present farm on section 14, of Decatur. This 
was in the spring of 1875. He did not settle 
immediately upon the farm, but worked the land 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



801 



arid opened a restaurant and confectionery in 
Brodliead, also carried on the ice business in 
that village. Mr. Chace was born at Boston, 
Mass., in 1821. He resided in New England, 
and the State of New York, and Ohio, until lie 
came to Wisconsin. He was married in 1843, 
at Portsmouth, R. I., to Abby Gifford, a native 
of that place, Mr. and Mrs. Chace have three 
children — George F., Helen K. and Charles S. 

A. A. TenEyck resides on land which his 
father obtained from the government in 18;i9, 
who first settled in the town of Spring Grove 
and commenced improvements on this farm 
about 1859. It is located on section 34, town of 
Decatur, and was occupied by A. A, TenEyck, 
in October, 1874. He was born in the State of 
New York, on the Hudson river, but came to this 
county from Canada with liis father. He was 
married to Amanda Moore, a native of Ver- 
mont, and a daughter of Isaac Moore. f hey 
have six children — Albert M., Lena A., Sarah 
J., Belle, Robert T. and Frank A. They lost 
one son — Walter. The farm contains 37t) acres. 

Jacob L. Roderick owns and resides on the 
first farm entered in the town of Decatur. It was 
entered by John .Moore, in the fall of 1839, and 
originally contained ICOacres. It now comi)rises 
237 acres. Mr. Roderick was born in Fayette 
Co., Penn., in 1850, and came to this county 
with his father, in 1802, and has been a resident 
of Decatur since that timn. He was married to 
Allie Fleek, a daughter of Benjamin H. Fleek. 
She was born in 1851. They have four chil- 



dren— Iva M., Myrtle M., Susan A. and Benja- 
min H. 

Mrs. Mary Cole, widow of Austin Cole, re- 
sides on section 32, town of Decatur, where 
they settled in November, 1867, but were resi- 
dents of the county several years previous. He 
was born in Erie Co., Penn., Oct. 31, 1833, 
where lie lived until hismarriage, in 1857, wlien 
he came to Green county. He married Mary 
Shults, born in Erie Co., Penn., in 1838. Mr. 
Cole died May 24, 1878, in his forty-fifth year, 
leaving his wife and two children — Fred., born 
in 1868; and Ella, born in 1870. The farm con- 
tains 140 acres. 

Andrew Smith resides on section 13, where he 
settled in 1866. His first settlement was on 
government land, in the town of Spring Valley, 
in Rock county, where he lived before making 
his present selection in February, 1866. He was 
born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, March 4, 1825. 
He came to this country with his father's fam- 
ily, in 1840. The family lived three years near 
Portage, N. Y. The father settled in Rock 
county, in 1843, where he lived until his de- 
cease. Andrew was married to Ellen Atkinson, 
who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1824, 
and came to the United States with her parents 
in 1843. Her family came to Wisconsin tliree 
or four years later, and settled in the town of 
Albany, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. 
Smith have four children — Belle, wifeof Ronal- 
do Fleek; Archie, Janie, wife of William Bell; 
and Bessie, at home. The farm contains 200 
acres. 



802 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



VILLAGE OF BRODHEAD. 



In the extreme eastern portion of Green 
county lies the village of Brodhead — one of the 
most important business centers in the southern 
part of the State. It is beautifully located, on 
an undulating prairie, which extends eastward 
from the Sugar river. The civil town in which 
the village is located is one of the banner sub- 
divisions of Green county. The Sugar river, 
which winds its course to the west of the vil- 
lage, furnishes excellent water privileges here, 
which have been utilized, and now comprise a 
valuable concomitant of the village in propell- 
ing a vast amount of machinery. The inhab- 
itants here are almost wholly Americans — peo- 
ple from the New England and northern States, 
who have brought with them the culture and 
refinement of the eastern States, the absence of 
which, in some portions of the west, is so pain- 
fully apparent. Brodhead is by no means an 
old town, yet a quarter of a century and more 
has passed since its inception. Almost a gen- 
eration has come and gone since Brodhead be- 
came a fixed fact. While there is nothing re- 
markable in the changes that have been wrought, 
there is a great deal to occupy the attention of 
the historian and attract the interest of the 
reader. 

The plat of Brodhead covers all of section 
25, and portions of sections 24 and 36, town- 
ship 2 north, range 9 east. The Mineral Point 
branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway passes through the village from east 
to west, and a branch of that line of railway 
has been extended from this place to Albany. 
The Sugar river touches the northwest corner 



of the plat, and the mill race carries the water 
to the mill, nearer the center of the plat. 

THE BEGINNING. 

Early in 1856 E. D. Clinton, agent for the 
Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, started west 
from Janesville to secure the right of way for 
the railroad through Green county, and also get 
subscriptions for stock. Arriving in the east- 
ern part of the county, he went to Decatur to 
see what he could do in the way of "induce- 
ment" for the railroad. He received no en- 
couragement there, however, neither as to right 
of way or taking stock. At that time Decatur 
was quite an important point. The stage road 
from Janesville to Monroe passed through the 
village, and this was the commercial center of 
all this country, there being a number of stores, 
a hotel, wagon, blacksmith, shoe and other 
shops, a postoffice, and all the concomitants of 
a healthy, thriving village. Here it was sup- 
posed the railroad must come, and the people 
of Decatur did not imagine that the railroad 
could afford to leave them in the cold. Deacon 
Clinton negotiated with them for some time, 
but could not arrive at anything satisfactory. 
He then visited several villages in this region, 
and held public meetings in many of the school 
houses. He finally arrived at the present site 
of Brodhead, and determined, if possible, to 
secure a site and right of way here. The 
owners of the land here — John L. Thomas, I. 
F. Mack and Erastus Smith — refused to donate 
right of way and depot grounds; but offered to 
sell three-fourths of the land, and proposed 
then that all the owners give their share. This 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



803 



was agreed to, and after negotiations closed 
and the bargain was completed the proprietors of 
Brodhead were: Edward Brodhead, of Mil- 
waukee, then chief engineer of the railroad; 
E. D. Clinton, John P. Dixon, of Janesville, 
John L. McNair, I. F. Mack, Erastus Smith and 
John L. V. Thomas. The town proprietors 
donated the railroad company a right of way 
and depot grounds. The village was platted 
into lots and blocks by the railroad company's 
surveyor in 1856, the original plat occupying all 
of section 25; eight blocks on section 36, and 
four blocks on section 24, Since that time ad- 
ditions have been made by Mr. Pierce and J. 
P. Dixon on the north; E. D. Clinton on the 
south; and Day & West on the west. 

Before the interests of the proprietors were 
divided, a lot was donated to John P. Dixon 
conditioned upon his erecting a store building. 
He at once erected a double frame building, 
two stories high, about 40x60 feet in size. It 
stood on block 88. This was the first building 
of any size erected on Uae site. In this build- 
ing the first business in the village was estab- 
lished, by Sherman, Clinton & Co. They moved 
their stock of general merchandise into the 
south room of the Dixon building, in the spring 
of 1856. Shortly afterward Edson C. Clinton 
established a hardware store in the north room 
of Dixon's building. The old building, a few 
years ago, was replaced by a neat brick building. 

In 1857 James Sherman bought out the inter- 
est of Mr. Clinton, in the firm of Sherman, 
Clinton & Co., and the firm became J. T. Sher- 
man & Co. They continued for about two years, 
when they were bought out by Edson C. Clinton, 
who, as stated, was running a hardware store in 
the other part of the building. Me ran both 
stores for a number of years. 

During the summer of 1856, Dr. M. L. Burn- 
ham came from the east and put up a building 
on Centre street, about a block north, on the 
opposite side of the street from the Dixon build- 
ing. It was a two story building, the upper 
story being occupied as a dwelling. In the 



lower story. Dr. Burnham opened a drug store. 
A few years later, he erected a store building on 
the east side of Centre street, and moved his 
stock of drugs into it. Joshua Nanscawn suc- 
ceeded Dr. Burnham in the drug business, and 
after continuing for several years, moved his 
stock of goods to Fort Howard, Wis. C. J. 
Shermaii now runs a hardware" store in the old 
Burnham building. 

During the fall of 1856, a furniture store was 
started by Joseph Merrill. 

L. Fisher, a brother-in-law of Mr. Merrill, 
came this year and is still a resident of Brod- 
head.- 

In the fall of 1856, E. D. Clinton, Ransom 
Taft and Jacob Ten Eycke, erected a hotel on 
Thomas street. It was a good sized frame build- 
ing, being 30x60 feet in size, with an "L" to the 
rear, 24x50 feet in size. It was two stories high 
with basement, and cost about $3,500, including 
the erection of the barn. Ransom Taft opened 
the building as a hotel, and ran it for three or 
four years, when the other owners took it, Mr. 
Clinton, at this time, having a two-thirds inter- 
est. They sold to James Campbell, then presi- 
dent of the Sugar River Valley Railroad Com- 
pany, and he moved the building to Cresco, 
iowa. This was known as the Clinton House, 
and the building, when taken down for removal, 
was so carefully handled and marked, that when 
it was again put up in Iowa, the name, which 
had been painted on the side, read the same, 
without a letter or shade being out of place. 

Late in 1856 I. W. Thayer commenced the 
erection of a hotel on the south side of the 
railroad track. The building was finished in 
1857, and was opened to the public for hotel 
purposes by Mr. Thayer. He sold to W. B. 
Manley, who in turn sold to J. B. Searles. Mr. 
Searles owned the building until it was burned 
to the ground. 

Ransom Taft, during the season of 1856, 
erected a dwelling, which stood where Deacon 
Clinton's residence is now located. James Sher- 
man bought the building, and it was moved to 



804 



HISTORY OF GREEN COTJKTY. 



Clinton street, where it still stands. It is now 
occupied by Mr, Atkinson. 

During the same season, (ISSfi), dwellings 
were erected by Edson C. and Henry P. Clin- 
ton. The former put up a dwelling on Clinton 
street, in which his widow still lives. Henry 
erected a building on the same street, about 
two blocks farther north. He lived and died in 
that dwelling. It is now occupied by H. P. 
Clark. 

In 185fi Mr. Wade erected the Farmers 
Hotel. He sold to James G. Patton. It is 
now owned by J. V. Patrick, and is still used 
for hotel purposes. 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. 

Thus the growth of the village progressed. 
Times grewbetteras the financial panic of 1857 
was passed. Then came the outbreak of the Re- 
bellion with its attendant demand for men and 
money. But through all this, Brodhead had a 
steady and permanent growth, until to-day it has 
become one of the best points for trade in south- 
ern Wisconsin. As trade increased and the 
business of the village began to assume city 
proi)ortions, the general merchandise business — 
which, in early days, is one of the features of 
every village — began to separate, and instead 
of the stores handling a little of everything 
they took one line exclusively. 

As has been stated, the first stock of general 
merchandise in Brodhead was owned by Sher- 
man, Clinton & Co., wlio established business 
in 1856. 

Martin Mitchell, a Decatur merchant, was the 
second. He removed his goods to this place 
in 1858, and continued in trade until his death. 
The firm of Wheaton & Mitchell, successors to 
Martin Mitchell, were in business until the 
death of Mr. Wheaton. 

The third merchant to carry a general stock 
was Myron Halstead. He built a store building 
on the south side of the railroad track in 1857, 
and in the spring of 1858 removed his stock of 
goods from the old town of Clarence where he 
had been in trade, and located at Brodhead. He 



afterwards took in a partner, and the firm be- 
came Halstead & Smith. 'J'his firm had a good 
trade for several years. 

B. R. Clawson and B. F. Roderick established 
business in 1862. In 1865 Mr. Roderick pur- 
chased his partner's interest and continued 
alone until February, 1867, when W. W. Rod- 
erick and Sylvester Stewart purchased a half in- 
terest in the business and the firm became B. 
F. Roderick and Co. In about 1870 B. F. Rod- 
erick withdrew and the firm name changed to 
Stewart & Roderick. About three years later 
Sylvester Stewart became sole proprietor and 
in December, 1877, removed the stock of goods 
to Zumbrota, Minn. 

In 1884 the dealers in general merchandise 
at Brodhead were: W. W. Roderick, Aurand & 
Terry, Gould & Iverson, J. G. Orr, and the 
Brodhead Mercantile Association. 

W. W. Roderick, general merchant, began 
business in Brodhead as a clerk, in 1865, for 
B. F. Roderick, now of Sioux Falls, Dak. In 
1867 he engaged as a partner in the business, 
the firm name becoming B. F. Roderick & Co. 
This firm existed about three years, when B. 
F. retiring, the firm became Stewart & Rod- 
erick. Four years later Mr. Roderick retired 
from the business, and in January, 1878, estab- 
lished his present business. He keeps a com- 
plete general stock, including dry goods, cloth- 
ing, boots and shoes, etc. Mr. Roderick was 
born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1844, His 
father, Jacob Roderick, Sr., came to this county 
with his family, in 1861, and settled in the town 
of .Jefferson. Mr, Roderick was a soldier in 
the War for the Union, enlisting in January, 
1864, in comijany D, 36th Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served till the end of the Rebel- 
lion. He joined Gen. Grant's army at Spottsyl- 
vania, which was the first battle in which he 
was engaged. He participated in the siege of 
Petersburg, where he was slightly wounded. 
He also witnessed the finishing stroke of the 
Rebellion, the surrender of Lee at Appomattox 
Court House. His father now lives in Nebraska. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



805 



The family of children consists of five, four 
sons and one daughter — Mrs. Mary A. Blytlie, 
in Nebraska; B. F., at Sioux Falls, Dak.; John 
M., in Nebraska; W, W. and G. B., the latter in 
Minnesota. Mr. Roderick married Anna Ly- 
man, born in Walworth Co., Wis. They have 
two children — Maud and an infant son. 

The first to embark in the drug trade at Brod- 
head was Dr. N. L. Burnhara. In 1857 ho 
erected a store and dwelling, and established 
business. The building which he erected i.s 
now occupied as a dwelling by B. R. Clawson. 
Dr. Burnham soon as.sociated Mr. Bliss as part- 
ner, built a new store building and carried a 
stock of groceries in connection witli the drugs. 
Within a few years Burnham & Bliss dissolved 
partnership, Bliss taking the groceries and 
Barnham the drugs. The latter was succeeded 
in business by J. Nanscawn & Son, who re- 
moved the stock to Fort Howard, Wis. 

The second drug business was established by. 
Taylor & Nanscawn. The latter named gentle- 
man sold his interest to Mr. Mitchell, and the 
firm became Taylor & Mitchell. About fifteen 
months later D. W. H. Taylor became sole pro- 
prietor. Mr. Taylor had his brother associated 
with him a short time, but his interest was soon 
purchased by E. J. Hutchinson, and the firm of 
Taylor & Hutchinson continued until D. W. H. 
Taylor again became sole proprietor. He closed 
out the stock. 

The third druggists were Morris & Persons. 
They estatblished business and continued about 
six months, when Persons withdrew and R. 
Morris continued alone for a sliort time, when 
he was succeeded by Clark & Walling. This 
firm, in 1872, changed to Clark, Towne & Co. 
Two years later the firm became Clark & 
Towne, and so continued until February, 1884, 
since which it has been L. E. Towne & Son. 

Broughton Bro.*i. & Co., esta\)lislie<l business 
in 1869. In 1870 tlie firm became Broughton 
Bros., and has so continued to the present 
time. 



Kuns Bros, opened a drug store in 1880. 
Thi^ firm was succeeded by Stair Bros., who 
are still in business. 

E M. Lyons entered into trade in May, 1883. 

E. C. Clinton, the pioneer hardware dealer, 
came from Waukesha and established business 
here in 1856. He sold in 1857 to Taf t & Clinton, 
who closed out in 1860. 

Taylor & Eyer opened a store on the south 
side of the railroad in 1858. They afterwards 
removed to the north side, and in about I860 
closed business. 

Leonard Lakin came from Janesville and es- 
tablished business here in 1859. He continued 
several years, then sold the tin and stove de- 
partment to Spaulding & Brown, and the liard- 
ware to M. Morse. The latter gentleman after- 
wards also bought out Spaulding & Brown, and 
continued in trade until 1871, when he was suc- 
ceeded by l^loom & Roach. Mr. Roach after- 
wards withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Bloom 
removed the stock to Monroe. 

George T. Spaulding established business in 
1872. He was succeeded in 1883 by G. A. Met- 
calf & Co., and this firm in the spring of 18-^4 
by Sherman & Moore, who are still in trade. 

J. M. Lauby establislied his present business 
in 1880. 

Mitchell & Durgon entered into trade in 1866. 
Mr. Mitchell soon sold his interest to G. R, 
Monell, and the firm became Monell & Durgon. 
In about 1870 G. R. Monell became sole pro- 
piietor, and two years later closed outthe stock. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

The first to become an exclusive dealer in 
agricultural implements and farm machinery 
was Mr. Eastman. He established business in 
1870 and continued about two years. This line 
is now represented by J. B. Searles and George 
T Spaulding. 

J. I). Searles has been a resident of Green 
county since 1859, and was here temjiorarily in 
1856. He is a native of Camillus, Onondaga, 
Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1836. In 
1846 his father, E. Li. Searles, started westward 



806 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



with his family, his objective point being the 
town of Sylvester, in Green county, where a 
brother, J. M. Searles, had already located. He 
shipped his goods to Chicago by steamboat, 
and with his family traveled with team and 
wagon. On reaching Michigan he was induced, 
by the glowing accounts of the country, to lo- 
cate in the Grand river country, in that State, 
where he remained till his death. His wife with 
the younger children of the family removed to 
Kansas, where she still resides. J. B. Searles 
was the eldest of the family of seven children. 
He left home when twenty-three years of age, 
and did not accompany his mother to Kansas, 
but came to this county, as before stated, in 
1859. He has a brother, Robert D., living in 
the town of Sylvester. J. B. Searles located in 
Jefferson where he lived until he came to Brod- 
head. He has been very successful in business. 
and is the owner of two good farms in the town 
of Jefferson, also valuable real estate elsewhere 
in the county. He is engaged in selling farm 
machinery and does a large and profitable busi- 
ness. His wife was Charlotte A. Patrick, 
daughter of C. V. Patrick, of Brodhead. Mr. 
and Mrs. Searles have three children — Charles, 
Elijah H. and Frank. 

George T. Spaulding, of Brodhead, was born 
in Proct(>rsville, Vt., in 18.33; his father was 
Ira Spaulding. He was one of the early busi- 
ness men of Brodhead, having come here in 
1856. He was for some time engaged as tinner 
in the hardware store of E. C. Clinton, He 
served his country during the War of the 
Rebellion, first enlisting in the 3d regiment, 
Wisconsin Infantry, as a member of the regi- 
mental band, July 2, 1861, serving in that 
capacity under Gen. Patterson, at Harper's 
Ferry during the first battle of Bull Run, then 
under Gen. Banks in the Luray and Shenan- 
doah Valleys, Va., taking part in his advances 
and in his retreat from Strasburg, Va., to Wil- 
liamsport, Penn., in 1862, soon after being 
mustered out of service by an act of Congress, 
discharging all regimental bands and only 



allowing brigade bands, afterwards re-enlisted 
in the 1st brigade, third division, fifteenth 
army corps, as a member of the 1st brigade 
band. He participated in a number of impor- 
tant cam paigns, including Atlanta and "Shermans 
march to the sea." After the war he was en- 
gaged in the hardware business, in the firm 
name of Spaulding & Brown, for two years. 
From 1870 to 1883, he conducted the hardware 
trade alone, being succeeded by the firm of 
Metcalf & Sherman. His principal business at 
this time is selling farm machinery, and he has 
an extensive trade; his sales for 1883 amounted 
to about $25,000. He is an excellent business 
man and has accumulated a fine property. He 
still owns the store building in which he con- 
ducted the hardware business and other valua- 
ble property. He is the town treasurer for 
1884, a position he has held for eight successive 
years. In 1860 Mr. Spaulding returned to Ver- 
mont and was married to Fidelia Shedd, a 
native of that State. They have two daughters 
— Lena and Carrie. 

The first person to sell cabinet work in Brod- 
head was Joseph Merrill. He opened a shop 
in 1857, and continued for about two years. 
The first regular cabinet shop was opened by 
Samuel Bennett, late in 1857, and he manufac 
tured tlie first work of this character here. Ht 
conducted the shop until 1866, when he was suc- 
ceeded by E. L. Ryan, who continued a number 
of years, then sold to R. M. Smith. He worked 
at the business for about one year, when it wa- 
discontinued. Bennett & Barnes opened a shi ]> 
in 1872. One year later Mr. Bennett sold to 
F, B. Smith. Tliis firm continued for a year or 
two, when Mr. Barnes sold to F. B. Smith and 
went to Dakota. Mr. Smith continued four or 
five years, when Barnes returned, and again the 
two became associated together. In 1881 Mr. 
Barnes purchased Mr. Smith's interest, and con- 
tirmed in the business until 1883, when he was 
succeeded by Payne & Payne, who still conduct 
the business. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



807 



E. W. Payne, of the firm of Payne & Payne, 
who represent the furniture business in Brod- 
head, was born at Monroe, in this county, in 
lw59, and is a son of Willard Payne, of tliat 
city. He learned the business of cabinet mak- 
ing in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he served an 
apprenticeship of three years. His wife was 
Nellie Campbell, also of Monroe. F. W^. 
Payne, his cousin, and partner, was born in 
Monroe, and is a son of Calvin Payne, and his 
wife was Carrie Parks, of Monroe. Payne & 
Payne engaged in business in Brodhead, in 
April, 1883, succeeding Ira Barnes. These 
gentlemen are both young men, enterprising 
and thoroughly acquainted with their business. 
They keep a complete general stock of goods, 
and are establishing an excellent business. 

SHOEMAKERS. 

L. S. Fisher, the pioneer shoemaker, opened 
his shop in 1856, and still continues to do cus- 
tom work. 

The second was Mr, Bowman. He remained 
about three years. Mr. Goodhue came and 
went, and Jacob Bush and Mr. Hintz have 
shops at present. 

HOTELS. 

The Young House was built in 1868 by John 
A. Young, and was first opened to the public in 
May, 1869, although not fully completed until 
August of said year. It is a brick structure, 52x62 
feet in size, including kitchen, and is forty- 
five feet high — three stories. The building 
cost about $10,000, the site costing |2,500, and 
the furniture $4,000. The house has good fire 
escapes, and first-class accommodations to forty- 
five persons. A larger number, however, lias 
frequently been entertained. It is the leading 
hotel in Green county. 

John A. Young, owner and proprietor of the 
"Young House" at Brodhead, was born in the 
town of Berne, Albany Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 
1832. He removed with his parents to the 
town of New Scotland, when a child. His father 
was a carpenter by trade, and in limited cir- 
cumstances, and John began early to earn his 



own living, thereby acquiring those habits of 
industry and frugality which have attended 
him through life, enabling him to secure a 
competence. At the age of fifteen he engaged 
in work upon a farm at $4 per month. At the 
end of the year his employer presented him 
with $2 in addition to his wages, making $50 
for his services for a year. He was employed 
the next year by the same farmer, at $8 per 
month, commanding higher wages on account 
of scarcity of laborers, caused by the preva- 
lence of cholera that season. Though but a lad 
at this time, he was entrusted by the farmer 
with the carrying of products of the farm, 
dairy, etc., to the Albany market, receiving pay 
for the same, and returning frequently before 
daylight in the morning. He engaged for the 
third year with the same farmer, but owing to 
illness, was compelled to return to his father's, 
who, in the meantime, had removed to the town 
of Guiiderland, in the same county. John re- 
mained in that town till after his marriage, 
which occurred June 18, 1852. The year fol- 
lowing his marriage he worked as a farm hand, 
for which he received a compensation of $150. 
He then leased a farm of 300 acres, which he 
conducted for two years, after whicli he worked 
a farm of his father's one year. In the spring 
of 1858, having sold what personal property he 
had accumulated, he came to Wisconsin for the 
purpose, of locating if pleased with the country. 
He brought his family to this State in the 
spring of 1859, living in the town of Lima, 
Rock county, in a log house with flooring 
in only one half of the house till the autumn 
of that year, when he engaged in the occupa- 
tion of painting. He then rented a farm in 
Johnstown, near the village of Johnstown 
Centre, where they lived one and a half years. 
In the spring of 1861, he began keeping hotel 
at Johnstown Centre. This was Mr. i oung's 
first experience in hotel keeping. Nov. 4, 
1863, he came to Brodhead and bought an un- 
divided half of the 'Manley House,' of Wil- 
liam B. Manley, for which he paid ^l,60u. The 



808 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



following^ winter he bought the remaining in- 
terest of Mr. Britton, for which he paid the 
same amount. These investments involved Mr. 
Young considerably in debt, but he soon estab- 
lished his success as a hotel man by removing 
his indebtedness, and has ever since continued 
to advance in the direction of success. He kei)t 
this hotel several years, and sold it about a year 
previous to beginning the erection of his pres- 
ent hotel. Mrs. Young was formerly Maria 
Groat, born in the town of Guilderland, Albany 
Co., N. Y., in 18c<8. Her father was noted for 
many years throughout New York and New 
England as the owner of superior race horses — 
known as Sorrel Pony and Black Maria. Mr. 
and Mrs. Young have four children — Alice^ 
Manley, Maud and Florence, all of whom were 
born in Wisconsin. Mr. Young is a man of much 
natural ability, and aided by his estimable wife, 
has established a reputation as a hotel man 
second to none. 

The Exchange House was built by L. S. 
Fisher, in 1867. It is a frame structui-e and 
cost about $3,500. It was enlarged in 1869. 
The house is still owned by Mr. Fisher, but is 
leased to Charles H. Lewis. 

BANKS. 

The first bank at Brodhead was established in 
August, 1869, under firm name of Bowen & Co. 
K. Bowen, president, and J. V. Richardson, 
cashier. I'he stockholders were: E. Bowen, J. 
V. Richardson, A. Ludlow, J. W. Stewart, As;i 
Richavdson, Thomas Hendrie and S. C Pierce. 
In 1871 this bank was chartered as the First 
National Bank of JJrodhead, with a capital 
stock of $50,000. It continued as a National 
Bank until 1875, when the charter was given 
up and it again resumed the name of Bank of 
Brodhead, the firm being Bowen & Co. After 
the National Bank charter was given up several 
of the stockholders withdrew, and it was finally 
owned by E. Bowen and J. V. Richardson. In 
March, 1879, E. Bowen became sole proprietor, 
and conducted the business until August, 1881, 
when, on account of failing health, he sold out, 



and it has since been in charge of C. N. Car- 
penter, president, and J. B. Searles, cashier 
The stockholders first were: E. Bowen, J. B 
Searles, David Dunwiddie, J. G. Orr, Am 
Burnham, R Broughton and C. N. Carpenter 
The present stockholders are: Ami Burnham 
C. N. and A. V. H. Carpenter, J. B. Searles, R 
Broughton and E. Bowen. The present offi 
cers are: President, C N. Carpenter; cashier 
J. B. Searles; directors, J. B. Searles, Ami Burn- 
ham, A. V. H. Carpenter, R. Broughton and 
C. N. Carpenter. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The Brodhead postoftice was established in 
the fall of 1856 and John B. Sawyer was ap- 
pointed postmaster. Mr. Sawyer resided in the 
country, but was the most available democrat 
at that time. The office was kept at the store 
of Taft & Clinton, S. P. Taft, acting as deputy 
postmaster. Mr. Sawyer was succeeded in 
oflice by E. A. McNair, who for a time kept the 
ofiice on the south side of the railroad track. 
C. W. Clinton became successor to Mr. McNair, 
and he was succeeded by H. P. Clinton, who re- 
tained the commission until his death, when his 
widow, Eleanor Clinton, was appointed post- 
mistress. Mrs. Clinton was succeeded in June, 
1871, by Burr Sprague, and he, on .Ian. 10, 1879, 
by B. W. Beebe, the present incumbent. It 
\* as made a money order office July 17,1869. 
The first order was issued to Spaulding & 
Brown; amount $50. The first order paid was 
to Kimberley & Tyrrell; amount, $4. 

B. W. Beebe, postmaster at lirodhead, has 
been a resident of the village since 1872, and 
has held his present office since Jan. 10, 1879. 
Mr. Beebe was born in Racine county, in this 
State, in 1843. When about three years old he 
removed with his parents to Dane county. At 
the breaking out of the Rebellion he was 
clerking in a store at Janesville. He enlisted 
in company D, •2d regiment of Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, when less than eighteen years 
of age, and reached the seat of war in time to 
participate in the first battle of Bidl Run. Dur- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



809 



ing McClellan's peninsula campaign he wns 
stationed with his regiment at Fredericksburg. 
He took part in the battle of Gainsville, where 
his regiment lost its colonel and suffered a 
great loss of men, and also in the second battle 
of Bull Run. At the battle of South Mountain 
he was severely wounded by the fragment of a 
a shell that exploded within a few feet of him, 
killing and wounding fifteen men. His right 
thigh was badly injured, the main artery being- 
severed, and it was only by the prompt atten- 
tion of his comrades, who removed him in- 
stantly to a surgeons' quarters near by, that his 
life was saved. Amputation would have been 
resorted to had it not been for the fact that the 
wound was so near his body that it was deemed 
impossible without producing a fatal result. 
He also by the same missile lost a part of his 
left hand. He remained in the hospital seven 
months. After about one year, when he had 
sufficiently recovered to enable him to get about 
again, he was employed in the provost marshal's 
office at Janesville for a year. In 1865 he ac- 
cepted an appointment in the paymaster-gener- 
al's office of the war department, at Washing- 
ton, where he remained two years. He then 
returned to Wisconsin and engaged in general 
merchandising at Oregon, Dane county. He 
was married Dec. 24, 18G5, to Gertrude E. Tip- 
ple, daughter of David Tipple, an early settler 
of Dane county. They have two children — Cora 
E. and Grace. The former was born in Wasli- 
iiigton, D. C, and the latter in Oregon, Wis. 

BRODHEAD CITY MILL AND WATER POWER. 

Nature did not supply a water power at this 
place, but through the energy of its citizens 
Brodhead can now boast of one of the best hy- 
draulic powers in the county. The history (.f 
this enterprise dates from 18C0. At that time 
two brothers, Thomas and John Hendrii-, 
owned and operated the old mill at iK^catur,but 
as that once thriving village was fast passing 
away, the Hendrie Brothers became desirous of 
removing. The people of Brodhead were 
anxious to have a mill in their thriving business 



place, and thus pursuaded the Hendrie Brothers 
to take hold of the enterprise. It was no small 
undertaking, for in order to get a water power 
at this place it was necessary to construct a 
race from the old mill dam at Decatur, a dis- 
tance of three and one-half miles. The Hen- 
drie Brothers w^ere in limited circumstances, 
and as it required considerable capital to under- 
take this enterprise, and as it would be a great 
benefit to the village, the citizens of Brodhead 
and others interested agreed to give the sum of 
$8,000 as a bonus to carry on the work. This 
amount was raised by subscription. The fol- 
lowing named persons paying $100 or more: 

I. F. Mack 1500 

.John P. Dixon 400 

D. P. Crosby (of Hartford, Conn.) 250 

E. D Clinton 200 

M.Mitchell 250 

Robert McLaren 250 

Burnhnm & Blish 200 

E.G. Clinton 250 

T. D. Laird 250 

D. W. Austin 200 

J. L. «&E. A. McNair 120 

S. C. Pierce 200 

Jacob Ten Eyck 200 

Taft & Clinton 100 

Rowley Morris 100 

J. G. Patton 100 

Jac'ib Restiner 150 

H.B.Stewart 100 

.lohn P. Laird '. 100 

A. Ehlehracbt 100 

T. T. Cortelyou 100 

E.H. Brodhead 100 

E. A . West 100 

M. Halstead 100 

The remainder of the subscriptions were 
made up of amounts varying from $5 to $75 
each. 

A contract was then let to construct a race, 
as above stated. Sixty-five feet wide at the 
bottom, and eighty feet wide at the top, and 
eight feet in depth. Work was pushed forward, 
and by 1862 the task was about two-thirds com- 
pleted. Now arose another difficulty. All the 
money that could be collected on the subscrip- 
tions had been expended, and the Hendrie 
Brothers were unable to go on with the enter- 
prise. It was at this time that H. B. Stewart 
and S. C. Pierce purchased a one-half interest 
in the property, paying $7,000 for the same. 

47 



810 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



John Hendrie withdrew from the partnership, 
and the tirm now became Hendrie, Stewart & 
Pierce. Work was resumed with renewed ', 
vigor, and in May, 1863, after three years la- 
bor and a capital of $28,000 invested, a flouring 
mill was put in operation. The original mill 
building was a wooden structure, 40x60 feet in 
size, and four stories in height, including base- 
ment, and cost, including machinery, from $12,- 
000 to $13,000. During the year of 1863 the 
firm of Hendrie, Stewart & Pierce operated the 
mill, and were rewarded with large profits. In 
1864-5 Thomas Hendrie rented the mill, but as 
the chinch bug destroyed large amounts of 
wheat, the profits realized were not as large as 
were expected. In 1806 the owners again ope- 
rated the mill, and as the wheat crop was excel- 
lent, large profits were realized. Jan. 1, ISO?, 
H. B. Stewart sold his interest to the other 
members of the firm, and withdrew. The firm 
now became Hendrie & Pierce, and as the year 
1867 proved very profitable, the firm in 1868 
enlarged the mill and made improvements, at 
an expense of about $5,000. 

In 1870 S. C Pierce became sole proprietor, 
at which date the property was valued at about 
$40,000. The mill now has five run of stone. 
It has six turbine wheels, one of which, by 
means of a cable, furnishes the power used by 
the plow works, 130 feet distant. The mill 
is operated both as a custom and merchant 
mill. 

Stephen C. Pierce, the owner of the Brod- 
head flouring mill, was born in Washington 
Co., Vt., in 1825. In 1841 his father, Prosper 
A Pierce, removed to the vicinity of Janesville, 
in this State, settling on land located the pre- 
vious year. He resided there until the time of 
his decease, March 18, 1875. iMr. Pierce, of 
this sketch, went in 1849 to California. The 
parly with whom he went started from Janes- 
ville with ox teams, traveling the entire dis- 
tance by that mode of conveyance, the journey 
requiring six months. He was absent three 
years, returning in 1^52. He then located on 



a farm in Rock county. He has been a resident 
of Brodhead since its beginning, having come 
here vVpril 3, 1856, and is the oldest resident on 
the town plat. He at first engaged in farming, 
but on the arrival of the railroad, in 1857, he 
engaged in the lumber and grain trade. He 
continued to deal in lumber for about three 
years, but has been continuously in the grain 
trade since the fall of 1857. He became -con- 
nected with the mill in 1862, and has been sole 
proprietor of the same since December, 1870. 
Mrs. Pierce was formerly Sarah A. Green, born 
in Cornwall, Orange Co., N. Y. Their children 
are— George M., Frank F., Arthur P., Ella M., 
John and Stephen. The eldest two were born 
in Rock county. The others were born in 
Brodhead. 

FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP. 

The first to engage in this business, at Brod- 
head, were Carpenter & Rood, who commenced 
in is72. They were together about three years, 
when Judson Rood, of Monroe, abrother of one 
of the founders, purchased the business and was 
proprietor for a short time. He was succeeded 
by Rugg & Gosling, who continued for several 
years. Then Ed. Carpenter purchased the foun- 
dry and Frank Pierce bought the machine shops. 
The latter was burned out, Mr. Pierce losing 
about, $3,000. Carpenter & Campbell connected 
a machine shop with their foundry, and they 
are still proprietors. From six to eight hands 
are employed. 

BRODHEAD CREAMERY. 

The Brodhead Dairy Company was organized 
in January, 1882, by the principal farmers living 
in the village. The following were the first 
subscribers of stock to the enterprise: H. B. 
Stewart, Broughton Brothers, David Dunwid- 
die, S. C. Pierce, William Smith, Joseph Mur- 
phey, John Douglass, Joseph Westlake, Edward 
Knudtson, A. M. Bowen, Joseph G. Orr, Mrs. 
H. B. Stewart and T. H. Burtness. 

In April, 1882, a frame building was erected, 
30x50 feet in size, one story high, with basement, 
and wing for engine and boiler room. A five» 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



811 



horse power, and all modern machinery was put 
in for the manufacture of butter. During the 
first year, about 75,000 pounds of butter was 
manufactured. In the season of 1883, about 
14,000 pounds were made. The stockholders 
in 1884 were the same as when it started, ex- 
cept that J. W. Westlake and A. M. Bo wen had 
sold to H. B. Stewart and Broughton Brothers 
These gentlemen now own over one-half of the 
stock. The first officers were: H. B. Stewart, 
president; A. M. Bowen, secretary; J. G. Orr, 
treasurer. In 1884 the officers were: H. B. 
Stewart, president; R. Broughton, secretary; J. 
A, Broughton, ti'easurer. 

NORWEGIAN PLOW WORKS. 

The Norwegian Plow Company, of Brodhead, 
was organized in 1874, by W, A. Wheaton, C. 
W. Mitchell, H. C. Putnam and Hans H. Sater. 
Mr. Sater was a plow maker by trade, having 
learned the business in Norway. The business 
was started with a capital of $6,000. At the 
end of the second year the capital stock amounted 
to $20,000. A frame building, 46x70 feet in size 
and a ware house for the storage of plows, 24x80 
feet in size, were erected at a cost of about $3,000. 
During the first year about ten hands were 
employed, and 300 plows were made. The busi- 
ness continued for five years, increasing so that in 
the fifth year 2,000 plows were manufactured. 
The plow was an excellent one, and came into 
quite general use in this and other States. The 
metal was extremely hard, and of excellent qual- 
ity, and the plows rapidly grew in favor. H. C. 
Putnam engaged as salesman on the road, sell- 
ing the first 200 plows manufactured. At the 
end of the third year, Mr. Putnam retired, sell- 
ing his interest to W. C. Chamberlain, of Du- 
buque. At ihe same time Mr. Wheaton sold to 
C, W. Mitchell. At the end of two yeais more 
the business was removed to Dubuque, where 
to-day the Norwegian Plow Manufacturing Com- 
pany is one of the loading manufacturing con- 
cerns. Messrs. Mitchell & Sater still retain 
their interest in the business. The object of 
removing the factory to Dubuque was to secure 



superior shipping facilities, and to reorganize on 
a larger scale. 

TOBACCO FACTORT. 

William M. Fleek, packer and dealer in Ha- 
vana leaf tobacco, began business in January, 
1880. The business has been steadily increas- 
ing and has become one of the most important 
industrial enterprises of Brodhead. The amount 
of money handled in the business daring the 
first year was $75,000. Mr. Fleek employs about 
forty hands, twenty-one of whom are young 
ladies. The tobacco is all raised in this State, 
and is bought in green condition from the pro- 
ducers, and is cured and prepared for manufac- 
turing purposes. The warehouse and factory 
is 30x116 feet in size. Mr. Fleek sells his to- 
bacco to jobbers principally. 

W. M. Fleek, proprietor of the leaf tobacco 
warehouse, is a son of R. G. B. Fleek, and was 
born in the town of Decatur, May 8, 1854. He 
lived with his father until Sept. 8, 1875, when he 
engaged in the manufacture of cigars in Brod- 
head, which business he continued until Jan. 21, 
Ib80,when he quit the manufacture of cigars and 
engaged in the business of leaf tobacco. Com- 
mencing in a small way in a building, 24x40 
feet, the business has increased until he is 
now located in a fine two-story warehouse 30x116 
feet in dimensions, with a capacity of handling 
2,000 cases of tobacco a year, and works a force 
of forty hands eight months of the year. He 
was married Oct. 25, 1875, to Viola M. Atwood, 
daughter of P. Atwood, of the town of Spring 
Grove. By this union they have two sons — E. 
O., born Nov. 3, 1877; and Dickie, born Sept. 
20, 1882. 

WAGON AND CARRIAGE MANUFACTURERS. 

The first to manufacture wagons at Brodhead 
was William Spencer, who commenced here in 
1857. He manufactured a few wagons and con- 
tinued in the busiiK'ss until the war broke out, 
when he enlisted in the 18th Wisconsin regi- 
ment, and went into the service. At the battle 
of Sliiloh he was severely wounded; removed 



812 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



to the gun boats on tlie river, and was never 
heard from afterward. 

A man named Perkins commenced making 
wagons about the same time as did Sj)encer. Ho 
also went to the war in the "18th Wisconsin 
regiment," and died in the service in 1862, of 
homesickness. 

In 1860 James Barnes engaged in this busi- 
ness. In 1861 R. H. Rugg became a partner. 
Barnes & Rugg were together for one year, and 
then Mr. Rugg conducted the business alone for 
eight years, hiring four or five hands. M. H. 
Williams came in 1862 and worked for Mr. 
Rugg until 1868, when the latter gentleman, 
with S. M. Gosling, engaged in the foundry busi- 
ness and ceased the manufacture of wagons. 

The next to engage in the manufacture of 
wagons and carriages was Williams & Ballou, 
in 1868. Mr. Ballou for three years previous 
had been engaged in the blackstJiith business. 
The firm at once commenced operations. On 
the 15th of October, 1881, they were burned 
out, losing $2,700; their insurance was$l,7uO. A 
large part of the stock and tools were saved. 
Williams & Ballou soon afterward purchased the 
old stand of Mr. Rugg, fronting Excliange street, 
and adjoining the railroad grounds in the rear. 
'J'wo weeks after the fire they resumed work. 
Tiieir main building, at present, is 24x50 feet in 
size, two stories high. Tiie first floor is used 
for the wood work, and the second as a paint 
shop. Their blacksmith and general jobbing 
shop is 20x42 feet in size. Their main deposi- 
tory is 22x50 feet, two stories; a smaller one, 
14x30 feet, and a trimming shop 16x36 feet. 
The firm carries a large stock of material and 
use nothing but the best. They manufacture 
carriages, top buggies, and wagons of all kinds; 
including sleighs. The factory employs from 
ten to fifteen hands. 

Manly H. Williams, of the firm of Wil- 
liams & Ballou, is a native of 'J'ompkins Co., 
N. Y., where he was born in 1835. His father, 
Justin F, Williams, removed with his family 
to Cuba, Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1842. Justin 



F. Williams was a native of Massachusetts. In 
1855 he removed with his family from Cuba, 
N. Y., to Middleton. Dane Co., Wis., where he 
continued to reside until his decease, March 
10, 1883. Manly II. Williams learned the trade 
of carnage and wagon maker of his father, 
and has followed the business since he was a 
boy. He was married to Elizabeth Witter, a 
daughter of Robert Witter, an early settler in 
Exeter, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Williams 
have one daughter — Mary L., born in 1872. 
They lost one son — Frank A., who died in 1877, 
at the age of ten years. Robert Witter, father 
of Mrs. Williams, settled with his family in 
the town of Exeter in 1842. He was born in 
the town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., X. Y., July 26, 
1802. His father was a native of Connecticut. 
Mr. Witter was married in 1823, in the town of 
Scipio, to Lorana Rude, a native of Connec- 
ticut. They removed in 1834 to Genesee Co., 
N. Y., coming from there to Wisconsin and 
settling, as before stated, in the town of Exeter, 
where they resided till 1882, then he and his 
wife came to Brodhead to reside with their son- 
in-law, Mr. Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Witter, 
having been married in 1823, have journeyed 
through life together for a period of more than 
sixty years. They have had eleven children, 
eight of whom are living, 

Lee Ballou, of the firm of Williams & Ballou, 
has been a resident of Wisconsin since 1843. 
He was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1830. 
He resided several years at Beloit, where he 
learned his trade. He afterward worked at his 
trade at Avon for two years, then returned to 
Beloit. He enlisted in 1864, in company 1), 
38th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served 
until the close of the war. His regiment joined 
Grant's army at Cold Harbor, participating in 
the siege of Petersburg and at the surrender of 
Gen. Lee at Appomattox. He was severely 
wounded at the battle of Hatcher's Run, where 
he was shot through the body by a rebel sharp- 
siiooter. He has never fully recovered from 
the effects of the wonnd. He came to Brod- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



813 



head in 1865, and engaged in blacksmithing 
with Haskell Crosby. He afterward bought 
out Mr. Crosby and continued the business un- 
til 1868, when the present firm was formed. Mr. 
Ballou was married to Mary H. Beals, a daugh- 
ter of William C. Beals. They have two 
children — Willie and Harry. 

Bartlett & Sons, wagon and carriage makers, 
engaged in business in 1869, coming from Al- 
bany, where L. C. Bartlett had been in busi- 
ness since 1856. In the fall of 1865, the present 
firm was formed, and they now do a good busi- 
ness. The main workshop is frame, 31x51 feet 
in size, two stories in height. The lower story 
is used for wood work, and upper story for paint 
shop. They have a blacksmith shop, 24x50 feet 
and show room 18x32 feet, two stories high. 
From six to ten hands are employed. The sales 
of carriages per year amount to $5,000, while 
the blacksmith jobbing and repairing amounts 
to about the same. 

L. C. Bartlett, of the firm of Bartlett & Son, 
wagon and carriage manufacturers, engaged at 
business at Broadhead in 1869, coming here 
from Albany, where he engaged in the wagon 
making business in 1856. He was born in the 
town of Waterford, Caledonia Co., Vt., in 1821. 
He went to Saratoga Co., N. Y., in the fall 
of 1840, where he learned his trade, and where 
he was engaged in business till he came to 
Wisconsin in 1856. His wife was Jane Ann 
Ellsworth, born in Northumberland, Saratoga 
Co., N. Y. Mrs. Bartlett is a cousin of Col. 
Ellsworth who was killed at Alexander, Va., in the 
early part of the rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Bart- 
lett have seven children, six sons and one 
daughter. Eugene, who is associated with his 
father in business, was born in Schuylerville, N. 
Y., Jan. 7, 1844, and came to this county with 
his father Aug. 2, 1862. He enlisted in the 31st 
regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 
served until the close of the war. He participa- 
ted in the siege of Atlanta, Shermans march to 
the sea, battle of Bentonville, and other minor 
engagements. He married Augusta Davison, 



daughter of W. M. Davison, an early settler of 
the town of Exeter. They have one son — Mor- 
tie D. 

Lanby & Durner established their business 
Oct. 6, 1881. Their principal buildings are the 
wood work and blacksmith shops. The wood 
work . shop is 44x44 feet in size, two stories 
high; the upper part being used for a paint and 
trimming shop; the lower story for wood work. 
They manufacture about fifty vehicles each 
year, and do general repair and blacksmithing 
work. 

INCORPORATION AND PROCEEDINGS OF VILLAGE 
BOARD. 

The village of Brodhead was granted a cor- 
poration charter by the State legislature on the 
9th of March, 1870. The first election was 
held on the first ]V[onday in May, and the follow" 
ing were elected trustees for the ensuing year: 
I. F. Mack, George R. Monell, H. T. Moore, 
Wyatt A. Wheaton and A. C. Douglas. 
At the first meeting of the board of trustees 
held on the 6th of May following their election, 
I F. Mack was elected president of the board, 
and J. P. Vance was elected clerk. The second 
meeting of the board was held May 9, at which 
time president I. F. Mack presented the follow- 
ing communication: 

"Gentlemen of the board of trustees: — 
Called asl have been by the generous suffrage of 
my fellow citizens to aid in giving force to the 
provisions of the village charter, and by your 
partiality to preside over the municipal relations 
of our thriving village I enter upon the duties 
with feelings akin to your own feeling of 
mingled gratitude and distrust; gratitude for 
the confidence and personal kindness of the 
electors and of this board, and distrust of my 
own ability to fully meet the confidence in the 
dischaige of the delicate duties of the double 
office thus kindly imposed upon me. 
"Gentlemen:— Our village although just passed 
the first decade has already attained an impor- 
tant rank among the inland towns of the roble 
State of Wisconsin, with a population of about 



814 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



2,000 inhabitants, and an assessment list of 
$400,000, it is entitled to the respect even if 
it does not excite the envy of much older and 
at present more populous neighboring villages 
or cities. In our municipal legislation we are 
to exercise guardianship over the intelligence, 
the manner, and the habits of the people, drawn 
together from various sections of our own and 
foreign lands, presenting in miniature the phases 
and diversity of a city population. Over this 
diversity good and wholesome influence should 
ever have predominence as this alone can make 
secure the enjoyment of 'life, liberty and the 
pursuit of happiness.' 

"While our gratitude is due to an over ruling 
Providence that no signal acts of crime, or in- 
subordination to law have yet marred our his- 
tory as ;i village, we are all sensible that the 
time has arrived when special legislation is 
necessary to the future peace and quiet of the 
people, and to the future growth and prosper- 
ity of the town. The charter of which we 
are for the time being made the executors, pro- 
vides for legislation on the following important 
subjects. For the government and good order 
of the village, for the suppression of vice, for 
the prevention of tires, for the benefit of trade 
and commerce, and for the health of the village. 
It also provides for imposing penalties against 
any person who shall violate any ordinance, 
rule or by-law, enacted by this board, for the 
formation of the above objects. Thus giving 
to such ordinances, rules, and by-laws the force of 
law. The subjects upon which this board is 
authorized to legislate are specifically set forth 
in the charter, and enumerated in Chapter IV, 
under twenty-five distinct heads, to which the 
attention of the board is respectfully directed. 
Among the powers specifically granted is that 
of appointing and removing, at pleasure, the 
following officers: Clerk, marshal, chief en- 
gineer of fire department, two fire wardens and 
as many assistants as the board may deem 
necessary, a surveyor, a sealer of weights and 
measures, a street commissioner, and a pound- 



keeper, and to require bonds for the faithful 
discharge of the duties of their respective offices. 
While the charter made no specific provisions 
for the election or appointment of a village 
attorney, I regard the general powers warranted 
as embracing ample authority for the permanent 
employment, or retention, by the board of all 
instrumentalities necessary to give effect to the 
municipal laws. I therefore respectfully sug- 
gest the propriety of designating a suitable 
legal agent, as village attorney, to be thus 
permanently retained in the interest of the vil- 
lage and in the duty of enforcing obedience to 
its laws and ordinances. Gentlemen! As lying 
at the foundation of our future prosperity and 
well-being, all must regard the cause of popular 
education. The real prosperity of a village is 
not measured by its wealth, or its number. 
Genuine manhood and universal intelligence 
are the only true indications of a popular wealth 
of prosperity. While the cause of education in 
the village is especially entrusted to the board 
of education, it is eminently fit that this board 
co-operate and lend its influence in the adoption 
and prosecution of the wisest means of convey- 
ing instruction to every child, accompanied 
with healthful morals, inculcations, and of pro- 
viding the most sure and ready means for re- 
pressing juvenile vices and insubordination in 
the schools or elsewhere, by some well-timed 
ordinance on that subject. Gentlemen! I feel 
(doubtless in common with you) a strong desire 
that the burden of taxation be rendered as light 
as possible, consistent with the general good. No 
more delicate duty devolves upon us than to 
rightly discriminate in our official action be- 
tween the rights of the individual citizen and 
the public weal. The stringency of the times 
admonishes us to avoid, so far as we can, con- 
sistent with the general welfare of the village, 
local and special taxation. It is far better to 
walk bare shod over nature's path out of debt 
than with gilded slippers over encumbered 
pavements. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



815 



"Gentlemen, intemperance in our village has 
certainly, of late, made fearful strides, and de- 
mand at our hands such stringent regulations as 
are imperatively needed to preserve temperance 
and good order. The experiment, 'No license' 
has failed to accomplish it, and it becomes our 
duty to impose such tax upon traffic in intoxi- 
cating drinks, with such checks and guards as 
shall secure greater quiet and security against 
the horrid revelry and noisy demonstrations 
which have recently and often resulted from the 
evil of drunkenness, and have disgraced our 
village. 

"Tendering to you all, gentlemen, the assur- 
ance of my esteem and respect, 1 may be per- 
mitted to express the hope that our official, as 
well as private intercourse will ever be marked 
by mutual confidence and kindness. My en- 
deavor will be at all times to faitiifiilly do 
whatever may appropriately fall within the line 
of official duty, and to aid, fearless of personal 
consequence, in whatever the board may under- 
take to contribute to the welfare of our village, 
and to carry il forward in tlie cause of moral, 
intellectual and physical iniprovements, so 
essential to the promotion of our own happiness 
and the future growth of the village, by the 
attraction hither of intelligent citizens. 
Respectfully, 

I. F. Mack." 

At the same meeting W. A. Wheaton was 
appointed chief engineer of the fire department; 
K. H. Kugg and M. S. Twining, tire wardens; 
C. Seeber, surveyor; M. Morris, sealer of 
weights and measures; M. M. McNair, street 
commissioner; C. D. Wooster, marshal; and 
Fred Smith, pound keeper. I. F. Mack, G. R. 
Monell and H. T. Moore were appointed a com- 
mittee on rules, regulations and by-laws. Sa- 
loon licenses were fixed at 8100 each, and drug- 
gist license to sell for medicinal purposes at 
125 each. C N. Carpenter was appointed vil- 
lage attorney. 

The boai'd met often for several months and 
passed many ordinances and discharged its duty 



faithfully at all times. Jan. 27, 1871, I. F. 
Mack resigned the office of president, also that 
of trustee, and A. C. Douglas was elected presi- 
dent. 

At the election in May, 1871, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, A. C. Douglas, 
J. V. Richardson, M. S. Twining, N. E. Usher 
and L. E. Towne. May 6, 1871, the board 
elected J. V. Richardson president, but as he 
declined to serve, A. C. Douglas was elected in 
his stead. O. S. Putnam was appointed clerk. 
Liquor license was fixed at the same rate as the 
previous year. May 9 the board elected W. A. 
Wheaton street commissioner, and M. M. Mc- 
Nair marshal. An ordinance was passed im- 
posing a fine of $100 and costs of prosecution 
upon any person found guilty of running or 
riding a velocipede upon the sidewalks within 
the village corporation. May 19 an ordinance 
was passed prohibiting live stock from running 
at large within the corporation. December 7, 
hook and ladder company reported organized, 
and the following officers elected: Foreman, 
J. W. Woodward; first assistant, C. W. Mitchell; 
second assistant, T. H. Brown; secretary, O. S. 
Putnam; treasurer, Ira Barnes. On motion the 
organization was accepted by the board. Fire 
extinguishers were purchased at a cost of 
$245.25. 

At the election May 6, 1872, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, C. W. Mitchell, 
S. M. Gosling, H. T. Moore, P. Clawson and 
J. C. Chase; treasurer, H. T. Dickinson. This 
board elected J. C. Chase, president, and P. J. 
Clawson, clerk. Licenses were fixed as before. 
W. A. Wheaton was appointed marshal, G. B. 
Wooster, pound master; H. W. McNair, street 
commissioner; J. W. Woodward, chief of fire 
department. P. J. Clawson resigned, and E. 
O. Kinperley was elected clerk. For the year 
ending April 30, 1873, the village treasurer re- 
ceived S8 14.33, and the amount paid out was 
$696.60. 

At the election May 5, 1873, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, E. Bowen, G. 



810 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



T. Spaulding, F. B. Smith, M. Williams and 
Burr Sprague; treasurer, J. F. Dickinson; super- 
visor, W. A. Wheaton. Tlie board elected 
Burr Sprague, president; H. Kimberley, clerk; 
M. M. McNair, street commissioner; G. B. 
Wooster, pound keeper; J, W. Woodward, 
chief of fire department; J. F. Dickinson and 
C. W. Mitchell, fire wardens; and Alfred 
Wood, marshal. The board refused to grant 
license to sell intoxicating liquors. Burr 
Sprague and E. Bowen resigned, and at a 
special election, held Jan. 16, 1874, W. H. 
Barnes and A. C. Douglas were elected to fill 
vacancies. The board elected G. T. Spaulding 
as pi'esident. In February the board granted 
liquor license for the remainder of the year at 
$25 each. The treasurer's report for the year 
ending April 30, 18V4, shows that $1,273. 72 was 
received, and 1889.27 paid out. 

At the election May 4, 1874, the following 
ofticers were elected: Trustees, L. H. Lassell, 
S. M. Gosling, G. S. Parlin, W. H. Barnes and 
J. W. Woodward; treasurer, H. Kimberley; 
justice of the peace, M. S. Twining; constable, 
Cady Murray. This board elected L. II. Las- 
sell, president; II. Kimberley, clerk; M. Slade, 
street commissioner; Robert Armstrong, mar- 
shal. J. F. Dickinson was elected treasurer to 
fill vacancy; J. W. Woodward, chief of fire de- 
partment; and J. F. Dickinson and C. W. 
Mitchell, fire wardens. This board refused to 
grant liquor license. Report of treasurer for 
year ending April 30, 1875, shows receipts, 
$1,042.32; expenditures, $660.80. 

At the election May 3, 1875, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, G. T. Spaulding, 
W. H. Barnes, G. S. Parlin, J. B. Blanchard 
and Peter Kurtz; treasurer, John Taylor; super- 
visor, W. A. Wheaton; justice of peace, L. H. 
Lassell; constable, L. Slade. It was also voted not 
to purchase a fire engine by a vote of 165 to 13. 
The board elected G. T. Spaulding, president; 
II. Kimberley, clerk; M. Slade, street commis- 
sioner; Alfred Wood, marshal; J. A. Brough- 
ton, pouud keeper; G. B. Wooster, chief of fire 



departmer.t; and J. F. Dickinson and G. W. 
Chase, fire wardens. Liquor licetise was fixed 
at $100 each. An ordinance was passed not to 
allow any wooden building to be erected on 
blocks 88, 100, 101, and lots 8, 9, 10, block 87, 
and lots 2, 3, 4 and 5, of block 99. The report 
of the treasurer for April 30, 1876, shows: 
Money received, $1,105.90; money paid out, 
$681.25. 

At the election of May 1, 1876, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, J. V. Richard- 
son, W. II. Barnes, T. D. Laird, Judson Bowen 
and Gilbert Ross; treasurer, M. Roach; super- 
visor, W. A. Wheaton; justice of the peace, L. 
H. Lassell; constable, Cady Murray. The 
board elected the following officers: President, 
J. V. Riciiardson; clerk, H. Kimberley; mar- 
shal, Alfred Wood ; pound keeper, John 
Broughton; chief of fire department, G. B. 
Wooster; fire wardens, J. F. Dickinson and G. 
W. Chase. Liquor license was fixed at $100. 
Ordinances were passed to guard against fire 
and accidents, on the 4th of July. The report 
of treasurer for April 30, 1877, shows: Money 
received, $1,102.01; money paid out, $645.53. 

At the election May 7, 1877, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, S. C. Pierce, 
R. W. Golden, W. H. Strawser, L. C. Morrison 
and H. A. Murdock; treasurer, John Taylor; 
justice of the peace, L. H. Lassell; constable, 
L. H. Ilinkley; supervisor, C. W. Mitchell. 
The board elected S. C. Pierce, president; H. 
Kimberley, clerk; Frank Champion, street com- 
missioner; W. W. Mill, marshal; G. B. Woos- 
ter, chief of fire department; and H. H. Ilink- 
ley and G. W. Chase, fire wardens; J. A. 
Broughton, pound keeper. No liquor licenses 
were granted. The report of the treasurer for 
April 30, 1878, shows: Money received, 
$737.01; money paid out, $580.41. 

At the election of May 6, 1878, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, C. W. Mitchell, 
R. W. Golden, F. R. Derrick, Samuel Wales 
and S M. Gosling; treasurer, John Kurtz; su- 
pervisor, A. N. Randall; police justice, O. S. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



81V 



Putnam; constable, H. H Ilinkley. The board 
elected the following officers: President, C. 
W. Mitchell; clerk, H. Kiraberley; street com- 
missioner, G. W. Cronk; marshal, G. W. Crouk; 
cliief of tire department, Jacob lirant; tire war- 
dens, C. W. Lucas and J. J. Witting. No 
liquor license granted. The report of the 
treasurer for April 30, 1879, shows: Money re- 
ceived, 1607.36; money paid out, $523.74. 

At the election of May 5, 1879, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, R. W. Golden, 
C. W. Mitchell, S. M. Gosling, F. R. Derrick 
and John Douglas; treasurer, John Kurtz; su- 
pervisor, S. C. Pierce; justice of the peace, 
Joseph Thompson; constable, E. Adams. The 
board elected the following officers: President, 
C. VV. Mitchell; clerk, H. Kimberley; street 
commissioner, B. Wooster ; marshal, H. H, 
Hinkley. No liquor license granted. The re- 
port of the treasurer for April 30, 1880, shows: 
Money received, 1649.32; money paid out, 
$433.87. 

At the election of May 8, 1880, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, D. Dunwiddie, 
M. H. Williams, A. S. Clark, John Douglas and 
T. C. Johnson; treasurer, John Kurtz; super- 
visor, L. C. Pierce; justice of the peace, O. S. 
Putnam; constable, G. B. Wooster. The board 
elected the following officers: President, M. 
H. Williams; clerk, H. Kimberle} ; street com- 
missioner, G. B. Wooster; pound keeper, John 
Broughton; marshal, E Adams. No license 
to sell intoxicating liquor was granted. The 
report of the treasurer for the year ending 
April 30, 1881, shows: Money received, $643.20; 
money paid out, $432.01. 

At the election of May 2, 1881, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, D. Dunwiddie, 
G. T. Spaulding, Ira Barnes, T. C. Johnson and 
J. B. Searles; treasurer, John Kurtz; supervisor, 
J. Richardson; justice of tlie peace, O. S. Put- 
nam; constable, E, Adams. The board elected 
the following officers: President, D. Dunwid 
die; clerk. H. Kimberley; street commissioner, 
J. A. Broughton; marshal, Frank iSmith. The 



report of the treasurer for the year ending 
April 30, 1882, shows: Money received, $597,13; 
money paid out, $436.10. 

At the election May 1, 1882, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, E. Bowen, J. 
B. Searles, G. T. Spaulding, M. S. Twining and 
A. C. Douglas; treasurer, E. P. Hassinger; su- 
pervisor, J. V. Richardson; constable, Alfred 
Wood. Officers elected by the board: Presi- 
dent, E. Bowen; clerk, H. Kimberley. May 9, 
1882, license to retail intoxicating liquor was 
tixed at $150, and wholesale at $50. But on 
May 16 the rates were reduced to $75 and $25 
respectively. The report of the treasurer for 
April 30, 1 883,shows: Money received, $2, 664. 43; 
money paid out, $2,202.07. 

x\t the election of May 7, 1883, the following 
officers were elected: Trustees, H. C. Putnam, 
M. Broderick, B. R. Clawson, T. C. Johnson, 
and G. M. Pierce; treasurer, J. G. Orr; super- 
visor, F. R. Derrick; police justice, E. R, 
Sprague ; constable, F. N. Smith. Officers 
elected by the board: President, H. C, Put- 
nam; clerk. Burr Sprague; marshal, Frank 
Smith; street commissioner, C. F Dickey; 
pound master, J. A. Broughton; chief of fire 
department, A. M. Bowen; fire wardens, C. S. 
Usher and J. J. Plisterer; health officer, A. E. 
Bulson. No liquor licenses were granted. 

KDUCATIONAL. 

In early days, the children in this part of De- 
catur attended school just across the line in 
Itock county. But in 1857 school district No. 
6, now the Independant district of Brodhead, 
was organized, and at the first election, held 
August 15, of said year, E. A. West was 
elected director; J. T. Sherman, treasurer, and 
A. Hitchcock, clerk of the district. A room 
was rented and a school taught. The district 
needed a new school house, but the people could 
not agree upon the cost of the building or loca- 
tion. But in 1859 they purchased a building 
(now the Catholic church) and arranged it into 
three departments. They afterwards also built 
a small school house, on block 149, which is now 



818 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



used as a primary department. But tlie leading 
citizens were anxious to possess better school 
facilities, and thus at school meetings would 
pass resolutions to that effect, but as a general 
thing the same would be rescinded at the next 
meeting. 

Oct. 20, 1866, the citizens of Brodhead met 
at the Central school house, for the purpose 
of organizing a corporation for the purpose of 
building an academy. It was agreed that the 
capital stock should be $20,000, divided into 
shares of $50 each. I. F. Mack was elected 
president; E. D. Clinton, vice-president; C. W. 
Mitchell, secretary, and H. B. Stewart, treas- 
urer. Several thousand dollars was subscribed 
towards this enterprise, when, in accordance 
with the advice of Hon. John M. Mynn, super- 
intendent of schools, the scheme was abandoned, 
and an application made to the legislature of 
the State of Wisconsin for a special charter for 
the organization of a school district in Brod- 
head, and provide for the establishment of a 
high school therein, in connection with primary 
schools, all to be sustained by tax, and made 
free. The charter was granted March 27, 1867, 
and Brodhead became an Independant district. 

The first school commissioners elected were: 
H. B. Stewart, R. Morris, L. Lakin, R. H. Rugg, 
L. E. Towne and T. J. Balis. Steps were im- 
mediately taken to build a school house. The 
district was bonded to the amount of $6,000, and 
the present school building, located on block 83, 
was completed in 1868. This building is a 
brick structure, 50x70 feet in size, three stories 
high and cost, including furniture, about $15,000. 
The school is divided into six departments, con- 
sisting of high school, intermediate and pri- 
mary and employs seven teachers. The schools 
are well graded. 

Prof. O. N. Wagley, principal of lirodhead 
graded and high school, was born in the town 
of Plymouth, Rock Co., Wis., in 1849. His 
father, N. O. Wagley, settled in Rock county in 
1841. He attended the State University at 
Madison, three terms, and began teaching in 



1871. In the fall of 1873, he entered the State 
Normal School, at Whitewater, in this State, 
graduating in 1h78. He taught three years at 
Necedah, Juneau county, and came here in the 
fall of 1881. 

The other teachers in 1884 were: Elsie Sauls- 
bury, assistant in high school; and in the higher 
grammar department, Maria Fenton; lower 
grammar department, E. Rockwood; higher 
intermediate department, Addie M. Bowen; 
lower intermediate department, Lillian Hol- 
colmb; higher primary department, Bertie 
Sprague; lower primary department, Addie 
liinkley; south side primary, Lucy Kingman. 

RELIGIOUS MATTERS. 

The religious organizations of Brodhead are 
the Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Pres- 
byterian, Baptist, Advent, Catholic and Episco- 
pal. 

CONGREGATIONAL. 

The first services of this denomination were 
held by Rev. James Jamison, at the house of 
Henry Clinton, in the summer of 1856. The 
Church was organized by the same minister on 
the 28th of February, 1857, services being held 
in the dining hall of the Clinton Hotel. The 
society was designated the "First Congrega- 
tional Church of Brodhead." The first members 
were as follows: E. D. Clinton, Amanda Clin- 
ton, James T. Sherman, Abby T. Sherman, John 
L. McN<iir, Caroline P. McNair, J. W. Thayer, 
Anna E I'liayer, John C. Wingate, Eliza Win- 
gate, MiloL. Burnham, Ellen D. Burnham, Ich- 
abod Dimick, Catharine Dimick, George Frary, 
Harriet Frary, Martha Love, Mary J. Wingate, 
Nancy Foster, Harriet M. Foster, Martha A. 
Sherman, Ella H. Clinton, Electa Sexton, Fri- 
phena Taft, I. F. Mack, Frances D. Mack and 
Charles M. Griswold. The first ofiicers were: 
Deacons, E. D. Clinton, I. W. Thayer and John 
V. Wingate; clerk, I. F. Mack; treasurer, John 
L. McNair; trustees, I. W. Thayer, R. E. Taft, 
M. L. Burnham, E. C. Clinton, H. P. Clinton 
and R. Love. Services were held at the Clin- 
ton House until the erection of the school house, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



819 



which was then used by the society as a place 
of worship until 1861 when the church edifice 
was built. It is a neat frame building, 36x60 
feet in size, with a seating capacity of about 
300, and cost about $2,000. It was dedicated 
Dec. 17, 1861. The Rev. James Jamison, who 
organized the Church, was a missionary. The 
first pastor was Rev. Hiram Foote, who came 
in October, 1858, and remained one year. In 
September, 1859, Rev. W. Cochran became pas- 
tor, remaining until succeeded by Rev. James 
Strong, in October, 1862. He remained two 
years and was followed by Rev. Ottman, who 
only staid a few months. After this the Church 
was without a pastor until the fall of 1865, 
when Rev. William Bernard was called to the 
pastoral charge, and remained one year. Then 
came Rev. Edward Morris. In tiie fall of 1868 
Rev. D. W. Webb took charge, and remained 
until the fall of 1870. In April, 1871, Rev. 
Hiram Foote became pastor and served for four 
years. In the fall of 1875 the Congregational 
and Presbyterian Churches united for worship. 
Rev. Edward Dickinson, a Presbyterian clergy- 
man, preached for both societies for three years, 
services being held at the different churches 
alternately. After this time there was no pas- 
tor until the spring of 1879, when Rev. Wallace 
Bruce accepted a call, and remained one year. 
He was followed by Rev. William Cutler, who 
staid one year. In July, 1881, Rev. H. S. San- 
ford took pastoral charge and remained until 
the time of his death in July, 1882. In 1883, 
Rev. Francis Wrigley became pastor, and is 
still in charge. The present membership of 
the Church is thirty-eight, only five of whom 
are males, thirty-three being women. In 1884 
the deacons were: E. D. Clinton, C. Matter, 
George Frary and J. T. Sherman. The trustees 
are E. D. Clinton, Deacon Matter, George 
Spaulding and Edwin Charlton. A Sabbath 
school has always been sustained, and is now in 
good condition. 

ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

Elder N. A. Hitchcock was the first preacher 
of this denoiniuatiou to hold services in and 



near Brodhead. In August, 1867, Rev. Joshua 
V. Hines, assisted by William Sheldon, held a 
very successful tent meeting, when it was found 
that a goodly number of people had formerly, 
while in the east, held these views and a Church 
was organized. There where twenty-six mem- 
bers, and the following were the officers: 
Elders, H. T. Moore and H. Crosby; secretary, 
H. Kimberley. The following, short, yet com- 
prehensive creed was adopted: "The Bible, as 
it reads (literally); one, only, rule of faith, and 
practice and Christian character; one, only, 
test of fellowship." Rev. William Sheldon 
settled here, later, and preached for the society. 
Elder George Thompson, of Monroe, was the 
first regular pastor. Elder Isaac Adrian, who 
was a gifted man, was the next. In 1869 the 
next meetings of note were held — a general 
Advent conference being held in the Congrega- 
tional church, at which were present many emi- 
nent men from several States. A four days 
discussion was held between Miles Grant, of 
Boston, and Rev. Mr. Crawford, a Universalist 
minister of Brodhead. In 1873 Elder Samuel 
Thurber held a successful series of revival 
meetings, eighty persons professing. Elders 
Preston, Hitchcock, Godfrey, Howard, Wilbur, 
Warner, Bennett, Button, Phelps and others 
supplied the pulpit at different times; but the 
Church declined until November, 1880, when 
Elder D. S. Clark, of Amboy, III., held meet- 
ings for eighty consecutive evenings with excel- 
lent results, and the Church was rescued from 
oblivion. Elder Clark was pastor for nearly a 
year. In November, 1881, Elder George M. 
Button became pastor on trial of six months, 
and his services have been so satisfactory that 
he still retains the position. Under his work 
the interest is healthy and good. The society 
have rented the Baptist building, one of the 
finest church edifices in Brodhead. The Church 
now numbers thirty-five members. 

Rev. George M. Button, the pastor of this 
Church, was born near Juda, Wis., and was 
reared on a farm one mile south of "old Deca- 



820 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



tur," and two miles west of Brodhead. His 
father was H. W. Button. When seventeen 
years of age he ran away from home and went 
to Marquette, Mich., but returned in three 
months and attended the academy in Brodhead 
three years; the Milton College one year, and 
the State Univei'sity one year. Being, as he 
believed, called to preach, and being counselled 
and encouraged by Senator H. T. Moore, he 
commenced bis life work near Baraboo, Sauk 
county, before twenty-one years of age. Later 
for four years he preached on a circuit in Illi- 
nois. In May, 1878, he married Abbie Lee 
Watson, of De Kalb, 111. After this for two 
years he was pastor of a Church at Afton, 111. 
He then went to Turner Co., Dak., for his 
health, and upon his return, became pastor of 
the Church at Brodhead. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL. 

The first class of this denomination was or- 
ganized in June, 1856. Nathaniel Wheeler was 
the preacher in charge and William Teal, as- 
sistant. The class consisted of eleven members, 
among whom were: F. Van Curen, Timothy 
Lewis, Eleanor Lewis, F. Nash, Eliza Nash, B. 
F. Stevens, Norah Stevens, Sarah Lewis and 
Almon Lewis, the latter being a local preacher. 
In 1857 the charge was supplied by Almon 
Lewis, who still resides here. In 1858 Rev. 
Henry Coleman, then connected with the 
seminary at Evansville, was placed in charge, 
but not being able to close his connec- 
tion with the school immediately, John L. 
Williams, a superannuated ])reacher, sup- 
plied this place for a few months. In the 
fall of 1858 J. P. Dixon, of Janesville, 
donated to the society two lots, on which the 
present church was erected. This church edi- 
fice was finished and paid for in three months. 
It cost 12,300. It was dedicated by the Rev. 
Hooper Crews. A Meneeley bell, weighing 795 
pounds, which cost $400, was donated by Edward 
H. Brodhead, of Milwaukee, on the condition 
that it should be used only in Brodhead. This 
class was organized and meetings were held at 



the county line school house, just across the 
line in Rock county. Afterward services were 
held in Brodhead in a hall on Center street, 
northeast of the present church, which has now 
been removed. Sometime previous to the erec- 
tion of the M. E. church, parties in the interest 
of the Congregational Church made a move to- 
ward building, and a subscription of several 
thousand dollars was raised, but through a 
slight difference among the heaviest subscrib- 
ers, the enterprise was abandoned. It was at this 
time that Mr. Brodhead promised a bell to the 
first church that should be erected in the vil- 
lage, and the Methodists were successful. Rev. 
D. H. Budlong was appointed to this charge in 
the spring of 1859; but during the succeeding 
winter his health failed and his place was sup- 
plied by Jacob Miller, of Cadiz. In 1860 Rev. 
Nelson Butler became pastor, and in 1861 was 
succeeded by W. H. Wilson. He was returned 
in 1862. Soon after, however, the presiding 
elder placed Rev. A. Callender in charge and 
removed Mr. Wilson to Madison. In 1863 L. 
W. Pike appears on the minutes as pastor, but 
it seems he failed to come, and E. B. Russell, 
then either a local or a superannuated preacher, 
was sent as a supply and filled out the year. In 
1864 Rev. II. Chadeayne was appointed to this 
charge. During this year the parsonage was 
built at a cost of about $1,200. In 1866 Wil- 
liam J. Wilson became pastor and remained two 
years, when he was succeeded by Rev. Aspin- 
wall, who remained three years. In 1871 Rev. 
AV. II. Kellogg became pastor and remained 
two years. After this in succession came: Rev. 
T. M. Fullerton, three years; Rev. Joseph D. 
Brothers, three years; Rev. John Knipps, one 
year; Rev. J. E. Irish, one year; Rev. Whitney, 
eight months; J. I. McLaughlin, four months; 
and Rev. G. W. Nuzem was appointed to this 
charge in September, 1882, and is the present 
pastur. During the summer, 1874, two side 
parlors, each twenty feet square, were added to 
the church, and other improvements were made 
costing all together $1,100. The Church num- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY, 



821 



bers considerable over 100 members, and both 
Church and Sunday school are in good condi- 
tion, 

EPISCOPAL. 

The first Episcopal services in thifi town were 
held at the house of Mr, Kettle, in the winter of 
1848-9, by Rev. Mr. Humphrey, of Beloit. 
There were but few here belonging to this de- 
nomination at that time. Services were held at 
Decatur until after Brodhead was started. 
Among the earliest Episcopalians were the Ket- 
tle family, Mr. Bridgeman and M. B. Edson. 
Occasional services were held until 1875, when 
they secured a resident clergyman in the person 
of Rev. Ross, who resided here for several 
years, services being held in the halls of the 
village. The society was organized in 1875. 
The Church now hold occasional services and 
support a good Sunday school. They have no 
church building. 

PRESBYTERIAN. 

The Presbyterian church at Brodhead was 
built in 1866. It is a brick building and cost 
about $6,000. The first services in the build ng 
were held Jan. 20, 1 867. The building was dedi- 
cated Feb. 21, 1807, by Rev. J. W. Dinsmore. 
The first pastor was Rev. A. R. Day, who was 
here when the church was erected. He was 
suceeeded by A. A. Joss, and then in turn 
came Revs. R. G. Thompson, S. I. McKee, A, 
R. Day, E. Dickinson and J. S. Bingham. In 
1884 the Church was without a pastor. The 
first Presbyterian services held in this 
town were held at the village of Decatur, in 
1849 or 1850, by Rev. Fox. He Avas a resident 
of Oregon, Dane county, who preached only 
occasionally and he effected an organization of 
this Church at Decatur. The first resident 
pastor was Rev. Frazer, who preached for about 
three years. Uthi rs who preached at Decatur 
were Rev. Bachus, Dr. Nichols and Rev. Bas- 
com. 'I'he first elders were Alexander C'lark, 
William Oliver and Mr. Kirkpatrick. Origi- 
nally tliere were about twenty members; it after- 
ward increased to fifty. When Decatur died, 



the Baptist and Presbyterian Churches like the 
rest of the village moved to Brodhead. 

CATHOLIC, 

The first services of the Catholic denomina- 
tion were held in 1857 by a priest whose name 
has been forgotten, for the benefit of the rail- 
road employes. Rev. Conroy was the second 
priest. Rev. Richard Sullivan, then of Monroe, 
came here occasionally in 1859 and 1860 The 
first services were held at private houses. Rev 
James J. Kinsella, now at Shullsbiirg, was the 
first resident pastor, and remained here about 
three years, leaving in 1863. He was here 
when the church and parsonage were erected. 
The pastors in succession have been: Revs. J. J. 
Kinsella, N. Stehlehan, M. Wrynn and James 
Hegerty. Father Hegerty, the present pastor, 
came here in 1880. He is also pastor of churches 
at Footville and Albany. The catholic Church 
building was formerly the public school build- 
ing of Brodhead. It was purchased by this 
society in 18 67, and converted into a church. 

BAPTIST. 

The Baptist Church of Brodhead was organ- 
ized Feb. 20, 1867, at a meeting held in the 
Congregational church. Rev. D. Alcott was 
president of the meeting and B. F. Roderick 
was clerk. The following is a list of those who 
became members at that time: Rev. D. Alcott, 
Almira Stewart, Julius Hnrlburt, Sarah M^. 
Hurlburt, Joshua Nanscawn, F. B. Smith, Setli 
Green, Eliza Green, Maria Harris, James Pot- 
ter, Nancy Potter, M. D. Warren, Margaret 
Warren, B. F. Roderick, EHen W. Roderick, S. 
Kurtz, George Tayler, O. Dorn, Eliza Dorn, 
Caleb Nanscawn, Ella Harding, Rosanna Wor- 
cester and Alexander Shafer. The first deacons 
were Jnlius Hurlburt and F. B. Smith. Only 
one of the original members is now here, 
George Taylor. Tlie others are either dead or 
have removed. Services were held in Gomber's 
hall for some time and in September, 1867, 
Cole's hall was leased for one year. The 
chnrcli was ei'ected in the fall of 187-^. It is a 
frame building, vaneered with brick, and cost 



822 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



about $4,000, The pastors in succession were: 
Revs. Alcott, Robert Smith, George Annis, 
Joseph Douglass, Joseph Mountain and George 
Lincoln. At present the Church is without a 
pastor, and no services are held. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES. 

Wesley W. Patton Post, of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, was organized June 4, 1888, 
by L. O. Holmes, chief M. O. Dept. Wis. The 
first officers were C. D. Wooster, commander; 
A. N. Randall, Sr., V. Com; O. S. Putnam, Jr., 
V. Com; R. Broughton, surgeon; A E. Bulsom, 
chaplain; G. B. Wooster, officer of the day; W. 
W. Roderick, officer of the guard; and G. T. 
Spaulding, Q. M. Fifty-nine comrades were 
present at the meeting for organization and 
enrolled their names. H. C. Putnam was ap- 
pointed adjutant; H. P. Clark, sergeant major; 
and C. C. Stone, Q. M. 8. The post meets 
every Thursday evening. It now has 106 
members. The officers elected in December, 
1883, were as follows: C. D. Wooster, P. C; 
A. N. Randall, S. V. C; O. S. Putnam, J. V. 
C.;G. T. Spaulding, Q. M.; J. J. Austin, sur- 
geon; O. F. Smith, chaplain; C. A. Payne, O. 
D.; W. W. Roderick, O. G.; C. C. Stone, was 
appointed sergeant major; B. L. Rolf, Q. M. S.; 
and H. C. Putnam, adjutant. 

Brodhead Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 123, was 
instituted March .5, 1867, by Grand Master C. 
C. Cheeney, assisted by others. The charter 
members were : George R. Monell, John Young, 
Thomas McGinnis, G. W. McCabe and M. C. 
McBride. The first officers elected were : 
George R. Monell, N. G.; G. W. McBride, 
V, G.; G. W. McCabe, secretary, and John 
Young, treasurer. The appointed officers were: 
'J'homas McGinnis, Warden ; I. F. Mack, Jr., 
U. S ; and S. P. Hayner, L. S. of the N. G.; 
S. M. Gosling, R. S. and D. W.; H. Taylor, 
L. S. of the V. G.; and J. H. Leeve, I. G. 
The presiding officers have been as fo^ows : 
George R. Monell, M. G. McBride, M. H. 
Marble, J. W. Woodward, George Monell, 
S. M. Gosling, D. W. Tyrelle, W. W. Rod- 



erick, A. C. Douglass, Z, F. Dickinson, S. F. 
Colby, A. N. Randall, H. H. Hinckley, E. 
Hahn, B. Butcher, A. S. Moore, H. Butcher, 
E. R. Sprague, J. A. Young, W. IL Ilolcomb, 
J. H. Van Curan, J. Lanby, S. Lanby, C. E. 
Simmons, C. Lanby, F. J. Derrick, R. J. Hol- 
comb and Jacob Bush. The total number of 
members of the lodge since organization has 
been 151. The present membership is thirty. 
The present officers are: Jacob Bush, N. G.; 
John W. Gardner, V. G.; O. F. Smith, H. S.; 
E. Hahn, P. S.; Sebastian Lanby, treasurer. 

Upon the petition of Henry P. Clinton, 
Edson C. Clinton, James W. Overbaugh, A. J. 
Laird, John H. Overbaugh, Newman II. Potter, 
Henry W. Sherman, H. U. Burlingame and 
Caleb Knowls, and recommendation of Albany 
Lodge, No. 36, Brother Henry S. Baird, Grand 
Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of 
Wisconsin, granted liis dispensation to the above 
named brethren to form a lodge of Master 
Masons, in the village of Brodliead, to be named 
Diamond Lodge, and the Grand Master ap- 
pointed Henry P. Clinton, W. M.; Henry W. 
Sherman, S. W., and James W. Overbaugh, J. 
W.; and on the 11th day of September, A. D. 
1857, and A. L.5857, the first regular communi- 
cation was held, and the following additional 
officers was elected : Edson C. Clinton was 
elected treasurer; A. J. Laird, secretary; John 
H. Overbaugh, S. D.; Newman H. Potter, 
J. D.; H. V. Burlingame, tyler; Caleb Knowls 
and A. J. Laird, stewards. There were ini- 
tiated, passed and raised, during this year and 
up to date of receiving a charter, Joseph Mer- 
rell, S. W. Coffin, I. F. Mack, Thomas D. 
Laird and Charles W. Clinton, and the follow- 
ing Master Masons were admitted : Joseph 
Huntly, Alfred Wood and George Golden. At 
a regular communication held June 4, 1858, the 
lodge voted to petition tlie Grand Lodge to 
cliajige the name to " Bicknell," and on June 
18, 1858, Bicknell Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & A. M., 
met in regular communication for the first time 
under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



823 



with Brother George Golden as W. M. July 
2, the following officers were duly installed : 
Henry P. Clinton, S. W.; James W. Over- 
baugh, J. W.; E<lson C. Clinton, treasurer; 
Joseph Merrell, secretary; John H. Overbaugh, 
S. D.; Charles W. Clinton, J. D.; S. W. 
Coffin, tyler, and Bicknell Lodge, No. 94, F. & 
A. M. declared duly constituted by Brother A. 
W. Parker, senior grand warden, of Wis- 
consin. 

List of presiding officers and time served 
under dispensation : *IIenry P. Clinton, W. 
M., nine months during time of working; 
*George Golden, one and a half years; *Charles 
W. Clinton, one year; C. Seeber, one yeai-; 
John H. Overbaugh, two years; E. W. Blish, 
two years; Thomas D. Laird, one year; L. E. 
Towne, two years; Leonard Lakin, one year; C. N. 
Carpenter, five years; C. W. Mitchell, one year; 
*W. H. Barnes, two years; C. W, Lucas, two 
years; Burr Sprague, four years, and now serving 
his fifih year. Deaths of members, thirteen. Total 
membership since organization of lodge, 163. 
Present membership, seventy. Master Masons, 
Fellow Crafts, two, and four entered apprentices. 
The success of the lodge has been good, and its 
present condition is first-class. It is one of the 
best working lodges in the State, and numbers 
among its members many of the most influen- 
tial citizens in the county. As a body, we claim 
to be a law-abiding and charitable brotherhood, 
ever ready to help the needy and suffering, be 
tliey Masons or worthy fellow-beings outside of 
our circle. Our present officers are : Burr 
Sprague, W. M.; Joseph Thompson, S. W; A. 
M. Bowen, J. W.; J. J. Pfisterer, treasurer; 
W. B. Mack, secretary; C. W. Lucas, tyler; 

D. W. II. Taylor, S. D.; E. Adams, J. D.; II. 

E. Burnham, E. Hahn and M. H. Williams, 
trustees. Lodge meets first and third Fridays 
in each month. 

The Patrons of Husbandry organized a 
grange in Brodhead, in April, 1873, known as 

♦Deceased . 



Sugar River Grange, No. 125. The following 
are the names of the original or charter mem- 
bers: J. W. Stuart, H. J. Stuart, R. J. Day, 
C. D. Wooster, G. B. Wooster, H. S. Ames, 
Lyman Kingman, P\ Gumber,T. J. Balis, Mrs. P. 
M. Wooster, Mrs. C. D. Wooster, Mrs. R. A. R. 
Twining, and Mrs. V. Ames. At the first election 
R. J. Day was elected master, and C. D. Wooster, 
secretary. Since that time the following mem- 
bers have been elected and served as presiding 
officers: E. F. Fleek, two years; James Davis, 
one year; R. J. Day, one year; W. Atherton, 
one year; J. W. Stuart, two years; W. Ather- 
ton, three years. 

At the last annual election J. V. Roberts 
was elected master for the year 1884, and Mr. 
Atherton, secretary. The present officers are 
as follows: W. Master, J. V. Roberts; W. 
Overseer, J. B. Kirkpatrick; W. Lecturer, E. 
A. Rose; W. Steward, A. Murrey; W. Assist- 
ant S., H. C. Atherton; W. Chaplain, L. King- 
man; W. Treasurer, A. E. Atherton; Secretary, 
W. Atherton; Gate Keeper, A. G. B. Fleek; 
Ceres, Linzey; Pomona, P. M. Wooster; Flora, 
Katie May Wooster; T. Assistant Steward, K. 
C. Wooster. For three years after its organi- 
zation the grange was very prosperous. During 
the next five years there was a marked decline 
in interest and attendance. It now numbers 
sixty members, and at no time has more inter- 
est been manifested than at the present. 

SONS OF TEMPERANCE. 

Hopeful Division, 196, of the S. of T., Rrod- 
head, was organized by Mrs. S. A. Pinkhara, 
the 20th of November, 1882, with the following 
officers: O. N. Wagley, W. P.; Mrs. Burr 
Sprague, W. A.; Rev. George Button, R. S.; 
O. G. Briggs, Assistant R. S.; Addie Hinckley, 
Treasurer ; F. Van Curen, Caplain; Louis 
Sprague, Conductor; Thomascene Hendrie, As- 
sistant Conductor; Mrs. M. M. Kowell, I. S.; 
Mrs. J. G. Orr, P. W. P.; Hon. A. N. Randall, 
W. Deputy. 

The following were the charter members: 
Mrs. J. G. Orr, Mrs. II. M. Blanchard, Mrs. H. 



824 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Hinckley, Mrs. C. Matter, Mrs. E. C. Randall, 
Mrs. Frank Smith, Mrs. Burr Sprague, Mrs. H. 
W. Button, Mrs. M. M. Rowell, lona leaker, 
Mrs. C. F. Thompson, Lillian Holcomb, Mrs. E. 
A. Palmer, Miss E. Buniham, Mrs. M. A. Comp- 
ton, Hattie Rowell, Mrs. Oliver Putnam, Miss 
T. C. Hendrie, Mrs. G. C. Aurand, Addio 
Hinckley, Mrs. G. F. Spaulding, Rev. G. W. 
Nuzum, Mrs. George M. Button, Rev. George 
M. Button, Mrs. H. C. Clinton, F. Van 
Curen, E. D. Clinton, Louis Sprague, W. L. 
Thompson, Elmer McBroom, Plugh Sprague, 
Fred Brant, A. N. Randall, O. N. Wagley, 
Robert Baker, C. H. Campbell, O. G. Briggs, 
Joseph Gramm, and Elijah Adams. 

O. N. Wagley was the first presiding officer 
of the division, and held that office from its or- 
ganization till June, 1883. He was again re- 
elected in January, 1884. From June till 
October, the division was presided over by P. E. 
Derrick, and from October till January, 18«4, 
by Hon. B. Sprague. The total membership 
has been 185, and the present membership i.s 
about 140. No deaths have occurred, and only 
six expulsions. At the beginning of the pres- 
ent year, the'divisiou leased a hall of Mrs W. 
Stewart, the conditions being that the division 
should have the use of it two years by putting 
it in order; about $200 have been exi)ended in 
adorning it and fitting it up, and tl)eir division 
room is now one of the finest in the State. 
The success of the organization has been 
good; many of the most prominent and influen- 
tial citizens of Brodhead are members. Several 
persons who were in the habit of getting in- 
toxicated have joined the order, and have kept 
their pledge inviolate. Several public enter- 
tainments have been given under the auspices 
of the division, that have been very favorably 
received, and all have been a financial success. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Samuel Truax, of Brodhead, came to Green 
county, April 19, 1839, from Vermilion Co., 111. 
Several families and a number of young men 
came at the same time. Among them were Asa 



Brown, whose wife was an aunt of Mr. Truax; 
Dickson Bailey and family; Thomas Morton and 
family Mrs. Ruth Morton and family, and the 
young men, Solomon Bishop and Isaac 
Crahil. Mr. Truax was a young, unmarried 
man at this time. He lived in the town 
of Adams for two years, then sold out and 
bought a farm near Monroe, which in June, 1877, 
he sold, and it is now known as the county 
.farm. After selling his farm he removed to 
the city of Monroe. He came to Brodhead to 
reside in August, 1881. Mr. Truax was born 
in Nelson Co., Ky., May I'J, 1818. He removed 
to Indiana with his parents, in 1822, the family 
settling in Owen county, in that State, where they 
remained five years, then removed to Vermilion 
Co., 111. There the subject of this sketch re- 
sided with his father's family, till he came 
here. His mother died in Illinois, in January, 
1839. His father came, several years later, to 
this county, and settled in the town of Mount 
Pleasant, where he lived until his decease. In 
September, 1841, Mr. Truax. of this sketch, 
returned to Illinois and was married to Mary 
Ann Whitesitt, who was born in Jefferson Co., 
Ind., inl824. Her father, Samuel Whitesitt, 
was an early settler in the town of Mount 
Pleasant, in this county, where he died, Dec. 27 
1879. His widow now lives with Mr. Truax. 
Mr. and Mrs. Truax have had no children, but 
have brought up, from infancy to maturity, fiv.' 
adopted children — Samuel M. and George K 
Truax, sons of his brother, Charles H. ai <1 
Daniel W. Carter, and an adopted daughtt i . 
Flora Belle Whitesitt. Mr. Truax has givi :i 
his adopted sons, all of whom have left home, a 
good education, and enabled them to start well 
in life. Charles H. Carter is a physician, a 
graduate of the State University, at Madison, 
also of Rush Medical College, in Chicago. 

John B. Sawyer, of Brodhead, came to th" 
Territory of Wisconsin, in the spring of 183^, 
and to Green county in 1840. He was born in 
the State of New Hampshire, Sept 17, 1817, 
and is a son of Joseph Sawyer, who was also a 



HISTORY OF GliEEN COUNTY. 



825 



native of that State. In 1837 John B. left homo 
and went to New York, where he staid till April, 
1838. He then came west and lived two years 
at Milwaukee, after which he came to Green 
county, and with Charles Stevens, of Janesville, 
built a furnace for the smelting lead ore, at 
Exeter. About the same time he erected a log 
tavern, which was used principally for boarding 
the men employed in the smelter, which was 
sold to J. and L. Ward, of Milwaukee, as soon 
as built. This tavern he sold to Ezra Durgan. 
In 1842 he built a bridge across the Sugar river, 
at Albany, which was one of the first bridges 
built in the county. He engaged for a number 
of years in bridge building, in this and adjoin- 
ing counties. He bought a farm in the town of 
Exeter, in 1843, on which he erected a frame 
house and barn the same year. With Dr. 
Stearns he built the first hotel in the village of 
Albany. He afterwards owned the farm now 
owned by Hollis Button. From this farm he 
removed to Decatur and engaged in mercantile 
and produce business. In fact, Mr. Sawyer has 
led a very busy life and was variously engaged 
in produce and stock buying at Decatur, Clar- 
ence and Footville, for many years. He has 
lived in the village of Brodhead since 1862. lie 
was married in Albany, Green county, to Julia 
Copp, a native of the State of New York. They 
have nine children, four sons and five daughters. 
They have lost two children — Daniel, who died 
in New Mexico, in 1882, at tlie age of twenty- 
eight years, and Julia, who died in September, 
1883, at the age of twenty-three years. He was 
postmaster at Clarence, before the starting of 
Brodhead, and when the postoflice was discon- 
tinued at Clarence he was appointed first post- 
master at Brodhead. 

Franklin II. Derrick, of Brodhead, is a son of 
Rodolphus Derrick. The latter was born Aug. 
8, 1793, and was reared in Herkimer C^o., N. Y. 
His parents, the grandparents of Franklin II., 
were natives of the (-Ireen Mountain State. 
When a young man, Rodf)lphns D. Derrick re- 
moved to Erie Co., N. Y., where he was married 



to Lorenda Sheldon. In 1820, in company with 
two brothers-in-law, the latter being accompa- 
nied by their families, he went down the Alle- 
ghany river in a flat boat and thence down the 
Ohio, to Morgan Co., 111., where his brothers- 
in-law settled. The following spring he returned 
to New York. In 1836 he came to Green county 
and purchased for himself and other parties, 
1,200 acres of land in the present towns of 
Spring Grove and Decatur. In the fall of 1838 
he removed with his family to Wisconsin, stop- 
ping at White Oak Springs, in what is now La- 
fayette county, where his two sons, Frederick 
and Alonzo, were at work in the lead mines^ 
Here he remained until spring, keeping a board- 
ing house during the winter. He then removed 
to Illinois, locating near Savannah. In 1840 
he sent his son, Alonzo, with a hired man and 
team, to his land in Green county, who broke 
land preparatory to a crop the following year. 
In April, 1841, lie removed with his family to 
to the town of Spring Grove, and there resided 
until his death, which occurred Sept. 29, 1860. 
His wife survived her husband for niany years, 
departing this life at the residence of her son, 
Franklin H., at Monroe, Jan. 14, 1874. '"Squire 
Derrick," as he was familiarly known, is well 
remembered by the early setilers, for his many 
excellent qualities. He was a man o.f much 
general information, was justice of the peace for 
many years, and otherwise connected officially 
with the affairs of his town. He had eight chil- 
dren, five of whom, three sons and two daugh- 
ters, are still living. Franklin H. is the only 
resident of the county, at this time. The names 
of tlie children, all of whom grew to maturity, 
except the youngest, are — Frederick, now in 
California; Harriet, deceased; Alonzo, in 
California; Franklin --H., Statira, deceased; 
Pauline and Elvira, in Nebraska; and Hollen 
Irene, deceased. Franklin H., wlio owns the 
homestead, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in Jan- 
uary, 1824, and was in his sixteenth year when 
he enme to Greeii county. In 1850 he went to 
California by the overland route, returning by 



48 



826 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Nicaragua route, after a residence of two years, 
in the land of gold. He was slierift" of C4reeTi 
county from 1873 to 1875, during which time he 
lived in Monroe, the county seat, 'lill his re- 
moval to Brodhead, in September, 1883, except 
two years in California, and his two years in Mon- 
roe, he had been a constant resident of the home- 
stead farm since his father's settlement there in 
1841. He has been twice married. His first 
wife was Harriet Boslaw, daughter of John Bos- 
law, who settled in Spring Grove about 1845. 
He was married in 1846, and his wife died in 
October, 1871. His present wife was Mrs. Mary 
A. (Williams) Northrup, a native of Erie Co., 
N. Y., where she was first married, and with her 
husband, settled in Rock Co., Wis., in 1847. The 
latter died in 1869. Mr. Derrick has six chil- 
dren by his former marriage — Theodore J., who 
lives on the homestead farm; Franklin K., a 
dentist of Brodhead; Mary L., wife of John C. 
Balis, in Nebraska; Levi F., also on the farm; 
Harriet E., wife of J. T. Lamsoii; and Peter E. 
Josiah V. Richardson, one of the prominent 
citizens of Brodhead and one of the early set- 
tlers of Green county, was born in Jefferson 
Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1820. His parents were 
Asa and Mary (Adams) Richardson, natives of 
New Hampshire, who removed to the State of 
New York about 1807. He was reared to agri- 
cultural pursuits, having commenced work on the 
farm when eight years old. He was tluis early 
in life trained to habits of industry and econo- 
my, wiiich were the characteristic features of 
his after life. His education was acquired 
mostly by his own energy at his own exi)ense. 
In his youth while engaged u])on the farm he 
attended the primitive district school as he had 
opportunity during the three months term of 
each winter. Duriiig the summer he was 
obliged to work. He came to this county in 
1841, first locating at Monroe, of which place he 
was a prominent citizen foiniany years. There 
he engaged in surveyini.', and the first two win- 
ters taught s«',liool, holding the office of county 
surveyor a part of the time until 1848, when he 



was elected county register of deeds, after 
which he entered into a co-partnership with A. 
Ludlow and B. Chenoweth in merchandising 
for a short time; then he engaged in farming 
six years; and returning to Monroe, was engaged 
in various speculations, principally dealing in 
lands. He has held several county offices, hav- 
ing been county commissioner and member of 
the board of supervisors a number of years, and 
these positions have been filled with credit to 
himself and satisfaction to the people. He came 
to Brodhead in 1869 and engaged in banking. 
He was married in 1850 to Lydia Sanderson, a 
native of the State of Massachusetts. They have 
five ehildren, two of whom are married — Clara, 
the elder, to G. F. Claycomb; and Emma, the 
third, to George Palmer; Sidney, his only son, 
is engaged with his two brothers-in-law in an 
extensive lumber trade, in southwestern Iowa. 
His remaining children live with him. Like 
many other early settlers who have attained to 
prominence in life, Mr. Richardson began his 
career in limited circumstances, for upon his ar- 
rival in Monroe in 1841, he was in debt $25, 
which amount he found much difficulty in pay- 
ing, as times were liard and money extremely 
scarce. He found work and earned money but 
could not get it. His capital was not money, 
but consisted of a good head with willing hands, 
and by industry with good judgment he has 
succeeded in business, and accumulated a com- 
petence of this world's goods, and what is bet- 
ter, having placed himself in this position hon- 
estly, he has the confidence and respect of his 
fellow citizens. He has now retired from active 
business life. 

George West, of Brodhead, has been a resi- 
dent of Green county since 1838. He was born 
in the town of Brant, Erie Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 
1818. His father, John West, was born in the 
town of Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and was of 
Irish descent. His mother, Avie (Bowen) West 
was of Scotch origin and a native of Vermont. 
His father died in Erie county in 1876; his 
mi>ther still survives. The parents of George 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



827 



had ten children of whom he was the eldest. 
In 1838, when in his twenty-first year, he 
started westward, his destination beingthe town 
of Clarno in this county, where two maternal 
uncles, Thomas S. and William Bowen, had al- 
ready located. At Buffalo he took a' deck pas- 
sage for Chicago on the steamer Michigan, 
commanded by Capt Perry, paying from his 
small stock of money |5 for the passage. From 
Chicago he proceeded most of the way on foot 
to the home of his relatives in Clarno. In the 
fall of 1839 he returned to his native State and 
married Susan Winchell of the town of Brant, 
Erie county, and 'on the 1st day of February, 
1840, started on his return, accompanied by his 
wife. They came the entire distance with a 
team, being one month and four days on the 
journey. He first settled on the land presented 
him by his uncle, where they remained until 
1842, when he sold his land and removed to 
what is now the town of Sylvester, where he 
made a claim of 160 acres which he improved 
and which became the homestead of his family 
and which he still owns, but he retired from 
farming in 18*72 and removed to Brodhead. His 
son, Samuel, now occupies the homestead farm. 
Mrs. West's parents were Ira and Betsy Win- 
chell. The latter was born in Tioga Co., N. Y. 
Mr. and Mrs. West have had ten children, six 
of whom are now living — Samuel, born March 
11, 1843; Louisa B., deceased, born Sept. 29, 
1844; George F., born Jan. 14, 1846, deceased; 
Avis E., born Nov. 29, 1847, now the wife of 
John W. Watt; Clara, born Sept. V, 1849, widow 
of G. N. Trousdale; Mary, born April 24, 1853. 
wife of J. B. Nance; Alice E., born Nov. 29, 
1853, wife of F. P. Northcraft; Ida M., born 
July 10, 1857; Nelson P., born Nov. 4, 1859, 
died at the age of nineteen; and Minnie, born 
Nov. 2, 1865, deceased. 

M. T. Gleason, of Brodhead, is the son of 
Robert Gleason, who came to Albany with his 
family in 1846. Robert Gleason was born in 
Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y., about 1805. He was 
engaged the greater part of his life in mechan- 



ical work. He removed with his family to 
Lake Co., 111., where he resided two years, pre- 
vious to coming to Green county. He erected 
a saw mill in 1846, for Nichols & Pond, which 
was the first mill built in the town of Albany. 
He died the following year. His wife survived 
until 1870. Seven children of this family ac- 
companied their parents to this county, five 
sons and two daughters. Two of the sons 
have since died. M. T. Gleason was born in 
Owego, Tioga Co., N. Y., in 1830, and came 
with the family to this county in 1846. He 
was engaged in merchandising for many years, 
at Monticello, Albany and Brodhead. Mrs. 
Gleason was Ellen Corey, a daughter of M. 
Corey, who settled near Monticello in 1856, and 
in 1876 removed to Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gleason have two children — Charles F. and 
Nettie, both of whom are married. The 
former lives at Princeton, Minn., and the latter 
is the wife of L. A. Towne, of Brodhead. 

Francis Woodling, of Brodhead, settled in the 
town of Jefferson, Green county, in the spring of 
1846, where he entered eighty acres of land, also 
forty acres in the town of Spring Grove. He 
lived in the town of Jefferson about twelve 
years, when he sold his farm and removed to 
the town of Decatur, and settled on a farm, 
where he lived till September, 1865, when he 
removed to the village of Brodhead. Mr. 
Woodling was born in Montgomery Co., Penn., 
in 1814. He removed to the State of Indiana 
with his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Wood- 
ling. His father died in Indiana. His mother 
came to Green county and lived with her chil- 
dren till her decease. Mr. Woodling was mar- 
ried in 1839, in Indiana, to Ruth Biedleman, 
born in Indiana in 1822. Her parents were 
Samuel and Sarah Biedleman, natives of the 
State of New York, and removed to Indiana, 
where they lived till death. Mr. and Mrs. 
Woodling have been blessed with ten children, 
five of whom are living. The following are 
the names of their children, living and de- 
ceased — Levi S., born Jan. 11, 1841, enlisted 



828 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



in the army in August, 1862, and was mortally- 
wounded at the battle of Resaca, surviving but 
two or three days after the fight; Cyrus H 
died in 1859, at the age of sixteen years; Sarah 
M. is the wife of W. H. H. Fleek; Homer R. 
died at the age of thirty-one years; Marion H. 
lives in_,Iovva; Marvin E. is a physician, located 
at Minneapolis,Minn.; Charles J. died at the age 
of six years; Mary L. and Martha L. were 
twins — the former is deceased; their youngest 
child is Annie R 

Reuben Fleek, of Brodhead, came to the 
town of Decatur witli his father in 1846. He 
was really instrumental in having his father re- 
move to this State. He being the oldest son at 
home, the care of the family devolved upon 
him. And his brother, Edmund, havinggiven a 
somewhat glowing account of Green county, 
he advised his father to remove here with his 
family, which he did. Reuben was born in 
Hampshire Co., Va., May 31, 1822. After com- 
ing to Green county he resided with his father 
for a number of years. His settlement on leav- 
ing his fatlier's was on section 28, which he 
procured of the government and had owned 
since he first came to the county. He ressided 
on this farm for twenty-five years. He pur- 
chased a home in Brodhead, where he removed 
from the farm in 1876. Reuben 1^ leek, like his 
brothers, has been successful in accumulating 
property. He is somewhat eccentric, firm and 
decided in his opinions, and upright and honest 
in his business transactions. Mrs. Fleek was a 
daughter of Davis Bowen, who settled in the 
town of Sylvester in 1837. I'hey have four 
children— Winfield S., William M., Charles M. 
and Lillian Belle. 

H. C. Putnam, of Brodhead, was born in 
Newark, Ohio, in 1847. He is a son of John J. 
Putnam, and came to Decatur with his parents 
in 1849. He enlisted in 1863, when but sixteen 
years old, in the 1st Wisco-isin Cavalry, and 
served untilJuly, 1865. He was in active ser- 
vice from the time he enlisted till the close of 
the war. He participated in a number of im- 



portant battles. He was in the Atlanta cam- 
paign and at the battle of Nashville under Gen. 
Tliomas; also took part in Wilson's cavalry 
raid through Alabama and Georgia to Macon, 
Ga. After the war he attended school one year 
at Milton College. He then engaged as clerk 
for a time. He represented for several years, 
as a commercial traveler, a tobacco house in 
Milwaukee, and for four years traveled for the 
house of W, &. J. G. Flink, selling teas, spices, 
etc. From September, 1875, till the fall of 
1877, he was engaged in general merchandising 
in the firm name of Orr & Putnam. He was one 
of the founders of the Norwegian Plow Co. He 
is at present dealing in lumber, which business 
he began in 1881, succeeding W. W. Hill, with 
whom he was associated for a short time Mr. 
Putnam is president of the village for 1884. 
Mrs. Putnam was Frances Sutherland, daughter 
of Avery Sutherland and granddaughter of 
Justus Sutherland. 

Joseph Warren Stuart, a prominent citizen of 
Brodhead, settled in the town of Decatur, April 
1, 1851, on a farm he had purchased the previ- 
ous lOth of September. This farm is located 
on section 27, and was entered by Anson Shef- 
field. At the time Mr. Stuart bought it there 
was about ten acres improved, and a log cabin 
had been built by the former owner. Mr. Shef- 
field, from whom he made the purchase, was of 
Morraonistic tendency, and removed to Salt 
Lake. Mr. Stuart is a native of Delaware Co., 
N. Y., and was born in 1819. His father, Syl- 
vester Stuart, was formerly from Washington 
Co., N. Y., and his grandfather, Joseph Stuart, 
was a native of Massachusetts. 'JMie latter was 
a Revolutionary soldier. His maternal grand- 
father, Kzra Doty, was also a soldier of the Rev- 
ol;ttion, and was present at the execution of 
Major Andre. When thirteen years old Joseph 
went with his parents to Ohio. At the age of 
seventeen he went to Bennington, Vt., and en- 
gaged at work in the cotton factory, where he 
reniaii)e<l two years, then spent six years on the 
' f.irm, tlien returned and spent three years iji 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



829 



the factory. In 1849 he came to Wisconsin and 
engaged at work in a sash, door and blind fac- 
tory. He came to the town of Decatur in 1851, 
as before stated, but for a number of years was 
engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, cof- 
fins, etc., his shop being on the farm. In 1872 
he sold his farm to B. PI. Fleek, and removed 
to Brodhead. Mr. Stuart is numbered among 
the successful business men of Decatur. He 
has now practically retired from the more ac- 
tive business duties of life, and is in possession 
of a competence. He owns considerable real 
estate, including two good farms, besides village 
property in Brodhead. His wife, to whom 
he was married Jan. 21, 1844, was formerly 
Lydia R. Lasell, a native of Gouverneur, St. 
Lawrence Co., N. Y. They have had but one 
child — Pbebe Ann, who died on the 7th day of 
January, 1846, at the age of eleven months. 
They have had several adopted children, two 
of whom — Mary W. and Ezra H., they reared 
from the ages respectively of six and ten years. 
The latter enlisted in the army in 1862, in the 
18th Wisconsin Infantry, re-enlisted in the 4th 
Cavalry, was one of the captors of Jefferson 
Davis, and served until the close of the war. 
He now lives in Hancock Co., 111. Mary W. is the 
wife of Abner Mitchell, and lives near Wa- 
verly, Iowa. Another adopted daughter is now 
at Deadwood, Dak., and another, an infant 
daughter, died in 1858, but a few days after her 
adoption. Mr. Stuart is among the best class 
of Green county citizens, and as a business man 
has the confidence and respect of his fellow 
men. 

John Douglas, a prominent citizen of Brod- 
head, came to Green county in 1854. He was 
born in the county of Sutherland, Scotland, on 
July 15, 1812, and came to the United States 
with his father's family in 1828. They settled 
in Monongalia Co., W. Va., where Mr. Doug- 
las lived until 1834, when he was married and 
removed to Fayette Co., Penn. In 1835, he 
came to Milwaukee Co., Wis., where he settled 
on a farm and lived nineteen years. At that 



time Milwaukee was but a small village, and 
Mr. Douglas became well acquainted with the 
first settlers of that place, who were Solomon 
Juneau, George Walker and Byron Kilbourn. 
He lived in Milwaukee county until 1854, when 
he came to Green county and settled in the 
town of Decatur on a partially improved farm, 
where he lived until he came to the village of 
Brodhead in 1872. He still owns a part of that 
farm. Mr. Douglas has good business qualifi- 
cations and has had good success, being now 
numbered among the wealthy and substantial 
citizens of Brodhead. His parents, James and 
Ann (Oliver) Douglas, were born on the border, 
between England and Scotland, the former on 
the Scotland side and the latter on the English 
side of the line. After marriage they removed 
to Sutherland county. Mr. Douglas' father 
died in the State of Maryland before he had 
reached his intended destination in Virginia. 
His mother died in Virginia at the age of about 
eighty years. The parents of Mr. Douglas 
had seven children — six sons and one daughter. 
He has been three times married. His first 
wife was Mary J. Brown, who was 
born in Pennsylvania and died in Mil- 
waukee county. His second wife was Mrs. 
Almira (Bates) Shaff, who died at Brodhead in 
1881. His present wife was Mrs. Amanda 
(Hart) Holcomb. Mr. Douglas is the father of 
five children, two of whom are now living — 
James W. and William H. The former lives in 
Brodhead, the latter resides on and owns a part 
of the homestead farm. Mr. Douglas has two 
brothers and one sister — Andrew in Milwaukee 
county, Mrs. Jane Barlow in Wheeling, W. Va., 
and Thomas, his youngest brother, who for- 
merly lived in the town of Decatur, but now 
resides in Johnson Co., Kansas. Mr. Douglas' 
education was limited. Politically he was for- 
merly a whig, but upon the organization of the 
republican party, he joined them, and continues 
to vote for those principles. He is a member 
of the Congregational Church, and is in favor 
of prohibition. 



830 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Stair Bros., of Brodhead, keep a first-class 
general grocery store, with which they have 
connected a drug department. The brothers, 
Jehu and Heni'y Stair, are sons of Peter Stair, 
who came to this county June 30, 1855, locating 
on section 3(3, in tlie town of Jefferson. In 1 865 he 
removed to an improved farm on section 25. He 
retired from farming and settled in the village 
of Juda, where he died, Nov. 15, 18V8. 
His wife died Sept. 9, 1882. There 
were eleven children in the family when they 
came to Green county, ten of whom, six sons 
and four daughters, are still living — William, 
in Clark Co., Dak.; Mrs. Samautha Obenchain, 
in Mono Co., Cal.; Mrs. Martha Regudtt, 
(widow) at the homestead in Jefferson; Mrs. 
Ellen Obenchain, in McKinney, Texas; Jehu, 
Dr. M. P. Stair, of Black Earth, Dane Co., 
Wis.; Mrs. Antoinette Allen, at Darlington, 
Wis.; Dr. Theodore F. Stair, at Mazomania, 
Wis.; Henry and Dr. J. B. Stair, at Spring 
Green, Wis. A daughter, Elsie, the sixth child, 
died at the age of twenty-niiie years. Jebu, 
the elder of the firm of Stair Bros., was born 
in Virginia in 1833, He was married to Eleanor, 
daughter of Benjamin Chambers, who settled 
on section 35, of the town of Jefferson, in 1839. 
Mr. and Mrs. Jehu Stair have two children — 
Mary G. and Landus C. Henry Stair was boi-n 
in Viiginia in 1845. He was married to Mary 
E., also a daughter of Benjamin Chambers. 
They have five children — Elsie, Louis, Sydney, 
Mary and Henry. While Henry Stair and 
family were on a pleasure trip to the Rocky 
Mountains in the summer of 1879, an event of 
their expedition was the ascent of Pike's Peak. 
His son, Louis, went on foot and return, the dis- 
tance being about twenty miles, being then 
between ten and eleven years old. This was a 
feat probably never before accomplished by 
one so young. Stair Bros, have established an 
extensive trade, and their integrity and ability 
as business men are unquestioned. 

Bowen R. Clawson dates his residence in 
Green county from 1855, but was here tempo- 



rarily as early as 1852. He was born in Green 
Co., Penn , in 1837, where he lived till 1851. 
Li that year he removed to Waukesha, Wis., 
with his parents. He early engaged in the 
grain business, buying for the Forest City Mills 
at Waukesha, Stoughton and also at Juda, in 
this county. He began his mercantile career, 
as clerk, in Juda, though he had previously 
sold goods at Waukesha. He began mercantile 
trade, for himself, at Juda, in April, 1860, and 
in 1862 came to Brodhead and engaged in busi- 
ness, in the firm name of Clawson & Roderick. 
After continuing some time, he sold to Mr. 
Roderick, and purchased the store which he 
now owns. He continued in mercantile trade 
alone and with various partners, until 188). He 
was then succeeded by Aurand & Terry, but he 
still owns the store building. Mr. Clawson is 
an active, energetic business man, and has 
acquired a competence. Since his residence in 
Brodhead, he has not confined his business to 
merchandising, but dealt in wool and grain for 
many years, and lately has dealt extensively in 
wool. Mr. Clawson began business with noth- 
ing, but has succeeded by energy and a deter- 
mination to win. His father, Phineas Clawson, 
came to Brodhead in 1865, where he died in 
March, 1882, at the age of eighty-five years. 
His mother died several years previous to the 
death of her husband. Mr. Clawson was mar- 
ried to Matilda R. South, daughter of Abijah 
South, who settled in the town of Jefferson, in 
1846, coming there from Pennsylvania. He 
died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Clawson have two 
children — Bowen R., born in 1869, and Sadie, 
born in October, 1876. 

Sceva P. Taft has been a resident of Brod- 
head since June, 1856. He was born in 
Pottsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1821, 
where he lived till twenty-two years of age, 
when he went to Ogdensburg, N. Y., and en- 
gaged in the business of piano making, to 
which he had served an apprenticeship in his 
native town. He remained several years at 
Ogdensburg, and then went to Vergennes, Vt., 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



831 



where he had charge of a piano factory one 
year. Thence again to St. Lawrence county, 
where his parents were still living. He soon 
after came to Wisconsin, and lived in Milwau- 
kee and Waukesha for two years. At Milwau- 
kee he was employed in the railroad car shop 
in the construction of passenger cars, assisting 
in building the first passenger car constructed 
in the State of Wisconsin. He returned to 
New York in the fall of 1855, and came to 
Brodhead, as stated, the following year. He 
engaged here, at first, in clerking in the drug 
store of E. C. Clinton, and bought out Mr. 
Clinton in 1858. He subsequently disposed of 
his drug business, and was engaged in the hard- 
ware trade for a number of years; later he en- 
gaged in real estate and insurance, which was 
his business for many years. Mr. Taft has 
been a justice of the peace most of the time 
for twenty years. He has been twice married; 
his first wife was Jane Critchet, a native of Og- 
densburg, N. Y., who died in Waukesha, in 
1856; his present wife was Catharine E. Con- 
key, born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in the 
town of Canton. He has one child by his first 
wife — Edmond, now engaged at railroading. 
He has three children by his present wife — Jen- 
nie May, Nellie A. and George J. Mr. Taft's 
father, Silas Taft, came to Brodhead in 
1856, and lived with his children till his 
decease. His mother is still living, at the 
age of niiiety years. Two of his brothers were 
among the early carpenters of Brodhead. The 
elder. Ransom Taft, built the Clinton Hotel in 
1856, and conducted it for several years. He is 
now in Chicago. The younger brother, Judsou, 
resides in Racine. 

James T. Sherman is one of the earliest set- 
tlers of Brodhead. He was of the firm of Sher- 
man, Clinton & Co., the firstgeneral mercantile 
firm of the village, a history of which appears 
elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Sherman is a 
native of New Haven, Conn., where he was 
born, April 1*7, 1819. He is of au eminent de- 
scent, being a great-grandson of the illustrious 



Roger Sherman, of Continental and Revolution- 
ary fame. He was reared to the occupation of 
farming in Sufiield, of his native Stale, not far 
from the city of Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Sher- 
man was formerly Abby Morgan. Her father 
was Deacon Jasper Morgan. She was born in 
Windsor, Conn., March 17, 1824, and is a sister 
of the late Edwin D. Morgan, the eminent states- 
man, and great war governor of the State of 
New York. Thus both Mr. and Mrs. Sherman 
are connected with men whose names will ever 
be conspicuous in the history of our country. 
Mr. Sherman came to Brodhead from Connecti- 
cut, in 1856, with his family, consisting of wife 
and seven children, and immediately engaged 
in mercantile trade, in which he continued two 
years, and soon after engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, to which he has since devoted the 
greater portion of his time, but has now retired 
from the more active duties of life. He pos- 
sesses one of the many beautiful homes in Brod- 
head, and is now passing his declining years in 
peace and comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have 
been identified with the Congregational Church 
since its organization in 1856, he being one of 
the deacons of that society. They have had 
nine children — James Morgan, Abby T., Eliza 
M., Anna M., Charles J., John T. and Jessie T., 
(twins) Helen M. and Fannie B. The two young- 
est were born in Brodhead. 

John B. Blancliard was one of the early busi- 
ness men in Brodhead, coming here when the 
town started in 1856, and erecting one of the 
first dwellings on the village plat. Soon after 
coming here, he engaged in buying grain, live 
stock, dressed hogs, etc., in which occupation, 
he was one of the first to engage. After a res- 
idence here of several years, he purchased the 
warehouse now occupied by Dunwiddie & 
Taylor, and continued the grain trade until his 
decease, which occurred March 13, 1876. His 
advantages for obtaining an education in early 
life, were only medium, but he was a very good 
business man, a man of sterling integrity, strictly 
temperate in his habits, and withal, an esteemed 



832 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and valuable citizen. He met with some unfor- 
tunate reverses in his earlier business enter, 
prises, yet by persevering effort, he was enabled 
to leave to his family a good competence. He 
was a native of Caledonia Co., Vt., born Oct* 
13, 1820, where he was reared, and married to 
Helen M. Laird, in 1847, who was born in Barnet, 
Vt., in 1821. Mrs. Blanchard is still a resident 
of Brodhead. She has no surviving children, 
but has lost three — Azel A., born in Vermont, 
and died in 1859, at the age of ten years; Helen 
M., who died in infancy; and John A., her last 
surviving child, was killed while coupling cars, 
in November, 1881. Mrs. Blanchard occupies 
the home built by her husband, in 1868. 

Hai'vey F. Moore came to Brodhead in 1856. 
He was born in Barnet, Vt., in 1809. He was 
married to Sophia B. Laird, a sister of Mrs. H. 
M. Blanchard. Capt. Moore, as he was famil- 
iarly called, was a man of prominence among 
the business men of Brodhead, and was also well 
known politically, and served a term in both 
branches^of the legislature of Wisconsin. He 
was engaged in grain buying here for a number 
of years. He purchased a farm in the town of 
Spring Grove, and resided, alternately, on the 
farm and in the village, until his death, which 
occurred in April, 1877. Mrs. Moore now lives 
in the village of Brodhead, having sold her farm 
in Spring Grove. She has three children — 
Catharine, wife ol P. J. Clawson; Harvey J., in 
St. Paul, Minn.; and Peter T. 

Hiram Bowen came to Green county first in 
1850, and settled here permanently in 1858. He 
is a brother of Ephraim Bowen. He was born 
in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1827. His parents were 
Pardon and Maria Bowen, who removed from 
Cayuga county to Erie county. Pardon I5owen 
died in 1840, and his wife a number of years 
previous to tliat time. Hiram Bowen grew to 
manhood in Erie county, and in 1853 was mar- 
ried to Catharine E. McMartin. Her father, 
Daniel McMartin, was a native of Scotland, who 
came to this country when a child. Soon after 
their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bowen went over- 



land to California, being about four months in 
reaching their destination. After crossing the 
Missouri river, settlers were not numerous on 
the route which they took to the Pacific coast. 
The first building they saw after crossing that 
river was Fort Laramie, about 500 miles west 
of Council Bluffs. This was Mr. Bowen's sec- 
ond trip to California — he having gone there in 
1851 by way of the Isthmus. They remained 
several years in California, and returned to the 
State of New York. On coming to this county, 
Mr. Bowen engaged in merchandising with his 
brother Ephraim, at Albany. He afterwards 
engaged in farming in the town of Mount 
Pleasant. He came to Brodhead in the spring 
of 1873 and engaged in the lumber business, 
which he continued until January, 1881, when 
he was succeeded by his son, Albert M. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bowen have three children — Albert 
M., born in California, in 1854; Addie, born in 
1860; and Nellie, born in 1870. Albert M. is 
married and has three children — Kittle Maude, 
Lotta Emeretta and Edith E. 

Harmon B. Stewart has resided in the town 
of Decatur, this county, since April, 1858. He 
was born in the town of Silver Lake, Susque- 
hanna Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1818. He is a brother 
of J. W. Stewart, of Brodhead. His father, Syl- 
vester Stewart, removed from Vermont to Penn- 
sylvania, and soon after the birth of H. B. re- 
moved to the State of New York, and settled 
near the Vermont line. The family removed 
to Clinton, Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1833, and lo- 
cated on a farm. In 1835 Mr. Stewart went to 
Vermont, and engaged in cotton manufacturing 
at North Bennington. The factory in which he 
was engaged was destroyed by fire, and Mr. 
Stuart then engaged at the work of a machinist 
and built a uumber of looms, lie returned to 
Ohio in 1837, but went in the fall of the fol- 
lowing year to Adams, Mass., remained eight 
months, then returning to Vermont, pur- 
sued his former occupation at Bennington until 
1845, when he I'eturned to the homestead farm 
in Ohio, where he remained twelve years, then 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



833 



came to Green county, and has since been a res- 
ident of this town. In the spring of 1862 he 
bought an interest in the flouring mill near old 
Decatur village, and was connected therewith 
until the close of 1866. Since the beginning of 
1867 he has been engaged in farming, real es- 
tate, loaning money, etc. Mr. Stewart is num- 
bered among the most successful and substan- 
tial business men of Brodhead. He now owns 
at least 1,200 acres of land in the vicinity of 
Brodhead, and is a man of sound financial 
ability. He has been three times married, first 
in Vermont to Harriet C. Tanner, a native of 
Wilmington, Vt. She died in 1871. His sec- 
ond wife was Mrs. Clarinda Harrington. His 
present wife was Mrs. Lavina Dubois. By his 
first wife he has three children — Sylvester, a 
former successful merchant in Brodhead, now 
at Hancock, Stevens Co., Minn., where he is a 
large land owner and produce dealer; Mrs. 
Emma Walling, wife of Percy Walling, who 
now resides in Kansas; and Harmon T., now liv- 
ing in Brodhead. By his second wife he has 
one son — Gerald. 

J. Brant is a harness maker, of Brodhead, 
that business there now being represented by 
him, Joseph Gramm and Henry Richards. The 
first to open a shop of this kind in the place 
was Albert Shearer, in 1858, who employed his 
brother-in-law, Michael Ott, as workman, who 
made the first harness manufactured in the vil- 
age. The shop was continued but a short time. 
Mr. Ott is now a resident of Janesville. The 
second shop was opened in 1859, by J. Brant, 
the subject of this sketch, who has since been 
in the business, except his service in the army, 
and another recent short interval. He was born 
in Ohio, in 1832, and when but seven years old 
removed to Indiana with his step-father, his 
own father, Abraham Brant, having died when 
he was but two years of age. His parents were 
natives of Pennsylvania. He learned his trade 
in Wabash City, Ind., after which he spent a 
number of years traveling and working at his 
trade at different places, until he engaged in 



business in Brodhead, in 1859, as stated. He 
enlisted in 1861 in the regimental band of the 
3d Wisconsin, and was discharged in October, 

1 862, by virtue of an order issued by the war 
department for the discharge of regimental 
bands. He re-enlisted in 1863 as a member of the 
band of the 1st brigade, third division, fifteenth 
army corps, and served until August, 1865. He 
participated in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, 
and in the march to the sea. He was married 
to Ellen Cow en, a daughter of Mrs. Charlotte 
Cowen, who was an early settler of Green coun- 
ty. Mrs. Brant died a number of years since, 
leaving two children — Fred, born in 1867, and 
Tina, born in 1869. 

D. C. Day, of Brodhead, settled in the town 
of York, Oct. 3, 1843. His father, D. B. Day, 
located in that town the previous year, coming 
from Geauga Co., Ohio. D. B. Day was a native 
of Madison Co., N. Y., born in 1798, in which 
county he continued to reside until he reached 
manhood, when he moved to Genesee county, 
thence to Ohio, in 1840, and to this county in 
1842. The wife of D. B. Day was formerly 
Hannah Cass. They had nine children who 
grew to maturity, seven of whom, five sons, and 
two daughters, are still living. They removed 
to Kansas, in 1856, during the existence of 
border warfare in that State, where Mrs. D. B. 
Day died. Her husband removed to Iowa, in 

1863, where he died. D. C. Day, the subject of 
this sketch, was born in Canada West, where 
his parents were then living. He was reared in 
the State of New York, removed to Ohio with 
his parents, and came to Green county, in 1843. 
He first settled on a farm in the town of York, 
which he had obtained from the govei'nment. 
At that time there were living within the 
borders of that town: John Stewart, Sr., William 
Crowell, Albro Crowell, son of William; Will- 
iam C. Green, Joseph Miller, William Spears, 
Simeon Alden, Ezra Wescott, Amos Conkey, D. 
B. Day, Philander Pebbles and Henry Hurl- 
bert. Of these families only that of Philander 
Pebbles now (1884) remains. Mr. Day has been 



834 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



twice married. His first wife was Mary Bryant, 
a daughter of Jesse Bryant. His second and 
present wife was Mrs. Mary A. Crosby, a daugh" 
ter of Elder Decker, of Newark, Rock county, 
and the widow of Haskell Crosby. Mr. Day has 
six children by his first wife — Albert L., a phy- 
sician located atPostville, in the town of York; 
Edwin R., living near Lemars, Iowa; Lewis E., 
in Nebraska; Rosella, widow of Francis Grin- 
nell; Nellie, wife of E, A. Lynn; and Willie B., 
near Lemars, Iowa. His youngest son died in 
1880. Mrs. Day has seven children, five daugh- 
ters, and two sons, by her former marriage — 
Martha, Angelia, wife of A. E. Hall; Ella, wife 
of F. E. Darling; Emma, wife of R. E. Hoyt, 
Erwin C, Hattie and Harvey. 

E. R. Sprague, Esq., the present police justice 
of Brodhead, is a native of Cattaraugus Co., 
N. Y., born in 1830. He received a good com- 
mon school education. In 1846 he came with 
his parents to Rock county, and in the winter of 
1847 engaged in teaching school in the town of 
Spring Valley. He followed teaching and 
farming for a number of years in Rock county. 
In November, 1854, he came to Clarence, in this 
county, and taught a number of terms. He 
was well known as a successful teacher, for 
many years, and there are many men and women 
in Green aud Rock counties who have reached or 
passed the meridian of life, who received the 
benefit of his instruction. After taking up his 
residence in Green county, he was absent for a 
number of years. He went to Menomonee, 
in Dunn Co., Wis., where he was engaged 
in the construction of the extensive saw 
mill of Knapp, Stout & Co., at that place. 
He remained there three years. He went to 
Orfordville in 1860, and there resided until 1867, 
thence to Evansville, where he was engaged in 
business three years, thence to a farm near 
Stoughton, Dane county. Two years later he 
came to this county and located at Albany, re- 
maining there a year and a half. He then came 
to Brodhead. He has been a justice of the peace 
for several years, and superintendent of the 



city schools, two years. Mr. Sprague has been 
three times married. His present wife is a na- 
tive of St. Johns, N. B. He has four children 
— Flora May, F. Guy, Alberta, a teacher in the 
graded schools of Brodhead, and Hugh. His 
oldest son is an expert printer, and a compiler of 
city directories, also a step-son, C. W. Murphy, 
a clerk in W. W. Roderick's dry goods store in 
Brodhead for several years. Mr, Sprague is a 
genial gentleman, socially, and well liked for 
his many excellencies of character. 

Joseph Thompson aud wife are engaged in a 
general millinery and fancy goods business in 
Brodhead. They were engaged in the same 
business at Albany, in this county, previous to 
coming to Brodhead. Mr. Thompson was born 
in Canada, in December, 1833, of American 
parents. When a child he removed with his 
parents to Ohio, and thence to Rockford, III. 
He enlisted the first year of the war, Sept. 18, 
1861, in the 8th Illinois Cavalry. He served 
three years in the array, and was discharged 
Oct. 28, 1864. He participated in many im- 
portant battles, including Yorktown, Williams- 
burg, seven days' fight, and retreat of McClel- 
lan, second battle of Bull Run, South Moun- 
tain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, where hehada 
horse shot under him and was taken prisoner. 
After remaining three days in the hands of the 
rebels, he succeeded in escaping from his guard 
at midnight and and reached the Union lines in 
safety. He participated in twenty of the most 
important engagements of the Rebellion, includ- 
ing Gettysburg. After the war he returned to 
Rockford, and thence tO' Waterloo, Iowa, where 
he lived two years. He came to this county in 
1868, locating at Albany. Mrs. Thompson was 
formerly Charlotte Marson, a native of Notting- 
ham, England. She came to the United States 
in 1847, with her parents, who settled at Roch- 
ester, N. Y., and removed to Ogle Co., III., in 
1854, and during the late Rebellion took an ac- 
tive part in woman's work for the Union at 
Washington City, under a government commis- 
sion. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



885 



John J. Pfisterer, dealer in diamonds and 
jewelry, at Brodliead, established his business 
here in 1866, succeeding A. G. Wetstein. 
Mr. Ptisterer was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- 
many, in 1841. He learned the trade of watch- 
maker in his native country, and came to the 
United States in 1861. He worked at Ann Ar- 
bor, Mich., three years, then went to Chicago, 
where he resided two years. Mr. Pfisterer is 
an excellent workman, and has established an 
extensive and lucrative trade. He is also a 
successful business man. He owns the store 
building which he occupies, also a pleasant 
home in the village, and a good farm in the town 
of Sp.ing Grove. His wife was also a native 
of Wurtemburg. i hey have one daughter — 
Clarie. 

Ernest Hahn is the merchant tailor of Brod- 
head. He engaged in business here in 1868. 
Mr. Hahn was born in the northern part of Ger- 
many, in 1832. He learned his trade in his 
native land, and came to the United States in 
1856. He worked at his trade in Cleveland, 
Ohio, fora time; in 1857, came to Madison, Wis. 
In the spring of 1859, he went to Prairie du 
Chien, and soon after came to Morroe, Green 
county, and in a short time went to St. Louis and 
remained one year. lie then returned to this 
county and located at Monroe, where he re- 
mained working at his trade, with his father-in- 
law, until he came to Brodhead. His wife was 
Mary Spahr, daughter of Peter Spahr, of Mon- 
roe. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn have four children. 
The eldest, a daughter, was born in St. Louis. 
Two sons were born in Monroe and one in 
Brodhead. Mr. Hahn is an excellent workman 
and does a prosperous business. 

Charles W. Lucas, artist and photographer, 
at Brodhead, located here in April, 1869. He 
is a native of Maine, and was born in Piscata- 
quis county of that State in 1841. He engaged 
in the business of photography in 1866, and in 
1868 came to Wisconsin. He was in company 
with other parties till the spring of 1871, since 
which time he has carried on business alone. 



Mr. Lucas has had much experience in photo- 
graphy, is an excellent artist, and possesses 
facilities for doing first-class work. Mrs. Lucas' 
maiden name was Bashie Springstead. She has 
lived in Brodhead and vicinity since she was a 
child, and is a daughter of David Springstead, 
who came to Green county in March, 1855, and 
died subsequently. Mrs. Springstead and six 
daughters are still living. Two of the latter, 
besides Mrs. Lucas, reside in this county, Mrs. 
Sarah Straw and Mrs. Dolly Gardner. Two 
reside in Illinois, Mrs. Georgia Stiles and Rella, 
unmarried, and one, Mrs. Esther Johns, lives in 
Nebraska. There were also two sons in the 
family, William, who went to California in 
1859 where he died in 1861, and Jeremiah, who 
served in the War of tiie Rebellion, first in the 
3d Wisconsin Infantry, company C, and after- 
wards in company B, of the 46th regiment. He 
removed to Minnesota after the war, where he 
died in 1875. 

Charles F. Thompson, a well known citizen 
of Green county, is a native of Susquehanna 
Co., Penn., born in 1828. He came to this 
county with his father, who settled in the town 
of Sylvester, at quite an early day, and was one 
of the prominent farmers and dairymen of that 
town. Charles F. Thompson was married to 
Kate C. Chandler, daughter of Josephus Chand- 
ler, who settled in Dane county, where he died 
in !85'J. Mr. Chandler emigrated to Wisconsin 
from the State of Maine. Mrs. Thomp-*on was 
one of the early teachers in the town of Sylves- 
ter, engaging in that occupation in 1851. He 
was one of the prominent business men of Syl- 
vester, and resided for considerable time in the 
village of Monticello, engaged in farming and 
other occupations. He was a member i»f the 
legislature of Wisconsin while a resident of 
Monticello. In 1863 he removed to Milwaukee 
and engaged in a commission business. From 
Milwaukee he went to Green Bay and engaged 
in lumbering. He came to Brodhead in 1870. 
At the present time (1884) he has charge of the 



836 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



toll road from Deadvvood to Lead City. This 
road he helped to construct. Mr. and Mrs. 
Thompson are the parents of two children — 
Thomas W., who resides near Dead wood on a 
ranch, and Carrie S., wife of George M. Pierce, 

William Smith is a son of Archibald Smith, 
who was born in Scotland, and came to Wiscon- 
sin from Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled on a 
farm of government land in the town of Spring 
Valley, on the town line, adjoining the town of 
Decatur, where he still lives. Archibald Smith 
has seven children. William was born at the 
homestead in 1849. He has been a resident of 
Brodhead since 1881. He is employed as a 
clerk in the Grange store, in which he owns 
stock. He also owns stock in the Brodhead 
Creamery. His wife was Clara, daughter of 
E. G. Melendy. She was born in the town of 
Cottage Grove, near Madison. They have two 
children — Marilla and Alice D. 

W. R. Skinner is the present station ag^ent of 
the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad 
Company at Brodhead, The first to hold that 
position was J. L. McNair; the second, Charles 
Peck, who was succeeded by W, S, Alexander, 
who was followed by S. Hills, who in turn was 
succeeded by Warren H, Barnes, who was 
agent for fifteen years, until his decease, in 
August, 1881, when Mr. Skinner, subject of this 
sketch, took the position thus made vacant, 
Mr. Skinner was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 
1854, and came to Wisconsin with his father. 



Robert Skinner, in 1866. The latter settled 
with his family at Monroe, but in 1868 the fam- 
ily removed to LeRoy, Bremer Co., Iowa. W. 
R. Skinner came to Brodhead in 1873, and en- 
gaged as clerk for Mr. Barnes, the former 
agent, also in learning telegraphy, at this oflice. 
He afterwards went to Atchison, Kansas, where 
for four years he was cashier of the Rock 
Island Railroad office at that place. He returned 
to Brodhead to assist Mr. Barnes, who was his 
brother-in-law, in the illness of the latter, Mr. 
Barnes was a man who had had an extensive ex- 
perience in railroad business previous to coming 
to Brodhead, and was a faithful and efficient 
officer, Mr. Skinner was married to May 
Woodle, a daughter of Allen Woodle, one of 
the earliest settlers of Green county. He is a 
capable officer, and a courteous and popular 
gentleman, 

Frank J, Bucklin, proprietor of livery stable 
at Brodhead, succeeded G. B, Wooster in 1882. 
He is a native of Iowa, and was born in Jack- 
son county in 1852, He removed to Illinois 
with his parents, where he attended school for 
ten years, then went to Pennsylvania, and was 
engaged in the oil regions eight years. He was 
married in Pennsylvania to Eliza Bruner, a na- 
tive of that State. They have four children — 
Rodney, Nettie, Frank and Maggie, Mr. Buck- 
lin's stables are furnished with excellent teams, 
and he has become deservedly popular as an ac- 
commodating and reliabl6 gentleman. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



887 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



TOWN OF EXETER. 



Congressional township 4 north, range 8 east, 
of the fourth principal meridian, comprises the 
civil town, Exeter, It is bounded on the north 
by Dane county; on the east by the town of 
Brooklyn; on the south by the town of Mount 
Pleasant, and on the west by New Glarus. 
Sugar river crosses the surface of this town, 
coming from Dane county by way of section 2, 
and leaving through section 25. On section 14, 
where the village of Dayton is located, this 
stream affords the only water power in the 
town. Three small spring branches enter the 
river as it passes through this town. The 
largest comes from Dane county by way of sec- 
tion 1, flows south and makes junction with the 
river on section 24. Two branches, heading on 
sections 5 and 16, unite on section 10, and reach 
the river from the west on section 2. A small 
spring branch flows from near the old village 
of Exeter, to the main stream on section 25. A 
branch of little Sugar river crosses the south- 
western portion of the town. These water 
courses make the surface of the country rolling, 
but no very abrupt bluffs are found. The soil 
of this town varies. East of the river the soil 
has a much more apparent tendency toward 
sandiness than the west, and the soil improves 
as you retreat from the stream. In the north- 
western portion of the town there is a good 
prairie soil, and to the south and southwest the 
surface is quite rough, having a heavy clay soil, 
and being quite well timbered. In the valleys 
the soil consists of a rich black loam. In the 
southeastern portion of the town there is con- 
siderable rolling prairie, which generally has a 
rich, deep soil, underlaid with clay. 



Altogether Exeter is one of the best agricul- 
tural towns in the northern part of Gi'een 
county. There is plenty of timber for use, 
water in abundance, and considerable natural 
meadow land, making it a fine stock district, 
and the people are improving their natural 
advantages. 

BAELT SETTLEMENT. 

The lead mines at Exeter, called in early days 
"New Diggings," and later Sugar river mines 
and Exeter mines, caused this town to be the 
first settled of any in Green county. In a rude 
way the Indians had mined lead here years be- 
fore white men had been in this country. 'Tis 
said "a man named Burke, in crossing the coun- 
try, lost himself and found the Indian dig- 
gings." When this occurred, no one knows. 
But two miners and traders named D. McNutt 
and Mr. Boner, came here early in 1827, bring 
ing goods for the Indians, and soon became 
possessed of the lead ore in the hands of the 
Indians by trade in whiskey and trinkets 
These built a cabin for occupancy. Whether 
t^iey intended to remain or not, cannot be ascer- 
tained. But at all events their residence here 
was brought to a tragic termination; for a little 
over a year later McNutt killed Boner in a 
drunken quarrel. Van Sickles, their Indian in- 
terpreter, was the only white man there, except 
themselves. McNutt kept up his drunk, but 
sobered enough to reach Blue Mounds, where 
lie was arrested. The next day miners buried 
Boner. Upon McNutt's trial at Prairie du 
Chien, lie was acquitted, the jury believing 
that while he might have killed Boner, the fact 
' that Van Sickles, who was noted as a champion 



838 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



liar, swore positively to the killing, was suffi- 
cient to raise a reasonable doubt, and in ac- 
cordance with their oaths they found a verdict 
of "not guilty." McNntt left the country. 

The first man to make a permanent settlement 
in this town — and this was the first settlement 
in Green county — was William Deviese. He 
was of French-Scotch descent, born in Poca- 
hontas Co., Va., March 16, 1793. In 1826 he 
left his native State, and the following spring 
of 182'7, found him in St. Louis. In March, 
182'7, he came to Wiota, Lafayette Co., Wis. 
Ter. In August, 1828, a short time after the 
McNutt-Boner tragedy, Mr. Deviese, who had 
prospected here prior to that time, took up liis 
residence at "Exeter Diggings," and thus be- 
came the first settler in Green county. At first 
Mr. Deviese was a trader in a small way. He 
was a stirring man, and soon got in shape to 
give employment to others. In the fall of the 
same year, William Wallace and wife, and 
Josiah R. Blackmore came to the mines in the 
employ of Mr. Deviese. In the spring of 1829, 
he built a smelting furnace, and in the fall went 
to Peoria and brought home a drove of hogs. 
In 1830, he broke sixteen acres of land and put 
in some turnips, and "sod crop." During this 
year — 1830 — lead which he had been selling at 
Galena for $80 per ton, dropped to a low figure 
and the mines, which had been worked vigor- 
ously, were nearly abandoned. Mr. Deviese 
still continued the smelting furnace, buying ore 
and selling some goods. Blackmore had left, 
and afterward he and Wallace turned up again 
as settlers in the town of Clarno. 

John Dougherty, in 1831, opened a small trad- 
ing cabin. Deviese kept up his smelting works, 
employing three or four hands, until 
the outbreak of the lilack Hawk 
War, in 1832, the first news of which 
ttiat reached the mining settlement was of the 
engagement at Stillman's Kun. All hastened 
to Galena. Mr. Deviese joined a company 
under William S. Hamilton, at Wiota, and did 
valuable service as a scout, messenger and sol- 



dier. No service for which he was not ready 
and willing ; no work too hard or too continuous. 
He eventually received for his services $1 per 
day for himself and horse. September 1 of the 
same year found him again at Exeter rebuild- 
ing, for the Indians, or rather malicious whites, 
as Mr. Deviese believes, had destroyed every- 
thing destructable. He found his oxen and cut 
hay for the winter, selling his smelting furnace 
to Mr. Dougherty the following year. He con- 
ducted business in a prosperous way until, in 
1836, he had become wealthy for those days. 
The financial convulsions of the commercial 
world in 1836-7 could not spare the humble 
lead mining settlement, and ruin overtook Mr. 
Deviese, financially wrecking him and his for- 
tunes. He passed under a dark cloud and gave 
himself up to indulgence in drink. For the 
years following he says : "There is nothing of 
my life worth telling." Major Deviese is a 
man who is universally respected, and by many 
of the old pioneers, beloved for his many and 
manly qualities. Wl.en he had it to spend and 
give, he did it royally ; a man of good educa- 
tion ; high-minded ; loved the right even when 
traveling wrong. He is now in his ninety-first 
year, clear in intellect and memory, though bed- 
ridden since September, 1879, occasioned by a 
fall, permanently injuring his spine. He now 
lives with Hollis Crocker, just over the line in 
Dane county. He has for many years followed 
total abstinence, so far as liquor is concerned, 
but an inveterate smoker, and many a Sabbath 
morning the family are aroused by his crying 
out : "Oh ! how I wish I could smoke." In his 
helpless condition some one must wait upon 
him, and his wants are immediately attended 
to. Major Deviese, as he is commonly called, 
joined the Methodist Church many years ago. 
In his death, which must occur 'ere long, he 
will be mourned and remembered as few among 
the old pioneers have been. He has no relatives 
living in the west, or, perhaps anywhere else. 
He has never been married ; as he says : 
"Wlien I ought to have married, I left the ac- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY! 



839 



tive world behind me." Hollis Crocker gave 
Major Deviese a home over thirty-one years ago. 
For nearly a third of a century has his untiring 
care of and for him been a subject of wondc-i- 
to all who do not know his good heart. No re- 
ward or hope of reward has ever been his ; and 
God's richest blessing can be but a feeble 
recognition of this man's love of humanity, as 
shown in his care of fellow being — unfortunate. 
No son could do more, or do it more willingly. 
Hollis Crocker is a pioneer in every sense, hav- 
ing settled here in 1842, and undergone all the 
hardship, privation and disadvantages attend- 
ant upon the building up of a new countiy. 
His wife was born at Gratiot's Grove, Wis. Ter., 
in 1829. She was a granddaughter of a Swiss 
colonist, who came to the Red River colony, 
(Lord Selkirk's settlement) in 1821. Her mother 
made the trip by way of Hudson Bay, from the 
mouth of the Rhine, and in 1823, down the Red 
river. Lake Travis and St. Peter's river to Fort 
Snelling in a canoe, and from thence to l^a- 
fayette county, this State. 

Pierce Bradley came to the mines in an early 
day, and erected one of the first cabins where 
Exeter village was afterward built. He was 
engaged at mining. 

James Slater came to the mines in 1828, and 
remained a short time. 

James Hawthorne came at about the same 
time as Major Deviese, and for a time the two 
were in partnership. Mr. Hawthorne left the 
mines in 1833. 

Edward D. Beochard, a Frenchman, was min- 
ing at Exeter in 1828, and remained until 1833, 
except a period during the Black Hawk War. 
lie went from here to Lafayette county. 

BUSINESS GROWTH IN EXKTER. 

I?i 1835 Kemp & Collins bought out Mr. 
Dougherty's interests at this place, and also the 
same year, bought 600 acres of land south of 
the mines, including that which Major Deviese 
had broken. Mr. Dougherty, later, moved to 
Otter Creek, Lafayette county,* and died there. 
Kemp came from England; and Collins — who 



was of Scotch descent — from Ireland. They re- 
mained in Exeter only a fewyears, when Joseph 
Kemp returned to England. Later, he came 
back and died at Wiota. William Collins suc- 
ceeded to the real estate and left about the same 
time as Kemp. He came back and sold the land; 
then went to California. 

In 1841 Exeter had become quite an impor- 
tant place in the new Territory, and apparently 
had a prosperous future before it. 

The first hotel was a log affair, erected by 
Brainard Blodgett, in 1840. The same year, 
Ezra Durgin erected a small log tavern. Both 
sold whisky. Blodgett left, a short time later, 
and went to the Wisconsin pineries where he 
was drowned. He was succeeded in business by 
Alvah B. Humphrey. The latter, and his wife, 
lived here until 1854, when they went to Mon- 
roe, where they died. Ezra Durgin went to Cal- 
ifornia. 

Thomas Somers came in 1840, and when the 
first postoffice, "Exeter," was established, in 
1841, he was made postmaster. Mr. Somers 
died at Exeter in 1851. In 1846 the first frame 
house was built by Mr. Somers. He sold to 
Charles George, who opened a hotel. Thomas 
Somers followed Kemp & Collins in trade. 
Then in succession came "Wild Yankee" Litch- 
field and John Burke, Freeman Safford, Eph- 
raim Bowen, Ilayward & Lindslay. It is not 
known where Litchfield went; John Burke went 
to Iowa; Hayward to California and is now 
wealthy; Lindslay went to Sheboygan and en- 
gaged in lumber business. 

The last hotel kept was by James Hayden, 
who closed it out in 1856. 

In 1834 Tpm Welch and wife came to Exeter. 
Mrs Welch is remembered by the old pioneers 
for her general recklessness, and disposition to 
run the machine without regard to what others 
might call respectability. They farmed some, 
and kept "boarders, whisky, etc." Welch died 
there. The widow married a man nanud Flah- 
erty and started for Oregon, and the husband 
died on the. way. It is said the woman, later, 



840 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



married her fifth husband in Oregon. Tis said 
"she was able to get outside of from three to 
five di'inks of whisky every morning before 
breakfast." 

Michael Welch, a single man, came in 1834, 
and followed mining. 

John Armstrong came to the town in 1840, 
and settled on section 5. He sold out in 1844, 
but lived here until 1850. He was a reckless 
fellow and fond of drink and wild life, but had 
many good qualities. It is said of him, that lie 
ordered dinner in Galena, for a party of miners 
in his employ, and upon being told he would 
have to wait until the other guests were served, 
he rode his horse into the dining room, and on 
the tables, scattering things right and left. He 
paid $300 for the sport. From here he went to 
the Wisconsin pineries, and died about 1860. 

Joseph Dunbar came in 1836, and followed 
farming and mining. For the last thirty years 
or more, he has lived on his fine farm on sec- 
tions 22 and 23. 

Capt. Leonard Ross resided a short time in 
the village of Exeter, in 1840, and the same 
year settled on section 8. Capt. Ross was a 
valuable acquisition to the new settlement, and 
bought 900 acres of land in that part of the town. 
He was an energetic and public spirited man. 

The building of the Dayton mill and the al- 
most entire failure of the lead mines, caused a 
general decline at Exeter, until in 1884 it num- 
bered loss than half a dozen houses. 

The name of the mines was taken from the 
Exeter mines in England, being bestowed by 
English miners. The town took the name from 
the mines. 

The postoffice at Exeter village was discon- 
tinued in 1871. Robert Witter was the last 
postmaster. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

'J'he first birth in the Exeter mining settle- 
ment was that of Louisa, daughter of Mr. and 
Mrs. William Wallace, born Aug. 7, 1830. She 
afterward married Charles Thomas. 



The first marriages were of John Campbell to 
Elizabeth Durgin in 1843. At about the same 
time Dr. Stearns married Charlotte Durgin. 

John Campbell was the first blacksmith in 
Exeter. He came here in 1842. Some years 
later he went to the Wisconsin pineries. 

The first religious services were held in 1829. 
A miner, who was also a preacher, was always 
ready, willing and able to instruct his fellow 
workers in spiritual matters, and in those early 
years the voice of prayer would occasionally be 
lieard among the hardy miners at Exeter. 

The first death of a white man in this town 
was that of the miner Boner, who was killed by 
McNutt, in 1828. 

The following January, 1829, James Fanning 
died in the cabin of Major Deviese. He was 
l)uried by the side of Boner, on land recently 
owned by N. Wilcox. 

A man named Castleman, from Milwaukee, 
was the first doctor. It it said he did not have 
much skill, but was merely able to practice 
medicine. Dr. Stearns, who succeeded him, 
was a man of considerable education, genius 
and skill. Dr. Parsons came later and after a 
few years went to Milwaukee. 

TOWN ORGANIZATION. 

The town of Exeter was organized in 1849. 
The first election was held at the house of L. 
D. Barnes, April 3, 1819, and resulted in the 
election of the following officers: Supervisors. 
John Porter, chairman; Robert Witter an<l 
James Hair; treasurer, John Gilman; assessoi , 
William Oliver; clerk, A. K. Stearns; school 
commissioner, Alonzo Haywood; justices of the 
peace, John Porter, Robert Witter, Frederick 
StriefiF and James Hair; constables, James T. 
Porter, Walter C. Ressler and James D. Forbes. 
There were thirty-nine votes cast. The clerks 
of the election were Charles K. Adams and A. 
K. Stearns; the judges were Lorenzo Barnes, 
John Porter and William Fletcher. 

The officers elected April 1, 1884, were: 
Supervisors, .Tames Lewis, chairman, John Fer- 
guson and Leonard Ross; clerk, John Clark; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



841 



treasurer, Lucius Jordan; and assessor, James 
Ruff. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first school in the town of Exeter was 
taught in a log house in the Exeter miiiirig set- 
tlement in 1840. The teacher was Mr John- 
son. Schools have been taught regularly since 
that time. 

In 1S84 there were four full and eight joint 
districts in the town. Their condition i> shown 
by the following: 

District No. 1 (old village of Exeter) has a 
good school house, nearly new, valued witli fur- 
niture at $665; has forty-eight pupils. 

District No. 2 (village of Dayton); hcuse in 
good condition, valued Avitii furniture at -^1,000; 
thirty-four pupils. 

District No. 5 has an old house on section 17, 
valued at $ + 50; forty-one pupils. 

District No. 7, school house on section 23, 
valued at $300; there are twenty-eight pupils 
here. 

District No. 2 (joint) embraces territory in 
the towns of Exeter, Montrose and Oregon, 
with a school house in Montrose. There are 
fourteen pupils belonging to this district in 
Exeter. 

Joint district No. 3 embraces territory in 
Exeter and Brooklyn, the school house being 
located in the latter town. Seven pupils reside 
in this town. 

Joint district No. 4 embraces territory in 
Exeter and Montrose; school house in the lat- 
ter town. Sixteen pupils reside in Exeter. 

Joint district No. 4 embraces territory in 
Exeter, New Glarus and Primrose. The school 
house is in New Glarus; four pupils re^^ide in 
Exeter. 

Joint district No. 4 embraces territory in 
Exeter and New Glarus. The school house is 
located on section 29, and is valued at $270. 
Fifty-six pupils reside in Exeter. 

Joint district No. 6 embraces territory in 
Exeter and Brooklyn. The school house, whicli 



is located in East Dayton, is new, having cost 
$1,000. Thirty-four pupils reside in this town. 

Joint district No. 8 embraces territory in 
Exeter and Brooklyn, tl:e school house being 
located in the latter town. There are six pupils 
in this town. 

Joint district No. 8 embraces territory in 
Exeter and Mount Pleasant; school house in 
Mount Pleasant. Three pupils live in this town. 

VILLAGE OF DAYTON. 

The first settlers on the present site of Day- 
ton were the members of the Lewis family. 
Mablan Lewis came in 1844. Mr. Leland came 
the same year and they formed the firm of Le- 
latid & Lewis. Mahlan Lewis went to Califor- 
nia in 1850, and died in the mines there four 
years later. Leland also left. 

Mahlan Lewis' mother, a widow, came in 
in 1845. Slie had a family of two girls and 
three sons besides Mahlan. Melvin went to 
Minnesota in about 1860 and still lives tliere. 
Stephen lives in tlie town of Brooklyn. Joseph 
died about lh60. Eunice, the eldest girl, mar- 
ried Ansil Filts, and died in this town two or 
three years later. Abigail, the other girl, mar- 
ried a Mr. Cook and they went to Minnesota, 
where they still live. The old lady lived upon 
tlie old homestead until 1870, then went to the 
town of Union, Rock county, and lived with a 
sister until the time of her death, which oc- 
curred shortly afterward, when she was nearly 
ninety years of age. The Lewis family were 
the first permanent settlers of Dayton. They 
lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. Joseph 
Green. 

A. D. Kirkpatrick came in 1852 from Ohio 
and bronght his family. He had formerly lived 
in the town of Brooklyn. After selling out to 
Joseph Green he returned to his farm in Brook- 
lyn. Mr. Kirkpatrick gave the name of Dayton 
to the village, from Dayton, Ohio. 

Dr. Lysaght, with his two sons, William and 
Thomas, came from Ireland in 1844 and pur- 
chased a large tract of land. The doctor re- 
mained about two years, then left his eons to 



49 



842 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



improve his gift to them. Thomas went to 
California in 1850. He died in Kansas before 
1860. William lived in this town until 1882, 
when he sold out and removed to the city of 
Monroe, where he still lives, having acquired a 
goodly share of this "world's goods." 

The water power at Dayton village was first 
improved by Leland & Lewis, in 1845. They 
built a dam across the river and erected a saw 
mill. It is said by old settlers to have been a 
good mill, and successfully operated. It being 
the only mill within a long distance, excepting 
a mill that had been erected at Attica the pre- 
ceding year, this was a great convenience to 
the new settlement. In 1862 the property was 
sold to A. D. Kirkpatrick, who was assisted by 
Leonard Ross and others with means to build a 
flouring mill. This was equipped with two run 
of buhrs and was operated in con)iection with 
the saw mill by Mr. Kirkpatrick until April, 
1854. At this time the property was puichased 
by Joseph Green, who enlarged the grist mill 
by adding a wing to the east end in 1854, and 
in 1855 he entirely rebuilt the saw mill. In 
1866 Mr. Green rented the property to his son, 
Thomas Green, who, in 1881, after his father's 
death, purchased the proj^erty. He has added 
new machinery to the grist mill, and moved the 
saw mill building away, converting it into a 
barn. 

The village .of Dayton was platted in August, 
1853, by P. P. Havens, the plat being situated 
on the northeast quarter of section 14. In the 
spring of 1854 M. T. White made an addition, 
laying into lots and blocks land on the south- 
west quarter of section 12. 

P. P. Havens settled here in 1847, and opened 
the first blacksmith shop in this section of 
country. He was one of the best of mechanics, 
and his breaking plows were considered to be 
the best obtainable. He made plows and did 
general work in his line, supplying a large ex- 
tent of country. Mr. Havens did not seem to 
be desirous of making money from the sale of 
lots, for, it seems, to induce people to locate 



here, he was generally ready to give a deed of a 
lot if im])rovemeiits were to follow. 

M. T. A¥hite settled here as early as 1849, 
coming from Milwaukee county. He bought 
the southwest quarter of section 12, and still 
lives upon it. He has three sons living in the 
town — Frank, Mortimer and Benjamin. 

About ten families reside in this part of the 
village, which is separated from the balance by 
Sugar river. In school affairs the two sides are 
distinct from each other, and this side has a 
fine school building. There is also on this side 
Wackman & Ruttz's blacksmith shop and 
Charles Wackman's wagon shop. 

The first hotel in the village was opened 
July 1, 1853, by Rhinehart & Gracy. That day 
was a memorable one in Dayton's history. It is 
said by several who were present that the num- 
ber of men who went home sober that night 
could be counted on the fingers of one hand. 
This hotel in the spring of 1855 was sold to 
Julius Stone, wiio, not long afterward, sold to 
A. D. Hymer. Different parties have rented 
the house, among whom are E. W. Smith, Mr. 
Williams and William Hayden. In 1880 Mr. 
Hymer sold the property to Mathias Hosely, 
now of Monroe, who ran the house until 1883, 
when he rented it to Charles Sheple, the pres- 
ent occupant. 

The first store in Dayton was opened in 1852 
by a man named McLaughlin. During the 
same year he was closed out by his creditors, 
and returned to Ohio. ' The building he used is 
now occupied as a residence by Thomas Green, 
although many changes have been made. 

In the fall of 1853 a store was opened by 
Leonard & Church, who kept a small stock of 
general merchandise. In 1855 Mr. Church 
bought his partner's share and continued the 
business for a few. years, when he closed out 
and sold the building to Mr. Gattiker, who 
opened a hardware and tin store. 

In the spring of 1854 George Duncan opened 
a store in a building which he had erected for 
the purpose. The same year he took a man 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



843 



named Harvey into partnership. Harvey had 
no capital, but a great amount of assurance. 
'Tis said of him that he "was all things to all 
men," At least he seemed to know how to 
carry funds. When it became necessary for 
one of the firm to visit Chicago with $1,500 to 
pay indebtedness and replenish stock, he was 
the one to go, and he never returned. The 
firm immediately went out of business, and 
later Duncan went to California. 

James Norris opened a store in the same 
building in 1855, and two years later sold to 
.Jacob J. Tschudy (now of Monroe). Mr. 
Tschudy, owing to the financial panic of 1857-8, 
followed the fashion of the times, necessarily, 
and failed too. In 1858 Mosher & Humphrey 
opened a stock of goods here, and remained 
one season, when they returned to Monroe. In 
1859 George Campbell, of Albany, occupied 
the same building and sold goods for one year. 
The building then remained vacknt for a time, 
until, in 1861, Joseph Green put in a stock of 
dry goods and groceries. After the war his 
son, William Green, was associated with him. 

In 1859 James Norris erected the store build- 
ing now occupied by Thomas Luchsinger, and 
put in a stock of goods. Mr. Norris ran the 
business until 1866, when he sold to C. W. 
Leonard, formerly of the firm of Leonard & 
Church, and E. W. Smith. A year or two later 
Joseph Green bought them out, and afterwards 
sold to his son, William Green, who removed 
the stock to Albany in the spring of 1882. In 
November, 1882, Thomas Luchsinger bought 
the building, put in a good stock of general 
merchandise, and is still in business. 

In the early days of Dayton's history, Thomas 
Gracy opened a small slock of groceries ajid 
dry goods. He sold to Day & Ross, who added 
drugs to the stock. Mr. Day sold his interest 
to Riclimoml &, Koss, and later Mr. Ross bought 
f)ut his partner. A few years later he sold to 
Witter <fc Trouesdale. Mr. Witter sold his in- 
terest after a time to his ])artiier, and in 188.3 it 
■vl^as purchased by J. P. Cuhningham. Mr. 



Cunningham has added to the building and 
stock. He now keeps dry goods, groceries, 
boots and shoes, drugs, paints, oils, etc. 

The Dayton Mercantile Association was or- 
ganized in the spring of 1884, for the purpose 
of conducting a general mercantile business. 
The association bought the stock of Thomas 
Luchsinger, rented his store building, and 
opened for trade in May. The stockholders 
number about 100. The paid up capital amounts 
to $5,000. The directors and officers of the 
association are: Directors, W. S. Heal, presi- 
dent; Ansel Fitts, James Root, Philip Wack- 
man, William Gill, I. F. Wallahan; Forester 
Havens, treasurer; Thomas Green, secretary. 

John Pace commenced wagon building and re- 
pairing, on the east side, in 1854. He was suc- 
ceeded by Doolitlle and Still, who ran the busi- 
ness several years and sold to John Taylor. 
Then the business passed into the hands of Mr. 
Doolitlle again, and later to Theodore Wack- 
man, who was afterwards associated with 
Charles Wackman. The latter bought out The- 
odore, and now (1884) runs the business. 

In 1859 Alfred Gittiker opened a tin shop 
and kept some shelf hardware in a room over 
the saw mill, and later in the building now oc- 
cupied by the harness shop. Mr. Gattiker left 
here in 1864, and was succeeded by a Mr. 
Taylor, who ran a shop about one year. In 
1869 William Dick, who had learned his trade 
with Gattiker, who had been in the army and 
absent some years, opened a tin shop and shelf- 
hardware store. He is still in business. 

In 1853 Nick Gruidenwise opened a black- 
smith shop in East Dayton. Later he was in 
partnership with D. M. Spencer, who succeeded 
to the business. He was followed by D. and 
J. P. Wackman. J. P. Wackman bought out 
his partner, Daniel, and was with his brother 
Joseph in the business for some time. Joseph 
sold to S. L. Rutty and he to T. M. Scott, aird 
from the latter gentleman Wallace Rutty pur- 
chased the interest. In ]844 the firm was Wack- 
man & Huttv. 



844 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Thomas M. Scott, formerly of the tirra of 
Wackmaii & Scott, opened a blacksmith shop in 
the village in 1881, wbicli he still continues. 

In 1859 William Taylor opened a harness 
shop, closing out about four years later. .T. R. 
Richards opened a shop soon afterward, being 
here temporarily. He sold out to E. O. Faiilks, 
who is still in business. About 1866, William 
Kirkpatrick opened a shop and worked about 
two years. E. Witters did some business in 
this line here in 1872. 

S. L. Forges keeps a small refreshment stand, 
candies and fruits, and is the shoemaker and 
cobbler of the village. Mr. Forges came from 
Ohio to this State in 1855, and has lived in 
Dayton fourteen years. 

The first physician of Dayton was Dr. J. B. 
Orm.sby, who located here in 1854, coming from 
Bradford, Vt., with a family of a wife an<l one 
child. Dr. Ormsby is well remembered l.y the 
old settlers as a skillful, kind hearted, intelli- 
gent physician, always ready to serve all, pay or 
no pay. Many an old pioneer has cause to re- 
member him gratefully. He left herein 1867, 
and now lives at Milan, Til. He buried hi ^ wife 
here, in 1865. Dayton has, since the departure 
of Dr. Ormsby, been transientl)^ the resident of 
many physicians among whom are remembered 
Dr. Cobbin, Dr. George Fox, Dr. Bloomer, Dr. 
Roone, Dr. Edgar, Dr. G. N. Troesdale, Dr. 
Con for, and in 1883, Dr. W. C. Roberts, son of 
Dr. Roberts, of Albany, located here and is the 
resident physician. The doctor ha.s won the con- 
fidence of his patrons, and is building for him- 
self a lucrative and honorable practice. 

A postoffice was established at Dayton, in 
September, 1854. W. W. Shepard, a young 
lawyer, resident of Dayton, visited the east, and 
went to Washington, for the purpose of secur- 
ing a postoffice for Dayton. He succeeded. 
Mr. Shepard evidently was impressed with the 
magnitude of what he saw there, or wished to 
impress others, f<)rhesays, "the Capitol is forty 
rods and the President's house is nothing 
sliorter." The first postmaster in Dayton was 



George Duncan. He was succeeded by James 
Norris, and he by C. D. W. Leonard, William 
Green, Volney Ross and G.N. Troesdale; and 
he by the present incumbent, J. P. Cunningham. 

Jeremiah P. Cunningham, postmaster and 
merchant at Dayton, is a son of James and Mary 
Cunningham, and was born in Exeter, March 17, 
1853. When eighteen years old he went to 
Chicago, where he was employed by the Trans- 
fer Omnibus Company five and a half years. 
He was then engaged as conductor on the west 
division street railroad, one year, then eighteen 
months in the Northwestern Railroad office, af- 
ter which he ran a milk wagon about six months. 
In the fall of 1879, he returned to Green county 
and for two years rented the farm of James 
Martin, of Albany. In the spring of 1882 he 
rented the farm owned by J. P. Wackman, in 
Exeter, and worked it one year. In 1883 he 
bought the business of G. W. Trousdale, in 
Dayton, where he is now engaged in general 
merchandising. He has enlarged the store and 
increased the stock. He was married in Brod- 
head. May 29, 1876, to Margaret O'Donnell, 
daughter of John and Mary O'Donnell, of 
Monticello. One child — Mary, was born to them 
July 2, 1 878. Mrs. Cunningham died May 13,1883. 
Mr. Cunningham is a young man of good business 
capacity and habits. His child, Mary, lives with 
her grandfather, O'Donnell, at Monticello, Wis. 
His father, James Cunningham, was born in 
Waterford county, Ireland, in 1819. In 1844 he 
came to Montreal, Canada, and lived in Kings- 
ton a short time. He tlien went to Vermont 
and worked on a railroad, and afterwards went 
to Kentucky, where he worked one year and re- 
turned to Vermont. He remained in that State 
and Massachusetts till about 1848, when he 
came to Green county and bought 200 acres on 
section 1, of Exeter. He was married in Dane 
county, to Mary Kerwin. Four children were 
born to them — Jeremiah P., William, Catha- 
rine, wife of John Dooley, and Rose Ann, liv- 
ing in Milwaukee. His wife died and he was 
again married to Catharine Joyce, of Monticello. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTS. 



845 



By this union there were three children — Mar- 
garet. John and James. James Cunningham 
died in 1882. William Cunningham now owns 
and occupies the homestead. 

The Methodist church was erected in 1868. 
It is 30x50 feet in size, with a belfry, but no 
bell, and cost |2,200. Elder Russell was the 
first pastor. In 1884 the pastor was Elder 
Haight. 

In 1868, a Presbyterian church was built at a 
cost of $2,400. It is 30x50 feet in size, and also 
has a belfry, but no bell. Elder Newell was 
the first pastor, and through his instrumentality 
the church was built. The present pastor is 
Elder Pierce. 

The Catholic church was built in 1869. It is 
30x48 feet in size, and cost $2,000. Rev. James 
Stehle is the present pastor in charge. There 
are 120 families communicants in this parish. 

CEMETERIES. 

Dayton has three cemeteries. The one on the 
west side, close by the village plat, was located 
in 1852. William Norton was the first one 
buried there; he was the father of John M. Nor- 
ton. He died in April, 1853. Another ceme- 
tery adjoins White's addition to Dayton, on the 
east side; it was established in 1854. The 
Catholic cemetery is located on section 10, about 
one mile from the village. The other cemetery 
in this town is near the old village of Exeter. 
It was located in 1850, near the center of tlie 
north side of section 35. A stranger named 
Shields had been buried on the grounds before 
the location was made. 

MASONIC LODGE. 

Dec. 6, 1873, under a dispensation of the 
grand lodge of A. F. & A. M., of the State of 
Wisconsin, a lodge was established at Dayton, 
with the following officers: E. C. Morre, W. 
M.; Joseph Witter, S. W.; P. H Multer, J. W.; 
R. Riy, Treas.; Perry Doolittle, Sec'y. June 
9, 1875, a charter was granted by the 
grand lodge, and the name and number given 
was, Dayton Lodge, No. 198. The first officers 
elected were: L. D. Dalrymple, W. M.; Joseph 



Witter, S. W.; P. H. Multer, J. W.; G. 'L. 
Rutly, Treas.; C. Peterson, Sec'y. The ma.sters 
succeeding Mr. Dalrymple have been: William 
Green, G. N. Troesdale, and the present master, 
A. S. Lewis. The present officers are: James 
Lewis, S. W.; G. Langhead, J. W.; L. Ro.ss, 
Treas.; J. H. Langhead, Sec'y. The lodge has 
a membership of forty-seven. The lodge room 
is well furnished and their treasury is in good 
condition. 

CHEESE FACTORIES. 

Dayton formerly had two cheese factories, 
but neither have been operated for some years. 
But a Mr. Davis, from Chicago, converted the 
one on the east side, in 1883, into a creamery, 
and ran the business through most of the sea- 
son, then failed. He left the farmers who had 
sold him cream behind about six or seven 
weeks in his payments. 

A cheese factory in the Ross neighborhood 
was put in operation in May, (1884) by a stock 
company consisting of the following stock 
holders: Jeremiah Staley, William H. Ross, 
Leonard Ross, Abram Kundert, Henry Schnei- 
der and James Wilson. Leonard Ross, mana- 
o-er and treasurer. The building is located on 
section 16, main building 20x50 feet, and con- 
tains a work room 20x24 feet. They expect to 
use 1,500 barrels of milk per day this season. 

REMINISCENCES. 
[By HoUis Crocker.] 

In this connection are presented several let- 
ters containing reminiscences of early days by 
Hollis Crocker. As little change as possible 
has been made, in order to preserve the style of 
the writer, and they will prove to the pioneers 
to be one of the most interesting chapters in 
Dayton's history. In his first letter, under the 
date of April 10, 1884, Mr. Crocker says: "At 
your request I will try and write a few of my 
early recollections of Green county, for, al- 
though a resident of Dane county, I had more 
to do with Green county in an early day than 
with Dane. I came to Wisconsin in the fall of 
1842, with my father and family, and for the 



846 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



first two years we had to cross the entire 
county every time we went to mill, either to 
TVinslow, on the Pecatonica, or Curtis's mill, on 
the Richland creek. I well remember the first 
thing I saw on landing in old Exeter, on the 
2l8t day of September, 1842. Three men were 
assisting a fourth man to the polls. It was Ter- 
ritorial election day. There was a man under 
each arm and another pushing in the rear, 
whilst froth and curses were pouring out of his 
mouth. Young as I was, (I was only fourteen) 
the thought struck me that possibly his vote 
might not be a very intelligent one. The very 
early settlers of Green county will remember 
old John Armstrong, sometimes called Devil 
John. I saw him in Exeter the first day we 
came there. He directed us to his house in the 
north part of the town, near where Mr. Lysaght 
used to live. As he had a good deal of whisky 
down, he felt very rich, and generously pro- 
posed to keep us a day, week or month, as the 
case might be, free of charge. We staid at his 
house all night. Mrs. Armstrong and children 
retired to the corn crib, surrendering us the use 
of the house; in fact, the early pioneers, with 
but few exceptions, were a whole-souled and 
generous class of people. Uncle John Arm- 
strong had lived in the vicinity of Galena as a 
miner, a number of years before he came to 
Green county. He was quite wealthy at one 
time. When he was digging mineral at Galena, 
I remember hearing one of his adventures at 
that place. He had a good many hands at work 
for him, and the thought struck him to give 
them a first class meal at the hotel. The land- 
lord wished him to wait a while, as he had 
some of the elite or upper ten at table that day. 
Uncle John swore that himself and hands were 
as good as his upper crust, and mounting his 
horse, he rode him into the dining room, made 
him leap with his fore-feet on the table, crush- 
ing it down, breaking the dishes and smasliing 
things generally; then cooly asking what were 
the damages, he paid them and went his way 
rejoicing. I suppose the damages were the 



snug little sum of |300. Uncle John used to 
spree it some times for a week at a stretch, and 
there was one peculiarity about him, he would 
never stagger, and I believe he was more active 
when drunk, than when sober. I think he came 
to Exeter some time about 1840. He sold his 
claim and improvements to William Lysaght's 
father in 1844, and with Joe Hendrick, (his 
wife's son-in-law) went into northern Wisconsin. 
They were both pioneers and required a great 
deal of elbow room. 

"Leonard Ross, commonly called Capt. Ross, 
came to Exeter about the same time and settled 
one mile south of Armstrong. He was quite a 
prominent man in an early day. He died in 
1856. His widow still lives on the old place 
and still looks hale and hearty. Long may she 
be spared to u-s. 

"I remember another character who lived at 
Exeter when we came. I think his name was 
Joseph Wall, but he was better known by the 
name of Dad Joe. He was a Kentuckian by 
birth, and was as proud of it as any of the F. 
F. v., of old Virginia. He had a great aver- 
sion to eastern people; he designated them all 
as damned Yankees. Late in the autumn uf 
1842, my two brothers, Russell and William, 
started for Oneco, below Monroe seven or eight 
miles, for lumber, getting a late start, they were 
benighted at the Kemp & Collins place, where 
LTncle John Porter then lived. As no one in 
that day thought of turning a traveler away, he 
kindly took them in. Shortly after their ar- 
rival Dad Joe came in, somewhat elevated ; by 
some means he found out they were York 
State people. He insisted on Uncle John turn- 
ing them two d — d Yankees out. He said the 
straw pile was good enough for Yankees to 
sleep in. Failing to get Mr. Porter to turn 
them out, he declared he would not stay in the 
same house with them, and started for the vil- 
lage of Exeter. Mr. Porter going out about 
half an hour afterwards, found Dad Joe fast 
asleep, about ten or twelve rods from the house. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



847 



The cool air of a November night had the 
effect of cooling his wrath somewhat, and he 
stopped quietly in the house the rest of the 
night. 

"It would not do to pass over the history of 
Exeter, without mentioning Tom Welch and 
his wife, well known as Mother Welch. They 
came to Exeter some time about the year 1835. 
They farmed some and kept tavern some. The 
old lady would would go with an ox team to 
Milwaukee or Galena; she was well known at 
both places. When the store keepers saw her 
coming they would say: 'There comes Mother 
Welch, we must put up our goods about double 
so we can stand it to be beat down.' They 
used to keep their whisky hid from each other, 
and when a mutual friend happened to come 
there, unless he looked out sharp between the 
two treating him he would be made drunk. 
Michael Welch, brother to Thomas, left Exeter 
some time about 1848 or 1849. A year or two 
ago I heard a man say he had seen him in Cali- 
fornia. He was keeping 'bach.' 

"In 1845 a Swiss settlement was started at 
New Glarus. Soon after coming there, Christo- 
pher Martin, of Monroe, was passing through 
the place and called up the crowd and treated. 
He noticed the people gathered in a little group 
and looked at him from time to time, talking 
amongst themselves;pretty soon he treated again, 
their curiosity was so aroused that one of the 
group constituting himself spokes man for the 
rest, walked up to Mr. Martin and asked him: 
'Bees you von politic manV' 'No, 'says Mr. 
Martin. At this the man seemed astonished 
and exclaimed: 'Veil vat for you treat us then?' 
showing by this that politicians had already 
been tampering with them. The Swiss were very 
shrew in business matters, especially in buying 
cows. Shortly after they came to New Glarus, 
one of them came over to Mr. Ross' to buy a 
cow. Mr. Streiff came along as interpreter. 
They seemed to fix their attention on a rather 
inferior cow, examining her very attentively. 
They asked her price, and after looking at her 



some time, Mr. Streiff turned around and point- 
ing to his best cow asked him in a careless man- 
ner what her price Avas. Mr. Ross named a sum 
a good deal less than he would have been will- 
ing to take for her had he supposed they 
actually wanted to buy her. 'Veil,' says Mr. 
Streiff,'dis man vill take this cow' pointing to the 
good one. Mr. Ross would not go back on his 
word and let them have his best cow, but de- 
clared fhey would never catch him napping 
again. Whilst I am speaking of Leonard 
Ross, I will mention what I should have written 
before. Not only does his widow live at the 
old place, but his three sons — Milton, William 
and Leonard, live near there. There was a 
fourth son, Otis, but he was killed before Peters- 
burg. He belonged to the 37th regiment. Milton, 
the eldest,and William, served three years in the 
8th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
company H, and had the good fortune to get home 
alive, though Milton lost an eye in his country's 
service. I should be much to blame if I failed 
to mention 'old Ball,' a favorite horse of the 
captain's. Mr. Ross and old Ball were one and 
inseparable, as much as was .Judge Irvin and 
his horse, Pedro. Ball was a large bay horse 
eighteen hands high, and well proportioned. 
He had a white stripe in his face, which gave 
him his name. He was very high spirited and 
a horse of uncommon intelligence. Every old 
settler in Green county will remember him. 
Although a heavy horse, he was a speedy trav- 
eler. Mr. Ross at one time was in Monroe on 
business; and receiving news of his wife's ill- 
ness, he rode him home (twenty miles) in two 
hours, without injuring him in the least. 

"I cannot refrain from relating one anecdote 
of Charlie George, an old settler in Exeter. At 
one time a Mormon preacher was holding forth 
at the Ross school house, and in his discourse 
he urged upon the people the necessity of watch- 
fulness; and bringing over the word 'watch' 
very often, old Charlie took him at Iiis word, 
and getting up, started for the door, remarking 



848 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



audibly * yes, yes, I'll watch, an I'll go right 
home and lock ray horse stable'. 

"Tiie first time I passed through Monroe, then 
called New Mexico, as near as I can recollect, 
there were but three or four houses, and now ii 
is one of the prettiest inland towns in llie 
country; surrounded on all sides by as good 
a farming country as the sun shines on. I was 
never personally acquainted with many of the 
residents of Monroe, but a good man/ 1 knew 
by reputation. I remember seeing old Peter 
Rutledge. As near as I can remember he was 
about four feet, eight, nine or ten inches in 
height, and I should judge his weight was about 
190 pounds, so you see that as far as avoirdu- 
pois was concerned, he was a man. He was a 
juryman on the celebrated Vineyard trial. I 
think a Mr. Field and Moses M. Strong were 
lawyers for the defendant. I think it was Mr. 
Field who made the plea, and whilst he was 
coming out strong on the pathetic dodge, de- 
picting the melancholy task of the messenger 
who should carry the sorrowful news of a ver- 
dict of guilty to his distracted wife, Peter was 
observed to be agitated. He said afterwards 
be was fearful that he would be the one chosen 
to carry the harrowing intelligence to the vic- 
tim's wife. I suppose he was just such a jury- 
man as the most of criminal lawyers delight in. 
"The winter of 1842-43 was very severe, with 
an uncommon depth of snow for this country. 
Very few settlers had seen such a depth of snow. 
To us, who just were from the eastern part 
York State, it was nothing unusual. Towards 
spring, feed became scarce, and in some places 
timber was cut down for the cattle to browse 
on, especially the linden or basswood. I well 
remember when Thomas Bowers' neighborhood 
was called Egypt, certainly very many went 
there to buy corn. Some of our neighbors were 
so scared at the deep snow, that they did not 
ti'y to go to the mill, using hominy as a substi- 
tute for bread. I remember starting with twt) 
yoke of young oxen for mill below Monroe. I 
took my mother along as far as Mr. Thompson's, 



in the town of Sylvester, and going on the next 
day to mill. The day I started home it thawed 
a good deal, the water started running in the 
ravines a little. Stopped at Mr. Thompson's 
all night. It froze very hard, and the low 
places next morning were all a glare of ice. My 
oxen could not travel in the yoke. I got Mr. 
L. True, at this time a resident of Sylves- 
ter, to take his horses and bring home my grist 
with the ox yokes, and I drove my oxen loose. 
Coming to Little Sugar river below Exeter, I 
found the water about three feet deep between 
the bridges. The ice was not strong enough to 
hold up the cattle. I had to go back to a rail 
fence and get a rail and break the ice between 
the bridges; the cattle went through Indian file 
and I got home all right. I remember the first 
pork we bought in the country cost us ten shil- 
lings per 100 pounds. We bought a good cow 
of Thomas Bowen for $9; a yoke of steers 
coming four years old for $30. One thing I 
can testify to, money was hard to come by in 
those early days. Author Smith was murdered 
for #200. It would seem a small sum of money 
to kill a man for now, but $200 looked full as 
large at that time as $1,500 would now. I see 
his name is called Arthur; it is a mistake, his 
given name was Author. He boarded with my 
father the first winter we were in the country. 
My father went to school one winter to Mr. 
Smith's father, at that time a resident of Ver- 
mont. It is an old saying that murder will out, 
but nearly forty years have passed by and poor 
Author's murderer's not discovered yet, that is 
to my knowledge. 

"I have nothing more to say of my own adven- 
tures, they were the same as other early settlers. 
It is pretty generally known to all who take any 
interest in Major Deviese, tliat he is now living 
with me, three miles nortliwest of Belleville, he 
has lived with me over thirty years, and is now 
ninety-one years of age. Four years ago, the 
2d day of last September, he fell from the door 
step and hurt his right hip, and broke the wrist 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



849 



of his right arm. It was never fully ascertained 
what injury was done to his hip, as he could not 
stand the pain of a thorough examination, and 
he was so old the doctor did not dare to use 
chloroform. Since that time he has not left the 
bed only us he has been lifted; still his health 
is generally good, especially for a man of his 
advanced age. His mind and memory is I'e- 
markably good for a man of his age, he is a 
perfect chronicle of the past, and notwithstand- 
ing his afflictions and intirmity, he is cheerful 
and resigned; this is owing somev^hat to his 
natural temperament, which is very cheerful, 
but is also owing in a great measure to a firm 
trust in Christ, and bright hope that when the 
trials i'i this life are over, he will be admitted 
into tliat rest that remains for the people of 
God." 

Montrose, April 17, 1884. 
"You speak of the drinking habits of the early 
pioneers, I must confess that in proportion to 
the number of population, there was far more 
liquor drank forty years ago than there is to-day, 
but it must be remembered that Exeter for a 
number of years Was a mining town, and there 
is almost always more drinking done in such 
places than where the occupation of the peo- 
ple is purely agricultural, but there was a good 
deal of drinking done in those days. Births, 
deaths, marriages, 4th of July, election, Christ- 
mas, harvesting, hog killing, house raising, were 
all good excuses for imbibing, but then, to offset 
this evil, I believe there was less pride, more 
open-handed hospitality in those days than at 
the present time. A young couple could get 
married in those days without ruining them- 
selves buying costly clothes. If a man was 
buried, it was not thought necessary to starve 
his widow and fatherless children in order to 
procure a $75 or f 100 cofHn, because other peo- 
ple did. You spoke about the Major telling 
some more of his early experience. Since you 
were here, I heard him tell one. Mr. Foreman, 
who used to live in Exeter in a very early day, 
had set a number of traps in a circle, with a 



bait in the center, to catch a wolf. A Mrs. 
Powell lived near where the traps were set, and 
her little dog got into one of them, and of 
course set up a dreadful howl. Mrs. Powell 
went to the rescue of her pet and got caught in 
a trap herself, and of course there was more 
music. A large black dog belonging to Pierce 
Bradley, an old resident of Exeter, then thought 
it best to go and see what was the matter, of 
course -he got caught, and then the chorus was 
complete. Fortunately the outcries brought 
Mr. Foreman to the rescue, and he set them all 
at libeity. When I think how the great west has 
settled up, even in my day, (I am fifty-six) it is 
wonderful. I can remember when going into 
the western part of York State was called going 
out west. If any one started to go as far west as 
Indiana or Illinois, their friends bid them fare- 
well, with about the same feeling they would, bad 
they started for that undiscovered country, from 
whose bourne no traveler returns. But now 
the Pacific can only stop them, and I am not 
sure as that will prove a barrier long, some en- 
terprising emigrant will want to colonize the 
Sandwich Island." 

Yours truly, 

HoLLis Crocker. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Joseph Dunbar Sr., is a native of Ireland, born 
in 1814. At the age of ten years he came to 
the United States to live with his uncle, Robert 
Dunbar, near Wheeling, Va. After a few years 
residei.ce there, he went to Philadelphia, com 
ing from that city to Mineral Point, Wis. Ter., 
where he worked a short time in the mines and 
around the furnaces. He came to Exeter, 
then called "Exeter Diggingt"," in 1835, and 
worked here many years, but in 1840, he bought 
160 acres of government land on section 22, and 
later eighty acres on section 23. These lands 
are now comprised in the fine farm which is 
now his home. His residence is on section 23. 
He partially improved this land before his mar- 
riage. He continued to mine a portion of the 
time, until it ceased to be remunerative. July 



850 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



20, 1855, he was married to Mary Martin, 
daughter of John Martin, who settled in Exeter 
in 1849, and died here in 1864. His widow now 
lives in Richland county. Mr. and Mrs. Dun- 
bar have had fourteen children, nine of whom 
are living, all of whom reside with their parents, 
except two sons — Joseph, who lives in this 
town, and John, who lives in Golden, Col. The 
others are — Jane, Tilla, Jeremiah, Bertha R., 
Archie D. and Charles T. Those who have 
died are : Claude, Mary, wife of W. Q. Ross; 
Inez, Rozena M. and Sarah A. In 1836, while 
at the diggings, Mr. Dunbar and James Slater, 
spaded one acre of land and planted it with 
corn. The crop they sold to Joseph Kelley, who 
had just settled on a farm south of Monroe. The 
first death in Exeter, after Mr, Dunbar's arrival, 
was a child of Thomas Welch, the next was 
that of a man named Cheney, who died about 
1838. It was thought desirable to bury Mr. 
Cheney beside the child of Mr. Welch, three 
miles distant. The miners at that time had 
nearly all left for New Diggings, just 
discovered at Blue Mounds, consequently help 
was scarce. The carrying of the body to its 
place of burial was undertaken by two or three 
men, who after accomplishing about one third 
of the distance, had to abandon it. Mr. Dun- 
bar went some distance after a yoke of oxen, 
with which the task was completed. 

George Magee, a native of Ireland, was born 
in the county of Armagh in 1813. He emi- 
grated to Canada in 1821, and in 1836 went to 
Vicksburg, Miss. The following year he moved 
to Galena, 111., and the same year came to the 
town of Exeter and bought 500 acres of land 
on section 25, on which he settled. He was one 
of the first men in (Treen county to make farm- 
ing an avocation. Mr. Magee was, in his prime, 
a pusliing, energetic, money-making man, and 
at an early day, had the sagacity to see the ad- 
vantages which the county possessed as an ag- 
ricultural county. He was married in 1842, to 
Lucy Eggleston, who was of English desceni. 
In 1852 he weiit to California and returned in 



1855. He then devoted his time entirely to 
farming until 1875, when he moved to Evans- 
ville, where he now lives. He owns several 
buildings in that city, which he rents. He also 
owns his original farm of 500 acres in Exeter. 
His wife died in 1871. They had nine chil- 
dren — Jennie, wife of F. Shergar, of Evans- 
ville; Mary, wife of A. S. Lewis; Julia, wife of 
A. W. Patterson, of Howard Co., Neb.; Hattie, 
widow of John T. O. Swager, living in Evans- 
ville; Welsley died in infancy, in 1852; Emma, 
wife of O. Case, lives in Dane county; William, 
who lives on the homestead, and is unmarried; 
Lillie is the wife of Walter Hopkins; and 
George Jr. William and George Jr., rent the 
homestead farm of their father. George .Tr. 
was married Sept. 11, 1883, to Eflie Marshall, 
daughter of J. H, Marshall, of this town. 

John Hosken, son of Richard and Mary Hos- 
ken, was born Jan. 15, 1844, in the town of 
Exeter. He now owns and resides upon the 
land bought from the speculators by his father, 
on section 22, in 1854. He was reared a farmer, 
and lived with his parents until their death, 
except during the short time he served in the 
army. He enlisted in company F, 42d Wiscon- 
sin Volunteers, and served until the regiment 
was mustered out, June 20, 1865. July 13, 
1874, he was married to Mrs. Brabyn, widow of 
William Brabyn, of England, where her hus- 
band died. She came to this town in July, 
1809, with four children — Joseph, now in Colo- 
rado; William H., now in Washington Terri- 
tory; Elena, wife of Charles Storrs, of Dane 
county; and Mary Jane, who lives with her 
mother. A child, named William J., of Mr. 
Hosken's deceased brother, Joseph D., was made 
one of the family, but he died Oct. 27, 1881, at 
the age of ten years, Mr. and Mrs. Hosken 
have no children. His father, Richard Hosken, 
was born .June 20, 1801, in England, where he 
learned the trade of carpenter. In his youth 
he came to the United States, landing in New 
York in November, 1838 or 1839, iti company 
with some others and their families. He 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



851 



reached Wiota, where he worked at his trade 
among the miners until 1841. lie was married 
to Mary Cherry, a native of Dublin, Ireland, 
who came from there with a brother and two 
sisters in 1840. After marriage he bought land 
in Exeter, where he settled. Four children 
were born to them — Joseph D., who died in 
1871; John, the subject of this sketcli; William, 
who died in 1867; Ann J., wife of Charles 
George, died in 1879. Mr. Hosken died Nov. 
17, 18t)9. His wife died April 1, 1872. 

John Ferguson was born in county Derry, 
Ireland, in J810. In 1836 he came to the United 
States, and in November of that year came to 
Wiota, Lafayette county, where he engaged in 
mining, which business he followed successfully 
a few years. Meanwhile he purchased 200 
acres of land on sections 26 and 27, town of 
Exeter, with a view of making it his future 
home. Later he added 200 acres to this pur- 
chase, and after his marriage made his resi- 
dence thereon. He was married Oct. 3, 1845, 
to Almeda Porter, Jacob Lindslay, Esq , officiat- 
ing. Six children were born to them, of whom 
are now living — William, living in Pocahontas 
Co., Iowa; EUeanor, wife of Isaac Green, of 
Dedham, Iowa; John and Nathaniel, living at 
home; and Sarah, who is a school teacher, 
makes her home with her mother. John Fer- 
guson died at his home March 13, 1875. He 
was a good citizen, and will long be remem- 
bered for his sterling qualities. He was quite 
•prominent in town affairs. His widow now 
lives on the old homestead with three of her 
children. Mrs. Ferguson was the daughter of 
an old pioneer, John Porter, who was an early 
settler in every place he ever lived after attain- 
ing manhood. Mrs. Ferguson was the third 
child born where the city of Springfield, the 
capital of the State of Illinois, now stands. 
It was then, April 29, 1826, only a squatter vil- 
lage. John Porter was born in Harrison Co., 
Ky., in 1796. He was married in his native 
State to Nancy Turley. Two children were 
born to them — James, now a resident of Cali- 



fornia; and Urana, widow of Joseph McConnell, 
who lives in this town. Mr. Porter removed 
to Sangamon county about 1820, where his wife 
died, and he was married to Sarah Brents in 
1825. He was one of the early settlers of that 
county. Sarah Brents was bom in Kentucky 
in 1801. Her widowed mother and family 
came into Livingston Co., Ky., as pioneers. 
John Porter, by this second marriage, had 
eight children, and all were living in 1884 — 
Almeda, widow of John Ferguson, the subject 
of this sketch; John, living at Fort Dodge, 
Iowa; Nathaniel, now in California; Susan, wife 
Christopher Steele, now living in Missouri; 
William, in California; George, in Fort Dodge, 
Iowa; Rebecca, wife of T. D. Day, of this 
town; and Mary, who is married, and living fn 
Iowa. John Porter, as stated, was always a 
frontier man. He removed from Sangamon 
county to Pike Co., Mo., in 1831, and from there 
to Lafayette county, this State, in 1833, where 
he farmed until 1838, then came to Monroe, 
this county, and lived three years, then to the 
old village of Exeter in 1841, and later bought 
land on section 35, where he lived until about 
1865, when he made a home with his son, 
George, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. His wife died 
in July, 1875, and he died the May previously. 

Milton Ross was born at Wiota, Wis., July 
7, 1839. He is the son of Capt. Leonard and 
Sarah E. Ross. Capt. Leonard Ross was born 
at Ludlow, Vt., in 1806. When eighteen years 
of age he left home and learned the cabinet- 
maker's trade, and afterwards went to Little 
Falls, N. Y., where he kept tavern, in company 
with another man. He removed from thence to 
Wisconsin, in 1836, locating at Wiota, Lafay- 
ette county, where he rented land and engaged 
in farming and mining. Jan. 8, 1838, he was 
married to Sarah E. Burrilte, who was born in 
Indiana, Jan. 30, 1821, and came to Lafayette 
county with her father's family, in 1828. Her 
fatlier's name was William Burritte. He came 
to Wisconsin with Major Deviese, who was the 
first permanent settler in Exeter. Mr. Burritte 



852 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



died in Wiota, Lafayette county, in 1859. Mr. 
and Mrs Ross lived in Wiota, after their mar- 
riage, two years, then catne to the town of Exe- 
ter, and settled on section 8. He was a man of 
means, and a most valuable acquisition to the 
new settlement. He bought land on sections 7, 
8, 9, 16 and 17, about 900 acres in all. He died, 
deeply regretted, at his residence on section 8, 
June 3, 1856. His widow still survives and 
lives with her son, Milton, at the homestead. 
She has a vivid recollection of the excitement 
attending the Black Hawk War. Her father 
took an active part in attending to the safety of 
families of the settlers, and in restoring confi- 
dence among the timid. Eight children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross — Milton, William H., 
Leonard and Otis, who was killed at the battle 
of Petersburg, June 18, 1864. He was a mem- 
ber of the 37th Wisconsin Volunteers. Henry 
died in infancy; Daniel died at the age of twenty 
months. He became entangled in a rope swing, 
and died from strangulation. On the same day 
that this sad accident occurred, one of their twin 
children, Edward, died, aged five months. The 
other twin, Edwin, died eight days later. Milton 
Ross, after the death of his father, remained 
with his mother until he enlisted in the 8th 
Wisconsin regiment, the "Eagle" regiment. He 
was in all of the engagements of the regiment, 
except during the Red River campaign. He 
participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the 
battles of Corinth and luka. After the war, he 
returned to farm life, and April 15, 1SG6, was 
married to Laura A. Brayton, daughter of Joseph 
Brayton. She was born in Juda, in 1840. Her 
father settled in New Glarus, in 1848. He now 
lives in Fayette Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ross 
have no children. 

Leonard Ross, son of Capt. Leonard Ross, 
was born in the towti of Exeter, April 3, 1842. 
He lived with his mother until after his mar- 
riage with Mary Turner, which occurred Dec. 
25, 1863. She was a daughter of Robert Turner, 
who came from New York, to Racine county, 
in an early day, and, about 1860, to Dane county, 



and now lives in Belleville. Five children were 
born to them, of whom four are living, and at 
home — Otis, William L., Edgar L. and Franklin 
Grant. Henry, the last born, died young. Mrs. 
Ross died March 11, 1880. June 30, 1881, Mr. 
Ross was married to Mary J. Rossi tter,of Brook- 
lyn. By this marriage there are two children — 
John Henry and Luella. Mr. Ross owns one 
of the tine farms of Exeter, containing 198 acres, 
on sections 8 and 9. He also has thirty acres of 
valuable timber land on section 17. His im- 
provements are excellent, and the farm is in a 
good state of cultivation. Mr. Ross has served 
as town treasurer, and was, in 1S84, elected to 
the town board. 

Dr. Augustus Ross was born in Ludlow, Vt., 
May 27, 1816, and was married to Amanda 
Smith, Oct. 13, 1837, who was born in the same 
town May 26, 1818. Mr. Ross became a botan- 
ical physician, commonly called in those days 
" Phomsonian." In 1849 he came to the town 
of Exeter on a visit to his brother, Capt. Leon- 
ard Ross, and in 1855 brought his family here, 
and bought 100 acres of land on sections 16 
and 17, making his residence on the latter, 
where he died Jan. 26, 1863. His widow, in 
good health, in 1884, was residing on the home- 
stead. Dr. Ross was an able and good man. 
In Vermont he had an extensive practice, in 
fact, had too much to do, causing him to desire 
a home life on a farm, hence he came west. In 
this town, with the exception of attendance 
upon a few families, personal friends and rela- 
tives, he did no medical work. His death was 
much regretted by all his acquaintances. Their 
children were — Margaret, born July 8, 1839; 
Edgar II., born May 26, 1847. He enlisted in 
the 3d Wisconsin Volunteers, Capt. Flood's 
company; was wounded and taken prisoner 
near Harper's Ferry, and died of lock-jaw at 
Charleston, Va., Nov. 1, 1861; Joseph W.,born 
March 18, 1843; Marion F., born Nov. 15, 1844; 
A. E., born Dec. 13, 1846; Ada E., born April 
6, 1849; Columbus C, born April 16, 1851, and 
died April 13, 1855; Wilbur born March 29, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



853 



1854; Louisa A., born Jan. 27, 1857; and Carrie, 
born Nov. 24, 1862. Wilbur Ross lives on 
the homestead with his mother. He was mar- ' 
ried March 13, 1881, to Caroline Hallarbush. 
They have two children — Myrtie May, born 
Feb. 1, 1882, and George A., born April 1, 1884. 

William H. Ross, son of Capt. Leonard Ross, 
was born Sept. 8, 1840, in the old village of Ex- 
eter, where his parents resided a few weeks 
after their arrival in this town. Mr. Ross is 
probably the oldest person living in the town 
who was born within its limits. He lived with 
his parents until tbe death of his father, and re- 
mained with his mother until he enlisted in 
company H, of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteers. 
His brother, Milton Ross, enlisted on the same 
day, Sept. 8, 1861, that being the day on which 
William H. attained his majority. His mother 
had refused her consent previously. His regi- 
ment was a part of A. J. Smith's corps through 
the siege of Vicksburg and battles of Corinth, 
luka, etc. He took part in the Red River cam- 
paign, and participated in twenty-seven battles 
and skirmishes. He was a gallant soldier, and 
was discharged at the expiration of his term of 
enlistment, in September, 1864. He was mar- 
ried Dec. 12, 1871, to Margaret Greidenwise, 
born in New Jersey in 1845. They have had 
four ciiildren — Duane, Eldora, who died at the 
age of seven years; Bertha, who died at the age 
of four years, and Theron. Mr. Ross owns a 
valuable farm of 160 acres on section 16, where 
he resides; also twenty acres of timber on sec- 
tion 17. 

Thomas B. Richards, a native of Cornwall, 
England, was born Feb. 25, 1827. His 
father, John Richards, with his wife and seven 
childreti came to the United States, landing at 
New York in November, 1839, and came west 
by way of the Erie canal and the lakes to De- 
troit, where they remained until the following 
February, then started overland with a team, 
which he purchased in Detroit, and went to 
Chicago, tlience to Freeport, then a village of 
lialf a dozen liouses, and one iiotel. He then 



proceeded to Wiota, where they arrived March 
1, 1840. Here he remained three years, work- 
ing in the lead mines He then came to Exeter 
and bought 200 acres of land on section 22, up- 
on which he settled permanently. Of his chil- 
dren, Louisa was married to John Toay and re- 
sides at Mineral Point; Thomas B., subject of 
this sketch, lives in Exeter on his finely im- 
proved farm of 160 acres, on section 10; John 
Y. B. owns the homestead farm in Exeter and 
lives at Dayton, with his widowed sister, Eliza- 
beth, as housekeeper. Her deceased husband 
was Alfred Pascoe. Mary Ann is the wife of 
Edward Ellis, of Brooklyn; Robert lives at 
Belleville; James lives in Smith Co., Kansas; 
Sarah, widow of Jasper Orvis, lives at Mineral 
Point; Joanna is the wife of Edward Curnew, 
of Mineral Point. Joanna and Elizabeth were 
born at Wiota, in this State. The father, John 
Richards, died Aug. 7, 1854. His widow sur- 
vived until Aug. 14, 1882. Mr. Richards is 
well and kindly remembered by the early set- 
tlers of this town. The subject of this sketch, 
Thomas B. Richards, was wedded with Abigail 
Winston, Feb. 20, 1856. She was a resident of 
Rock county, but born in the State of New 
York. Two sons were born to them — John W., 
who now lives in Idaho; and Willie B., who is 
married and living in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. 
Mrs. Richards died Jan. 24, 1S75. Mr. Rich- 
ards was again married Nov. 22, 1876, to Nancy 
Moore, daughter of Joseph Moore, who settled 
in Exeter in 1851, and died in January, 1882. 
His widow still survives, residing with hersons, 
James and Leslie Moore, at the homestead farm. 
Mr, Richards has by his second marriage two 
children — Mary Louisa and Elizabeth Elsie. 
Pie has owned and resided upon his farm since 
1856. He has made valuable improvements. 

Peter Parkin was born in Yorkshire, England, 
in the year 1825. Mis father, Robert Parkin, 
came to the United States in 1842 with liis wife 
and nine children, landed at New Orleans and 
proceeded directly to St. Louis, remaining there 
one year before deciding where to make a 



854 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



home; but in 1843 came to this county, reaching 
the village of Exeter January 22, and shortly 
afterward bought land in New Glarus; made a 
home there ten years or more, then sold out and 
moved to the town of Exeter, buying 160 acres 
of land on section 18, and died in 1856; his wife 
died in 1870. They liad nine children — George, 
now in Minnesota; John, who died in the town 
of Exeter; Charle8,who died in Mount Pleasant; 
Peter, the subject of this sketch; Ann, a daugh- 
ter left in England, deceased; James, who lives 
in Eden, Dak.; Henry, living in liutler Co., 
Iowa; Robert, living in Canton, Dak.; and Eliza- 
beth, wife of Eli George, now living in Kansas. 
Peter Parkin, the subject of tliis sketcl), was 
married to Mrs. Eliza Holland in 18 31. She 
was born in Malburn, England, in 1823. Her 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Steed, died in St. 
Louis. She has one sister, Mrs. Hannah Muir, 
living in New Orleans, and a brother, John, in 
Malburn, England. An adopted son, Peter, 
taking by them when he was eleven months old, 
lives at home; Frances, an adopted daugliter, 
was married to Mortimer White, and lives in 
Dayton. Mr. Parkin was put in the coal mines 
at seven years of age, where he worked with 
his father. He was not given an opportunity 
to secure an education, but nevertheless he has 
been successful. His farm consists of 102 acres, 
and is pleasantly located on section 11, almost 
adjoining the village plat. 

Josiah P. Morse was born in Swanzey, 
Cheshire Co., N. H., Dec. 31, 1803. His father, 
Josialj Morse, was born in the same town. The 
latter, when the son was quite young, moved to 
Massachusetts, and from there, after a short 
residence, to Erie Co., N, Y., where he died. 
Josiah P. Morse was married in Erie county, in 
1827, to Azubah Estey, and lived in the State of 
New York until 1843, when he came west and 
lived on a rented farm iti McTIenry Co., III., 
a short time, then catue to Green county and 
bought 400 acres of land on section 10, town of 
Exeter, where he has since lived, althoiigli 
he has disposed of nearly all the original pur- 



chase. He is now in comfortable circumstances 
financially, and has retired from active business 
life. His wife died in 1875. They have had 
five children, two of whom are now living — 
Wallace W., who served in the 8th Wisconsin 
Battery during the war, and now lives in Faulk 
Co., Dak,; Minerva, wife of Abner Townsend, 
Wadena Co., Minn. George also served in the 
8th Wisconsin Battery, and died soon after com- 
ing home, from disease contracted while in the 
service; Rowena, deceased, who was the wife 
of Elbert Bowker; and Henry, who died when 
about twenty-five years old. Mr. Morse married 
Mrs, Elvira Webb, widow of Thomas C. Webb, 
who died in September, 1865, in Dane county. 
She had six children by her first marriage — 
Franklin and James, living at Kendall, Monroe 
Co., Wis.; Mary, wife Albert Bowker, of Dane 
county; Helen, wife of William Chatterton, of 
Dane county, and her two youngest daughters, 
Emma E and Rose F., who make their home 
with their step-father. 

John W. Norton came to Wisconsin in 1846, 
and spent one summer in looking over the State 
and also visited Iowa. The following Avinter 
he taught the first school in the present village of 
Clinton Junction. In 1847, his father, William 
Norton, came to this county, accompanied by 
his wife and daughter, and settled on section 10, 
of the town of Exeter. John W. was born in 
Monroe Co., N. Y., Ma) 1, 1826, and was 
there reared upon a farm. His father's family 
consisted of eight children — Stella, deceased, 
wife of Daniel Owen, of Yates Co., N. Y.; 
Samuel, who died in Buffalo, N. Y.; Caroline, 
wife of Robert Turner, of Belleville, Wis.; 
Jerusha, wife of A. C. Ressequie, of Janesville; 
Rachel, wife of R. Gardiner, of Rhode Island; 
George W., who died at Columbus, Ohio, aged 
twenty years; John W., the subject of this 
sketch, and Jane A., widow of Thomas Hills, 
living in Janesville. William Norton died in 
April, 1852. His burial was the first in the 
Dayton cemetery. His wife. Amy Norton, died 
in June, 1872. The homestead farm is now 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



855 



owned by John W., who was married March 5, 
1853, to Emma A. Moore, in Monroe Co., N. 
Y. They were schoolmates in former days. 
The following year the great loss of his life 
occurred, in the death of his wife, who died at 
the birth of a child, who also died. Since that 
time Mr. Norton has lived unmarried. He sold 
his farm of 300 acres, in 1867, to E. Wade, but 
came in possession of it again, in 1878. He 
lived in Belleville, Dane county, during the 
meantime He is a much respected citizen and 
a man who tends strictly to his own affairs. 

Peolin P. Havens was born in Hartford, 
Washington Co., N. Y., May 1, 1803. In his 
youth he learned the blacksmith trade, at which 
he became a master workman. At the age of 
twenty-two years he left home, and for the 
next ten years worked at his trade in different 
parts of the State. The last work which he 
did, as a hired man, was in New York city. In 
1835, he went from there to Evans, Erie county, 
and worked in a shop of his own sevei'al years. 
He went from Evans to Orleans county, and in 
1845 came to Wisconsin, and worked at black- 
smithing two years in Evansville. In the fall 
of 1849 he came to Exeter and bought 240 acres 
of land. The village plat of Dayton was made 
by him at the time of his purchase. He opened 
the first blacksmith shop in that part of the 
town, in 1847. He was atone time interested in 
the water power at Dayton. Mr. Havens was 
married in Erie Co., N. Y., to Betsey A. 
Phillips, who was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., 
Jan. 23, 1812. She died in Exeter, Dec. 29, 
1872. The children born to them were — Luther, 
who was born in 1835 and died March 11, 1866, 
from disease contracted while a prisoner at An- 
dersonville. He was a member of the 8th Wis- 
consin regiment; Harriet, born in 1836, is the 
wife of James Morris, of Milwaukee; Forrester, 
born April 10, 1838, now owns the old home- 
stead, and his father lives with him; Livonia, 
born in 1840, died at the ag« of four years; Al- 
bert P., born in 1843, was a member of the 42d 
Wisconsin Volunteer regiment. Mr. Havens 



has led an active and useful life. Now in his 
declining years he has the confidence and re- 
spect of many warm friends. Forrester Havens, 
who now lives upon the homestead farm, was 
married Jan. 3, 1865, to Elizabeth Ellis, daugh- 
ter of Mark Ellis. They have three children — 
Jessie, born in 1866; Aldulah, born in 1870; and 
Theodore, born in 1876. 

William F, Fulton was born in Clarion Co., 
Penn., Oct. 13, 1817. In his youth he learned 
the carpenters' trade. He was married in 1839, 
to Sarah Silver, after which he lived in Mercer 
county, in the same State, until 1845, when he 
came to Wisconsin. He spent one winter at 
Richland Grove, then moved to the "Mitchell 
place," in Mount Pleasant, which he rented one 
year, then removed to Attica and remained till 
the spring of 1848. He then bought forty acres 
of land on section 35, of Exeter, upon which 
he settled permanently. He afterwards added 
101 acres to his farm, making it contain 141 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton had, when they 
came to Wisconsin, three eons — William S., 
now living in Montcalm, Mich.; Albert and 
James T., who resides in this town. Seven 
children were born after their arrival — Elvira, 
wife of Theodore Torgorson, of Madison; 
Ella, who died at the age of three years; 
Cynthia, wife of William Edwards, of VVar- 
saw. Wis.; Alfred, who died aged seventeen 
years; Frank, living at Wilmot, Dak.; Edward, 
also living at Wilmot, and Arthur, who lives 
with his mother on a part of the homestead 
farm. In October, 1874, Mr. Fulton moved to 
Cresco, Iowa, where he died July 16, 1878. His 
widow remained there until the fall of 1882. 
Mr Fulton was prominently identified with the 
public affairs ot" the town, and was an honored 
citizen. He served several terms as town treas- 
urer, also as a member of the town board. 
Albert Fulton resiiles on section 35, on the 
homestead purchased by his father in 1848. He 
was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Oct. 19, 1842. 
He came west with his parents and remained 
with them until tlie time of his marriage, Nov. 



856 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



27, 1869, with Dora A. Gater, who was born in 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 27, 1846. Tliey 
have four children — Alma, born in 1870; Lizzie, 
born in 1872; Blanche, born in 1874 and Grace 
born in 1876. 

Mathew Edgar was born in Cumberland Co., 
England, in the Lake district, Aug. 24,1817. 
In 1839 he went to St. Croix, West India 
Islands, and engaged on a sugar plantation, 
where he worked seven years; from there he 
went to Moore township, Canada West, and 
lived there, and part of the time near Wood- 
stock, until 1849, in which year he came to 
Wisconsin and made his present location on 
section 32. He owns here a tine stock farm of 
140 acres; he lived the first five years here alone. 
In 1854 he married Jane Wallace, daughter of 
Samuel Wallace, of this town. She died Aug. 
24, 1859, leaving two children — Isabell I. J,, 
wife of M. L. Rossiter, of Dixon Co., Neb , 
and Anna, who is a school teacher in 
Butler Co., Neb. On May 21, I860, Mr. 
Edgar married Nancy Hanson, of Troy, Wal- 
worth Co., Wis. They have two children — 
Mathew, Jr., born in 1862; Mary S., born in 1864. 
both are living at home. Mr Edgar does all he 
can to have his children fitted by education to 
help themselves through life, and counts noth- 
ing lost which aids in attaining that object. 

Henry Albly was born in canton Glarus, 
Switzerland, May 8, 1823. He was an engraver 
by trade, but by reason of bad health had to 
give it up. With his father, Henry Albly, and 
his brother, Jacob, he came to the United 
States in 1845. 'I hey came directly to New 
Glarus, reaching there about two weeks later 
than the first colonists. His father was enti- 
tled to twenty acres of land, which he took on 
section 15. The father intended to have his 
wife join him here as soon as he could make a 
home for iier, but he was taken sick and died 
in the fall of 1846, of intermittent fever. 
Jacob, the brother, was married in Jo Daviess 
Co., 111., and made his liome there, improving a 
good farm and aciuunuiating money. His wife 



died in 1877, leaving several children, when he 
concluded to take his money and return to 
Switzerland. In this he was opposed by his 
children, and finally was murdered by his son 
Joseph, who was tried and convicted for this 
unnatural crime and sentenced to an imprison- 
ment in an Illinois penitentiary for life. A 
cousin of Joseph, son of a sister of his mother, 
was also tried for this crime. His name was 
Peter Miller. The jury failed to agree upon a 
verdict, and the prosecution was abandoned. 
Henry Albly, after his father's death, succeeded 
to his land. In 1847, October 26, he was mar- 
ried to Mary Becker. She was born March 18, 
1827, and came from Switzerland with her 
brother, Josling Becker, settling in New Glarus 
in July, 1847. They have had six children — 
Solomon, born in 1848, who was killed by light- 
ning in the town of Exeter, Feb. 26, 1881; 
Henry Jr., born in 1850, now keeping hotel at 
New Glarus; Mary, wife of Nicholas Durst, of 
New Glarus; Magdalena, wife of Thomas Kun- 
dert; Elbetha, wife of Henry Durst, of New 
Glarus, and Jacob. Mr. Albly lived in New 
Glarus until 1864, owning 100 acres of land on 
sections 15 and 16. During that year he sold 
his New Glarus property and bought 235 acres 
on section 18, Exeter, where he has since re- 
sided. He served several terms as assessor in 
New Glarus, and one term as town treasurer. 
In Exeter lie has been several times chairman 
of the town board, and has served several 
terms as assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Albly were the 
first couple married in New Glarus. 

William Wilson was born of Scotch parentage 
in the north of Ireland, in 1809. When ten 
years old he emigrated with a brother to Can- 
ada. In June, 1837, he was married to Eliza 
Argue. In 1839 he went to Joliet, III., where 
he worked twD years on the canal construction. 
In 1841 he settled in Milton, Rock county, 
where he lived until 1847, then he moved into 
Montrose, Dane county, residing there until 
1853, when he settled on section 12, town of 
Eveh r, where he made a farm and lived the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



B5Y 



rect of his life. He died May 22, 1883. His 
wife died April 5, 18'74. Five children were 
born to them — John, born in Canada; Eliza, de- 
ceased wife of Lyman Hoskins, of Dane county; 
William, of Idaho; James and Alexander, born 
Oct. 1, 1855. 

John Wilson, son of William Wilson, was 
born in Canada in 1838. He lived with his 
father until he bought the old homestead of 200 
acres. June 7, 1880, John was married to a 
daughter of Stephen and Margaret Ann Jackson. 
The parents ai-e of Scotch descent, born in Ire- 
land. They came to the United States and set- 
tled in Montrose, in Dane county, in 1857. The 
parents are both dead. Mr. Wilson's wife died 
in October, 1872, leaving one son — Wiliiam, 
born in June, 1872. In March, 1883, John sold 
the old homestead, and now lives in Belleville, 
Dane county. 

James Wilson, son of William Wilson, lived 
with his parents until after his marriage, which 
occurred Jan. 1, 1874. His wife was Hannah 
Jackson, a sister of the deceased wife of his 
brother John. They have two children — Jes- 
sie, born March 7, 1881; and Mina, born Dec. 
22, 1883. He rented lands until June, 18^1, 
when he bought the farm he now occupies on 
section 8. This farm is well improved, and 
contains 120 acres. 

Marion F. Ross was born in Ludlow, Vt., 
Nov. 15, 1844. He was married Nov. 4, 18(36, 
to Alma J. Gassett. She was also a native of 
Ludlow, Vt., born Oct. 16, 1844. She came 
west with her parents in the spring of 1854. 
They settled in the town of Exeter, on seclioii 
10. They now live a retired life in Belleville. 
Her brother Julius lives on the homestead. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ross commenced housekeeping with 
his mother after marriage, living there about 
two years, then followed a resilience of about 
eight months in Galesburg, III. Returning to 
this county Mr. Ross bought a farm on section 
31, town of Brooklyn, where he resided until 
the fall of 1882, when he sold out and bought 
his present fine farm on sections 3 and 4, of the 



town of Exeter, containing 302 acres. They 
have five children— Archer F., born in 1868; 
Lucius A., born in 1871; Curtis H., born in 
1873; Mabel A., born in 1875; and Vernon M., 
born in 1881. 

David Sullivan is a native of Otsego Co., N. 
Y., born May 16, 1814. He lived in different 
parts of that State during his younger days. 
He was married Sept. 10, 1839, to Jane Doty, 
whc was born in Cazenovia, Madison Co.,N. Y., 
Sept. 19, 1818. Mr. Sullivan owned a farm and 
followed that avocation, working a portion of 
each year in a saw mill, until he sold his prop- 
erty in 1850 and made his home in this town, 
locating on section 10, where he now lives upon 
a farm of 128 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan 
have had twelve children, seven of whom are 
living — James, Catharine, Henrietta M., Caro- 
line A., William H., George E. and Oscar VA". 
James and Catharine are living in Belleville, 
Dane county. The others reside with their 
parents. 

William M. Brooks came to Green county in 
1854, settling then in the town of York, where 
he entered 200 acres located on sections 31 aiiU 
32, and resided until 1878. Then having the 
place well improved, he sold it to G. Post, and 
moved to Monroe. In the spring of 1881 he 
came to Brooklyn, and in 1884, removed to Day- 
ton, Green county. Mr. Brooks is a native of 
Pennsylvania, born April 26, 1824. There he 
spent his younger days and was married to Fan- 
nie Rogers, also a native of Pennsylvania. He 
came from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, in 1854. 
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have six children — F. M., 
C. E., Stella E., E. G., W. R. and Sarah. 

F. M. Brooks was born in Bradford Co., Penn., 
and came with his parents to Green county. He 
was educated in the common schools, and at the 
age of nineteen years began teaching school, 
which lie continued eleven terms. He has also 
engaged in selling farm machinery four seasons. 
He sold farm machinery for J. S. Bell & Co., in 
1RS4, at l>rr<»Ulvn. (tvopm Co., Wis. 



60 



868 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Calvin Morse and his brother, Elias C, came 
to Exeter in 1854, arriving May 1. Their fa- 
ther, Milton M. Morse, came the next month, 
and settled on section 15, where he purchased 
160 acres of land, upon which he still resides. 
Mr. and Mrs. Milton M. Morse were married 
Sept. 8, 1831. Their son, Elias C, lives with 
them at the homestead. They have one daugh- 
ter living — Mrs. Frances Byington, of Juneau 
county, in this State. Calvin, the subject of 
this sketch, was born in the town of Hamburg, 
Erie Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1832. He made his 
home with his parents till Aug. 15, 1862, when 
he enlisted in company F, of the 31st Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, and served gallantly 
until June 20, 1865. He took part in the Atlanta 
campaign, following Sherman's banners to the 
sea and up through the Carolinas. He was pres- 
ent at the review of Sherman's grand army in 
June, 1865. After the war, he continued to re- 
side with his parents until 1872. He was mar- 
ried in that year, to Mrs. Martha A. Dunham, a sol- 
dier's widow. Her former husband, WillardH. 
Dunham, was a member of the 13th Michigan 
Volunteers, and died in the hospital at Wash- 
ington, D. C, in May, 1865. She was born in 
the town of Wheeler, Steuben Co., N. Y., and 
is a daughter of Asa Wilson, who died in this 
town, in 1864. Her mother is now the wife of 
Robert Turner, of Belleville, Dane county. Her 
brother, John Wilson, served in the 68th regi- 
ment of Indiana Volunteers, and died in 1874, 
from disease contracted while in the service. 
Mr. and Mrs. Morse have no children. Their 
residence is on section 15, where he has a finely 
improved farm of 100 acres. Mr. Morse was 
sheriff of Green county in 1879-80. 

Thomas Green was born in Derbyshire, Eng- 
land, March 8, 1841. His father, Joseph Green, 
with his wife and seven children, came to the 
United States, in 1851, coming directly from 
New York to Rock county, and locating in the 
town of Porter, where they bought a farm. 
There he lived until April, 1854, when he sold 
out and came to Exeter, where he bought the 



mill property from A. D. Kirkpatrick. He en- 
larged this mill, refitted it with new machinery, 
and successfully operated it until 1866, when he 
rented it to his son, Thomas, the subject of this j 
sketch. The children who came to the United 
States with the parents were — Thomas, John, 
who died in Dane county, in 1877; Richard, pro- 
duce dealer, at Middleton, Dane county; Mary, 
deceased, wife of W. B. Norris, of Topeka, 
Kansas; William, now in trade at Albany; Chan- 
try, who died in this county, in 1884; and Isaac, 
now a resident of Dedham, Iowa. Born in this 
State, were Herbert, (now in Albany); George, 
who lives in Dakota; and Frank, who lives on 
the old homestead farm in this county, town of 
Exeter. Joseph Green was one of the prominent 
citizens of this part of the county, always fore- 
most in all work which would advance the in- 
terests of his village. He was a member of the 
M E. Church, and a consistent, honest Christian 
man. He died Feb. 28, 1881. His widow, Ruth 
Green, survives him, and lives in the village of 
Dayton. Thomas Green succeeded to the mill 
property, by purchase, from the estate of his 
father, in the spring of 1881, and is now (1884) 
proprietor of the same. He was in the army a 
little more than four years, a member of the 8th 
Wisconsin Volunteers, known as the ''Eagle 
regiment." He was a gallant soldier, as his 
comrades testify. The family did loyal service 
during the war, for, John Green went out as 
captain in the 37th regiment, and was promoted 
to colonelcy; another brother, William, rose 
from the ranks to a lieutenancy. Sept. 17, 1866, 
Thomas Green was married to Isabella Beattie, 
who was born in Northumberland, England, 
Jan. 20, 1840, aTid came to this countiy, with 
some friends, in 1861, the year following, came 
to Monroe, and lived with a brother until her 
marriage. They have four children — Maggie, 
Ida, Jessie and Charles. Mr. Green owns fifty- 
two acres of improved land on section 1 1, bought 
from his father's estate. This with the mill 
property, gave him title to 105 acres. He is an 
energetic, reliable business man. 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



859 



Frank B. Green, son of Joseph and Ruth Green, 
was born May 17, 1859. He was married to 
Emma B. Jordan, Jan. 4, 1882, who was born in 
this town, Aug. 7, 1859. Mr. Green lives on the 
farm formerly owned by his father. This place 
is located on section 11, and contains 108 acres. 
Mr. and Mrs. Green have one child — Mabel 
Mary, born July 4, 1883. 

Arad Ross was born in Ludlow, Vt., April 8, 
1808, and was brought np on a farm. After at- 
taining his majority, he ran a peddling wagon 
about four years, selling dry goods, notions, etc. 
Then, shortly after being married, he went to 
farming. His wife was Hannah Batchelder, 
who was also a native of Vermont, born Sept. 
29, 1803. They were married Feb. 28, 1832. 
With his wife and five children he came west 
in 1854. The children were — AbelE., nowin 
this town ; George H., David B., who lives on 
the homestead with his father ; Hannah M., 
wife of Robert Richards, of Belleville, Dane 
county; Thomas A., of Belleville, and George, 
who served in the 46th regiment, Wisconsin 
Volunteers. Thomas A. served in the 5th Wis- 
consin regiment during the last two years of the 
Rebellion. The family first settled on section 
6, in 1854, where Mr. Ross bought 326 acres of 
land, made a farm and lived there two years, 
but not being able to give his children the de- 
sired school advanta2:es, he sold out and moved 
to Mount Pleasant, renting there two years, 
and then bought his present place, located on 
section 36. The original purchase was 200 
acres ; he now owns 100 acres, the care of 
which is in the hands of his son David B. His 
wife died March 1, 1872. 

David B. Ross was born in 1840, and has al- 
ways lived with his father. He was married 
Feb. 6, 1866, to Sarah Dodge, a daughter 
of Everett Dodge, a settler of Albany in 1845, 
and now a resident of Washington Co., Kan- 
sas. Mrs. Ross is an only child. Her mother 
died in 1852. Her maternal grandfather, J. 
Davis, came from Wyoming Co., N. Y., and 
was 6n6 of the early settlers of ^ttica. Mr. 



and Mrs. David B. Ross have five children 
— Linda. C, born in 1867 ; Percie H., born in 
1871 ; Irvie D., born in 1873 ; Myrtie E., born 
in 1876, and Luta M., born in 1883. 

Abel E. Ross, son of Arad Ross, was born 
Oct. 15, 1832, and came west with his father, 
and lived with him most of the time until his 
marriage with Rosina Redmond, Feb. 24, 1857. 
He owns a well improved farm, on section 36, 
consisting of 100 acres, where he lives. 

Henry G. Silvor was born in the town of Ship 
ton, county of Sherbrooke, Canada East, Oct. 
9, 1820. He was reared a farmer, but learned 
the carpenter trade when a young man. He 
followed that occupation until 1854. He was 
married in Canada, March 28, 1847, to Betsey 
M. Baker. She was born in the town of Ship- 
ton, Aug. 17, 1821. Two children were born 
to them in Canada — Augustus H., born Sept. 3, 
1850, and Clarence H., born June 10, 1852. The 
latter died Sept. 5, 1552. In the month of May, 
1854, Mr. Silvor came to Wisconsin and stopped 
in Janesville about three months, then came 
to Dayton, Green county, and purchased his 
present farm, which contains 160 acres. He went 
to Mineral Point and obtaiiu'd his deed to the 
land of Washburn & Woodman, Sej)teniber 10, of 
that year, then returned to Dayton and went to 
work on Joseph Green's gristmill. December 1 
he returned to Canada, and the following spring 
removed with his family to Dayton, where 
they arrived May 31, 1855. lie soon after com- 
menced building a house on his land, which 
when partly completed, the family moved into, 
and in which they have continued to reside 
until the present time (1884). The children 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Silvor, after their removal 
to Wisconsin, are — Mary E., born March 27, 
1856, and died in infancy. John A., born April 
26, 1858, and Arthur E., born Oct. 15, 1861. 
Sept. 12, 1S64, Mr. Silvor was bereaved by the 
de;v(h of his wife. He was again married Feb. 
28, 1865, to Lucinda E. Church, who was born 
in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 1832, 
and came to Wisconsin in August, 1860, stop- 



860 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



pingat Janesville with her brother, Jonathan 
Church. By this marriage there were two chil- 
dren — Herbert G., born June 9, 1867, and Leon 
E., born July 26, 1870. Mr. Silvor's eldest son, 
Augustus H., while in the discharge of his du- 
ties (temporarily engaged as brakeman) coup' 
ling cars at Harvard Junction, was caught be- 
tween the cars and thrown down, the train pass- 
ing over one of his legs. The injury resulted 
in his death Jan. 10, 1874. The four remaining 
sons make their home with their father and are 
all promising young men. Mr. Silvor is a stock- 
holder and director in the Grange store, estab- 
lished at Evansville, in 1874. He is a citizen 
who can always be counted upon to support any 
and all measures conducing to the good of the 
public. Mr. Silvor has held town offices nine 
years since he became a resident of the town of 
Exeter. 

Amos Scott purchased a large tract of land in 
the town of Exeter in 1854, and was there en- 
gaged in farming until his death. Mr. Scott 
was born in the State of Vermont, and served 
as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was thrice 
married, and reared a large family of children. 
Religiously he was a close communion Baptist. 

Moses W. Smith is a son of John B. and 
Amy G. Smith, who live in Belleville, and was 
born in the town of New Glarus, Aug. 31, 1857. 
John B. Smith, the father, was born in Paxton, 
Mass., May 24, 1812. His mother, Amy G. 
(Hilton) Smith, was born in Somerset Co., 
Maine, March 9, 1823. They were married 
Jan. 8, 1854, at Monticello, by A. P. Ross, Esq. 
John Smith came west in 1849, and settled on 
section 34, town of Brooklyn, in November of 
that year. He was then living with his first 
wife. She was formerly Vashti H. Stratton, 
and they were married in Worcester, Mass., by 
Rev, Dr. Bancroft, father of the great historian. 
This Mr. Smith is a lineal descendant in the 
eighth degree of Henry Smith, one of the Ply- 
mouth colonists. His wife died at Beloit, July 
20, 1852, aged thirty-six years. The children of 
John B. Smith by his first marriage who came 



west were — Sarah, wife of H. W. Smith, of 
Evansville; Mary, deceased wife of Joseph 
Hilton, of Washington; Josephine, wife of 
Samuel Lumbers, of Iowa; John S., living in 
Dakota; James S., of Minneapolis; Ellen, wife 
of Abijah Sissons, of Dakota; and Jason, living 
in Colfax Co., Neb. Two children were buried 
in Massachusetts. By the second marriage he 
has had four children — Gustavus B., who died 
when young; Moses W., Marcia H., wife of 
W. Jordan, of Belleville; and Jane Grace, 
now living with her parents. Mr. Smith's pres- 
ent wife was the widow of David M. Lane, to 
whom he was married in Embden, Somerset Co., 
Maine, Oct. 9, 1849. By this marriage there is 
one daughter living, now the wife of William 
Z. Trow, a resident of Plymouth Co., Iowa. 
Mrs. S'liith's father, John Hilton, was one of 
the early settlers of the town of Washington. 
He and four sons took adjoining lands in that 
town. He is not now living, but his widow sur- 
vives, and lives with her youngest son, James 
Hilton, in York. Moses W. Smith lives on sec- 
tion 1, town of Exeter, where he owns 150 
acres of land. He lived with his father until 
his marriage with Maria Jarman, which oc- 
curred, Nov. 11, 1882. By this marriage there 
is one daughter — Amy Grace, born May 18, 
18.84. 

George F.Ellis lives on section. 14, on the 
farm bought in the spring of 1855 by his father, 
Mark Ellis, of Alonzo Jordan. This farm con- 
tains 200 acres, forty acres being on section 22. 
Mark Ellis was born in Eckington, Derbyshire, 
England, in 1803. His father, the grandfather 
of George, died in 1811, and the grandmother 
while Mark was an infant. Mark Ellis learned 
the trade his father had acquired — sickle mak- 
ing — and worked at it until his marriage in 
1828 with Mary Watts. He then became a 
farmer, and lived as a renter on one farm 
twenty-two years. All the children were born 
there. Their names were — Olive, wife of Jo- 
seph Jackson, of Belleville, Dane county; she 
died in 1876: John, who lives in Fillmore Co., 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



861 



Minn.; William, who died in this town in 1863; 
Arthur, who "died in Cheyenne, Wy. T., in 
1872; Thomas, now living in Green county; 
Elizabeth, wife of Forester Havens, of the 
town of Exeter; George F., and Mary, wife of 
Edwin Jordan, living near Evansville. In the 
summer of 1850 Mark Ellis and his family 
came to the United States, landing at New 
York city, and coming directly to this State, 
reaching Janesville July 10. He rented a farm 
the next spring of Judge Gibbs, and the next 
year of Judge Bailey, and in 1853 of Wait 
Wright, lived there two years, and came to 
Exeter in 1855 and bought a farm, where he 
died Sept. 4, 1878. His wife died Sept. 11, 
1870. George F. Ellis and Flora Fitts were 
married Oct. 26, 1869. She is a daughter of 
Francis and Harriet Fitts, now residents of 
Belleville. Mr. Ellis is one among the best 
citizens of the town, is a good farmer, and a 
man of many excellent qualities. 

John Crawford is of Scotch descent, but born 
in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1820. His father 
and grandfather were both natives of Scotland. 
The latter was in the linen bleaching business 
in Ireland, and his father, Walter Crawford, 
was a merchant in the town of Arvagh, Ireland. 
John, when a boy, sold goods in his father's 
store. The family came to America and set- 
tled in New York. One son, William, died 
there. Two daughters, Ann Eliza and Jane, 
are married, and the former lives in Brooklyn 
and the latter in New York, where the parents 
died. They are buried in Greenwood cemetery. 
John Crawford was married in New York, Aug. 
11, 1854, to Fannie Moore, and for several 
years after his marriage, was engaged in the 
dry goods and millinery business ; disposing 
of his store in 1858, he came west to Green 
county and purchased 214 acres of land on sec- 
tion 6, of this town, and has resided here since 
that time. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have given 
their eight children a liberal education. The 
boys are farming and the girls teaching. 



Jonas S. Staley came to this county in 1856, 
and settled on section 21, of the town of 
Exeter, where he still resides. He owns 240 
acres of land. He was born in Sussex Co , N. 
J., June 22, 1812. He was reared on a farm, 
and has always been a farmer. His father, 
George Staley, died about seven years ago in 
New Jersey, aged eighty-seven years. His 
mother died in 1840. Jonas was married in 
1836, to Hannah Cron, a native of New Jerseys 
born May 8, 1820. They brought seven chil- 
dren with them to Wisconsin — Jacob, who lives 
in Hamilton Co., Iowa; Mary E., wife of Mar- 
cus Smith, of Crawford Co., Wis.; Jeremiah, 
who is married and living near his parents; 
Sarah A., wife of James Richards, of Smith 
Co., Kansas; Catharine, wife of Chris. Noggle, 
died in Kansas; John died young, and Margaret 
died in infancy. Four children were born in 
this State — Charles, living with his parents; 
Jonas, living on a part of his father's farm; 
Amy and Emily (twins) both of whom died 
young. Mr. Staley is a worthy citizen and 
highly respected by his neighbors. 

Elijah S. Ace was born in Sussex Co., N. J., 
Jan. 21, 1846. His father, Jacob Ace, was born 
in Pennsylvania, Nov. 12, 1809, and was mar- 
ried to Mary Staley, Feb. 7, 1832. She was 
born July 22, 1817, and is a sister of Jonas S. 
Staley, of the town of Exeter. Jacob Ace and 
family came to Exeter in 1857. His wife had 
died the previous year in New Jersey. He set- 
tled on section 16, and was living in 1884 with 
his sou, Simeon D. Ace, who came with his 
father to this town. He was born March 29, 
1850, and was married Aug. 17, 1873, to Ella 
A., daughter of Dr. Augustus and Amanda 
Ross; his farm of 120 acres is on section 16. 
Another brother, William, lives in Dane county. 
Elijah S. Ace, the subject of this sketch, en- 
listed March 30, 1864, in company C, 37th Wis- 
consin Volunteers. The regiment joined the 
army of the Potomac in May, 1864, near West 
Point, Va. Pie was in the assault upon the 
defenses of Petersburg April 2, 1865, the day 



862 



HISTORY OP GREEN COUNTY. 



before the evacuation of tlie place, and served 
creditably until the close of the war, then re- 
turning to Exeter, he engaged in farm work 
until 1878; that year he went to Cliicago and en- 
gaged in work for the Paruilee Transfer Com- 
pany, remaining in that employ two years, 
when he returned to their town, and was mar- 
ried Dec. 17, 1871, to Rozilla, daughter of N. 
S. and C. Park. She was born in this town, 
Sept. 25, 1854. He went back to Chicago and 
to his former employment, remained twenty- 
seven months, then returned to this town and 
bought the farm where he now lives, consisting 
of 110 acres. They have one child — Oscar B., 
born Sept. 25, 1874. Mr. Ace is one of the pub- 
lic spirited men of the town of Exeter. He was 
elected in 1881 and 1882 a member of side 
board of supervisors, and in 1883 was chairman, 
filling all these positions creditably. 

Granville W. Smith, son of Joseph VV. and 
Mary Smith, was born Oct. 3, 1848, in Susque- 
hanna Co., Penn., and now lives on the home- 
stead purchase made by his father, who is now 
dead. Mr. Smith was united in marriage Dec. 
9, 1869, with Alice J. Jipson, daughter of S. F. 
and Lucy J. Jipson, of Evausville. They have 
two children — Mary Alice, born Jan 14, 1871; 
and Milan F., born June 6, 1876. Mr. Smith is 
one of the reliable men of his neighborhood, 
respected by all for his integrity and kind 
neighborly qualities. His father, Joseph W. 
Smith, was born in Ludlow, Vt., Sept. 8, 1809, 
and was married April 2, 1835, to Mary Whit- 
ney, who was born March 26, 1814, and reared 
in the same town. In 1837 they went to Brad- 
ford Co., Penn. After four years residence 
there they moved to Susquehanna county and 
there remained until March, 1858, when he 
moved to this county, settling on section 23, 
town of Exeter, where he died Sept. 21, 1881. 
His widow in 1884 resided on the homestead 
with her son, G. W. Smith. Mr. Smith was a 
farmer most of the time while a resident of 
Pennsylvania, but owned a carding mill, cloth 
dressing and fulling machinery. In 1854, while 



at work in his factory, he was entangled in the 
machinery of a picking machine and so badly 
injured as to necessitate the amputation of his 
left arm. Mr. Smith was a man in Pennsylvania 
of high standing, serving there as county com- 
missioner. After coming to Exeter he was 
found to be the man needed in town and county 
affairs, and has held prominent positions with 
credit to himself and entire satisfaction to the 
people. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Smith have 
had four coildren — Henry, who died in infancy; 
Asahel, who died when eight years old; John 
S., now living at Evansville; and Granville W. 
Alonzo McKenny moved to this county in 
1853, and settled in the town of Brooklyn. He 
was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., in 1825. He 
was brought up on a farm, and married in his na- 
tive county to Lucinda Tilapaugh in 1847. His 
father, Chester McKenny, came with him to 
Green county, and bought the Attica grist and 
saw mills. Alonzo worked in the mills with his 
father some years. While thus engaged he 
bought 160 acres of land on section 36, of Exe 
ter. This land he afterwards sold and bought 
160 acres on sections 33 and 34 to which 
he removed and improved the land. He 
enlisted in the 3d regiment of Wisconsin 
volunteers and served with that regiment three 
years, then enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin Heavy 
Artillery, and died in the service with yellow 
fever,at New Orleans, in 1865. His widow was 
afterwards married to Thomas St. John and 
now (1884) resides in Mount Pleasant. Mr. 
and Mrs. McKenny reared five children who 
reached maturity — Burdette, who died, in 1873; 
Starlin, living in Exeter; Judson, living in Dane 
county; Loretta, wife of John Himmers, of De* 
catur; and Lydia, wife of Thomas Crampton, 
living in Dakota. Chester McKenny sold his 
Attica property to Weltman & Bartlett. His 
His death occurred at Attica, in 1861. His 
widow died in Mount Pleasant, in 1864. Star- 
lin McKenny wag married Jan. 1, 1881, to 
Rachel Crampton, daughter of Tiiomas Cramp- 
ton. She was bom in Exeter, Dec. 25, 18i5. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNT \". 



863 



Two children were born to them — Grace, born 
in May, 1882, and died in September of the 
same year; and Chester, born in February, 1884. 
Mrs. McKenny's parents live in the town of 
Brooklyn. She is one of a family of eigiit 
children — Thomas, Mary Ann, Charlie, 
Robert, Jessie, Ellen and James. The last 
named died at the age of two years. 

Josiah H. Marshall was born in Paris, N. ¥.•> 
Dec. 18, 1818. While a lad his father moved 
to Wayne county, in that State, and in 1832 
again removed to Orleans county, where Josiah 
attained manhood. His father was a farmer, to 
which avocation Josiah was reared. He ac- 
quired, when young, a good knowledge of vocal 
music, of which he was afterward a teacher. 
He was married in Madison Co., N. Y., in Octo- 
ber, 184(1, to Elizabeth O. Wood, daughter of 
Stephen A. Wood. She was born in that county 
May 18, 1821. A few months after marriage, 
they went to Pennsylvania for a short time, 
then returned to Orleans county. Mr. Marshall 
followed farming as a business, but taught vocal 
music every winter. In the fall of 1851 they 
came to Green county, having with them four 
children —Amelia, now the wife of S. T. Crouch, 
of the town of Washington; Mary E., now the 
wife of Joseph W. Ross, of Galesburg, II!.; 
Adelaide A., now the wife of A. H. Clark, of 
Peoria, 111., and Albert J. an ordained rainistor 
of the Free Will Baptist Church, now of 
Evansville. Albert spent nine years in mis- 
sionary work in India. He served in the 5tli 
Wisconsin Battery, from December, 1863, to 
the end of the war. One child was born in 
Wisconsin— Lucy C, now the wife of John C. 
Potter, of Pocahontas Co., Iowa. Mr. Marshall, 
on coming to this county, located in Mount 
Pleasant, and remained in that town farming 
and teaching vocal music until 1860, when lie 
bought his "present farm, which he now occupies, 
located on section 32. There were three other 
children born in this State — Annie J., now the 
wife of P. J. Shaw, of Pocahontas Co., Iowa; 
Minnie E., who died in infancy, and Effie E., 



wife of George Magee. Mrs. Marshall died 
Aug. 16, 1881. Mr. Marshall was married Feb. 
20, 1883, to Ella Turner, daughter of Thomas 
and Maria L. Turner, of Yates City, 111. Her 
father died in 1851. Her mother was married 
to Robert Hunter, June 6, 1855. Mr. Marshall 
is of an inventive turn of mind, and has secured 
patents on a number of inventions, which 
promise to be of much practical utility. 

Henry M. Barnes came to Green county in 
1860. He was born in Medina Co., Ohio, Aug. 
23, 1829, where he was reared upon a farm, and 
remained until the date of his coming to this 
county, with the exception of one year (1845) 
wliich he spent in Troy, Walworth county, in 
this Stato, where he was employed as clerk in a 
store. Oct. 28, 1852, he was married to Maria 
Edwards, in Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. 
Y. After marriage they resided in Medina 
county. The first year of their residence in 
Green county was spent in Attica. The next 
year (1861) they came to Exeter and rented the 
James Park farm. The following year he 
rented the Moses Burns farm, east of Dayton. 
In November, 1863, Mr. Barnes bought his pres- 
ent farm, on sections 22 and 23, of C. D. W. 
Leonard. His residence is on section 23. Mr. 
and Mrs. Barnes have had four children — Henry 
v., born in Ohio, and now in Idaho; Eveline, 
born in New York, and died in Exeter in 1861; 
Ileman E., born in Ohio, now living in Dakota; 
and Ida M., born in Exeter, and now living 
with her parents. Mr. Barnes has served nine 
years as justice of the peace, and as town clerk 
for the term of 1883-84, also notary public. 
He is a useful and public spirited citizen. 

Henry Hefty lives on section 18, town of 
Exeter, and owns a farm of 129 acres. He was 
born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, April 5, 
1831. He landed at New York in May, 1854, 
with his wife Regida, born Oct. 30, 1831. He 
was accompanied by a brother named Mathias, 
w^ho now lives in California. He was married 
April 21, 1853. After coming to the United 
States he lived in Philadelphia until April, 1855, 



864 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



then went to New Glarus, Wis , residing in that 
State, employed at different kinds of worlc until 
1860, when he came to Exeter and settled on 
section 17, where he lived until March, 18G3, 
then bought the farm he now occupies. He built 
his present residence in 1870. His children liv- 
ing are — Mathias, born Jan. 10, 1854; Sybilla, 
born Aug. 24, 1855, now the wife of Joseph 
Altman, of Jordan; David, born Jan. 22, 1857, 
now living in Brooklyn; Magdalena, born May 5, 
1859, now the wife of losua Klassy, of Jordan; 
Regula, born Jan. 13, 1863, now wife of John 
Becker, of New Glarus; Henry, born Mai'ch 23, 
1868, and Mary, born Oct. 10, 1870. The last 
two live at home. The dead children are — 
Regula, born in 1861, and died in 1863; Henry, 
born in 1866, and died in 1867. His wife died 
March 23, 1876, and he was married to his second 
wife, Barbara Schiesser, June 7, 1877. She was 
born in February, 1815. In 1861 his mother 
died, and in 1875 his father, who was born 
March 23, 1806, came from Switzerland to live 
with him, bringing a boy, by liis third marriage, 
called John, who was born July 10, 1871. The 
mother is living in Switzerland. 

Alonzo J. Edwards was born in Livingston 
Co., N. Y., in the town of West Sparta, Oct. 2, 
.1835. His father, Harveylin Edwards, was a 
farmer, and reared a family of thirteen childreji. 
All were living in 1884 except one son — Allen, 
who died in the army in the fall of 1864; his 
father died in Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1850; 
his mother died in 1883. The brothers and 
sisters are living west excepting two — James and 
Mrs. Lavina Dart, who live in Livingston county. 
Maria is the wife of H. M. Barnes of this town. 
William lives in Monticello; Harvey, in Albany; 
Andrew, in Rice Co., Minn.; Elsie Jane, 
wife of Eugene Witter, same county; Heman, 
in Polk Co., Iowa; David, in Antelope Co., 
Neb.; Alvali, near Fort Vancouver, Washington 
Ter.; Frank, in Colorado. Alonzo J. Edwards 
and Emeliue P. Green were married in Livings- 
ton Co., N. Y., Sept. 28, 1858. Mrs. Edwardft 
was born in that county Dec. 3, 1839. They 



came west and to this town in March,] 862, rented 
a farm on section 33 one year, and then lived in 
old Exeter village two years. Mr. Edwards 
leaving his family there went to Montana and 
followed mining until June, 1865, when he re- 
turned home, and lived on rented lands until 
February, 1868, when he bought land on sec- 
tion 27, and lived there until August, 1874, 
when he bought and moved to his present resi- 
dence on section 34. He owns 160 acres, one 
half on section 33 and one-half on section 34. 
They have six children. All are living. Charles, 
the eldest, was born in New York, April, 1860; 
Jasper,born July, 1864; Mary, born March, 1867; 
Hattie, born May, 1869; Lester, born November, 
187l;Heman,born October,1875. Mr. Edwards is 
an energetic, reliable and well respected citizen. 

John Jacob Freitag was born in canton Gla- 
rus, Switzerland, Sept. 17, 1809. He came to 
America in 1845, and settled in Milwaukee 
county, this State. His family consisted of his 
wife and three children — Jacob, now lives on 
section 30, this town; Rosina, wife of Aug. 
Hirsch of Milwaukee county, and Harrj', who 
died in the year of their coming. There were 
born in Milwaukee county — Barbara, wife of 
Fred. Klassy, living in Iowa; Henry, in this 
town; Mary, wife of Thomas Jenny, lives in 
Ohio; Anna, wife of Gabriel Blasy, living in 
Iowa, and John. The parents are both living. 
The elder Freitag, when he came to Milwaukee 
county, bought forty acres of land the first week 
of his residence, and lived there until 1864, 
when he sold and came to Exeter, buying 150 
acres of land on section 31, which he still owns 
and resides upon. 

Jacob Freitag, son of John Jacob 
Freitag, came with his father when young 
from Switzerland in 1845. While a resident of 
Milwaukee county he married Christine Becker, 
Jan. 17, 1860. One child was born to them — 
John, born Sept. 16, 1862. Mr. Freitag lost his 
wife by death, Jan. 1, 1873. He owns a valua- 
ble farm of 210 acres on section 31, and is one 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



865 



of the best farmers in this part of the town. 
He settled on this land in 1864. 

Henry Frietag, son of John Jacob Frietag,and 
brother of Jacob Frietag, was born 
in Milwaukee county, and came here 
in 1864 with his father. His residence 
is on section in. He owns a fine farm of 
300 acres, and adjoining sections south and west. 
He was married May 10, 1872, to Ursula Blumer. 
They have five children — Mary, Jacob, Rosina, 
Henry and John. 

Mrs. Urania McConnell i^ a daughter of John 
and Nancy Porter, and was born in Sangamon 
Co., 111., Oct. 4, 1820. She lived with her 
father until her marriage, Aug. 19, 1840, to 
Joseph McConnell, who was born Feb. 4, 1811, 
in Pennsylvania. He came to Wisconsin from 
Ohio in 1833, and engaged in mining in Lafay- 
ette county, which occupation he followed most 
of the time until his marriage. He was at that 
time operating a mill near Freeport, 111. They 
were married at Monroe in this county, and 
this is said to have been the first marriage in 
that town. They settled in Stephenson Co., 111. 
where they lived until 1866, upon a farm which 
he purchased two or three years after their 
marriage. Mr. McConnell, in 1866, bought 
eighty acres of land on section 35, of the town 
of Exeter, upon which he resided until the time 
of his death, Dec. 3, 1882. Mrs. McConnell 
now lives on the homestead. Their children 
were — John, who enlisted in the 93d Illinois 
regiment, and died in the service; James, who 
died in this town; William died in Illinois; 
three infant children died in Illinois; Lucy, 
wife of William Porter, lives in Exeter; Nancy 
is the wife of Alonzo Silver of Mount Pleas- 
ant; Mary is married to George Lewis, and they 
reside on the homestead with Mrs. McConnell. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children — Erva U., 
born in November, 1881, and Amy, born in 
February, 1884. 

James T. Fulton, son of William T. and 
Sarah Fulton, was born in Mercer Co., Penn., 
Aug. 19, 1844, and was but an infant when his 



father and family moved to Wisconsin. He 
lived with his parents until eighteen years old, 
when with their consent he started in life on 
his own account. The first year he worked in 
Wisconsin pineries, then engaged as sutler's 
clerk for J. S. Gold, sutler of the 15th Veteran 
Reserve Corps, stationed at Chicago, Springfield 
and Cairo, 111. He was in this employ about 
one year, then went to Montana and engaged in 
raining two years; came back to Wisconsin in 
1867, and took charge of lead mining works in 
Exeter for an Evansville company, and the Su- 
gar river lead mines on section 35. A few 
months later the work was abandoned. In 1869 
his father made a trip to California hoping to 
be benefitted in health. James accompanied 
him, and they returned the same season. James 
T. then settled down in life in the towMi of 
Exeter, and was married to Matilda Hayden, 
Feb. 26, 1871 . She was a daughter of James and 
Lucinda Hayden, and born in Dane Co., June 
12, 1851. Her father died Oct. 18, 1875, in 
Exeter village. Her mother now lives there 
with her son, James Hayden. There are four 
children besides James and Matilda — Elizabeth, 
Louisa, Catharine and William. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fulton have two children — William N., born 
Jan 1, 1872, and Cora Id ell, born March 31, 
1879. Mr. Fulton is an excellent citizen, and 
has eighty acres of land on section 34, where 
he lives. 

Alonzo Jordan brought his family from Chit- 
tenden Co., Vt., in 1850, and made his home 
near Dayton, on the place now owned by G. F. 
Ellis. Mrs. Clarinda Jordan, his first wife, died 
in Vermont, March 5, 1848, leaving four chil- 
dren, who were a part of Mr. Jordan's family 
when he settled in the town of Exeter. They 
were — Frances, the deceased wife of Warren 
Ilill ; Alonzo P., Edwin T., who now lives in 
Rock county; and Eliza, wife of Frank Edwards. 
In January, 1849, the year before coming west, 
Mr. Jordan was married to Charlotte Parker, & 
native of Franklin Co., Vt., born March 14, 
1827. Before leaving Vermont, one son — Lu- 



866 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY 



cuius O. — was born to them, and afterwards, in 
this town, were born — Wilber, who now lives 
in Belleville. Volney, who was married to 
Minnie Prucia, and has there children — Frank, 
Belver Pearl, and an infant daughter, now liv- 
ing in Dayton; Emma, wife of Frank Green, 
and Fred, who now owns the homestead, 
and was married to Mary, daughter of Charles 
and Ann Parkin, Nov. 27, 1883. Alonzo P. 
Jordan, the oldest son of Alonzo Jordan, 
was married June 11, 1865, to Frances Hunt, 
daughter of Homer and Mary Hunt. She 
was born in Dresden, Ohio. Her parents came 
to this town in 1866, and have since that time 
lived with Mr. and Mrs. Jordan. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jordan have two children — Lizzie May, born in 
1870, and Charles Homer, born in 1873, Mr. 
Jordan owns 105 acres on section 26. Lucius 
O,, the first born of Alonzo Jordan by his mar- 
riage with Charlotte Parker, owns 100 acres of 
land where he resides on section 26. He was 
married Oct. 8, 1872, to Angeline Vest, daugh- 
ter of Henry Vest, residents of Eau Claire, Wis. 
Her mother died when she was quite young. 
They have seven children — AlonzoW.,Emma A.? 
Charlotte A., Orphia, Orlando, Lucius and 
Lewis, (twins). In 1856 the father, Alonzo 
Jordan, sold his place near Dayton, and 
moved on 160 acres of lalid he had previously 
bought on section 26, where he lived until his 
death, which occurred Feb. 12, 1872. The 
homestead is now the residence of his widow 
and his son, Fred, who owns the property. 

James Lewis was born in Erie Co., Penn., 
July 27, 1835. His father, Elijah Lewis, was 
born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1808, and 
his father, Elijah Lewis, Sr., was a Revolu- 
tionary soldier, was a pensioner, and lived to 
to the age of ninety-six years, and died in Erie 



county in 1853. He was born in Rhode Island. 
After the Revolution he went to Ohio, and later 
to Pennsylvania. Elijah Lewis, Jr., was mar- 
ried to Isabel Johnson, in 1831. She was born 
in Monroe Co., Penn. He was a farmer. They 
came to this county in May, 1850. He now 
lives in Brodhead, where his wife died in 
March, 1872. Seven children came west with 
the parents — Jane, wife of Alonzo Jones, living 
in Montana ; Lydia, wife of Joel C. Close, liv- 
ing in Crawford Co., Penn.; James, of this 
town ; Margaret, w4io died young ; Mary, who 
died in Decatur; Rose, wife of Isaac N. Farmer, 
of Decatur; Sarah, deceased wife of Star Mc- 
Kenney, and Clara, wife of Oliver Woodling, 
of Brodhead. James Lewis,' the subject of this 
sketch, was married to Elizabeth Conway, April 
5, 1858. By this union there is one son, now 
living in this town — George Eugene, born in 
1859. Mr. Lewis lost his wife by death, m 
March, 1865. July 4, 1867, he was married to 
Louisa Hayden, daughter of James A. Hayden, 
one of the old settlers of Exeter village, and 
who died in October, 1876. By this marriage 
there are seven children — William, Jay, Almira, 
Frank, Charles, Pearl and James. Aferhis first 
marriage he commenced life in Mount Pleasant, 
lived there eighteen months. In the fall of 
1859 he made a trip to Kansas, returning the 
same season. The next spring he went again 
to Kansas, and back to Allamakee Co., Iowa, 
where he lived till August, 1863, then returned to 
Green county, locating in the town of Sylvester, 
and from there came to the town of Exeter, 
subsequently purchasing 200 acres of valuable 
land on section 34. Mr. Lewis is a prominent 
citizen. He was elected chairman of the town 
board in 1884, and is a man well calculated to 
attend to the business of the office. 



I 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



867 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



TOWN OF JEFFERSON. 



This town lies in the southern tier of Green 
county's civil sub-division. It is bounded on 
the north by the town of Sylvester, on the east 
by Spring Grove, on the west by Clarno, and on 
the south by the Illinois State line. On the 
government surveys the territory embraced by 
this town is designated as congressional town- 
ship 1 north, range 1 east, of the fifth principal 
meridian, and contains 24,536.92 acres. It is 
stated that there are 24,337 acres of farming 
lands, valued at $511,765 or $21.02 per acre. 
The value of village lots in the town is 825,500, 
as estimated. The total value of real estate in 
the town is $537,265, while that of real and 
personal property is $815,585. The population 
of the town in 1875 was 1,714; in 1880, 1,438. 

The soil of the town is mostly an excellent 
black loam, with a slight tendency to clayey- 
ness, yet with but little sand. There is some 
native timber in the west and northeast 
portions of the town, and the balance is made 
up of a beautifully undulating prairie. This is a 
magnificent farming country, and the tine dwell- 
ing and farm buildings abundantly testify to 
the intelligence and thrift of the class wlio 
make up Jefferson. In the timber the soil is of 
a lighter nature than on the prairie, yet all is 
unusually well adapted to the production of all 
cereals common to this latitude, as well as to 
indigenous and exotic grasses. The principal 
farm products of the town of Jefferson grown 
during the year 1882, were as follows: 1,353 
bushels of wheat; 48,585 bushels of corn; 
78,248 bushels of oats; 386 bushels of barley; 
3,109 bushels of rye; 4,456 bushels of potatoes; 
3,580 bushels of apples; 34 bushels of clover 



seed; 81 bushels timothy seed; 2,461 tons of 
hay; 39,267 pounds of butter. The principal 
farm products growing in the town at the time 
of making the assessment in 1883, were as fol- 
lows : 95 acres wheat; 3,343 acres corn; 2,042 
aci'es oats; 13 acres barley; 168 acres rye; 52 
acres potatoes; 106 acres apple orchards; 3,440 
bearing trees; 4,043 acres grass; 1,312 acres 
growing timber. In 1883 there were 637 milch 
cows in the town valued at $19,110. There 
were 637 head of horses, average value $60.56; 
total $44,310; 3,244 head of cattle, average 
value $19.28; total $62,571; 9 mules, average 
value $104.44, total $940; 3,343 sheep, average 
value $2, total $6,694; 2,749 swine, average 
value $5.26, total $15,465. 

EARLV SETTLEMENT. 

According to the report, and to the best in- 
formation that can be obtained, J. H. and David 
C. Bridge and J. E. Clark entered the first land 
within the present limits of the town of Jeffer- 
son. They came from Preble Co., Ohio, in the 
fall of 1835. Mr. Clark brought his family, 
driving through two teams, and stopped during 
the winter of 1835-6 near Dodgeville. Here 
he was located when the Bridge brothers ar- 
rived. In Octobei", 1835, they all came here 
and selected their land, then went to the land 
office at Mineral Point to enter the same. Da- 
vid Bridge took land on section 32, as did Mr. 
Clark. After entering the land David C. Bridge 
returned to Ohio, and moved his family out in 
the fall of 1836, having erected a cabin the pre- 
vious spring. He lived upon the land for a 
number of years, then removed to section 30, 
where he lived until the time of his death, 



868 



HISTORY OF GREEK COUNTY. 



which occurred in February, 1882. His widow 
and one son now reside in Monroe. Two of the 
children still live in the town — Mrs. Elizabeth 
Starr and Jacob V. Bridge; the latter resides 
on section 29. 

J. H. Bridge took land on section 30, and 
aftei' entering the land he remained until the 
spring of 1836, helping his brother build his 
cabin, and cutting 5,000 rails, and then he 
started for Ohio again. He remained there un- 
til the fall of 1840, when he moved to this 
town and settled upon the land he had taken. 
He lived in the town of Jefferson until 1870, 
when he removed to Monroe; but two years 
later he returned to his farm, and remained three 
years, when he again located at Monroe, where 
he still lives. 

J. E. Clark came to the town of Jefferson in 
the fall of 1835, settling on the southwest quar- 
ter of section 32. He was born in Fayette Co., 
Penn., Jan. 29, 1795. When he was six months 
old his parents removed to Preble Co., Ohio, 
where he remained until he came to Green 
county, which has since been his home. He 
was married in Preble county to Mary P, Voor- 
hies, who was born July 13, 1799, and died in 
1864. Her father was a soldier of the Indian 
War, in which he served as ensign, and was 
wounded in the shoulder by a bullet, which he 
carried until his death. Mr. Clark's father, 
Stephanas, died in Fountain Co., Ind. J. E. 
Clark has eiglit children living, all of whom 
are married. He is the only one now living of 
the three judges of election for the location of 
the county seat of Green county. He was also 
formerly justice of the peace. The first relig- 
ious services ever held by the Baptists in the 
town of Jefferson were at his house in 1836. 
Mr. Clark's parents were of English descent, 
and his wife's of Dutch. The latter resided in 
New Jersey, where they settled about 200 years 
ago. 

L. P. Clark is a native of Preble Co., Ohio. 
When two years old, he came with his parents, to 
Green county, where he has since resided upon 



the same fiirm, which is the old homes'oad form- 
erly owned by his father, J. E. Clark. He was 
married July 3, 1856, to Mrs. Sylbey Elliott, of 
Winnebago, 111. They have two children liv- 
ing — Alma R., now the wife of Claude Hunt, 
living near Linn Grove; and Myron E. Mr. 
Clark owns 140 acres of land. He is a member 
of the republican party and was, at one time, 
postmaster at Jefferson. He and his family are 
Church members. 

James Riley, a native of Maryland, came from 
Indiana to this town in 1836, and entered land 
on sections 11, 12, 1 and 2. He returned to 
Indiana, and in the spring of 1837, came back 
here with his family. He brought with him six 
head of oxen, two wagons, household goods, 
stock, etc. They lived in a tent until they could 
build a log cabin. The roof of said cabin was 
covered with bark and the floor made of bass- 
wood bark. He afterwards erected a double 
log cabin, 16x32 feet in size, one and a half 
stories high, with a shingle roof, in which he 
lived until his death, which occurred in 1864. 

In the spring of 1836, Daniel Harcourt and 
John (Jhryst arrived. Daniel Harcourt came 
from Indiana with his family and settled upoTi 
land about a mile and a half north of the Bridge 
and Clark settlement. He remained there for a 
a number of years when he removed west. John 
Chryst also came from Indiana, in which State 
he was born. He stopped the first year near 
Monroe. He settled with his family — which 
was quite large — upon a place in the northwest- 
ern part of the town, where he lived until the 
time of his death. His widow is dead. Some 
of the children are still residents of the county. 

Ezra B. Gillett came from Ohio in the winter 
of 1835-6, and entered in the timber land on 
section 31. He also entered land on section 25 
in Clarno, where he erected a cabin. In the 
summer of 1 836 he sold his place to John Bridge 
and in a few years removed to Illinois. 

John Bridge, father of J. H. and David, came 
in the fall of 1836, witli his family and settled 
on section 29. He lived there until ihe fall of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



869 



1854 when he went back to Ohio, where he 
died in March, 1855, 

In 1837, Jehu Chadwick located in this town. 
He is now dead, 

M. Albin also came at the same time as did 
John Bridge, in the fall of 1836. He was a na- 
tive of Virginia, but came herefrom Oliio. He 
was a single man at the time, but shortly after 
he came here, he was married to Deborah Ann 
Bridge, They lived in the town until about 
1853, when they removed to Douglas Co,, Kan- 
sas, where they still live. 

Jeremiah Bridge, a native of Ohio, came 
from Dodgeville in the spring of 1836, and set- 
tled with his family on section 20, He lived 
here until the time of his death, and his widow 
and one son, Josephus, still live in the town. 

Jotham Scudder came from Ohio in 1838. 
He settled near the present site of Juda, He 
had a family of three children. He lived there 
until the time of his death, 

John Kane came from Indiana with a very 
large family about 1839, and settled near Rich- 
land creek, on section 19. He lived there fifteen 
years when he went to Missouri, and it is re- 
ported that he is dead. None of his family 
are now living in the county. He was a wheel- 
wright by trade, and also a cabinet maker. In 
an early day he threw a dam across Richland 
creek, and made a business of manufacturing 
household furniture. He put up a little shop, 
put in a turning lathe, and with the power 
which the creek furnished, he made much of 
the homely, though sensible furniture that 
was used in early days. He male a 
great many chairs, putting in raw-hide 
bottoms. This little shop he operated for a 
number of years, and to-day, in many of the little 
I'abins, and in many of the garrets of the ele- 
gant dwellings that have in many instances 
superceded the log cabins of former daj^s, may 
he found some of "Kane's old raw-hide bottom 
chairs," which are saved as mementos of 
pioneer life and its attendant disadvantages. 



Joseph Forbes came from Indiana at the same 
time, being a brother-in-law of Mr. Kane. He 
settled near Kane's place and remained for ten 
or twelve years, when he left. 

William Rittenhouse came in 1840 and set- 
tled on section 7, where he resided a number of 
years. He met his death by falling from a 
wagon. Two years previous to his death, his 
wife fell from the same wagon and was killed. 
The same team was also hitched to the wagon. He 
was a man prominent in town and county affairs, 
having been clerk of the court and register of 
deeds. Some of his children still reside in the 
county. 

(irarret R. Patton, of Pennsylvania, came in 
the fall of 1845, and located. He now lives 
near Juda. 

Rev. Gr. R. Patton was born in Straus burg, 
Susquehanna Co., Penn., March 13, 1811, and 
brought up in Fayette Co., Penn. His father 
was from Delaware and his mother from New 
Jersey. The former was quite a prominent 
man, and was principal justice of the peace for 
thirty years, having an extensive practice, and 
his decisions were seldom appealed. He served 
with honor to himself, and satisfaction to his 
constituency. The grandfather of the subject 
of this sketch was a Baptist minister, and 
preached for fifty consecutive years. Mr. Pat- 
ton is of Scotch-German extraction. In 1845 
he came to this county and settled in the town 
of Jefferson, taking a homestead on the road 
l)etween Juda and Monroe. He afterward sold 
this place and removed to section 2, where he 
hail purchased 175 acres of land where he now 
lives. Since twenty-seven years old Mr. Pat- 
ton has been a preacher of the gospel. His 
third sermon was preached in the same church 
in which he continued to preach until his 
advent in this county. Since then he has 
preached in the same church. He has been 
three times married, and his first two wives are 
buried in Juda cemetery. His present wife was 
Lydia Roderick, from Pennsylvania. By his 
first wife he liad eiglit children, five of whom 



870 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



are now living — Daniel J., Rebecca J., James 
A., Ann E. and Garrett J. By the second mar- 
riage there was one child — Arthur R. By his 
present wife there are seven children — Victor 
E., now at school in Beaver Dam; Grant E., 
Thurlow J., Dow D., Edith E. and Cecil D. 
Rev. Patton first came to Green county in 1834, 
worked in the mining regions at Mineral Point 
one summer, returning liome in the fall, coming 
again in 1845, and making a permanent settle- 
ment. As a preacher of the gospel, Rev. Pat- 
ton deserves special mention, as he has been 
the means of doing much good. He has 
probably married more people, and officiated at 
a greater number of funerals than any other 
person in Green county. It is said he has mar- 
ried over 600 couple and attended over 600 
funerals. He is widely and favorably known, 
having the respect and esteem of all who know 
him. He preached his first sermon in Green 
county, Oct. 4, 1845. He was licensed as a 
Baptist preacher, to preach in Pennsylvania 
Jan, 13, 1839, and ordained March 25, 1841, by 
Revs. S. Sigfried, E. Miles, Isaac Wynn, J. W. 
B. Tisdale and Milton Sutton, and was baptized 
by Rev. William Schedwick. 

Andrew Roderick, a native of Pennsylvania, 
came from Virginia in 1846, and settled on sec- 
tion 5. He has since died. Several of his chil- 
dren are still residents of the county, 

EVENTS OF IMPORTANCE. 

The first sod turned in the town was thrown 
over by J. E. Clark, on his place, on section 32, 
in the spring of 1836. 

The Bridges did some breaking stort'y after- 
ward and all raised crops that year. 

The first death in the town was that of Anna 
Bridge, wife of Jeremiah Bridge. She died 
previous to 1840, and was buried on the Stale 
line, 

Tiie first bii'lh in the town wns a son of .1. K. 
Clark, whicli occurred Nov. I'J, 1H3G, ilc now 
lives in Gage Co., Neb. 

The first school in the town was taught by 



Thomas J. Stewart, a native of Virginia. It 
was established in the winter of 1840-41, and 
was a subscription school. It was held in a log 
cabin erected by Jehu Chadwick. Scholars at- 
tended from Sylvester and Spring Grove, as 
as well from Jefferson. 

Hiram Dunwiddie's mark for cattle was un- 
der bit in left ear, and under slit in right ear. 
Recorded June 6, 1850. 

David C. Bridge's mark for stock was a 
smooth crop of right ear. Recorded June 19, 
1851, 

Bradley Chefan's ear mark for his cattle was 
a swallow fork in right ear. Recorded July 28, 
1853. 

The first election in this town was held April 
3, 1849, at the house of Abraham Sanburn, lo- 
cated on the southwest quarter of section 22. 
John Barry was moderator, and George Eley, 
clerk. Jeremiah Bridge, chairman, Garret R. 
Patton and William, Berry, judges, and E. J. 
Blackford, clerk. 

Probably the first mill for grinding corn and 
buckwheat was put up by James Riley the first 
winter after he settled here. He made the 
buhrs from stone he picked up. He fitted one 
of them to the hollow log, and then placed the 
other one on top of that one. He had it set up 
in one side of his house at first. It was oper- 
ated by a shaft from the edge of the top stone 
to the ceiling. It required two men to run the 
mill, and had a capacity of turning out two 
bushels of buckwheat per hour. 

RELIGIOUS. 

At an early day the inhabitants near Juda 
attended religious services in the town of Syl- 
vester, at the house of Thomas Wardle. Rev. 
William Stillwell .was the preacher. People of 
all denominations attended these meetings. 

Tn 1840, Henry Howe, a minister of the 
Ch i'Hti;iii (i)ett('r known as Coinpbellite) Church, 
liold meetings at the house of James Riley. 
Among the members of this organization were: 
James Riley and wife, Isaiah Kline and wife, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



871 



and two sons, John Kline and wife, Eli Kline 
and wife, and Christopher Meinert. James Riley 
was the first deacon. Meetings were held once 
a month, people coming from long distances, 
and many of them with ox teams. Elder Howe 
preached here about three years, when a man 
named Gleason, a street preacher from Canada, 
came along and offered his services free of 
charge. Elder Howe accordingly withdrew. Mr. 
Gleason preached to the small band of Chris- 
tians but a few times when he suddenly scourged 
the congregation for not paying him for preach- 
iug. That was the last time he preached for 
them, and it was in fact the end of the organi- 
zation, for it left them without a preacher. 

The first religious services held in the south- 
eastern part of the town, was at the house of 
David Bridge, in 1840. Elder Henry Howe 
was the preacher. He organized a congrega- 
tion, among whom were the following members: 
Henry Johnson and wife, J. H. Bridge and wife, 
David Bridge, Jeremiah Bridge, Adam Starr 
and wife, J. E. Clark and wife, Mrs. Deborah 
Bridge and two daughters, Nancy and Deborah 
Ann. J. H. Bridge was the first deacon. The 
congregation met for worship in.privaie houses, 
until a school house was erected in the neigli- 
borliood. A large portion of the members have 
moved away, and regular services have not been 
held for a number of years. 

The Richland M. E. church, located on sec- 
tion 5, was erected in the fall of 1873. The 
cliurch grounds, containing half an acre, were 
donated by Seth Austin. At the time the church 
w as built there about twenty members. This 
grew from a class which was organized many years 
ago at the school house. The first minister was 
Elder Walker. The present pastor is Elder 
Kellogg, The present trustees are: A. H. 
^Voodle, Samuel Catherman, Lewis Roub, L. 
Steveson, William Baird and Seth Austin. 

The English Lutheran Church, of Twin Grove, 
was organized in Twin Grove school house, Feb. 



15, 1874, by Rev. G. J. Donmeyer, of the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran synod of northern Illinois. 
The following named persons signed the consti- 
tution adopted: E. L. Walker, David Holmes, 
John Rodocker, Joseph Emrich, Samuel D. 
Benage, May Holmes, Phyana Benage, Eva 
Holmes, Ann Rodocker, John Ohl, Lydia 
A. Ohl, James Holmes, Isabell Holmes, Annie 
Fries, Mary C. Holmes and Elizabetli Emrich. 
The following officers were elected: E. L. 
Walker, elder; John Ohl and Samuel D. Benage, 
deacons. Rev. J. A. Beidler was selected as first 
pastor,and commenced his labors in April of the 
same year. He served the congregation until 
1876. From 1876 until 1880 it was served by Rev. 
J. M. Rees, of the Iowa synod. From 1880 until 
1881 by Rev. D. E. Rupley, of the Allegany 
synod. From 1881 until 1884 by Rev. D. P. 
Grosscup, of the Iowa synod. In 1876 the con- 
gregation built a neat house of worship in the 
village of Twin Grove. It is a frame building, 
34x50 feet, costing $2,775.71, including bell. It 
was dedicated Jan. 21, 1877, by Rev, Prof. D. 
L. i'ressler. Ph. D., President of Carthage Col- 
lege, Carthage, 111. In the same year a house 
and lot in the village of Twin Grove were pur- 
chased by the congregation, assisted by three 
other congregations, for the use of the Church 
as a parsonage. It was secured for $250. It 
has since been improved in buildings and 
other repairs at an additional expense of $150. 
The present membership of the congregation is 
forty. The following are the officers: William 
Stevenson, elder; Samuel Holmes and Leander 
Stevenson, deacons. 

The Richland English Lutlieran Church con- 
gregation was organized in February, 1859, by 
Rev. Ephraim Miller, of the Evangelical 
Lutheran synod of northern Illinois. Twenty- 
one members were enrolled at a meeting held 
in Richland school house town of Jefferson, for 
the purpose of organization. The following is 
the list taken from the Church book: Samuel 
L. Roub, Mrs. S. L. Roub, George Bloom, 



872 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Mrs. George Bloom, Isaiah Deal, Mrs. Isaiah 
Deal, Levi Deal, Mrs. L. Deal, Samuel Cather- 
man, Mrs. S. Catherman, Solomon Deal, Mrs. S. 
Deal, Jeremiali Iliitzel, Mrs. J. Hutzel, Michael 
Bloom, Mrs. M. Bloom, J. K. Bloom, Mrs. M. 
M. Bloom, Aquilla Deal and Amanda Hill. 
The following officers of the Church were 
chosen at this meeting: Isaiah Deal and S. L. 
Rouh, elders; George Bloom and Levi Deal, 
deacons. Rev. E. Miller served the congregation 
as pastor from date of organization until 1861. 
Rev. A. A. Triraper, from 1861 until 18G2. 
Rev. Charles Anderson from 1862 until 1863. 
Rev. J. K. Bloom from 1864 until 1866. Rev. 
S. Cook from 1866 until 1872. Rev. J. L. 
Hammond from 1872 until 1875. G. M. Packer, 
an applicant for licensure supplied the congre- 
gation from the close of 1875 until the middle 
of 1876. Rev. J. M. Rees served the congrega- 
tion as regular pastor from 1876 until 1880. 
Rev. D. E. Rupley from 1880 until 1881. Rev. 
D. P. Grosscup from 1881 until 1884. Precious 
revivals were held in the years 1862, 1865 and 
1873. A lot of two acres, on section 6, was 
deeded to the Church, for building purposes, in 
the year 1873, for the consideration of 1 160. 
Upon this lot, in 1874, a church building of 200 
sittings was built, costing $2,750. It was dedi- 
cated by Revs. P. G. Bell and W. H. Schoch, of 
the synod of northern Illinois. In 1876 the 
congregation united with the '^Pwin Grove pas- 
torate and contributed to the purchase of a par- 
sonage to be located at the latter place. The 
officers at present are: Rev. D. P. Grosscup, 
pastor; William Lore and Samuel Catherman, 
elders; Solomon Deal and James Holmes, dea- 
cons The present membership is twenty. 

I'he Spring Grove Lutheran Church was or- 
ganized Oct. 1, 1S6H, by Rev. S. Cook, of the 
synod of northern Illinois. Six persons signed 
the constitution, viz: Josiah Adelman, .Tesse 
S(^hoch, David Holmes, Hebecca Adelman, 
Elizabeth Sclioch and Mary Holmes. The 
officers elected were: David Holmes, elder; 
Jesse Schoch, deacon. Rev. S. Cook remained 



as pastor from 1866 until 1872. Rev. J. A. 
Beidler served the congregation from 1874 
until 1876. Rev. James M. Rees from 1876 
until 1880. Rev. D. E. Ru))ley from 1880 until 
1881. Rev. D. P. Grosscup from 1882 until 
1884. From the first of the organization, the 
congregation had held divine services in a 
church building of 150 sittings, which had 
been erected by the people of the community 
as a churfch for all denominations. Since 1880 
no roll of Church membership *has been pre- 
served. 

Daniel Paul Grosscup, pastor of the English 
Lutheran Church of Twin Grove pastorate, 
Green Co., Wis , was born in Ashland Co., 
Ohio, Nov. 29, 1846. He was baptized in infancy 
in the Lutheran Church, and confirmed in the 
same Church at fourteen years of age. He was 
brought up on a farm, hence received only the 
training of a common district school until nine- 
teen years of age. During a part of this 
period, his father having enlisted, as a soldier 
in the War for the Union, (42d Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, Garfield's) he was deprived of regular 
attendance upon school; but upon his father's 
return at the close of the war, in 1864, he again 
returned to books; entering Ashland High 
School in 1866, boarding at his home and walk- 
ing three and one-half miles morning and even- 
ing. On reaching his majority in 1867, an in- 
heritance of 1 1,200 was at his command. He 
at once entered Wittenberg College, Spring- 
field, Ohio, Samuel Sprecher, D. D., president; 
graduating in the classical department in 1871, 
and in the theological department of the same 
institution in 1872. In 1873 he was commis- 
sioned by the Board of Home Missions of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, of the general 
synod of the United States, to open a mission 
for the Church in Iowa City, Iowa. A Church 
was built up rapidly. In 1875 he was married 
to Mary V. Schaeffer, third daughter of Rev. 
G. \V. Scliaeffer, pastor of the English Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church, of Princeton, Iowa. 
Ill 1879 he WAS transferred by the Board of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



873 



Home Missions to Knoxville, Iowa. In 1881 
his health failing, and that of his family, he 
resigned the mission field; and expecting a 
healthier climate, accepted a call to the Twin 
Grove pastorate. He has noo been deceived. 
His health is entirely restored, and his work 
for the Church continues. 

TWIN GROVJE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION. 

Feb. 20, 1879, a meeting was held in the 
Lutheran church, and the above named associa- 
tion was organized. Three trustees were elected 
as follows: For one year, David Holmes; foi- 
iwo years, E. L. Walker; for three years, John 
Ohl. Annual meetings are held in February of 
each year. A half acre of land north of the 
village church has been purchased, at a cost of 
$50. Lots are to be sold at |10 per lot; and 
when these sales shall have covered the expense 
of the grounds, sums arising from subsequent 
sales, shall be appropriated to the improvement 
and adorning of the grounds. 

The first burial was that of an infant child of 
Rev. James M. Rees, pastor of the Lutheran 
Church. Nine bodies have been buried. 

The present trustees are: David Holmes, E. 
L. Walker and John Ohl. This cemetery is 
under the control of the Twin Grove English 
Lutheran Church. 

Oak Hall Cemetery, which is located on sec- 
tion 5, embraces one acre of land. The ground 
was donated by Seth Austin and S. L. Roub. 

CHEESE FACTORIES. 

Joseph Bloomer has a cheese factory on sec- 
tion 18, where he makes different grades of 
cheese. This was the first cheese factory es- 
tablished in this town. 

The cheese factory on section 5, was erected 
in 1878, by M. T. Gapen, W. J. Chryst and J. 
S. Roub, who had formed a joint stock com- 
pany. The present owners are Messrs. M. T. 
Gapen, W. J. Chryst and William Hartwig. 
They have a good building and all the modern 
machinery and improvements for manufacturing 
Limberger and Swiss cheese. It is well patron- 
ized by the neighborhood. The firm also 



devote a good deal of time to making brick 
cheese. 

Timms' cheese factory is located on section 
24. The building is 20x54 feet in size, two 
stories high, witli basement. It receives the 
milk of about 200 cows. Charles Timms is the 
present proprietor. 

The following is a list of men who have been 
prominent in town affairs: 

J. Andrew, B. W. Ritchford, E. Hosier, H. 
Dunwiddie, S. W. Ball, J. Allen, Lewis Gapen, 
William Blackford, Joseph Wardle, Isaac 
Trembley, R. S. Stephens, Samuel Witner, 
Isaac Smiley, James Stevenson, 11. Franken- 
barger, John Howard, William Coldron, John 
Barry, D. C. Bridge, George Eley, Howard 
Hunt, Alfred Barmore, G. W. Bridge, Francis 
Barnum, A. B. Wilt, W. W. Walkey, William 
Stephenson, S. M. Hanna, G. W. Bussy, D, J. 
Patton, John Bolander, V. B. S. Newman, J. 
J. Armstrong, Jacob Roderick, D. Witmer, 
Charles F. Fisher, James A. Patton, John A. 
Chamber, Joseph Musser, B. F. Carle, J. C. 
Andrews, M. S. Tadel, John Carter, G. M. 
Walker, H. K. Wiiite, J. M. Swan/., H. W. 
Fallett, J. H. Armstrong and Jasper Chryst. 

VILLAGE OF JIDA. 

The village of Judais situated on sections 1 
and 2. The land now included in this village 
was entered in 1837, by Jehu Chad wick and 
John Crawford. 

In 1848 Martin Dixon pl-atted a village on the 
south side of Main street, and named it Juda. 
He erected a small frame house and lived there 
until 1850, when he sold to Joseph Gaus. 

In March, 1852, J. D. Overton, Benjamin 
Broadbent, Robert Hanna and A. B. Smith 
platted a village, located in fraction 6, of sec- 
tion 2, townsiiip 1 north, range 8 east, and wliich 
contained thirty-one lots. The village was 
named Springfield. In 1857 Joseph Gaus sold 
out to David Witmer, and he re-platted the old 
village and made thirty-seven lots, which he 
made an addition to Springfield. That same 
yeai-, Samuel Witmer made an addition of fif- 



51 



874 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



teen lots on the north of the plat, and north of 
Main street. 

In the fall of 1883, H. C. Witmer circulated 
a petition that was numerously signed, and 
which was presented to the county board, and 
the name of the village was changed back to 
Juda. 

The first birth in the village was Annie, a 
daughter of David and Martha Taylor. 

The first death in the village was Phebe, wife 
of Joseph Gaus. Her death occurred in Octo- 
ber, 1850. She was buried in the old cemetery 
at Juda. During the following year thilee of 
their children died. 

The first building erected was a log school 
house in 1844. There were no other buildings 
erected until in 1847. In that year a Baptist 
church was built; Garret Clawson erected a 
dwelling house and wagon shop; George De- 
bolt put up a dwelling house and blacksmith 
shop, and Robert Hanna built a house in which 
he opened a store and hotel. 

George Debolt engaged in the blacksmith 
business in 1847, doing shoeing and general re- 
pairing. He was the first blacksmith in the 
town. He remained in Juda about fifteen years, 
when he removed to Sylvester. He remained 
there three years, then returned to Juda and re- 
sumed business. He died in 1882. 

Garret Clawson was the first wagon-maker in 
this village. He opened up a shop in 1847. He 
remained here several years, then went to Brod- 
head, where he died some years later. 

The first merchant was Robert Hanna, who 
opened a store in 1847. He followed the busi- 
ness about five years, when he closed out and 
removed to Iowa. 

Benjamin Broadbent was the second mer- 
chant. He remained in the business but a few 
years. 

The next to engage in the merchandise busi- 
ness was J. D. Artel. He erected a frame dwell- 
ing on lot 12, and put in a large stock of goods. 
In 1856 he sold to Elder Patton and his son, 
Daniel. They soon afterwards sold to H. and 



C. J. Hunt. The latter was a practicing physi- 
cian. He died in a short time. His brother 
soon closed out the business and engaged in 
farming. 

Evan Hosier opened a store immediately after- 
ward, but only engaged in the business a short 
time. 

In 1858 David Witmer engaged in the gen- 
eral merchandise trade, and did the first busi- 
ness of any magnitude in the village. He con- 
tinued in trade some years, then closed out. 

Robert Hanna kept the first hotel, and his 
guests received the best of accommodations and 
were well cared for. He went out of the busi- 
ness in about five years. The present hotel 
was erected by Samuel Ball, who acted as "jolly 
host" several years. It has since changed 
hands several times. Chester Gifl^ord is the 
present landlord. 

C. A. Gifford, hotel keeper in Juda, was born 
in Fulton Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 1845. He is a son 
of Robert B. and Susan M. (Foote) Giflford, who 
now reside upon a fai'm in Spring Grove. In 
1856 they left New York and came directly to 
Wisconsin. They remained a short time in 
North Prairie, Waukesha county, then came to 
Monroe. It was their intention on leaving New 
York to settle in Iowa, where Mr. Gifford, Sr., 
owned a farm, but on their arrival in Monroe a 
snow storm set in, it being then the fall of the 
year, and they were unable to proceed. They 
then concluded to settle in this county, and 
rented a house in town, in which they lived 
two weeks, then removed to the farm of George 
Goodrich, in Clarno. In the spring of 1857 
Mr. Gifford, Sr., taught the district school In 
the spring of the same year they removed to 
another farm, owned by David Earlywine, 
where they lived until tlie fall of 1857, then re- 
moved to Juda, to a place now occupied by Mr. 
Biggs, near the depot. In the meantime they 
sold their farm in Iowa In 1859 they removed 
to the farm in Spring Grove where Mr. Gifford, 
Sr., now lives. C. A. Gifford, the subject of 
this sketch, was married Jan. 24, 1866, to Emma 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I. Hall, a resident of this county and daugh- 
ter of William R. and Polly (Parker) Hall, 
'i'hey have four children — Metta L., Zua B., 
Robert B and Fred C. Metta L. and Zua B. 
are both teachers in the public schools of this 
county. Mrs. GiflFord's father is living in War- 
ren, and her mother is dead. 

The first hardware store was opened by Josiah 
Clawson soon after his return from the war. 
He remained here a short time, then removed 
his goods to Iowa. 

The first postofiice was established in 1847, 
with Edward Tenny as postmaster. The village 
was on the route from Monroe to Beloit, and 
from Janesville to Mineral Point. Mr.Tenny was 
succeeded as postmaster by J. D. Axtel; and 
he in turn by Charles Dudgeon, George Gauf>' 
and John Swan, the present postmaster. 

The first harness maker in the village was A. 
B. Smith. He opened up a shop in 1851. He 
continued in business about three years, then 
sold out to Hugh Benninghaff. The latter re- 
mained here a few years then closed out. Jacob 
und Ezra Frieze opened a shop in 1864. In 
about three years they sold to Jacob Wilting. 
One year later he sold to N. W. Hartman, who 
continued to furnish his patrons with harness, 
saddles, bridles, etc. 

N. W. Hartman came to Green county from 
Belleville, Washington Co., Penn., March 8, 
1871. He is a son of Morgan and Maria (Crabl)) 
Hartman, who still reside in Belleville. Mr. 
Hartman, of this sketch, learned the harness 
maker's trade in his native town, and has fol- 
lowed, the same since coming to Juda. His 
wife was formerly Sarah A. Swan, a native of 
Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William and 
Mary Swan, both of vvhom are dead, and the 
former is buried in Pennsylvania, the latter in 
Juda cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman have 
two children — Mary Lulu and Jesse N. In 
1863 Mr. Hartman enlisted in company A, 22d 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was mustered in :it 
New Brighton, Penn., April 14. He was with 
Phil. Sheridan in his cavalry exploits, also with 



Siegel at Martinsburg, New Market and Lynch 
burg, also numerous minor engagements. He 
served until the close of the war, under Gen- 
erals Custer, Sheridan, Averill and Hunter. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members of the 
Baptist Church and he is a Mason, an Odd Fel- 
low and a member of the A. O. U. W. 

The first drug store was started by a man 
named Bishop, in a building located on lot 4. 
This was during the war. He paid but little 
attention to his business, and as a consequence 
bOon closed up. 

The first school house was erected in 1844, 
and Brooks Dunwiddie was the first teacher. 
It was a log building, situated on Main street. 
Religious services were held in this house while 
it was in use, which was only a few years. 

The Juda flouring mill was erected by Samuel 
Ball in about 1860. The power is derived from 
two small streams that flow together below the 
the mill. There is a dam across each stream, 
and races carry the water to the mill, which 
has about ten feet fall. The mill contains two 
run of stone, which for a number of years did 
a good business. It is now operated by E. 
Thompson. 

BUSINESS DTRKCTOEY. 

General merchandise — V. B. S. Newman 
and William Byrne. 

Drugs— W. F. Moldenhauer. 
Harness — N. W. Hartman. 
Millinery— Mrs. P. E. Reed. 
Hotel— Chester Gifford. 
Groceries and notions — John Swan. 
Banking and real estate — Witmer Bros. 
News depot — Witmer Bros. 
Station agent — Samuel Young. 
Shoe shop — Samuel Pletts. 
Wagon shop — John Waters. 
Ulacksniith shop — A. Stauffacher and Walter 
Mackelwee. 

Flouring mill — E. Thompson. 

Stock buyer — B. L. Wood. 

PI vslcians — J. Clemmev and Dr Fossendeii. 



8Y6 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



V. B. S. Newman, son of Isaac and Adeline 
(Sparks) Newman, early settlers of Green 
county, was born iti the town of German, 
Fayette Co., Penn., June 13, 1832. He there 
received his early education in the common 
schools. He came to Wisconsin with his 
parents in 1849, and made his home with them 
until he was twenty-two years of age, when he 
went to Beaver Dam, to attend school, after 
which he engaged in teaching school in the 
town of Jefferson, On the 9th of August, 
1862, he enlisted in company K, 22d Wisconsin 
regiment, Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered 
in as orderly sergeant. They first went to 
Covington Heights, Ky., remaining there until 
February, 1863, thence to Tennessee. His 
regiment was captured at Spring Hill, Tenn., 
on the 5th of March following, and taken to 
Tullahoma, thence toLibby prison. They were 
kept prisoners eight weeks, then exchanged and 
ordered to report at St. Louis. In May of that 
year, they went to Tennessee and were stationed 
at Murfreesboro until the spring of 1864, then 
joined Sherman's command at Chattanooga, 
and was with him on his march to the sea, 
thence through the Carolinas to Washington, 
participating in the many important battles of 
that memorable canipaign. He was jjiomoted 
2d lieutenant in May, 1863, and soon after to 
1st lieutenant. He was honorably discharged 
with his regiment in July, 1865. He returned 
home and engaged in teaching until 1867, when 
he embarked in the mercantile business at Juda. 
He has been successful in business, and still 
continues in the same. He was married Sept. 
20, 1860, to Rebecca J., daughter of Garrett 
R. and Ruth (Johns) Patton. They have five 
children — Clyde, Charlie, Kate, Paul and Ruth. 
He keeps a general stock of groceries, dry 
goods, clothing, b()<Us, shoes, hats, caps and 
notions. 

William Byrne, a prominent business man of 
Juda, began the mercantile trade, in that village, 
in 1876, succeeding John Swan. He carries a 



stock of about 86,000. He is a native of Ireland, 
born near Dublin, Aug. 25, 1839, and is a son of 
James and Jane Byrne. His father died June 
18, 1841, leaving his wife and six children. In 
the year of 1850, the entire family sailed for 
America, and settled in (^anada until November, 
1 85 ! , then came to Green Co., Wis. Mr. Byrne, 
of this sketch, was married March 18, 1861, to 
Margaret Oliver, of Belleville, Dane Co., Wis. 
They have had eight children, five of whom are 
living — Ida L., James E., Maggie, Alice and 
Dora M. George Edward, Mary, Elener and 
Maggie are dead. James E., is a mute, and is 
in Delavan, at school, where he is pursuing his 
studies, also learning type setting, and is an 
apt scholar and general favorite. Mr. Byrne 
enlisted in February, 1865, in company I, of the 
46th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 
He was mustered in at Madison and did guard 
duty most of the time that he was in the service. 
He was discharged in November, 1865. He is 
a man of good education, and has been a teacher. 
The Albany Journal speaks of him as follows: 
"William Byrne, an affable gentleman, and a 
newspaper correspondent of considerable note, 
paid us a pleasant visit one day last week. His 
home is at Juda, Wis." Mr. Byrne is a man of 
indefatigable courage and possesses great ability 
of acquiring knowledge, and has become noted 
for the same, atid in the late history of Green 
county, is classed witli the largest farmers of 
the town of York. He is now doing a flourish- 
ing business. 

W. F. Moldenhauer, druggist at Juda, is a 
native of Prussia, born Sept. 19, 1842. His 
father died when he was very young, and his 
mother married again. He lived u{)on a farm 
in his native country until 1857, when his par- 
ents came to America, and settled at Monroe, 
Green county, where he remained until 1865, 
clerking for George Summers, dealer in dry 
goods, with whom he continued until the spring 
of 1864, then clerked for A. Pick, about one 
year, then for J. B. Cook & Co., six moTithn;. 
He was married June 12, 1865, to Erailie F. 



HIST(JRY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



811 



Gloege, a native of Prussia, and sister of H. L. 
Gloege, the county clerk. Slie came with her 
parents to Green county, in 1860. After mar- 
riage, Mr. Moldenhauer resided upon a fai-m 
about two years, then, Dec. 1 1, 1867, he went to 
clerking for Newman & Gans, continuing witli 
V. B. S. Newman until Jan. 1, 1880, then en- 
gaged to clerk for B. B. Bowell, druggist, whom 
he bought out on September ] 0, of the same 
year, Mr. and Mrs. Moldenhauer have four 
children living — Arthur F., Edwin S., Oscar H. 
and Delia Emilie. They are members of the 
Evangelical Church. Mr. Moldenhauer was 
constable of Juda^ in 1878. 

Samuel Pletts is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born in Dauphine county, June 16, 1831. He 
is a son of John and Elizabeth (Shaffer) 
Pletts. His parents removed from Dauphine 
county to Centre Co., Penn., in 1837. His 
father was a shoemaker, and Samuel learned 
that trade, at which he has always been em- 
ployed. He was married in Rebersburg, Cen- 
tre county, to Sapilla Guire, in 1851. He soon 
after removed from Rebersburg to Venango 
county, and remained one year, thence to 
Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., 111., in 1855. He 
remained there two years. In 1857 he removed 
to Juda, this county, and in 1858 removed to 
Monroe; then in 1859 he removed back to Juda. 
Mr. and Mrs. Pletts have had eight children, 
six of whom are living — Margaret A., John F., 
Charles H., George L., Vasthi and Theodore. 
They are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
Pletts is an Odd Fellow and Mason, and votes 
the republican ticket. 

Anton Stauffacher, blacksmith in the village 
of Juda, is a native of Switzerland, born June 
16, 1841. When four years old, he left his 
native country with a colony that came to New 
Glarus. He remained on a farm until 1861, and 
on the 7th of October, enlisted in the army, 
and was in quite a number of battles. He was 
discharged on account of sickness. He was 
married July 5, 1865, to Anna Schindler, a 
native of New York. They have seven chil- 



dren — Henry J., Anna M., Clara L., Anton A., 
Lydia T., Frank A. and Charles F. Mrs. 
Stauffacher is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. Mr. Stauffacher is a republican. 

VILLAGE OF TWIN GROVE. 

This little village of about 100 inhabitants is 
situated near the southern central part of the 
town of Jefferson. Its first start was in 1862, 
when Harrison Clevenstine opened a store. He 
ran the business until 1866, when E. L. Walker 
succeeded him. Mr. Walker engaged in the 
business until 1875, when, owing to heavy re- 
yerses, he closed up. Miller & Reitzell then 
commenced business. They afterward moved 
their stock of goods away. In 1882 Wells & 
Walker opened a store. In a short time G. M. 
Walker purchased the business, and he in turn 
sold to J. H, Armstrong in 1883. Mr. Arm- 
strong continues to run the store, and does a 
good business. He carries a stock of goods 
valued at $2,000. The building is of brick, and 
is used as a dwelling house and store. 

Alonzo Emrick opened a grocery and confec- 
tionery store in December, 1882, in which busi- 
ness he is still engaged. 

Abraham Sanborn and Calvin Hale were 
the first settlers at Twin Grove, although they 
did not settle at "the corners." Mr. Sanborn's 
house was about forty rods north, and Mr. Hale's 
house a quarter of a mile southeast of the cor- 
ners. Mr. Hale died and his family afterwards 
erected a house about forty rods east of the cor- 
ners. Messrs. Sanborn and Hale located here- 
in 1845. 

Jonathan Hill built the first frame house at 
the corners, and engaged in farming. 

Jonathan Cable settled there soon after, and 
engaged in the blacksmith business. This busi- 
ness is now in the hands of a gentleman named 
Walters, who is a first-class workman. 

The citizens of Twin Grove are an energetic, 
wide-awake and intelligent class of people, who 
are not slow to take advantage of the fine agri 
cultural district which surrounds their neat 



878 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



little Tillage. They have a church in the vil- 
lage, and a school house near by. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Below are given biographical sketches of a 
of a number of the prominent and energetic 
citizens of the town of Jefferson. 

J. A. Chambers is a native of Union Co.,Penn., 
born Feb. 6, 1834. He is a son of Benjamin 
and Mary C. (Musser) Chambers. Mis father 
was a saddle and harness-maker, and started 
the first harness shop between Chicago and 
Galena. He worked at his trade in the winter, 
and improved his farm in the summer. He 
brought with him his wife and two children — 
John A. and Robert M., the latter now residing 
in Colorado. He arrived in the town of Jeffer- 
son in the spring of 1839, and in a short time 
purchased a farm of John Baker. By hard la- 
bor and economy he was successful in securing 
a comfortable home. They had three children 
born to them in the town of Jefferson — Elleanor 
B., Mary C. and Henrietta B. He continued 
to live on his farm most of the time until his 
death, which occurred in October, 1872. John 
A., the subject of this sketch, was five years of 
age when he came to this county. He left the 
farm to learn the harness making trade, at 
which he worked for seven years. He then re- 
turned to the home of his father and built a 
house and fenced eighty acres of land adjoining 
his father's farm. He was married in March, 

1859, to Mary E. Glover, who died in April, 

1860. He then gave up farming and worked at 
his trade. On the 12th of August, 1862, he en- 
listed in company K, 22d Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry. He served until the close of the 
war, participating in many battles. He was 
with Sherman on his march from Nashville to 
Atlanta, Savannah and Richmond ; at the bat- 
tle of Spring Hill, Tenn., he was wounded 
in the hand and disabled for eight weeks. At 
the close of the war he returned to Green county 
and engaged in farming. In March, 1867, he 
was married to Margaret Rockey, of Stephen- 
son Co., 111., and at the death of his father, pur- 



chased the old home, vehere he now resides. 
By this union there are six children — Henrietta 
E., Charles L., Ella M., Mary C, Margaret E. 
and Benjamin G. Mr. Chambers owns 206 
acres of land, with timber adjoining, and one of 
the best springs in the town of Jefferson. He 
is engaged in farming and raising stock. 

J. S. Brown is a native of Green Co., Ohio, 
born May 21, 1822. He is a son of D. W. and 
Lydia (Rowser) Brown. His father was a 
farmer and a native of Pennsylvania Both 
parents are now dead and buried in Olive Cem- 
etery near Bellbrook. The subject of this 
sketch removed from his native State to this 
county as early as 1844, and lived with Allen 
Woodell in Spring Grove about eight months, 
then went back to Ohio. He afterwards re- 
turned to Green county, and selected 120 acres 
of land which he has since sold. He lived 
upon a farm until 1882, when he removed to 
the village of Juda, where he has since lived. 
He now owns 205 acres of land, and a nice 
house in the village. He was married June 4, 
1848, to Patience Stephens, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and a daughter of Reuben and Sally 
Stephens, who were among the early settlers of 
the town of Jefferson. Her father is dead, but 
her mother is yet living, hale and hearty, aged 
eighty one years. By this marriage there were 
three children — David D., now in Oregon; 
Florence, now living in Franklin Co., Iowa; and 
Lydia, who lives in Butler Co., Neb, all being 
married.. The mother of these children died 
and Mr. Brown was again married to Judith A. 
Luce, a resident and native of Green Co., Ohio. 
Three children have blessed this union — Belle 
L. and Jennie, both married; and William who 
lives at home and is a teacher in the schools of 
Green county. Mrs. Brown is a member of the 
Baptist Church, and Mr. Brown of the Christian 
Church. Mr. Brown has been somewhat promi- 
nent in the county, having been chairman of the 
board of supervisors twice, deputy provost 
marshal during the late war, and constable for 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



879 



six years. He is an excellent man, and may be 
classed among Green county's best citizens, 

Joseph Belveal came to Green county about 
1844, and purchased the farm owned by Jere- 
miah Bridge, which contained sixty acres, lo- 
cated on section 31, in the town of Jefferson. 
He has since sold twenty acres and now owns 
forty. He has always been engaged in farming. 
Mr. Belveal was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, 
Jan. 22, 1821. His parents, Joseph and Sarah 
(Caniff) Belveal, are dead, and buried in Union 
Co., Ohio, where they removed when Jose])h, 
Jr., was ten years old. He remained in that 
county until he came to Jefferson. He was 
married Dec. 14, 1847, in Monroe, to Elizabeth 
Clark, a daughter of J. E. Clark, of Jefferson. 
The ceremony w^as performed by Elder Wal- 
worth. Mr. and Mrs. Belveal are the parents 
of four children, of whom three are living — 
Sylvester, Sarah A. and George W, Lewis C, 
the eldest, is dead. Sylvester is a carpenter 
and cabinet maker. He has a shop upon the 
farm, in which he works during the winter, 
making all kinds of scroll and bracket work. 
He is a natural genius. Mr. Belveal is a repub- 
lican and a Church member. 

E. J. Blackford, a native of Fayette Co., 
Penn., was born May 12, 1824, and is the son of 
William and Rachel (Johns) Blackford, natives 
of the same State, who emigi'ated to Green 
county in 1845, and settled in Richland timber, 
on the Monroe and Juda road. They are both 
now deceased and buried in Juda Cemetery. 
The subject of this sketch came here with his 
parents with whom he made his home for a 
time. He worked the first summer for Elder 
Patton. He was married to Margai-et Chryst, 
a daughter of John Chryst, Sr., an early resi- 
dent of the county, now deceased and buried in 
Richland. In 1867 Mr. Blackford removed witli 
his family to Iowa, and remained two years. 
When they were returning to Green county in 
1869, Mrs, Blackford died on the road. By 
this union there were seven children, four of 
whom are living — John W,, Rebecca R,, James 



E. and Thomas J. He bought a farm in the 
town of Jefferson in 1859 called the "Cliryst" 
place. He also owned a farm on section 
8 of the same town. He removed from the 
"Chryst farm," to .Juda, in November, 1878, 
living in that town until March, 1883, when he 
moved to his present home. He was married 
again, Dec. 23, 1870, to Mrs Jane Clemmer, 
formerly Jane Roderick. Mrs. Blackford has 
one daughter by her former marriage — Lucinda 
L., wife of B. B, Bowell. Mrs Blackford is a 
member of the Baptist Church, Mr, Black- 
ford is a democrat, politically, and has been 
town clerk of Jefferson, also chairman of the 
town board two years; assessor, one year, and is 
at present, justice of the peace. 

Andrew Roderick was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born July 14, 1803, His wife is a native 
of the same State and was born on the day pre- 
vious. He was always accustomed to farm work, 
and after spending some time in Virginia came 
to Green Co., Wis., in 1846, having but |60. 
He bought forty acres of land and was success- 
ful, adding thereto until he had 250 acres. He 
died April 16, 1871, on the farm now owned by 
Elder Patton and was buried in Juda cemetery. 
He was an active, energetic, hard working man, 
a sincere Christian, and a much respected citi- 
zen. He always took a prominent part in 
Church matters, and was universally beloved. 
Mr. and Mrs. Roderick were the parents of nine 
children, all of whom reached an adult age. 
Mrs. Roderick still lives on the old homestead, 
having a pleasant room exclusively for herself. 

James W. Roderick has been a resident of 
Green county since 1846, when he came here 
witli his parents, who located at that time on 
section 3, in the town of Jefferson. He was 
born in Fayette Co., Penn., April 5, 1843. He, 
at present, owns a farm of 200 acres, a part of 
which is the homestead formerly owned by his 
father. He has good improvements and is de- 
sirably located. He was married Dec. 22, 1870, 
to Hannah LaBoard, a daughter of Peter La- 



880 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Board, of Juda. The ceremony was performed 
by Rev. G. R. Patton. They have had three 
children, only one of whom is living — Ross R 
Lydia L. and Letha M. are buried in Juda 
cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Roderick are members 
of the Haptist Church. 

Nathaniel Preston was a native of England, 
born in Portsmouth, June 13, 18-22. In 1845, 
he emigrated to America with his mother and 
lived a few months in Cincinnati, and then came 
to Monroe, Green county, where he engaged in 
business, running a shoe shop. In a short time 
he moved to the town of Jefferson, on section 
13, where he owned eighty acres of land, and 
where he died in June, 185*7, and was buried in 
Spring Grove cemetery. His widow with char- 
acteristic energy has since added to this farm 
until it now contains 120 acres, and her son 
Arthur also owns a like amount. His wife was 
formerly Charlotte E. Cook, a daugliter of John 
J. Cook, deceased, of Monroe. They were 
married, in 1852, and had two children — Arthur 
T., and Mary E., who was married to W. S. Pen- 
gra, Sept. 3, 1874. Arthur is engaged in stock 
raising, frequently has good herds of cattle and 
sells annually a goodly number. Mrs. Preston 
after coming to this county taught school tor a 
number of years. 

Lewis Roub, veterinary surgeon, is a native 
of Centre Co., Penn. His father, Samuel Roub, 
one of the early settlers of that county, is now 
deceased and buried in Oak Hall Cemetery. In 
1847, Lewis went with his parents to Stephenson 
Co., 111., and lived one year in Rock Grove town. 
ship, then came to Green county, which has 
since been his home. He owns about seventy. 
two acres of land on section 6, of the town of 
Jefferson, and makes veterinary surgery a par- 
ticular business, in which he is very successful, 
and has a large amount of practice in this and 
adjoining counties. He was married Aug. 26, 
1866, to Sarah E. Bowell, daughter of T. A. 
and Catharine Bowell, of Green county. They 
have one daughter, born Aug. 7, 1867. Mrs. 
Roub is a member of the Baptist Church. 



William Bradley is a native of Columbia Co., 
Penn., now called Montour county, and was 
born July 4, 1816. He is a son of Joseph and 
Mary (Marshall) Bradley, both of whom are 
dead, and buried at Rock Grove. He was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, and upon his re- 
moval from his native country in 1849, he set- 
tled near the Stephenson county line, and there 
remained until 1869, then removed to section 
96, where he owns eighty acres, and a timber 
lot in Stephenson county. The subject of tliis 
sketch was married Nov. 10, 1842, to Rachel 
Lemon, a daughter of William and Elizabeth 
(Parker) Lemon, both of whom are now dead. 
They are the parents of seven children now liv- 
ing — Seth M., Joseph, Mary E., Emma J., Uran- 
na, Alice M. and Marshall. Mr. Bradley be- 
lieves in the old time democratic principles, 
which constitute the foundation of his political 
faith. He is now the school director of Pleas- 
ant Grove district. 

Isaac Newman is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born in Fayette county, Oct. 20, 1801. When 
quite young his parents died. He was reared 
by Ephraim Walters. In 1849 he came to Green 
county, and settled near Juda, in the town of 
Jefferson, where he has since resided. He was 
married Jan. 1, 1826, to Adeline Sparks, a native 
of Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed 
with eighteen children. They reared eleven — 
Hulda, Naomi L.j Mary J., Hannah, Pomelia, 
Elizabeth, Adeline, Martha M., llattie, Lena 
Emma and V. B. S. Naomi is buried in Pres- 
ton Co., Minn., and Hannah, Pomelia, Adeline 
and Hattie are dead. Mrs. Newman died in 
1869, and is buried in Juda. She was a member 
of tlie Baptist Church, of which Mr. Newman 
is also a member. He owns a nice farm in the 
town of Decatur, and twenty-nine acres where 
he lives. 

Joseph Emrick came to Green county in 1858, 
And settled on section 28, where he resided until 
his death. He was born in Centre Co., Penn., 
April 27, 1821, and died in Green county, Feb. 
11, 1876. He removed from Centre Co., Penn., 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



88X 



to Stephenson Co., III., in 1848, and lived there 
ten years, and came from there to this county. 
He was married April 28, 1846, to Elizabeth 
Cleoanstine, a native of Centre Co., Penn., 
daughter of Christian and Mary (Williams) 
Cleoanstine, who are dead, and buried in Centre 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Emrick have five living 
children — Mary I., now the wife of J. C. Bridge, 
of this county; Ira C, married and living at 
Twin Grove; Sarah C, at home; Angle, married 
to H. M. Bangs, and living in Twin Grove at 
present; and Alonzo, born June 23, 1858, in 
Kock Grove. He is at present engaged in mer- 
cantile trade at Twin Grove. Joseph and Eliza- 
beth Emrick are members of the Lutheran 
Church, Two children have died, and are 
buried with their father in Rock Grove Ceme- 
tery. Mrs. Emrick resides in Twin Grove. 

John Carter was a native of England, born 
Dec. 24, 1833. He was a son of William and 
Mary Carter, both of whom are dead, and buried 
in England. When John was seventeen years 
old he came to America, and immediately to 
Green county. He had always been on a farm, 
and wishing to follow that avocation, settled on 
section 16, town of Jefferson, where, at the 
time of his death, he owned 378 acres. His 
wife was formerly Dorothe Hickman, and her 
parents are living in Butler Co., Iowa, Mr. and 
Mrs. Carter have had eleven children — John C, 
William M., George H., Frank E. O., Fred M,, 
Frances M., Dora M., Anna E., Ella M., Newton 
L. and Joseph A, The latter was born Dec, 1, 
1862, and died Oct. 11, 1865, Mr, Carter died 
June 25, 1881, and was buried in Juda Cemetery, 
Mrs. Carter, assisted by her eldest sou, John C, 
carries on the farm, 

William S. Newman, son of William New- 
man, was born Oct, 12, 1838, in Fayette Co,, 
Penn. In 1849 his parents removed to Lancas- 
ter, Grant county, and, in 1857, came to Green 
county, locating in the town of Spring Grove. 
He was married Dec. 27, 1860, to Esther A. 
Gifford, daughter of Robert Gifford, of the town 
of Spring Grove. The result of this union was 



seven children — Irving G., Susie L., W. Fay, 
Chester A., Lois E., Samuel A. and Ross B. 
For one year after their marriage they lived at 
home, then built a small house on his father's 
farm, and lived there one season. In the fall 
of 1865 he purchased a small farm of his broth- 
er in Spring Grove. He sold this farm, and in 
1878 bought 180 acres of Mrs. Dunwiddie. He 
has since added another forty acres, making 
him a nice farm. He is engaged in stock rais- 
ing and dairying. In 1862 he enlisted in com- 
pany K, 22d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry. He was in the battles of New Hope 
Church, Lost Mountain, Gulp's Farm, Kenesaw 
Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. He was with 
Sherman on his famous march to the sea. 
While on a forced march from Raleigh to 
Richmond he was affected by the intense heat, 
from which he has never fully recovered. He 
was mustered into the service at Racine, Wis., 
as private, and mustered out as sergeant. 

William Stevenson is a native of Beaver Co., 
Penn., born Nov. 7, 1825. He is a son of James 
and Hannah (McKibben) Stevenson, both of 
wliom are now dead and buried at the old 
M. E. Cemetery. William, when fourteen 
years old, went to Ohio, and Sept. 13, 
1849, was married to Mary Bennage. She died 
Dec, 16, 1855, and was buiied at the old M. E, 
Cemetery, By this union there were two chil- 
dren — Mary E., who was ma:ried to George W, 
Starr, and died and was buried in the old M. E. 
Cemetery; Matilda A., born July 24, 1852, mar- 
ried A. P. Kizer. She died and was buried in 
the old M. E. Cemetery. Mr. Stevenson 
was married again March 18, 1862, to Mrs. J. 
Bennage, who was formerly Phebe Weber. At 
tliat time she had by a former husband two 
children — David S. and George W. By her 
marriage with Mr. Stevenson there were two 
children — Leander, born April 10, 1863; and 
Martha J., now at home, was born July J 2, 1865. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are members of the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church. His place is located 



882 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



i 



on section 23, where he owns 200 acres of 
prairie and twenty-three of timber. 

James Stevenson, the father of William Ste- 
venson, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 
Beaver county in 1792. He came to this county 
ill the spring of 1852, and settled on section 24, 
of the town of Jefferson. He was elected to the 
oflSce of justice of the peace, and was asses- 
sor some years. He was a true Christian gen- 
tleman, and highly respected by all who knew 
him. 

William J. Chryst, son of John B. and Jane 
(Douglas) Chryst, was born July 22, 1853, in 
Jefferson, Green Co., Wis., about one-fourth of 
a mile from his present residence. He lias 
always been a resident of his native town. In 
1881 he purchased his present farm, and removed 
to it in 1883. He was n;arried Sept. 27, 1883, 
to Mary E. Todd, a native of Carroll Co., In<l., 
daughter of Oscar B. Todd, who still lives in 
that State. Mr. Chryst spent one season in 
visiting Washington Territory. He owns 157 
acres of fine farming land, and is an enterpris- 
ing and worthy citizen. 

J. J. Armstrong came from Woodford Co., 
111., and settled on section 28, in the town of 
Jefferson, in 1856, where he owned 120 acres, 
and remained some time. He now owns IGO 
acres adjoining his former place, upon which 
he lived until 1877. He then moved to Mon- 
roe, where he lived six years, engaging one 
year of that time in the cooper business. In 
1883 he removed to Twin Grove, where he 
owns a nice house and is pleasantly situated. 
He was born in Monroe Co., Ind., Nov. 14, 
1825. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Gar- 
rett) Armstrong. When he was five years old 
his parents removed to Park county, and three 
years later to Woodford county, where they 
died. J. J. Armstrong was married in Wood- 
ford county, Feb. 13, 1851, to Elizabeth M. 
Berry, a native of Tazewell Co., 111. Five chil- 
dren have been born to them — John H , Mary 
E., Sarah E., Laura E. and Martha J. John H. 
was educated at Madison and at Chicago Com- 



mercial College. He formerly engaged in 
teaching school. Laura E. is also a teacher. 
The family are members of the Christian 
Church. Mr. Armstrong is an adherent of the 
republican party. 

J. H. Armstrong is a native of Woodford 
Co., 111. He was born Dec. 11, 1851, and is a 
son of J. J. and Elizabeth ( Perry) Armstrong, 
both living in Twin Grove, town of Jefferson. 
When the subject of this sketch was four years 
of age he removed to this county, where he 
was reared on a farm. He lived there until 
1880, when he engaged in the grocery business 
in Monroe, where he remained until he removed 
to Twin Grove. He was married April 12, 
1877, to Emma C. Walker, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. The ceremony was performed by 
James M. Rees, a Lutheran minister of Twin 
Grove. The result of this union was two 
children— Myrtle M.", born Oct. 22, 1882, and 
an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are mem- 
bers of the Disciple Church. He is a republi- 
can, and is town clerk of Jefferson. 

Marion T. Gapen was born July 26, 1844, in 
Monongahela Co., Va. His parents were Lewis 
and Maria (Litus) Gapen. The former is living 
in Monroe; the latter is dead. Marion T. Gapen 
removed with his parents from Virginia to 
Pennsylvania, and from thence to Green county 
in 1856. He has always been a farmer, living 
with his parents upon the homestead until 
April 10, 1867, when he was married to Mary 
E. Chadwick, daughter of J. C. Chadwick, of 
the village of Juda. They have six children — 
Belle, George W., Lula R., Jotham C, Frances 
M. and Helen S. Mr. Gapen owns a farm of 
120 acres on section 5, where he lives, also a 
farm on sections 3 and 10, in the town of Jeffer- 
son. Mr. and Mrs. Gapen are members of the 
Baptist Churcli. He is a republican, and a 
member of the board of town supervisors. 

L. H. Gapen, son of Lewis and Martha 
(Jamison) Gapen, was born Feb. 17, 1856, in 
the town of Jefferson, on section 17, the same 
place where he now resides. He has always 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



888 



followed farming, and is also extensively en- 
gaged in stock raising. He was married Sept. 
6, 1883, to Ella Courtney, a native of Missouri, 
but at that time a resident of Green county. 
Mr. Gapen's parents are living in Monroe. Al- 
though still a young man, Mr. Gapen is one of 
the substantial citizens of the county. 

W. C. Penn was born in Green Co., Penn., 
Feb. 14, 1837. He is a son of Thomas and 
Sarah (Moore) Penn, both of whom are now 
dead. He came to Wisconsin in 185(5, and first 
settled in Grant county, where he lived one 
year,and worked at carpentering. From there he 
came to Green county, and settled in the town 
of Jefferson, on a farm of his own, which he 
had purchased from Jesse Weaver. It contains 
200 acres. He enlisted in the army Aug. 9, 
1862, in company K, 22d Wisconsin Infantry, 
and served in the Army of the Cumberland, 
with Rosecrans, and with Sherman on his march 
to the sea. He was taken sick at the battle of 
Dallas Woods, and sent back to Kingston hos- 
pital. He was in the Atlanta campaign, and 
participated in many engagements. He went 
into the army a private, and came back a lieu- 
tenant. At one time he was captured and con- 
fined in Libby prison one day and night. He 
was married Oct. 19, 1865, to Louise Chadwick, 
a daughter of James and Nancy (Davis) Chad- 
wick. Her father is now dead and her mother 
lives in the town of Sylvester. They have two 
children— Eldora, born Sept. 28, 1869, and J. 
Carl, born Jan. 4, 1871. Mrs. Penn is a mem 
ber of the Baptist Church. 

Ephraim Berryman was a settler of 1857. He 
was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1827, where 
he remained until twelve years old, then re- 
moved to Cedarville, Stephenson Co., 111., and 
farmed seventeen years, after which he came to 
Green county and settled near Monroe, in the 
town of Sylvester, where his widow now owns 
130 acres of choice land, but lives in the vil- 
lage of Juda, where she moved for the purpose 
of educating her children, Mr. Berryman was 



married to Mary Treaster, a native of Centre 
Co., Penn., April 19, 1849. Ten children were 
born to them — Arian L., Albert L., Jacob T., 
Craton R., Elizabeth J., Luther S., Lester P., 
Cyrus Jackson, Mary Alia and Eddie W. The 
the three latter are living at home. Mr. Berry- 
man's death occurred July 14, 1873, and he was 
buried in the cemetery at Juda. 

James L. Ostrander was born in Schenectady, 
N. Y., Sept. 14, 1810. He is the son of Samuel 
and Mary (Miracle) Ostrander, both of whom 
are now dead and buried in Schenectady. He 
left his native place in 1834, and went to Steu- 
ben county. Early in life he learned a trade, at 
which he worked for about twenty years, and 
has since given his attention to farming. He 
remained in Steuben county until 1851, then 
went to Big Foot Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis., 
and lived there three years. In 1854 he came 
to Green county and settled in Spring Grove. 
Alter living a few years in Spring Grove, he re- 
moved to the town of Jefferson, where he now 
resides. He has been twice married. First to 
Maria Loring, in New York; she died and was 
buried in Spring Grove. By this union there 
were six children — William J., John H., Mary 
A., Jeremiah D., Thomas L. and Susanna M. 
His second wife was Mrs. Matilda Richardson, 
formerly Matilda Lemon, and they had two 
children — Lewis L. and Benjamin F. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ostrander are members of the L'nited 
Brethren Church, and he believes in the de- 
mocracy as the best political element of the 
country. 

James Hickman, a native of England, was 
born in Lincolnshire, July 2, 1832. His parents, 
Jacob and Mary (Allen) Hickman, are both liv- 
ing in England. Mr. Hickman, of this sketch, 
resided in his native country until twenty-one 
years old. He then came to America and settled 
upon a farm in Lorain Co., Ohio, where he 
lived three and a half years, then removed to 
Vernon Co., Wis., and about two years later to 
Green county. He owns a good farm of 160 



884 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



acres, on section 9, in the town of Jeflfeison,and 
is engaged in raising sheep, cattle and hogs. 
He was married June 7, ]862, to Mrs. Sarah 
(Carter) Whitehead. Seven children have been 
born to them — Mary Emma, Martha Jane, Sarah 
Ellen, John, Caroline, David and Etta M. Mrs. 
Hickman has four children by her former mar- 
riage— Elizabeth, Charlotte, William and Thomas. 
Mr. Hickman is politically a republican. 

David S. Benage, a native of Ashland Co., 
Ohio., was born Sept. 18, 1853. He is a son of 
Jacob and Phebe (Weaver) Benage. The former 
is dead, and buried in Ashland Co., Ohio; the 
latter was again married to William Stevenson, 
of Jefferson, Green Co., Wis. He came to 
Green county when he was but eight years old, 
and settled in the town of Jefferson, and lived 
with, and worked for William Stevenson until 
twenty-one years of age. In 1876, he bought 
his present place of E. C French. It then con- 
tained 120 acres, and now contains eighty acres. 
Sept. 27, 1874, he was married to Anna C. Schoch, 
a native of Pennsylvania. They have two chil- 
dren — Rosa J., born Sept. 23, 1876, and Allie E., 
born March 31, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Benage are 
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 
Mr. Benage does not adhere, particularly, to 
any of the political organizations, as at present 
formed. 

William Osborne came to Green county in 
1861, and worked about one year upon a farm. 
He then enlisted in company B, of the 31st 
Wisconsin regiment, and was mustered into ser- 
vice in August, 1862, at Prairie du Chien. His 
regiment belonged to Sherman's western divis- 
ion, and participated in the famous march to the 
sea, and to Washington. He served until June 
15, 1865, and was mustered out at St. Louis. 
He lost his health while in the service, and was 
unable to do any work for a number of year> 
after his return from the war. He is now a 
pensioner. He owns 112 acres of good land, on 
section 6, of the town of Jefferson, having pur- 
chased the "Squire Gardner farm." His wife 
was formerly Arsula South, daughter of Abijah 



South, formerly a resident of Jefferson, but now 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne have two chil- 
dren— Sada and Leroy. Mr. Osborne was born 
in Trumbull Co., Ohio, Jan. 1, 1846, and is the 
son of John and Abigail (Allen) Osborne. The 
latter died when the suy)ject of this sketch was 
eight months old. The former is living in 
Pennsylvania 

George Bussey first settled in the town of 
Spring Grove, on a farm, in October, 1842. In 
February, 1862, he sold out and removed to the 
town of Jefferson. On Dec. 5, 1875, he removed 
to the village of Juda. He is a ijative of Ohio, 
and when a boy, removed with his parents to 
Indiana, where he lived until he came to Green 
county. He was united in marriage with Emily 
Gaby, a native of Maryland, Aug. 25, 1836. 
They have had eight children — Phebe E., Ada 
J., both deceased; Mary A., Fanny H., Mahlon 
I., John N., Orra E. and Susan C. The children 
are all married except John N. Mr. Bussey is 
among the list of retired farmers, of whom 
Green county has so many, but still owns real 
estate in the town of Jefferson. One hundred and 
twenty acres on section 13, and eighty acres on 
section 24, He has a desirable home in the 
village of Juda. Mr. Bussey, at the call of his 
country, enlisted in the army. He was a mem- 
ber of battery D, First Wisconsin Heavy Artil- 
lery, and was stationed at I ort Jackson, La. He 
He served nine months, was mustered in at 
Milwaukee, and out at Fort Jackson. He is a 
member of tha Masonic fraternity, has been 
prominent in the county, and held offices of 
trust at different times. 

Frederick Zeitlow is a native of Prussia, Ger- 
many. He was born May 20, 1838, and is a son 
of Godfrey and Frederica Zeitlow. His mother 
lives with him. His father is buried in Juda, 
this county. Mr. Zeitlow is the youngest of 
three children. When twenty-four years of age 
he came to America, locating in the town of 
Jefferson, Green Co., Wis. He worked by the 
month for one summer, then in 1870 he pur- 
chased 120 acres of land on section 4, from 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



885 



Daniel Patton. He now own 158 acres, and is 
engaged in stock raising and farming. He was 
married May 20, 1861, to Augusta Smith, daugh- 
terof Christian Smith. Her parents died when 
she was small. The result of this union was seven 
children — Harmon F., Minnie A., Anna O., 
Oricka A., William E., John H. and Peter S. 
They are members of the Evangelical Church. 
Harmon is married to Lena Schwoen, and re- 
sides in Sylvester. Minnie is married to Ferdi- 
nand Matzka, and resides in the town of Jeffer- 
son. 

J. W. Holmes was born Jan. 11, 1850, in Ash- 
land Co., Ohio. He is the son of David and 
Mary (Weaver) Holmes, who now live in the 
town of Jefferson. J. W. Holmes, at the age 
of sixteen, came to Green county and settled 
upon section 22, where his parents now reside. 
He now lives on section 5, of the same town, 
and owns 230 acres of land. He was married 
Nov. 17, 1872, to Isabel Chry^t, a native of 
Green county, born in the house in which they 
now live. They have four children — Jasper E., 
Leroy E,, Clayton O., and John D. Mr. Holmes 
is engaged in grain and stock raising and is po- 
litically a democrat. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Abram Worrick was a native of Pennsylva- 
nia, born in Clinton county Nov. 28, 1817. He 
is a son of John and Margaret (Kitchen) Wor- 
rick. He was married in January, 18G0, to Mrs. 
Frees, formerly Margaret Ketner, who was born 
in Clinton county. She had eleven children by 
a former husband, all of whom are living — 
Mary A., Susan M., Catharine, Michael, Jacob, 
Israel T., Amanda E., William L., Ellen, Ahbie 
M. and Chester M. Mr. and Mrs. Worrick re- 
mained in Pennsylvania until 1866, when they 
came to this county and first settled in the 
town of Cadiz, and lived for one year, then 
bought a farm on section 35, town of Jefferson, 
containing eighty acres. He died Aug. 9, 1873, 
leaving one child — George — who carries on the 
farm. The widow now owns ninety-one acres, 
and, with George, is engaged in mixed farming. 



Mr. Worrick was a hard-working man, honest 
in his dealings, and his death was mourned by 
a large circle of friends. He was buried at 
Ream Chapel Cemetery, Stephenson Co., 111. 

Robert Beach came to Green county in 1850. 
He is a native of England, born Oct. 31, 1818, 
and is the son of George and Fanny (Coy) 
Beach, both of whom are buried in England. 
Mr. Beach, Sr,, was a farmer, and Robert was 
reared upon a farm, where he lived until thirty- 
one years old. He then left his native home 
and came directly to Monroe, Green connty. 
He was first employed in working for A. 
Ludlow. In 1850, with the aid of Mr, Ludlow, 
he entered forty acres of land on the northwest 
quarter of section 6, of the town of Monroe, 
upon which he lived until 1867. He then re- 
moved to Jefferson, where he has at different 
times owned considerable land, but at present 
owns only a small tract, upon which he lives. 
He sold his last farm to George West. Mr. 
Beach is in comfortable circumstances, and is 
apparently enjoying life. He was married, in 
England, to Mary Ann Hoverton, a native of 
that country, who died Nov. 15, 1863, in Green 
county. He afterwards married a Mrs. Ed- 
wards. Mr. Beach is a member of the republi- 
can party. Both he and his wife are active 
members of the M. E. Church, and deeply in- 
terested in Christian work. 

Levi Kodocker, a native of Ohio, was born 
June 27, 1842. He was reared on a farm until 
fifteen years d. He then learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, which he worked at continuously 
ever since. In 1860 he removed to Indiana, and 
in 1868 to Green county, locating in the town of 
Jefferson. He has worked at his trade in Indi- 
ana, Minnesota and Iowa since coming here to 
live. His parents were Samuel and Anna 
(Weaver) Rodocker. His father is buried in 
Ashland Co., Ohio. His mother lives in Win- 
field, Kansas. Mr. Rodocker was married March 
31, 1876, to Eva Holmes, daughter of David 
and Mary Holmes, of the town of Jefferson. 
Thev were married by 'Squire Patton, of Janes- 



886 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ville. They have had five children, two of 
whom are living — Curtis E. and David S. Mr. 
Rodocker is nicely situated in Twin Grove, own- 
ing one of the nicest houses in the village, also 
a small place in the town of Oarno. 

Abram Benage is from Union Co., Penn., 
where he was born Oct. 6, 183 8. He is a son of 
Samuel and Eve (Dersham) Benage, both of 
whom are now dead. In 1841 he went with his 
parents to Ashland Co., Ohio, and remained until 
April -20, 1869, when he came to this county 
and settled on section 36, town of Jefferson, 
having eighty acres, and in addition ten acres of 
timber land in Stephenson Co., 111. He was 
married in Ohio to Barbara Wise, a daughter of 
George and Catharine (Kiplinger) Wise, May 
12, 1861. They are the parents of four chil- 
dren — Elmira E., Agnes R., Eva R. and Lilly 
C. Mr, and Mrs. Benage are members of the 
Lutheran Church, of which organization he is a 
deacon. Politically he is a democrat. 

William Grenzon, a native of Prussia, was 
born May 11, 1824. He is a son of William 
and Frederica (Barwent) Grenzon, who are dead, 
and buried in Prussia. The subject of this 
sketch came to this county in 186f>, and settled 
at Spring Grove, where he owned a farm of 
eighty-six and one-half acres, which he sold, and 
removed to Jefferson. In 1882 he bought 120 
acres of George W. Wells, located on section 
28, where he has a fine farm, desirably located, 
and where he has since resided. He was mar- 
ried in Prussia, March 11, 1849, to VVilhelmine 
Wolff. They have five childreti — William F., 
Augusta L., Ernest O., Frank L. and Charles 
F., all of whom were born in Prussia. W^illiara 
F. is married and living south of Juda. Augus- 
ta L. is married and lives in Spring Grove. 
Frank is living at home, and is married to Min- 
nie Moyer. They are members of the Evan- 
gelical Church, and Mr. Grenzon and his sons 
are politically republicans. 

W. F. Hartwig is a native of Prussia, born 
April 4, 1853, and is the son of W. L. and So- 



phia (Haberman) Hartwig, who live, at the 
present time, in Sylvester. They came to 
Watertown, Wis., when the subject of this 
sketch was eighteen months old, and removed 
one year later to Sylvester. He has resided in 
the county since that time He was engaged in 
clerking, in Juda and Brodhead, eight years. 
He owned a farm in Sylvester, which he sold, 
and purchased the place where he now lives, on 
section 6, of the town of Jefferson. He owns 
274 acres of good land. Feb. 11, 1876, he was 
married to Mary Arnsmeire, a native of Illinois 
and daughter of Frederick Arnsmeire, now a 
resident of Spring Grove, i hey have three chil- 
dren—Elmer E., Ada V. and William H. Mr. 
Hartwig is a man of education and ability, and 
belongs to the republican party. He is, with 
his wife, a member of the M. E. Church. 

B. F. Carle, a native of Maine, was born July 10, 
1822, and is a son of Silas and Abigail (Brown) 
Carle, both dead and buried in Waterboro Cen- 
ter, Maine. B. F. Carle fii'st came to Wiscon- 
sin Dec. 27, 1855, and lived in Janesville until 
1862, when he came to Brooklyn, Green county, 
where he had purchased a farm. This place he 
sold and bought another, living upon it until 
March 12, 1872, spending some time meanwhile 
in the oil regions of Pennsylvania. He subse- 
quently sold this farm and removed to Juda, 
where he now lives, though retired, by no means 
an idle life, having been justice of the peace ten 
years in this village. He has been engaged a 
part of the time in the meat business. He is 
beautifully located in the west part of the vil- 
lage on a lot of five acres, on which he has a 
fine young orchard, priding himself on his 
splendid select apples and cherries, having a 
number of varieties of each. He was married 
in Maine to Mary Roberts, a native of that 
State. They have had six children, five of 
whom are now living — Susan, married to 
Tiioinas Alverson, of Albany; Fred, married 
and living in Albany; Sarali, married to John 
Talmage and living in Brooklyn; Addle, mar- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



88Y 



ried to Charles P. Preston, and living in Den- 
ver; George, who was drowned in Lime creek; 
Ella, married to David D. Brown, now liv- 
ing in Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Carle are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. Politically, or 
otherwise, he is a prohibitionist, and an earnest 
worker in the cause. 

William Guinter, a native of Pennsylva nia, 
was born July 12, 1825, and is the son of 
Charles and Anna (Cherry) Guinter, both of 
whom are dead, and buried at Milton, North- 
umberland Co., Penn. Charles Guinter was a 
native of Germany, and a shoemaker by trade. 
William Guinter learned the blacksmith trade, 
and followed it in Pennsylvania, also after com- 
ing to this county. At present he has a shop 
on his farm in which he works a portion of the 
time. He removed to Green county in 1858, 
and purchased eighty acres of land of Hugh 
Cameron, which is located on section 33, of the 
town of Jefferson, where he still resides. He 
was married Feb. 5, 1846, to Rebecca Steninger, 
;i native of Pennsylvania. They have six chil- 
dren living — David S., now traveling salesman 
for the Neenah Stove Works, formerly a 
preacher; Ann E., married to Oscar Templeton, 
and living in Iowa; Agnes L., wife of William 
Lutz, of Shannon, 111., Vialetta, wife of Ira Em- 
rick; William S., married to Sarah Armstrong, 
and living in Jefferson; and Belle, who is living 
at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Guin- 
ter are members of the Evangelical Association. 
He is a class leader in the Church, a member of 
the republican party, and a respected and popu- 
lar citizen. He owns a good farm, and makes 
stock raising a specialty. 

George Eley is a native of Pennsylvania, and 
was born in Centre county, Feb. 28, 1807. He 
is the son of John and Catharine (Johnsonbacli) 
Eley, also natives of the same State. He is of 
German extraction, his grandfather and great- 
grandfather being natives of that country. 
NV'hen thirty-eight years old George came to this 
county from Ohio, and settled on a farm in 
Richland, where he remained until 1875, then 



came to Juda. He is now comfortably situated, 
and lives upon the income of his money, which 
he loans. Mr. Eley has been married three 
times, and his first two wives are buried in 
Austin Cemetery. His present wife was Mrs. 
Jemima Blackford, formerly Jemima Dennis. 
He is the father of ten children, seven of whom 
are now living. He is a member of the Church 
of Christ (Disciples). Mrs. Eley formerly was 
a member of the Baptist Church, but at this 
time neither have any sympathy with human 
legislation in religion. They believe that the 
teaching of Christ, and his apostles, is sufficient 
to govern the conduct of all true Christians. 

W. F. Gren/.ow was born in Prussia, Ger- 
many, June 14, 1849. He is a son of William 
and Augusta (Wolf) Grenzow. When seven- 
teen years old he left his native land and came 
with his parents to America, and remained 
with them until of age. March 23, 1877, he 
came to Green county and settled on section 12, 
where he had purchased forty acres of land. 
Since that time he has bought eighty acres 
more so that he now owns 120. He was mar- 
ried March 15, 1877, to Augusta Mdzke, by 
whom he had four children — Minnie A., John 
E., Samuel W. and Joseph Henry. They are 
members of the German Evangelical Church. 
Mr. Grenzow is a man of energy, and has been 
a successful farmer. He fully understands both 
the German and English language, and teaches 
the same to his children. His farm is a desira- 
ble one, well located and abundantly watered. 

John Myers was born in the town of Spring 
Grove, Green Co., Wis., March 22, 1839, and is 
a son of Samuel and Sarah (Cline) Myers. 
Samuel Myers removed to Stephenson Co., 111., 
in 1835, and settled on what is now called the 
"Barker farm," where he owned 600 or 700 
acres. He afterwards soKl this place and re- 
moved to Green Co., Wis., and in company 
with his father-in-law built a saw mill, which 
was the first in the county, and for a time, did 
tlie sawing for the whole county. He lived in 



888 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



a log house with no floor but the ground. He 
continued to run the mill for a number of years, 
and then built a carding mill at Oakley, which 
he operated two or three years. He owned a 
farm on section 19, of Spring Grove, which he 
improved and removed to, living there until his 
death, which occurred May 2, 1863. He is 
buried in Union Church Cemetery, in Spring 
Grove. Mrs. Myers is now living in Monroe. 
Mr. Myers Sr., was born in Bucks Co., Penn., 
and lived there until eighteen months old, then 
went with his parents to Ohio and remained 
there some time, then removed to Indiana, and 
thence to Stephenson Co., 111., where he was 
married in 1831. He was a cooper by trade, 
also a farmer. He was a large powerful man, 
and very active and energetic. He was the 
owner of the first grain thresher and separator, 
in the county, and the second reaper. He also 
owned the first reel reaper. Mr. and Mrs. Myers 
were the parents of ten children. John Myers, 
the subject of this sketch, was married March 
19,1863, to Fanny H. Bussey, a native of Green 
county. They have four children — Laura J., 
Elmer W., John D. and Emily E. Mr. Myers, 
on the death of his father, removed to another 
farm in the town of Jefferson, and in 1866, 
bought eighty-one acres on section 25. He was 
in the machine business in Brodhead in 1875, 
1816, 1877 and 1879. He has also taught school 
a number of terms. He now owns 245^ acres 
of land, with substantial and elegant improve- 
ments, having a barn which cost over |3,000, 
and has, altogether, one of the most desirable 
places in the county. 

Hermann G. Fritz, a prosperous young farmer 
of the town of Jefferson, is the son of David 
and Anna G. (Beckman) Fritz, born Aug. 22, 
1857. When seven years old, he came to Green 
county, and afterwards bought the place known 
as the "Crayton farm," on which he lived until 
twenty-four years old. He then removed to 
Jefferson, where he now lives, upon section 30, 
also owns sixty-six acres in the town of Clarno, 
on section 25. He makes a specialty of stock 



raising. His wife was formerly Louisa Brunner, 
daughter of John and Mary (Bure) Brunner, of 
the town of Jefferson. 

.John Chambers, a native of England, was 
born in Leicestershire, in 1821, and is a son of 
William and Elizabeth Chambers, both of whom 
are dead, and buried in England. Mr. Cham- 
bers came to America in 1852, and first lived in 
Davenport, Iowa. Afterwards he came to Green 
county and lived the first season with Henry 
Hamberry, subsequently he worked for John 
Ciiadwick one year for |15 per month. He 
then made arrangements for forty acres of 
school land on section 16, and one year later 
took another forty, costing 1 100. Upon the 
latter forty he now lives and owns in all 390 
acres, all in a body, excepting his timber land, 
which is detached. He was married in his 
native land to Fanny Wood, also a native of 
England, May 24, 1849. Two children were 
born to them — William and E'izabeth A., now 
the wife of Avan South, living in Jefferson. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chambers were reared in the faith 
of the Church of England. He adhei'es to the 
republican party, always voting with that or- 
ganization. 

Seth Austin ha-^ lived upon section 5, of the 
town of Jefferson, since 1851. He was born 
May 17, 1817, in Edgar Co., 111. His father, 
Elijah Austin, was the first settler of that 
county. Mr. Austin, of this sketch, on coming 
to Wisconsin, worked for two years in the 
mines in Green and Grant counties. He pur- 
chased 400 acres of land in Green county, all of 
which he has since sold, including a fine farm 
on section 5. He was married March 13, 1842, 
to Elizabeth VVyatt, a native of this county. 
She died June 20, 1880, and is buried in Oak 
Hall Cemetery. Twelve children were born to 
them, of whom five are living — William J., 
who lives in iNIinnesola; Orrin S., living at 
lionie; Marion, in >!innesota; Elizabeth J. and 
Anna. Mr. Austin was again mariied in April, 
1883, to Eliza Wyatt. He is a member of the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



889 



M. E. Church, has served as justice of the peace 
and belongs to tlie republican party. Three of 
Mr. Austin's sons were killed while in the ser- 
vice, during the late war. 

H. K. White is a native of Maine, born in 
Livermore, Oxford county, May 24, 1841, and is 
a son of G. W. and Mary A. (Cram) White, 
also natives of Maine. He vvas brought up in 
the rough, hilly country of northern Maine, con- 
trasting greatly with the beautiful farm which 
is now his home It is located on section 15, in 
the town of Jeflferson, and consists of 140 acres 



of prairie and ten acres of timber land. Before 
coming to Wisconsin, Mr. White was engaged 
in farming and lumbering upon the Kennebec 
river, in his native State. He was married 
there to Mary E. Marshall, a native of Somer- 
set county, and daughter of William S. Mar- 
shall. Her parents died when she was quite 
young Mr. and Mrs. White have three chil- 
dren — Cora L., John W. and William H. Mr. 
White is an industrious and enterprising farmer, 
and consequently prosperous. He is a republi- 
can, a member of the Masonic order, and one 
of the substantial citizens of the county. 



52 



890 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



TOWN OF JORDAN. 



Congressional township 2 north, range 6 east, 
comprises what is organized as thecivil town 
of Jordan. On the north, it adjoins the town of 
Adams, on the east, Monroe; on the south, Cadiz; 
and on the west, the county of Lafayette. The 
surface of this town, as well as its soil, is varied; 
and the scenery is diversified by interspersed 
prairie and timber land, sufficient to make it 
picturesque, and, in certain localities, romantic. 
There is an inclination, visible in the surface, 
toward being bluffy, yet in but very few places 
are the hills so abrupt as to be detrimental to 
the cultivation of the land. The soil is gener- 
ally a dark, rich loam, yet this is not uniform, 
as there are many localities in the town where 
it is quite light, and mixed with stone. There 
are some fine farms in Jordan, and there are a 
number of substantial and comfortable farm 
buildings. 

The principal farm products grown in the 
town of Jordan during the year 1882, were as 
follows: 3,737 bushels of wheat; 49,320 bushels 
of corn; 35,453 bushels of oats; 291 bushels of 
barley; 5,212 bushels of rye; 6,723 bushels of 
potatoes; 200 bushels of root crops; 952 bushels 
of apples; 77 bushels of clover seed; 25 bushels 
of timothy seed; 2,198 tons of hay; 53,100 pounds 
of butter; and 46,700 pounds of cheese. 

The principal farm products growing in the 
town, at the time of making the assessment, in 
1883, were as follows: 392 acres wheat; 2,090 
acres corn; ],455| acres oats; 3 acres barley; 
392^ acres rye; 100^ acres potatoes; 30f acres 
apple orchard; 1,409 bearing apple trees; 1,982 
acres grasses; 5,850 acres growing timber. 



The live stock of the town was assessed as 
follows: 1,008 milch cows, valued at $20,310; 
481 horses, average value $38.55, total $26,660; 
2,003 cattle, average value $16, total $32,049; 19 
mules, average value $50.73, total $964; 2,000 
sheep, average value $1.93, total, $3,872; 1,591 
swine, average value $4,47, total $7,122. 

There are 23,034 acres of farming land in the 
town; average value per acre $7.57, total value 
of real estate $174,547. Total value of real and 
personal property $263,035. The population of 
the town, in 1875, was 1,027; in 1880, 1,094. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settlement, within the limits now 
comprising the town of Jordan, was made by 
William Brazel. He came from the southern 
part of Illinois, in 1837, and first settled in the 
town of Adams. Later, he settled on section 4, 
in tl'.e town of Jordan, and erected the first 
house in the town. In 1846 he sold his farm to 
John Scott, from Ohio, at $6 per acre, and 
moved to the town of Adams, where he died a 
few years later. 

Within the next few years, the arrivals were: 
Robert Brazel, who located on section 5; Joshua 
Chilton, from Illinois, who located on section 9; 
John Trotter, Curtis Hard and Henry Crary, 
who came from Stephenson Co., 111. The latter 
died here. Hard settled in Jockey Hollow; he 
afterward took to roaming; traveled to Iowa aijd 
(yalifornia, and was in the latter State when last 
heard from. 

John Trotter came to Green county in 1839, 
and settled on the northwest quarter of section 
8, in the town of Jordan. He was born in Ken- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



891 



tacky in 1801, being reared on a farm. When 
he left home he went on the river as oarsman. 
He became very sick and had to quit work. 
He afterwards removed to Springfield, Sanga- 
mon Co., 111.; thence to Stephenson county, 
Avhere he remained between two and three 
years, thence to Apple River station. Wis., 
where he worked in the lead mines; thence to 
Wiota, Wis., and followed mining there. He 
then came to Green county and settled as stated 
above. His health began to fail, and he went 
to live with a brother in Stephenson Co., 111., so 
as to be near a physician . He only lived about 
one year, when he died, and was buried in the for- 
est near his brother's house. He was married tols- 
abelle Brazel,a native of Tennessee. The result of 
this union was four children— James H.,Mary A., 
William and John, James and 'John live in 
Bonhomme Co., Dak. Mary A. married David 
Bell, and lives in this county. William lives in 
this county. After the death of her husband 
Mrs. Trotter gathered her children together 
and returned to Green county. She was poor 
in this world's goods, but kept her family to- 
gether by knitting until they were big enough 
to work. She was an invalid for twenty years 
before her death, being just able to walk since 
the death of her husband. She lived on what 
is now known as the Daniel Clark place. She 
died July yi, 1869, and is buried in Jordan 
Center cemetery. 

William Trotter, son of John and Isabelle 
(Brazel) Trotter, was born at Apple River sta- 
tion, Polk Co., Wis., Oct. 5, 1827. He lived at 
home until the death of his molher, which oc- 
curred July 2], 1869. He bought 190 acres of 
land on section 17, and has since purchased 
ninety-five acres on section 21. He is engaged 
in farming and stock raising. On the 24th of 
November, 18G2, lie was united in marriage 
witli C'alista E. Sawin, daughter of Horace and 
Elvira (Ijurnett) Sawin, of this county. The 
result of this union was eight children, six of 
wh(>ni are living — Alice B., Angie E., Ada i\r., 
Delia. A., William K. and Alta E. Mr. Trotter 



preaches to some little extent, having been en- 
gaged in the work for ten years. He is a 
staunch and earnest temperance worker, and a 
man whose advice is well worth listening to. 

Chester Stephens, a pioneer of 1839, was 
born in Missouri, near Jackson, Sej:)t. 25, 1842. 
He is a son of John and Betsy (Jacobs) Ste- 
phens, both of whom are dead and buried in Ar- 
gyle, Lafayette county. From Missouri the 
Stephens family moved direct to this county in 
1839, and took a claim on section 6, town of 
Jordan, of 180 acres. Chester now owns 260 
acres. He was married Nov. 6, 1870, to Rosa 
Hobbs. They have four childi'en — John R., 
Lettie M., Marble C. and Clay I. Mr. Stephens 
politically is a republican, and a good citizen. 

Dr. Edward Church and sons came from Illi- 
nois, in 1840, and erected a sawmill on section 
12, on Skinner creek. They finally went to 
Iowa. 

Lars Larson Bothan and Ivor Iverson, the 
first Norwegians to settle in the town, came in 
1842 and located on section 33, where Bothan 
still lives; Iverson still lives in the town. They 
were soon followed by Axiel Iverson Stortottle, 
Mr. Tollefson and other Norwegimis. 

John and George Shelton cnme from Virginia 
as early as 1836, and engaged in mining at 
Wiota. In 1842 they settled on section 4. 
John was killed in Missouri during the war, 
having accumulated a fortune and become a 
sympathizer with "the lost cause." George went 
I>a{'k to Virginia and has been lost trace of. 

John Soper came with his family, in 1844, 
and bought the claim of George Shelton, on 
section 4. He died Oct. 22, 1872, and his re- 
mains were buried in the Jordan Centre ceme- 
tery. He was born in the town of Brandon, 
Vt., Jan 26, 1798. He was a son of Prince and 
Elizabeth (Allen) Soper, the latter a grand- 
niece of p]than Allen. Prince Soper w.as a shoe- 
maker by trade, and lived in Vermont until 
184'?, Avhen he removed to IMilwaukee, Wis., 
locating on a farm, three miles south of the 
city, lie then removed lo Sugar river. Remain- 



892 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ing there but a short time, he came to the town 
of Jordan and settled on section 4, now owned by 
his son. He was married in Vermont to Eleanor 
Arnold, a native of Brandon, Vt. She was born 
April 9, 1803. She now lives on section 4, this 
town, with her son, William. Ten children 
wereborn to them— Warren S., deceased; Martha 
J., living in West Union, Iowa; William B. A., 
Samuel S., in the town of Wiota; Prince Ed- 
ward, deceased; George W., deceased; Foster 
R., killed in the battle of Fairfax Court House, 
during the late war; Edward L., Eimicc A., and 
John Q. A., living near his mother. He was 
born Dec. 23, 1844. He enlisted on the 1st of 
January, 1862, in company K., 18th Wisconsin 
Infantry. He participated in the battle of 
Shiloh, and many skirmishes. He was dis- 
charged in December, 1862, and again enlisted in 
December, 1863, in company K, 16th Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, in which he was corporal. 
He was discharged in March, 1865. Mr. Soper 
was married to Adeline Williams, a native of 
Dane Co., Wis., and a daughter of William and 
Esther (Warren) Williams. Three children 
blessed this union — William, Viva and Cecil. 
He owns a good farm on section 4. 

Edward L. Soper was born in tlie State of 
Vermont, Sept. 7, 1840. He is a son of John 
and Eleanor (Arnold) Soper, one of the oldest 
residents of Jordan. He was only four years 
old when he left his native place and with 
his parents emigrated to Milwaukee, where 
they remained one year, then came direct 
to this county, settling on section 4, town 
of Jordan, where Edward has since re- 
mained. His early life was spent on a farm 
among the timber and he was brought up to hard 
labor. He has cleared up a farm on section 
4. He first bought the west lialf of the north- 
east quarter, to which he has since added until 
he now has a fine farm. He was married 
Jan. 1, 1867, to Julia Hanson, a native of Nor- 
way. Eight children have been born to them — 
George A., Mary E., Clarence E., Amison R., 
Almond A., Lena L., Juliet and Lodasca. Mrs. 



Soper is a member of the Lutheran Church. 
Mr. Soper served in the army, enlisting Jan. 5, 
1864, in company K, 16th Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry; was mustered in at Janesville and 
served until June, 1865, when he was mustered 
out at Madison. Politically he adheres to the 
princi])les of the republican party. 

During the same summer came Franklin Os- 
good, Noah Ellis, Nehemiah Ellis, Jason Morton, 
Levi Spaulding, Jabez Smith, Arfaxed Crain, 
Jonn Mclntyre, Thomas White and a number of 
others. After this the settlement progressed 
rapidly, and the best government land soon was 
occupied by actual settlers. 

Lewis P. Osgood, a settler of 1847, is a native 
of New York, born Nov. 4, 1816, in Colchester, 
Delaware county. His father's ancestry were 
of English-Irisfi extraction, and his mother was 
of Welch descent. In the year 1822 the family 
emigrated to Ontario Co., N. Y., and again, in 
1828, to the State of Pennsylvania, settling in 
Warren county, where Mr. Osgood's father was 
in the lumber business. There they remained 
until 1832, then emigrated to Stephenson Co.,Ill., 
where the father died. The rest of the family 
continued in that county until August, 1846, 
when they came to this county and located on 
section 14, town of Jordan, where Mr. O.- good 
now owns 100 acres of good land. He was mar- 
ried Jan. 1, 1841, to Delilah Loomis, who died 
June 26, 1855. By this marriage seven children 
were born — MaryC, (deceased); Adeline E., now 
the wife of James ]3eade; Erepta M., the wife 
Hamilton Deal; John G., deceased; Elnora E., 
Tusmania G., the wife of Alexander Adair, liv- 
ing at Wayne; and Lydia A., of Chicago, the 
wife of George Tanberg. Mr. Osgood's second 
wife was Mary M. Smith, who died March 25, 
1866. He was again married July 8, 1866, to 
Mrs. Lydia Baufi^man. She had a family of 
seven children — Hannah L., Maliala F., Mathias 
O., Minerva A., William II., Mary E. and Lydia 
T. Mr. Osgood was one of the earliest settlers 
of the town of Jordan, and has always taken an 
active part in its affairs, having been called upon 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



893 



to fill several different offices; among them, chair- 
man of the board, collector, treasurer, constable 
etc. He is a practical wagon-maker, and has 
worked at that trade since coming here. He is a 
good mechanic, and an industrious, honest cit- 
izen. 

James Henderson, a native of Ohio, came from 
Stephenson Co., 111., in 1845, and settled on sec- 
tion 23. He lived there for eight years, then 
removed to Iowa, where he died. 

William Van Horn, a native of New Jersey, 
also came from Stephenson Co., 111., in 1845, 
and located on section 22. He lived on that 
place some years, then went to Cadiz, where he 
died. Two of his children still live in the 
county. 

John Blain came from Ohio, in 1848, and set- 
tled on Rust branch, where he improved a farm 
and lived for several years. He is still a resi- 
dent of the county. 

Joseph Blain, a brother of John, came to 
Green county from Ohio, in the fall of 1846, 
and entered 160 acres ou section 26, where he 
has since resided. He was born in Luzerne Co., 
Penn., July 14, 1822. His parents, Joseph and 
Mary A. (Sliafl'er) Blain, are both dead, and 
buried in Muskingum Co., Ohio. Mr. Blain 
was married in Ohio to Dorcas McCammant, 
daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Coe) McCam- 
mant. Their marriage occurred Sept. 3, 1846. 
They have five children — Mary A., wife of Mor- 
decai Kelly; Margaret, wife of Ehud Parriott, 
of Clarno; Charles, married to Lydia Bechtolt, 
and living on section 26, in the town of Jordan; 
Jaines, married to Jessie Lake, of Monroe, also 
living on section 26, of Jordan, and Elam. Mr. 
Blain's farm contains 356 acres, and he is en- 
gaged in stock raising. Politically he is a dem- 
ocrat. 

Charles Wagner, a native of Pennsylvania, 
came in 1848 and settled on section 24, where 
he still lives. 

HISTORICAL ITEMS. 

The first ground broken in the town was that 
done by William Brazel in 1836, on section 4. 



He sowed the first wheat in 1837, and planted 
the first corn in 1836. 

The first religious services in the town were 
held in the school house on section 5, by a Bap- 
tist clergyman. In 1848 services were held at 
the school house in district No. 5, by Elder 
White, a Christian minister. 

The first school house in the town was erected 
in 1845. The neighbors made a bee and drew 
the logs together and erected the building. It 
was covered with shakes. No nails were used, 
the shakes being kept in place by weight poles. 
This house was in use four or five years. 

The first term of school was taught by James 
Tennison. 

The first marriage in the town was that of 
Addison Wells to Paulena Jacobs. The cere- 
mony was performed in 1841 by Warren Os- 
good, a justice of the peace. The bride died 
soon after. 

Addison P. Wells is a native of George Co., 
Ohio, born Dec. 9, 1819. He remained in his na- 
tive county until thirteen years old, then removed 
to Stephenson Co., 111., there remaining and 
working for his parents until twenty-three years 
old. He then came to this county and bought 
forty acres on section 35, from the government, 
where he built a small log house. He subse- 
quently pre-empted the northwest quarter of 
section 35. He bought out a squatter by the 
name of Fowler Jacobs. In 1841 he built a 
brick house, in which he lived until 1850, when 
lie went to California and engaged in mining. 
He was gone eighteen months, since which time 
he has lived in this county, excepting a visit to 
California in 1865. He now owns a farm of 
220 acres. He has been three times married, 
first to Paulena Jacobs, in May, 1841; she died 
the following year. His second wife was Louisa 
Rickett, who bore him three children — Laura 
L., Delos II. and Minerva. His second wife 
died in 1865. His third wife was Sarah E. 
Divan, from Ohio. They have seven children — 
Ida M., Dow A., Iva M., Ina M., John E., Ira 
M. and Ha M. 



894 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



VARIOUS MATTERS. 

The Blackford saw and grist mill, on section 
12, was established in 1843-4 hj Dr. Church, 
who first erected a saw mill, and afterwards sold 
to his son, John Church. About 1860 machin- 
ery was put in for grinding grist, and the saw 
mill was no longer used. Ghormley & McCor- 
mack bought the property, and sold to Lewis 
W. P. Morton and Solomon Jones in about 
1852. They ran it until 1855, when it was pur- 
chased by Taylor Wickersham. In 1860 he sold 
to Morton & Catherman, but it reverted to Mr. 
Wickersham, and he ran it two years longer, 
then (1864) sold to Samliel Dennis. About 1868 
the property was purchased by Samuel Black- 
ford and Erad White. They continued in part- 
nership until 1881, when Mr. Blackford pur- 
chased his partner's interest, and has since con- 
ducted the business alone. In 1867 Dennis & 
Blackford erected and put in operation a saw 
mill in connection with the grist mill, which is 
still running, having changed hands with the 
grist mill. 

Samuel Blackford, son of William and Rachel 
(John) Blackford, is a native of Fayette Co., 
Penn., born Oct. 10, 1837. His father was a pot- 
ter by trade. In 1845 he came to Green county, 
and located in the town of Jefferson, where he 
owned a small farm. In 1860 he and his son, 
Samuel, built a patent lime kiln, and engaged 
in lime burning until 1867, when Samuel sold 
out, and the father continued the business until 
the time of his death, which occurred in 1871. 
He is buried at Juda. In 1867 Samuel bought 
his present farm on section 12, town of Jordan. 
He has seventy-five acres, and is engaged in the 
mill and dairy business. He was married on 
the 21 8t of October, 1860, to Sarah A. Dennis, 
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Bloom) 
Dennis. This union has been blessed with four 
children — Ted E., Belle, George G. and Musa 
C Mrs. Blackford's father lives in Green 
county. Her mother is buried in Richland 
cemetery, Green county. Mr. Blackford has 
been chairman of the board of the town of 



Jordan eight terms. Politically he is a demo- 
crat. 

The grist mill on section 26, on Skinner's 
creek, originated in the erection of a small 
mill on the same site, in 1840, by John Baugh- 
man. Mr. Baughman ran it for a number of 
years, then sold to Philip Fawver. After run- 
ning it a few years Mr. Fawver left, and the 
mill ceased to run. In 1868 John Abelman 
erected a new mill on the same site, and a few 
years later sold to Hiram Rust, the present pro- 
prietor. The creek 'furnishes a good power at 
this point, and the two run of buhrs with which 
the mill is equipped give it a capacity for grind- 
ing from 100 to 150 bushels of grain per day. 

The cheese factory on section 5, on the farm 
of.Henry Poff, is controlled and owned by what 
is known as the Nulty, Soper, Poff & Lewis 
Cheese Company. The factory was established 
in the spring of 1883, buildings 36x18 feet, and 
24x16 feet being erected. It is run by Jacob 
Carlan, and makes Swiss cheese. There are 140 
cows on the milk list. 

Peter Nulty was born in Ireland, in 1840. He 
is a son of Richard and Bridget (Hyland) Nulty, 
who now live in the town of Monroe. Mr. 
Nulty came from Ireland and settled in the 
State of Kentucky, where he remained a few 
years, then came to this county and located in 
the town of Monroe. The properly there was 
disposed of and a removal made to the town of 
Jordan. In 1870 Mr. Nulty bought the place he 
now occupies on section 5, where he owns 156^ 
acres of good land, and is one of the best farm- 
ers in the town, having neat and tidy buildings. 
He was married to Catharine Kemp, and by this 
union there are six children — Mary, Richard, Jo- 
hanna, Bridget, Catharine and Ellen. They are 
members of the Catholic Church, aixi Mr. Nulty 
is chairman of the town board of supervisors. 
His main business is stock raising and the man- 
ufacture of cheese. 

Levi H. Poff is a native of Ashland Co., Ohio, 
born Feb. 4, 1852. He is a son of Jacob and 
Julia A. (Lawbogh) Poff, a native of Pennsyl- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



895 



vauia. When Levi was two years old he re- 
moved with his parents to this county, settling 
in the town of Adams, where he lived until 
1877, when he removed to section 5, town of 
Jordan, where he now owns 125 acres of land, 
and is an enterprising and useful citizen. He 
was married Feb. 5, 1873, to Irene Adair, 
daughter of John and Martha (Simpkins) Adair. 
By this union there are eight children — Anna, 
born Aug. 25, 1874; Jacob, born Nov. 24, 1875; 
John, born June 25, 1877; Nellie A.,born Sept. 7, 
1878; Charles G., born July 5, 1880; Katie, born 
July 20, 1881, and a pair of twins, Dora Ellen 
and CoraEstella, born Dec. 25, 1883. Mr. Poflf 
is engaged in the stock and dairy business, and 
owns a share in a cheese factory on his farm. 

James Lewis is a native of North Ireland, 
born near Londondery, Aug. 20, 1831. He is 
a son of William and Elizabeth (Beatty) Lewis, 
both of whom are dead, and buried in Wales. 
In 1848 James emigrated to America and 
stopped two years in the city of Philadelphia, 
Penn. Being a morocco dresser, he easily se- 
cured a position. From there he removed to 
Chester county, of the same State. He was 
married in Philadelphia to Ann Hood, 
May 3, 1852. He remained in Chester county 
till 1859, when he came to this county, settling 
near Jordan Center, where he lived until 1866, 
when he moved to section 9. He now owns 
360 acres of land. They have had eight chil- 
dren — Andrew, Elizabeth, who was married to 
Ernest Rankins, and died in California, where 
she was buried; Margaret, deceased, and buried 
at Argyle, Lafayette county. Sbe was the wife 
of William Mitchell. John J., Marshall B., 
George B., Priscilla E. and Mary A. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lewis are members of the Baptist Church. 
Mr. Lewis has been a school officer most of the 
time since coming to this town. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., and a good substantial 
citizen. 

The cheese factory on section 16, owned by 
Voegley Bros., was built in 1876. It uses 



the milk of from ninety to 100 cows, manufac- 
turing Swiss cheese. 

Jacob Voegley came to the town of Jordan 
in 1874, and located on section 16, where with 
his brother he purchased 286 acres of land. He 
is a native of Canton Glarus, Switzerland, born 
Oct. 3, 1848. He came to America in 1869, 
stopping in New Glarus, Green county. He 
remained there eighteen months, working on a 
farm. He then went to the pineries in north- 
ern Wisconsin, remaining there three years, 
after which he returned to New Glarus, where 
he staid one year, then removed to his present 
home in the town of Jordan. He was married 
on the 11th of May, 1873, to Barbary Kundert, 
a native of Switzerland. They have three chil- 
dren — Elizabeth, Catharine and Balthar. Mr. 
Voegley's brother, John, his associate on the 
farm, was born Jan. 1, 1852, and came to 
America in 1872. He stopped in Oshkosh, 
Winnebago Co., Wis., where he worked in a 
vinegar factory six months. He then worked 
on the railroad for about one year; then took 
position on an engine as fireman, which he fol- 
lowed for eight months. He came to the place 
he now lives and with his brother is joint owner 
of the farm. The brothers also run a cheese 
factory. They are members of the Lutheran 
Church. Politically they are republicans. 

The cheese factory on section 24, was estab- 
lished by Daniel Bechtolt, in 1883. It occu- 
pies a building 18x50 feet in size. The milk of 
several hundred cows is used in the manufac- 
ture of Limberger cheese. 

Daniel B. Bechtolt was born in Licking Co., 
Ohio, Feb. 22, 1837. His parents, Mathias and 
Christena (Epler) Bechtolt, are both dead, and 
buried in Cadiz and Kelly cemetery. Daniel 
B., when fourteen years old, left Ohio and set- 
tled on section 25, town of Jordan, this county, 
where his father resided on forty acres entered 
from the government. He lived at home until 
1860. He was married March 12, 1857, to 
Matilda Wagner, a daughter of Charles and 



890 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Lydia Wagner. They have six cliildreii — 
Albert B., Lydia C, now married to 
Charles Blain; Samuel D., George, Erwin and 
Ida M. Mr. and Mrs. Bechtolt were members 
of the United Brethren Church. His wife 
died in June, 1880, of heart disease, and was 
buried in Kelly cemetery, town of Cadiz. 
She was a sincere Christian and a devoted 
mother. 

The cheese factory on section 8 was built 
by Andrew Meythaler, Jacob and Yoderick 
Kubli, Nicholas Dittman and Joseph Sharer, 
and is located on Mr. Meythaler's farm. 

Andrew Meythaler is a native of Germany, 
born in Baden, Oct. 26, 1836. He is a son of 
Christ and Eva (Bleiler) Meythaler, both of 
whom are dead, and buried on section 35, of the 
town of Adams. In 1855 Mr. Meythaler went 
to Pennsylvania, Blair county, where he lived 
two years, thence came to this county, settling 
on section 35, town of Adams, where he lived 
until 1863, then removed to section 34, thence 
in 1876 to section 3, town of Jordan, where he 
now resides, owning 197 acres of land. He also 
still owns 1-20 acres in Adams. He was mar- 
ried to Mary Hook, a native of Germany. They 
have seven children living — William G., Ed- 
ward, Andrew, George J., Annie E., Charles T. 
and Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Meythaler are 
members of the Evangelical Church. He is a 
good farmer and excellent citizen. 

Jacob Kubli is a native of canton Glarus, 
Switzerland, born Feb. 23, 1847. He is a son 
of Peter and Barbary (Martis) Kubli, both of 
whom are dead, and buried in his native country. 
When twenty-four years old, Jacob emigrated 
to America. His brother having come to New 
Glarus, this county, he concluded to settle there, 
and upon his arrival, went to his brother's 
house, living there and with a brolher-in-lavr 
for one year. He then went to the village of 
Monroe, and remained two years, working at 
the trade of shoemaking, which he had learned 
in the old country, but by accident losing his 
fingers by a circular saw, he concluded to re- 



move to a farm. He first went to Jordan 
Center and remained three years. He then sold 
out his little property and bought on section 3 
eighty-four acres in April, 1870, where he has 
since continued to live. He was married while 
in Monroe, to Elizabeth Hefty, a native of 
Switzerland, March 24, 1870, where her parents 
now reside. They have seven children — Anna 
E., Barbaretta, Margaret, Catharine, John P., 
Samuel and Sophia. 

The cheese factory on section 13, was erected 
in 1882, at a cost of $1,200, by Joshua Klasey 
& Co., the present proprietors. The company 
is known as the Blackford Mill Cheese Com- 
pany, and is composed of Joshua Klasey, 
George Hartwig, Samuel Blackford and David 
Knoble. 

John Klasey established a blacksmith shop 
a number of years ago on section 13. He sold^ 
the shop to Abraham Stauffacher, who moved if 
to Jordan Center, where he still carries on the 
business. 

Abraham Stauffacher, a native of canton 
Glarus, Switzerland, was born April 21, 1843. 
He is a son of Jacob and Catharine Stauffacher, 
both of whom are dead and buried in his native 
country. Abraham was the tenth child and the 
only one of the family who came to America. 
He was well educated in Switzerland, attend- 
ing school until twelve years old. He then hired 
out on a farm. His father was a farmer, and 
at the same time mail carrier and postmaster. 
Abraham learned the trade of locksmith, serv- 
ing an apprenticeship of seven years, and then 
learned the trade of blacksmith, which he fol 
lowed in Switzerland, and for a time after com 
ing to this county, first working for Constan- 
tino Haegla six months, and then went into 
partnership with G. Schindler two years and a 
half. He then went to Iowa with the intention 
of settling there, bought a shop and paid some 
money down, but failing to sell his property in 
New Glarus, he did not go, but built a shop and 
engaged in work for four years, then sold out to 
Michael Smith and went to Monroe, where he 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



897 



found employment with the Monroe Manufac- 
turing company one year, then about 1874, he 
removed to the town of Jordan and bought a 
shop from J. Klasey, where he remained two 
years, then purchased tliirteen acres of land on 
section 10, to which he removed his shop, and 
has since kept the same. He now owns 169 
acres on that section. He was married in his 
native country to Elsbeth Baebler, Feb 13, 
1866, and this union was blessed with ten 
children — Jacob, Albert H., John, Ernst A., 
Katharina, Edward, Rosa, Henry, David W. and 
Elsbeth. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffacher are mem- 
bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He 
is politically a republican. 

RELIGIOUS AND OTHER SOCIETIES. 

The United Brethren denomination organized 
a class at what is known as Jefferson school 
house, in 1860. Rev. Crowder jjresided. They 
held services there for seven or eight years, 
when it was removed to the Jordan school 
house. The organization was discontinued in 
1882. The first members were as follows: 
William Ault, Albert Smith and wife, Mathias 
Bechtolt and wife, William Witham. Mrs. 
Joselyn, Lydia Baughman, now Lydia Osgood, 
Frank Miller and wife, Daniel Bechtolt and 
wife, Levi Wagner, Susan Wagner, Nellie 
Baughman, Christian Ault, Ella Wells, William 
Ableman a)id wife, Joseph- Ableman and wile, 
William Campbell and wife, Mary Blain, Fran- 
cis Ward, Malvina, Elnora and Geraldine Os- 
good, Francis Wagner, T. W. Ault and a num- 
ber of others. 

The Norwegian Lutheran church, in the 
southern portion of section 29, was erected in 
1859. Its cost was $1,000, the amount being 
raised by subscription and donation of work by 
members. Formerly the congregation wor- 
shipped at Wiota, in Lafayette county. Tlie 
first preacher was Rev. Clausen. At present 
they have no regular minister. When the class 
was organized it consisted of twenty-one 
families; it now numbers thirty-two. There 
is a cemetery in connection with this Church, 



which is also located on section 29. It was 
laid out in 1859, the land (one acre) being 
donated by Knudt Thorstan. Additions have 
been made since that time. The first burial 
here was of the remains of John Johnson, who 
died in 1860. 

Banner Lodge, No. 113, Good Templars, was 
organized on the 5th of December, 1882. The 
charter members were as follows: Rev. Ira 
Lebarron, Mr. and Mrs. Sawin, Mr. and Mrs. 
Dwight Chester, Newton and Matilda E. Deetz, 
Walter, John and Laura Deetz, Mrs. John 
Squires, Richard, Elmer, Emma, Marshall and 
Ella Lewis, William Trotter, Richard Rowley, 
Ezra and Thomas Treister. The first ofiicers 
were as follows: Jacob Deetz, W. C; Mrs. 
Squires, M. V.; Mr. Squires, P. U.; Newton 
Sawin, W. M.; Marshall Lewis, W. S.; Walter 
Deetz, F. S.; Mrs. Deetz, T.; Matilda Sawin, 
I. G.; Thomas Treister, U. G.; Dwight Sawin, 
W. C; Laura Deetz, A. S.; Mary Deetz, D. M.; 
S. Treister, L. H.; Emma Squires, W. R. H. S. 
The lodge meets every Saturday night. There 
are now twenty-two members. 

ORGANIC. 

The civil town of Jordan was organized in 
April, 1849. The first towm meetings were 
ht Id in held in the Ostrander school house. 
Among the ofiicers elected at the first town 
Miei'liug, in April, 1849, were: Warren Osgood, 
chairman; T. N. Ellis, clerk, and John Jilain, 
ch.iiiman. Among others who have been promi- 
nent in town affairs are the following: Warren 
Osgood, Thomas White, William Munson,Levi 
Spaulding, James Y. Cleveland, Taylor Wick- 
ersham, H. C. Cleveland, Iver Iverson, William 
Biggs, J. K. Bloom, N. T. Hanson, George R. 
King, Samuel Blackford, T. N. Ellis, M. Satter- 
lee, Isaac Trembley, H. G. Cleveland, M. Deva- 
reaux, D. II. Morgan, James M. Cook, W. H. 
Allen, Jacob Deetz and Nelson Rust. 

The present town officers are as follows: Su- 
pervisors, Peter Nulty, chairman, A. P. Wells 
and Joseph Staley; assessor, Rolen Olsen; clerk, 
John Lewis; treasurer, Joshua Klasey. 



898 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



VILLAGE OF JORDAN CENTER, 

This is the name of a small village located 
on section 10. The land here was laid into lots 
and blocks in 1855 by Levi Spaulding, Man- 
less and Oria Satterlee, Levi Wiggins andNehe- 
niiah Ellis. A store was started by Amos 
Holmes and a blacksmith shop by A. J. Smith. 
Holmes carried a stock of general merchandise 
and was in business about two years when he sold 
to Manless Satterlee, who, after about two year's 
experience closed out. After this Jordan Center 
was without a store until 1882, when Hibbard 
Rankins erected a building and put in a stock 
of goods. In the spring of 1883 lie sold to 
Jacob Deetz, the present proprietor. 

Jacob Deetz was born in Columbia Co., Penn., 
June 4, 1831; and is a son of Jacob and Susan- 
na Deetz, natives of Northampton county. 
From Pennsylvania the family removed to 
Wayne, Lafayette county. Jacob Deetz, Jr., 
came one year later. The father is now buried 
in Wayne and the mother in Cadiz, this county. 
In 186(1 Jacob returned to Pennsylvania and re- 
mained one and one-half years. He has taught 
school in Pennsylvania and in this county, both 
before and after marriage. He was married 
October 13, 1861, to Fanny B. Meacliim, a 
daughter of Hosea and Mary (Nichols) Meach- 
im. Her father lives in Cadiz,where her mother 
was buried. They have seven children — Walter 
W., John A., Laura L., Mollie I., Charles H., 
Nettie L. and Jacob S. Mr. Deetz enlisted 
Aug. 30, 1864, in battery D, 1st Wisconsin 
Heavy Artillery and served ten months. He was 
mustered in at Janesville and out at New Or- 
leans. He then returned home to Jordan Center, 
and bought eighty acres of land on section 8 in 
1865, where he lived until 1883, then he removed 
to Jordan ^Center and engaged in running a 
small store. Me has held the office of town 
clerk eight years, and assessed the town a num- 
ber of times. He was justice of the peace six 
years, and is the present postmaster of Jordan 
Center. 



A. J. Smith, the blacksmith, remained here 
about three years, when he sold to the McCon- 
nell Bros., who closed a short time later, 

Abram Stauffacher, the present blacksmith, 
has been here since 1881. He does general re- 
pair work but no shoeing. 

Jordan Center Cemetery, on section 9, was 
laid out in 1846, the land being donated by 
Elisha Stevens. A half acre has since been 
added by donation from James Lewis. The 
first burial here was of the remains of a child 
of Manless Satterlee. 

The German M. E. Church— Christ's Church, 
Evangelical Association of North America — 
was erected in 1876, at a cost of $700. The 
first officers of the Church were: Andrew Mey- 
thaler, president; Jacob Kubli and August 
Wemen, board; Henry Zimmerman, clerk. The 
first members were: John D. Fritsch, August 
Wemen, Jacob Kubli, Jacob Zimmerman, Au- 
gust Schlim, August Shultz. Yoderick Kubli, 
Andrew Meythaler, August Kreuger, John 
Knoble, August Wagner and their families. 
Henry Uijlioff was the first minister, after the 
church was built, superintending its erection. 
This Church grew from the organization of a 
class in 1862, consisting of John D. Fritsch and 
family, Mrs. Chris. Meythaler and family, Jacob 
Meythaler and family and John D. Fraiser and 
family. Services were held at private houses 
and school houses until the church was built. 
Among the ministers who have served the class 
and Church are: Revs Peter Messuger, John M. 
Hammeter, Nicholas Shoup, William Hilster, 
Chris. Brendel, John M. Hammeter, Leonard 
Buehler, Chris. Brendell, Henry Uphoff, Peter 
Hild, C. Green and Chris. Lahr. The latter is 
the present pastor. 

BIOGRAPniCAL. 

The town of Jordan was settled up by a class 
of wide-awake, go-a-head j)eople, as follows: 

William Ableman, is a native of Albany, N. 
Y., born May 6, 18(iO. He is a son of Christian 
and Regina (Kaner) Ableman. His father was 
a native of Germany, and one of Burgoyne's 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



899 



soldiers, in the War of the Revolution. He was 
taken prisoner at the battle of Bunker Hill, and 
when paroled, would not return to his old home, 
but remained in the United States. He and his 
wife have long since been laid to rest, at their 
old home, near Albany. The subject of our 
sketch i-emained in New York until 1835, when 
he removed to Rock Prairie, Walworth Co., 
Wis. He followed farming in that place, eleven 
years, then removed to this county, locating on 
section 22, in the town of Jordan, where he first 
bought forty acres of land. He now owns 280 
acres. He was married in November, 1820, to 
Ellen Vanderberg, of New York. This union 
was blessed with ten children — Gilbert, John, 
Stephen, Reuben, James, Christian, Regina, 
Rachel, Joseph and Elizabeth. Mrs. Ableman 
died in 1850, in Johnstown, Wis. Mr. Ableman 
married the second time, Oct. 25, 1860. His 
wife is Martha, a daugliter of Jonathan Thomp- 
son, of New York. They have had three chil- 
dren — Emma L., Ephraim A. and Samuel. 

George W. Phillips came to Green county in 
1847. He purchased a farm on Sugar river, in 
the town of Mount Pleasant. He was a native 
of Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio, born April 8, 
1837. He removed from Ohio to Rock Co., 
Wis., locating on Jefferson prairie, where he re- 
mained one year. He then removed to the town 
I of Mount Pleasant, this county, where he lived 
i until 1847, when he removed to section 9, town 
j of Jordan. He lived there until 1863, when he 
I enlisted in the army. He served until the close 
[ of the war. His wife died on the 13th of May, 
1861, and lies buried in the cemetery at Jordan 
Center. He was again married, and removed 
to his wife's property, in Rock Co., Wis. He 
died at Clinton Junction. His life was short 
after coming home from the war, for he only 
lived three or four weeks. He was a hard work- 
ing man, and in Ohio, had been a minister of 
the gospel in the M. E. Church. By his first 
' marriage he had thirteen children, and by his 
second wife, two children. He sent six sons 



and five son-in-laws to the war, besides going 
himself. 

Levi D. Phillips, well known in Green county, 
was born in the State of New York, Dec. 9, 1833. 
He came to Wisconsin at an early day, with his 
parents. He remained at home until 1852, when 
he went to California in search of gold, follow- 
ing raining eighteen years, and then engaging 
in various other things, for about eleven years. 
In April, 1863, he enlisted in company M, Ist 
California Cavalry, serving three years. He 
was mustered in at Camp Stanford, Stockton, 
Cal., and out at Fort Sheldon, N. M., and re- 
turned to California. He then went into busi- 
ness at Chico. His next move was for Montana, 
where he remained two years; then he returned 
to Green county, in July, 1883, having been ab- 
sent from the county just thirty-two years. 

George W- Phillips, living on section 18, town 
of Jordan, is another son. His early life was 
spent with his parents. In September, 186], he 
was married to. Cynthia Clark, daughter of D. 
W. and Elizabeth Clark. On the 4th of January, 
1862, he enlisted in company B, 18th Wisconsin 
Volunteers, and was mustered in at Milwaukee. 
He was in the western division, and participated 
in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and in man}' 
skirmishes. He was discharged from the 5th 
street hospital, just one year from date of enlist- 
ment, and returned home. He now draws a 
pension. His farm contains sixty acres. Mr. 
and Mrs. Phillips have had seven children born 
to them — Lucius, deceased: Sarah Ada, married 
to William Powley, resides in Dakota; Walter 
D., William C, deceased; Sylvia M., Cora B. 
and Charles W. Mr. Phillips is a republican, 
politically. 

Nehemiah Ellis, a native of Maine, was born 
near Bangor, Aug. 4, 1804. In 1819, he, with 
his parents emigrated to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 
at which place he married to Rachael Osgood, 
in 1828, In 1838, he emigrated to Stephenson 
Co., 111., where he purchased a farm near 
Orangeville, where he remained until 1847. 



900 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Then on account of ill health he sold out and 
came to Green Co., Wis., settling near Jordan 
Centre. He owned a farm on section 3, where 
he lived till 1875. In that year he removed to 
Buena Vista Co., Iowa, where he owned a farm. 
Mr. Ellis took an active part in the organization 
of the town of Jordan. lie was tlie first town 
clerk, also was justice of the peace and held 
other important offices. His reputation for 
honesty and integiity was unquestionable. 
There was born to V[r. and Mrs. Ellis eleven 
children, six of whom are living— Mary E., now 
Mrs. Kinnison; Eliza A., wife of Samuel Shook, 
of Buena Vista county; Ricliard F., of Jordan; 
Lewis N., Laban !>., and Samuel A., of Buena 
Vista Co., Iowa. 

Richard F. Ellis was born in Chautauqua Co., 
N. Y., July 12, 18;i7. He remained with his 
parents until 18(54. August 21 of that year 
he enlisted in company D, of the 1st Wisconsin 
Heavy Artillery, and served till June 17, 1865. 
On his return from the army he bought a farm 
on section 11, which he sold in 1870 and bought 
his present farm, which contains 180 acx'es, on 
sections 13, 14, 23 and 24. His residence is on 
section 24. He was married Aug. 29, 1864, to 
Emma Bowden, a native of Knox Co., 111., but 
at the time of marriage, a resident of Monroe. 
They have six children — William O., Flora M., 
Edwar<l S., Franklin N., Robert L. and Lewis B. 
Mr. Ellis has lield the office of town treasurer 
three terms, and has been school director for 
twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are members 
of the Church of Christ. 

Harney Benson, son of David and Sarah 
(Lamd) Benson, was born in the town of War- 
ren, Worcester Co., Mass., Feb. 8, 1848. His 
parent now live in Monroe. When Harney was 
two years of age his i)arents came to this coun- 
ty, and located in the town of Decatur, where 
they lived for eight years. They then removed 
to the town of Sylvester, remaining there six 
years; thence to the town of Jefferson. In 1866 
they moved to Missouri. Harney traveled 
through Indian Territory, Arkansas and 



Texas, and returned to Green county in 1867. 
He lived on a farm in the town of Jeiferson un- 
til his father returned in 1868. His father pur- 
chased 140 acres on sections 18 and 19, in the 
ti)wn of Jordan. Harney rented land in the 
town of Sylvester, of Araaziah A. Sutherland, 
and lived there for seven years, when he re- 
moved to the farm on sections 18 and 10, in the 
town of Jordan, which he had purchased some 
time before, of his father. He had also added 
twenty acres to the original farm, making him 
a comfortable home of 160 acres. He deals to 
some extent in horses and cattle, buying and 
selling. He was married Feb. 24, 1874, to Julia 
A. Sutherland, daughter of George A. and Eliza 
J. (Brown) Sutherland. This union has been 
blessed with five children — George A., born 
Jan. 17, 1875; Guy A., born April 18, 1876; 
Burt, born Nov. 11, 1877; Fannie May, born July 
30, 1879; and Leroy, born Jan. 15, 1883. 

Charles Theodore Bayrhoffer was born in 
Marburg, Hesse Cassel, Germany, Oct. 14, 1812. 
He studied philosophy at the University of 
Marburg, and became doctor and professor of 
philosophy. From the beginning he was a 
free thinker and a radical, and took part in free 
religious associations. After the revolution in 
Fi'ance, in 1848, he was a republican and demo- 
crat. He was twice elected to the representative 
body of Hesse Electoral, of which body he was 
president (speaker) during its last week, and 
later, one of the five members who were elected 
during one session of that body to hold over to 
the next session. Afterwards, when Hesse 
Electoral was overwhelmed by the Bavarian 
troops, he was criminally impeached, but es- 
caped to Switzerland, and in 1852 to the United 
States with his family, consisting of his wife 
and six children. He purchased a farm in the 
town of Jordan, Green county, from Gortz 
Wrisberg. His wife died in February of the 
year 1853. He was married the second time to 
Charhjtte Draz i[» 1854. She died in 1864, leav- 
ing one daughter and one son. For about ten 
years he did all the work on the farm, then his 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



\ 



901 



sons, who by this time were grown, took charge 
of the farm, and this gave him leisure time 
for mental work. He wrote articles for liberal, 
German and English papers. He also wrote a 
small book entitled, "The Laws of the Universe 
and of Humanism." He has lately generally 
lived with his eldest son, Charles Leonard Bayr- 
hoffer, or his son-in-law, Alexander Riesselbach. 
During the past year he lived in Nebraska, 
where he had three married daughters and one 
son. One of his sons was killed in Wisconsin, 
being accidentally shot; and another died in 
Nebraska from apoplexy. During the past 
fourteen years Mr. BayrhoflPer has been suffer- 
ing from chronic dyspepsia, but is yet vigorous 
mentally. 

Charles L. Bayrhoffer, son of Charles Theo- 
dore and Julia Creuzer Bayrhoffer, was born in 
Hesse, Germany, March 25, 1843. When he 
was eight years of age his parents emigrated to 
America, locating on section 25, in the town of 
Jordan, this county, where they purchased 140 
acres of land. He lived at home until Febru- 
ary, 1865, when he enlisted in company A, 46th 
Wisconsin regiment, being mustered in at 
Madison. He did guard duty at Athens, Ala., 
and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., in 
1865, returning to his iiome in Wisconsin in 
the fall of the same year. On the 15th of No- 
vember, 1869, he was married to Agnes Maehle, 
a native of Wurtemburg, Germany. They have 
had five children, four of whom are living — 
William, Edward, Ida and Theodore. The eld- 
est, a daugliter, died in infancy. His mother 
died in 1853, and is buried on the farm. His 
fatlier was a fugitive from Hesse, on account of 
politics. He now makes his home with his 
children. He was well known in Hesse as one 
of the revolutionists. Mr. Bayrhoffer bought 
his father's farm of 140 acres in 1870 and in 
1875 purchased eighty acres joining him on sec- 
tion 25. 

Jacob Kundert, Jr., was born in the town of 
New Glarus, Green Co., Wis., July 5, 1854, and 



is a son of Jacob and Barbary Kundert, who re- 
side in the town of Monroe. He lived at home 
until he was married, working with his father 
on the farm. On the 14th of March, 1878, he 
was united in marriage with Rosa, daughter of 
Baltz Hoesly, of New Glarus. He then rented, 
his father's farm, working it for five years. In 
the spring of 1883 he purchased 200 acres on 
section 21, and now has a good, comfortable 
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Kundert have had five 
children born to them, two of whom are living 
— Catharine and Edward. The family are 
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 
He is a democrat, politically. 

Moses Miller came to Green county in the 
spring of 1856, and went to work for Samuel 
Witmer, in Juda, by whom he was employed 
three years. He was born Sept 4, 1831, in Leb- 
anon Co., Penn., and is a son of Jacob and Polly 
(Dobb) Miller, both of whom are dead, being 
buried in Pennsylvania. They had five chil- 
dren—Mary, Lavina, Elizabeth, Cyrus and 
Moses. Mary and Lavina are deceased. Moses, 
the subject of this sketch, was married in De- 
cember, 1858, to Catharine Shultz, daughter of 
Henry and Catharine (flutzel) Shultz. Her 
father died Dec. 26, 1883, aged seventy-seven 
years, and is buried in Argyle, Lafayette Co., 
Wis. Her mother lives in the town of Jordan 
witli her son, Peter Shultz. After his marriage 
Mr. Miller lived in Juda one year, then removed 
to the towns of Sylvester, Jefferson and Clarno, 
renting land in each of these towns. In 1869 
he purchased his present farm, which is located 
on section 18, of the town of Jordan, and con- 
tains eighty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have 
had nine children — Polly M., married to Lewis 
Cai)e, and living in Jordan; Henry PL, Charles, 
Alice, married to Johti Mason, and living in 
Wiota, Lafayette Co.. Wis.; Margaret A., Ed- 
ward C, William A., George A. and Ida M. 
Mr. Miller is a member of the democratic party. 

Oren K. Eveleth came to this county in 1852, 
remaining the first time but a few days. He 
traveled back and forth from his native State a 



902 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



number of times, and visited many of the west- 
ern States. He first bought some land where 
Jacob Deetz now lives, and afterwards sold it 
to J. Smath, and removed to section 15, where 
he remained two years, then, in 1 802, lie re- 
moved to section 10, and bought forty acres 
from H. G. Cleveland. He has since bought 
108 acres more. He is a native of Chautauqua 
Co., N. Y., born April 20, 1832. His father 
died in 1865, and left his property to his wife, 
during her life. Mr. Eveleth was married in 
New York to Dorriella Kibby, Nov. 6, 1853. 
They have had eleven children, of whom two 
are deceased — Harriet M., Leila A., Alira M., 
Ada E., deceased; Ida B., deceased; Etnry I., 
Walter F., Chai-les E., Blanche, Leverna P, and 
Leverta J. Mr. Eveleth has been quite a noted 
cliaracter in an early day, and was noted for his 
many good qualities. He has been hard at 
work. He was town treasurer from 1866 to 
1869. He has also held various offices in the 
township. He is a scientific violinist. 

John D. Fritsch was born in Bavaria, near 
the city of Rehau, Sept. 5, 1827. He is a son 
of George and Rosa (Beck) Fritsch, who emi- 
grated to America June 29, 1852, settling in 
Schenectady, where they lived for six years. 
George Fritsch was by trade a shoemaker, and 
followed that business in this country. In 1858 
he went to Monroe, and continued the same 
business until he concluded to try farming, and 
bought a quarter section on section 1. He also 
owns 220 acres on sections 21 and 22, and 100 
acres on sections 18 and 19, and makes stock 
raising his business. He has a good farm, and 
is among the best class of Green county's citizens. 
While living in Schenectady he was married to 
Louisa Beck, Oct. 28, 1855. They have had five 
children, two of whom are living. Louisa, 
.Jacob and Mary are dead. .John, the subject of 
this sketch, is living on section 21, town of Jor- 
dan. Elizabeth is living with her father, but is 
married to William Jilasetig. They are all 
members of the Jjulhoran Cliurch. 



Richard Gibbons is a son of Michael and Anna 
(Joyce)Gibbons. He is a native of Ireland,born in 
county Gal way, Joyce's country,in January,1811. 
His parents are dead, being buried in Ireland. 
The subject of our sketch came to America in 
1849, settling in Madison Co., N. Y. He lived 
there, near Syracuse, until 1856, when he re- 
moved with his family to .Tanesville, Wis., and 
in February, 1857, removed to the town of 
Mount Pleasant, this county, rented a farm, and 
lived there until March, 1863, when he removed 
to the town of Adams. In February, 1864, he 
removed to the town of Jordan, where he had 
purchased a farm on section 1. He first owned 
120 acres, but has since purchased 120 acres on 
section 12, town of .Jordan, and eighty acres on 
section 7, town of Monroe. He makes stock 
raising a specialty. He leases his farm to his 
sons, Richard and Edward, and lives at his ease. 
He was married in 1838 to Ellen Joyce, a native 
of county Galway, Joyce's country, Ireland, and 
is a daughter of Martin and Kate (Sanders) 
Joyce, both of whom are deceased, and buried 
in Ireland. Ten children have blessed this 
union — Bridget, wife of Michael Clark, resides 
in the town of Exeter; Anna, who was married 
to George lone, is now dead; John, living in 
the town of Monroe; Patrick and Stephen, 
buried in Ireland; Mary, wife of Michael Gib- 
bons, of Chicago; Catharine E., buried in Ire- 
land; Edward and Richard, at home; and Wil- 
liam iVI., running a clothing store in Monroe. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons are members of the 
Catholic Church. 

Y Roll in Olson was born near Christiana, Nor- 
way, Nov 10, 1831. He is a son of Ole and 
Carrie (Iverson) Olson, both of whom are 
buried in Norway. When fifteen years old he 
emigrated to America, locating in Dane Co., 
Wis. In 1849 he removed to Lafayette county, 
where his brothers lived, remaining until 1865, 
when he removed to Green county, locating on 
section 31, town of Jordan, purchasing 120 
acres of land. He was married Aug. 5, 1854, 
to Mary Peterson, daughter of Peter and Mary 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



903 



(Hanson) Peterson, of Norway. This union has 
been blessed with six children — Caroline, mar- 
ried to Lars O. Grove, living in the town of 
Jordan ; Morgan P., married to Nellie Han- 
son, and living in Dakota; Clara A., Oscar R., 
William I. and Henry E. Mr. Olson enlisted 
Oct. 14, 1861, in company E, 15th regiment, 
Wisconsin Volunteer In fan try, serving his coun- 
try until 1864. He was mustered in at Madison, 
and mustered out at the same place. He was 
in the battles of Stone River,Perryville,Chicka- 
mauga, where he was taken prisoner. He was 
wounded at the battle of Stone River. He was 
commissioned 1st lieutenant under Capt. Tor- 
kill A. Rossing. He is now engaged in stock 
raising and is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. Politically he is a republican, and has 
served on the side board several terras; assessor 
three terms, being the present incumbent of 
tliat office. He is a member of the G. A. R. 
He took the town census in 1880. 

Henry Zimmerman was born in canton 
Glarus, Switzerland, Nov. 5, 1854, and is a son 
of Jacob and Rosena Zimmerman, who are now 
living in the city of Monroe. Before coming 
to this country his parents worked in factories 
in their native land, where Henry was educated. 
His father, upon coming to America in 186G, 
settled on section 13, of the town of Jordan, 
this county, where he bought fifty-five acres of 
land from Andrew Anderson. To that tract he 
afterward added thirty acres. This place was 
purchased by Henry, from his father, in the fall 
of 1883. He was married on the 23d of Janu- 
ary, 1879, to Wilhelmine C. Scliliera. She died 
oil the 2d of February, 1880, leaving one child 
— Wilhelmine C, who was born tlie 5th day of 
January. Mr. Zimmerman was again married 
Sept. 29, 1881, to Frederika W. Wagner, an old 
friend of his former wife, who together, wlien 
children, came across the sea, in 1S(54. Two 
sons have been born to them — Henry J., born 
Aug. 28, 1882, and Frederick D., born March 
13, 1884. Mr. Zimmerman makes stock raising 
a specialty. 



Henry Wiederkehr was born in Switzerland, 
Aug. 2, 1835. He left his native country in 
1855, and went to Brazil, where he remained 
ten years, occupied in various avocations. In 
1866 he returned to Switzerland, remained three 
months and then started for the United States, 
and upon his arrival, settled in New Glarus. 
Two years subsequently he bought a farm in 
the town of Monroe. He moved on to this 
place in 1870. It is located on section 24, and 
contains ninety-six acres. He was married in 
February, 1861, in Brazil, to Mary Marty, who 
was a native of canton Glarus, Switzerland. 
They have five children — Jacob, born Nov. 15, 
1861, in Reodeanelro; Felix, born April 15, 
1866, in Switzerland; Rosa, born Aug. 14, 1868; 
Anna, born Sept. 15, 1870, and Mary, born Feb. 
22, 1874. The three latter were born in Green 
county. They are members of tlie Lutheran 
Church. 

Seth Welton was born June 4, 1848, in the 
town of Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio. His 
parents are Henry and Caroline (Spencer) Wel- 
ton. In 1854 his parents removed to Sauk Co., 
Wis., remaining there until the fall of 1861, 
when they returned to Ohio. On the 10th of 
JaTiuary, 1862, his raotlier died, and her remains 
were laid to rest in the town of Granger, Me- 
dina county. His father now lives in Nebraska. 
In 1867, Seth returned to Sauk county, remain- 
ing there until 1869, when he went to Sun Prai- 
rie, Dane county, his sister keeping house for 
him. In 1871 he removed to Green county. He 
now lives on section 21, on the farm known as 
the Widow White's farm. On the 4th of No- 
vember, 1871, he was married to Racliael, 
daughter of Thomas and Rachael White. The 
natural result of this union was four children — 
Harvey T., Frank, Charley and Lester. Mrs. 
White's father is buried in Monroe, and her 
mother in Jordan Centre Cemetery. Mr. AVel- 
ton lias held tlie office of town treasurer for two 
years. 

Joseph Staley is a native of Asliland Co., 
Ohio, born Dec. 6, 1849. He is a son of Israel 



904 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and Lucy A. (Heltmau) Staley. He was reared 
on a farm. When twelve years of age, he went 
to work by the month, working ten years. He 
then rented land for three years. In 1874 he 
removed to Green county, locating in the town 
of Jordan, and j^urchasing eighty acres of land 
on the north half of the southeast quarter of 
section 31, where he has since resided. Mr. 
Staley was united in marriage Sept. 1*7, 1874, 
with Mary E., daughter of Peter Richard. This 
union has been blessed with four children — Ella 
R., James N., Nellie E. and Alta I. Mr. Staley 
is a member of the town board, and politically 
is a republican. 

y Lemuel Taylor, a prominent citizen of the 
town of Jordan, was born in the State of New 
York, on the 26th of March, 1823. Shortly 
after his birth his parents moved to Oakland 
Co., Mich., where he remained till 1843, 
when he removed to Janesville. He remained 
at the latter place until he came to this county. 
He learned the trade of millwright in Michi- 
gan. He was a son of Elisha and Mary (Miner) 
Taylor, both of whom are buried in Michigan. 
He owns 3G5 acres on section 7, besides other 
lands in the county. He rents his land out, as 
his attention is kept on his inventions. He is 
an inventor, having invented many useful arti- 
cles. He has on hand, at present, a portable 
automatic gate and portable fence. He com- 
menced life with limited means, and has arose 
to affluence only by hard labor and economy. 
He was married Nov. 28, 1859, to Mary E. Ste- 
vens, of Franklin Co., Maine. They have seven 
children — Mary M., married to WilliamNelson; 
Lee, Jane, Ellen, Annie, Julia C. and Alice L., 
who ifl buried in the cemetery near Jordan Cen- 
ter. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Free Will 
Baptist Church. Mr. Taylor is a republican 
politically. 

Calvin Hale, one of the earliest settlers of 
the town of Clarno, was- born in Belvidere, Vt., 
and was a son of Hevvett Hale, a native of the 
same place. In 1835 C^alvin came to this 



county and settled (m section 23, in the town 
of Clarno, which was his home until his removal 
to Twin Grove, in the town of Jefferson, where 
he died Jujie 1, 1849. He was by trade a black- 
smith, and in those early days work came to 
him from long distances. His wife was for- 
merly Sarah Smith, who died in March, 1875. 

Alfred Hale was born in 1842, April 19, in the 
State of Tennessee, but was brought up in Ohio. 
He was married June 6, 1875, to Ellen L. 
Wieland, a native of Centre Co., Penn., born 
Dec. 25, 1847. After marriage he lived in 
the town of Jefferson four years, then bought 
a farm on section 5, town of Jordan, where he 
now owns 180 acres, also sixty acres on section 
6. They have two children — Marion E., and 
Altha M. Mr. Hale is a member of the I. O. 
O. F., and a republican. 

^John J. Figi is a native of Switzerland, born 
in canton Glarus, on the 12th of August, 1845. 
He is a son of George and Barbary Figi, both 
of whom are living in Switzerland. In 1867 
Mr. Figi commenced work in a calico factory,, 
which he followed for a number of years. Hav- 
ing friends in this county, he came to America, 
stopping in New Glarus, where he hired out to 
a farmer. In a few months he went to Free 
port. 111. Remaining there a short time, he re- 
turned to New Glarus. In about one and a 
half years he went to Pennsylvania, located 
near Pittsburg, where he remained about six 
months. He then went to Chicago, III., but 
only staid a short time, when he returned to 
this county and worked in, Shueyville for the 
next two years. He purchased forty acres of 
land of William Bergen, upon which he lived 
for six years, then sold out and removed to 
Humboldt Co., Iowa. In about six months he 
returned to Green county, and rented a farm, 
(concluding to have a home of his own he 
found a location on section 21, town of Jordan, 
whi<li he pmchased. He now owns 220 acres, 
aiul is in a prosperous condition. He is engaged 
in farming and stock raising. He was married 
.]\ine 4, 1874, to Barbary Kundert, daughter of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



905 



Jacob Kundert, of the town of Monroe. They 
have had six children born to thera — George, 
Barbary, Sarah, Emma, Jacob, deceased ; and 
Jacob. The family are members of the 
Evangelical Church. Politically Mr. Figi is a 
republican. 

Henry Hafner was born Dec. 17, 1830, in 
canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, and is a son of 
Urs J. and Mary A. (Bader) Hafner. His 
parents are both buried in Switzerland. In 
1853, Mr. Hafne'r emigrated to America, locat- 
ing in Stark Co., Ohio. He remained there a 
short time, then went to Indiana, where he 
lived one year, then returned to Ohio. He pur- 
chased land in Tuscarawas county and remained 
there some time, when he heard of the rich 
farming land in Wisconsin, and immediately 



came out, locating in the town of Jordan, this 
county, and purchasing a farm on section 2. In 
about three years he sold out and bought on 
section 13. In 1869, he again sold out and pur- 
chased 440 acres on the same section, where he 
now resides. He owns 306 acres at the present 
time. He followed cheese making for eight 
years, then gave it up and engaged in stock 
raising. In 1857, he was united in marriage 
with Fredericka Knoble. This union has been 
blessed with seven children— Mary, Joseph H., 
John v., Sarah E., George D., Frank and Anna. 
The four eldest live in Kansas. Mrs. Hafner 
died Sept. 26, 1870, and her remains are in- 
terred in Monroe cemetery. He was again 
married Dec. 8, 1873, to Mary Bader, a native 
of Switzerland. Mr. Hafner is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. 



53 



906 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 



TOWN OF MONROE. 



The town of Monroe embraces congressional 
township 2 north, range 7 east, of the fourth prin- 
cipal meridian, except that portion which is in- 
cluded within the incorporated limits of the city 
of Monroe, which lies in the southeastern part 
of this town. The surface of this town is, in 
places, quite broken, yet it is all an excellent 
agricultural and stock raising region. The soil 
here is variable. That in the east and south is 
a rich, dark loam, while in the northwest there 
are some ridges with a clay soil. 

The principal farm products grown in this 
town during the year 1882, were as follows: 
1,731 bushels wheat; 79,568 bushels corn; 40,- 
577 bushels oats; 160 bushels barley; 2,242 bush- 
els rye; 5,550 bushels potatoes; 1,510 bushels 
root crops; 1,780 bushels apples; 44 bushels 
clover seed; 24 bushels timothy seed; 2,919 tons 
hay; 46,900 pounds butter; 172,250 pounds 
cheese. 

The acreage of the principal farm products 
growing in the town, at the time of making the 
annual assessment, in 1883, was as follows: 146|^ 
acres wheat; 2,572 acres corn; 1,450 acres oats; 
103 acres rye; 70^ acres potatoes; 554^ acres ap- 
ple orchard; 2,865 bearing trees; 1 acre tobacco; 
2,723 acres grass; 1,907 acres growing timber. 

The live stock in the town, in 1883, was as- 
sessed as follows: 600 horses, average value, 
$70.90, total, #42,542; 2,575 head of cattle, aver- 
age value $23.62, total $59,829; 8 mules, average 
value $100, total $800; 844 sheep, average value 
$2.31, total $1,951; 1,695 swine, average value 
$6.62, total $11,237; 734 milch cows, valued at 
$19,108. 



The land in this town was assessed at $15.50 
per acre. The total value of real estate $424,560; 
total value of real and personal property, $649,- 
835. 

The first move toward settlement, in what is 
now the town of Monroe, was made in 1830. 

John B. Skinner came here that year, for the 
purpose of mining. He erected a log cabin and 
smelting furnace just north of the south line of 
the northeast quarter of section 10. There were 
others here at the same time, in his employ. It 
seems that they all left about the time of the 
Black Hawk War. In the spring of 1834, Nich- 
olas Cornelius visited the place and found four 
vacant log cabins, and a log building for a smelt- 
ing furnace. One of these cabins was on arise 
of ground, and there were port holes in every 
side of it, showing that they were prepared to 
defend themselves in case of attack. In 1835, 
operations were again begun here by Nicholas 
Cornelius, Hiram Rust, Richard Palmer and 
Joab Enos. Mr. Palmer had a wife and three 
children. The other men were single, and 
boarded with him. Mr. Enos left in the fall of 

1835, while the otliers remained until the fall of 

1836. They sold their ore to William S. Ham- 
ilton, a son of Alexander Hamilton, of National 
fame. He had a smelting furnace at Wiota. 

In the spring of 1835 Hiram Rust and Leon- 
ard Ross claimed the east half of section 35, 
built a log cabin and did some breaking. Mr. 
Rust was there but a short time, when he went 
to the mines as before stated. Mr. Ross stopped 
and held the claim until that fall, w^ien he went 
to Wiota and engaged in smelting ore, HeNOM 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



901 



the claim to the Wilcox Bros., who entered 
the land but never settled on it. 

In the winter of 1835-6, Hiram Rust entered 
the southwest quarter of section 27, and also 
the southwest quarter of section 28. He em- 
ployed some one to do the first breaking on his 
land, while he was engaged in mining. He af- 
terward married and settled on section 27, and 
made his home there until the time of his death. 
He was a native of Litchfield Co., Conn. He 
was a man much respected by all, and was one 
of the first justices of the peace of the town. 
For a number of years he was superintendent of 
the county poor. 

George Reeder, a native of Ohio, came in 
1836, and entered land on section 25, He im- 
proved a farm and lived thereon some years, 
when he returned to Ohio. 

N. Cornelius came in 1836, and is a native of 
Illinois, born in St. Clair county nine miles east 
of St. Louis. He was reared upon a farm, and 
remained upon the same until he came to Wis- 
consin. His parents were Joseph and Mary 
(Rutter) Cornelius, both of whom are now dead 
and buried in St. Clair Co., 111. The former 
was of Scotch descent and the latter of German 
parentage. In 1834 he left his native county 
and went to Galena, thence to this county. Dur- 
ing that summer he broke land at Brewster's 
Ferry. During that time he passed over the 
land where the city of Monroe now stands, 
which then was without an inhabitant or any- 
thing except the wild prairie. He also visited 
"Skinner's Diggings'" and the following wMnter 
worked in the new diggings. The pioneers of 
that day had many and varied experiences, and 
accomplished, under the existing circumstances, 
what would now seem impossibilities. In break- 
ing prairie, it is a necessity to have a plow in 
good condition, and it must be frequently sharp- 
ened, and for that purpose, Mr. Cornelius had 
to go sixteen mile* and carry the iron part of 
an old breaking plow on his back, wading the 
Pecatonica. Not many people at the present 
time would break prairie under such circum- 



stances. Not only such inconveniences were 
the lot of people at that time, but actual danger 
often threatened them. Indians were, at times, 
abundant, and liable at any time to take the 
war path, and spread destruction and desola- 
tion among the settlers. On one occasion, Mr. 
Cornelias was down near the Pecatonica, and 
saw large numbers of squaws and papooses go- 
ing down the river. This was not considered 
an occurrence at all favorable to the settlers, 
for frequently such a move was made when 
fighting was contemplated, and this knowledge 
had a tendency to put the people on theirguard. 
Mr. Cornelius and Mr. Plummer slept, "with one 
eye open," on the banks with ax and butcher 
knife under their heads, ready, at a moment's 
warning, to give up their lives if they must, 
only after a struggle. They slept in that man- 
ner about ten nights, when one night Plummer 
looking about said, "I hear them coming." Mr. 
Cornelius was on his feet in a moment, but in 
the excitement Plummer could not find his 
pants, which caused him some trouble. The 
Indians were singing and dancing and it was sup- 
posed they were coming, and the two quickly 
gathered up a couple of quilts and concealed 
themselves in the brush, where they reniained 
an hour and a half, when, becoming chilled, 
they took refuge in an old cabin and remained 
until day-break, then returning to their cabin 
they found everything all right. In the spring 
of 1835, Mr. Cornelius came to Green county 
again and mined at Skinner's Diggings until 
the fall of 1836, during which time he had 
taken out considerable mineral. He went to 
White Oak Springs in the fall of 1836 and 
thence to Blue river, where he mined until the 
fall of 1837 with good success. He then came 
again to Green, county and entered 220 acres of 
land on section 33, township 2 north, of range 
7 east, in the present town of Monroe, within a 
short distance of the place where he now lives. 
In 1840, having traded off a part of his land, 
he secured a deed for eighty acres on section 34 
which he has owned since that time. During 



908 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



all these years Mr. Cornelius was an unmarried 
man and continued in the county most 
of the time, and mined principally until 
about 1844. He then came to Monroe and 
built a store, which he rented to Mr. Lud- 
low to put in a stock of general merchandise. 
At length concluding it was not best to be alone, 
on the 16th day of June, 1849, he was married 
to Phillippi Tresidder. She was a native of 
Ohio, and of French descent. Her parents 
were both dead, the father died of cholera in 
1832, and the mother died in 1845. They have 
two children — Alice and Erwin. After mar- 
riage they lived on the place they still occupy, 
in a log cabin, which in time gave way to a good 
brick house. He now owns 150 acres of land 
joining the corporate limits of Monroe, valued 
at $100 per acre, and some city property. Polit- 
ically, he adheres to the principles of the re- 
publican party, and is a temperate man, having 
never drank a glass of beer or liquor. 

In 1836-7-8 there were quite a number of ar- 
rivals, among whom were the following: Rev. 
R. H. DeLap, Asa Brown, D. S. Sutherland, 
John Walling, Dickson and Hamilton Bailey, 
Isaac Chamness and T. Bragg. 

Isaac Chamness, formerly of Indiana, was 
born April 5, 1820. He is a son of William 
and Margaret (Henshaw) Chamness, natives of 
North Carolina. His father, now ninety-one 
years old, is living in Randolph county, and his 
mother is dead and buried in that county. His 
early life was spent upon a farm in Indiana, 
where he continued to live until 1843. Oct. 5, 
1837, he was married to Mary Willman, a native 
of Wayne county. They remained in Randolph 
county until 1843, then came to Green county, 
arriving on the 3d day of October. He bought 
eighty acres on section 32, of what is now the 
town of Monroe, where he lived for thirteen 
years, then moved to section 33, having bought 
from Charles Foster the DeLap farm, contain- 
ing 108 acres. They have had four children — 
Louise M., now married to Cyrus Dye and liv- 
ing in Monroe; Abigail M., married to Andrew 



Hawthorn and living in Clarno; William 
M., now dead and buried in Hawthorn ceme- 
tery; and Mary E., married to Stephen Potter, 
and living in Chippewa Falls, Wis. "Mr. and 
Mrs. Chamness are members of the M. E. 
Chixrch. Upon their arrival in the county they 
had two children and |3. They made a start 
under many difficulties, but have been successful. 

T. J. Bragg is a native of this county, born in 
Monroe June 13, 1846. His father. T. J. Bragg, 
Sr., is a Virginian, and his mother, Emily J. 
(Nobles) Bragg, is a native of Kentucky. Mr. 
Bragg, of this sketch, in 1875, took a prospect- 
ing tour through Missouri, Nebraska and Da- 
kota, and returned, convinced that Green coun- 
ty was not an undesirable dwelling place, and 
has since remained here. He owns a farm of 
150 acres, located on section 12, of the town of 
Monroe, and makes stock raising a specialty. 
He was married Aug. 29, 1867, to Martha Linds- 
ley, a native of Tazewell Co., 111., and daughter 
of Oliver and Priscilla (Coffin) Lindsley, both 
of whom are deceased and buried in Missouri. 
He was a resident of the village of Monroe for 
the last two years of his life in this State. He 
formerly lived in the town of S\'lvester, where 
lie was eiigiged in making wagons for over 
twenty years. From there he came to Monroe. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bragg have four children — Lora 
T., AUie V , Irvie M. and Chessa D. Mr. Bragg 
is politically a democrat. 

Rev. DeLap was the first preacher in the 
county. He entered land on section 34, which 
is now occupied by Nicholas Cornelius. Mr. 
DeLap was a resident of this town for several 
years, when he removed to Richland county, 
where he has since died. His son, R. H. DeLap, 
is one of the prominent physicians of that 
county, and is located at Viola. 

D. S. Sutherland was a native of New York 
State. He settled on the southeast quarter, of 
section 25, where he still resides. 

Asa Brown was from Indiana. He settled on 
section 21, where he lived two years, then re- 
moved up near D. 8. Sutherland's placdi Ho 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



909 



lived on that place several years, when he went 
to Missouri, where he has since died. He served 
several terms on the county board during his 
residence here. 

John Walling came from Missouri and located 
on the southeast quarter of section 23. He was 
a carpenter by trade, and erected a large frame 
house, which was opened as a hotel or tavern, 
and was the first of the kind in the limits of the 
town. He rented the building to Joseph Paine, 
and later sold it to Joseph Kelly. He returned 
to Missouri in 1844 or 1845. 

Tlie Bailey brothers were from Illinois. They 
located on sections 20 and 29. They lived there 
about two years, then removed to the town of 
Adams. They have since died. 

J. Austin came in 1838 and settled on section 
34, and erected a log house. In 1840 he erected 
the first brick house in the town, in which he 
made his home until the time of his death. 

Ben Buzick arrived here in 1839, and located 
on section 28, where he lived some years. He 
died while living on the old farm. 

Samuel Truax, who had been a resident of 
the county for some time previous, settled in 
this town in 1842. He has been successful in 
business ventures, and now lives a retired life 
in Brodhead. 

Asa Richardson came from New York in 
1841, and settled in this town. He was a specu- 
lator, and was for a time president of the Bank 
of Monroe, and of the Monroe First National 
Bank. He now resides in Lawrence, Kansas. 

The town was organized at a meeting held in 
the court house April 3, 1849. The following 
officers were elected: D. S. Sutherland, chair- 
man, Hiram Rust and Andrew B. Cunningham, 
side board; Horace Poyer, town clerk; George 
Kuykendall, assessor; Jesse Chandler, treasurer; 
John W. Stewart, James Moss, J. B. Stevens 
and A. B. Cunningham, justices of the peace; 
J. C. Richardson, superintendent of schools; C. 
Martin, W. H. Foster and (^^Jaleb Morse, consta- 
bles. 



The present officers are as follows: R. D 
Gorham, chairman, John Faiser and D. S. Young, 
side board; J. D. Eley, town clerk; John Gib- 
bons, assessor; Henry Keller, treasurer; Samuel 
Johns, justice of the peace; and Emery Wins- 
low, constable. 

The first marriage in the town took place at 
"Skinner's Diggings," in 1840, between a man 
named Kendrick and a lady named Armstrong. 

The first deaths occurring in the town were 
those of two men named Carr and Barto. Carr 
was a miner, and was eating eggs on a wager, 
when he ate so many they killed him. Barto 
was an Italian jewelry peddler. 

CHEESE FACTORIES. 

The one on section 11 is owned by Jacob Kun- 
dert. It was built in the summer of 187Y. He 
also owns one on section 18. These are large 
factories, making as high as 500 pounds of 
cheese per day for six months during the sum- 
mer, in both. Mr. Kundert buys the milk and 
hires a practical cheese maker. The kinds of 
cheese made are Swiss and Limburger. The 
patrons get the whey, which they carry back t*^ 
their farms for fattening hogs. 

Rudolph Benkert owns a cheese factory on 
section 4, which he erected in 1883. The first 
year he made 18,000 pounds of cheese. It is 
kept neat, is very convenient, and is well 
patronized. 

CEMETERIES. 

Union Cemetery, on section 17, is used as a 
general burying ground. The cemetery was 
laid out prior to 1849, that being the date of the 
first burial. Mrs. Halloway was the first per 
son buried there. The site was given by Henry 
Eley and Mr. Halloway. 

Snyder Cemetery is situated on the southeast 
quarter of the southeast quarter of section 4, 
and consists of one acre. The land was donated 
by John Snyder, in 1861. The first burial was 
a Mr. Forsyth. 

There were two school houses erected in thio 
town in 1843, known as the Bethel and Iliff 



910 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



school houses. Tlie former was situated on 
section 33, and the later on section 21. They 
were both built of logs, and were in use several 
years. 

RELIGIOUS. 

In 1842 a United Brethren Church was organ- 
ized at the house of Isaac Chamness, on section 
32, with the following members: Isaac Cham- 
ness and wife, Edward Church and wife, and 
William Millman and wife. This class was 
organized by Rev. James Davis. In 1843 Rev. 
Riley Corray, a local preacher, made a discourse 
occasionally. Rev. Davis was succeeded by 
John Mast, and he in turn by Elder Graves, Dal- 
lerhide, Cretsinger, Conager, Scott, Knox and 
Terrell. The class met in j^rivate houses until 
a school house was built in the neighborhood 
when they met in that. After a few years the 
class was discontinued, many of the members 
moving away. 

The M. E. Church is located on the northeast 
quarter of section 21. The land (one acre) was 
donated by H. P. Williams. He also gave $200 
towards building the church, and S. J. Truax 
gave $600. The rest of the money was sub- 
scribed by the citizens. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

This town, like the remainder of the county, 
is well provided with schools. In some districts 
the buildings are above the average. There 
are six whole districts, three joint and one 
union. 

District No. 1 is joint with Washington. It 
has a good frame building, on section 6, and in 
1884 had fifty-three pupils enrolled. 

District No. 2 has a good frame building on 
the northwest quarter of section 11. Forty- 
nine scholars were in attendance in 1884. 

District No. 3 is joint with Washington, the 
building being situated in that town. There 
are nineteen scholars in attendance. 

District No. 4 has a log school house on sec- 
tion 17, that is greatly in contrast with the 
other school buildings of the town. Thirty- 



three scholars are taught in this school at the 
present time — 1884. 

The school building in district No. 5 is lo- 
cated on section 21, and is the finest school 
house in the county, outside of the villages. It 
seats sixty pupils, and is provided with outline 
maps, penmanship charts, etc. In 1884 there 
were thirty-six scholars in attendance. 

District No. 6 reported fifty scholars in at- 
tendance in 1884. It has a good frame building 
on section 13. 

District No. 7 is joint with the town of Syl- 
vester, the building being located in that town. 
It is a frame house, and has nine scholars from 
this town. 

District No. 9 has a good frame building on 
the northwest quarter of section 31. There are 
forty-five schalars in attendance. 

Tiie school house in district No. 10 is located 
on section 33. The building is a frame struc- 
ture, with twenty-four pupils in attendance. 

District No. 12 is joint with the town of Jor- 
dan. Four pupils being in attendance from 
this town. 

Twenty-two scholars are sent from this town 
to the city of Monroe, it being a union school. 
James Keen is a native of Buckinghamshire, 
England, forty-five miles distant from London. 
He was born in January, 1811. His parents, 
James and Elizabeth (Bull) Keen, are deceased, 
and buried in England. Mr. Keen, Sr., was a 
boot and shoemaker. The subject of this 
sketch came to America in 1843, stopping in 
July of that year, in Ogle Co., 111. In October 
of the same year, he came to Green county 
and located in the town of Adams, where he 
lived twenty-three years. He owned a farm of 
400 acres in that town, which he sold and re- 
moved to the place he now occupies, on section 
36, of the town of Monroe. Here he first pur- 
chased 123^ acres, but has sold a part of this, 
and now owns sixty-five acres. He was mar- 
ried Aug. 28, 1845, to Hannah Sperry, a native 
of Ohio, and daughter of Wallace and Sarah 
(Watkins) Sperry, both of whom are dead, and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



911 



buried in Vermilion Co., 111. Mr. and Mrs. 
Keen have seven children living — James and 
John, who reside in Lincoln Co., Dak.; Elon 
S., in Hutchison Co., Dak.; Robert, at home 
with his parents; Foster and Daniel living in 
Hutchison Co., Dak., and Mary A, at home. 
Sarah is dead, and buried at Monroe. Mr. and 
Mrs. Keen are members of the M. E. Church. 
Politically he is a republican. 

Peter Chandler came to the county in 1844, 
and first stopped in the town of York, where he 
remained four months, then went to Monroe 
and worked at wagon making, which occupa- 
tion he followed until 1856, when he removed 
on section 26, where he owned eighty acres of 
land. He was married Sept. 7, 1843, to Eliza 
Weslcott, a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y., and 
daughter of John and Eunice Westcott, both of 
whom are dead, and buried in Monroe. 
Peter Chandler was born in Oxford Co., 
Maine, in 1805, and is a son of Joseph Chand- 
ler. His parents are deceased, and buried in 
Maine. Mr. Chandler removed from Maine, to 
Genesee Co., N. Y., and came from thence to 
Green county. Mr. and Mrs, Chandler had- 
three children born to them, all of whom are 
deceased, and buried in Monroe cemetery. 
Peter Chandler died May 8, 1884, and is buried 
in Monroe cemetery. 

William H. Kinnison came to Green county 
in 1846, and settled then in the town of Cadiz, 
on a farm, where he remained two years, then 
removed to Clarno and lived two years upon the 
farm of William Bowens. He then removed 
to Monroe and lived upon Peter Wells' place 
two years. In 1851 he bought 120 acres on 
section 16. He sold forty acres of this land 
and afterwards bought ten acres. Mr. Kinnison 
is a son of Lawrence and Mary Kinnison, born 
April 18, 1817, in Pike Co., Ohio. At the age 
of eighteen years he left Ohio and went to 
Warren Co., Ind., where he remained ten years, 
then came to Green county. He was married 
Feb. 27, 1844, to Margaret J. Keller, a native 
of Tennessee. She died Nov. 19, 1864. Their 



children are — John W., deceased; Jacob, de- 
ceased; Nancy J., Daniel W., William, Joshua, 
Mary E. and Elijah, deceased. Mr. Kinnison 
was again married Jan. 22, 1865, to Mrs. Mary 
E. Smith, formerly Mary E. Ellis. By this 
marriage there are four children — Emma F., 
Jesse R , Marsena and Edward L. Mrs. Kinni- 
son is a member of the M. E, Church. 

William H. Morris was born in Augusta Co., 
Va., July 30, 1797. When six years old he 
went with his parents to Springfield, Clark Co., 
Ohio. In 1829 he went to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., 
where he remained until 1844. He kept a store 
at Dayton, Ind., and was by trade a wheel- 
wright, shoemaker and carpenter. He left In- 
diana in 1844, and came to Jefferson, Green 
county, then went to Spring Grove, and in 1846 
removed to section 17, of the town of Monroe, 
where he died. He was married Aug. 24, 1820, 
to Mary Killgore, who is still living at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-one years. She retains 
her faculties to a remarkable degree, being able 
to read and sew without glasses. She resides 
in Monroe with her son and daughter, and is 
the owner of a farm of 130 acres. Mr. Morris 
was a Universalist, and Mrs. Morris is a Presby- 
terian. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, six of whom are living — Harvey P., M.K., 
Terressa J., Elizabeth A., John S. and Minerva 
M. M. K. and Minerva M, reside at the home- 
stead, where the former owns 100 acres. 

John S. Morris resides upon section 20, in 
Monroe, where he owns forty acres. He was 
married Dec. 25, 1860, to Sarah L. Orr, a native 
of Cedar Co., Iowa. They have three children 
— Mary A., married to Mather Carter, of Jeffer- 
son; John W. and Zoe A. 

H. P. Morris, son of William H. Morris, was 
born July 6, 1822, in Clark Co., Ohio. He lived 
with his parents until Dec. 24, 1848, when he was 
married to Maria S. Kennedy, a native of Jeffer- 
son Co., Ky. She was born in 1823, and died 
June 20, 1867, and is buried in Union Cemetery. 
Tliey had seven children, six of whom are liv- 
ing — Lenora, John E., Ellen, .Tames W., Theo- 



912 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



derick and George M. John E. is married to 
Lucy Sparrow, and living in Darlington, Lafay- 
ette county, where he is engaged in farming. 
He has 100 acres of land five miles east of Dar- 
lington. James W. is living in Fayette, Lafay- 
ette county, engaged in the drug business. Mr. 
Morris entered eighty acres of the farm where 
he now lives, in 1848. He now owns 120 acres 
on sections 17 and 18. 

John Eley removed from Ohio to Green 
county, in 1849. He was born in Washington 
Co.jPenn., March 16, 1809. His parents, John 
and Ellen (Mosher) Eley, are deceased. The 
former is buried in Monroe, the latter in Ohio. 
The subject of this sketch remained in Pennsyl- 
vania till 1828, when the family removed to 
Ohio, where he lived until the date of his com- 
ing to this county. He settled on sections 21 
and 22, and lived there until the time of his 
death, March 5, 1882. Mr. Eley was a man who 
took a great interest in agricultural societies and 
improved methods of farming. He was an en- 
terprising and useful citizen, and highly es- 
teemed in the neighborhood. He was married 
in March, 1830, to Elizabeth Parks, a native of 
Beaver Co., Penn. Nine children were born to 
them — James, who died in Ohio; William, An- 
geline, Leamon, who also died in Ohio; Joseph, 
Sarah, Harriet, Melissa and John D. The last 
named was born in Green county, May 2, 1851, 
at the place where he now lives. He obtained 
his education in the .schools of Monroe, for a 
time, attending a select school taught by a Mr. 
Green. He was married May 21, 1882, to Ad- 
die Whipple, daughter of Henry Whipple, who 
lives near the city of Monroe. The old home- 
stead contains 110 acres. He is a member of 
the republican party, and now holds the office of 
town clerk of Monroe. Pie has not been able 
to walk without the use of crutches since he 
was a year and a half old, having lost the use 
of his limbs from an attack of scarlet fever. 
Nevertheless, he chose farming as a means of 
gaining a livelihood, endeavoring to fight life's 
battles manfully 



Conrad Elmer, a native of Switzerland, was 
born in the canton of Glarus, March 1, 1842. 
His father, Jehu Elmer, now lives in Sylvester. 
His mother, Fanny (Marty) Elmer, is deceased. 
In 1850, Conrad came to Green county with his 
parents, who settled in the town of Washington, 
where they lived six years, then moved to Mount 
Pleasant. They afterwards removed to Sylves- 
ter. He was married in Sylvester, Nov. 23, 
1866, to Lisetta Wenger, a native of Switzerland. 
After marriage they lived eight months with 
his parents. He purchased a farm of 120 acres, 
which he soon after sold, and with two brothers, 
bought 300 acres of land in Sylvester, where 
they engaged in farming in partnership, two 
years. They then dissolved partnership, and 
Conrad Elmer lived upon the place three years, 
after which he sold out and bought a farm on 
section 1 1 , of the town of Monroe, where he now 
owns 200 acres of fine land, one of the finest 
places in the town of Monroe. Mr. and Mrs. 
Elmer have two children — John A. and Fanny 
E. They are connected veith the German Evan- 
gelical Church. Mr. Elmer was a member of 
the 3l8t Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, com- 
pany B, and served his country three years. He 
took part in Sherman's noted campaign, and 
marched from Atlanta to the sea, and to Wash- 
ington. He is a republican, politically. 

William J. West, son of William and Ann 
(Phillips) West, is a native of Warwickshire, 
England, born Jan. 8, 1839. He came to Amer- 
ica in 1851, with his mother, (his father having 
died in England) and settled at Wilmington, 
Del., where they lived until the spring of 1853, 
then went to Warren Co., Ohio. The following 
fall they came to Green county and located at 
Monroe, where they purchased 160 acres of land 
of William Cheney. He sold this land, and en- 
listed Sept. 10, 1862, in company H, of the 3d 
Wisconsin Cavalry, and was in the service three 
years. He was mustered in at Madison, and out 
at St. Louis, June 19, 1865. He returned home 
and resumed farming in Monroe. He bought 
the farm where he now lives, in 1874. It con- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



913 



tains forty acres, located in the southwest quar- 
ter of section 20. Mr. West was married Feb. 
22, 1864, to Annie E. Morris, daughter of W. 
H. Morris. They have one child — Irena E., 
born Oct. 9, 1878. Mr. West belongs to the 
Democratic party. 

Henry Whipple came to Green county in 1853, 
and settled in Brooklyn, on sections 31 and 32, 
where he bought eighty acres, to which he after- 
wards added ten acres, and resided there four- 
teen years. He then went to Mount Pleasant 
and purchased 100 acres and remained two years, 
then removed to Monroe, vvhere he is now liv- 
ing. He owns eighty-five acres, and is engaged 
in farming. He was married in Brooklyn, Jan. 
8, 1854, to Mary N. Hazen, a native of Ohio, 
and daughter of Reuben and Dorcas (Warrener) 
Hai^en. They are the parents of three children 
— Ira, Eva L. and Lilly A. Ira is married and 
living in Kansas. Lilly A. is married to John 
Eley, of Monroe. Eva L is living at home, witii 
her parents. 

Rice D. Gorham is a native of this county, 
born in the town of York April 11, 1854, and is a 
son of William C and Elvira Mason (Chaffee) 
(-Jorham, both of whom are now living in the 
town of Sylvester. He received his education 
in the schools of Monroe and the select school 
of William C. Green (also of Monroe). When 
eighteen years old he began teaching school. 
He taught in the towns of Jordan, Brooklyn 
and Sylvester. He was married Dec. 31, 1874, 
to Emma C. Bragg, a daughter of T. J. Bragg, 
one of the earliest residents of the county. In 
1876 he commenced farming upon the west half 
of section 25, town of Monroe. Five years 
later, in 1881, he purchased the east half and 
moved on to it. He now owns all of the north- 
east quarter of section 25 ; also twelve acres of 
timber in the town of Sylvester. He is engaged 
in raising stock, furnishing milk for factory 
use, and also making a specialty of raising fine 
blooded horses. In 1874, he was with Suther- 
land & Sherman, when they were drowned. 



being in the water with them when they went 
down. Mr. Gorham is at present (1884) chair- 
man of the board of supervisors of the town of 
Monroe, a member of the I. O. O. F., a mem- 
ber of the Royal Arcanian, and one of the first 
members of the Monroe City Guards. 

William R. Nally it a son of Bennett M. and 
America (La Force) Nally, born June 21, 1844, 
in Pike Co., Mo. When about four years of 
age, his parents removed to New Diggings, La- 
fayette Co., Wis., where his father followed 
mining. They remained there about six years, 
then removed to Warren, 111., where they lived 
on a farm about three years, thence to Cadiz 
Center, Green Co , Wis., where they purchased 
a farm, thence to Cherokee Co., Kansas. His 
father died in that county in 1881, and is 
buried there. His mother is also buried in 
Cherokee county, she dying in 1876. From 
Kansas, the subject of our sketch removed to 
this county, locating east of Monroe, and fol- 
lowed farming one year in the town of Clarno. 
He purchased his present place on section 21, 
of E. T. Deal, in 1879. He has 280 acres of 
good land. In 1863, he enlisted in company 
K, 16th Wi'sconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving 
eighteen months. He participated in the battle 
of Atlanta, Ga., and others of minor impor- 
tance, and was with Sherman on his march to 
the sea. He was mustered out at Prairie du 
Chien. On the 28th of December, 1870, he was 
united in marriage M'ith Maria Way, daughter 
of Jacob and Lydia (Perigo) Way. The result 
of this union was four children — Willie, George, 
Harry and Freddie. Mr. Nally is a member of 
theL O. O. F. 

Thomas Cotherman was born in Union Co., 
Penn., July 4, 1833. He is a son of Daniel 
and Catharine (Frederick) Cotherman, who had 
seventeen children of their own and two adopt- 
ed children, eleven boys and six girls. The 
subject of the sketch was the twelfth child. 
The parents are now deceased and buried in 
Union Co., Penn. Thomas Cotherman came to 



9l4 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Green county in 1855, and at first worked at the 
carpenter trade, which he had learned previous- 
ly. He helped to build many buildings in the 
county. He now owns eighty acres on sections 
1 and 2, of the town of Monroe. He was mar- 
ried Dec. 11, 1859, to Susan Ball, a native of 
Ohio. Seven children have been born to them — 
Frank T., Lillie B., Susie, Lulu, Mary, Ernest 
and Myrtle. Frank T., is an engineer. 

A. M. Dye removed to this county in 1855, 
and settled upon section 32, of the town of 
Monroe, where he purchased eighty acres, and 
has since resided, with the exception of two 
years that he spent in the village of Monroe, 
during which time he was engaged in clerking. 
He was born in Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, April 
2, 1824, and was brouglit up on a farm. His 
parents, Archibald and Margaret (Meredith) 
Dye, are dead and buried in Tippecanoe Co., 
Ind., where they removed in 1829. A. M. Dye, 
of this sketch, lived in Tippecanoe county until 
1855. He was there engaged upon a farm, ex- 
cept four years in a dry goods store. He pur- 
chased his farm in Green county of Isaac Cham- 
ness. It consisted of timber land, which he has 
cleared, and brought to a good state, of cultiva- 
tion. During his residence in the village of 
Monroe, he purchased a house and lot, which he 
sold when he returned to the farm. He was 
married April, 20, 1848, to Elizabeth Taylor, 
daughter of Richard Taylor, of Tippecanoe Co., 
Ind. Ten children were born to them, of whom 
three are now living — Archibald T., who is mar- 
ried to Mary Martin, and living in Monroe; 
Emma Retta, wife of James F. Morton, living 
in Clarno; and Frank, who lives with his j^ar- 
ents. Two children are buried in Lafayette 
cemetery, and five in Hawthorn cemetery in 
Clarno. 

Jeremiah Lewis came to this county in the 
spring of 1856, settling at that time in the town 
of Washington, upon the northeast quarter of 
section 36, where he lived seven years. He 
then traded his farm in that town for a farm 
near Round Grove, and ten acres on section 27, 



Monroe, where he purchased thirty acres more 
and has since resided. He has sold twenty acres 
of this place to Daniel Young. Mr. Lewis is 
engaged in farming and raising fruit and veg- 
etables, to supply the markets of Monroe. He 
was born in Saratogo Co., N. Y., in the town of 
Greenfield, Aug. 16, 1821. His father, Stephen 
Lewis, is dead and buried in Greenfield. His 
mother is still living in that town. In 1855 
Mr. Lewis removed to Dundee, Kane Co., 111., 
coming from there to Green county. He was 
married Nov. 28, 1846, to Margaret Anderson, a 
native of Canada. They have four children — 
Mary R., now married to Anton Miller and living 
in Dakota; Lena, the wife of Dr. James M Pot- 
ter, of Dallas Co., Iowa; Emily J., the wife of 
Daniel W. Ward, also of Dallas Co., Iowa; 
and Anna, who is unmarried and living in Mad- 
ison. She is an assistant at the insane asylum. 
Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Lewis is, politically, a republican, 
and is a member of the I. 0. O. F. 

Clark E. Bushnell was born June 18, 1825, in 
Madison Co., N. Y. His parents are deceased. 
His mother died when he was a child, and at her 
death requested that he (Clark) be given to her 
eldest brother. Her wish was complied with 
and he lived in the same vicinity until eighteen 
years old, then, in 1844, he came to Wisconsin, 
and located in Waukesha county. He was mar- 
ried Dec. 26, 1847, to Margaret Morgan, a na- 
tive of western New York, and daughter of An- 
son and Susan (Osgood) Morgan, who were res- 
idents of this county, but are now deceased. 
Mr. and Mrs, Bushnell came to Green county in 
1856, and have resided here since then, with 
the exception of one year (1861), when they 
lived in Iowa. On their return from Iowa, he 
purchased a farm of 120 acres on section 9. He 
enlisted in January, 1865, in company A, of the 
46th Wisconsin Infantry, serving until the fall 
of that year, when he was mustered out at 
Nashville, Tenn. The children of Mr. and Mrs. 
Bushnell are — Amelia A., wife of D. S. Suther- 
land, of St. Croix Co., Wis.; Ellen J., Homer 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



915 



W., deceased; Anson M., living in St. Croix 
county; Lettie E., Clark, Jr., living in St. Croix 
county; Alonzo D., also living in that county; 
Margaret L. and Edgar W. Mr. Bushnell is a 
republican and a popular citizen. 

Samuel Johns, a prominent farmer of the 
town of Monroe, was born in Belmont Co., 
Ohio, May 3, 1832. He is a son of Richard and 
Betsy (Carleton) Johns. Samuel's history is 
merged in that of his father until he went for 
himself to Beaver Co., Penn., where he en- 
gaged in the hydraulic business, putting up ma- 
chinery. In 1856 he came to this county bring- 
ing a drove of horses which he sold, and has 
since been extensively engaged in the horse 
business. During the war he bought horses 
for the government. Mr. Johns has traveled a 
great deal, especially in the west. In the spring 
of 1866 he went to Helena, Montana, and 
stayed one year, thence to Idaho, where he en- 
gaged in mercantile trade until 1867, then re- 
turned to Helena and remained until 1868, spec- 
ulating. He was in Salt Lake City for a time 
and had a large and varied experience through- 
out the whole western country. In 1869 he run 
the mail route betweeu Monroe and Darlington 
six months. He then removed to the town of 
Mount Pleasant, thence back to Monroe, fre- 
quently changing his place of abode, until set- 
tling down on his place, a short distance north- 
west from Monroe. He was married Feb. 21, 
1870, to Mary A. Whitesett, a native of Illinois, 
and a daughter of Jefferson and Betsy (Loc^- 
hart) Whitesett. They have three children — 
Lettie L., Clyde C. and Willie I. Mrs. Johns 
is a member of the M. E. Church. 

Richard Johns, the father of the subject of 
the above sketch, was born in the State of 
Pennsylvania, July 29, 1805. His father, Na- 
than Johns, was from Maryland, as was the 
mother, Rachel (Jones) Johns. From Pennsyl- 
vania Mr. Johns moved in 1810, to Columbiana 
Co., Ohio, where they remained until 1849, then 
again removed to Pennsylvania, thence back to 



Ohio, thence again to Pennsylvania, and con- 
tinued in the east until they removed to Rock 
county. The next move brought them to this 
county, first settling at Juda, in 1861, where they 
purchased a farm. In 1866 they removed to 
Monroe, where the family remained three years, 
then removed to the town of Mount Pleasant. 
Afterwards he sold this property and purchased 
a farm on section 28, where they now live. 
Richard Johns was married Jan, 5, 1828, to 
Betsy Carleton, from Chester Co., Penn. They 
had ten children — Beulah A., Samuel, Susanna, 
Caleb C, Henry, Phebe A., Maurice R., who 
died in the army, Rebecca, Lavina E. and Spen- 
cer M. 

Edward Underwood was born in Leicester- 
shire, England, Aug. 13, 1831, and is a son of 
Josiah and Elizabeth LTnderwood. In 1857 he 
left England and came directly to Green county. 
He was married Feb. 25, 1857, in England, to 
Mary Underwood, daughter of Adam and Ma- 
ria (Denshaw) Underwood, who are still living 
in England. On his arrival here, Mr. Under- 
wood settled in the village of Monroe, and 
rented a small house for one and one-half years, 
then purchased a small house and three acres of 
land on the west side of the village of Mon- 
roe. He afterwards sold his house and land 
and rented a farm near the residence of N. 
Cornelius. March 22, 1870, he bought sixty 
acres on section 16, of the town of Monroe, 
where he has resided since. Mr. Underwood's 
brother, Josiah, came to this country in 1858. 
He enlisted in the 3d regiment Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers, company C, and died in the service at 
Baltimore. Mr. Underwood is a republican, 
and strongly in favor of temperance. He is a 
firm believer in the Christian religion, although 
not a member of any Church. In doctrine he 
is a firm believer in God's eternal election. Di- 
vine predestination, effectual calling, full and 
free justification through the imputed righteous- 
ness of Christ, the definite atonement by his 
blood-sheddings, the final perseverance of the 
elect only to glory through the wisdom, power, 



916 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and spirit of the Lord. His parents are both 
deceased and buried in England. 

John Gibbons is a native of Ireland, born in 
count}^ Gal way, June 18, 1844. He came totlie 
United Slates with his parents, Richard and 
Ellen (Joyce) Gibbons, who settled in Madison 
Co., N. Y., where they remained six years. In 
February, 1857, they came tQ Green county and 
located at Mount Pleasant, living there also six 
years. They then removed to the town of 
Adams, and one year later to Jordan, where 
they still reside. John Gibbons was married 
Feb. 7, 1875, to Margaret A. Knight, a native of 
Ohio, and daughter of Owen and Ann (Con- 
way) Knight, residents of Adams. Four chil- 
dren have blessed this union — Edward, de- 
ceased; Mary E., Grace A. and Richard O. Mr. 
Gibbons owned a farm of eighty acres in Jor- 
dan, which he sold to liis father, previous to his 
removal to Monroe. He came here in 1876, and 
now owns 200 acres on section 3, where he re- 
sides, and sixty-two and a half acres on sections 
16 and 9. Mr. Gibbons is a democrat in poli- 
tics, and holds the office of town assessor, and 
has been a member of the town board. The 
family are connected with the the Catholic 
Church. 

Joseph Keen has resided in this county since 
1857. He was born in England, forty miles 
northwest of the city of London, Oct. 25, 1831, 
and is the son of John and Mary (Luck) Keen, 
who are still living in England. Joseph was 
reared on a farm, and worked two or three 
years in London. On coming to America he 
came directly to Monroe, Green county, where 
his uncle, James Keen, resided, with whom he 
remained one and a half years. He was then 
married, Dec. 2, 1859, to Rebecca Eley, a 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Bennett) 
Eley. The former is dead, and buried in Junc- 
tion cemetery. Th« latter lives with her 
daughter in Monroe. Mr, Keen worked his 
uncle's place three years, then removed to Syl- 
vester, and worked the farm of Samuel Swan 
three years. He then purchased his present 



farm, which now contains 160 acres of fine land. 
He carries on mixed farming. He is a member 
of the M. E. Church, treasurer of the school 
district, and a useful and respected member of 
society. Mr. and Mrs. Keen have seven chil- 
dren—Emily L., Mary E., Avis C, Alvin J., 
Cora A., Eunice and Alma. 

H. P. Williams, a native of Sullivan Co., N. 
Y., was born Nov. 27, 1811. He is a son of 
Thomas and Maria (Quick) Williams, both of 
whom are now dead, and buried in Pennsylva- 
nia. He came to that State with his parents in 
1831, where he lived until 1856, when he re- 
moved to Stephenson Co., 111., and lived one 
year, and in 1857 came to Green county and 
bought the John Bailey farm, on sections 20 
and 21, of 120 acres. He was married in Jeffer- 
son Co., Penn., Nov. 10, 1836, to Elizabeth 
Morris. She died in Pennsylvania, Oct. 19, 
1841. He was again married June 24, 1845. 
His second wife died Feb. 18, 1880, Her 
name was Dorcas Steers. They had ten chil- 
dren — Joseph M., John M., Robert H., Hiram 
P., Thomas O., Mary E , Kate, Ida J., Samuel 
T. and Nettie O, John M. is married to Hariett 
Eley, now living in Pottawottamie Co., Iowa; 
Robert H. was married to Emma J. Corey (de- 
ceased); H. P., Jr., was married to Mary Mor- 
ton, and is now living in Jo Daviess Co., III.; 
Thomas O. is married to Lona Stanard, and is 
now living in Floyd Co., Iowa; Elizabeth was 
married to J. A. Ellwood, now living in Mont- 
gomery Co., Iowa; Ida is married to J. J. Zum- 
bremen, now living in Montgomery Co., Iowa, 
Mr, Williams is a member of the M. E. Church, 
and a democrat; has never sought the emolu- 
ments of office, but has been clerk of the school 
board for twenty-five or thirty years in Penn- 
sylvania and Wisconsin, always serving gratis. 

Martin Geigle, a native of Switzerland, was 
born in June, 1821. His father was Mathias 
Geigle, now deceased and buried in Switzer- 
land. In 1854, Martin Geigle came to America 
and worked one year at Columbus, Ohio, at the 
mason's trade, which he had learned in Switzer- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



917 



land. He then came to Wisconsin, and located 
at Madison, where he worked at his trade five 
years, after wliich he came to Green county and 
bought a farm of eighty acres. He now owns 
377 acres and is extensively engaged in stock 
raising. He was married in 1855, while at 
Madison, to Dora Baumgartner, a native of 
Switzerland. They have nine living children — 
Mathias, Henry, Annie, Martin, Jacob, Frank, 
John, Samuel and Dora, Mathias is married 
and living in Monroe. Annie is married to 
Gustavus Norder, of the town of Sylvester. The 
family are members of the Gospel Church. 
Politically Mr. Geigle is republican. 

Enoch South is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born Dec. 3, 1832. He was brought up on a 
farm. His parents are both deceased. In 1860 
he came to Green county and settled with his 
parents on the old homestead. Aug. 16, 1862, 
he enlisted in company G, 22d Wisconsin. He 
was mustered in at Racine, served about thirty- 
four months and was mustered out at Washing- 
ton. He participated in many battles, and suf- 
fered much from ill health, consequent upon a 
sun stroke. Dec. 27, 1867, he was married 
to Lide Shultz a native of Pennsylvania. They 
have no children of their own. Mr. and Mrs. 
South are members of the M. E. Church. He 
now owns eighty acres on section 33, which he 
purchased of Mr. La Monte, in 1883. Politi- 
cally he is a republican. 

Rudolph Zimmerman came with his parents to 
Green county, from canton Glarus, Switzerland, 
in 1861, and settled at New Glarus, where they 
remained until 1863. In that year they removed 
Jefferson and lived three years, thence to Jor- 
dan, living there also three years, thence to 
Monroe City, remaining one year; then returned 
returned to Jefferson, and lived there until they 
removed to the city of Monroe. Rudolph 
worked for T. J. Bragg one year, then remained 
with his parents till 1876. He was born in the 
canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 1856. 
On leaving home he hired out to G. O. Stearns, 
to work upon his fartn, and continued with him 



till 1884, when he rented Mr. Stearns' farm. He 
was married Jan. 16, 1881, to Fanny Zimmer- 
man, who was born in this county. Her par- 
ents were natives of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. 
Rudolph Zimmermann have one child — Erwin 
G., born Oct. 7, 1882. They are connected 
with the Evangelical Church, and he is a mem- 
ber of the republican party. 

John Bleiler is a native of Baden, Germany, 
born July 17, 1826. He is a son of George and 
Anna Bleiler, both of whom are dead, and buried 
in Baden. George Bleiler was a wagon-maker 
by trade, which business he followed in Baden. 
John, the subject of this sketch, was also a 
wagon-maker. He came to America, Nov. 1, 
1848, locating in Duncansville, Blair Co., Penn., 
where he worked at his trade until 1854. From 
Pennsylvania he removed to South Prairie, 
Boone Co., 111., where he owned a farm con- 
taining eighty-three acres. He remained there 
ten years. He then sold out and came to Green 
county, 1864. He settled on section 4, in the 
town of Monroe, purchasing at that time the 
north half of that section. He now owns 120 
acres more, on sections 4 and 15. He keeps 
good stock and raises considerable for market. 
He was married in Pennsylvania, to Catharine 
Myers, a native of Baden, and daughter of 
George and Mary Myers, both of whom are 
dead. The former is buried in Illinois, the 
latter, in Baden. Mr. and Mrs. Bleiler have 
had eleven children, eight of who are living — 
Anna M., wife of Jacob Cincer, of Monroe; 
Sarah C, wife of Herman Kreiger; Elizabeth, 
wife of William Velter, living in Minnesota; 
Lena, wife of Philip Huber, living in Illinois; 
George, William, Louise and John J. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bleiler are members of the German Evan- 
gelical Church, and he is a justice of tlie peace. 
He has a well improved farm and is clashed 
among the best farmers of the county. 

Taylor Wickersham is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, born Dec. 5, 1805. He went to Ohio in 
1833, and remained there seven years, thence 
to Indiana, and lived three years, tbence to 



918 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Pennsylvania and remained until 1854, then 
came to this county, bought a saw mill and 136 
acres of land, which he sold in 1864, and re- 
moved to his present place on section 20, wliere 
he now owns eighty-five acres. Susan K. Kim- 
ble became his wife April 23, 1833, and died 
Dec. 26, 1882, leaving four children — Minerva, 
Gideon, Meriba and David C. Gideon, a son 
of the subject of this sketch, has always lived 
at home, except in 1859, when he took a west- 
ern trip to Colorado, New Mexico, and other 
places, and in 1864 when he enlisted in the 
army, in company 11, 38th regiment, Wisconsin 
Infantry. He was mustered in at Madison, 
and served about one year, when he was taken 
sick and returned to Washington, thence home, 
since which time he has engaged in farming, 
running a threshing machine, and carpen- 
tering. He was married Dec. 22, 1867, to 
Theressa DuMars, a native of Pennsylvania, but 
for a long time a resident of this county. They 
have five children — Mary A., Taylor E., Myrtis 
G., Thomas T. and Earl P. 

Daniel Clark, son of D. W. and Elizabeth 
(Lucas) Clark, was born in Ohio, March 10, 
1826. When nine years of age he removed 
with his parents to Illinois, and afterwards 
came to this county. His father owned a farm 
on section 24, of the town of Monroe. Daniel 
remained with his parents till 1857, when he 
was married to Mary Tome, who died, and he 
was again married to Julia Phillips, from whom 
he was separated, and he was again married to 
Christina Beattie, a native of Scotland. Hy 
these unions there were ten children,' six of 
whom were by the last marriage — William, 
Charles C, David B., Mamie J., Guy E. and 
Agnes. Mr. Clark's father is deceased and 
buried in Monroe. His mother lives in the city 
ofiMonroe. Mr. Clark served nine months in 
the War of the Rebellion. He now owns 120 
acres of land on section 14, where he resides. 

Gottlieb Pellen was born in Switzerland, 
Sept. 3, 1S50. In 1806 he emigrated to America 
with liis parents, and settled first in tlie town of 



Washington, where he engaged in farming for 
a few years. In 1874 he came to Monroe, where 
he has since resided. In 1876 he was married 
to Elizabeth Tordi, who was also a native of 
Svvitzerland, by whom he has two children — 
M. Alice and M. Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Pellen 
are members of the Lutheran Church. 

Jacob Kundert is a native of Glarus, 
Switzerland, born on the 8th of March, 1830. 
He was reared on a farm. Before coming to 
America he worked in a cotton factory five 
years. He emigrated to this country in 1854, 
locating in New Glarus, where he lived about 
fifteen years. On the 12th of September, 1862, 
he enlisted in company K, 9th Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry. He was in the battles of 
Prairie Grove and Red River expedition. After 
serving about three years, he returned to New 
Glarus, and soon after purchased a farm in the 
towns of .Jordan and Monroe. He lived on 
his farm in the west part of the town of Mon- 
roe, until 1883, when he removed to his present 
place on section 12. Mr. Kundert is one of the 
heaviest land-owners in the county, owning 1,100 
acres. He is extensively engaged in raising 
stock and making cheese. He has 140 milch 
cows of his own, and makes Swiss cheese a 
specialty. When he came to America he was 
in debt $100, but by hard labor and persever- 
ance he has accumulated a considerable fortune. 
He was married May J 6, 1851, to Barbara Kun- 
dert, also a native of canton Glarus, Switzerland, 
where they were married. They have raised 
quite a large family — Jacob, deceased; Jacob, 
living; Sarah, Barbara, Abraham, Ruday, Lena, 
Anna, buried in New Glarus; Henry, "^i^homas, 
Frederick, buried in Union cemetery, Monroe; 
Frederick, living; Anna and John. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kundert and family are members of the 
Lutheran Church. In politics he is an inde- 
pendent. 

W. F. Hint/.tnaii settled in .Jiida, in the town 
of .Jefferson, in the spring of 1868. He en- 
gaged in farming two years, then followed mer- 
cantile life for nine years, in Jnda and Brod- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



919 



head, selling dry goods. In 1879 he removed to 
his present home on section 23, town of Monroe, 
where he owns 150 acres of land, and is en- 
gaged in stock raising. He was born in Prussia, 
twenty-four miles east of Berlin, Aug. 31, 1848, 
and is the son of David and Mary (Heis) Hintz- 
man. His father, David Hintzraan, is dead, and 
buried in Juda cemetery. His mother is living 
with her daughter, Mrs. Buer, in Juda. He at- 
tended school in his native country until four- 
teen years old, then worked three years learn- 
ing the gardener's trade, after which he worked 
three years in Stettin, as practical gardner. He 
was married Sept. 18, 1870, to Christina Caplin, 
who was born near Stettin, in Prussia. She 
was a daughter of Michael and Dorotha (Hart- 
wig) Caplin. She died Feb. 25, 1882, leaving 
seven children — Mary E., Emma V., Ida J., 
Clara H., Arthur W. and Anna C. and Lena 
(twins). Ella E. is deceased. Mr. Hintzraan 
was again married to Rosa Knipshnild July 17, 
1882. She is daughter of Adam Knipshnild, who 
was formerly a wagon maker in Monroe. One 
child has blessed this union — Edward S. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hintzman are members of the Evangeli- 
cal Church at Monroe. He is a republican in 
politics. 

Emanuel Dettwiler was born in Langenbruck, 
Baselland, Switzerland, Oct. 13, 1836, and is a 
son of Henry and Anna Dettwiler. He came 
to America in 1864 and located in Tioga Co., 
Penn., where he remained one year, then went 
to Delaware Co., Ohio, remaining there, also, 
one year. He then returned to Switzerland on 
a visit. On his return to this country, he came 
to Green county and engaged in farming one 
summer, then rented a farm for two years of 
John Jennie. He was married Oct. 24, 1867, to 
Rosena Marty, a native of Switzerland, the 
marriage ceremony being performed by the 
Rev. Mr. Hagermaji, a Lutheran minister. He 
next rented a farm in what is known as "Dutch 
Hollow," for one year, after which he bought 
120 acres on section 13. He also owns ten 
acres of titrtber on sectioti 19. He removed to 



this place in 1869, since which it has been his 
residence. Mr. and Mrs- Dettwiler have nine 
children — Henry W., Emma E. and Annie M. 
(twins), John J., Ida R., Frederick M., Otto E., 
Jocum and Ernest E. Mr. Dettwiler is independ- 
ent in politics, and in religion he is, with his 
family, a Lutheran. He has a desirable home 
and is an industrious and thrifty farmer. 

Rudolph Benkert is a native of Bern, Switz- 
erland, born May 22, 1841. He is a son of John 
and Magdaline (Murrer) Benkert, who now re- 
side in the town of Jefferson. He came to 
America in 1851 and settled in Oneida Co., N. 
Y., where he lived until 1867, when he removed 
to Monroe, Wis., and lived with his parents 
until 1871. He then purchased a farm on sec- 
tion 9. In 1881 he sold out and removed to 
section 4, where he purchased 150 acres of land. 
On the l7th of February, 1871, he was married 
to Catharine Zimmerman, daughter of Jacob 
Zimmerman, who resides in the town Washing- 
ton. The result of this union was six childi'en 
— Frederick, Charles, Emma, Ida, Rudolph, Jr. 
and Robert. Mr. Benkert is a practical cheese 
maker, having worked at that business in 
Switzerland, and now owns a factory on his 
farm. In September, 1863, he enlisted in com- 
pany C, 1st New York Mounted Rifles. He was 
mustered in at Albany, and out at City Point. 
He served to the close of the war, participating 
in the battles of Williamsburg and Cold Har- 
bor. His regiment did scouting and guard duty 
most of the time. For six months he acted as 
dispatch carrier. He was wounded in each arm 
in a cavalry charge at Bontack, Va., and while 
on duty was only sick two weeks during enlist- 
ment. They are members of the Lutheran 
Church. He is a republican, politically. 

John G. Faeser, a native of Baden, was born 
May 20, 1836. His father, John A. Faeser, 
died while crossing the ocean in 1853. His 
mother died in 1871, in Jordan. John A. 
Faeser was a contractor and builder of stone 
work, and his son, John G., of this sketch, 
learned the same tiade, which he followed four 



920 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



years in Westmoreland Co., Penn., where he, 
with his mother and sister, settled on their ar- 
rival in America. In 1857 they came to Green 
county and settled in the town of Jordan, where 
he purchased 100 acres of land, afterwards forty 
acres, and still later 220 acres, making in all 
360 acres. In 1876 he moved into Monroe, 
where he remained three months. He then 
traded one farm in Jordan for city property in 
Monroe and forty-six acres in Clarno, which he 
sold and bought his present farm in 1880. It 
contains 117 acres, located in Monroe. He was 
married Dec. 31, 1862, to Anna E. Uitiger, a 
native of Switzerland, but at the time of mar- 
riage a resident of Monroe. They have had 
eight children, five of whom are living — John 
A., Anna, Frederick R,, Elizabeth and Lene. 
Three children are buried with their grand- 
mother in Jordan. Mr. and Mrs. Faeser are 
members of the Evangelical Church in Monroe. 
He casts his vote with the republican party. 

R. C. Whitcomb, son of Deacon James W. 
and Nancy (Goltry) Whitcomb, was born in 



Rock Co., Wis., July 6, 1848. His parents are 
botii dead, and buried in Gap Church cemetery, 
in Decatur. His father was an active Christian 
and deeply interested in Church work. He (Mr. 
Whitcomb, Sr.) and his wife were among the 
first members of the Monticello Gap Church. 
R. C. Whitcomb, when one year old, went with 
his parents to Mount Pleasant, where he was 
reared upon a farm, and remained upon the 
same place until 1879. He was married June 8, 
1874, to Margaretta Fitch, daughter of Benja- 
min and Sarah (Smith) Fitch, of Ohio. Mr. 
Fitch was formerly overseer of the poor farm 
at Mount Pleasant, but now resides in Mahaska 
Co., Iowa. Mr, Whitcomb is the present over- 
seer of the poor farm, a position that he has 
held since 1879. Mrs. Whitcomb, before her 
marriage, taught school at Mount Pleasant, in 
this county, and in Oskaloosa, Iowa, They 
have two children — Eva G., born July 7, 1882, 
and Walter J., born Nov. 15, 1883. Mr. 
and Mrs. Whitcomb are members of the Baptist 
Church at the Gap, in the town of Decatur. 
He is a republican. 



i 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



921 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



CITY OF MONROE. 



This beautiful and enterprising city had its 
origin almost half a century ago, when the 
beautiful and fertile region of southern Wis- 
consin was just beginning to attract the atten- 
tion of those in search of homes, and the sur- 
roundings were as free and wild almost as the 
time when the stars of the morning sang 
anthems of joy at nature's dawn. The changes 
from the primitive to the developed state have 
been constant and rapid. It has been compara- 
tively, one continuous change from the mo- 
ment of its projection until Monroe of to-day 
stands forth as one of the most beautiful^ as 
well as most important business cities of the 
State. While there may have been nothing 
really remarkable in the development of the 
past, or nothing peculiarly striking in the pres- 
ent, still there is much that cannot fail to inter- 
est and fascinate not only those who have been 
closely connected and identified with the city 
in all the various changes that have occurred 
from year to year, but the general reader as 
well. Endowed with many natural advantages, 
aided by the strength of enterprising husbandry. 
Green county has assumed a high position 
among the best and wealthiest of her sister 
counties throughout the State, and Monroe, the 
first town within her borders, has kept pace 
with the improvement and advancements. 

Monroe is situated a few miles south and 
west of the center of Green county. One line 
of railway passes through the city — the south- 
ern branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. 
It passes through from east to west, and fur- 
nishes excellent marketing and shipping facili 



finest and most productive*|^agricultural and 
stock raising lands in the State, which is a 
guarantee of a permanent and ever increasing 
trade. 

There are many fine and substantial brick 
and stone blocks to be seen upon the business 
thoroughfares, and a stroll through the city 
discloses many elegant and costly dwellings. 
There are a number of tine church edifices and 
and excellent buildings for educational pur- 
poses. In respect to religious and educational 
advantages, Monroe ranks among the best cities 
in the State of Wisconsin, An abundance of 
shade trees adorn the streets, which, in summer 
adds greatly to the beauty of the place. The 
location is exceedingly healthy, tiie inhabitants 
are possessed of a high degree of intelligence, 
and the society is of tiie most refined and de- 
sirable character. 

THE BEGINNING. 

The land upon which the city of Monroe has 
since been built, was entered from the United 
States government by Joseph Payne and Jarvis 
Rattan. Payne came here from the southern 
part of Illinois in 1832, and first settled in 
the territory, which now comprises the town of 
Clarno. His earlier movements are treated at 
length in the chapter upon the history of that 
town. About 1834, he made a claim on section 
35, township 2, range V, taking 160 acres. He 
piled up a lot of clap-boards upon the land to 
mark the claim, which, grew to be a "land 
mark" to the settlers in this region, remain- 
ing about two years. In the meantime he had 
begun improvements on the land, hiring a quasi- 



ties. The city is surrounded by some of the scout, named Bradley, to break some ground. 



54 



923 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



During the year 188ti [or as some claim 1837] 
Payne erected a little log cabin which stood 
near the present site of Dr. Byers' residence. 
It was a small building, probably 16x16 feet in 
size, one story in height, constructed of logs, 
covered with shakes, and floored with punch- 
eons. A rude affair, yet in those days it was 
considered a very comfortable dwelling. Payne 
lived in the village until about 1842, then moved 
to the town of Cadiz, where he remained for 
some years, when having got in trouble through 
killing a man — an affair which is treated at 
length elsewhere in this volume — he fled the 
country. He finally drifted to California, where 
he died in 1881. Prior to his coming to the 
village, and during his residence in the town of 
Clarno, he had taken part in all the early trans- 
actions and inconveniences of pioneer life in 
that region ; participating in the Black Hawk 
War, and all of the scouting expeditions which 
took place during and growing out of that war. 

Jarvis Rattan came here in 1836, from Illi- 
nois, and entered eighty acres of land adjoining 
Payne's claim, building a cabin near the ''Town 
Spring." He was a single man, but kept house. 
He lived there for a few years, when he sold a 
part of his claim to Jacob Ly Brand. He after- 
ward married Miss Pierce and moved to a farm 
about two miles southeast of the city, lie re- 
mained there until 1844, when he removed to 
the town of Washington. He now lives in Cal- 
ifornia. 

Jacob Ly Brand came here from Pennsylvania, 
in 1837, and purchased a third interest in the 
town of New Mexico, and some land of Joseph 
Payne. 

Mr. Russell became interested here at about 
the same time as Mr. Ly Brand. He was a land 
speculator, fr<nn Rhode Island, and was repre- 
senting some large company. When the city 
ol Monroe was platted, he donated eighty acres 
of land to the county, forty of which was to be 
used for educational purposes, and this, when 
platted, look tlie name of Russell's donation. 



In 1835 Judge Jacob Andrick came from In- 
diana and entered land which he subsequently 
laid out as the village of Is'ew iMexico. Judge 
Andrick remained here for about twenty years, 
when lie removed to Kansas. He is now dead. 

In IS38, immediately after the organization 
of the County, there arose a contest for the 
county seat, which had the effect of preventing 
emigration while it lasted, and of inducing 
many who had come, to go away. Shortly be- 
fore the county was organized. Judge Andrick 
had laid out his town, which he called New 
Mexico; but he neglected to have it recorded at 
the land office at Mineral Point. It was sup- 
posed that this town — New Mexico — would be 
the county seat of the proposed county, and in 
fact this was the only reason by which Judge 
Andrick was induced to plat the village. Mr. 
Payne besought Andrick to sell him an interest 
in it, which the judge refused to do. Payne 
then laid out a town, immediately north of An- 
<1 rick's town, and north of the railroad track. 

James Campbell, who was Payne's surveyor, 
used to tell the story that, while they were sur- 
veying, Mr. Payne stopped work to make a last 
effort to purchase a share in New Mexico, and 
that he remarked on his return from his fruit- 
less visit to Andrick: "New Mexico isn't re- 
corded, and if that old fool won't let any one 
else have half the county seat, he shan't have 
any part of it himself." The act of the Burlington 
legislature, which made this a county, also lo- 
cated the county seat at New Mexico, referring, 
of course, to Judge Andrick's town. As soon 
as this act was passed, Mr. Payne named his 
town New Mexico, and hastened to the land of- 
fice at Mineral Point. A few miles behind hira 
rode Judge Andrick, pursuing him, "compared 
to which," as Miss Bingham, in her History of 
Green County, says, "the most rapid movements 
of the Indians who followed him in 1832, and 
of the sheriff who sought him in 1844, were as 
the crawling of a -snail." Mr. Payne reached 
Mineral Point before Judge Andrick, and got 
his New Mexico on record firi^t, which made it 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



923 



the county seat by law. But moved by a peti- 
tion which was presented by Mr. Sutlierland, 
the member from Green county, thd^legislatnre ' 
at its next session repealed this law and ap- 
pointed three commissioners to select a comity 
seat. These commissioners, after looking the 
county over, selected a place which they called 
Roscoe, about two miles northeast of the pres- 
ent city of Monroe. This place was not accept- 
able to the people of the county. It was then 
represented to the legislature that the selection 
of Roscoe as the county seat was improperly 
secured. However, the former act was repealed 
and it was decided that the question of county 
seat should be decided by a vote of the people. 
In the meantime it was undertaken to dig a 
well in Mr. Payne's town, but after digging 
about forty feet, those interested in it became 
discouraged and gave up the attempt. The be- 
lief became general then that the county seat 
must be at some place where water could be 
more easily obtained, and Messrs. Payne, Ly 
Brand and Russell offered to give the county 
120 acres of land near the spring. Mr. Russell 
subsequently gave another forty acres for the 
benefit of a county seminary. Mr. Andrick had 
also abandoned the hope of making his town 
the county seat and united with others in claim- 
ing the honor for a site, which was situated a 
short distance south of Roscoe. At the election 
in May, 1839, the point at issue seems to have 
been not as much the comparative merits of the 
sites under consideration, as the comparative 
popularity of the men who had selected them, 
and the tickets of one party were marked: "For 
Andrick, Wilcoxon and Sutherland," while 
those of the other party read: "For Payne, Ly 
Brand and Russell." The vote was a tie. A 
second election was held in June, and, although 
there were cast six votes more than at the other 
election, the result was a second tie. This re- 
sult, it was said, was inadvertently brought 
about by Mr. Ly Brand. On election day each 
party k»iew how many voters it had in town, and 



knew, too, that Mr. Ly Brand's side had one 
more man than the other. To make assurance 
doubly sure Ly Brand sent into the country for 
another voter, paying his messenger $2.50 for 
the trip. T'he man, whose name was Elias Lut- 
trell, came, but much to Mr. Ly Brand's sur- 
prise, he voted with the opposition. A third 
election was heid in August. Andrick and 
Sutherland were now the champions of a site 
which was almost in the geographical centre of 
the county, but as votes were cast for the men 
rather than for the places, it was probable that 
the election would result like the others, in a 
tie, when Mr. Ly Brand, taking advantage of 
the great popularity of a peculiar kind of hat, 
braided by Mrs. Rust, offered to give one of 
them to a young man named Porter if he would 
induce some miners at Sugar River Diggings to 
come to the polls. The offer was accepted, and 
the votes thus gained located the county seat. 
The selection of a name for the town was left to 
Dr. Harcourt, one of the county commissioners, 
and he chose the name of Monroe. 

In the meantime the growth of Monroe and 
New Mexico had begun, and signs of business 
life were visible. The two places were so near 
together that they will be treated almost as 
one. 

The first business place opened was on the 
site of New 3Iexico. It was the establishment 
of O. C. Smith and Mr. Binninger, and was run 
by O. C. Smith. This was started in 1837. 
They erected a little hewn log building, 18x20 
feet in size, which stood just east and south of 
the railroad bridge of to-day. They kept a gen- 
eral assortment of goods, making the sale of 
whisky a specialty, and ran for about two years, 
when they closed out their business. Smith re- 
mained in Monroe until the time of his death. 
Binninger removed to California. 

A short time after Smith & Binninger got 
into running order, Jacob Lybrand established 
a store on the west side of what is now Lincoln 
P.uk. He erected the first frame building on 



924 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the site, and ran the store — which, for those 
days, was an unusually good one^for a number 
of years. He was afterwards associated in 
partnership with J. W. Rogers. Mr. LyRi:and 
died in Minnesota. 

In 1836 Payne, Benninger & SniiLli put up 
quite an extensive building just north of the 
railroad bridge. It was two stories high, about 
26x36 feet, with a wing. Payne opened the 
building as a tavern, keeping a good stock of 
whisky. He ran the hotel for a few years, 
after which it was run by various parties. Part 
of the old building now forms a portion of the 
planing mill. 

John Hart, an Englishman, came here with 
his family in 1840, and opened a stock of goods 
in a building which stood a little east and south 
of the railroad bridge. He soon after moved 
his building to the north side of the square, 
where he remained for a time, and then went 
to Milwaukee. 

From the time that Monroe permanently se- 
cured the county seat, business began drifting 
to that place from Milwaukee. 

In the summer of 1840 a building intended 
for a temporary court house was erected where 
the United States house is now located. The 
contract was let to A. J. Sutherland and James 
Campbell. Before its completion, in the fall, 
however, it was consumed by fire. 

About 1843 the first tavern was put up by 
John Walling. It stood on the north side, two 
lots from the west corner. It was an extensive 
building for those days, being two stories high, 
and containing a number of rooms. It was 
opened as a tavern by the proprietor. He was 
succeeded by Joseph Payne, and the latter by 
J. Kelly as landlord. It was then closed for a 
time, and subsequently opened by Thomas Gil- 
lette, after whom came Willard Payne. The 
building was finally moved away. This tavern, 
while it was open to the public, was the favorite 
[)lace of resort for all this region, and almost 
every evening, in pioneer days, the bar room 



was the scene of a rehearsal of all the events 
that had transpired, and an exchange of news 
and gossip. 

In 1844 Jacob Ly Brand moved his building 
to the south side of what now forms the court 
house square, and kept his store there for a 
number of years. He then erected a building 
on the Tiortli side and moved his goods there. 

At about the same time, in 1844, Charles Hart 
started a store on the corner where the bank 
now stands. He ran there for a few years, 
then sold out his stock of goods and removed 
to Rockton, HI. 

In 1846, while Ly Brand's store was still run- 
ning, A. Ludlow opened . a store. Prior to 
this time he had been driving a peddler's wagon 
through this region, suj)plying the settlers and 
stores with goods, all the way from Chicago to 
Madison. In 1846 he opened a store, using one 
of the buildings that had been moved to the 
north side. Mr. Ludlow continued in trade 
here for a few years, and then rented a build- 
ing which N. Cornelius had erected on the east 
side of the square. It was about 22x30 feet in 
size, and two stories in height, with a basement. 
In this building Mr. Ludlow carried on the 
largest part of the business done in Monroe. 
In 1848 Mr. Ludlow erected a three story brick 
building, the first building of that material 
used for business purposes in the village. For 
a time he was associated with Benjamin Cheno- 
with. He finally sold to George Hoffman. 

In 1849 Milton Kelly came here from Penn- 
sylvania and started a store in a building which 
had been erected for hira by Frank Emerson. 
It was a fair building, 20x30 feet in size, a 
story and a half in height, and stood on the east 
side a little above the center of the block. Mr. 
Kelly ran a store here for about four or five 
years. Thus the improvement went on. At 
the outset the growth of the city met with a 
severe backset in the financial panic which 
began in 1837, and continued for several years. 
Business of all kinds was stagnated, and the 
most enterprising men became hopeless and de. 



^ 



4 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



920 



spondont. During these years, but little was 
accomplished, and nothing of importance in the 
way of business development was done. But as 
the latter part of the decade between 1840 and 
1850 was speeding by business picked up; set- 
tlers began to arrive, and from 1850 to 1857 
marked progress was made. Then came the 
financial crash of 1857-8, and again business 
was almost paralyzed. Immediately succeed- 
ing this came the outbreak of the Rebellion, 
accompanied by the demand for money and 
men. Times were very hard for Monroe in 
those days, the darkest days in its history. 
After tiie close of the war the prospects began 
to brighten. New faces began to be seen; busi- 
ness revived and the people, too, seemed to 
have regained some of the business energy and 
enterpi-ise of olden times. Reinforcements 
came in from the eastern Slates and across the 
water, and Monroe and Green county, took a 
marked forward step. Since that time the 
growth has been sure and steady, save the brief 
interruption caused by the financial panic of 
1873. Magnificent blocks have been built; 
elegant dwellings erected; fine schools and 
Churches established and sustained, and all the 
concomitants of a healthy, thriving business 
city have sought their way here until Monroe 
city of to-day has become the pride of Green 
county. 

PLAT OF NEW MEXICO. 

On the 28th of October, 1836, the town of 
New Mexico was surveyed by Abner Van Sant, 
for Joseph Payne, Jacob Binninger and Owen 
C. Smith. It was platted on section 2, township 
11 north, range 7, and contained twenty blocks, 
one of which was left for a public square. The 
papers were acknowledged before RobertDough- 
erty, a justice of the peace of Mineral Point. 

On the 7th of April, 1839, Jarvis Rattan made 
an addition to New Mexico. It laid directly 
north of the original plat, and extended to what 
was afterward platted as Ly Brand's donation 
(Monroe). The addition was just the size of 



the plat, proper of New Mexico. It was sur- 
veyed by Abner Van Sant. 

On the 26th of March, 1856, Jacob and John 
H. Andrick, James Bintliff and F. H. West 
made an addition to New Mexico, which laid 
south of the original plat. It was sworn to be- 
fore J. B. Galusha. 

PLAT OP THE CITY OP MONROE. 

On the 24tli of August, 1839, Jacob Ly Brand 
deeded to the county a tract of land described 
as the north half of the west half of the south- 
west quarter of section 35, township 2 north, 
range 7 east. This was to secure the location 
of the county seat at this place. This done, a 
committee was appointed by the citizens of the 
county to represent them in the matter, and at- 
tend to laying out the city. This committee 
consisted of James Hawthorn, John Chryst and 
Daniel Harcourt. The land was deeded to them 
and they accordingly secured the services of 
William Gravath, the district surveyor, in lay- 
ing it out into lots and block^. This was done 
in December, 1839, the plat being recorded on 
the 23d of that month. This tract of land took 
the name of "Ly Brand's donation." It em- 
braces the present court house square, which 
lies directly in the center of the donation. 

Russell's and Payne's donations were also 
deeded and laid out at the same time. Joseph 
Payne's donation was the same as that of Ly 
Brand, and laid just east and adjoining it. Rus- 
sell's donation embraced tlie same amount of 
land, and laid to the west of Ly Brand's. 
The streets of the city, as then laid out, were 
named as follows: Those running north and 
south, commencing at the east — Adams, Ly 
Brand, Green, Van Buren, Madison, Jefferson, 
Jackson, Monroe, Market, Clinton, Fulton and 
Franklin. Those running east and west, com- 
mencing at the north, were named: Payne, Rus 
sell, Washington and Racine. The streets were 
about sixty feet, and alleys twenty feet in width. 
The committee to whom the above lands were 
deeded, acknowledged the plat before James 
Riley, justice of the peace. The county com- 



926 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



missioners, William Bowen, James Riley and 
William Boyls, signed and acknowledged the 
certificates before Hiram Rust. 

In April, 1848, Josiah V. Richardson surveyed 
Wadsworth Foster's addition to Monroe. It 
consisted of about five blocks, lying just south 
of Payne's donation. 

In November, 1849, W. M. Tall man made an 
addition of about ten blocks to the city, lying 
just north of Ly Brand's donation. Mr. Rich- 
ardson was the surveyor. 

Emerson & Moulton's was the next addition 
made to the city. It was made in May, 1854, 
by Francis Emerson and Salena Moulton; being 
surveyed by Samuel Spangler. It embraced a 
little over fifteen blocks, and laid just south of 
Russell's donation, and west of Rattan's addi- 
tion to New Mexico. 

The first railroad addition to Monroe, was 
made on the 15th of November, 1854. It em- 
braced about five blocks and laid just north of 
where the track is now located. 

In May, 1855, W. Foster made his second ad- 
dition to Monroe. It laid just east of Rattan's 
addition to New Mexico, and south of Foster's 
first addition to Monroe. It embraced about 
fourteen blocks. 

On the 12th of February, 1856, Evans' addi- 
tion to Monroe was made by Enoch Evans, sur- 
veyed by George M. O'Brien. It laid just west 
of Russell's donation. 

Bloom's addition was made by George Bloom 
in February, 1856. It laid just southeast of 
Evans' addition, and adjoining Russell's dona- 
tion. 

On the 4th of July, 1856, Wescott's addition 
was made by E. and N. L. B. Wescott. It laid 
just west of the original plat. 

Scott's addition to Monroe was surveyed on 
the 24th of June, 1856, by George M. O'Brien 
for Jane Scott. It laid west of Evans' addi- 
tion, and embraced about twelve whole blocks. 

The second railroad addition was made in 
May, 1856. G. M. O'Brien was the surveyor. 

Brodhead's addition was surveyed in Novem- 



ber, 1856, by W. W. Card. The proprietors 
were: Edward H. Brodhead, B. Dunwiddie, 
A. Ludlow and John A. Bingham. 

Julius Austin made an addition in April, 

1856, which laid just west of Emerson & Moul- 
ton's addition. 

Bartlett's addition was made by JSdmund 
Bartlett, Jan. 1, 1857. 

W. M. Tallman made a second addition in 
August, 1857, of over twenty blocks. It lays in 
the northern part of the city. 

April 14, 1857, Julius Austin made an addition 
to the western part of the city. 

L. & P. D. Hurlbut made an addition April 
17, 1857, west of the railroad additions. Moses 
O'Brien was the surveyor. 

Francis Emerson and S. P. Condee made an 
addition April 18, 1857. It was surveyed by 
Moses O'Brien, and contained about two blocks. 

Simon P. Condee made an addition June 5, 

1857, of two blocks. 

A. Ludlow's addition was made Nov. 20, 
1856; surveyed by J. V. Richardson. It em- 
braced about twenty blocks and laid just east 
of Payne's donation. 

INCORPORATION. 

During the winter of 1857-8 the question of 
incorporating Monroe as a village, under the 
provisions of the statute, was agitated, and it 
culminated in the spring of 1858 in the election 
of officers and organization as a village. The 
first election for village officers was held in 
April, when the followijig named were chosen: 
Trustees, John A. Bingham, George E. Dexter, 
Charles Leissing, Elisha Mosher and John W. 
Stewart. The first meeting of the board of 
trustees was held on Aj)ril 14, 1858, when John 
W. Stewart was elected president, and William 
W. Wright clerk of the board. 

Among ths first official acts of the board, was 
the passage of the following: "It being credit- 
ably represented to this board that the small- 
pox now prevails in the family of Ulrich Kleb, 
a resi<lent of Monroe; therefore, it is ordered 
that the said Ulrich Kleb remain closely within 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



927 



his dwelling, and that he cause each and every 
member of his family to remain closel J within his 
dwelling until further order of this board." A 
penalty of $25 was imposed for the violation 
of this order, and Mr. Kleb was also instructed 
to post upon his door a sign printed in German 
and English, bearing the words "Small Pox 
Here," as a warning. 

Another I'ule was passed at the same time, 
imposing tine of fifty cents upon each member 
of the board who should be tardy or absent, 
"unless a bona fide and satisfactory excuse be 
rendered. 

A number of ordinances were passed by the 
first board, and the German Hook and Ladder 
Company was ordered organized. 

The following is a list of the oflicers who 
have served since the incorporation of the vil- 
lage: 

1859. — Trustees, J. W. Stewart, presi- 
dent, F. F. West, Wads worth Foster, Charles 
Leissing and B. Dunwiddie; assessor, John 
Knipschield; treasurer, George H. King; clerk, 
William W. Wright; marshal, Elisha Mosher; 
pound-master, William Bowers. 

1860. — Trustees, John W. Stewart, president, 
Charles Leissing, Wadsworth Foster, F. F. 
West and B. Dunwiddie; treasurer, George H. 
King; assessor, Chester Witter; clerk, W. W. 
Wright; marshal, Edmund Hill; street com- 
mi8sioner,William Kean; pound-master, William 
Bowers; surveyor, F. F. West. 

1861. — Trustees, John W. Stewart, president, 
Wadsworth Fostei*, Charles Leissing, F. F. 
West and B. Dunwiddie; assessor, Josiah V. 
Richardson; treasurer, Samuel Chandler; clerk, 
W. W. Wright; surveyor, F. F. West; marshal, 
Edmund Hill; street commissioner, William 
Rean; pound-master, William Bowers; sexton, 
Patrick Collins. 

1862. — Trustees, John A. Bingham, presi- 
dent, Charles Leissing, E. T. Gardner, W. Fos- 
ter and B. Dunwiddie; assessor, J. V. Richard- 
son; treasui-er, Samuel Chandler; clerk, W. W. 
Wright; marshal, William Bowers; street com- 



missioner, William Rean; pound-master, William 
Bowers; sexton, Patrick Collins; chief engineer 
of the fire department, W. W. Wright; fire 
warden, Anton Miller. 

1863. — Trustees, B. Chenoweth, president, 
E. T. Gardner, W. Foster, J. B. Treat and B. 
Dunwiddie; treasurer, Samuel Chandler; as- 
sessor, Asa Richardson; clerk, W. W. Wright; 
marshal, Edmund Hill; street commissioner, 
William Rean; sexton, Patrick Collins; pound- 
master, George P. Hedge; chief engineer of fire 
department, W. W. Wright; fire warden, An- 
ton Miller. 

1864. — Trustees, Benjamin Chenoweth, presi- 
dent, E. T. Gardner, W. Foster, J. B. Treat and 
B. Dunwiddie; treasurer, Samuel Chandler; 
assessor, Asa Richardson; clerk, W.W. Wright; 
marshal, Edumund Hill; street commissioner, 
William Rean; sexton, Patrick Collins; pound- 
master, George P. Hedge; chief engineer, W. 
W. Wright; fire warden, Anton Miller. 

1865 — Trustees, Lauren Hurlbut, president, 
Benjamin Chenowith, J. B. Treat, E. E. Carr 
and D. W. Ball; treasurer, Samuel Chandler; 
assessor, William Gray; clerk and chief of fire 
department, W. W. Wright; marshal, J. Smith 
Smock; street commissioner, P. P. Pinney; 
pound-master, A. G. Manchester; sexton, Pat- 
rick ('ollins; fire warden, Abraham Kobb. 

1866 — Trustees, E. P. Treat, president, B. 
Chenowith, James VanDyke, Antone Miller and 
J. B. Galusha; assessor, William Gray; treas- 
urer, Samuel Chandler; clerk and chief of fire 
department, W. W. Wright; street commission- 
er, William Rean; pound master, A. G. Man- 
chester; sexton, Patrick Collins; fire wardens, 
Antone Miller and S. W. Abbott. 

1867 — Trustees, E. P. Treat, president, J. H. 
VanDyke, Samuel B. Mack, Barney Becker and 
Antone Miller; treasurer, Samuel Chandler; as- 
sessor, William Gray; clerk and chief of fire 
department, W. W. Wright; marshal, William 
Brown; fire wardens, S. W. Abbott and Antone 
Miller. 



928 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1868 — Trustees, R. B. Stevenson, president, 
H. Pool, William Berry, J. Smith Smock and 
David Klasy; assessor, S. W. Abbott; treasurer, 
W. C. Green; clerk and chief engineer, W. W. 
Wright; marslial, W. H. Brown; tire wardens, 
S. W. Abbott and A. Miller; sexton, Patrick 
Collins; surveyor, E. E. Woodman; pound-mas- 
ter, C. JM. Saxby. 

1869 — Trustees, B. Dunwiddie, president, 
Andrew Buehler, George Goodrich, J. F. Pool 
and E. Mosher; treasurer, John Bolender; asses- 
sor, S. W. Abbott; clerk, Edmund Bartlett; 
chief engineer tire department, Norman Church- 
hill; sexton, Patrick Collins; street commis- 
sioner, John Strawser; marshal, W. H. Brown; 
pound-master, Moses Gregory; tire wardens, S. 
W. Abbott and W. W. Wright. 

1870 — Trustees, F. F. West, president, Har- 
ris Pool, L. B. Johnson, R. Greenwald and John 
S. Harper; assessor, William Gray; treasurer, 
Nathaniel Treat; clerk, E. M. Bartlett. 

1871 — Trustees, Harris Pool, president, F. F. 
West, L. B. Johnson, Andrew Buehler and John 
Scannel; treasurer, William Gray; clerk, Ed- 
mund Bartlett; street commissioner, John H. 
Strawser. 

1872 — Trustees, J. K. Eilert, president, J. S. 
Smock, C. E. Adams, Henry Hoehn and N. B. 
Treat; assessor and treasurer, William Gray; 
marshal, Samuel Adams;sexton and pound-mas- 
ter, William Bowers; clerk, Edmund Bartlett. 

1873 — Trustees, E. T. Gardner, president, C. 

E. Adams, Andrew Buehler, B. Johnson and 
George Spangler; assessor and treasurer, Wil- 
liam Gray; clerk, Edmund Bartlett; street com- 
missioner, John Strawser. 

1874 — Trustees, William Brown, president, 

F. S. Parlin, E. P. Treat, L. Weber and B. 
Dunwiddie; treasurer, Nathaniel Treat; asses- 
sor, William Gray; justice ef the peace, S. W. 
Abbott; constable, P. P. Pinney; clerk, A. S. 
Douglas. 

1875. — Trustees, William Brown, president, 
George Spangler, E. P. Treat, L. Weber and F. 
S. Parlin; treasurer, L. Seltzer; assessor, Wil- 



liam Gray; constable, Willard Payne; clerk, A. 
S. Douglas. 

1876 — Trustees, William Brown, president, 
J. C. Barber, George Spangler, John Scannel 
and L. Weber; treasurer, L. Seltzer; assessor, 
William Gray; justice of the peace, L. Rote; 
clerk, A. S. Douglas. 

1877 — Trustees, N. Churchill, president, J. 
H. Bridge, B. Chenoweth, P. Sheehan and J. 
K. Eilert; justice of the peace, S. W. Abbott; 
constable, Willard Payne; treasurer, L. Seltzer; 
assessor, L. Frankenberger; clerk, P. J. Clau- 
son. 

1878 — Trustees, J. T. Dodge, president, J. S. 
Smock, W. P. Wood worth, U. S. McCracken 
and J. B. Galusha; treasurer, Edward Ruegger; 
clerk, Lewis Rote. 

1879 — Trustees, L. B.Johnson, president, J. C. 
Barber, W. S. McCracken, A, Buehler and John 
Scannel; clerk, Lewis Rote; treasurer, Edward 
Ruegger; assessor, Thomas Emerson; justice of 
the peace, S. W. Abbott; constable, Daniel 
Ilawver. 

1880 — Trustees, William S. McCracken, pres- 
ident, George Spangler, Lewis Weber, J. S. 
Smock, J. M. Chadwick; clerk, Lewis Rote; 
treasurer, William M. Wright; assessor, Thomas 
Emerson; justice, Lewis Rote; constable, Dan- 
iel Hawver. 

1881 — Trustees, William Brown, George 
Spangler, W. P. Bragg, John Carroll, Andrew 
Buehler; treasurer, A. T. Witter; clerk, Lewis 
Rote; justice, S. W. Abbott; constable, Daniel 
Hawver. 

INCOErORATION AS A CITY. 

Monroe was incorporated as a city by an act 
of the legislature, approved March 25, 1882. 
The act took effect from and after its passage. 
The incorporation was a surprise to many. The 
following is a list of eity officers for that year : 
W. Wright, mayor ; G. W. Galusha and Lewis 
Weber, aldermen in 1st ward. Mr. Weber re- 
signed, and Dr. S. W. Abbott was appointed. 
George Spangler and John Carroll, aldermen in 
2d ward ; William Bragg, treasurer ; A. S. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



929 



Douglass, clerk; Thomas Emerson, assessor ; 
J. H. Sbawser , street commissioner and marshal. 

The following is a list of officers for 1883 : 
W. Wright, mayor ; J. B. Galusha and W. J. 
Miller, aldermen Ist ward ; J. P. Carroll and 
George Spangler, aldermen, 2d ward ; Thomas 
Emmerson, assessor ; A. S. Douglass, clerk ; 
John Salley, treasurer ; William Rean, street 
commissioner and marshal. 

In 1884 the following gentlemen filled the 
local offices of this city : George Spangler, 
mayor; W. J. M iller and W. P. Bragg, alder- 
men, 1st ward; J. P. Carroll and Stephen Mil- 
ler, aldermen in 2d ward ; Nelson Darling, 
treasurer ; Thomas Emmerson, assessor ; A. S. 
Douglass, clerk; William Rean, street commis- 
sioner and marshal. 

Under the date of Feb. 10, 1866, appears the 
following peculiar entry : 

"On reading and tiling the claim of William 
Rean for pay for one sheep killed by dogs, and 
on hearing the testimony of George Phillips' 
showing that said sheep could not have sur- 
vived the injuries received by said dogs; and, 
it appearing that said Rean caused the said 
sheep to be slaughtered to save its life; and 
after having read the law on that subject, on 
diotion it was ordered that there is hereby 
appropriated out of the dog fund in the village 
treasury, the snm of $4 to be paid to said Wil- 
liam Rean, as provided for by the statute in 
such cases made and provided." 

BUSINESS DEVBLOPMENT. 

The first stores have already been treated. 
As a rule they handled general stocks of mer- 
chandise, or a little of everything. In a few 
years, however, as trade increased and the busi- 
ness of Monroe began to assume city propor- 
tions, the " general merchandising " gradually 
separated, and the various stores handled one 
line exclusively. In 1884, the various lines of 
trade were represented in Monroe, by the fol- 
lowing named firms and individuals. 

Dry goods or general merchandise — J. B. 
Treat & Co., S. C. Cheney, F. Chenoweth, J. 



H. Miller, Hodge & Durst, Schadel & Baker, 
and J. Bolender & Co. Of those firms the last 
two mentioned handle groceries. 

Groceries and crockery — L. B. Johnson, 
Treat & Co., D. S. Young & Co., Glascott & 
Bragg, Roth & Weber, Studley & Lichtenwal- 
ner, Carroll Bros. Phifer, Shindler Bros, 
and Charles B. Churchill. The last named 
handles crockery exclusively. 

Gents furnishing goods and merchant tailor- 
ing establishments — Hoehn & Weber, Peter 
Spahr, Randall, Gibbons & Co., A. Wettengill 
& Son, J. Cohn and Kneeland & Co. 

Boots and shoes — A. W. Goddard, J. J. 
Tschudy, Adam Smith and Frautschy & Zum- 
brunnen. 

Jewelry — George H. King, A. B. McKelvey, 
H. G. Van Wagner and R. Fuelleman. 

Drugs — Stearns, J. K. Eilert, Studley & 
Lichtenwalner and George W. Banks. 

Books and stationery — Joseph Wood, R. D. 
Vaughn and Mrs. Wirrich. 

Hardware and agricultural implements — 
Harper and Davenport, Cundrant, Stearns & 
Co., Miller, Olson & Co., J. S. Bloom and S. 
B. Mack. 

Pumps and sewing machines — N. and Charles 
Churchill. 

Furniture — Henry Foster and Robert Miller. 

Banks — First National and Citizens. 

Lumber — J. L. Road & Co., and Churchill, 
Dodge & Co. 

Livery— F. North, A. J. Worthington and 
Campbell. 

Butter and eggs. — Mr. Vandervoort and Mr. 
Gunard. 

Confectionery — Nellie Gardner and A. M. 
Woolcott. 

Millinery— J. H. Miller, Mrs. W. H. Allen, 
Rolfe & Stearns and Mrs. Carroll. 

Photographers — H. G. White and Green & 
Copeland. 

Builders— W. M. Wright, Washington Hill, 
J. Stineman, Ableman, Soper, Thomas Evans 
and Ellis Smith. 



930 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ii 



Real estate agents — J. H. Strawser, W. W. 
Wright and T. L. Summeril. 

Painters— H. G. Austin, J. C. Sally and K. 
Scoville. 

Brewery — Jacob Hetty. 

Marble shop— Evan Busby and J. D. Mosher 

Brick yards — R. Craven and Niles. 

Gun shop — George Spangler. 

Cigar factories — B. N. Rusch and Charles 
Snyder. 

Wagon, carriage^ and sleigh manufacturers — 
Monroe Manufacturing Company, P. Miller, 
Thomas Patterson, Fitzgibbons Bros., An- 
drew Buchler and Mr. Lantz. 

Harness shops — C. D. Corson, Daniel Ger- 
man, Samuel Shuler and Patrick Shean. 

Tin shops — In connection with hardware 
stores, except that of Charles French. 

Meat markets — John Gettings & Son, Roger 
Gettings & Son, Stephen Miller, Valentine Mat- 
tern, Baltz lleasly and T. Patterson. 

Blacksmiths — Charles Poole, John Conroy, 
Snider, Evans, Fred Babler, T. Patterson, Fitz- 
gibbons Bros, and James Nee. 

Pop and small beer factories — E. Einbeck 
and Charles Pickett. 

Insurance agents — W. W. Wright, S. W. 
Abbott and H. H. Cohn. 

Attorneys at law — B. Dunwiddie, A. S. Doug- 
las, P. J. Clawson, C. W. Wright, S. W. 
Abbott, B. S. Kerr and John Luchsinger. 

Physicians — Drs. J. C. Hall, Loofbourow, 
W. O. Sherman, Byers, Monroe, H. D. Fuller, 
Confer, Boardman, Mrs. Bennett, Miss Bing- 
ham and Mrs. Dixon. 

Dentists — Dr. Soseman and J. S. Reynolds. 

U. S. Express agent — William Blunt. 

Railroad agent — P. W. Puffer. 

BANKS. 

The first bank in the city was established, in 
1854, by John A. Bingham, and was known as 
Bingham's Exchange Bank. The following fall 
the firm became Ludlow, Bingham & Co., com- 
posed of A. Ludlow, J. A. Bingham and Asa 



Richardson. In 1856 the company erected a 
building for banking purposes, during which 
year J. W. Stewart became interested in the 
business. His connection with the bank, how- 
ever, was of short duration. 

On the 1st of May, 1856, the bank of Mon- 
roe was organized under the State laws, with 
John A. Bingham, president; A. Ijudlow, vice- 
president, and J. B. Galusha, cashier. In 1861 
Richardson & Ludlow became sole proprietors. 

On the 12th of January, 1864, the First Na- 
tional Bank was organized, and a few years 
later the Monroe Bank was merged into it. 
The first ofiicers of the National Bank were: 
John A. Bingham, president; B. Chenoweth, 
cashier; directors: G. W. Huffman, Joseph 
Perrine, John A. Bingham, B. Chenoweth and 
M. Marty. In June, 1865, Asa Richardson be- 
came president and J. B. Galusha, cashier. The 
directors were: A. Richardson, A. Ludlow, Wil- 
liam Brown, G. W. Huffman and Joseph Per- 
rine. Mr. Galusha has since held the position 
of cashier. In January, 1875, A. Ludlow was 
elected president and has since retained that 
position. The present officers are: A. Ludlow, 
president; Joseph B. Treat, vice-president; J. 

B. Galusha, cashier, and Henry Ludlow, as- 
sistant cashier. The present condition of the 
bank is shown by the facts that it has a capital 
stock paid up of $100,000; surplus fund, $45,000; 
undivided profits, $3,970; individual deposits 
subject to check, $110,583; certificates of de- 
posit, $132,947.17; total, $437,501.04. The 
bank is well equipped with fire and burglar 
proof safes. 

The Citizens Bank, located on the south side 
of the square, was organized March 19, 1883, 
and opened on the 1st of April, 1883. The fol- 
lowing were the first and are the present 
officers: Directors, J. Bolender, president; H. 

C. Witmer, vice-president; Samuel Lewis, cash- 
ier, H. Durst and G. T. Hodges. The bank is 
a reliable and permanent institution, and does a 
large business. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTt^. 



&31 



HOTELS. 

This city has six establishments devoted to 
this branch of business. The first building 
erected for hotel purposes was the second 
frame house built in the place, and located in 
Mexico, near the present site of the railroad 
bridge. It was built in 1836, and being 26x86 
feet, the main part two stories, was considered 
at that time a fine establishment, and "Our 
Hotel" was a source of pride to the embryo 
town, and frequent allusion was made to it, as a 
substantial improvement, sufficient to meet the 
wants of the people for a long time to come. 
In this building was held the first terra of cir- 
cuit court, and it was used for A'arious purposes 
many years. This building now constitutes a 
part of the "Monroe Planing Mill." Boarding 
houses and small hotels were improvised and 
variously constructed from time to time, and 
after a brief existence were merged into other 
improvements, but during early days the "hotel 
par excellence" was the one mentioned. 
It was built by Joseph Payne, Smith and 
Binninger. 

Another hotel of an early day was called 
the "Monroe House," and was built in 1843 by 
John Walling, but before entirely finishing it, 
he sold out to Joseph Payne. In the spring of 
1845 it was transferred to Joseph Kelley, who 
built an addition and improved its appearance 
generally. In connection he erected a feed 
stable, and continued in the hotel business there 
for eleven years, when the property was sold to 
Willard Payne, and afterward gave way to more 
pretentious buildings, and was moved back from 
the north side of the square. It is now occu- 
pied partly as a dwelling house and partly as a 
store house. 

Another was the American House, which was 
originally an old store building, reconstructed 
and opened by Edward Reynolds some time 
about 1845. It passed through various hands, 
and seemed at times to have a sort of precarious 
existence, having suffered much by fire and dis- 
aster. There was a livery stable in connection. 



run by J. Campbell. The whole property is ex- 
cellently located on the southwest corner of the 
public square, but the building is not in good 
condition. It was bought in 1862 by Joshua 
Trickle, who utilizes a portion of it for a saloon 
and billiard hall. The stable portion is used 
for a tin shop by Charles French, and the cellar 
for a pop factory by Louis Stoll. 

Another hotel was known by the name of 
Spring Hotel, and was owned by Rudolph 
Greenwald, and was located near the present 
site of the Green County House. 

Following are the hotels now occupied and in 
running order in the'village: 

The Green County House is a two story hip- 
roofed building, containing twenty-nine rooms, 
and was erected in 1866 by Rudolph Greenwald, 
who was himself the proprietor for a number of 
years, when he sold out to Emanuel Weisrailler, 
who continued as landlord a number of years, 
when the property again changed hands and 
came into the possession of John Eisley, who 
ran the same a short time, and traded it to Mr. 
Freidley. Meanwhile the property had been 
encumbered, and soon after the latter transfer, 
fell into the hands of A. Ludlow, who leased 
it to Jacob and William Osborne, who together 
managed the affairs of the house for a season, 
or until Jacob took entire charge. At the ex- 
piration of their lease Mr. Ludlow made an ar- 
rangement with his brother, Calvin, who imme- 
diately assumed the duties of landlord, and 
continued in the business six years, or until 
1882. On the 1st day of March, of that year, 
Fred Thomm became the owner, and is now the 
proprietor. The property is valued at $10,000. 
In connection with the house there is a feed 
stable, 32x100 feet, where fifty-four horses can 
be accommodated. 

Fred Thomm, proprietor of the Green County 
House, was born in Switzerland, Dec. 25, 1843. 
When eight years old he came to America and 
located in the town of Washington, this county, 
on a farm, where he remained until 1864, when 
he went to St. Louis; thence to Illinois, and 



932 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



worked on the river, floating logs on rafts. He 
then, after a short time, returned to St. Louis 
and woi-ked in a butcher shop, and subsequently 
followed the same business in Milwaukee and 
Monroe. In February, 1868, he went to Cali- 
fornia, where he engaged in all kinds of work. 
He also visited Oregon and Washington Terri- 
tory. In the fall of 18V1 he came to Monroe, 
and again engaged in the butcher business. In 
1882 he bought the Green County House. 
April 15, 1871, he was married to Maldda Kafer, 
by whom he has three children — Mary, Freddie 
and Frankie. He is a member of the I. O. O. 
F. and A. O. U. W. 

The Monroe House was built by Casper Os- 
wald in 1865, and is located on Jackson street, 
near the public square. It is a two story frarne 
building, containing twenty-one rooms. Mr. 
Oswald ran the house for a time, and then 
rented it to Casper Baker, his brother in-law. 
At the expiration of Baker's lease, or before, 
the property was sold to Peter Zweifel, at a cost 
of about $4,000. With his brother he man- 
aged the house about four years, when it was 
rented to FredThomm and John Blum for one 
year, the rental agreed upon being $600, After 
that Mrs. Zweifel ran it until May, 1883, when 
Wittwer & Isely, the present proprietors, 
bought the property for $7,500, and manage the 
business themselves. They also have a feed 
stable for the accommodation of patrons, which 
will hold twenty-seven horses. 

The City Hotel is on the corner of Racine 
and Jackson streets. A part of the building 
was erected in 1854, and used many years for a 
furniture shop. It was built and the business 
carried on by Antoine Miller, who, in 1879, 
concluded to keep hotel, and after making some 
improvements and additions, opened it to the 
public. It is a two story building, containing 
thirty rooms, and has in connection one of the 
largest stables in the city. This property is 
valued at $9,000. 

The United States Hotel was erected many 
years ago, by Charles Hart, who conducted the 



business for a time and was succeeded by E. 
Reynolds. Robert Witter came next, and was 
succeeded by Mr. Lambert, followed in turn by 
E. Hill, E. Mosher and Ruegger & Schuetze. 
On the 7th of March, 1865, Louis Schuetze pur- 
chased the property and is still proprietor and 
landlord. He is the oldest hotel keeper in the 
city. The hotel building proper is 88x100 feet 
in size, two stories and a basement in height, 
and contains sixteen comfortable sleeping rooms 
Mr. Schuetze has two other buildings which he 
runs in connection with the house, making an 
addition of seventeen rooms. There are four 
stables in connection, furnishing a capacity for 
100 horses. 

Louis Schuetze, proj)rietor of the United 
States Hotel, at Monroe, was born in Prenzlan, 
Pi-ussia, Jan. 9, 1842. In 1855 he emigrated to 
America with his parents who located at Ste- 
vens Point, Wis,, and there he resided until 
Aug. 7, 1861, when he enlisted in the 9th Wis- 
consin Infantry, as private. He was subse- 
quently promoted to the rank of 2d lieutenant. 
He participated in many engagements, and was 
aid-de-camp upon Gen. Steele's staff on the Red 
River expedition. In July, 1863, he was promot- 
ed to the rank of 1st lieutenant. In November 
of the same year he went to Little Rock, Ark. 
He was mustered out of service by reason of 
expiration of his term of enlistment, at Mil- 
waukee, Dec, 7, 1864. Then he came to Mouroe 
and engaged in keeping hotel, which business 
he has since followed. He was married in Mon- 
roe, to Anna Spahr, Dec. 7, 1865, who died ten 
weeks after. He was again married to Caroline 
Miller, Oct. 26, 1867. By this union there are 
six children — George H., Albert J., William H., 
Louis G., Frederick W, and Alma, Mr, Schuetze 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., the G. A, R. and 
of the Turner society. Of the latter he has 
been an active and useful member. He has 
been in the hotel business nineteen years. 

The Sutherland House is well known to the 
traveling public. A portion of the building 
was erected at a very early day, and owned by 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



938 



Noah Phelps, who occupied it as a residence. 
Some additions were subsequently made to the 
building, and it was then converted into a water- 
cure establishment. In due course of time the 
property came into possession of Mr. Glessner, 
who enlarged the house and opened it as a hotel 
under the name of the Glessner House. It was 
run by Mr. Glessner for some years, and then 
sold to Oscar Warfield, who changed its name 
to that of the Warfield House. In the summer 
of 1883 it passed into the hands of its present 
proprietor, Benjamin Sutherland, who changed 
its name to the Sutherland House. It has a 
good run of patrons. 

The place known as Copeland's, is on Jackson 
street, near the public square, and was built for 
a boarding house, by Van Wagenen. 

The Monroe Manufacturing Company was es- 
tablished in 1865, by J. B. Treat, Thomas Pat- 
terson, H. W. Whitney, L. T. Pullin and Ed- 
ward Billings. H. W. Whitney was elected 
president and secretary, and Thomas Patterson 
general superintendent. They purchased land 
and buildings in the vicinity of Jefferson and 
Racine 'streets, and opened up a foundry and 
machine shop. They manufactured agricultural 
implements and wagons, and did general repair- 
ing. In 1873, they were burned out. A short 
time afterward a stock company was formed, 
with $40,000 capital. H. W. Whitney was 
elected president, and J. B. Treat, treasurer. 
Commodious buildings were erected, and fur- 
nished with the most improved patterns of modern 
machinery. Wagons, and all kinds of agricultural 
implements are manufactured. The present 
officers are as follows : J. B. Treat, president ; 
H. W. Wliitney, secretary; John Boland, treas- 
urer, and Thomas Wirrich, general superintend- 
ent. 

SA.W MILLS. 

The first saw mill in this place was built in 
1849 by Bingham & Hulburt. Before com- 
pletion, however, Mr. Bingham sold out his in- 
terest to F. II. West, now of Milwaukee. The 
mill was then finished and operated for two 



years, when Hulburt sold out to West. Then 
Oscar Pinney purchased a one half interest, 
and the firm became West & Pinney. Pinney 
was captain inthe 5th Wisconsin Battery, Light 
Artillery, and was fatally wounded at the battle 
of Stone River, The mill was next owned by J. 
V. Roberts, who sold it to Jarvis Rattan, now 
of California, who laid out Rattan's addition 
to New Mexico, and will be remembered in con- 
nection with the early history of the place. He 
in turn sold to a Mr. Williams, who run the 
mill successfully, and engaged in buying black 
walnut logs and converting them into valuable 
lumber, for which he received a good price, the 
venture proving remunerative. Mr. Williams 
is now farming in California. The property 
was next purchased by J. T. Dodge, a railroad 
engineer, but finding his former business bet- 
ter than cutting logs, the mill was abandoned, 
and has not been in operation since 1880. The 
premises are now rented by the Planing Mill 
Company for a log yard. 

Near the old saw mill, stands a mill of more 
recent date and greater capacity. It was built 
by Churchill, Dodge & Co., in 1874, and 
has been in operation continually since. J. T. 
Dodge originally owned a one half interest, but 
sold out to his brother, A. C. Dodge and Mr. 
Warrick, since which time it has been operated 
by Churchill, Warrick & Dodge. They cut an- 
nually about three quarters of a million feet of 
lumber, nearly all of which is used for the 
manufacture of cheese boxes, and in the manu- 
facture of wagons. The latter class of lumber 
they sell to dealers, and the former is entirely 
used by themselves. In connection with this mill 
they have a factory, known as the Monroe Plan- 
ing Mill Company Works, which is an industry 
of considerable importance. It was built in 
1858 by N. Churchill, and by him operated un- 
til 1866. He then sold a one quarter interest 
to George Churchill and three quarters to J. T. 
Dodge. lie soon afterward bought back from 
Dodge a one quarter interest, which he still 
liolds. Tliis factory contains a full set of ma- 



934 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



cliinery for planing, making doors, sash, blinds, 
etc. A set of turning lathes with all needed 
improvements for a first-class shop, and furnishes 
employment for about fifteen men, doing a busi- 
ness of about $2,700 annually. 

Another mill in the city is known as "Hulburt 
Saw Mill," which was moved here from Rich- 
land Timber in 1872, having previously been 
set up at Juda. It has always been owned and 
operated by C. D. Hulburt. It is running only 
about three months each year. Mr. Hulburt 
buys logs, and also does custom work. It is 
equipped with a good engine and a four and 
one half foot circular saw, and has a capacity of 
about 5,000 feet per day. Oak and black walnut 
are the principal logs cut, the former for wagon 
makers supplies, etc., and the latter for furni- 
ture, mainly chairs. 

GRIST MILL. 

In 1850 the people of Monroe and vicinity 
were extremely anxious to have in their midst 
a flouring mill, and to this end a public meeting 
was called for consultation, and to devise 
means for securing the same. Considerable en- 
thusiasm was manifested, and a committee ap- 
pointed to see what could be done, and $2,000 
was raised by subscription for a bonus to any 
responsible party who would build a good mill. 
The work was undertaken at once by Isaac R. 
Moulton and Charles Fish, dry goods merchants, 
who erected the mill according to contract. It 
was .35x70 feet, including engine room on the 
ground, the main part being four stories high, 
having two run of buhrs, and costing them 
about $1 2,000, including machinery. About the 
time of completion they failed in business, hav- 
ing operated the mill but a short time. They 
sold out, and it was owned by various parties, 
among whom were Walworth, Moulton and 
Sutherland. When owned by O. I). Moulton, 
it was closed out under a mortgage, and again 
fell into the hands of Walworth, who sold it to 
(Miun-liil! tfc Bingham. These latter parties 
went to work with a will, and a determination 
to make it a aacccsS) and to commence '^cith ex- 



pended over $10,000 in additions and improve- 
ments, adding machinery and increasing its 
capacity to 750 barrels per week. In 1861 
Churchill sold his interest to his partner, Bing- 
ham, who continued to operate it, and ran it 
until the time of his death, in 18G6. After 
that time it was rented and managed by differ- 
ent parties until about 1875, when it was closed, 
and has not been in operation since. It belongs 
to the Bingham estate, and is now considered 
dead property. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The first postoflice in this vicinity was estab- 
lished in 1838, under the name of "New 
Mexico." It was kept on the site of that vil- 
lage, now included in the southern part of the 
city, by A. J. Haughton. A few years later 
the office was merged into the Monroe postoflice 
and removed to the site of Monroe. Succeed- 
ing Mr. Haughton as postmaster, in turn, came 
Judge Andrick, Jacob Ly Brand, Demas Beach 
Charles Hart, John Walworth, C. S. Foster 
Alfred Goddard, Edmund Bartlett, D. W. Ball 
Z. H. Howe, Mrs. Howe, D. W. Ball, H. Med 
berry, D. W. Ball and John S. Ball. The lat 
ter is present postmaster, and makes one of the 
most accommodating and eflScient oflScers in the 
State. Tiie oflice is well equipped and fur- 
nished. It is located on the southeast corner 
of the court house square. 

John S. Hall, the present postmaster of Mon- 
roe, was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, July 25, 
1844, and came with his parents to Green 
county in 1849. He was educated in the com- 
mon schools and at Point Bluff Academy, and 
also took a course at Bryant & Stratton's Busi- 
ness College. In September, 1866, he was mar- 
ried to Ellen M. Bloom, a daughter of J. S. 
Bloom, of Monroe. They have been blessed 
with three children — William H., Edith K. and 
Carrie M. Mr. Ball is a member of the Meth- 
odist Ciiurch, where the family worship. He is 
a strong supporter of the temperance cause. 

MONROK FIRB DEPAUTMENT. 

The earliest move toward the organization of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



935 



a fire department in Monroe is found in the 
records of the village council, under the date of 
April 14, 1858. At this time the village board 
passed a resolution authorizing the organization 
of the German Hook and Ladder Company, to 
be composed of John Linder, Conrad Ott, J. A. 
Gleissner, Henry Schneider, Joseph Felber and 
thirty others. 

In 1859 a fire company was organized, which 
continued in existence some years. In 1861 
the secretary of the company ordered an engine 
from L. Button & Son. The engine came, but 
the fire company could not pay, and the village 
would not pay for it, so in 1865 it was returned 
to the manufacturers. It was used two or 
three times while here. The early records of 
the company — if any were kept — cannot now be 
found. From the records in the hands of the 
city clerk, it is learned that the following 
named have served as chief engineer: W. W. 
Wright, N. Churchill, E. Ruegger and J. S. 
Harper. The following, at an early day, served 
as fire wardens: Anton Miller, Abraham Kobb, 
S. W. Abbott and W. W. Wright. 

The first organization was not permanent 
and for a number of years Monroe was without 
a very efficient fire organization, but on the 23d 
of February, 1870, the organization was effected 
of the present Monroe fire department, and it 
has since continued in existence, growing in ef- 
ficiency. 

The records in the hands of the secretary of 
the lire department, so far as relates to the 
meetings, date from 1873. The rtigular meet- 
ing of that year was held on the 4th of Septem- 
ber, at which time the following officers were 
elected: Chief engineer, Norman Chui-chill; 
treasurer, Anton Miller; secretary, Fred Wet- 
tengel; trustees, C. E. Adams, A. Buliler and 
C. D. Corson. 

At the annual meeting of the department, 
held on Aug. 5, 1874, the following officers 
were elected for the ensuing year: Chief en- 
gineer) Norman ('hurohill; treasurer, Anton 



Miller; secretary, L. Schuetze; trustees, C. E. 
Adams, A. Buhler and C. D. Corson. 

The next annual meeting was held on the 15th 
of September, 1875, when officers for the ensu- 
ing year were elected, as follows: Chief en- 
gineer,N. Churchill; treasurer, Anton Miller; sec- 
retary, W. S. Bloom; trustees, Edward Ruegger, 
C. E. Adams and C. D. Corson. At this meet- 
ing the following resolution was passed, and 
the trustees were appointed a committee to pre- 
sent it to the village board, at its next session: 

''■Gentlemen'. In view of the fact that your 
fire department has maintained its organization 
under discouraging circumstances, for the past 
six years, performing, in the meantime, a vast 
amount of hard service, for which they have re- 
ceived nothing,as compensation ;therefore,in jus- 
tice to ourselves and for the welfare of our depart- 
mentjWe ask that the sum of thirty cents per hour, 
be paid each member of the fire department for 
actual service rendered in the extinguishment 
of fires; each member so paid to be required to 
furnish a certificate of actual service, signed by 
the chief engineer and secretary." 

At about this time, the State law relating to 
the city council electing the chief of fire de- 
partments went into effect. The custom has 
since been, for the department to recommend 
the person whom they desired for chief, and 
have the city council confirm it. At a special 
meeting, held June 6, 1877, it was voted that 
Edward Ruegger be recommended to the coun- 
cil for the position of chief. 

At the annual meeting held on the 11th of 
September, 1878, the following officers were 
elected: Chief engineer, Edward Ruegger; treas- 
urer, Anton Miller; secretary, W. S. Bloom; 
trustees, George Churchill, one year; Charles D. 
Corson, two years; Fred Wettergel. 

In October, 1879, the following officers were 
chosen: Chief engineer, J. S. Harper; secretary, 
R. Kohli; treasurer, Charles Corson; trustee, N. 
Churchill. 



936 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



In September, 1880, officers for the ensuing 
year, were selected as follows: Chief engineer, 
J. S. Harper; secretary, J. H. Foster; treasurer, 
C. D. Corson; trustee, (for three years), N. B, 
Treat. 

At the annual meeting, held on the 21st of 
October, 1881, the following officers were chosen: 
Chief engineer, J. 8. Harper; secretary, J. H. 
Foster; treasurer, C. D. Corson; trustee, F, Wet- 
tengel. 

Septenaber 13, 1882, officers were selected for 
the ensuing year, as follows: Chief engineer, 
J. S. Harper; treasurer, C. D. Corson; secretary, 
J. H. Foster; trustee, N. Churchill. 

At a meeting held in July, 1883, it was voted 
to change the time of holding the annual meet- 
ing, to the second Wednesday in May, each 
year. It was further provided that the officers 
hold over until May, 1884. 

In June, 1883, a set of uniforms were pur- 
chased by the department at a cost of about 
$5 each. The uniform consists of a belt 
cap, and shirt. 

The statutes of Wisconsin provide that all 
insurance agents in the State who insure prop, 
erty in any incorporated village or city, shall 
pay to the fire department two per cent, of all 
the premiums received for the insurance of 
property. Article viii of the constitution of 
the Monroe fire department provides that "the 
funds accorded to the department under the 
statute * * shall be held as a relief 
fynd, and shall not be paid out for any purpose 
except for relief of members of the depart- 
ment." It is further provided, that "no mem- 
ber shall be entitled to draw relief from the 
funds of the department except for injuries re- 
ceived while in actual service as a fireman, and 
under the direction of the department. That 
the amount of relief furnished to any member 
for injuries received, shall be determined by a 
two-thirds vote of all tlie members present — 
the amount not to exceed $10 per week to any 
member.'' In case of death resulting from in- 
juries received by any member, it is provided 



that their families shall be cared for in like 
manner, and $30 be paid to defray funeral ex- 
penses. This fund has continued to accummu- 
late, as the department has only paid $100 for 
relief, and there is not a salaried officer in the 
department. In September, 1882, the time of 
the last report, the fund amounted to $1,361. "71. 

The first engine used for the extinguishment 
of fire here was a Button hand engine, pur- 
chased by the village in 1870. On the 19th of 
February, 1883, the present steam fire engine 
was purchased from the La France Steam. Fire 
Engine Company, of Elmira, N. Y., at a cost of 
$3,000. A hose cart was purchased at the same 
time for about $125. The department now has 
1,500 of hose which cost nearly $1 per foot. 
The water supply in the city is not very good. 
The reservoir on Spring square, and a cistern at 
the court house, are the principal places of re- 
sort in times of fire. 

The engine house is located on Spring square. 
It was put up a number of years ago by the vil- 
lage. All the meetings of the department and 
companies are held here. In March, 1884, the 
contract for building a new engine house was 
let to Wash. Hill, of Monroe. It is to be about 
60x35 feet in size, two stories high, to cost in 
the neighborhood of $3,000 and to be located 
near the site of the present engine house. 

In 1884 the Monroe fire department consisted 
of two companies: the Engine Company No. 
1, and the Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. 

ENGINE COMPANY, NO. 1. 

This company has about sixty members. The 
officers of the company serving the year preced- 
ing May, 1884, were as follows: N. B. Treat, 
foi'eman; John Connery, first assistant foreman; 
.1. H. Foster, second assistant foreman; A. F. 
Lichtenwalder, secretary; F. P. Treat, treasurer; 
Warren Babbitt, Stewart. This company holds 
its meetings on the secojid Thursday in each 
month. The following is a list of the members 
of (his company as it stood in March, 1884: 
Norman Churchill, Charles Churchill, Robert 
Miller^ Charles Robertson, C. D. Carson, A. M. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



08T 



Wolcott, J. S. Harper, J. Steinraan, A. F. Lich- 
tenwalder, W. P. Stearns, C. R. Park, Edward 
Scoville, E. fJusby, T, Patterson, John Bolen- 
der, Charles Butler, J. S. Boyle, Robert Blair, 
George Churchill, Stej^hen Miller, Fred Wet- 
tengel, W. W. Chadvvick, Andrew Arnot, 
Henry Walters, Jr., William Shaffer, Edward 
Steinman, J. A. Sickinger, John Jennings, Jr., 
Charles Paul, C. E. Sanborn, N. B. Treat, John 
Carroll, J. H. Foster, Paul M. Scheader, John 
Connery, Thomas Weirick, F. P. Treat, Levi 
Starr, G. D. Hurlburt, G. E. Faubel, F. Van 
De Vort, Charles Miller, J. C. Baker, Frank 
Sunimerill, Martin Hoofmaster, S. Casey, 
James Nee, Adam Knipshield, J. W. Faubel, 
George B. McLean, William Dixon, George 
Durgin, Joshua Strieff, Henry Weaver, Frank 
Skelly, Je.sse Copic and John Parks. 

HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, NO. 1. 

This company has thirty-three members. It 
holds its regular meetings the first Friday in 
each month. The officers of the company in 
1883-4 were as follows: Fred Berge, foreman; 
Daniel German, assistant foreman; A. Schmidt, 
secretary; Jacob Hefty, treasurer; Jacob Gei- 
ger, janitor; R. Fuellemann, ladder sec- 
tion foreman; Peter Yost, hook section fore- 
man. This company in March, 1884, was 
composed of the following members: Edward 
Ruegger, Louis Schuetze, Samuel Schuler, Sr., 
G. Leuenberger, Jacob Schuler, Jacob Hefty, 
A. Weimann, Daniel German, Gottlieb 
German, John Weissmiller, Jacob Dick, 
Charles Frei, R. Fuellemann, Adam Schmidt, 
Fred Berge, M. Klasey, Rudolf Burry, Henry 
Dick, John Steinraan, Jacob Tschudy, William 
Selzer, Henry Angelberger, B. Buerke, Jacob 
Geiger, George Weimann, Samuel Schuler, Jr., 
John G. Hofer, William Ilirsig, G. Schild, D. 
Norder, Richard Maurer, Peter Yost and Jacob 
lorde. 

RECORD OF FIRES. 

In this connection is presented a brief record 
of the fires that have occurred in the city since 
the organization of the present Monroe Fire 



Department. The dry details, as far as possible, 
are omitted, and the estimates of loss and in- 
surance have been verified by the records of the 
department and memory of those who were in- 
terested in many of the fires or suffered loss. 

The first fire after the organization of the de- 
partment, was that of Jacob Steinman's barn 
which occurred on the l7ih of May, 1870. The 
department turned out in full force, but upon 
the arrival of the engine there was no water to 
be had. So the only thing the foreman could 
do was to work with the hooks and ladders and 
buckets, to keep the fire from spreading to ad- 
joining buildings. The loss on the barn was 
8150; no insurance. 

On the 19th of January, 1871, the Center 
school house burned. The department turned out, 
but no water could be got in the neighborhood 
and the building burned to the ground. Loss 
$7,000; no insurance. 

On the 18th of October, 1871, an alarm of 
fire was given at about 2 o'clock in the morn- 
ing. The building known as Treat & Durst's 
block was all ablaze; but owing to the dryness 
of the material of the buildings the de|)artmeiit 
could do nothing to stop liie fire. So they de- 
voted their attention to the surrounding build- 
ings and confined the fire within those limits. 
The firemen worked four hours. Loss $22,000; 
insurance, 15,000. 

Sept. 15, 1871, A. J. High's dwelling house 
burned. The department turned out and lo- 
cated the engine at the court house cistern. Af- 
ter putting out all their hose they could not 
reach the burning building. Loss $1,500; in- 
surance, 61,200. 

On the 18th of November, 1871, the dwelling 
house of Joseph Cross, in the southern portion 
of the town, burned. The department turned 
out, but owing to the great distance and the 
muddy roads, the firemen got there too late to 
do any good; besides the fact that there was no 
water to be had. Loss $500; insurance, $400. 

On the 11th of January, 1872, the empty 
dwelling house of William Baxter took fire. 



65 



988 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



The department turned out and after half an 
hour's work with the engine succeeded in 
quenching the flames. Loss about $100; no in- 
surance. 

Feb. 10, 1872, an alarm was sounded at about 
2 o'clock, A. M., the American House, owned 
by Robert B. Allensworth, being on fire. The 
department turned out in full force, and the en- 
gine was set so as to dra^w from two different 
cisterns. The firemen worked steadily for four 
hours, when the fire was put out and the house 
partially saved. Loss $3,000; insurance, $6,000. 

Oi) the 25th of the same month, Ihe dwelling 
house owned V)y Mrs. M. Buhler, and occupied 
by Warren Biibbitt, was discovered to be on 
fire and the alarm was given at about 1 
o'clock, A. M. The department turned out, but 
upon their arrival at the fire no water could be 
found at which to set the engine. The fire 
caught the house of Fred Scliriener, which was 
within four feet of Mrs. Buliler's, and both 
houses were burned to the ground. Loss about 
$1,500; insurance, $iOO. 

On the 13th of April, 1872, the dwelling house 
owned and occupied by Samuel Copeland near 
the fair grounds, caught fire, and the alarm was 
given at about 9 o'clock, a. m. The depart- 
ment arrived in time to save the building, the 
roof'and upper story being partially destroyed. 
Loss $200; insurance, $500. 

On the same day another fire alarm sounded, 
the county barn at the jail being on fire. The 
fire was put out, however, before the engine 
arrived. 

On the 6th of June, 1872, the dwelling house 
of A. Krebley caugbt fire, but before it got any 
headway the engine arrived and it was put out. 
Loss $50; no insurance. 

On the 22d of June, 1872, the buildings of the 
Monroe Manufacturing Company took fire, and 
the alarm was given at about 6:30 o'clock, p. m. 
The department turned out in full force, but 
owing t.o a scarcity of water they could not 
work to good advantage. They saved the 



greater portion of the valuable machinery and 
kept the fire within limits. It was at one time 
feared that the fire would reach the south side 
of the square. Several members of the depart- 
ment were severely hurt by falling timbers. 
Loss $35,000; insurance, $10,000. 

At 1 o'clock, a. m., July 7, 1872, the house 
of I. C. Solomon took fire and the alarm was 
sounded. The department turned out and ar- 
rived in time to save the house from total de- 
struction. Loss $400; insurance, $800. 

On the 5th of October, 1873, the empty dwell- 
ing house owned by William Gorham, took fire, 
and the alarm was given at about 2 o'clock a. m. 
The department turned out, but upon their arri- 
val no water could be found for the engine ; so 
they worked with buckets to keep the fire from 
spreading to other buildings. Loss $600; in 
surance, $500. 

On the 15th of February, 1873, the old Mon- 
roe House, owned by Harris Poole took fire, 
and the alarm was given. The department 
turned out and extinguished the fire before any 
damage was done. 

On the 6th of March, 1873, the furniture fac- 
tory of Anton Miller took fire, and the alarm 
was given. The fireman turned out in full force 
and worked hard, succeeding in putting out the 
fire before the entire property was destroyed. 
Loss $2,000; no insurance. 

On June 7, 1873, an alarm was sounded at 2:30 
o'clock a. m., the house of David Ressigen be- 
ing on fire. The department turned out, but 
were unable to render any assistance on account 
of the distance and lack of water. The house 
burned to the ground. Loss, $1,000; insurance, 
$1,200. 

Sept. 10, 1873, the dwelling house of Mrs. 
Burtis took fire, and the department turned out 
before any serious damage was done. Loss, 
$150; insured. 

On the 12th of September, 1873, the depart- 
ment was called out to a fire in the east part of 
town. They got as far as the fairgrounds, and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



939 



discovered that it was a house owned by Robert 
B. Allensworth, and as they saw they could not 
reach it in time, and no water was to be had, 
they turned back. Loss, $1,000 ; insurance, 
11,500. 

On the 4th of June, 1874, an alarm of fire 
wTJs sounded, announcing the burning of a barn 
owned by J. Trockenbrod. It burned to the 
ground. 

Aug. 7, 1874, the barn of J. B. Dunlap caught 
fire at about 4 o'clock a. m. The department 
turned out; but when they arrived the barn was 
all in flames, and no water could be got at; so 
they worked with hooks and buckets, and kept 
adjoining buildings from taking fire. A span 
of ponies burned with the barn. Loss, $800; no 
insurance. 

Sept. 8, 18Y4, the house of Steplien Patterson 
caught fire, but the firemen arrived and extin- 
guished it before any serious damage was done. 

Sept. 28, 1875, the house of August Schuetze 
caught fire and was burned to the ground before 
the alarm was given. Loss, 82,000; insurance, 



On the 27th of December, 1875, an alarm of 
fire was sounded at 12:30 o'clock a. m. The 
brewery of Jacob Hefty was on fire. The 
weather being very cold, the members could not 
get more than one stream upon the fire. They 
work for seven hours, steadily, and finally suc- 
ceeded in putting it out. Loss, $12,000; in- 
surance, $5,000. 

An alarm of fire was given at 9 o'clock a. m., 
March 2, 1876, and the Commercial House barn 
was discovered to be on fire. The department 
turned out and worked hard. There was great 
danger that the hotel and other buildings would 
be burned, but the members succeeded in keeping 
it confined to the barn. A few days before the 
department was called out for the same barn, 
but the fire was put out before they arrived. 

On the 18th of March, 1876, an alarm of fire 
was given — this time the brewery of G. Leuen- 
berger & Co. There being plenty of water 



near by, the department succeeded in putting 
out the fire before any serious damage was done. 
Loss $50. 

June 6, 1877, the house of .Fames Fitzgibbons, 
near the depot, caught fire. The department 
turned out and extinguished the fire after a dam- 
age of $250 had been done. 

June 29, 1877, an alarm of fire was sounded, 
it being the mill of Rood & Co. It was totally 
destroyed. The department turned out, but 
there being no water near by, they did what 
they could to save lumber and other buildings 
in the vicinity. Loss $5,000 ; no insurance. 

Feb. 26, 1878, the dwelling house of G. 
Leuenberger caught fire. It was quickly put 
out. Loss $25. 

On the 22dof May, 1879, fire was discovered 
at 1 1 o'clock p. M., in the Empire block at the 
southwest corner of the square. The depart- 
ment was soon at work, but did not succeed in 
stopping the fire until seven buildings were de- 
stroyed. 

May 20, 1881, an alarm of fire was given, and 
the department turned out and extinguished a 
fire upon a building owned by Peter Wells, on 
Farmer's street. The building was partially 
burned. 

An alarm was sounded on the 22d of Novem- 
ber, 1881. This time it was a building owned by 
E. R. Copeland, near the northwest corner of 
the square. The department soon put out the 
fire. Loss $112. 

The alarm sounded again May 10, 1882. A 
building owned by Conrad Keller burned to the 
ground. Loss $1,050. 

Aug. 8, 1882, the department turned out in 
answer to an alarm, and put out a fire in the 
rear end of the basement of McKee's block, oc- 
cupied by Mr. Klebl), with a saloon. 

Oct. 27, 1882, the department were again 
called out, and extinguished a fire in a house 
owned by A. Buliler. Loss about $150. 

ItELIGIOUS. 

The first Methodist preacher in Green county 
was Rev. DeLap. Other early preachers were 



940 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Revs. Harcourt and Ash. Meetings were held 
in an early day at the house of Elijah Austin 
and Enoch Evans, in the town of Clarno. Short- 
y after the school house was built on the pres- 
ent site of the city of Monroe, a class was 
formed there. In January, 1842, Jacob Ly 
Brand deeded to the trustees, a lot situated on 
Washington street, in consideration that they 
build a church there. The following named 
were the trustees at that time : Rev. Robert 
De Lap, Asa Brown, Elijah Austin, Enoch 
Evans and Joseph Wardle. The church was 
built. It was a plain frame structure, and 
the first church building erected in the city. In 
1858 it was remodeled, and was used until 1869, 
when the present building was erected at a cost of 
$17,000. It is a handsome building of Milwaukee 
brick. The names of the differfiit pastors who 
have served here are as follows : Allen Dudgeon, 
Butler Drew, Wilson Williams, McGinley 
Swetland, Wirrich Sj^ringer, Tasker Burton, 
Crandall Aspenwall, Wilson Palmer, Kellogg 
Bushby, Evans Irish and Searles Deite, the 
present pastor. 

UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST. 

Early in 1883 a series of meetings were held 
by Rev. D. R. Glover, assisted by George 
Little, an evangelist from Pennsylvania. Many 
were converted and a class organized of about 
fifty members, with Moses Witham, class 
leader; Elias Walters, Laura Eley and Mrs. 
Agnes Corson, stewards; Elias Walters, Wil- 
liam Ault, E. Woodle, D. A. Duncan and Levi 
Duncan, trustees. The class was increased to 
some extent since its organization. They met 
for worship in the Congregational church. Rev. 
D. R. Glover is still pastor. A union Sabbath 
school is held with the Congregationalists. 

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH. 

The church building of this denomination 
was erected in 18G9. The building comn)ittee 
was Albert Albright and Peter Lichtenwalner; 
the treasurer, Robert Shaw. This church was 
organized by Rev. Donmeyer. The first 
preacher was Rev. John Bloom. The original 



members of the society were: E, Albright, 
Robert Shaw, Mary Shaw, Joseph LichtoTiwal- 
ner, Peter and Sarah Lichtenwalner, and Benja- 
min Neaz — five male and two female members. 
This little band erected the church. The build- 
ing is 36x40 feet in size, and cost $2,200. Rev. 
Bloom was succeeded in turn by Rev. Hammon, 
who remained four years; then Rev. Reese, two 
years; Rev. Rupley, two years, and Rev. Gross- 
cup, the present pastor. Services are held 
every Sunday. The society started under very 
discouraging circumstances, but by persever- 
ance they have succeeded and are now in a 
flourishing condition. The Sabbath school was 
organized about thirty years ago. 

GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

The first members of this Church were Mr. 
Esser, Jacob Meyers and Andrew Wyraan. The 
church building was erected in 1859 or 1860, 
at a cost of $1,000. Father Obermiller was 
priest at the time the church was built. x\mong 
the prominent workers in this Church at that 
time were: .Toseph Gleissner, Andrew VVyman, 
George Reinhart, Stephen Sickinger, Frank 
Frey, George Sickinger, Joseph Shaver, Henry 
Wilbers and Jacob Kimpster. There are now 
about twenty families members of this Church. 
Rev. II. O'Brien was born in Oneida Co., 
N. Y., in 1844. His parents were natives of 
Ireland and emigrated to America in 1841. 
When sixteen years old he was sent to St. 
Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee, where he 
remained eight years. In 1868 he Was ordained 
and sent to Watertown, Wis., where he re- 
mained a short time and went to Elba, thence to 
a station near Milwaukee. In the fall of 1883 
he came to Monroe, where he has since resided. 
Father O'Brien is a man of more than ordinaiy 
ability, and of fine address. 

ST victor's ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

The first mission from which the jiresent 
Church grew, was established late in the decade 
between 1830 and 1S40. Father J. Colton, 
who was tlifu stationed at Shullsburg, came 
through this ooanty for a number of yearB> 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



941 



holding services. In 1860 a church building 
was erected and the organization was made 
permanent. Father R. F. Sullivan was stationed 
here at the time, and remained six years. He 
was succeeded by William O'Conuell, who re- 
mained one year; then in succession came 
Thomas Murphy one year; J. Casey three years; 
Michael Wenker, one year; E. M. McGinnity, 
until 1880; Rev. Wrynn, until September, 1883, 
and Father H. O. Brunn, the present pastor. 
Father Baunn also has charge of the mission in 
the town of Adams. Among the first and 
prominent workers in this Church were the fol- 
lowing, with their families, some were living 
in Adams and others in Monroe: Patrick 
Sheehy, C. Dillon, John Gettings, Patrick 
Sheau, Roger Getting, Michael Crotty, Martin 
Mullen, John Michaels, Peter O'Donnell, Daniel 
Flynn, Edward Burry, Morgan and Moses O'- 
Brien, John Murphy, Patrick Murphy, John 
McMiinus, Thomas Coyan, Patrick Masterson, 
Thomas Maley, Patrick Maley, John and Rich- 
ard McGraw, Michael McCogg, T. Riley, Wal- 
ter Dunlavey and James Riley. The church 
building, as stated, was erected in 1860. It is 
40x50 feet in size and cost $3,000. In ISVO the 
building was enlarged to 40x90 feet. A neat 
parsonage has been erected at a cost of $1,800. 
The church is in a good condition, the member- 
ship numbering 120 families. In the town of 
Adams, there are seventy-five families. The 
present oflicers are: William Hogan, R. Get- 
tings, Michael Heme, Patrick Shean, John 
Gibbons and William McCurry. There is a 
Sunday school in connection, which is in a flour- 
ishing condition. 

EVANGELICAL, OR GERMAN METHODIST. 

The first meetings of the Evangelical Associ- 
ation were held in 1859, at the old school house, 
by Rev. Jacob Sill, then stationed at New Glarus. 
The Church was organized in 1860, by Rev. 
Andi'L-as Tarnutzer, with seven members, as 
follows: John J. Ruegger and wife, John 
Staller and wife, Catharine Shindler, Mary 
Glohr and Henry Becker. The pastors have 



been as follows: Revs. Andreas Tarnutzer, who 
was stationed at New Glarus; Tenohard Von 
Wald, resident pastor, remained two years; J. 
G. Esslinger, two years; W. F. Schnider, one 
year; C. F. Finger, two years; William Hudster, 
two years; J. M. Hammeter, two years; Leonard 
Buchler, three years; J. C. Brendel, two years; 
Henry Uphoff, three years; Peter Held, two 
years; C. Grum and A. Lahr, the present pastor, 
who has been here two years. The first trustees 
were J. J. Reugger,Ulrich Losli and J. Bowman. 
The first church building was erected in 1859, 
by John Staller and Henry Schindler, at a cost 
of $200, and was known as the "Staller church.'' 
In 1863 a new church building was erected, 
32x48 feet in size, at a cost of $1,400, which is 
still used. The old church was moved back and 
used as a parsonage. At present the church is in 
a good condition, numbering about ninety mem- 
bers. There is a Sabbath school in connection, 
which has about seventy members. The present 
trustees of the church are: Herman G. Gloege, 
Henry Babler and Frederick Cramer. The 
Sunday school has a library containing 250 vol- 
umes. The oflicers are as follows: Herman 
Gloege, superintendent; Frederick Kramer, as- 
sistant; Henry Babler, secretary; Jacob Frant- 
schy, treasurer; ' William Bauman, librarian. 
There are fifteen teachers. 

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

Rev. Charles A. Boardman, late pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church, in Youngstown, Ohio, in 
connection with the Presbytery of Trumbull, 
having arrived at Monroe, Oct. 26, 1854, with 
the design of spending the remainder of his 
days under the care of his daughter, Mrs. Orinda 
S. McEwen, began to preach in Monroe, on 
Sabbath, Oct. 29, 1854. A remnant of a Pres- 
byterian Church, with two resident elders and a 
few members — -the whole in a state of disinte- 
gration — was found in Monroe; but there was 
no church edifice belonging to either the Pres- 
byterian or Congregational denomination in the 
town. A church building occupied by the 
Christians and one belonging to the Methodists, 



942 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



were the only houses for public worship then in 
tlie village. By the labors of Deacon Robert 
Love, who resided here but a few months, the 
seminary building was obtained as a place for 
worship, and a small audience regularly assem- 
bled on the Sabbath. It was soon decided by a 
majority of the members that Congregational- 
ism was preferred. Mr. Boardman continued 
to preach, and after a few weeks the formation 
of a Congregational Church began to be talked 
of. and at length, on Sabbath, Dec. 17, 1854, a 
notice was published from the pulpit, calling a 
meeting on the following Thursday, of all those 
interested in the formation of a Congregational 
Society. This agitation culminated on the 28th 
of December, 1854, in the organization of a soci- 
ety and the adoption of a constitution. The 
first members were as follows: Robert Love, 
Martha M. Love, Benjamin I. and Abigail 
Tenny, Charles C. and Elizabeth Righter, John 
H. and Mary Bloom, Thomas Dumars, Ared 
White, Mrs. Sarah B. Morse, Mrs. Orinda Mc- 
Ewen, Homer Boardman, George W. Tenny and 
Thomas M. Dunbar. On March 3, 1855, Benja- 
min I. Tenny and Robert Love were elected dea- 
cons. Rev. Boardman supplied the pulpit until 
July, 1858, when he was succeeded by Rev. D. 
H. Blake, of the Union Theological Seminary, 
New York. On the 19th of December, 1858, 
Rev. S. E. Miner, became pastor. Since that 
1,ime, the following named have filled the pulpit 
/or the society: Revs. E. Morris, J. B. Fair- 
banks, George B. Rowley, of Camden, N. Y.; 
H. A. Miner, of Menasha, Norman McLeod, A. 
J. Bailey and T. A. Gardner. Services were 
held in the seminary building, then in the court 
house, until the erection of their church edifice, 
in 1860. Death and removals have reduced the 
membership greatly. 

TJNIVERSALIST CHURCH. 

In 1859 Rev. Jehabad Codding, a Universalist 
preacher came to Monroe and delivered a course 
of lectures in the court house. Mr. Codding is 
well remembered as being one of the most noted 
abolitionists in the county, and one who trained 



with such men as Garrison, Sumner, Phillips 
and Lovejoy. Sumner pronounced him to be 
one of the most brilliant orators in the United 
States. It was through his influence that the 
Universalists of Monroe were brought together. 
In 1860 a society was organized at the Christian 
church by Rev. Z. H. Howe. Among the early 
members were: J. B , N. B. and E. T. Treat, 
Norman Churchill and wife, Hiram Rust, C. S. 
Foster and wife, A. Ludlow and wife, J. A. 
Bingham, Asa and J. V. Richardson, and Peter 
and Jerry Chandler. Early in 1860 a stock 
company was formed to build a church, and 
ground was broken in March of that year. 
They were unable to pay, and before the build- 
ing was finished it was sold on a mechanic's 
lien, but was bought in for the stockholders. A 
subscription was stai'ted, of which H. W. Whit- 
ney was the prime mover. The people sub- 
scribed liberally, and the debt was soon cleared 
up, and to-day, though small in numbers, the 
organization is strong financially. The build- 
ing cost about $12,500, including a beautiful 
pipe organ of seventeen stops. The first ser- 
vices held in this house was the funeral of Os- 
car F. Pinney, captain of the 5th battery, Wis- 
consin Light Artillery, killed at the battle of 
Stone River in 1863. The first minister was 
Rev. L. Conger, who remained three years. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Butler, who remained 
between four and five years. Then came a 
Unitarian minister — Rev. Powell, who preached 
here two years. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Fisher, another Unitarian minister, who re- 
mained with them three years. At this time 
the building was in need of repairs, and for 
two or three years no services were held. The 
next to occupy the pulpit was Rev. L W. Brig, 
liam, who closed his engagement in April, 1884. 
The first trustees of this Church were H. W, 
^V]litney, A. Ludlow and Norman Churchill. 
Before the completion of the building J. T. 
Dodge, C. S. Foster and L. Wolcott were also 
appointed trustees. The present trustees are 
Henry Ludlow, J. B. Treat and Norman Chur- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



943 



chill. The lot on which the church stands was 
donated by Jacob LyBrand, one of the founders 
of the city of Moni'oe. This was the last piece 
of land Mr. LyBrand owned in the State of 
Wisconsin. The chiu'ch is built of brick and 
stone, in Romanesque style, low tower and cir- 
cular openings. It was dedicated June 24, 
1863. Rev. D. P. Livermore, of Chicago, 
preached the dedicatory sermon. The congre- 
gation at the present time is made up of about 
equal numbers of Universalists and Unitarians. 

SEVENTH DAT ADVENTISTS. 

The first meeting of this denomination, in 
Monroe, was held in the court house in 1860, 
with William S. Ingraham as pastor. The class 
was organized in October, 1861, with twenty- 
five members. The first officers were as fol- 
lows: George Adair, elder; Matthew Hack- 
worth, deacon; and J. H. Franenfelder, clerk. 
They held services in the court house until 1864, 
when they purchased a church building of the 
New Lights or Christians. It was located on 
Washington street, one block west of the court 
house square. In 1869 they sold that building 
and erected a new one on Clinton street, south 
of the railroad. They now have forty-five mem- 
bers. The present officers are as follows: E. 
R. Gillett, elder; William Kerr, first deacon; A. 
C. Atwood, second deacon; and M. S. Gillett, 
clerk. The pastors who have succeeded each 
other in charge of this congregation are: Wil- 
liam S. Ingraham, Isaac Sanborn, G. C. Tenny 
and William Sharp. The Sabbath school was 
organized in 1864 with M. Hackworth as super- 
intendent. A. T. Atwood is the present super- 
intendent. 

EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Shortly after the war, three missionaries of 
the Episcopal faith, from Milwaukee, came to 
Monroe and held services in the court house. 
While the people of that denomination were of 
good cheer, a minister. Rev. Wright, came 
here from Janesville and organized a class at 
Temperance Hall. Among the first members 



were: John J. Cook and wife, Henry George and 
wife, Dr. Johnson and wife, and George King 
and wife. Services were held in Temperance 
Hall for about a year, when a frame church was 
erected. Many pastors have held forth, in this 
Church, but at the present time the pulpit is 
empty. 

CHRISTIAN OR DISCIPLES OP CHRIST. 

The first Church of this denomination was 
organized in about 1848. Among the first 
members were: James L. Powell and family, 
George Eley, William Hodges and wife, James 
and John Ely, and Mr. Parks. The first preach- 
er was Rev. Elijah Gleason, who held the first 
services at the house of William Hodges. The 
Church flourished and continued in existence 
until the breaking out of the war, when many 
of the families moved away, and the Church was 
broken up and the organization finally aban- 
doned. In 1871 the members of this denomi- 
nation again began meeting for worship. On 
the SOth of November, Rev. Charles W. Sher- 
wood began preaching in the Universal ist house 
of worship. He continued to hold services ir- 
regularly until a Church was organized on the 
2d of February, 1872. The charter members 
were as follows: William Monroe, George 
Eley, Emily J. Nance, Michael, Felix, Catha- 
rine H. and Elizabeth Bennett. The society 
rented the Baptist church at $1.50 per night 
and held services there, as the Church record 
says, "until the Baptists permitted the house to 
be locked against us, without notice; until our 
congregation met at the house on the evening 
of June 24, 1872, and found the house locked." 
After this services were held in the various 
churches until 1873 when a church was erected. 
The building committee was composed of John 
H. Bridge, William Hodges and William Mon- 
roe, and these gentlemen all contributed very 
liberally toward the erection of the edifice. 
The building was so nearly completed Sept. 7, 
1873, that services were then held in it by 
Rev. C. W. Sherwood, aided by Rev. R. D. Cot- 
ton. The first officers elected were: Secretary, 



944 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Nathan A. Loofboiirow; trustees, John li. 
Bridge, Darius G. Nance and Natlian A. Loof- 
bourow. Rev. C. W. Sherwood was succeeded 
as pastor in September, 1874, by Rev. D. R. 
Howe. The first full set of officers elected as 
shown by the records were as follows: Elders, 
John II. Jiridge and D. G. Nance; deacons, N. 
A. Loofbourow, Felix Bennett, Fletcher Buzick 
and J. B. Vandervoort; treasurer, Felix Ben- 
nett; secretary and clerk, J. T. McKibben. The 
pastors who have had charge of this congrega- 
tion are Elders D, R. Howe, G. L. Brokaw and 
Norton. Elder Howe is the present pastor. The 
cost of the church was $2,600. They have a 
membership of 100. The present officers are: 
D. G. Manie, D. R. Howe and J. H.Armstrong, 
elders; L. U. Vanmatre, Felix Bennett and 
Grant Sutherland, deacons; and Joseph Mc- 
Kibben, clerk. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES. 

Knights of Pythias, Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 41, 
was organized Feb. 14, 1883. The followini; 
were the charter members: J. B. Treat, A. S. 
Douglas, George \V. Doty, H. D. Fuller, S. M. 
Hughes, J. S. Reynolds, V. A. Riton, Frank 
Turner, William Ludlow, P. W. Puffer, E. G. 
Green, N. A Loughburrow, G. H. Wedge, S. E. 
Gardner, William Monrow, Robert Miller, T. 
W. Goldin, A. J Worthington, A. F. Glasscott, 
T. Crago, William P. Bragg, T. W. Goldin, A 
J. Worthington, A. F. Glasscott, T. Crago, W. 
P. Bragg, Ogden H. Feathers, G. C; J. A. 
Hinsley, P. G. C; C. B. McClure, G. P.; W. 
C. Williams, G. V. C; Frank Kraus, G. M. of 
E.; Frank Jones, G. M. of A.; H. L. Kebest, 
G.L G.; J. A. Scott, G. V. G.; L. W. Coe, G. 
K. and R. S. The first officers were as follows: 
A. S. Douglas, P. C; J. B. Treat, C. C; J. S. 
Reynolds, V. C; N. A. Loofburrow, P.; Wil- 
liam Ludlow, M. of E.; P. W. Puffer, M.of F.; 
G. W. Doty, K. of R. S.; S. E. Gardner, M." of 
A.; Frank Turner, I. G.; S. M. Hughes, O. G. 
The lodge has prospered, and now is in good 
condition, having forty members. The present 
officers are: J. B. Treat, P. C; N. A. Loofbur- 



row, C. C; H. D. Fuller, V. C; T. W. Goldin, 
P.; Robert Miller, M. of F.; William P.Bragg, 
M. of Ex.; S. Schrake, K. of R. and- G.; G. T. 
Hodges, M. of A.; Frank Turner, I. G.; A. J. 
Worthington, O. G. 

Corcordia Lodge, No. 124, I. O. O. F., was 
organized on the 14th of March, 1867. The 
first officers were: Lewis Ullman, N. G.; Ed- 
ward Ruegger, V. G.; Louis Schuetze, Sec. and 
P. S.; J. A. Gleissner; trustees, Anton Miller, 
Andrew Buehler and John Linder. The follow- 
ing were the charter members: Lewis Ullman, 
J. A. Gleissner, Anton Miller, Edward Rueg- 
ger, John Linder and A. Buehler. The follow- 
ing became members on the night of organiza- 
tion: Louis Schuetze, Samuel Shuler, H. Hoehn, 
A. Wettingel, John Shuler, L. Sickinger, F. 
Stirgl, John Kappel and Henry Watter. The 
lodge has had, in all, a membership of 139. 
The present membership is sixty-nine. The past 
grands have been as follows: A. Buehler, L. 
Schuetze, G. Leuenberger, H. Watter, J. Det- 
wiler, L. Kochler, S. Schuler, R. Buri, C. Zim- 
mer, E. Ruegger, L. Sickinger, J. Schnipp, D. 
German, J. Rufi, T. Hafner, C. Grochowsky, G. 
Witterer, A. Aberdroth and John Blum. 
There have been two deaths in the order. The 
lodge has flourished, and is in good financial 
standing, having $2,328.60 in the treasury, 
$2,133 of which is in cash and notes. The 
present officers are as follows: Nicholas Ger- 
ber, N. G.; John Fuchs, V. G.; Carl F. Ruff, 
R. S. and P. S.; Louis Schuetze, treasurer. 

Germania Lodge, A. O. U. W., was organized 
July 16, 1881, with nineteen members, as fol- 
lows : R. Fuelleman, G. Wittmer, R. Buri, F. 
Grunert, R. Schneider, C. Goetz, William Her- 
sig, R. Lowenbach, E. Ruegger, F. Hoffner, L. 
Sickinger, F. W. Byers, P. Wohlwend, C. Kun- 
dert, A. Tschobold and J. Biller. The first offi- 
cers were: R. Fuelleman, P. M.; G. Wittmer, 
master; R. Buri, treasuer ; R. Schneider, over- 
seer; C. Kundert, guide; F. Grunert, secretary; 
L. Sickinger, cashier; C. Goetz, F.; J. Biller, 
G.; W. Hersig, O. G. At present there is a 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



945 



a memhersbip of forty-six in good standing. 
There have been two deaths of members — J. 
Witmer and C. Getz. 

Forest City Lodge, No. 44, A. O. U. W., was 
organized Aug. 31, 18*78, by A. Tasey, deputy 
grand master of the State. Tlie charter mem- 
bers were as follows: A. J. Kane, C E. Evans, 
W. S. Bloom, S. C. Cheeney, W. li. Cheeney, 
George W. Banks, D. S. Young, F. C. Bennett, 
A. F. Glasscott, N, A. Loofbourow, A. F. Licli- 
tenwalnei", F. Wettengel, J. H. Strawser, W. H. 
Miller, C. J. McCracken, Tiiomas Weirich, R. 
T. Blair, J. A. Barling and John Kleckner. 
The first officers were as follows: C. E. Adams, P. 
M. W.; A. J. Kane, M. W.; S. C. Cheeney, fore- 
man; C. D. Corson, O.; G. W.Banks, recorder; 
F. Wettengel, financier; \V. S. Bloom, R.; W. 
D. Matthews, guide; TJ. F. Zeigler, I. S.; J. A. 
Barling, O. S.; Dr. Loofbourow n, Med. Ex. The 
present officers are: J. W. Edleman, P. M. W.; 
S. P. Schadel, M. W.; E. Busby, foreman ; 
George Durgan, O.; A. F. Lichtenwalner, re- 
corder; A. F. Glasscott, financier; F. C. Ben- 
nett, R.; W. H. Weaver, guide ; S. O. Shult, 
I. W.; A. J. Lizer, O. W.; Dr. Loofbourow, 
Med. Ex. There is at present sixty-two mem- 
bers. There has been two deaths — J. C. Barber 
and John Sisson. 

A lodge of the Sons of Temperance was in- 
stituted on the 25th of April, 1848. The char- 
ter members were J. V. Richardson, Alfred 
Goddard, C. S. Fosier, John Walworth, S. P. 
Condee, Dr. J. C. Crawford, Charles Weaver, 
A. Ludlow, Fred. F. West, W. C Fillebrown, 
L. Hurlbut, William Tucker, Milton 11. Reed 
and F. Emmerson. The first officers were : J. 
C.Crawford, W. P.; F. F. West, W. A.; J. V. 
Richardson, R. S.; Charles S. Foster, A. R. S.; 
A. Ludlow. F. S.; Francis Emerson, 1.; Milton 
H. Reed, C; W. C. FiUebrow, A. C; S. P. 
Condee, O. S. S.; John Walworih, chaplain. 
The whole membership of this lodge during 
its existence was about 275. 'Ibis order was 
finally, in about 1858, merged into the Good 
Templars, and a few years later suspended. 



In January, 1864, it was again organized as 
the Monroe Lodge No. 218 and is still in exist- 
ence, having prospered. It now has a member- 
ship of about eighty in good standing. The 
present officers are as follows: A. C. Dodge, 
W. C. T.; Mrs. Charles Corson, V. W. C. T.; 
Norman Churchill, D. W. C. T.; Cora Corson, 
R. S.; Silas Judd, F. S.; Rose White, T.; Rev. 
L. W. Brigham, P. W. C. T.; Mrs. J. C. Cook, 
Chap.; Ernest Gorham, marshal; Ada Caughey, 
I. S. G.; Henry Caughey, O. S. G. The Good 
Templars hall is well furnished, and cost about 
$1,600. 

The Washingtonian Temple of Honor, No. 41, 
was organized in 1876. 

O. F. Penney Post,No. 102,department of Wis- 
consin, G. A. R., was organized on the 20th of 
August, 1883, by chief mustering officer, L. O. 
Holmes, and comrades from W. H. Sargent 
Post, No. 20, E. Hoyt Post, No. 69, and W. W. 
Patton Post, No. 90. On motion of comrade 
S. C. Cheney, the following were selected 
as a committee to choose a name for the post : 
W. F. Boyd, Samuel Lewis and A. F. Glas- 
cott. The committee reported the name, O. 
F. Penney Post, No. 102, which was duly 
accepted. The first officers were as follows : 
S. C. Cheney, post commander ; S. E. Gard- 
ner, senior vice commander; W. J. Miller, 
junior vice commander ; J. C. Hall, surgeon ; 
Nelson Darling, officer of the day ; S. P. Shadel, 
chaplain; A. F. Glascott, quartermaster; C. 
IL Robinson, officer of the guard ; C. E. Tan- 
berg, adjutant ; J. C. Baker, sergeant major, 
and M. P. Maine, quartermaster sergeant. 
The following comrades were mustered : F. 
W. Byrne, B. S. Kerr, Samuel Lewis, George 
O. Putzash, Joseph Wetzler and J. C. Smith. 

ROSTER . 

S. C. Cheney, 12th Wisconsin Battery. 

S. E. Gardner, company C, 3(1 Wisconsin Infantry. 

W. J. Miller, company E, 31st Wisconsin Infantry 

J. C. Hall, 6th Wisconsin Infantry. 

Nelson Darling, company G, 22d Wisconsin Infantry. 

S. P. Shadel, company A, 46th Illinois Infantry. 

A. F. Glascott, 12th Wisconsin Light Artillery. 

C. H. Robinson, 5th Wisconsin Battery. 



946 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



C. E, Tanberg, company D, 15th Wisconsin In- 
fantry. 

M. P. Maine, company B, 13tli Wisconsin Infantry. 

J. C. Baker, 5tli Wisconsin Battery. 

F. W. Byrns, 96lli Illinois Infantry. 

B. S. Kerr, company D, 38lh Wisconsin Infantry. 
Samuel Lewis, 5tli Wisconsin Battery. 

George O. Putzsch, 45th Wisconsin Infantry. 
Joseph Wetzler, 22d Wisconsin Infantry. 
J. C. Smith, 5th Wisconsin Battery. 

C. A. Booth, 22d Wisconsin Volunteers. 
N. S. Twining, 13ih Wisconsin Volunteers. 
A. S. Douglass, 40th Wisconsin Volunteers. 
Louis Schuetze, 9th Wisconsin Infantry. 
Samuel Witmer, 9th Wisconsin Infantry. 

E. G. Knulaud, 1st brigade, 3d division, 15th corps. 

William S. McCracken, 5th Battery. 

Thomas VV. Evans, 46th Illinois Volunteers. 

Louis Sickinger, 38th Wisconsin. 

George W. Thorp, 9th Wisconsin Voluu eers. 

Edward Ruegger. 

RoUin Olson, 15th Wisconsin Volunteers. 

John Dale, 1st Wisconsin Volunteers. 

Jacob Shuler, 31st Wisconsin Volunteers. 

Andrew Johnson, 96th Volunteer Infantry. 

Eli Michaels, 22d Wisconsin Volunteers. 

The post meets on the second and fourth 
Thursdays in each month, and there are now sev- 
enty-two men on the roll call. The post has 
been in camp twice, at Racine in 1882, and at 
Janesville in 1883. 

The Monroe Brass Band was organized in 
1853 with the following members: M. S. Cor- 
son, Charles D. Corson, H T. Corson, W. H. 
Corson, A. V. Corson, Joseph Davies, D. T. 
Lindley and Jacob Davies. M. S. Corson was 
leader. The organization was kept together 
until 1859, when several of the members went 
to California. There were several others who 
took an active part in the band — C. A. Booth, 
George W. Tenny, George Churchill, Joseph 
Mabott, G. H. King, Jabez Stearns, Hank Row- 
ley, John Zeigler, A.Clark and Daniel Cady. The 
band was composed of the best young men in 
the town, and they became quite good musicians. 
At that time there were but few bands in the 
State. The band in Monroe at the present time 
is called Monroe Cornet Band, and is one of the 
best in the State. They have magnificent uni- 



forms and a splendid set of silver instruments. 

MONROE EIFLE CLUB. 

This club was organized on the 18th of Octo- 
ber, 1869, with the following officers: Edward 
Ruegger, president; B. Tschudy, vice-president; 
Henry Hoebn, secretary; John Schuler, treas- 
urer. There are at present twenty-two mem- 
bers in good standing. In July, 1882, the Mon- 
roe team took part in the tournament at Mil- 
waukee, and carried away the first prize against 
fourteen other competing teams. In 1876 they 
were represented in Philadelphia. They have 
a park of six acres, about a mile and a half east 
of the city, and a target and shooting house. 
The club is out of debt, and owns property val- 
ued at $1,200. They use the Ballard breech 
loading guns. 

THE CITY GUARDS. 

The Monroe City Guards, company H., was 
organized March 28, 1882: Samuel J. Lewis, 
captain; S. P. Tschudy, 1st lieutenant; Andrew 
Arnot, 2d lieutenant; J. D. Dunwiddie, 1st ser- 
geant; D. A. Stearns, 2d sergeant; R. D. 
Evans, 3d sergeant; George Voight, 4th ser- 
geant; F. E. McLean, 5th sergeant; C. S. 
Young, 1st corporal; William Blunt, 2d cor- 
poral; William Gibbons, 3d corporal; C. B. 
Randall, 4th corporal; J. A. Bridge, 5th cor- 
poral; Richard Bowden, 6th corporal; H. Pen- 
nick, 7th corporal; J. H. Durst, 8th corporal; 
Fred Bubler, E. Bonta, C. A. Booth, Louis 
Black, Charles Blunt, J. F. Bridges, Charles 
Butler, J. H. Casler, F. E, Corson, Charles 
Cluirchill, E. Cushman, E, F. Deal, Joseph 
Deal, M. C. Durst, RollinEley, William Evans, 
W. N. Fessenden, Garrett Flynn, David Flynn, 
B. L. Gleason, D. R. Gorham, E. W. Gorham, 
George Gray, W. Hackett, S. M. Hughes, F. 
Kun, C. II. Kuner, E. E.Lockwood, John Malia, 
Thomas Malia, Charles Miller, Robert Morton, 
Louis North, Edwin Phillips, Ernest Rust, C. 
A. Shafer, John Shafer, Paul Shroder, J. A. 
Shoentield, Otto Shuler, Levi Starr, George Sny- 
der, H. T. Stolf, George Studley, Edward Slucki, 
Alonzo Wilson, L. S. Wagner, F. L. Warren, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



947 



Frank Voight, W. M. Witter and J. ZunBrunen, 
privates. Since the organization the company 
has recruited the following men : William Adams, 
Jesse Coffen, Frank Ely, George E, Faubel, 
James Faubel, Ernest Fisher, Edward Goddard, 
Harry Humphrey, D. W. Kun, Jacob Klasey, 
Jaraes Lockwood, Glaus Lizar, F. J. Mitchel- 
tree, William Monroe, Glaus Shepley, William 
Sutherland, H. L. Twining, J. A. Woodle, E. 
C. Copeland, F. G. Collins, Edgar Ludlow, 
Frank Payne, J. E. Rand, Henry Skelly, Gus 
Steinman, Roy Booth, John Evans, John 
Knuland, William Ludlow, Edward Malay, 
Frank Stall, Edward Wood and Frank Suramer- 
yille. They have an arsenal 20x60 feet, with 
sixty stand of arms. The company is composed 
of the best of Monroe's young men, and is a 
company of which the city may well be proud. 

THE ROYAL ARCANUM. 
[By Prof. N. C. Twining-.] 

This beneficent order was incorporated under 
the general laws of Massachusetts, Nov. 5, 1877. 
The Royal Arcanum is a beneficiary secret order. 
Several gentlemen, residents of Boston, felt 
that there was great need of a social order, not 
altogether unlike existing orders, but, while it 
should combine all their best points, it should 
also contain other and prominent features of a 
purely beneficiary character. It is well calcu- 
lated to meet the growing demand for a larger 
death benefitthan any kindred organization ex- 
isting. While it is intended to be the competi- 
tor of none, one of its aims is to labor with all 
in promoting the cause of benevolence, charity 
and fraternity. The lapse of time is sure to be 
followed by cold indifference, seeming uncon- 
cern, and to a certain degree, neglect; thus, it 
was felt, the societies already existing, boasting 
of ancient origin, even in Biblical times, had 
become largely negligent of duty, alarmingly 
indifferent to the just claims of their members, 
eminently unsocial, even in their closest rela- 
tions. The charter members of the Royal Arca- 
num, who laid the foundation of the order,are gen- 
tlemen of broad culture and wide experience, 



representing every secret order in our land 
worthy of Christian membership; hence they 
had the broadest field possible, as limitless as 
the historical past, as expansive as the living 
present, from which to select the pillars, the es- 
sence and strength of their new order. How 
well they have accomplished their self-imposed 
task, we leave the candid reader to judge from 
the fruits of their labor. 

THE OBJECTS OF THE ORDER. 

1. To unite fraternally all white men of 
sound bodily health and good moral character, 
who are socially acceptable and between twenty- 
one and fifty-five years of age. 

2. To give all moral and material aid in its 
power to its members and those dependent upon 
them. 

3. To educate its members socially, morally 
and intellectually; also, to assist the widows 
and orphans of deceased members. 

4. To establish a fund for the relief of sick 
and distressed members. 

5. To establish a Widows' and Orphans' Ben- 
efit Fund, from which, upon the satisfactory evi- 
dence of the death of a member of the order, 
w ho has complied with all its lawful i-equire- 
ments, a sum not exceeding |3,000 shall be paid 
to his family or those dependent upon him, as 
he may direct. 

It will be seen upon a careful reading of the 
above enumerated objects of the order, that a 
perfect fraternal union, a cemented brotherhood, 
a united social order has been outlined. One 
feature is so vital, so characteristically unsel- 
fish, that it must claim the attention and re- 
ceive the plaudits of men, thinking, sober men; 
the absolutely untrammeled benevolence to the 
living, suffering brother, the unselfish Christian 
charity bestowed upon the widow and orphans. 
The government of the order is under the con- 
trol of a supreme council, grand council and the 
local subordinate councils, scattered, as other 
societies are, wherever they are organized. 
The supreme council is composed of members 
elected by State or grand councils. The grand 



948 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



councils, or State councils, are composed of 
members elected by the local councils; each 
member of the grand council must be a past 
regent of a subordinate council. 

The order has but one degree, having prop- 
erly received this, the brother is entitled to all 
the benefits and emoluments enumerated in 
constitution and by laws. 

We now call attention to and ask a careful 
consideration of the following condensed table 
containing the rates for the Widows and Or- 
phans Benefit Fund. It will be perceived that 
the ages between twenty-one and fifty-five years 
are given, and the assessments upon members 
joining, having attained to the specified year 
of age: 

Between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two, 
$1.00. 

Between the ages of twenty-two and twentv-three, 
fl.04. ° J 

Between the ages of twenty- three and twenty-four, 
$1 . 08. 

Beiween the ages of twenty-four and twenty-five, 
$1 12. 

Between the ages of twenty-five and twenty-six, 
$1.16 

Between the ages of twenty-six and twenty-seven, 
$1.20. 

Between the ages of twenty-seven and twenty-eight. 

Between the ages of tweoty-eight and twenty-nine, 
$1.28. 

Betweeu the ages of twenty-nine and thirty, $1.32. 

Between the ages of thirty mid thirty-one, $1.'SS. 

Between the ages of thirty one and thirty-two,$1.44. 

Betweeu the ages of thirty-two and thirty-three, 
$1 50. 

Between the ages of thirty-three and thirty-four, 
$1.56. 

Beiwuen the ages of thirty-four and thirty-five, $1.62. 

Betweeu the ages ol thirty-five and thirty-si.K, $1.68. 

Between the ages of thirty-six aud thirty-seven, 
$1.74. 

Between the ages of thirty-seven and thirty-eight. 
$1.80. 

Between the ages of thirty-eight and thirty-nine, 
$1.86. 

Betweeu the ages of thirty-nine and forty, $1.96. 

Betweeu the ages of forty aud foriy-one" $2.06. 

Betweeu the ages ut lortyoneand tori3'-two, |2.16. 

Betweeu the ages of forty-t^uand foily three, $2.26. 

Between the ages ol forty-lhree and forty-foui, $2 36. 

Beiween the ages of forty-four aud forty five, $2.46. 

Between the ages of forty-five and forly-si.x, !j;2.58. 

Between the ages of forty-six aud furty-.seven,$2.70. 

Between the ages of forty-seven and forty-eight, 
$2 82. 

Between the age? of forty-eight and forty-nine, 
$3 96. 

Betweeu the ages of forty-nine aud fifty, $3.10. 



Between the ages of fifty and fifty one, $3.26. 
Betweeu the ages of fifty one aud fifty-two, $3 42. 
Betvveeu the ages of fifty two aud fifty-three, $3.60. 
. Between the ages of fifty-thne and fifty four, $3,80. 
Betweeu the ages of fil'ty-four and fifty-five, $4.00. 

The explanation of the above table is easy: 
A man at twenty-one years old, not having 
reached his twenty-second year, will pay an as- 
sessment of $1, and receive a benefit certificate 
for $3,000, or by paying fifty cents per assess- 
ment, will receive a benefit certificate for $1,500 
to be paid in either case, to widow, orphans, or 
to whomsoever he may direct, provided always 
that the one receiving the benefit is a depend- 
ent upon the deceased brother, thus cutting off 
all speculation. 

COST OF JOINING THE ORDER. 

Each member at initiation must pay to the 
collector as follows: 

An initiation fee, at least $5 00 

For medical examinaticu, iucludiug both local 

aud State exiiuiiiiations 2 50 

One quarter's dues, in advance 1 00 

For Benefit Cerliticati- 1 00 

One assessment, in advance, if 21 years old 1 00 

Total cost to members at 21 $10 50 

This will be found to vary somewhat. The 
initiation must be $5, at least — may be more. 
The dues may be more or less than $4 per an- 
num, governed entirely by the expenses in- 
curred by running the iocal^council. As there 
is but one degree, but two medical examinations 
and one benefit certificate, the expense — $8.5(i — 
will never recur, but dues and assessments 
must necessarily recur; dues either quarterly, 
semi-annually or annually, entirely at the op- 
tion of the local council. The assessment re- 
curs, not at regular intervals, and yet it may be 
looked for quite regular, at least from seven to 
ten times per year; the brother has forty days 
in which to pay the assessment. 

Suppose a man joins who is between forty 
and forty-one, please note the cost to liim the 
first year, on the supposition that ten assess- 
ments ax'e called to the supreme treasury: 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



949 



Initiation ^o ^n 

Medical examination ^ 5U 

Benefit Certifieate i ^^ 

Dues in advance Jkon 

Ten assessments, $2.06 each ^ ^ »^ 

Total cost, of first year $33 10 

Deduct initiation, medical examinations, Bene- 
fit Certificate, as these will not be repeated ... 8 50 



Total cost each year $24 60 

This is the total cost each year on a benefit 
certificate of |3,bOO, or $12.30 on a benefit cer- 
tificate of $1,500, payable in either case to his 
widow and orphans at his death, within thirty 
days. We are aware that this unselfish benevo- 
lence, this Christian charity of this noble order, 
has caused insurance companies to reduce their 
rates; has invited, or rather called into being, 
other kindred orders, yet not one of them can 
present a claim to higher standing as a purely 
beneficent order, not one of them pays as large 
a benefit as the Royal Arcanum. Each brother 
that dies in the order costs the one who joins 
at twenty-one years of age about two cents. 
There have died since the organization of the 
order, in 1877, 1,014 members in good standing, 
the widows and orphans of whom have re- 
ceived the amount of their benefit certificates, 
if full benefit, $.'5,000, if one-half benefit, $1,500 
each; 1,014 deaths at two cents each amount to 
$20.28! Again: Each member that dies in 
good standing costs the man who joins at forty 
years of age about six cents. The 1,014 deaths 
at six cents each amount to $60.84! To resume: 
The one joining at twenty-one years of age in 
1877, at the time of the organization of the or- 
der, would now hold receipts showing that he 
has paid, for the benefit of the widows and or- 
phans of deceased brothers, $20.28, and holds 
his benefit certificate for $3,000, which will be 
paid to his heirs or devisees within thirty days 
after his death. Similarly, the man joining at 
forty years of age would hold receipts showing 
that he had i)aid $60.84 for the relief of wid- 
ows and orphans of deceased brothers, and also 
his benefit certificate, securing to his widow and 
orphans, or devisees, $3,000, within thirty days 



after h.is death. Since the organization of the 
order fifty-seven assessments have been called 
to the supreme treasury, and an order issued to 
collectors to collect assessment fifty-eight by 
June 11, 1884. 

We desire to call attention to this last call 
for members to pay another assessment. I will 
say right here these calls include about thirty- 
five deaths each; the present one, number fifty- 
eight, includes the number of deaths from Feb. 
27, 1884, to April 10, 1884, a period of forty- 
three days. The order has about 70,000 mem- 
bers at present, hence the death rate is about 
five members to each 10,000 for the forty-three 
days. The principal cause for this low rate is 
the extreme rigidity of the medical examina- 
tions. The thirty-five members whose deaths 
make up the last call paid into the supreme 
treasury the sum of $1,407.32. Their widows 
and orphans, or devisees, drew from the supreme 
treasury, on the benefit certificates held by 
themselves, $103,500! Kind reader, consider 
the virtue, mercy, charity of the noble order. 
Well may it claim for itself leadership in the 
attempt to establish and maintain an order 
purely beneficiary. The youngest in this death 
list of thirty-five was twenty-three when initi- 
ated in 1879. As he died March 1, 1884, he had 
paid $48.60 into the supreme treasury — his 
heirs have received ere this the $3,000 from the 
supreme treasury. The oldest in the above list 
was initiated at fift) -five July 16, 1879, dying 
Feb. 24, 1884. He had paid into the supreme 
treasury $180.60 — his heirs have received before 
this time. May, 1884, the full amount of his 
benefit certificate, $3,000, from the supreme 
treasury. When the order was organized the 
applicant for membership must be between 
twenty-one and sixty years of age. The require- 
ment now limits the superior number to fifty- 
five. The average age in the above death list 
at initiation was less than forty years, being 
thirty-nine years and a fraction. Now that avc 
have given the order in general a brief notice, 
we invite the attention of the reader to the sub- 



950 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ordinate council at Monroe, being the only 
council in Green county. In the summer of 
1881 several citizens of Monroe became inter- 
ested in the Royal Arcanum, and after some 
weeks consultation, asked Paul Binner, of Occi- 
dent Council, Milwaukee, Wis., to come and 
institute a council at Monroe. Accordingly, on 
Aug. 30, 1881, Perseverance Council, No. 613, 
Monroe, Green Co., Wis., was organized, em- 
bracing some of the most public spirited and in- 
telligent men of the city, eighteen in all. The 
following is a list of the charter members: N. 
A. Loofbourow, M. D., E. H, Austin, Charles 
Ball, S. C. Cheney, William S. Davenport, J. 
W. Edelman, J. W. Faubell, S. E. Gardner, A. 
F. Glascott, W. G. Koken, R. F. Lund, Robert 
Start, A. C. Stuntz, Frank Turner, R. C. Whit 
comb, William Zilraer and M . C. Twining. The 
following officers were elected for the year end- 
ing Dec. 31, 1881: N. C. Twining, regent; A. 
F. Glascott, vice-regent; A. C. Stuntz, past re- 
gent; W. S. Davenport, secretary; R. F. Lund, 
collector; W. C. Whitcomb, treasurer; Robert 
Start, chaplain; E. H. Austin, guide; Frank 
Turner, warden; W. G. Koken, sentinel. 

The officers elect were duly installed, and the 
council was declared legally instituted, and pos- 
sessing the powers of a subordinate council of 
the Royal Arcanum under the jurisdiction of 
the grand council of the State of Wisconsin. 
Brothers S. E. Gardner, Charles Ball and Wil- 
liam Zilner were elected trustees. Dr. N. A. 
Loofbourow was elected local examiner, or ex- 
amining physician, which responsible position 
he has filled with great credit to himself and 
advantage to the council ever since. From the 
very day of its birth, this local council at Mon- 
roe, has prospered; the more its members know 
of it, the more they are attached to it; perhaps 
it is enough to say, the ladies regard it with 
high favor; well they may, for it aims at the 
welfare, and also at the well-being of their in- 
fant and dependent children. Although Perse- 
verance Council has met with no loss by death 
among its members, it has contributed with a 



willing grace to emancipate 940 bereaved homes 
from immediate want. The council cares for 
its own sick; helps the families of sick or dis- 
abled brothers, when necessary; looks after the 
moral welfare of its members also. At the 
close of the year, Dec. 31, 1881, Bro. A. F. 
Glascott was elected regent, and Bros, W. S. 
Davenport and R. C. Whitcomb were re-elected 
to their respective offices; Bro. J. J. Tschudy, 
Jr., was elected collector. Pasl Regent, N. C. 
Twining, was sent as representative to grand 
council held at Milwaukee; Sr. Past Regent, 
A. C. Stuntz was chosen as alternate; both of 
whom were in attendance at the grand 
council. Several members were added during: 
the years 1881 and 1882 to the chartered list. 
The close of the year Dec. 31, 1882, brought 
but little change except increased membershii), 
and a steady growth of fraternal feeling. Bro. 
W. S. Davenport was elected regent, and Bro. 
N. C. Twining, secretary for the year of 1883. 
The council sent as its representatives to 
grand council this year, held as before, Bro, N. 
C. Twining and A. F. Glascott, both of whom 
attended the session in Milwaukee, For 
the year, 1884, the officers are as follows: 
N, C. Twining, regent; A. C, Stuntz, vice 
regent; W. S. Davenport, past regent; Ferd 
Grunert, secretary; D. S. Young, orator; 
James Faubell, guide; B. T. Hoyland, chaplain; 
J, J. Tschudy, collector; R, C, Whitcomb, 
treasurer; Samuel Schuler, Jr., warden; Charles 
Ball, sentinel; N. A, Loofbourow, M, D. exami- 
ner; Jacob Steinman, Robert Start and J. K, 
Symonds, trustees. The representatives to the 
grand council held at Oshkosh, were Bro, A. F. 
Glascott; Bro, W, S, Davenport, alternate. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In the spring of 1866 the Union school dis- 
trict No. 1, of the village of Monroe, was or- 
ganized, and the first election was held July 9, 
of that year. The following board of educa- 
tion was chosen: Director, E. E. Bryant; clerk, 
C. S. Foster; treasurer, B. Dunwiddie ; assist- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



951 



ant directors, J. V. Richardson, H. Medberry, 
George H. King and E. T. Gardner. The first 
set of teachers employed by this board was 
composed of the following named : Miss 
Churchill, Mrs. Farnham, Miss Kitten, Miss 
Salley, Miss Fenton, Miss McFarland, Miss 
Matthews, Miss Prescott, Miss Bently and 
Miss McWade. 

A special meeting of the electors of district 
No. 1, village of Monroe, Wis., was held March 
16, 1871, at which $15,000 was voted to build a 
school house. Shortly afterward the contract 
was let to J. M. Hinkley for $14,977. By the 
time the building was finished it had overrun 
this amount considerably. 

At a school meeting held at the center school 
house on June 12, 1882, it was voted that a new 
school house be erected on the north side, to cost 
not more than $15,000. In February, 1883, the 
contract of building was let to Jacob Stimmon, 
for $12,100. The building was at once com- 
menced and was finished in 1884. .^.. 

A PLEA rOR POPULAR EDUCATION. 
]ByProf. W. C. Twining.] 

God has destined man to be the prime agent 
on earth, to reign by means of the arts, and, as 
it were, to complete His work, by subduing, 
regulating, and co-operating with the powers of 
nature, by favoring the development of the 
various organizations, and by transforming, com- 
bining, and appropriating its productions to a 
multitude of uses. He has inspired this supe- 
rior agent, therefore, with an unbounded de- 
sire for action ; exciting him to both internal 
and external activity, the former consisting in 
the exertion of the will, the latter, in the full 
play of the physical organization. From these 
two sources of action, properly directed, may 
spring abundant external fruits, and the most 
delightful internal state. If, on the contrary, 
this fundamental, imperious desire is not satis- 
fied, if due precaution is not taken, or should 
it be satisfied blindly, we may fear all kinds 
of destruction and disorder without and within, 
every species of trouble, suffering, error. 



The rightly directed exercise of activity is 
also the essential condition of the development 
of the faculties of the mind and heart ; it is 
necessary that it should mark the progress, 
prepare their application, and preserve habit- 
ual harmony among them. It is to the 
health of the soul, what activity is to 
the health of the body. It is of a good and 
wise civil government to prepare the means in 
the external world, for individual activity to 
take its regular course, and to divide the labor of 
life thus, even before those who are to perform 
it, are born. 

The wisdom of such a government will con- 
sist, especially, in leaving all paths free ; in re- 
moving obstacles and extending impartial pro- 
tection to all men, not only living, but men of 
the future. Government not only exhibits marks 
of wisdom in building for the present, but in 
laying a broad and liberal foundation for the 
ages yet to come. 

It is also the part of a good government to 
help its citizens, to regulate the activity of each 
individual, by pointing out the most useful 
career, by keeping him in it, and ordering the 
employment of all his faculties, in a manner the 
most likely to make him pass through this 
career profitably and with honor. Hence all 
legislation designed to aid in this direction, 
must be founded upon experience, and woven 
for the future. We cannot expect to mould the 
character of the adult, all we can do is to direct 
his energies. But the mind of the youth pre- 
sents itself, susceptible of most perfect and 
lasting impressions; it is upon this mind, like 
wax, clay, or putty, that we are to exercise our 
plastic art. A mind thus equipped with nought 
but God-gifted susceptibilities, is relegated to 
us with all the possibilities of the future before 
it. Recreant, indeed, would we be, were we 
deaf to its demands and necessities. WIkmi 
the child is born, he is surrounded by circum- 
stances not of his own creation, often alien and 
repugnant to his tastes; he is often found to err 



952 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



from lack of proper guidance during his youth- 
ful days. One of the greatest and most weighty 
duties of any government,whetherNational, State 
or family, is to provide for the proper education of 
its future citizens; and there are but two levers in 
the hands of the government with which to ac- 
complish this successfully: the educated public, 
and the educated parent. There is still another 
and most potent influence — the Church. But this 
is not an instrument or means in the liands of 
the government; individuals and communities 
must direct its energies, according to their var- 
ious wants and necessities, while the general 
government is left to adjust and administer the 
functions of government that apply to the train- 
ing of intellect and the more general questions of 
moral action. There is not a little truth in tlie 
old saying that "most of the human passions 
are only the overflowing of an activity which 
has mistaken its true course." In this sense, and 
in this only, "the wicked man is a strong child;" 
or in other words, wickedness is a power unable 
to regulate, because it is ignorant of itself. 

In the great trust bequeathed to the govern- 
ment, is the all important duty to teach its sub- 
jects self control which prevents and restrains 
all aberrations, merely products of the mind's ex- 
crescenses. It prepares for the study of self; we 
must be self-collected, before we can study our- 
selves; we must learn to measure our strength, 
before rushing upon the arena; we must employ 
all the authority we can obtain over ourselves, 
in order to oblige our heart to reform its desires, 
and our understanding, its judgment. A mind 
well-balanced, a nature rightly expanded, a cul- 
ture carefully and systematically obtained, 
leads us to repress those foolish inclinations 
which seek the impossible; to accommodate 
ourselves to the sometimes hard and severe exi- 
gencies of reality; to conquer the difticulties 
whicli can be overcome, how hard soever tliey 
may be; to stop before those which are insur- 
mountable; and to rise up courageously after 
falling into mistakes. It regulates tlie action 



and measure of all our faculties, and prevents 
them from being wasted. 

Beside choice and unity of purpose, two 
special conditions are necessary to prevent ac- 
tivity from being destructive, and to make it 
fruitful; these are perseverance and method, 
which, wlien united, compose conduct; but which, 
even separate, are rarely well observed, and 
whose union is rarer still. 

A good internal government, that is, self 
control, contributes very much to fulfill these con- 
ditions. The child left to grow up subject only to 
his own will and inclinations, his mind untrained, 
unpruned, has his career marked out more by 
the result of chance and circumstance, than by 
cultured calculation; his most mature delibera- 
tions are not guided by an intelligent will, al- 
though they are to exert a most important influ- 
ence over his destiny; he may be likened to the 
seaman guiding his bark through the track- 
less ocean, trusting to an imperfect compass. 
He then moves on, not knowing whether the 
rocks of Scilly, the Chaiygbdis or Maelstrom, 
shall seal his fate! He cannot resist any occa- 
sion that solicits him. He does not even choose, 
but merely accepts. He alone chooses, who 
commands; but he can only command himself, 
not events. 

When the child grows up, not knowing what 
circumstances depend upon himself, and what 
absolutely resist him, he must struggle against 
the inevitable, and consequently neglect the 
possible. He is unable to create a condition con- 
formable to his character, nor can he conform his 
character to inevitable conditions among which 
he must, especially, include those arising from so- 
cial institutions and conventional arrangements. 
Hence proceed so many false and incomplete 
situations in the world, and the uneasiness which 
is tiie legitimate consequence of them; and 
hence constraint, uncertainty, confusion and 
suffering, in the exercise of activity. It 
will be seen that a man's action thus guided 
by chance, whose every act is determined by an 
uneducated mind> is unconnected, and is not 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



953 



constructed from parts of the same plan; it has 
no relation to anything. His life is not formed 
of a single tissue, but is composed of inlaid 
work, joined, and not woven together. 

On the other hand, where all human action is 
energized by the free act of an intelligent will, 
unity of purpose economizes the faculties, re- 
doubles their energy by concentrating them, and 
makes them conspire together to lend each 
other mutual aid. But there can be 
this unity only where there is law which 
assigns and preserves to each thing its rank; 
in society, this is administered by public 
authority; in the arts, by genius; by reason, 
in the sciences, and in the conduct of life, by 
self control; but by self control, only so far as it 
is the minister of virtue. 

Again : Education is the handmaid of inspi- 
ration, which makes men of talent, while ex- 
perience, men of skill ; the first conceive, the 
second execute. These observations do not 
apply merely to works of art, and the man- 
agement of affairs ; they apply equally to the 
general plan of our conduct, in which our 
morality and happiness are involved. Here the 
application seems less evident ; manifestly the 
State should have nothing to do with the re- 
ligious ti-aining of its youth, only so far as a 
common and highly acceptable code of morals 
is concerned ; and yet the child must be cared 
for to a greater degree than the parent or guard- 
ian is able to reach, or else that fabric of edu- 
cation founded by our fathers, thougli broad, 
philanthropic and intensive, must yield to the 
inevitable and fail of its most important result, 
namely, to educate the child wholly, symmetri- 
cally. Is it not a deplorable fact, that those 
minds whom nature has endowed with eminent 
power, and treated with especial favor, and 
which at the same time have grown up without 
training, are lamentably deficient in perse- 
verance ? We can almost assert that persever- 
ance is a compensation granted to mediocrity. 
Not unfrequently, distinguished minds have 



sentiments superior to their station, and views 
more extensive than the sphere in which they 
are placed. They contain mysterious things 
within themselves, for which they cannot ac- 
count, and which being developed, modify 
their dispositions. Let nature's sunshine of 
genius enter the soul of the uneducated child, 
let him grow to man's estate, and he will be 
exposed to be diverted from, and to mistake, 
the course which is suitable for him and to be 
dissatisfied with whatever he has begun, he 
seems to struggle with destiny; nature is full 
of problems of vast promise, but he has no key 
to their solution. Moreover, he is unable to 
guide himself by his experience, for it has been 
nothing but disaster, disappointment he can- 
not penetrate into unexplored regions, as they 
rise higher and higher, he can find no well 
beaten track, he gets entangled in the midst of 
trackless, wild woods, and yawning precipices, 
he is always forced to retrace every advance, 
to abandon every enterprise, however munifi- 
cently it may reward his educated brother. 
He is thus driven to abandon all that his sen- 
tient soul prompts ; moved by his lieterogene- 
ous impulses, he is drifted by cruel, luckless, 
hapless chance. 

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. 

If the reader has gone with tlie writer care- 
fully over the preceding pages, he will now, of 
his own accord, both ask and answer the fol- 
lowing momentous question : Were not our 
fathers, who framed and so exactly perfected 
our school system, fully aware of their respon- 
sibility to the children of the whole country? 

Our condition in life furnishes us the most 
important part of the circumstances which 
educate us, and influence our character more 
than all the lessons of our masters; and though 
independent of our will in some respects, yet 
it is modified by our co-operation, and even by 
the manner in which we resign ourselves to 
what is inevitable. Fully aware of this, our 
fathers laid the foundations of the common 
school system, not for their own day, not to 



56 



964 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



meet fully all the requirements and necessities 
of the youth of their time, but for the future, 
more for the millions of unborn, than for those 
already environed by the old system, no system 
At birth, each child is heir to these influences 
cast about it by the school system. We can no 
longer say the conditions environing the child 
are "hard." But, on the contrary, gentle in 
their influences, powerful in their molding 
effects. 

We proudly point to our school system as an 
heir-loom to our children, and as the conditions 
that surround us in our youth, and those that 
are to surround us during our development and 
march to manhood, really have more to do with 
our moral and social worth, in shaping our 
destiny in life, we submit our children, the 
little men and wom,en of our Nation, to these 
most benign influences cast about them by the 
public school system. 

We cannot claim for the framers of our State 
constitution greater dignity, deeper penetration 
of thought, nor broader motives, nor still more 
comprehensive ideas, than have guided other 
legislators; they did most assuredly make some 
invaluable provisions, the full fruition of which 
have scarcely begun to be realized. The com- 
mon district school, the immediate product of 
the constitutional provisions, has flourished to 
abundant prosperity. The public school has 
also reached a highly advanced state of perfec- 
tion. The normal school, a most powerful and 
influential factor in our system of education, 
has reached proportions potent for usefulness, 
little suspected by its founders. 

At first, to educate the youth was thought to 
be suflicient; but now, a still greater care rests 
upon our system of public instruction, the 
especial education of our educators. The ex- 
perience is not a limited one, that to make a 
Nation strong, enduring and prosperous, its 
people must be educated. Education is the 
only requisite that many Nations lack to fit 
them for freedom. 



May we not say that the schools and univer- 
sities of the great German empire are the chief 
bulwarks of her strength, the strong arm of 
her national liberties? On the other hand, the 
manifest weakness of some other continental 
Nations of Europe is directly attributable to the 
ignorance of the laboring classes. 

We need intelligence, and that generally dif- 
fused to keep watch and ward over our liberties. 
May we not be entitled to speak still plainer — 
this education must he a popular one. 

No Nation can long be safe that educates the 
aristocracy only; the majority cannot, nor will 
it long be governed by the minority; the people 
must all be elevated alike; education begets 
love of freedom, and consequent independ- 
ence. An educated Nation cannot be bound 
by chains of servitude, bonds and fetters. Op- 
pressive laws and edicts, whether of Church or 
State, must crumble and fade in the presence of 
a rightly educated people. The real aristoc- 
racy, if aristocracy there be, is the whole peo- 
ple. Where a whole people is intelligent,if guided 
by no higher motive than local self-interest 
they will maintain their freedom against usurp- 
ers of all kinds, whether ambitious rulers or base 
demagogues. A liberal education, such as is 
now afforded by our school system, makes all 
positions of honor in our land possible and at- 
tainable; the poorest, humblest subject, be he 
honest, industrious, intelligent, sees all the 
avenues to honor, preferment and distinction 
open up before him like measureless vistas, and 
along the line of their path he sees the full fru- 
ition of his every thought, wish, ambition. 
A capital of a common school education 
secures to each citizen the possibilities and ex- 
treme probabilities of an honorable and suc- 
cessful career through life; each one becomes 
the architect of his own fortune. 

So great and manifold are the blessings be- 
stowed through the agency of the district 
school, that the poet has set his praises and de- 
gree of usefulness in not very ungraceful tro- 
chees: 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



965 



"The common school, oh, let ks light, 
Shine through our country's story; 
Here lies her health, her wealth, her might. 
Here rests her future glory." 

Perhaps one of the wisest provisions made 
and provided in the statute is that one forbid- 
ing all teaching of a sectarian character. We 
may dismiss the matter without offense to any 
one by simply saying, both Church and State 
thrive better when separate, and. in a strict 
sense, independent of each other; hence, being 
a mixed people, professing the various beliefs 
religiously, we cannot allow any one, much less 
all the dogmas of belief to be given to our 
youth at the expense of the State. Here, too, 
our national poet comes forward in sweet tro- 
chees, as before, and sings of Church and State 
both free, but schools all the more prosperous 
and effective for good: 

"Nor heeds the skeptic's i^uny hands, 

While near her school the church spire stands; 
Nor fears the blinded bigot's rule, 

While near her church spire stands the school," 

We have always felt that the spirit which 
directed the founders of the common school 
system was nothing less than that of inspira- 
tion, for certainly no man could have measured 
the extent of the consequent blessing, much 
less could he have measured the consequence 
of such broad and philanthropic principles. 

It being thoroughly democratic, it fell upon 
and amongst the masses like the genial rays of 
the glorious sun, long detained by heavy murk}^ 
clouds, upon flower, shrub and tree. Perhaps 
the law was but a nucleus of the glorious sys- 
tem now in full operation throughout the 
length and breadth of our land. The beginnings 
were like flashes of lightning, low in the hori- 
zon, ominous, but for good, presaging not evil 
to the crops and fruits of the husbandman, but 
harbingers of the advent of an era pre-eminent- 
ly revolutionary, reformatory. 

Time witnessed longer and more continuous 
flashes jind outbursts of ligliL from our edu- 
cational hui izoii, until at last the very zenith 



of our native land is radiant as if lighted 
by torches that glow with an ever increasing 
brilliancy. 

The relation of our schools and our school 
system, to our native land, may be compared 
with the relation that the central sun sustains 
to the system of planets that revolve about 
him, although at times he exhibits spots, enor- 
mous, expansive ; and when viewed with a pow- 
erful glass, they cause terror even to astrono- 
mers, yet closing up, seems to glow with in- 
creased brilliancy, giving additional warmth, 
imparting new life to all planets and their in- 
habitants. 

The school system may exhibit some weak- 
ness, may contain some points antagonistic ; 
yet, when put in working order, like the fire of 
the forge, glowing all the brighter. After 
receiving its baptism of water from the 
handfi of the smith, it kindles with an in- 
creasing brilliancy, bringing life, joy, intellec- 
tual vigor, and consequent mental improvement 
to the rising generation. 

There is no Nation on the earth that can, for 
a moment, compare with our country, in this 
respect. England is fifty years our junior in 
school work; France has scarcely begun the 
great work; CJermany, although many educators 
are extolling her, giving to her precedence in 
all educational matters, is still far behind us. 
Our free schools are freer, better, more ad- 
vanced, more thorough than hers. Her free 
schools are lacking in system, direction, 
thoroughness, especially in discipline. More 
attention is given in Germany to the phys- 
ical, doing less to the menial discipline, 
more to what are called common branches, less to 
the fundamental principles that underlie and 
make these common school branches possible. 
The works being translated from the German, 
treating of educational work, contain mostly 
methods used by American teachers for the last 
fifty years, not essentially nevf, although 
they may contain .some original points. 
The same remarks may also be applied to 



956 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



works translated from other languages. The 
scientific works of the German scholars are 
amongst the foremost, in fact they are the very 
best within the reach of our higher schools. 
We still look to the works of our own educators 
for positive helps in advancing the great cause 
of education, and spreading broadcast through- 
out the land, intelligence. 

We have settled beyond all question that the 
public school system of education furnishes but 
one plane for a social and a political status; it 
provides for no castes, no discrimination, no 
exception, no aristocracy. Every post of honor 
from the rail splitter, from the canal boy to the 
Presidency, is open for competition to all our 
citizens. Honesty, energy, virtue are alone 
needed to increase the probabilities of success, 
and, at the same time,dirainish the possibilities of 
defeat. Our youth are encouraged by the pow- 
erful incentive of their seniors rising to places 
of honor and profit through the blessings 
wrought by a common school training. The 
fact that children are but little men and women, 
is a sufiicient guaranty that the affairs of State 
and society of the near future, will be the 
affairs of the little men and women of to-day; it 
is also a further assurance to the youth that 
there is an intrinsic value in the education fur- 
nished by our common schools, for with it and by 
it, they will be enabled to express thoughts and 
feelings in terse Anglo-Saxon that shall move 
millions to arms in defense of liberty, and turn 
to flight the foe of freedom and progress. The 
great question of how quantity and quality of 
matter is to be given to our schools was, and still 
continues, in certain phases, to be a matter of dis- 
cussion. Although we say still continues to be, 
yet, we at the same time admit "that the three 
R's" are as well established in the minds of the 
people, as constituting the school course as is 
the school course itself. Wherever a further 
advance has been made it has been done by 
the aggressiveness of law makers and law break- 
ers,f or most assuredly nothing less than "the three 
R's" will ever be tolerated in our school system. 



In this respect our' teachers and school officers 
are quite active; while the people are more 
conservative, resisting almost to stubborn- 
ness, any advancement or improvement in the 
matter and method of school work. 

We have found by experience as teachers, 
that an advance unsanctioned by the people, is 
really no advance, but simply a wave to be 
hurled back with deadening effect upon the line 
of true advantage. Whenever and wherever 
local legislation is needed, we can expect it only 
from those who have reaped the advantages 
of a more liberal culture than is obtained 
from the provisions in the general statutes. 
The last remark must not be understood in 
its absolute sense; for, while the statute is over- 
explicit in defining what shall he taught in the 
district school, it also empowers the district 
board to form and carry on a school of higher 
grade than the common district school, when- 
ever and wherever it may become necessary ; 
hence our public graded, and our free high 
schools, greater boons than which do not exist. 

THB MONROE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

As long ago as 1858, the citizens of Monroe 
felt that the time had come to take advantage 
of this special provision and establish a public 
school for the more perfect training of its 
youth. 

To trace the history of the public schools of 
Monroe, would require more space and more 
time than we can command. Many of the no- 
ble pioneers who pushed their thoughts to a full 
expression in the early school work, have 
passed away, leaving their thoughts and labors 
so thoroughly enstamped upon methods, and so 
stereotyped in local legislation, that they are no 
less bright and shining lights to-day than a 
quarter of a century ago in school matters. 
We hold them in grateful recollection, al- 
though the schoolraam's rap on the window is 
hushed forever, the master's ferule, unused, the 
"deestrict board" disbanded, yet the school- 
mam's bell, the master's firm and persuasive 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



957 



voice, the board of education's prompt and de- 
cisive action are all the more prolific in conse 
quence of their succession, for never did pio- 
neers do more thorough work; work that was 
calculated to reach down and affect posterity, 
than those who immediately preceded us. They 
nshered in and fought through the aggressive 
period. Like the Revolutionary Fathers, they 
have left us their declaration on our statute 
books, and in the exemplifications to be found 
traditionary, or fresh in the minds of octage- 
narians. 

After establishing sites for, and building sev- 
eral school houses in Monroe, and maintain- 
ing schools for several years in the "wee 
village," the authorities finally bought the 
"seminary" which gave to the school a more 
definite existence and abiding place. This 
was in 1857 or 1858. The purchase of 
this building was followed by the building of 
the "South School Building" on the site of the 
present High School Building in 1863, and 1864, 
a very good frame or wooden building and quite 
commodious in its way. The fire- fiend very 
soon did its work, by reducing this new school 
building to ashes. This was in 1870, and many 
a tale of heroism is related of the teacher, and 
pupils, in decamping from the would be crema- 
tory; all escaped, we believe, without accident. 
One of the older boys says: "I went up into the 
high school room fifteen or twenty minutes after 
all had been so miraculously snatched from their 
impending fate, and got tny hooks, and was sur- 
prised to find that there was but little danger 
yet." A new, commodious, substantial white 
brick building was immediately designed and 
built upon the very spot, three stories high, con- 
taining five rooms, and conveniencies that are 
now transformed into four recitation rooms. 
The new building was dedicated and opened to 
the public, by due ceremonies, in 1871, and 
designated as the "High School Building." The 
school building known as the "South School," 
was built in 1859, and contains two school rooms 
and two recitation rooms. The building will 



accommodate 130 pupils, providing that there 
are not over fifty for the upper room. Teach- 
ers have a faculty of packing little folks, that is 
well nigh marvelous, placing from three to five 
in a seat, when it would be death to cats to pack 
more than two in such close proximity. It has 
ever been the plan and purpose of the board of 
education, and the corps of teachers of the pub- 
lic schools of Monroe, to provide carefully for 
the children, by anticipating every want and 
need, as to room and convenience. The little 
folks are not kept in school all day, they are dis- 
missed at 10:40 a. m., and 3 p. m., thus freeing 
them from the restraint and crowded condition 
of the school room. As teachers, we have found 
that it brings blessings in a two fold way; the 
children advance faster as a-b-c-d-arians and sec- 
ond, the teacher has more leisure to bestow her 
undivided attention upon the older pupils under 
her charge. The grading of the school has been 
a rhatter of study by both teacher and board of 
education for years. We can safely say, the 
present state of perfection has been reached 
through these two agencies, and also by advisory 
aid from the best school talent in the State. 

In no case has a grade been established with- 
out due reference to the capacity of the chil- 
dren to be thus classified. In every case where 
a grading has been found inadequate, it has 
been immediately supplanted by one meeting 
the wants, and satisfying the conditions of en- 
vironment; the whole system being based upon 
the lowest grade of minds, and thence expand- 
ing toward the plane of highest attainment. 
The course of study adopted for use in the dif- 
ferent department is a very liberal one, em- 
bracing in its entire compass, all contemplated 
by the statutes, distributed through ten grades, 
besides the high school. In contemplating the 
course in all its bearings, the one thought per- 
vaded the whole: That in no state of the 
child's advancement could he be entirely out- 
side of the three and most natural divisions of 
any well regulated school course: Primary, 
intermediate and grammar. The primary course 



958 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



is made to include every species of instruction 
presentable to a child; such as primary num- 
bers, the elements of reading including First 
Reader, an almost exbaustless fund of general 
information which may be very appropriately 
styled miscellaneous. This course of primary 
instruction is well calculated to induct the 
child into not only the school room, and school 
methods, but to wean him somewhat from his 
home, to engage his attention, thus training his 
faculties in a pleasant way, and rescuing him 
from the maelstrom of tricks by keeping him 
agreeably employed. The length of time given 
to this part of the course depends altogether 
upon the child's capacity and thoroughness; 
from three to four years may be very profitably 
spent in opening up to the child the great field, 
and vast expanse before him. In no case is a 
child ever detained beyond the period that his 
advancement indicates; there is no waiting for 
his class. In the intermediate course is em- 
braced a more definite amount of labor, being 
much better defined, both as to matter and 
method. Here the child begins to think and 
work out by processes of his own the little 
problems thrown in his way. The Second and 
Third Reader employ his time devoted to read- 
ing written spelling, as well as oral, makes him 
a more perfect speller in his own language; the 
field opened up to him in the primary room is 
broadened and extended in all directions, thus 
increasing the horizon of his school experience. 
Very simple, yet correct, analyses in mental 
arithmetic are here introduced and insisted 
upon, until the little tyro becomes quite a rea- 
soner. Geography, in its simplest form, door- 
yard, school-yard and ho7ne geography, as we 
term it, is presented to the child without text 
book. The reading, and in fact every lesson 
imparted, is more a language lesson than a 
reading lesson, in the old acceptation of the 
term. Writing is taught more to enable the 
child to secure a good legible, rather than an 
artistic hand. Two years are usually required 
to prepare the intermediate pupil for grammar 



work. Here is the great battle ground of our 
school course. We lose more pupils from our 
schools while passing over the grammar course, 
than during any other stage of school work. 
The boys and girls have now reached an age 
when their physical labor is of some advantage 
to the home force in the struggle for bread and 
butter; hence many, too many, of our children 
are withdrawn from our schools and their ad- 
vantages, and cast upon society — to toil in com- 
parative darkness all their life, regretting the 
necessity, and deploring the circumstances that 
called them from their studies and consigned 
them to a life of toil long before their tender 
age and development would warrant. The 
course in the grammar room or rooms is largely 
a language course; the pupil is taught arith- 
metic and geography by means of a text book, 
although the intrinsic value of the instruction 
imparted to the pupils, emanates from the 
teacher herself, and is given to the pupil by 
means ot blackboard and oral instruction. A 
careful, conscientious, intelligent teacher, if she 
be ingenious, is of far greater value to a school 
than many text books. The drill that the 
grammar teachers are enabled to give their 
pupils cannot be measured by words. It is 
discernible in their degree of advancement. 
Four years are usually given to grammar work, 
although five are none too much; in most 
cases we find the time not sufficient; not that 
the amount set apart for the time is too great, 
but that the mind of the child has not devel- 
oped sufficiently to allow him to be advanced 
to higher work. The child should do efficient 
work in all the studies enumerated in the stat- 
utes before he is put at higher work. The time 
required by ordinary minds to accomplish the 
course is ten or twelve years. This includes 
all work from abc's through grammar room, but 
the most of our pupils reach the high school at 
about the age of twelve years, and are thus en- 
abled to graduate from high school at sixteen; 
but few remain until they are eighteen. 

We are frequently told that we are hurrying 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



959 



the children and thus preventing mental growth, 
and we may add also that we are as often told 
that we are holding the children back, thus 
preventing, or rather stultifying growth. We 
think, on the whole, the first class do not weigh 
well the entire course, each part sustaining cer- 
tain dependencies, and the whole mutual rela- 
tions, so that unless the parts be regarded, 
there can be no whole. While the second class, 
having no idea of the foundation lying at the 
base of the whole fabric, would rush the chil- 
dren over the course, regarding it as a mere 
tramway of slats or warp, and no filling, which 
is indeed the most important part of the whole 
structure. 

Could book-keeping and United States his- 
tory be added to our grammar work, the gradu- 
ate from the grammar course might be regarded 
as well fitted for his duties as a citizen. But 
these studies demand a higher degree of culti- 
vation than the grammar pupil can possibly at- 
tain to. It would require six years of unremit- 
ting toil for him to reach the modes of thought 
and powers of expression necessary to master 
history, accounts and civil government. These 
studies most emphatically constitute a part of 
the high school course. 

It has seemed at times almost advisable to es- 
tablish a course of two years between the 
grammar and high school, for such as desire to 
take advantage of its provisions. Why it is 
not generally done we are not able to say; it 
has some very serious objections, known only 
to teachers of considerable experience. Under 
these circumstances we must accept the situa- 
tion, and trim our coui'se accordingly. This 
real hiatus between grammar and high school 
must be bridged over by what is known asjirst 
year in high school. 

It will be seen by reference to our high school 
course, below, that the first year of the course 
is given to grammar, geography, arithmetic, 
reading and spelling, composition once a 
month, physical geography and algebra. 



However much this first year's course may be 
applauded, it has some very serious defects; it 
does not represent, fully, grammar work, while 
it fails of securing to the pupils genuine high 
school work. 

Spelling, as a class exercise or drill, should 
have been finished long before this stage of 
the pupil's work. Spelling from a spelling 
book has been very justly condemned by all 
ripe educators; it does not present to the child 
either spoken or written language, but a gar- 
bled, disintegrated, meaningless, monotonous 
series of lists of words by far the greatest num- 
ber of which can never enter the child's vocab- 
ulary for his busy, active, business life. Would 
it not be better to require the pupil to both 
commit the definitions of the principal words 
in use, and at the same time employ them to 
express his thoughts on paper, instead of simply 
writing them for criticism? He would then 
subject himself to double criticism, namely, 
definition and correct spelling. When defini- 
tion and correct spelling are compared, they 
compare as iron and gold. Iron is of manifold 
use, the most useful of all metals; gold glitters, 
catches the eye, arouses the greedy, but cannot 
be brought into any just comparison with iron. 
Like the Word of Truth the use of iron will 
descend to our childi'en to bless them, but gold 
to molest and curse them. The love of the 
spelling book which was aroused by Cobb, 
Dill worth and Noah Webster, has come, I 
fear, to stay; no generation of intelligent school 
masters can circumvent or counteract it. 

The last quarter of a century in the school 
room has told with marked effect upon our 
methods in teaching; it has revolutionized the 
presentation of language to children; it has re- 
moved forever Kirkham, Smiley, Murray, etc., 
from the halls of learning, and replaced them 
by language methods, free, easy, natural. We 
have now a generation of teachers that require 
tcork, not simply parsing^ but composition, in 
other words, the teachers of to-day require the 
pupils to think out their analyses, their solu- 



f 



960 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



tions, and commit them to writing, which must 
be in good, clear, lucid, correct English. 
The school child of twenty years ago, could 
not indite a correct sentence, could not put its 
lesson upon slate or paper, but behold the trans- 
formation! Many a child now can, and does 
present every day, his lesson clearly, freely and 
artistically expressed upon slate or paper, as 
required. This change has been brought about 
by a system of language lessons and teaching 
that cannot well be described; if any reader be 
inclined to be a skeptic, he is most cordially 
and earnestly invited to visit some of our public 
or mixed schools, and observe for himself. I 
have thus singled out language to illustrate the 
tidal wave that has been moving onward in our 
system of education. I might have taken his- 
tory, arithmetic or philosophy, but let the above 
presentation of the method of teaching lan- 
guage suffice for all. The yoemanry and peas- 
ants of education have not accepted the really 
improved methods in spelling; we are in immi- 
nent danger of being thrown back and of los- 
ing all vantage ground gained. The land is full 
of spelling books, the product of some morbid 
octogenarian mind, or the very unostentatious 
book of some "very nice school master.^' The 
second year in high scho'ol contains some very 
fine studies both for mental discipline and in- 
tellectual culture; the ologies here make their 
first appearance, only to be emphasized through 
the two following years. 

Some regard the study of the ancient classics as 
a mooted question, thinking the study of our own 
tongue sufficient to secure a liberal education to 
the rising generation. The opponents of the 
study of the Latin and Greek in our schools 
may be classified under two heads: Ist. Those 
who have never studied these languages, whether 
from accident or choice matters not; 2d. Those 
who have had more or less experience in their 
study, but from various causes utterly failed to 
accomplish their supposed purpose. It would 
be a difficult thing to-day to find a cultured 



scholar of the classic school who would ac- 
knowledge that the study of either of the great 
classics is a failure; and surely, the judgment 
of one less qualified to speak, would be most 
empatically worthless, though harmful. Those 
pupils who graduate from our High School, -jij 
having the drill and discipline of the classics, 
are by far stronger intellectually than those 
who receive the common English training. The 
classicals also make the better teachers in our 
schools. The pupil who accomplishes the course 
prescribed for the second year comes to the 
third year pretty well prepared to master its 
problems. There are in this year experimental 
as well as objective studies; physics and chem- 
istry, being experimental, are more than coun- 
terbalanced by botany, a delightful and alto- 
gether objective study. The senior year, or 
fourth year of the course, is given up to Eng- 
lish literature, moral philosophy, general his- 
tory and political economy; at least these are the 
leading studies. The training the pupil gets 
from these last named studies is of incalculable 
worth. His experiments in physics and chem- 
istry are well calculated to train him to close, 
careful, thoughtful investigation of the momen- 
tous problems of his responsible life. English 
literature must, if it do not awaken a taste for 
higher literature, develop his already feeble 
taste and strengthen it for accurate and exhaust- 
ive research in the realm of letters, pure, spot- 
less. The valueless must give place to the best, 
the hurtful to the invigorating, trash to sense, 
and all that is ephemeral to history, philosophy 
and jurisprudence. The course in the classics 
is not outlined, but consists of a thorough train- 
ing in the grammar, reader, Caesar, Cicero and 
Virgil. The course in Greek is optional, em- 
bracing only two years' time. The grammar, 
reader, Xenophon, Euripides and Homer's Iliad 
constitute the course. Our high school gradu- 
ates are admitted to all the courses of the uni- 
versity, provided they take our classical course. 

They are admitted to the university as fol- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



961 



lows (without examination): To the classical, 
both ancient and modern; to the scientific, to 
any special course. We deem this a great 
privilege, and one which our graduates feel 
sworn not to betray. The most of our grad- 
uates are admitted to advanced standing at the 
university, and many of them have received first 
honors at graduation from the scientific and 
classical courses of the university. So exactly 
is this the case to enter the university from the 
Monroe High School, is to enter with high 
honor and standing. 

COURSE OF STUDY. 

FOURTH CLASS. 

ClassiccU. English. 

r Arithmetic, f Arithmetic, 

<»Tn-inirTerm J English Grammar, J English Grammar. 

Sprmgrlerm-!^ Geography. 1 Geography, 

[Reading. 1, Reading. 

f Arithmetic. f Arithmetic, 

Tfnii T'orm J English Grammar, J English Grammar, 
uttu xerm...-^ Physical Geography, \ Physical Geography, 

(.Reading, (.Reading. 

[Algebra, f Algebra, 

winter Tprm \ English Grammar, I English Grammar, 
wiuierj-ermi pijysjcal Geography, | Physical Geography, 

[Reading. [Reading. 



THIRD CLASS. 



Classical. 



English. 



{ Algebra, 



Spring Term -J Latin, 

(U.S. History. 



Fall Term. 



I Algebra, 
.< Latin 

U.S.] 



History. 



I Algebra, 
< Physiology, 
I U. S. Histor 

( Alg. 
iPhy 
|U. £ 



( Algebra, 



WiiiterTerm-< Latin, 

I Physics. 



History. 

Algebra, 
(Siology, 
S. History. 

C Algebra, 
< Physics, 
( English History. 



JUNIOR CLASS. 



( Botany, 
Spring Term < Physics, 
(Latin. 

I Plane Geometry, 
Fall Term...-< Book Keeping, 
I Latin. 

( Plane Geometry, 
Winter Term ■< Rhetoric, 
( Latin. 

SENIOR YEAR 

I Solid Geometry, 
SprinirTermK English Literature 
( Latin . 



I General History, 
Political Economy, 
Latin. 



Botany, 
Physics, 
History of England. 



C Plane Geometry, 

< Book Keeping, 

(. Science of Governm't. 

I Plane Geometry, 
■< Rhetoric, 
( Chemistry. 



•] 



Fall Term. 



Solid Geometry, 
English Literature, 
Chemistry. 

( General History, 
-< Political Economy, 
( Trigonometry. 

General History, 
" Science, 
jnometry. 



( General 
< Moral Sc 
I Trigone 



( General History, 
WlnterTermK Moral Science, 
I Latin. 

Final spring term. Seniors will review selected studies. 
German and Greek optional, German after llrst, and 
Greek after second year. 

Spelling and English Composition general exercises 
throughout the course. 



The following is the programme of studies: 

SPRING TERM. 

Fourth Class.— Arithmetic, English Grammar, Geography, 

Reading. 
Third Class.— Algebra, Latin, Physiology, U. S. History. 
Junior Class.— Botiin.v. Latin, Physics, English History. 
Senior Class.— Solid Geometry, Latin, English Literature, 

Chemistry. 

FALL TERM. 

Fourth Class.— Arithmetic, English Grammar, Physical Geog- 

raph.v, Reading. 
Third Class.— Algebra, Latin, Physiology, U. S. History. 
Junior Class.- Plane Geometry, Latin, Book Keeping, Science 

of Government. 
Senior Class.- General History, Latin, Political Economy, 

Plane Trigonometry. 

"WINTER TERM. 

Fourth Class.— Algebra, English Grammar, Physical Geog- 
raphy, Reading. 

Third Class.— Algebra, Physics, Latin, English History, 

Junior Class.— Plane Geometry, Latin, Chemistry, Rhetoric. 

Senior Class.— General History, Latin, Spherical Trigonom- 
etry, Moral Science. 

(Spelling and English Composition, general exercises 
throughout the year. German and Greek optional.) 

CONCLUSION. 

The people of Monroe have toiled without 
ceasing, have waited for long weary years that 
they might have a school in which to educate 
their children ; they now feel they have not 
waited in vain. The public school as it now 
exists, has grown from a mere nucleus to a 
school of the first rank. The opponents of the 
"high school system" are usually, 1st, the 
bigoted and ignorant ; 2d, the educated who 
are personally interested in some private school, 
or those too intent on present money making to 
assist in public improvements, especially when 
they demand any outlay of public money. 
There is still another element that quite fre- 
quently presents itself, the demagogue, who, for 
political or other reasons, usually local, harangue 
the dear 2)eople, and stir them up to oppose the 
inijust school tax. We can say without any fear 
of successful refutation, Monroe has never been 
cursed by the blasting influences from any of 
these antagonistic agencies. The people one 
and all have always heartily supported their 
schools. Very soon after the schools were 
graded, the school board were fortunate in se- 
curing the service of distinguished educators 
as principals, assisted by a corps of competent 
teachers. I may be pardoned for mentioning 
the names of the srentlemeu who have been in- 



962 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



strumental as principals, in bringing the schools 
up to so high a standard of perfection. 

E. E, Woodman, widely and favorably known, 
since leaving the schools, as a civil engineer 
and editor, was a teacher of fine ability. We 
think he succeeded Prof. W. D. Parker, now 
president of the River Falls Normal Schools. 
Prof. Parker is one of those aggressive educa- 
tors, who continually push on toward the light 
seen in advance. His executive ability is of the 
highest order, akin to that so often found in the 
discipline of the regular army. In rank, he 
stands at the head of his profession; many in- 
ferior to him, but few, if any, his equal. 

Prof. R. W. Burton, now of the Janesville 
public schools, can also be put down as one of 
the very foremost educators in our public 
schools. In him the Monroe public schools had 
a thorough disciplinarian, a gentleman of culture, 
and a teacher of undoubted integrity. Bold, 
even to rasliness, he ruled so that no rogue 
could ever say "I beat the professor." His 
pupils had great respect for him, because of his 
real manliness and unflinching courage, his per- 
severence and courtly manner. 

Last, but not least, of this brace of four prin- 
cipals, is Prof. B. M. Reynolds. A New Eng- 
lander by birth, he imbibed that almost sacred 
Puritan system of discipline, not of the Con- 
necticut blue law stripe, but of that noble out- 
spoken kind that sends terror to the hearts of 
rogues, and conviction to the heart of the hon- 
est and deserving pupil. His will is unconquer- 
able, his heart as tender as a child's, his purpose 
as fixed as the "rock-ribbed hills," yet discour- 
tesy is a word not known to his vocabulary. 
Untiring in industry, every teacher in his corps 
knows that under Prof. Reynolds, she must con- 
sider work as of the first importance. In his 
every day discipline he is strict to severity, exact- 
ing to the least miuutiaj; stern, withoutsmile or 
blanching cheek, he compels obedience by his 
frowns, wit, biting sarcasm, or stinging rebukes; 
he reduces irrepressibles by testing the stitches 
in their coat collars. Thus firm and resolute, 



he carries all by storm ; his pupils recognize in 
him a model worthy of imitation. Although 
Prof. Reynolds remained in the public schools 
of Monroe but one year, he left impressions for 
good that will long remain. These impressions 
are amongst us to-day to aid us in our work, to 
strenghen our efforts. We think his work did 
more to unify the schools of our city than 
any other influence wielded in their behalf. 
The writer of this article followed Prof. Rey- 
nolds in 1873, and has had charge of the schools 
since that time June, (1884.) 

A. C. Dodge, a gentleman of high standing 
in the community, and well and favorably 
known in this State for his lofty public spirit, 
has been president of the board of education 
for a great many years, and by his tact and ability, 
aided always by a full corps of six members, 
made up of the best citizens of Monroe, has 
contributed very much to the present prosperous 
state of the public schools. 

I have always been assisted and sustained by 
my corps of teachers, by the board of education, 
and by the good people of our city in my school 
labors. This assistance, though unsought, has 
come to me while surrounded by toil, trial and 
perplexity, to cheer me on, to sustain my feeble 
efforts and to suj^plement a needed want. Of the 
many teachers who have aided me so effectively, 
I might, in justice, say very much; they have 
been constant, untiring, patient, enduring. Their 
number is not legion, for a very wise policy has 
been pursued by the board; teachers have held 
their positions not by favor, but purely by merit. 
Our teachers, with but one exception, are high 
school graduates, all having received diplomas 
from the High School during the past eleven 
years, except two, who graduated previous to 
1873. The question, "can I have my place 
next year," is rarely ever heard here; the ques- 
tion "do you desire to remain another year," 
has completely displaced it. We regard this 
as a wise policy and cannot fail of bringing in 
its train blessings untold for the schools. We 
have been most effectively aided, too, by the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



963 



county superintendents; here, too, the people of 
Green county have been both felicitous and 
wise. During the past eleven years we have 
had but two different persons elected to the 
office. I say for the last eleven years, I might 
extend the time still further back and still speak 
the truth. D. H. Morgan and T. C. Rich- 
mond are the two gentlemen referred to. Mr, 
Morgan was succeeded by Mr. Richmond who 
held the office one or two terms, I do not re- 
member which, and he in turn was succeeded by 
Mr. Morgan, who still holds the office. Mr. 
Richmond is a gentleman of most approved 
manners and a scholar of acknowledged ability. 
While in office, he labored with zeal and assid- 
uity, never flagging but always renewing and 
redoubling his best efforts to advance the cause 
of education in the whole county. I am largely 
indebted to him for strong support and scholar- 
ly advice in my arduous labors. We regretted 
his determination to leave the school work for a 
different field of labor. Since leaving the edu- 
cational field he has graduated from the law de- 
partment of our State University, has been a 
student of "Old Harvard," and has now a law 
office in the city of Madison. He has made for 
himself a name coveted by many, in the oratori- 
cal field, pleading for prohibition, and demand- 
ing that the most wicked of all things, "Rum" 
shall be banished from our midst. 

Mr. Richmond was succeeded in the superin- 
tendency by the man whom he succeeded, D. H. 
Morgan. My poor words must surely fail to 
express the deep feeling of regard that the peo- 
ple of Green county hold, in both heart and 
memory, for her most popular educator and cit- 
izen. Nor have the people of this county de- 
ceived themselves in this respect; nobly has he 
responded, and nobly does he continue to do so. 
To see Mr. Morgan, is sufficient; he expresses in 
his every look, word, act, his genuine honesty, 
his upright integrity, his unquenchable love of 
of justice. His education was academic, hence 
exact, thorough, practical; now past middle life, 
he has gleaned from every golden educational 



harvest, for years, sheaves heavy with wisdom, 
fraught with knowledge and full of the bread 
for the intellect. Modest, yet unflinching in 
duly; inclined to reticence, yet eloquent when 
duty calls him to the front, for actual and 
needed service, although timid almost to a loss 
of self possession, yet bold, aggressive and per- 
severing beyond all expectation, when the bugle 
blast of duty sounds the advance. His sensitive 
nature is most prominent, yet self is the last 
thought; duty, the sublime cause of education, 
and his friends receive his most untiring efforts, 
his every careful thought, feeling and purpose. 
There is no man in Green county, to whom the 
county owes deeper and more lasting gratitude. 
He has not wrought for self; while others work 
to increase the amount of stock, the number of 
bushels of grain; have added acres to their es- 
tate, thousands to their bank account, Mr. Mor- 
gan has labored to exalt the happiness of every 
home, by educating the heart and intellect of its 
members. His work is a work that tells for the 
future, not for the present, and knowing him 
and his work so well, I can safely say that long 
after he has resigned all, his office and its duties 
to his successor, his soul to God, he will be most 
blessed by his fellows. Strictly temperate in all 
his acts, no one will ever have opportunity to 
learn from him aught but sobriety. Aside from 
his school work, he is a valued and valuable 
member of the community; no man is better or 
more favorably known in "Sylvester," than he; 
the sick, the poor, the unfortunate, the needy; 
whether it be of advice or aught else, ask him, 
freely for relief, it is bestowed as freely, for 
Mr. Morgan knows full well the intrinsic worth 
of the old maxim, "He who gives quickly, gives 
twice." 

THE CHURCHILL SCHOOL.. 

The pupils and teachers of the first ward 
were made happy in February, 1884, by the occu- 
pancy of the new building called the Churchill 
building, in honor of Norman Churchill a mem- 
ber of the board of education, a mechanic, ma- 
chinist, and an appointee of the board to super- 



964 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



intend the erection of the building. The en- 
tire board are deserving of great credit for the 
excellent building with its unique appointments. 
The building is two stories high, with a base- 
ment containing three large furnaces. There are 
six school rooms, ample as to size and conven- 
ience. According to the last school census, the 
number of boys and girls were about equal, the 
whole number being 1,400 of school age. Of 
these at least 1,200 attend school during the 
year. 

CORPS OF TEACHERS IN 1883 AND 1884. 

Assistants in High School— L. S.Hulburt and 
Mary Dunwiddie. 

First Grammar — Emma Van Wagenen and 
Anna Sheehan. 

Second Grammar — Cora Corson, Nan. C. 
Hawes, Jennie Carpenter and Mrs. Alice L. 
Weirich. 

Second Primary — Sadie Willey, Clara A. Pe- 
ters and Julia B. South. 

First Primary — Flora Wood, Mary Isley, Car- 
rie Pinney, Lily Wells and Addie Caughey. 

N. C. Twining, Principal. 

The following are the members of the board 
of education, for 1884: A. C. Dodge, president; 
S. W.Abbott, clerk; A. W.Goddard, treasurer; 
Hon. John Bolender, Hon. John Luchsinger, S. 
C. Cheny and N. Churchill. 

PROMINENT CITIZENS. 

The following named citizens are representa- 
tives of the character and enterprise of the 
population of the city of Monroe. 

Enoch Evans, the oldest person living in 
Green county, was born in Stokes Co., N. C, 
Oct. 27, 1788. When he was in his fifth year, 
his parents with a colony of about sixty fami- 
lies, emigrated to Kentucky. They made the 
journey through the wilderness with horses, 
carrying their goods on the backs of the ani- 
mals. They spent about a year at Boone Sta- 
tion. His father then bought government 
land in Garrett county, which was in the 
vicinity of the home of Daniel Boone, with 
whom the subject of our sketch was well ac- 



quainted. Here the subject of our sketch 
grew to manhood, and was married Oct. 17, 
1808, to Elizabeth Burton. She was born in 
Virginia, Jan. 3, 1788. He bought thirty-six 
acres of land in Garrelt county, and lived there 
until 1816, then emigrated to Indiana, and set- 
tled in Jennings county, where they were pio- 
neers. He bought government land five miles 
northwest of Vernon, the county seat, and built 
a log cabin, into which the family moved before 
the doors or windows were put in. This was 
their home until 1824. During that year a 
mail route was established from Indianapolis to 
Lawrenceburg, and he having secured the con- 
tract, removed to Indianapolis. He carried the 
mail six years, always on horseback. His 
horse was his boat in high water and his bridge 
in low water. When the water was so high 
that the horse was obliged to swim, Mr. Evans 
would throw the mail sacks over his shoulders 
and hold the straps with his teeth. While car- 
rying the mail he had bought eighty acres of 
timber land, a half mile from the northeast cor- 
ner of the plat of the village of Indianapolis. 
He settled on that land in 1830, and lived there 
two years, then sold and moved to Parish 
Grove, or the lost land, as it was then called, 
twenty miles west of Indianapolis. The fol- 
lowing year the land there came into market, 
and he bought 120 acres and lived there until 
1840. He had sold the land in 1839, and in- 
vested the money in live stock, and in 1840 
started with a drove of stock for the northwest. 
As he traveled along, he was looking for a good 
place to settle, but did not find a suitable loca- 
tion until he arrived in Green county. He had 
sold all his stock in Illinois. He purchased 160 
acres of land in the town of Clarno. The fol- 
lowing year he bought forty acres that cornered 
his first purchase. He Ijved there twelve years, 
then came to Monroe and bought twenty-two 
acres of land, that he laid out into town lots 
and made it an addition to the village of Mon- 
roe. He lived here until 1868, then sold and 
moved to West Virginia and bought two lots 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



965 



in Charleston, built a house and lived there 
three and a half years, then returned to Green 
county and lived for a time in Monticello and 
Brodhead. His home is now with his son, Wil- 
liam, in Monroe. In 1875 he met an irreparable 
loss in the death of his wife, which occurred 
July 9, of that year. There were eleven chil- 
dren born to them, four of which are now liv- 
ing — Thursey, now the wife of William Car- 
son, lives in Missouri; Elijah lives in Nebraska; 
Elisha lives in Charleston, W. Va., and Wil- 
liam, who lives in Monroe. Mr. Evans was 
county treasurer in Jasper Co., Ind., and also 
postmaster there. He has been a member of 
the M. E. Church for seventy-one years, having 
joined in 1813. Now in his ninety-sixth year, 
he enjoys very good health and retains his men- 
tal faculties in a remarkable degree. 

Joseph Kelley was born in Pike Co., Ohio. 
When a boy, he went to Indiana, where he re- 
mained until 1835. He then came to Green 
county. He was a bold, daring man, without 
fear for anything, and accumulated a large 
property. He was for many years among the 
mountains in California. In 1856, he went to 
Charles City, Iowa, where he at present resides. 
He owned the site and was the founder of 
Charles City. 

Thomas L. Wells, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Clarno, was born in Muskingham Co., 
Ohio, April 2, 1830. When he was five years 
old his parents came to Wisconsin and located 
in Green county. He attended school in a 
rude log cabin, with a puncheon floor, slab seats 
and windows made of greased paper. There 
were many Indians in the county at that time, 
and the settlers were often frightened by them. 
On Jan. 14, 1856, he was married to Mary A. 
Nififenegger. Five children blessed this union — 
Sarah Etta, born Nov. 1, 1856, and died Dec. 
19, 1863 ; William F., born Sept. 8, 1860 ; Lil- 
lie A., born Dec. 31, 1862; Henry E., born 
Jan. 9, 1867, and Rosetta, born March 16, 1870. 
When Mr.. Wells came to Green county, there 



was not a house upon the site of the present 
city of Monroe. 

Peter Wells, who settled in the town of 
Clarno in 1835, is a native of Muskingum Co., 
Ohio, born in November, 1814, son of Mathew 
and Sarah (Beard) Wells, who settled in Ver- 
milion Co., Ind., in 1828, and came to Wiscon- 
sin in 1 836, then a Territory, and took up land in 
Ureen county, removing to Fayette Co., Iowa, 
in 1848, where they remained until their death, 
which occurred in ]854. William, one of the 
boys, was the founder of "West Union." Peter 
came west with his parents. He was married 
in Indiana to Jane Bowman in 1834. They had 
eleven children, six of whom are now living — 
Charles, Adeline, Matthew, Thomas B., Catha- 
rine and Joshua. In February, 1853, Mrs. 
Wells died. She was a member of the M. E. 
Church. Mr. Wells came to this county a 
poor man, but by industry, hard work and good 
judgment, he has accumulated property, until 
he is among the wealthy business men of the 
county. At one time he was the owner of 
1,000 acres of land, but has divided it up among 
his children. 

Alpheus DeHaven, one of the earliest settlers 
of the county, was born in Montgomery Co., 
Penn., Oct. 22, 1800. His parents were John 
and Mary (Supplee) DeHaven, and they had 
ten children, six sons and four daughters. Al- 
pheus, the subject of this sketch, when seven- 
teen years old, was apprenticed to the trade of 
carpenter and joiner. After learning this trade 
he worked and traveled in several States, among 
other places, he went to New Orleans, and 
while on a trip up the Mississippi, Avas on the 
boat Helen McGregor, which blew up at Mem- 
phis. In 1828 he went to Cincinnati and en- 
gaged in the lumber trade, and was also a con- 
tractor and builder, which he followed for some 
time. In 1832, he was married to Diadama 
Tillotson, by whom there were four children, 
one of whom is now living — Stephen B., re- 
siding in Missouri. Mrs. DeHaven died May 



966 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



3, 1840. She was a member of the M. E. 
Church, a sincere Christian, and highly re- 
spected in the community where she lived. In 
June, 1841, he was again married to Elizabeth 
Hawley, by whom he had eight children, six now 
living— Olive, wife of Dr. F. W. Byers, of 
Monroe; Wesley W., Willard G., Laura E., 
wife of M. P. Maine ; Martha Alice, now Mrs. 
Charles Stoneman, and George W. His second 
wife died in April, 1860. She was also a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church. In October, 1860, he 
was again married to Mrs. M. P. Maine 7iee 
Sarah Druramond, whose parents died when she 
was a child, and she was brought up by an uncle, 
and in 1837, was married to M. P. Maine. 
There were three children by this union, all of 
whom are now living — Frances C, now Mrs. 
A. B. Webber, of Lawrence, Kansas; Mortimer 
P. and Orville B. In April, 1836, Mr. DeHaven 
came to Green county and settled in what is 
now the town of Clarno, but then an unorgan- 
ized territory, and engaged in farming. In 
February, 1877, he came to Monroe, where he 
has since resided. He is one of the leading 
members of the M. E. Church, and the present 
class leader. He is one of the oldest Odd Fel- 
low's in the west. He was initiated in Penn- 
sylvania Lodge No. l,of Philadelphia, in 1824, 
and assisted in organizing the first Odd Fel- 
low's lodge in the State of Ohio, namely— Ohio 
No. 1, of Cincinnati. He is now an honorary 
member of Monroe Lodge No. 72, of this city. 
George W. Bridge, one of the early settlers 
«<f this county, was born in Preble Co., Ohio, 
May 25, 1827. His parents were David C. and 
Catharine (Voorhis) Bridge, who were the par- 
ents of five sons and three daughters; six of 
tiiese children are still living. When the sub- 
ject of this sketch was nine years old he came 
with his parents to the Territory of Wisconsin, 
and settled on section 31, town of .lefferson, and 
received his education in the pioneer "log 
c ibin" schools uf that period. He was married 
Aug. 31, 1850, to Sarali M. Delapp, a daughter 
of Thoma-i and Mary (Eddinger) Delapp, of 



Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge are the par- 
ents of three children— Belle N., now the wife 
of S. P. Noble, of Clarno; Mary C, wife of J. 
M. Noble; and John F. Mr. Bridge after 
marriage engaged in farming, and followed that 
occupation until 1881, when he removed to 
Monroe. He came to tin's county in 1836. He 
has been identified with this county a long time, 
and has witnessed its development from a wil- 
derness to a desirable and fully settled country, 
possessing advantages and resources, far be- 
yond the anticipations of many of the pioneers. 
The substantial and commodious frame house 
has supplanted the premitive log cabin, and the 
evidences of thrift and enterprise abound. Mr. 
Bridge has done his part in effecting this trans- 
formation, and for a time subjecting himself to 
many privations and hardships, he now has the 
pleasure of a home honestly won, a property 
fairly gained. 

Thomas J. Bragg was born in Fauquier Co., 
Va., Jan. 15, 1813. His parents were Dashur 
and Hannah (Muffitt) Bragg. In 1823, they all 
emigrated to Boone Co., Ky. In 1829 they re- 
moved to Edgar Co., 111., and were among the 
first settlers of that county. The subject of 
this sketch wss reared on a farm and received 
but a limited education. In 1836 he came to 
Green county and for some time made his home 
at the house of Daniel Sutherland, working at 
various occupations and following various kinds 
of business. During the time he located 160 
acres of land on section 13, town of Monroe, 
where he opened up a farm. In October, 1841, 
he was married to Emily J. Nobles, a native of 
Kentucky, born April 4, 1821. By this union 
there were five children — William P., of the 
firm of Glasgett & Bragg; Alice, now wife of 
A Glasgett; Thomas J., Jr.; Emma C, wife of 
Rice D. Gorham, and Charles. Mr. Bragg fol- 
lowed farming until 1881 when he moved to 
Monroe where he is now living a retired life. 
When he came to this county he was in very 
limited circumstances, but by industry and good 
management has accumulated a considerable 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



967 



property and is to day among the "well-to-do" 
farmers of the coixnty. At one time he owned 
VOO acres of land, and has divided it mostly 
among his children leaving enough to support 
himself and wife. 

S. S. Bragg, a resident of Edgar Co., 111., 
was born in Fauquier Co., Va., Dec. 10, 1807. 
On the 2d of December, 1822, his parents, 
Dashur and Hannali (Moffett) Bragg, removed 
to Boone Co., Ky., where they engaged in farm- 
ing. In January, 1829, they removed to Clark 
Co., III., where Mrs. Bragg died, Aug. 13, 1829. 
In the spring of 1831 Mr. Bragg removed to 
Edgar Co., 111., where he died in 1841. The 
subject of this sketch came to Illinois with his 
parents, and in the fall of 1831 returned to 
Kentucky, remaining there until the fall of 1833. 
On the 4th of April, 1834, he was married to 
May M. McClansey, of Edgar county. She was 
the widow of James Jackson, who died in 1832. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bragg were the parents of six 
children, two of whom are living — A. J. and Mary 
M., wife of Robert Fleming. Mr. Bragg set- 
tled in Edgar county, a poor man, financially, 
but by hard work has accumulated a comfort- 
able property and home. Mrs, Bragg died 
Sept. 29, 1882. She was a life long member of 
the M. E. Church, and was highly respected 
and beloved in the community where she lived. 

Jonas Shook is a native of St. Clair Co., III., 
born May 9, 1805. His parents went to that 
Territory in 1797. He is one of two living 
children from a family of seven. After making 
a settlement in Illinois, there was considerable 
trouble and great distress among some of the 
pioneers. His mother was a sincere Christian, 
a member of the Baptist Church, and was highly 
respected by all who knew her. She experienced 
many of the hardships and trials incident to 
pioneer life. She died in Illinois. The subject 
of this sketch was brought up in a new country 
and educated in the pioneer schools of j^rinti- 
tive date. In December, 1827, he was married 
to Polly A. Land, who was born in South Caro- 
lina, April 11, 1809. ]>y this union there were 



seven children, two sons and five daughters, six 
of whom are now living — Asa L., Samuel, Susan, 
Catharine Maria, Berthina and Sarah Jane. In 
1837 he left Illinois and emigrated to Wiota, 
Lafayette Co., Wis. The following year he 
located in the town of Adams, this county, on 
what is known as "Shock's Prairie," a location 
named in honor of himself, where he remained 
for over forty years. In 1881 he came to Mon- 
roe, where he is now living a retired life. In 
1827 he enlisted in the Winnebago War, and 
was sent to Fort Clark, where Peoria now stands. 
John Connery was born in Iowa county. Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin, Jan. 29, 1838. He is a son 
of James and Elizabeth (Cosner) Connery. His 
father was of Irish parentage, and his mother of 
German descent. His fathercame to Iowa county 
in the fall of 1836, it then being a wild wilder- 
ness. Being a millwright, he engaged in build- 
ing some of the first mills in the county; also 
farmed on a small scale, as most of his time was 
taken up at his trade. He remained in the part 
of the county known as Lafayette county, since 
the sub-division, until his death, which occurred 
at Wiota, July 29, 1854, of cholera. John Con- 
nery, the subject of this sketch, was brought up 
on a farm, until the year 1852. When but a 
little past thirteen years old he engaged to learn 
the blacksmith trade, with his uncle, the Hon. 
Samuel Cole, then carrying on the business in 
Gratiot. He lived with his uncle, as one of the 
family for years. In the springof 1863 he came 
to Monroe and worked at his trade, in this city, 
until 1866, when he went to Green Co., Iowa, 
and remained there until May 25, 1868. He 
then went to Cass Co., Mo., where he resided 
until 1880, in which year he returned to Monroe 
on account of the bad health of his wife, and 
again engaged at his trade. He was married 
July 3, 1864, to Lydia Ann Trickel, a daughter 
of Ashford Trickel. They have five children — 
Charlie A., G. Edgar, Ida" J., Emmett and S. 
Alma. Mr. Connery is one of the oldest resi- 
dents of Iowa county. He is a member of the 
Masonic order, and also a worker in the Temple 
of Honor, and is an ardent temperance worker. 



968 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



A Ludlow, president of the First National 
Bank, of Monroe, was born in Burlington, Vt., 
June 21, 1818, and is a son of James and Rosana 
(Morton) Ludlow, natives of Vermont. The 
subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, 
and obtained his education in the common 
schools. In 1838 he went to Lyons, Iowa Co., 
Mich., where he was employed as mail carrier 
between Grand Rapids and Livingston county, 
then a wild unsettled country. About eighteen 
months later, he went to Chicago and engaged 
in the peddling business, his route being through 
Monroe to Madison, Wis., traveling with a 
wagon. At that time there was but one house 
between Madison and Monroe, neither were 
there any bridges, and he was compelled to ford 
or ferry the streams. In 1846 he engaged in 
business in this city. Having accumulated some 
property and good credit, he was able to get all 
the goods he wanted. In 1846 he was married 
to Caroline Sanderson, of Winnebago Co., 111., 
and a native of Cambridge, Mass. Five children 
have been born to them — Henry, now assistant 
cashier of the First National Bank, of Monroe; 
Edwin, manufacturer of mixed paints, at Daven- 
port, Iowa; Willis, farmer in this county; Addie 
and Nellie. Mr. Ludlow has been closely iden- 
tified with the business interests of the county 
since 1839. He is an enterprising and public 
spirited citizen and has done much to advance 
the public interests of the city of Monroe. 

A. W. Sutherland was born in Madison Co., 
N. Y., June 10, 1822, where he received a com- 
mon school education. In 1836 he went with 
his parents to Coles Co., 111., then an unbroken 
wilderness; from thence to Wisconsin. They 
arrived in Green county about the 20th of May, 
1839, and located in the town of Sylvester, 
on section 10, where A. W. grew to manhood. 
In May, 1847, he was married to Esther J., a 
daughter of Col. James Sutherland, a soldier of 
the War of 1812, who afterwards commanded 
one of the militia regiments of Genesee Co.,N. 
Y. The colonel came to Wisconsin in 1838 and 
died in 1843, which was supposed to be the first 



death in the town of Sylvester. A.W.Sutherland, 
the subject of this sketch, has two children-Oscar 
and Lois. He came here when it took some 
push and energy to get a start in life. In about 
two years he became of age and found him- 
self the fortunate possessor of $47, which 
not being enough to locate his land he borrowed 
$3 and made his first purchase. The following 
year he raised his bouse and commenced house- 
keeping. The furniture was of the rudest kind, 
and made by his own hands. He now owns 230 
acres of land worth $65 per acre; the Skinner 
flouring mills at Browntown valued at $10,000 
and a residence in Monroe, with seven acres of 
land, valued at $3,000. 

Ashford Trickel, who settled in this county 
during the spring of 1840, was born in Picka- 
way Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1813. He is a son of 
Robert Trickel, a native of Virginia, who lo- 
cated there at an early day, and Catharine (Ben- 
syl) Trickel. There was a family of eight sons 
and one daughter, all of whom are now living 
but one. In an early day Robert Trickel moved 
to Indiana, and thence to Vermilion Co., 111., 
near Danville, and subsequently to Danville 
where he built the first mill in the county, and 
thence he went to Champaign county in 1828, and 
in 1836 to Ford county of the same State. About 
1845 he came to Green Co., Wis. and spent the 
rest of his days. The subject of this sketch 
was brought up on a farm, and received his edu- 
cation in the primitive log school house. In 
the fall of 1840 he was married to Eliza J. 
Morton, a daughter of James and Mary (Mont- 
gomery) Morton, who came to the county that 
same year. By this union there were eleven 
children, eight of whom are now living — Mary 
C, wife of William Renhart; Robert W., Julia 
A., wife of Perry Rhodes; Lydia A., wife of 
John Connery; Joshua, John J., Jennie, wife of 
Sylvester Dwyer, and Amy Ellen, wife of 
Thomas Dwyer. Mr. Trickel owns 140 acres 
of land valued at $65 per acre, besides other 
property which he has accumulated by his own 
exertions. 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



969 



J. H. Bridge first came here in 1835, but did 
not settle here permanently until 1840, He 
was born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 3, 1815, 
His parents, Jonn and Deborah (Clark) Bridge, 
were natives of New Jersey, and emigrated to 
Ohio in an early day. They were the parents 
of five daughters and three sons, of wiiom three 
are living. The subject of this sketch was 
reared upon a farm, and obtained his education 
in the log school house of pioneer days, which 
had puncheon floors, slabs for seats, and desks 
made by driving pins into the logs, with slabs 
laid upon them, and lighted by cutting out a 
log, putting up sticks and pasting greased paper 
over the opening. Mr. Bridge was married to 
Nancy Sample, a native of Virginia. I?y this 
union there were six children, one of whom is 
living— Joseph T. Mr. Bridge, on coming to the 
county, first located in Jefferson on section 30, 
and was elected the first treasurer of that town 
at its organization. In 1874 he came to Mon- 
roe, where he has since resided. He came to 
the county in limited circumstances, but by in- 
dustry and judicious ma,nagement," has accumu- 
lated a competency. Mr. and Mrs. Bridge are 
members of the Christian Church. 

Henry Thorp, one of the prominent men of 
the county, was born April 11, 1838. In 1840 
he came to Green county, where he received a 
liberal education. He was married March 10, 
1864, to Remember Bowen, a daughter of Hon. 
Thomas Bowen, one of the early settlers of the 
county. She was born in Green county, Jan. 
28, 1847. By this union there are three chil- 
dren — George E., Frank W. and Eugene B. 
Mr. Thorp has always taken an active interest 
in agriculture and stock growing. He is at 
prosent president of the agricultural society of 
the county, lie is one of the influential farm- 
ers, and a large land holder, owning 440 acres 
of valuable land in the town of Clarno. He 
removed to Monroe in 1S83, where he is lead- 
ing a retired life. 

Norman Churchill, one of tlie early settlers 



of Green county, was born in Troy township, 
Madison Co., 111., Jan. lY, 1826. His father, 
William B. Churchill, was a native of Vermont, 
and left his native county when a boy, remov- 
ing to New York and remaining in that State a 
short time, then removing to Illinois. His 
mother, Almira Humes, was a native of New 
Hampshire. The family consisted of the par- 
ents and five children. The subject of this 
sketch left Illinois and came to this county in 
1840. From 1842 to 1847 most of his time was 
spent in the pineries on the Wisconsin river. 
Then he learned the trade of millwright, which 
he followed for a number of years, and then 
engaged in house building. In 1858 he built 
the first planing mill in the county, having an 
interest in the same. In 1854 he was married 
to Anna E., daughter of Dr. Sherman, of this 
place. By this union there were six children, 
four of whom are living — Carlos B., William, 
Minnie and Ernest. Mr. Churchill is now en- 
gaged as part owner of a saw mill, a planing 
mill and cheese box factory. He is an enter- 
prising citizen, and has done much toward tlie 
development of the town and county. 

George W. Thorpe, one of the influential 
business men of the county, was born in Gieen 
Co, Wis., Nov. 17, 1841, and was brought up 
on his father's farm, receiving his early educa- 
tion in the log cabins of his native county. 
He afterwards attended the academy at Saville, 
Ohio, also Oberlin College one term. In Jan- 
uary, 1867, he was married to Flora Mease, a 
daughter of Dr. L. A. Mease, of Freeport, who 
was widely known through this portion of the 
country, and was one of Stephenson county's 
most prominent physicians. The doctor was a 
native of Union Co., Penn., and came to Ste- 
phenson county in 1845, immediately after grad- 
uating at Rush Medical College, and later at 
Jefferson Medical (\)llege, Philadelphia. Mr. 
and Mrs. Thorpe are the parents of four chil- 
dren—Edwin M., Lizzie C, Lura L. and Nora 
S. Mr. Thorpe has been largely engaged in 



hi 



970 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



farming and stock growing. He has a beautiful 
farm in the town of Clarno, of 428 acres, 
valued at $55 per acre. In 1864 he enlisted in 
the 38th regiment, serving until the close of 
the war, and was mustered out at Madison, Wis. 
Mrs. Thorpe was a graduate of the high school 
at Freeport, and attended the State Normal one 
year. 

J. B. Miller, one of the pioneers of the coun- 
ty, was born in Lebanon, Madison Co., N. Y., 
Aug. 15, 1814. His parents were William Mil- 
ler and Lucy (Ford) Miller, the father formerly 
from Vermont and the mother from Worcester 
Co., Mass. They were married in Madison Co., 
N. Y., and were the parents of nine children, 
four of whom are now living. About 1828 the 
parents removed to Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and 
in '1 842 came to this county, where they both 
died. The mother had been a life-long Chris- 
tian and at the time of her death was a mem- 
ber of the Free Will Baptist Chui-ch. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was brought up in Madison 
Co. N. Y. He. was married in Cattaraugus 
county, of that State, by Elder Piatt, to Patty 
Crowel, a native of Penfield, N. Y., Sept. 8, 
1839. She was a daughter of William and Polly 
(Dav) Crowel. By this union there were four 
children — Lucy Jane, born Oct. 29, 1841, and 
died March 12, 1859; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Al- 
bert Post, of Chippewa Falls; Eugene, born 
Aug. 12, 1849, is married and lives on the farm 
where he was born; and Viola D., wife of 
James R. Campbell. On the 21st day of April, 
1841, they emigrated to this county, coming 
through with a team in eighteen days, and lo- 
cated in the town of York, on section 24. Here 
he took up wild land, and while building their 
shanty, which was 18x20 feet in size, lived with 
William Green. Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to 
the county with about $50 in money, a good 
team and a poor harness and wagon as capital, 
but by energy and hard work they have placed 
themselves in comfortable circumstances. He 
has held local office, and is among the solid 



men of the county. They are members of the 
Free Will Baptist Church. 

A. L. Cleveland, a native of Washington Co., 
N. Y., was bomi July 23, 1820. His father, 
Job Cleveland, was a soldier in the War of 
1812. His mother, Almira (Fenton) Cleveland, 
was a native of Connecticut. About 1836 they 
removed to Genesee Co., N. Y., where they 
lived for many years. Job Cleveland died at 
the age of seventy-four. His wife is still living 
at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The 
subject of this sketch was reared and educated 
in his native State, attending Alexander Classi- 
cal Seminary. In 1842 he came to Green coun- 
ty, where he was employed in teaching school 
seven years. About 1845 hs went to Rockford, 
111., and took a course of study in surveying, 
under Prof. Huntington. He went, in 1850, 
across the plains to California, where he was 
engaged in the mines three years. In 1853 he 
was united in marriage with Lucy Charles, and 
soon after came to Green county, which has 
since been his residence. He has held the 
office of county surveyor, school commissioner 
and other offices in this county. 

Jacob Hammon, who located in this county 
in September, 1841, was born in Jackson Co., 
Ind., on the 3d day of April, 1820. He is a son 
of John H. and Catharine (Isimenger) Hammon. 
The former was a native of Georgia and the 
latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in 
Ohio, and soon after went to Jackson Co., Ind., 
where they remained a short time, then re- 
moved to Morgan county, and thence to Ver- 
milion county. In 1842 they came to Green 
county and [)urchased land in the town of Syl- 
vester, on section 17. He died in Monroe in 
1873. Mrs. Hammon died in 1861. They were 
members of the M. E. Church. Jacob Ham- 
mon, of this sketch, was married Jan. 21, 1841, 
to Eliza James, a daughter of Dr. William and 
Mary (Wasson) James, and a native of Vermil- 
ion Co., Ind. In September, 1841, Mr. Ham- 
mon started for Green county with his wife 
and all their worldly goods, which consisted of 



HISTORY OF GKEKN COUNTY. 



971 



a pair of plug horses valued at about $70, and 
an old wagon, besides $10 in money. On their 
arrival he set himself about making a liorae, 
but the first few years met with many difficul- 
ties and discouragements. He persevered, 
however, and is now in prosperous circum- 
stances, having 252 acres of land, valued at $40 
per acre, and forty-two acres within the city 
limits, valued at $150 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hammon have had six children, five of whom 
are living — Jane, now Mrs. M. Hurlbut; Sarah, 
wife of A. E. Hare; Ida A., wife of Albert 
Berryman; Amos N., married to Ida Sissons, of 
Monroe; and Mary E., married to Richard 
Smith. 

George Adams, a native of Bedford Co., 
Penn., was born May 27, 18u2. He is a son of 
Jacob and Clara Adams, of German descent, 
who were the parents of ten children, five sons 
and five daughters. The father and mother 
both died in Bedford Co., Penn. The former 
was a man of sterling qualities, and quite prom- 
inent in the community where he lived. The 
subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm 
and received his education in the subscription 
schools. He was married Nov. 17, 1825, to 
Margaret Mills, of Bedford Co., Penn. Six 
children blessed this union, four of whom are 
now living — Jacob, living in Monroe; Michael, 
living in Washington Territory; William, now 
in Missouri; and Clarasa, wife of Abram Smith, 
now in Iowa. In the fall of 1835 he left Bed- 
ford Co., Penn., with teams, crossing the moun- 
tains and locating in Hardin Co., Ohio, then a 
wilderness. There he purchased land and 
cleared up a farm. They had to go forty miles 
for provisions and family supplies. They built 
a small log cabin, with puncheon floor, and en- 
dured the privations of pioneer life. There 
Mrs. Adams died, Aug. 20, 1839. In the fall 
of 1842 he came to this county and the year 
following located some land. He was again 
married Oct. IS, 184.3, to Jemima Boyls. She 
was born in Green Co., Penn., Dec. 16, 1817. 
She was a daughter of Capt. William and Mary 



(Robins) Boyls. Her father proposed the 
name for the State capital of Wisconsin which 
was adopted, and also the name of the city of 
Monroe. Her father came to this county in 
1835 from Indiana, where he had settled in 
182G. He was a soldier of the Black Hawk 
War, and in 1836 and 1837 was a member of 
the Territorial legislature. In 1860 he removed 
to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, where he died in the 
fall of 1881. Her mother had died some years 
previously. By the second marriage there were 
eight children, seven of whom are living — 
Margaret, wife of W. Counet, now living in 
Nebraska; Mattie, wife of Peter Withington, 
now of Montana; Lissie, Charles H., a resident 
of Nebraska; Helen, wife of Eugene White; 
Tyre A., wife of Thomas J. Stauer; and A. V., 
married to Ollie Morton, and lives on the home- 
stead. In 1876 Mr. Adams removed to Monroe, 
where he is living a retired life. 

B. L. Wood came with his parents, Stephen 
and Betsey (Loveland) Wood, to Green county 
in 1844. They first lived in the town of Jef- 
ferson upon a farm owned by Joseph Forbee. 
They afterwards removed to the village of Exe- 
ter, where they resided a number of years. B. 
L. Wood lived at home until he Avas fifteen 
years old. He then purchased a farm of 110 
acres in the town of Mount Pleasant, which, in 
1866, he sold, and removed to Monticello. lie 
purchased another farm of 260 acres upon which 
he lived until 1876, then bought the farm 
known as the Adams place, in the same town. 
It consisted of 360 acres. In 1880 he sold this 
place and bought a farm in the town of Monroe, 
containing 260 acres. He commenced business 
in Juda, buying and shipping grain and stock 
in 1883. He was married Nov. 3, 1861, to 
Judith Griffin, daughter of Hiram and Helen 
(McCall) Griffin, of Dane county. They liave 
three children — Alva S.. Stella M. and Helen 
P. Stella is married to W. C. ShefFer and liv- 
ing in Juda. Mrs. Wood's parents live in 
Michigan, where her father is engaged in tiie 
business of growing and shipping fruit. Mr. 



972 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Wood's parents are dead. His father is buried 
in Monticello, and his mother in Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Wood was born in Madison Co., N. Y., 
Feb. 14, 1838. 

J. H. Foster was born in Kennebec Co., 
Maine, June 5, 1831. His parents were Wards- 
worth and Lucy (Haywood) Foster. In 184."), 
his father emigrated to this county, having in 
early life followed the ocean, plying between 
Nantucket and the West Indies. He settled in 
Monroe, and purchased land adjoining the vil- 
lage limits, and laid out what is known as 
Foster's addition . Mr. Foster, Sr., was a man 
highly respected in the community, and was 
twice elected to the office of county treasurer, 
and was a member of the board on the organiza- 
tion of the town. The subject of this sketch 
in 1855, engaged in the furniture business. He 
was married in 1861, to Helen Scovil, a 
daughter of Lyman Scovil, one of the 
early settlers of the county. Four children 
blessed this union, three of whom are now liv- 
ing — Eva, Nellie and Florence. Mr. Foster 
has been closely identified with the county for 
nearly forty years, and has seen the develop- 
ment from a vast wilderness to one of the best 
counties in the State. In 1859 he was appointed 
deputy sheriff, and served six years. He is a 
member of the Masonic lodges. Blue and 
Chapter. 

George Goodrich, retired farmer, is a native 
of Saratoga Co., N. Y., born April 9, 1812. He 
is a son of Jacob and Betsey (Ames) Goodrich, 
who reared a family of five sons and five daugh- 
ters, of whom George, subject of this sketch, 
is the only one now living. He was brought 
up on a farm, and educated in the common 
schools. In February, 1841, he was married to 
Marthena Cushman, a daughter of Oliver and 
Clarissa (Thomas) Cushman. In 1845, they 
came to Green county, traveling with a team to 
Buffalo, thence by water to Little Port, a small 
harbor north of Chicago, completing the jour- 
ney from that point by team. They settled in 



the town of Clarno, where he broke the prairie 
and opened a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich 
came to Green county, poor in purse, but with 
good health and plenty of energy. They have 
accumulated a competency. He owned at one 
time, 330 acres of fine land, which he sold for 
$65 per acre. In 1870, they came to Monroe, 
where they are now living in the enjoyment of 
the fruits of their past labor. 

J. Jacob Tschudy, one of the prominent men 
of Green county, was born in the canton of 
Glarus, Switzerland, June 26, 1826, where he 
grew to manhood, receiving his early education 
in the schools of said canton. In 1844 he 
graduated at Aarau (Switzerland) College. In 
1846 he came to Wisconsin, being sent by the 
trustees of the emigration association of said 
canton of Glarus, as assistant leader (or super- 
visor) of the Swiss colony of New Glarus, which 
was founded in 1845. In 1854 he resigned this 
office, soon moving away from New^ Glarus to a 
farm and thence to Dayton. In 1858 he was 
elected register of deeds of said county of Green, 
and re-elected in 1860. In 1863 he was elected 
clerk of the town board of Monroe, and in the 
winter of 1863-4 he w^as appointed recording 
clerk, and subsequently assistant clerk (of the 
chief. clerk) of the Senate in Madison. In 1864 
he was elected clerk of the county board of su- 
pervisors, after having served over one year 
as deputy, as such clerk. For this office he was 
elected four times, serving nearly ten consecu- 
tive years in said office. In 1883 he was elected 
by the first ward of the city of Moni-oe, as its 
representative in the county board of super- 
visors, and is serving now as the chairman of 
the building committee for the construction of 
a new court house. In 1848 he was married to 
Barbara Hottinger, from Switzerland, by whom 
he had ten children, of whom nine are living. 
In New Glarus and Monroe he was one of the 
foundei's of the German Cluirch congregations. 
Reformed Evangelical Church, and is now a 
member and trustee of said *^^hurch in Monroe. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



973 



George Spangler, gunsmith', is a native of 
Pennsylvania, born Dec. 23, 1829. He was a 
son of Samuel and Catharine (Zimmerman) 
Spangler, who emigrated to this county in 1844, 
and in 1846 settled in Monroe, and started the 
first gun shop in the county. The subject of 
this sketch succeeded his father in business, and 
has prosecuted the same since. In 1858 he 
was married to Kate V. Zimmerman, by whom 
he has one child — Anna M. Mr. Spangler is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and president of the 
sharpshooters society. He has been identified 
with the county for more than forty years. 

James Ely, one of the pioneers of this county, 
was born in Green Co., Penn., on the 22d day 
of February, 1822. His parents were John and 
Catharine Ely, natives of the same State. About 
1829, John Ely emigrated with his family to 
Knox Co., Ohio, which was then an unbroken 
wilderness, infested with Indians. Here he 
cleared a farm, which he afterwards sold, and 
removed to another. He came to Monroe in 
October, 1846, traveling overland with teams. 
They were twenty-two days on the road, cross- 
ing the Black Swamp on corduroy bridges, and 
fording streams. Mr. Ely died in 1850. Mrs, 
Ely died in the fall of 1846. They were both 
members of the Christian Church for many 
years. James Ely, subject of this sketch, was 
reared and educated in the wilds of Ohio. The 
first school that he attended was in a log cajbin 
with a puncheon floor, slab benches and desks, 
with windows of greased paper. He was mar- 
ried in Ohio, to Sarah E. Corbin, daughter of 
William K. Corbin, a native of Washington 
Co., Penn., who settled in Ohio in 1823. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ely had twelve children, nine sons 
and three daughters, eight of whom are living 
— William K., Sophia, Jerome C, Minerva, 
James M., Thomas B., Edwin E. and Francis M. 
Two of the sons, Erastus and William K., en- 
listed in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. 
Erastus died in the service, while on board the 
steamer e7?<Z«rt, in 1864, from eating cakes con- 
taining poison, which he had obtained fi'om a 



rebel woman in Memphis. He was much es- 
teemed by his comrades, and a favorite in his 
company. Mr. Ely came to the town of Mon- 
roe in 1846, took land and made a home, where 
he lived twenty-nine years. At that time, 1846, 
the country was new. There were no mills in 
this section, and the settlers were compelled to 
go to Beloit for their milling. At one time he 
hauled; wheat to Milwaukee and sold it for 
thirty-seven and a half cents per bushel. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ely, on their arrival in this county, 
were in limited'circumstances, $8 and an old 
team and wagon comprising the whole of their 
worldly goods. Coming through Indiana and 
Illinois, they contracted the fever and ague, 
from which they did not recover for a year. 
Being nearly out of money, he was obliged to 
find employment at once, and went to a man by 
the name of Rust, who, after some deliberation, 
concluded to hire him, agreeing to pay him fifty 
cents per day. The following winter, he tried 
hunting, but found that tramping through the 
snow and roughing it were not particularly 
beneficial to the ague, and abandoned it. He 
finally struck a new source of revenue in the 
manufacture of splint baskets which he con- 
tracted to Isaac Moulton, he to receive fifty cents 
each for bushel baskets, and to take bis pay in 
groceries. The next spring he went to work 
for Mr. Rust, but in May he was taken sick with 
the ague, and for one year was unable to do 
any work. In a new country, sick, and with but 
little to subsist upon, his experience was hard 
indeed, to endure. In the fall of 1850 he pur- 
chased 160 acres of land, and built a log cabin 
18x20 feet. Their furniture was of the rudest 
kind, all home made. This was their begin- 
ning in this county. They are now in posses- 
sion of a comfortable fortune, which is due to 
their perseverence, industry and economy. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ely are members of the Christian 
Church, 

Lucius Wolcott, a native of Wyoming Co., N. 
Y., was born Feb. 6, 1816, and is a son of Daniel 



9li 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and Maria Wolcott, natives of Connecticut, 
who settled in Genesee Co., N. Y., when young 
people. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, nine of whom reached maturity. Daniel 
Wolcott was, in early life, a whig, but after- 
wards voted with the republican party. He 
held the office of justice of the peace for fifteen 
years, and was several times assessor, town 
clerk and supervisor; a man of superior ability. 
'He died in 1849. Lucius Wolcott, subject of 
this sketch, was married June 2, 1840, to Olive 
W. Chandler, a native of New Hampshire, born 
Oct. 2, 1822. He lived in Wethersfield, until 
1842, when he removed to Burlington, Iowa, 
and in 1846 moved to Monroe, Wis., since 
which time he has been a resident of this 
county. He started the first nursery in Green 
county. It was known as "Wolcott's Nursery." 
He followed that business about twelve years. 
He was elected to the office of county treasurer, 
which office he held two terms. He has also 
held many offices of minor note. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wolcott have two children — Albert M. 
and Florence E. 

Alanson Corson, a native of Somerset Co., 
Maine, was born Dec. 25, 1808. He was a son 
of Moses and Roxy (Carpenter) Corson, na- 
tives of the same State, who were the parents 
of eight children, seven of whom lived to an 
adult age. The father died about 1876, and the 
mother was again married to Levi Bean, and 
afterwards married a man by the name of Lord. 
The subject of this sketch, when a young man, 
learned the trade of harness maker. He was 
married in Somerset county to Harriet Ben- 
son, six children were born to them, five of 
whom are still living — Moses Sylvester, Wil- 
liam H , Henry T., Mary M., who was married 
to Otto Leicering, and now Mrs. M. Rosenblatt; 
Emma J., now Mrs. Moses Rutter. Mrs. Cor- 
son died in 184'7. He was again married to 
Harriet Drave, a daughter of James and Mar- 
garet (Frazie) Drave, from Maryland, who emi- 
grated to Green county in 1846. By this union 



there were born- — James W., Walter S., Louisa 
(deceased) and Hattie. In April, 1842, Mr. 
Corson arrived in the village of Monroe, then a 
small hamlet, having but a few log cabins. Here 
he started the first harness shop, and made the 
first harness manufactured here. He drew by 
team his lumber from Chicago, at that time a 
small, muddy village. He built the first brick 
building where J. Bolender's store now stands, 
by whom it is still used. He followed the har- 
ness business many years, and afterward en- 
gaged in the boot and shoe business, and kept a 
general store, drawing his goods from Chicago. 
In 1863 he went to California, taking twenty- 
two horses and crossing the plains. In 1871 
he went to Sioux Falls and built a hotel called 
"Cataract House." This was tlie first hotel in 
the city. Mr. Corson has always led an active 
life. He has for many years been a democrat, 
and although commencing poor, has an abund- 
ance for all the wants of life. 

John L. Perrine, one of the early settlers of 
the county, was born in Middlesex Co., N. J., 
Sept. 12, 1803, where he grew to manhood, re- 
ceiving his education in the subscription 
schools. When seventeen years old, he was 
apprenticed to the trade of blacksmithing. His 
parents were Robert Perrine, a soldier in the 
War of 1812, and Catharine Anderson, a daugh- 
ter of Col. Anderson, of the Revolutionary 
War, who were the parents of eight children. 
Thfe subject of this sketch was also in the War 
of 1812, under his father. In 1827 he was 
married to Eliza Ann Gordon, by whom there 
were eight children, two of whom are now liv- 
ing- -William, of Green county, and Rebecca 
F., wife of Foster Barber, of Stephenson Co., 
111. In the fall of 1847, Mr. Perrine came to 
this county and first settled in Monroe; after- 
wards he opened up a farm in the town of 
Washington. Mrs. Perrine died in about 1855. 
She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
a sincere Christian, and beloved by all who 
knew her. He was again married March 26, 
1859, to Emily Carpenter, who died without 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



9V5 



children. In June, 1875, he was again mar- 
ried to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Green, a daughter of 
John Dedrick, of Ohio. This third wife was 
formerly married to Charles E. Green, a native 
of New York, who settled in Green county, in 
1847, by whom there were two children —James 
and Olive. Mr. Perrine has been successful 
and by his own industry has accumulated a 
good property, and is in the enjoyment of a 
good home. 

Jacob Hefty, brewer, was born in canton 
Glarus, Switzerland, April 15, 1835. He came 
with his parents to Green county in 1847, who 
made settlement on section 4, town of Wash- 
ington, where they took up land and made a 
farm. His father died in 1871. He came here 
poor, but at the time of his death had accumu- 
lated considerable property. In 1873 his 
mother died. They were both members of the 
Lutheran Church, and at the time of their 
death had 640 acres of land. The subject of this 
sketch was married in 1857 to Catharine 
Blumer, by whom there were six children, five 
now living — Maggie, Katie, Fred, Annie and 
Emma. In 1868 he came to Monroe and en- 
gaged in the brewing business, which he has 
since followed. 

Willard E. Grinnell was born in Montgomery 
Co., N. Y., Sept. 21, 1824. He is a son of 
Robert P. and Esther (Montgomery) Grinnell. 
The latter was a relative of Gen. Montgomery, 
of Revolutionary fame. In 1836 the family re- 
moved to Monroe Co., N. Y., and in 1847 came 
to Green Co., Wis., and located in the town of 
Adams, where Mr. Grinnell, Sr., took laud and 
opened a farm. The subject of this sketch 
came to this county with his parents. He was 
married in the spring of 1847 to Mary Hanks, 
of Erie Co., N. Y. By this union there were 
eleven children, nine of whom are living — 
Louisa, Anson, Willis, Harry, Serepta, Alice, 
Esther, Walter and Bertie. Mr. Grinnell is a 
staunch republican, and has held several local 
offices. He came to Green county when it was 
in a wild, unsettled condition. He has lived to 



see it transformed into a a populous and well 
cultivated country, and comfortable and beauti- 
ful homes now stand where formerly stood the 
primitive log cabin of the pioneer. He came 
here poor, but by energy and close attention to 
business, has accumulated a competency. 

CD. Hulburt, one of the early settlers of 
the county, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 26, 1829. He is a son of Julius and Sarah 
M. (Vosburg) Hulburt, who came to Green 
county in 1847. They were the parents of three 
sons and one daughter, of whom the subject of 
this sketch is the only survivor. In the winter 
of 1850-1 Julius Hulburt was a member of the 
State legislature. He died Oct. 19, 1881 . Mrs. 
Hulburt's death occurred two years previously. 
They were life-long members of the Baptist 
Church, and were highly respected in the com- 
munity where they lived. C. D. Hulburt was 
married Oct. 13, 1852, to Sarah E. Searles, a 
daughter of Dennis and Adeline (Doolittle) 
Searles. They first settled in Albany, in this 
county, where Mr, Hulburt was for some years 
engaged in the carpenter and joiner business. 
He afterwards engaged in lumbering, a business 
which he still carries on, and removed to Mon- 
roe in December, 1874. April 19, 1865, Mr. 
Hulburt sailed from Boston in the ship City of 
Boston^ on a voyage around the world. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hulburt have one child — Lorrain S,, 
who is a graduate of the State University at 
Madison. 

David Wakeman Ball was born in 1818. He 
was a native of Jefferson Co., Ohio. At the 
age of fourteen years he was converted to the 
Christian religion, became a Methodist, and for 
the remainder of his life never severed his con- 
nection with that Church. He was married to 
Catharine E. Smock in 1843, in Ohio. To them 
were born nine children, eight of whom are liv- 
ing, grown to manhood and womanhood. They 
live to honor their father's name, respected and 
useful members of society. He came to Green 
county in 1849, and has lived here ever since. 
In his early life he was a farmer, and until 



976 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



quite receutly was interested in that branch of 
industry, directly or indirectly. He recently 
disposed of his large farm east of Monroe, and 
had put his affairs in the best shape possible. 
He was taken ill on the 12th of April, 1883, 
with pneumonia, which from the first he be- 
lieved to be the beginning of the end with him 
on earth. He died on Thursday' evening fol- 
lowing, surrounded by his family. When 
death came he was ready for the summons, and 
as the spirit went out of the body, a smile 
passed over the silent features that was born of 
heaven. The funeral took place on Sunday, 
from the Methodist church, and notwithstand- 
ing the extremely stormy weather, more came 
than could get into the building. No services 
were held in any other church, and people, 
without distinction of faith or belief, came to 
pay their respects to the memory of the de- 
parted. The rites were impressively conducted 
by Rev. J. S. Thompson, assisted by Revs. L. 
S. Morton and L. W. Bingham. The choir also 
comprised members of the several Churches. 
The pall bearers were: Judge B. Dunwiddie, 
L. Davenport, J. H. Bridge, William Gray, 
Harrison King and B. Lemont. At 12 o'clock 
noon the procession started from the church, 
and the mortal remains of D. W. Ball wasiaid 
in the quiet grave until the final day. Mr. Ball 
soon became prominent in this section, and in 
1857 was elected county treasurer. In 1861 he 
was appointed postmaster, and held the office 
for six years, with great acceptability to the 
people. In 1874 he was elected sheriff. In 
this oflBce he was remarkably successful . He 
was a clear headed man in all things, cool and 
deliberate in his actions, and an excellent judge 
of human nature. He performed the some- 
times unpleasant duties devolving upon him 
impartially, but in as pleasant a manner as cir- 
cumstances would permit. In fine, he possessed 
executive ability of a high order. In 1876 he 
was again appointed postmaster, serving four 
years, with honor to himself and justice to the 
people. In November, 1882, he received the 



appointment of postmaster for the third and 
lust time. His administration of the postoffice 
has been eminently successful, and the hope 
has been fondly entertained that its affairs 
would remain under his supervision for many 
years to come. In view of these things, next 
to his family, the community has met with a 
most serious loss in the death of D. W. Ball. 
As a friend remarked on the day of the funeral, 
"there was only one D. W. Ball in Monroe." 
Such expressions of esteem show in what high 
regard he was held by the citizens. The kind 
remembrances of friends in the shape of the 
florist's art at the church were profuse and ap- 
propriate, and showed in part how high the de- 
ceased was esteemed. The floral tributes were 
exquisite for their workmanship, and were com- 
posed of a pillow of pansies, finely designed 
cross, wreaths, star, beautiful bouquets, etc. 
The presence of the gifts upon and around the 
coffin spoke more than words could express the 
sentiments of the donors for the deceased. 

C. M. King was born in ErieCo., Penn., Aug. 
4, 1808. He is the son of Robert and Sarah 
(Martin) King, who were the parents of two 
children — C. M. and Julia A. Mrs. King died, 
and Robert King was again married to Lydia 
Randall, and by this union there were four 
children, only three of whom are now living. 
Mr. King died in 1839. His wife is still living 
in Iowa, at the age of ninety years. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, and received a common school educa- 
tion. He was married in 1831, in Erie county, 
and soon after removed to Ashtabula Co., Ohio. 
In the spring of 1849 they came to Green 
Co., Wis. They have had five children, four of 
whom are living — Charles D., William W., 
Robert R. and Zaphna L. Mr. King is one of 
the staunch republicans of the county. In 1860 
he went to California and engaged in mining a 
short time, then returned and worked at the 
carpenter and joiner's trade. Three of his sons 
were in the service during the late war. 

Joseph Perrine, one of the pioneers of Green 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



977 



county, is a native of Middlesex Co., N. J., 
born May 20, 1806. He is a son of Robert and 
Catharine (Anderson) Perrine, who were the 
parents of eight children, four sons and four 
daughters. Mr. Perrine, Sr., was a soldier in 
the War of 1812, and held a commission as 
captain. He was a man of superior ability. 
Joseph Perrine, subject of this sketch, learned 
the mason's trade in New York city, where he 
took contracts and employed at times as many 
as sixty men. July 1, 1827, he was married, in 
New York, to Jane Brush, by whom he had 
eight children, two of whom are now living — 
Sarah, now Mrs, John F. Brown, and Mary, wife 
of Gershom Bintliff. Mrs. Perrine died July 
22, 1839. She was a member of the Presby- 
terian Church and highly respected. Mr. Per- 
rine's second wife was formerly Mary O'Con- 
ner, and by this union there were ten children, 
seven of whom are living — Jane, now Mrs. J. 
B. Galusha; Henry, Erastus, Lucy, now Mrs. 
Ferris Miller; Hale, Elgin and Emma. Mrs. 
Perrine died Jan. 26, 1881. In the spring of 
1849, Mr. Perrine came west and traveled exten- 
sively through the northwest. In the spring 
of 1850 he moved his family to Monroe, where 
he purchased a quarter section adjoining the 
town. His first house was built opposite the 
M. E. church. He is one of the staunch re- 
publicans of the county. Mr. Perrine came to 
the county in limited circumstances and has 
been successful in amassing a considerable 
property. 

H. G. Cleveland, a native of Maine, was born 
in Somerset county, Jan. 26, 1829. He re- 
mained in his native State until twenty-one 
years old, spending his time upon a farm and 
attending the common schools. In 1850 he 
came to Green county with his parents, who 
located in the town of Jordan on a farm. In 
1863 he enlisted in the 16th Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and before leaving the State was 
commissioned as 2d lieutenant of his company. 
The following March his company joined the 
regiment at Black River Bridge, Mississippi. 



July 21, in front of Atlanta, he was wounded 
in the left arm, in consequence of which he 
was obliged to suffer its amputation. He then 
went home on furlough, with the intention of 
again joining his regiment, but_failed to do so 
on account of sickness from loss of arm. He 
was discharged at Louisville, Ky., Nov. 17, 1864. 
James Cleveland was born in Somerset Co., 
Maine, Oct. 5, 1799. March 15, 1827, he was 
married to Edith Cragin, a native of the same 
county, born Jan. 18, 1802. They were the 
parents of nine children, five of whom lived to 
an adult age. Mr. Cleveland was a man who 
never sought office, although always well posted 
in regard to the political affairs of the county and 
State. He was an old line whig, but afterwards 
affiliated with the republican party. He 
held several local offices in the town. He was 
an honest, upright man and respected by all. 
He died in February, 1868. Mrs. Cleveland is 
still living with her son in Monroe. 

Henry Schindler, a native of Switzerland, was 
born in canton Glarus, Aug. 15, 1815. His 
parents, Andrew and Anna (Zimmerman) 
Schindler, had five children, three sons and two 
daughters — Rosina, Jacob, Henry, Andrew and 
Anna. Henry, the subject of this sketch, when 
twenty-two years old, learned the carpenter's 
trade. He was married in his native country 
to Catharine Zapfi, who was born Feb. 21, 1826. 
By this union twelve children were born, seven 
of whom are living — Anna, Henry, Adam, 
Katie, Maggie, Andrew and Jacob, five of whom 
are living in California. Henry Schindler came 
to America in 1845, and first settled in Syracuse, 
N. Y. Two years later he went to Milwaukee, 
and in 1850 came to Monroe, which then con- 
sisted of a few poorly built houses. There was 
but one family of Germans in the place at that 
time. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler, like many 
others, came to Green county in very limited 
circumstances, but are now in possession of a 
comfortable home, which is due to their own 
exertions. They are members of the Evan- 
gelical Church. 



978 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Peter Spahr was born in canton Bern, 
Switzerland, in September, 1814. When thir- 
teen years old he commenced to learn the trade 
of a tailor in his father's shop. He was 
married Jan. 24, 1833, to Anna Jacobs, by whom 
he had seven children, five of whom are living — 
Barbara, wife of John Klub, of Shelby Co., 
Iowa; Mary, wife of Ernest Hahn; Elizabeth, 
wife of Samuel Schuler; Rosa, wife Jacob 
Schuler; and John, who married Jennie Aid- 
rich, In 1851 Mr. Spahr left his home in 
Switzerland and emigrated to America, locating 
in Monroe, where he has followed his trade 
since. Mr. and Mrs. Spahr have lived together 
as man and wife for fifty-one years. In 1883 
they had their golden wedding. They are 
members of the German Lutheran Church, be- 
ing among the first members of the same. He 
has always taken an interest in the Church and 
has done much for its support. 

Charles D. Corson was born in Athens, Maine, 
Nov. 22, 1834. His parents were D. F. and 
Deborah (Norton) Corson, both natives of 
Maine. The subject of this sketch was edu- 
cated in his native State. When fourteen years 
old he learned the trade of harness maker and 
saddler in his father's shop. In 1851 he came 
to Monroe and worked at his trade. In 1856 he 
formed a partnership with his father under the 
firm name of D. F. Corson & Son. In 1858 he 
was married to Frances Davison, a native of 
New York. Three children blessed this union — 
Clara, Cora and Frank E. Mr. Corson is one 
of the strong temperance workers of the town. 
Is a member of the Good Templars, Temple of 
Honor and A. O. U. W. Mr. atid Mrs. Corson 
are active members of the Metiiodist Episcopal 
Church. 

R. Craven, brickmaker, was born in Wash- 
ington Co., Penn., Dec. 28, 1828. He is a son 
Joshua and Elizabeth (Blain) Craven, natives 
of the same county, where they reared a family 
of ten children, nine of whom are now living. 
Mrs. Craven died in April, 1843. Mr. Craven 
\ra8 again married to Margaret Study, by whom 



he had two children, both of whom died in 
childhood. In 1856 Mr. Craven, Sr., went to 
Tyler Co., W. Va., where he remained until the 
time of his death in 1882. The subject of this 
sketch received his education in the subscrip- ' 
tion schools. He was married March 23, 1862, 1 
Anna M. Miller, a daughter of Peter and Lydia 
Miller, of Northampton Co., Penn. Four chil- i 
dren blessed this union — Alma, Charles M., j 
Nettie and Harry B. In the spring of 1851 he ] 
came to this county, making the journey by 
team. It was an extremely rainy season and 
the roads were at times almost impassable. 
They were forty-three days on the road. Dur- 
ing the next six years he was engaged in wagon- 
making, and mining a little at intervals. In the 
fall of 1857 he commenced making brick, which • 
occupation he has followed up to the present 
time. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
of the Encampment. 

Fred E. Legler, of the firm of Treat & Co., 
was born in New Glarus, Green Co., Wis., Sept. 
2, 1851. His parents were George and Anna 
(Durst) Legler, who emigrated to America in 
1846, with a colony, and made settlement in 
New Glarus, where he took up land and en- 
gaged in farming. The father was poor, and 
participatetl in all the privations ami hardships 
endured by that colony, but his reward came, 
and he is now in the enjoyment of a com- 
petence fairly won, a home honestly gained. 
Atone time he owned 380 acres of land. The 
subject of this sketch was brought up on a 
farm, and received his early education in the 
common school; subsequently he attended 
school at Plaiiifield, 111., and atEvansville Sem- 
inary, Evansville, Wis. He there taught school 
for two years. In 1873, he engaged in the mer- 
cantile trade in New Glarus, which occupation 
he followed nine and one half years, then came - 
to Monroe and formed a partnership with J. B, 
Treat. In 1873, he was married to Rosa Hefty. 
They have three children living — Georgia, 
Sylvia M. and Alice L. Mr. and Mrs. 
Legler are members of the Evangelical Church. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



979 



John Beach, a native of Lincolushire, England, 
was born May 30, 1828. He is a son of George 
and Fannie J. Beach, who were the parents of 
twelve children, eleven of whom grew to ma- 
turity. The subject of this sketch was reared 
in his native country until twenty-three years of 
age, when he emigrated to America. He land- 
ed in New York in 1852, and in 1854, came to 
Green county. He took a claim of eighty 
acres of government land on section 36, town 
of Jordan. He was married in Lincolnshire, 
Aug, 19, 1845, to Susan Martin, daughter of 
Joseph and Jane (Bedford) Martin. Mr. and 
Mrs. Beach have had nine children born to 
them, five of whom are living — Joseph, Robert, 
Mary A., wife of William Roberts ; William 
and Jane, wife of Jesse Trickel. When Mr. 
Beach arrived in New York city in 1852, he 
had but $1 in his pocket, and to-day he owns 
330 acres of land, valued at |30 per acre. He 
has forty acres near town, valued at $100 per 
acre. In the spring of 1882, he removed to the 
city of Monroe, where he lives a retired live. 

Ben L. Hoyland, cabinet maker, was born in 
Geauga Co., Uhio, on the 12th of March, 1827. 
When he was quite small his parents removed 
to Erie Co., Penn., and soon afterwards to Mer- 
cer Co., Penn., where he grew to manhood. 
The first school he attended was in a log cabin, 
in which the chimney took up one end of the 
house. The seats were slab benches, and the 
school was kept up by subscription. When 
twenty years of age he taught school in his 
native county. On the 9th of April, 1850, he 
was married to Sarah Stephenson, of Mercer 
Co., Penn. In 1852, he came to Green county, 
and located in Monroe, and followed the car- 
penter business. In 1864 he enlisted in the 
38th Wisconsin Infantry, company D, and par- 
ticipated in some stirring scenes during his 
time of enlistment. He was at the blowing up 
of the fort at the Horse Shoe, Weldon Rail- 
road ; and was ordered to reinforce the corps 
at Reams' Station, being under fire nearly the 
whole of the time. He was discharged on ac- 



count of the death of his wife. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hoyland were the parents of four children, 
three of whom are living— John A., Ella, wife 
of William Bowell, and Emma. Mrs. Hoy- 
land died in December, 1864. She was a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church, and highly respected 
by all who knew her. Mr. Hoyland was the 
second time married in Pennsylvania in the fall 
of 1865, to Mrs. Linsey (Stithers) Stephenson, 
widow of John Stephenson, who was killed in 
the war. The result of this union was two 
children — Charles S. and Jessie. In 1881, he 
embarked in the furniture business. He is a 
member of the Royal Arcanum. 

Lewis Gapen, one of the prominent business 
men of Green county, is a native of Green Co., 
Penn., born June 19, 1811. His father was 
John Gapen, a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War, who was one of the sixty who were sent 
out at the time of St. Clair's defeat near Cin- 
cinnati, to look after the dead, and from there 
in search of Daniel Boone, in Kentucky, whom 
they supposed had been killed by the Indians. 
After the war he returned to Green Co., Penn., 
where he was married to Sarah Swope, a native 
of Pennsylvania, and eleven children were 
born to them, seven of whom are living. The 
subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, 
and obtained his education in the subscription 
schools. In October, 1830, he was married to 
Maria Titus, a daughter of Benjamin Titus, 
who was also a soldier in the War of the Revo- 
lution. Eight children blessed this union, three 
of whom are now living — Sarah E., wife of 
Daniel J. Patton, Marion T. and William R. 
Mrs. Gapen died in the summer of 1849. She 
was a member of the Regular Baptist Church, 
a sincere Christian, and much respected by all. 
Mr. Gapen was again married Feb. 14, 1850, 
to Martha Jamison, a native of Green Co., 
Penn. By this union there were three children, 
of whom Levi H, is the only one now living. 
In the spring of 1853, Mr. Gapen took a tour 
through the west in search of a favorable loca- 
tion, and in the following October removed 



980 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



with his family to Green Co., Wis,, and set- 
tled in the town of Jefferson, on section 17, 
where he followed farming successfully for 
thirty years, accumulating a handsome fortune. 
He is now a resident of the city of Monroe, 
Green Co., Wis. 

John Moreland, one of the early settlers of 
this county, is a native of Mercer Co., Penn., 
born Sept. 7, 182:3. His parents were Robert 
Moreland, who was born in county Antrim, 
Ireland, and came to America when eight years 
old, and Martha (Mann) Moreland, a native of 
Virginia, who were the parents of twelve chil- 
dren, six sons and six daughters, nine of whom 
are now living — Robert Moreland, in 1 847 or 
1848, came to Stephenson Co., 111., and the year 
following to Green Co., Wis., and located in the 
town of Clarno, where he remained until his 
death, which occurred April 30, 1874. Mrs. 
Moi'eland, the mother of the subject of this 
sketch, died Sept. 21, 1870. Mr. Moreland, Sr., 
and his wife were members of the United Pres- 
byterian Church, and consistent Christian peo- 
ple, and died in the full hope of a glorious re- 
ward, and a happy eternal home. John M., 
the subject of this sketch, came to tliis county 
in 1853. In October, 1860, he was married to 
Anna Irwin, daughter of J. Irwin and Eliza- 
beth (Smith) Irwin. Her father was of Lancas- 
ter Co., Penn., and her mother of Crawford 
county, where she died in 1825 Mr. Irwin 
went to Crawford county when seven years old, 
and afterwards moved to Mercer Co., 111., and 
died in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Moreland are the 
parents of one child, who died in infancy. 
They have brought up two children, treating 
them as their own. In the spring of 1888 he 
came to Monroe, where he has since resided. 
Mr. Moreland has been a successful business 
man, and now owns 154 acres of land, valued 
at $65 per acre, besides other property. 

A. W. Goddard, one of the prominent busi- 
ness men of Monroe, is a native of Mercer Co., 
Ohio, born in 1832. His parents, Jabez and 
Beulah (Armstrong) Goddard, settled in Ohio 



about 1821, and removed to Indiana while A. 
W. was a boy, where he was apprenticed to 
learn the trade of tanner and currier. He came ! 
to Monroe, Green county, in 1854, and was i 
there employed in a tannery for several years. . 
In 1855 he was married to Sophronia Lindsley, , 
who died in 1856, leaving one child — Henry, 
who is now a railroad agent in Oregon. Mr, 
Goddard was again married to Sarah McMan- • 
nor, a native of Pennsylvania. By this union i 
there are four children — Edmund, Emma, Jessie 
and Milton. Edmund and Emma are now stu- 
dents at the State University. He has always 
taken an active interest in the cause of educa- 
tion, and has for eight years been a member of 
the board of education. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. Mr. and 
Mrs. Goddard are members of the M. E. Church, 
where the family worship. 

Capt. Henry Hoehn, a native of Switzer- 
land, emigrated to this country with his par- 
ents, Jacob and Anna (Hottinger) Hoehn, in 
1854. He was born July 18, 1842, and received 
a liberal education in his native country. His 
father by trade was a shoemaker and settled at 
New Glarus, where he followed the trade until 
his death which occurred in 1876. His mother 
is still living. The subject of this sketch en- 
listed in the array Oct. 7, 1861, in the 9th regi- 
ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, company 
K, and was mustered in at Milwaukee, Nov. 
16, 1861, as a })rivate. In March, 1863, he was 
promoted to corporal. In March, 1864, he was 
promoted to the rank of sergeant. In October, 
1864, h» was transferred to the 45th Regular In- 
fantry, and was promoted to the rank of captain, 
and served on detached duty on the staff of Gen. 
Miller, at Nasliville. He was mustered out at 
Nashville, Tenn., in August, 1865. Soon after 
leaving the service he received a position as 
clerk with Roth Bros, remaining with them 
until 1870, when he embarked in his present 
business under the firm name of Hoehn & 
Stingl. In 1875, Mr. Weber purchased the in- 
terest of Mr. Stingl and the style of the firm 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



became Hoehn & Weber. In 1883 they erected 
one of the finest business houses in the city oti 
the northeast corner of the square, and known 
as Ludlow's old stand. Their salesroom is 
28x95 feet, two stories and a basement, and they 
carry a stock of $20,000. In 1866, Mr. Hoehn 
was married to Eliza Kaderly, by whom he has 
four children — J. Albert, Huldah E., Ida and 
Sophia. 

LeRoy S. Smock, one of the prominent busi- 
ness men of the county, was born in Columbi- 
ana Co., Ohio, June 1, 1839. He is a son of 
Peter and Elizabeth (Teple) Smock, early set- 
tlers in Columbiana county. They were the 
parents of nine children, Peter Smock was 
born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., in 1795. In 
1820 he went to Ohio, and in 1854 came to 
Green county and located near Shuey ville, town 
of Clarno. He died in this county in 1868. In 
the days of slavery he was a strong abolitionist, 
and did all in his power to forward the anti- 
slavery cause. He was also a lirm advocate of 
the temperance cause, a member of, and one of 
the most active workers of the State temper- 
ance organization. He organized many lodges 
throughout the State. He would never sell 
a bushel of grain to be distilled into high wines. 
Throughout his whole life, hj precept and ex- 
ample, he was an earnest advocate of the 
right, always ready to lend a helping hand to 
any enterprise for the welfare of his fellow men, 
and fearlessly condemning the wrong, especially 
slavery and intemperance. For nearly a half a 
century his life was cheered by the partner of 
his bosom, who preceded him across the dark 
river, but a few months. LeRoy S. Smock was 
reared upon a farm and educated in the common 
schools. He came to Green county, with his 
parents, in 1854, and in December, 1869, was 
married to Lucretia Rittenhouse, a daughter of 
William and Sarah (Moore) Rittenhouse, men- 
tion of whom is made elsewhere in this work. 
Mrs. Smock was born in Monroe, Jan. 10, 184i>. 
Mr. Smock removed to Monroe, in i860, wlioro 



he has since been variously engaged, but prin- 
cipally in stock growing and dealing. Mr. 
Smock has profited by his father's example and 
precepts, never having tasted a drop of liquor 
in his life. He is one of the staunchest of re- 
publicans and has never sought office. He is 
largely engaged in grain and stock business in 
Nebraska. 

Samuel Schuler, harness maker, was born in 
the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, July 7, 1838. 
He is a son of Henry and Barbara (Tschudy). 
Schuler, who came to America in 1854. They 
stopped a short time in New Jersey, and the 
same fall came to New Glarus, Green county. 
In 1860 they removed to Monroe, where Mr. 
Schuler died in 1874, and Mrs. Schuler, in 1883. 
The subject of this sketch began learning his 
trade, at the age of seventeen, in the shop of 
D. F. and L. Corson, of Monroe, with whom 
he remained about four years, then went into 
business for himself. In 1861 he was married 
to Elizabeth Spahr, a daughter of Peter Spahr. 
Mr. and Mrs. Schuler are the parents of five 
children — Samuel, Jr., Otto, William., Elizabeth 
and Henry. Mr. Schuler began business with 
limited means, but by industry and fair dealing 
has acquired a comfortable property. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., the Turner's society 
and the Hook and Ladder Company. 

John Snyder, a native of Adams Co., Ind., 
was born Feb. 28, 1840. His parents, Philip 
and Fannie Snyder, were natives of Switzer- 
land, and emigrated to the United States when 
young people. They had eleven children, seven 
of whom are now living — George W., who was 
a member of the 3d Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and participated in fourteen regular en- 
gagements; Mary R., John, Catharine, Eliza- 
beth, Theressa C. and Amanda E. In 1854 John 
Snyder came to Green Co., Wis., and located at 
Monroe. In 1868 he removed to Kansas, and 
remained till 1876, then went to Nebraska. The 
following fall he came to Rock county, and in 
1877 returned to Monroe. Mrs. Snyder died in 
June of tiiat year. Slie was a member of the 



982 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Catholic Church. The subject of this sketch 
enlisted in October, 1861, in the 3d regiment of 
Missouri Cavalry, company I. He was wounded 
in the left leg, in consequence of which he was 
obliged to suffer its amputation near the thigh. 
He was taken to Raleigh, where he was dis- 
charged, July 19, 1863. He receives a pension 
from the government of |3(i per month. 

Ferdinand Shriner, one of the early arrivals 
in Monroe, was born in Elizabethtown, N. 
Y., on the 25tb of December, 1841. He is a 
son of Sebastian and Rosanna (Schell) Shriner, 
who settled in Elizabethtown, at an early day, 
and was employed in a glass factory for many 
years. In 1855 he removed to Grant Co., Wis., 
thence to Shueyville, this county. He lived in 
this county until his death. The subject of 
this sketch was reared in his native State until 
1854, when he came to this county, where he 
has since resided. In the fall of 1857 he 
learned the trade of cabinet maker, which he 
lias since followed. He is now engaged in the 
undertaking business. He was married to 
Hannah Butt. They have two children — 
Charles and Frank. Mr. Shriner is a member 
of the German Reformed Church. 

Charles Pike, a prominent citizen of Monroe, 
was born in Norway, Oxford Co., Maine, March 
24, 1797. His parents, John and Mary Pike, 
had thirteen children, nine of whom reached 
maturity, and two of whom are now living. 
Charles Pike was brought up on a farm and 
e<lucaled in the common schools. He was mar- 
ried to Mary Wood, who was born in Middle- 
bury, July 6, 1794, and by this union there were 
seven children, two of whom are now living — 
Mary J., wife of Rev. H. A. Mayhew, of Cali- 
fornia, who has a wide reputation as a preacher 
of the Gospel. He formerly preached at Aus- 
tin, Minn., where he was instrumental in build- 
in-jj a line church edifice; Catharine is now the 
wife of L. T. Pullin, a prominent banker at 
Evansviiie, Wis. In 1 820 Mr. F'iko emigrated 
from Norway to Kiiigfield, Franklin (formerly 
Somerset) Co.. Maine. He followed larm- 



ing for two years at that place, then went into 
trade and lumbering. At that time he owned 
one whole township of land, and dealt exten- 
sively in cattle, which he would drive to Brigh- 
ton, Mass. Mr. Pike first visited the west, 
traveling extensively in Illinois, Wisconsiii and 
Minnesota, and locating land in several differ- 
ent places. He returned in the fall of the year 
to Maine. In 1855 he came to Wisconsin and 
settled at Argyle, in Lafayette county. Mrs. 
Pike died Nov. 21, 1859. She was a sincere 
Christian and esteemed by all. Mr. Pike was 
again married to Mrs. F. J. Way, widow of G 
L. Way, Dec. 24, 1861. In April, 1866, they 
came to Green county and settled in Monroe. 

Roger Gettings, proprietor of a meat market 
in the city of Monroe, was born in Ireland, -in 
May, 1831. In 1847 his parents emigrated to 
America and settled in Delaware Co., Penn., 
where Mr. Gettings, Sr., engaged in farming, 
and died in 1853. In 1855 Roger Gettings 
came to Monroe, where he has since resided. In 
Fetiruary, 1855, he was married to Bridget 
Byrne. By this union there were eleven chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living — Michael E., 
Maggie, Kate, Maria, Teresa, Miles and James. 
Mr. Gettings began with nothing, but by fair 
dealing and industry has accumulated a fine 
property, and to-day is among the well-to-do 
business men of the county. In 1860 he em- 
barked in the butchering business, which he 
has followed successfully since. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gettings are members of the Catholic Church 
of Monroe. 

J. L. Rood, one of the most prominent stock 
growers of the county, is a native of Chittenden 
Co.jVt., born in 1837. After his birth his parents 
removed to Cook Co., 111. In 1841 they re- 
moved to Grant Co., Wis., where his father en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. In 1855 he 
came to Monroe and embarked in thedrugbusi- 
ness, whicli he continued until 1859, when he 
went into the lumber business. He followed 
the latter business until death called him to a 
better world. He was a man of more than or- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



983 



dinary ability. He was a staunch republican, 
and while in Grant county was elected to the 
State legislature. While at Hazel Green he 
laid out what is known as the "Rood addition" 
to that city. J. L. Rood, the subject of this 
sketch, came to the county with his father and 
followed various occupations. He is at present 
engaged in the lumber trade, and raising fine 
stock. He has been twice married, and has two 
children. 

Charles Frey was born in Baden, Germany, 
Jan. 28, 1842. His parents, Frank Frey and 
Francesco (Mantz) Frey, emigrated to America 
in 1854, and in the fall of 1855 came to Monroe. 
Charles Frey, subject of this sketch, enlisted 
Aug. 4, 1861, in the 2d Volunteer Light Ar- 
tillery, and participated in the engagements at 
Suffolk, Williamsburg, Yorktown and West 
Point. His regiment was stationed at Fort 
Monroe, eight months. He was a faithful sol- 
dier, and always at his post, never losing a day 
by sickness. He was mustered out of the ser- 
vice, July 10, 1865, and soon after veteranized. 
After the close of the war he returned to Mon- 
roe, where he was married, Nov. 20, 1865, to 
Annie Reinh'art. Mr. and Mrs. Frey are the 
parents of five living children — Edward, Louisa, 
George, Albert and Tillie. Mr. Frey is a mem- 
ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

William Brown, one of the prominent men of 
this county, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 
1823. In 1842 he left his native country, came 
to America, and located in ErifeCo., N. Y., where 
he remained about eight years, and meanwhile 
formed tiie acquaintance of Elizabeth Chamber- 
lain, to whom he was married in 1846. In the 
spring of 1850 he came to Green county, pur- 
chased land on section 25, and the following 
spring moved his family here and commenced 
farming. His first crop of wheat was drawn to 
Galena, and sold for fifty cents per bushel. The 
following fall he hauled wheat to Milwaukee, 
making a trip in six days, and selling the same 
for forty cents per bushel. Mr. Brown came to 
this countv a ])oor man, but by hard work and 



fair dealing, has accumulated a competency. He 
has held several local offices. In 1857 he came 
to Monroe, where he has since resided. 

Alexander McNish, retired farmer, was born 
in Argyleshire, in the highlands of Scotland, 
Sept. 18, 1818. His parents were John and 
Catharine (Balentine) McNish. The former 
died in Scotland, and the latter died at sea, while 
on the voyage to America. The subject of this 
sketch learned the blacksmith trade in his native 
country, but after coming to America worked 
at gas fitting, first in Cleveland, then in Cincin- 
nati, Nashville, Evansville, Dayton and other 
places, in all, seven years. His brother, one of 
the early settlers of Green county, induced him 
to come here to visit him and see the country, 
with which he was favorably impressed, and 
subsequently settled permanently in the countv. 
Soon after Mr. McNish's first visit to the county, 
his brother died, and in 1857 Alexander came 
here, and April 22d of that year was married 
to his brother's widow, who was formerly Eliza- 
beth Chadwick.. She had two children by her 
first marriage— Clark C. and Alexander G. The 
latter is deceased. By the latter union there 
are seven children — John, Amanda L., Mary C, 
William L., ETdith J., Albert J. and Elizabeth. 
Mrs. McNish died Dec. 9, 1872, and is buried in 
Juda cemetery. She was a member of the Bap- 
list Church, and a true Christian. Mr. McNish 
first settled on a farm owned by his wife, on 
section 13, where he lived nine years. He then 
removed to section 11, where he owns 180 acres 
of land. In 1884 he removed to the city of 
Monroe, where he owns a pleasant residence on 
the corner of Wisconsin and Clinton streets. 
Me has retired from active business, and is po- 
litically, a republican. He lias returned to Scot- 
land twice; first in 1855, when he went after his 
mother, who died on the voyage as before 
stated; and again in 1881, for the benefit of his 
health. 

Nelson Darling is a native of Yates Co., N. 
Y., born June 11, 1827. He is a son of John 
and Roxana (Butler) Darling. I'lit- former was 



984 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



a native of Massachusetts, and the latteB of 
of Seneca Co., N, Y. They were married in the 
State of New York, and were the parents of 
seven children, all of whom reached maturity, 
and five of whom are now living. John Dar- 
ling was by trade a shoemaker, and followed 
that occupation for many years. He removed 
to Green county about 1858, where both he and 
his wife died. He was, in early life, a "Jack- 
son democrat," but afterwards joined the repub- 
lican party. Mrs. Darling was a member of the 
M. E. Church. Nelson Darling commenced to 
learn the mason's trade when fifteen years of 
age. In May, 1842, he was married to Matilda 
Andrews, a daughter of. Solomon Andrews, of 
Saratoga, N. Y. By this union there were 
seven children, five of whom are living — Aus- 
tin L., of Albany, Green county ; Frank E., of 
Neillsville, Clark county; Scott M., of Albany ; 
Clara C, wife of Charles Sanborn, and Fred E., 
of Monroe. Mr. Darling came to Monroe in Jan- 
uary, 1857, since which time he has been a resi- 
dent of Green county. In August, 1862, he en- 
listed in the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
company G, and participated in the engagement 
at Brentwood Station, in March, 1863, where he 
was taken prisoner, and with a number of his 
comrades sent to Libby prison, and was soon 
afterwards parolled and sent to Benton Bar- 
racks at St. Louis. He was exchanged the fol- 
lowing June, and went with the regiment to 
Nashville. In July they went to Murfreesboro, 
and remained through the following winter, 
then joined Sherman at Lookout valley, partici- 
pating in tlie capture of Atlanta, then on ac- 
count of poor health he was sent to Chattanooga, 
and there n.ustered out, May 23, 1865. He was 
a member of tlie regimenlal band up to the time 
of the Atlanta campaign, when lie was detailed 
at the hospital as assistant. He returned to 
Monroe after the close of the war, and has rc- 
mained here since, with the exception of a short 
time in New York. Mr. Darling, in politic.-^, is 
a staunch republican, and in I8«4, was elected 
treasurer of the citv of INfonroe. He is a Mas- 



ter Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F. and the 
G. A. R. 

Ogden Combs, who located in Green county 
in 1857, is a native of Trumbull Co., Ohio, born 
Jan. 10, 1810. He is a son of Ebenezer N. and 
Mary (Humiston) Combs, who emigrated to Ohio 
in 1798. That country was then avast wilderness. 
Ebenezer Combs wasasoldier in theWarof 1812. 
Ogden Combs was i*eared in the wilderness, and 
educated in the log school house of pioneer 
times. When he was ten years old he com- 
menced the manufacture of wooden clocks, and 
continued the business until he was twenty-two. 
He was married Feb. 5, 1829, to Mary Peck, 
daughter of Martin Peck. They had five chil- 
dren, four of whom are living — N. E., Margaret 
M., Cornelia and Henry D. Mr. and Mrs. 
Combs removed to Waukesha county, from 
Ohio, in 1856, and the following fall came to 
Green county, where they have since resided. 

Capt. Samuel Lewis, cashier of the Citizens' 
Bank, Monroe, is a native of Fayette Co., Penn., 
born Aug. 17, 1842. His grandfather was a 
soldier in the War of the Revolution. His 
father, Thomas Lewis, was a native of New 
Jersey, and his mother was Catharine (Schnat- 
terly) Lewis a native of Pennsylvania. His 
father was by trade a tailor, and followed that 
business many years, and served in the War of 
1812, and died in 1850. In 1858 his mother 
came west and settled in Monroe, Green Co., 
Wis. At that time, Samuel, the subject of this 
sketch, was about •sixteen years old. He at 
once engaged as clerk in a dry goods store, 
where he remained for three years. In Septem- 
ber, 1861, he enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin 
Light Artillery, and participated in the follow- 
ing engagements: New Madrid, Mo., Farming- 
ton, Miss., and siege of Corinth, Miss. In 1862 
the division of Gen. J. C. Davis, to which the 
5th Wisconsin Battery belonged, was ordered 
to report at Murfreesboro, and he was engaged 
in the battles of Perryville, Lancaster, 'Nolans- 
ville. Knob Gap, Stone River, Hoover's Gap and 
Tullahoma. On August 17 they started out 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



985 



from Winchester for Chattanoogo, the division 
crossing the river at Stevenson, Ala. He was 
engaged on the extreme riglit wing in the Hank 
movement which forced Bragg to evacuate 
Chattanooga, and brought on the l)att!e of 
Chickamauga. He was at Chattanooga through 
the siege, where the soldiers suffered , from 
short and poor rations. He also participated 
in the battle of Missionary Ridge and the cam- 
paign against Atlanta, was engaged at Resaca, 
Rome, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Smyrna Camp Ground, Chattahoochee River, 
Peach Tree Creek, the various engagements in 
front of Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro. 
The captain was mustered out Oct. 1, 1864, at 
Atlanta. In the fall of 1865 he engaged in the 
mercantile business at Juda. He was married 
Dec. 30, 1865, to Agnes Witmer, a daughter of 
David Witmer. Two children have blessed 
this union — Letha and Ralph. In the fall of 
1868, he was elected to the office of register of 
deeds of this county for two years, and in 1870 
was re-elected. In the spring of 1873 he en- 
gaged in trade at Monroe and was thus occupied 
until 1881. In April, 1883, he engaged in the 
banking business, having been elected cashier. 
In 1882 he was instrumental in organizing the 
Monroe City Guards, and was chosen captain of 
the company. 

Washington Hill, carpenter and joiner, was 
born in Montpelier, Vt., on the 19th of March, 
1819. His parents were Rufus and Naomi 
(Jewell) Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were the 
parents of fifteen children. Mr. Hill died in 
about 1825, Mrs. Hill in 1878. The subject of 
this sketch was the youngest of the family. 
His father died when he was small and he 
learned his trade partially with an older brother. 
In 1836 he went to Oneida (Jo., N. Y., where he 
married Julietta Terry, a daughter of Henry 
Terry. By this union there were three chil- 
dren — Mary, wife of D. R. Condon; Alice, wife 
of Frank L. Stone and Norman. In IS55 Mr. 
Hill crossed the plains to (.California. Here he re- 
mained about one vear and a half. In 1857 he 



removed to Janesville, Wis., and the following 
year came to Monroe, where he has resided 
since. 

E. Mosher, one of the early settlers and prom- 
inent men of the county, was born in Washing- 
ton Co , N. Y., on the 15th of December, 1800. 
His parents were Elisha and Eunice (Agard) 
Moshei", natives of Duchess Co., N. Y., who 
removed, the next year, (1801), to Saratoga 
county where the subject of this sketch resided 
for many years. He was married in 1820, Jan- 
uary 6, to Elizabeth Allen, and eight children 
were born to them, three of whom are living — 
Cordelia, Henry P. and Joseph D. Mrs. Mosher 
died Feb. 17, 1868. She was a worthy member 
of the Christian Church and esteemed by all 
who knew h^^r. Feb. 2, 1869, Mr. Mosher was 
again married to Mrs. Electa Carrington, widow 
of Roland Carrington. She was born in Hart- 
ford, Washington Co., N. Y., March 23, ISIO. 
She was the mother of thirteen children, eigrht 
of whom are living— Nancy, Rinie, Sally A., 
Victoria, Louisa, Prentiss G., Adelbert R. and 
George S. In 1S46 Mr. Mosher removed to 
Lafayette Co., Wis., and from there to Rock 
county, where he engaged in farming nf^ar 
Janesville. In 1846 he came to Green county au<l 
purchased a steam saw mill which he operated 
three years, then sold out and engaged in the 
mercantile business. Mr. Mosher had one son 
in the army — Stewart E., who enlisted in the 
3d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was 
killed at Harper's Ferr3^ Mr. Mosher is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. He has always taken an 
active interest in the political affairs of the 
county, and has held several local offices. He 
has been instrumental in the building up of the 
city of Monroe. He was the first to introduce 
French plate glass into that city. In 1838, he 
was appointed postmaster under President Van 
Buren, at South Leroy, Genesee county. From 
that place he went to Pavilion, same county, 
and was re-appointed postmaster in 1842. 

Garrett Van Wagenen came to Green county 
and engaged in the lumber business, in 1658, 



68 



986 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



being the second to engage in that business in 
this town. He was born in Duchess (Jo., N. 
Y., in 1817. When a young man, he learned 
the trade of harness maker. He was married 
in New York, in March, 1845. Mr. Van Wage- 
nen, in 1862, soki his lumber interest and 
opened a harness shop. In 1859 he built what 
is now known as the Copeland.House, which he 
kept as a private boarding house for about 
eight years. About the time of the breaking 
out of the war, he contracted with the govern- 
ment to furnish knapsacks and haversacks. 
Soon after he was appointed sutler of the 16th 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, which position he held 
till the close of the war. In 1866 he went, in 
company with his eldest son, to Montana, re- 
maining there about one year. At present he 
is engaged in dealing in coal, in Chicago. Mr. 
and Mrs. Van Wagenen are the parents of three 
children — Edward, Emma and Henry. Emma 
is principal of the grammar school at Monroe, 
where she has been a teacher for fourteen years. 
Henry is a jeweler in this city. 

Capt. F. K. Studley, son of Capt. Eliakim 
and Betsey (Hallett) Studley, was born in 
Barnstable Co., Mass., March 8, 1833. Capt. 
Eliakim Studley followed a seafaring life for 
many years, his principal business being with 
the West Indies. The subject of this sketch, 
when a mere boy, accompanied his father on 
his voyages, and at the age of twenty-two 
years became captain of a vessel, his trade 
being in the Gulf of Mexico and the West 
Indies. In 1858 he was married to Eliza A. 
Crowell, and three children were born to them 
— George G., Lelia C. and Orrin B. In 1860 he 
abandoned the sea and came to Green Co., 
Wis., where he engaged in farming at Monti- 
cello. In 1875 he was elected superintendent 
of the Grange Store, serving two years. In 
the fall of 1876 he was elected sheriff of the 
county and moved to Monroe, January, 1877, to 
fill that office, and was re-elected in 1880. In 
1883 ho built a fine residence, in which he now 



resides. He is at present engaged in the drug 
and grocery business. 

A. C. Dodge, lumber dealer, was born in 
Barre, Washington Co., Vt., on the 6th day of 
November, 1834. His great-grandfather, 
Nathaniel B. Dodge, was a soldier in the War 
of the Revolution, under Gen. Greene, whom 
he used to term "a cross, surly old dog." His 
grandfather, Asa Dodge, was one of the earli- 
est settlers of Barre, and a volunteer at the 
battle of Plattsburg. He was among the num- 
ber who crossed Lake Champlain, while Mc- 
Donough was successfully fighting the famous 
naval battle, which caused the British land 
forces to beat a hasty retreat. Joseph Dodge, 
father of the subject of this sketch, was also a 
volunteer, although only eighteen years of age. 
A. C. Dodge was brought up on a farm, and 
obtained his education at Barre Academy. In 
1854 he came west, living some time in Chicago 
and later in Janesville, Wis. In 1861 he set- 
tled in Monroe, where he has since resided, 
teaching school several terms before entering 
the lumber business in 1865. He was married 
in 1860 to Sarah E. Kidder, whose people came 
from Maine. Three children were born to 
them — Charles S., Flora E. and Lewis. In 
politics Mr. Dodge is a republican, and has 
been chairman of the county central committee 
many years, and was elected in 1884 a delegate 
from the third congressional district to the re- 
publican national convention which was held in 
Chicago, June 3. He has also been twice 
elected chairman of the county board of super- 
visors, and has filled for nine years the position 
of president of the board of education in Mon- 
roe. The present course of study, rules and 
regulations of the school were prepared by him, 
and adopted by the board. Mr. Dodge is also 
a member of the I. O. O. F., Grand Lodge and 
Encampment. 

Thomas Patterson, wagon and carriage manu- 
facturer, IS a native of Scotland, born in Fife- 
shire, Feb. 26, 1827. He is a son of Alexander 
and Elizabeth (Arnot.) Patterson, Who emigrated 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



987 



to the United States about 1840 and located in 
Hartford Co., Conn., where he was superintend- 
ent of a woolen mill for eight years, and in 
1850 went to Lafayette Co., Wis., and located 
some land with a warrant. The subject of this 
sketch served his time as carpenter and joiner 
in Connecticut. lie was married in 1849 to 
Jeanette Kenlock, by whom he has two living 
children — Jane, now Mrs. Jacob Benkard; and 
Jessie. In 1854 lie went to Lafayette county, 
remaining there until 1864, when he located in 
this city, where he has since followed the car- 
riage business. 

John S. Niles, son of Nathan and Silence 
(Sawyer) Niles, was born in Grafton Co., N. H., 
April 25, 1820. His parents reared eight chil- 
dren, five sons and three daughters. His father, 
Nathan Niles, is still living in Vermont, at the 
age of eighty-seven years. He was a strong 
supporter of the old Clay party, and a man who 
kept well posted in regard to current events. 
He removed in 1823 from New Hampshire to 
Orange Co., Vt., where John S. grew to man- 
hood, and received a common school education. 
In 1849 he removed to Rock Co., Wis., and 
taught school one winter. He lived in the town 
of Magnolia twenty years. He was a member 
of the town board and justice of the peace, hold- 
ing the latter office eight years in succession, 
and was repeatedly elected to minor offices dur- 
ing this time. He was married in 1854 to 
Sarah E. Carpenter, a daughter of Isaiah Car- 
penter. Two children have been born to them 
— Charles F., now a student at the State Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin; and Tom N. Mr. Niles 
is a man of more than ordinary intelligence and 
general information. He traveled quite exten- 
sively in early life, in the capacity of a com- 
mercial salesman, having his headquarters at 
Washington, where he became acquainted with 
many of the leading men of that day. He re- 
moved to Monroe in 1864, since which time he 
has been a resident of Green county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Niles are members of the Disciple Church. 

Andrew Buehlcr, manufacturer of carriages 



and the Buehler wagons, was born in Baden, 
Germany, Sept. 2, 1836. In 1852 he came to 
America and located in Blair Co., Penn., where 
he learned his trade. In 1855 he went to Bel- 
videre. 111., and there worked as journeyman. 
He came to Monroe in 1864, since which time 
he has resided here and carried on his present 
business. He was married in 1867 to Catharine 
Bleiler. They have three children living — 
Fred, Henry and Lizzie. Mr. Buehler is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., also of the Turner's So- 
ciety of Monroe. He came to the county poor, 
but by honesty and industry has built up a 
business of which he may well be proud. Be- 
sides doing a large amount of repairs, he 
manufactures about 100 wagons and sleighs a 
year, and employs seven men. 

Jonas Cohn was born in Baden, Germany, 
July 1, 1824, receiving his education in the 
schools of his native place. When thirteen 
years old he was apprenticed to learn the trade 
of tailor, and gerved three years. He was 
a soldier in the revolution in Germany, in 1848, 
enlisting in the 4tli I>aden Sharpshooters, and 
taking a part in the battles of Ladf-burg, 
Waghansel and Rachstadt, an<l was on guircl 
at the time Carl Schurz was a prisoner. Air. 
Cohn was taken prisoner, tried by a court mar- 
shal and remanded, but made his escape to 
France, and afterwards to the United States, 
landing in New York in 1853. In 1854, he was 
married, in New York city, to Sophia Rothkopf, 
by whom he has one child — Henry, born May 
6, 1855. He is now extensively engaged in the 
tailoring business in Monroe, where he settled 
in 1865. Mr. Cohn has a sash which he se- 
cured from a Prussian general, who fell at the 
battle of Ladeburg, and a relic in shape of a 
powder horn, picked up at Wayhausel. 

Andrew Arnot is a native of Scotland, born 
in January, 1842. When six months old. Ids 
parents emigrated to America. His father, 
Andrew Arnot, was a soldier in the Mexican 
War, enlisting in the 2d United States Heavy 
Artillery, and participated in the battles of 



988 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Very Cruz, and at the fall of the City of 
Mexico, at the close of tiie war. After the 
close of the war he emigrated to Argyle, La- 
fayette Co., Wis., where he commenced farm- 
ing. He was reared on a farm, and received a 
common school education. In August, 1862, he 
enlisted in the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- 
try, company G, and participated in the follow- 
ing engagements : Lookout Mountain, Resaca, 
New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory, Kenesaw 
Mountain, Chattahoochee, Atlanta, Peach Tree 
Creek, with Sherman on his march to the sea 
and at the grand review at Washington. Soon 
after leaving the army, he came to Monroe and 
learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he 
has followed since. He was joined in wedlock to 
Catharine Heitz, by whom he has had two 
children — Charles and Belle. He is a member 
of the National Guards of this city, and is 
commissioned as 2d lieutenant. He is also a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. 

Henry Durst, of the firm of Durst & Hodges, 
was born in Switzerland, Nov. 29, 1835, and 
received his education in his native State. In 
1846, he came to America with his parents, who 
located near New Glarus, Green Co., Wis. The 
following year his father hired him out at $16 
per year, for which he received a yoke of steers 
in payment. In 1848, he went to Madison, 
where he was employed in a livery stable for a 
number of years. When sixteen years old, lie 
purchased a third interest in a threshing ma- 
chine, and followed that business for ten years. 
He and two other young men purchased the 
machine on credit and were to pay for the same 
the following January. The money was ready 
three days before it became due. He was mar- 
ried in 1861 to Louisa Jackson, a native of New 
York, by whom there were five children, three of 
whom are living — Nellie E., William A. and 
Louisa E. In 1866, he came to Monroe, where 
he embarked in the grocery business, which he 
followed up to 1871. In 1872, he built his 
present store building 22x90 feet in size, at a 
cost of $7,000. In 1882, he commenced his 



present business. Mr. Durst is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. He came to the county a poor 
boy, but by hard work, fair dealing and good 
management, has accumulated a competency, 
and to-day is among the well-to-do business 
men of the county. He had nothing but home- 
made clothes until he was twenty-three years of 
age, nor did he have a pair of boots until that 
age. 

P. F. Chase, a native of Oxford Co., Maine, 
was born March 28, 1834. He is a son of Rev. 
Sibley and Charlotte (Heath) Chase. The 
former was of English descent, and the latter 
of Scotch. They were married in Oxford Co., 
Maine, where five children were born to them, 
three of whom are now living. Rev. Sibley 
Chase was a man of fine qualities, a sincere 
worker in the Church, and highly esteemed by 
all. Rev. Sibley Chase departed this life at 
Paris, Maine, June 10, aged fifty-five years, five 
months and fifteen days. He w^as converted at 
the age of twenty-nine years, under the labors 
of Rev. James Farrington, and united with the 
M, E. Church. His experience and daily life 
was characterized by so much zeal and devotion 
that he was immediately chosen class leader, 
which oftice he continued to hold, with other re- 
sponsible trusts, in the Church of his choice, 
during the twenty-six years of unwearied ser- 
vice. Two years from the time of his conver- 
sion he became strongly impressed that it was 
his duty to consecrate himself more fully to the 
work of calling sinners to repentance. He re- 
ceived an exhorter's license, and labored ac- 
ceptably and efliciently, as time and opportunity 
presented. For many years he held the posi- 
tion of local preacher, engaging in every enter- 
prise having for its object the salvation of men 
and the glory of God. He left a wife, one son, 
three daughters, an aged father, brothers and 
sisters and a large circle of friends to mourn 
his loss. His death cast a gloom over the en- 
tire community, for he was extensively known 
and tenderly loved. The town lost a worthy 
citizen, the poor a sympathizing friend, and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



989 



the cause of Christ an earnest and successful 
laborer. On his first attack, nearly three 
months previous to his death, he remarked that 
he firmly believed it to be his last illness. He 
expressed himself perfectly resigned to the will 
of his divine Master, undisturbed by a single 
earthly regret, except the absence of his only 
son in the far west. In conversation with a 
Christian brother, who watched by his bedside 
on the last night of his stay, he exclaimed, with 
fervor, "This is the hour for which I have been 
living for twenty-six years." Thus passed away 
to a glorious reward a man who had lived a 
faithful, consistent life, and one well fitted to 
share the glories of everlasting life. The sub- 
ject of this sketch received a liberal education, 
and in 1855 left his native State and came to 
Wisconsin, stop|ung first in Sheboygan county. 
He afterwards went to Oslikosh, and thence to 
the pineries, where he remained during the 
winter and spring, thence to Wausau, Marathon 
county, then known as Big Bull Falls, on the 
Upper Wisconsin, and remained until fall. He 
next went to the Chippewa, and in the spring 
of 1859 went to Grant county and commenced 
farming. In August, of that year, he was mar- 
ried to Corrina C. Stowell, daughter of Lewis 
B. Stowell (a soldier of the War of 1812). 
Mr. Chase enlisted in the 33d Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, company B, and pai'ticipated 
in the following engagements: Meridian, Cold- 
water, and capture of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mis- 
sissippi, Red River expedition under A. J. 
Smith, and battle of Tupelo, where he received 
partial sun stroke and was sent north. He was 
discharged at the close of the war, at Jefferson 
Barracks, May 27, 1865. In 1866 he came to 
Monroe, where he has since resided. He is a 
member of the G. A. R. 

John Hawes was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., 
in 1818. He lived there until he was fifteen 
years of age, when he went to Cattaraugus coun- 
ty with his parents, where he received a liberal 
education, attending the high schools for eight 
years and in the meantime read law. In 1841 



he went to Ohio, where he was married, in 1845, 
to Charlotte Carlton, by whom he has two living 
children — Horace and Nancy — the latter now 
a teacher in the public school. Soon after he 
was married he went to Lenawee Co., Mich., 
where he taught school for two years. In 1847 
he removed to JoDaviess Co., 111., in what is 
known as the "Tucker neighborhood," where 
he taught school and engaged in farming. In 
1850 he crossed the plains to California, remain- 
ing one year. He then went to Society Islands, 
where his brother, Horace, was consul, and was 
afterwards appointed Territorial governor of 
California. In 1866 he came to Monroe, where 
he has since resided. 

S. C. Cheney, one of the prominent merchants 
of Monroe, was born in Hoxburrough, Canada, 
July 13, 1833. When he was six years old, his 
parents emigrated to Waukesha Co., Wis., then 
a Territory. In 1843 they removed to Rock 
county. He remained at home until twenty- 
one years old. He then engaged in mercantile 
business at Johnstown, Rock Co., becoming a 
member of the firm of Cheney & Blackraan, 
successors of H. Cheney. He remained in busi- 
ness two years, then sold out and went to Chi- 
cago, where he was employed as clerk in a 
wholesale store. In 1857 he crossed the plains 
to Pike's Peak, where he prospected one sum- 
mer. The following winter he spent in New 
Mexico, in company with his brother. He was 
there employed as teacher, receiving $100 per 
month. The following July he went to Cali- 
fornia Gulch, where he joined his brother, who 
had preceded him, and struck a fair paying 
lead. He sold out in the fall and returned 
home, and soon after went to work for M. C. 
Smith, of Janesville. In August, 1862, he en- 
listed in the 12th Battery, Light Artillery, 
Wisconsin Volunteers, and participated in the 
engagements of luka, Jackson, Champion Hills, 
siege and capture of Vicksburg, where they 
were under fire for forty-seven days, and from 
the piece of which Mr. Cheney had charge, 
1,365 rounds were fired. From Vicksburg he 



990 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



went to Chattanooga, where he was detailed on 
recruiting service, and came to Janesville and 
opened a recruiting office. While here he was 
promoted to 2d lieutenant. He afterwards 
participated in the march to the sea; was then 
promoted to 1st lieutenant; the siege of Savan- 
nah, and battle of Bentonville. In the fall of 
1867 he came to Monroe where he engaged in 
the mercantile business. In 1864 he was 
married to Mary North, and they have five chil- 
dren — Grace N., Minnie L., Nellie H., James 
H. and Margaret. Mr. Cheney is a member of 
the A. O. U. W., and Royal Arcanum, and 
the G. A. R. 

Isaiah Johnson, of the firm of Isaiah Johnson 
& Son, grain dealers, was born in Vermilion 
Co., 111., June 26, 1821. His parents, Henry and 
Elizabeth (Starr) Johnson, were married in 
North Carolina, and soon after went to Georgia. 
The following spring they returned to North 
Carolina, where they remained a few years, 
then went to Tennessee and settled near Nash- 
Tille. In February, 1814, they removed to Ill- 
inois, opposite Vincennes Ford; in 1820 to Ver- 
milion county; in 1830 to Schuyler county, and 
in 1836, to Stephenson county. In 1851, they 
left Illinois and came to Green Co., Wis., set- 
tling in the town of Jefferson, where Mr. John- 
son Sr. died the same year. Mr. Johnson and 
his wife were life long members of the Chris- 
tian Church. Isaiah Johnson, of this sketch, 
went with his parents to Stephenson county, in 
1836. He was married in 1849, to Nancy J. 
Miller, in Green county. They have eight chil- 
dren — Corwin, Cordelly, Cedora E., Florence 
G., Eldie, Delphy, Rucy and Olive Leatha. 
Mr. Johnson came to Green county in 1868, 
where he has since been engaged in the grain 
business. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members 
of the M. E. Church. 

Lewis D. Van Matre came to Wisconsin in 
182Y, and first engaged in mining in Lafayette 
county. He was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, 
Sept. 20, 1807. His parents, Morgan and Mary 
(Pierce) Van Matre, were married in Pennsyl- 



vania, and soon after went to Kentucky, near 
Cynthiana, and afterwards to Clinton Co., Ohio, 
wiierc Mr. Van Matre, Sr., died about 1811, and 
Mrs. Van Matre was again married, to Nathan 
Kelley, a prominent farmer of Warren county. 
Lewis recttived his first schoolingin alog cabin, 
with slab seats, and holes cut in the logs with 
greased paper pasted over them, for windows. 
He was about twenty years old when he came 
to Wisconsin. lie was married in 1833, to 
Nancy Donaldson, and soon after went to Jo 
Daviess Co., 111., near White Oak Springs. In 
1836 he settled in what is now Stephenson 
county, where he remained until 1868, when he 
removed to Green county. Mrs. Van Matre 
died in October, 1855. She was a member of 
the Christian Church. Mr. Van Matre was 
again married, in 1856, to a widow of Thomas 
J. Van Matre, who died in California. By the 
first union there were eleven children, seven of 
whom ai*e living — Melissa, Thomas J., Mary, 
Joseph, Caroline, Lucy and William N.; and 
three children — Emma, Nora and Matilda, by 
the second union. Mr. Van Matre came west a 
poor boy, but by energy and perseverance has 
acquired a comfortable property and home. He 
was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and re- 
mained until its close. Mr. and Mrs. Van Matre 
are members of the Christian Church. 

Capt. S. P. Schadel, of the firm of Schadel <fc 
Baker, Monroe, was born in Centre Co., Penn., 
Jan. 27, 1844. In 1856 he went to Stephenson 
Co., 111., then a boy twelve years old. Being left 
an orphan, when five years old, he was early 
thrown upon his own resources. In 1863 he en- 
listed in company A, 46th regiment, Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the fol- 
lowing engagements: Jackson, Miss., Clinton, 
Miss., siege of Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort. 
At the latter places, the command was under 
fire for fourteen days. The regiment was sent 
to the Red river and Texas, where they were 
employed gathering up government property, 
and establishing "Freedmen's Bureaus." He 
was mustered out at Camp Butler, Springfield 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



991 



111., in March, 1866. After the close of the 
war, he returned to Stephenson county and took 
up the trade of carpenter and joiner. Jan. 15^ 
1867, he was married to Emma Hussinger, and 
the following year came to Monroe, where he 
has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Schadel are 
the parents of three children — Frank, "May and 
George. They are members of the Methodist 
Church. He is a member of the G. A. R., and 
A. O. U. W., and captain of company H, 1st 
regiment W. N. G. 

James C. Baker was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, 
1833. When ten years old his parents moved 
to Crawford county, where he grew to man- 
hood. In 1852 he turned his face towards the 
setting sun, and located in the town of Cadiz, 
Green county. In September, 1861, he enlisted 
in the 5th Wisconsin Light Artillery, partici- 
pating in the battles of Corinth, Miss., Perry- 
ville. Ky., Stone River,Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge and Atlanta, and on the memorable march 
to the sea. At the battle of Stone River, he 
showed himself to be one of the bravest of the 
brave, and was the means of saving one of the 
guns which was threatened by the rebels. Af- 
ter the battle Rosecrans issued an order that a 
certain number should be chosen out of each 
regiment as a roll of honor, and he was one of 
the chosen few. He was in the service for four 
years, and was always found at his post, never 
shirking his duty. Soon after returning home 
he was married to Mary McKibben, by whom 
he had three children — Sarah, James and Owen. 
Mr. Baker engaged in farming, and followed 
the same until 1881, when he came to Monroe, 
where he formed his present partnership, as the 
firm of Schadel & Baker. He is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. 

J. S. Reynolds, dental surgeon, of the city of 
Monroe, was born in Juniata Co., Penn., March 
6, 1847. His parents were Curtis and Sarah 
(Moist) Reynolds, natives of the same State. 
They were the parents of seven children, all of 
whom lived to an adult age. When the subject 
of this sketch was about eleven years old, his 



father died, and one year later his mother died. 
Being thrown upon his own resources, he went 
to work on a farm, and was afterwards employed 
as clerk in a drug store. At the age of fifteen 
he entered the office of Dr. G. L. Derr, of Mif- 
flin, and spent three years under his instruction. 
He then established himself in business, open- 
ing an office at Middleburg, Snyder Co., Penn. 
He continued there one year, then went to Ste- 
phenson Co., 111., and located at Orangeville, 
where he succeeded in building up a lucrative 
business. In the fall of 1868 he came to Green 
county and settled atBrodhead, remaining there 
until 1875. He came, that year, to Monroe, 
where he has an extensive and lucrative prac- 
tice. He is a member of the Wisconsin Dental 
Association, of which he is president. He is a 
Sir Knight and a member of the K. P. He was 
married in Albany, of this county, in Decem- 
ber, 1875, to Katie Hohn, a daughter ^of John 
Hohn. They have one child — Frank W. 

Prof. Nathan Crook Twining, A. M., was born 
in Boston, Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 27, 1834. He 
is a son of John and Sarah (Hampton) Twining, 
natives of New Jersey. The former was born 
Dec. 2, 1784, and the latter Aug. 2, 1807. They 
were Quakers of the Elias Hicks school, and 
like the majority of that sect were quiet, indus- 
trious and simple hearted, free from guile, their 
code of morals being embraced in the Golden 
Rule. Their ancestors, on both sides, came to 
America with William Penn, the father being 
of Welsh and the mother of Scotch descent. 
His father, notwithstanding his Quaker scru- 
ples on the subject of "bearing carnal weapons," 
was a gallant soldier of the War of 1812, and 
his great-uncle, Nathan Crook, whose name he 
bears, was a midshipman on board the Law- 
rence, Commodore Perry's flag ship, and was 
killed at the battle of Lake Erie about ten min- 
utes before the commodore abandoned the ves- 
sel. His mother was a niece of Gen. Wade 
Hampton, not less famous in the struggle of 
1812. The subject of this sketch was reared 
upon a farm, and in childhood was an ardent 



992 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



lover of books and music. He never, however, 
developed a taste for fictitious literature, historic, 
scientific and linguistic works being liis chosen 
companions, even in childhood. He moved 
west with his parents in 1844, and settled in 
Waterloo, Jefferson Co., Wi^. He was educated 
at Milton College, Milton, Wis , taking the full 
course of study, comprising mathematics, an- 
cient classics, metapiiysics and the natural 
sciences. He became one of the best Greek and 
Latin scholars, as well as the most accomplished 
mathematician of the day, and was honored by 
his alma mater with the honorary degree of A. 
M, After graduating he was appointed to the 
chair of mathematics in the same institution, 
which position he retained eight years, discharg- 
ing his duties with eminent credit to himself 
and to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. 
He resigned his professorship in 1868, and from 
motives of the highest consideration resolved to 
devote the remainder of his life to public school 
teaching, a profession which he has followed to 
the present date, with the utmost success. He 
has taught the higher branches in the public 
schools of Chicago and Batavia, in Illinois, and 
Boscobel and Waterloo, in Wisconsin. For the 
past eleven years he has been principal of the 
High School of Monroe. The success which 
has attended his labors in this field, and the es- 
teem in which he is held by all who know him, 
attest his ability as a teacher, and his eminent 
fitness for the responsible position which he oc- 
cupies. It is not too much to say that, as an ed- 
ucator, he has few, if any, superiors in the State, 
or in the west. The schools of Monroe rank 
with the foremost in Wisconsin. He is a lead- 
ing member of the State Teacher's Association, 
and at a meeting of that organization, was ap- 
pointed by his associates to prepare a curricu- 
lum of studies for the public schools, to be sub- 
mitted to the legislature with a view of being 
embodied in the school laws of the State. He 
is, moreover, a gentleman of the highest moral 
character, an incessant student and an untiring- 
worker. In politics he has always been repub- 



lican, and, like the sect from which he sprang, 
was an uncompromising opponent of slavery. 
During the late war he served one year in the 
army as captain of company C, of the 40th Wis- 
consin Infantry. He took part in the second 
battle of Memphis, in 18(54, and various other 
engagements and skirmishes. He was a leading 
member of the Union League during the exist- 
ence of that organization. On arriving at an 
age of discretion, he embraced the orthodox 
faith, and united with the Congregational 
Church, to which he still adheres. He was mar- 
ried Nov. 18, 18G1, to Phebe Ann Barber, daugh- 
ter of Lillibridge Barber, of Hopkinson, R. I. 
She died Jan. 16, 1866, leaving three sons — 
Harry Le Verne, Clarence Walter and Nathan 
C. June 18, 1873, Mr. Twining was again mar- 
ried to Margaret Rockwell, daughter of James 
Rockwell, Esq., one of the early settlers of 
Chicago. 

W. B. Patchin, son of Azar and Electa 
(Wanzy) Patchin, was born in Cayuga Co., N. 
Y., July 21, 1817. He was reared upon a farm, 
and received his education in the subscription 
school, paying for the same by cutting wood at 
twenty-five cents per cord. In 1844, he came 
to Wisconsin, and located in the town of 
Clarno, Dane county. His father's family came 
in the spring of 1846. The neighbors were 
few and far between, and he at one time trav- 
eled ten miles to hang an ax. May 26, 1860, 
he was married to Ruth J. Barmore, a native of 
Green Co., Penn. She died Nov. 21, 1879. 
She was a consistent member of the M. E. 
Church, and much respected by all. Mr. Patchin 
went to Dane county in very limited circum- 
stances, but by energy and economy has acumu- 
lated a comfortable fortune. He is now reap- 
ing the reward of industry. He has lived to see 
the wild unbroken prairies transformed into 
beautiful farms, and commodious and comfort- 
able dwellings occupy the places where stood the 
rude log structures of early times. 

Robert Fuellemann, jeweler, was born in can- 
ton St. Gallen, Switzerland, May 1, 1850. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



993 



When a boy sixteen years old he was appren- 
ticed to the trade, paying $250 for the privilege. 
Here he spent three years. In 1870, he era- 
barked in the business on his own account. In 
1872, he came to America, landing in New 
York. Being out of money, and not finding a 
job, he sold a watch and with the proceeds 
went to Milwaukee, where he worked as a jew- 
eler for a few years. In 1878, he came to Mon- 
roe,where he has since resided. In 1880, he was 
married to Ida Lowenbach, a native of Mil- 
waukee, by whom he has had one child — Burn- 
hardt. Mr. Fuellemann is a member of the 
Shooters Society, Turner's and Hook and Ladder 
company. 

Peter Lichtenwalner, one of the prominent 
farmers of the county and the town of Clarno, 
was born in Northampton Co., Penn., May 1, 
1820. He was a son of Peter and Susanna C. 
(Oswalt) Lichtenwalner, who were married in 
Lehigh Co., Penn., and were the parents of five 
sons and two daughters, three of whom are 



now living. His father was a life long mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church, and his mother 
belonged the German Reformed Church. 
The subject of this sketch, when eighteen 
years old, he was apprenticed to a trade and 
served three years. In 1842, he was married 
to Sarah Kepler, by whom he had seven chil- 
dren, five now living — Mary C, wife of Matthew 
Wells; Hugh H., Lydia A., now Mrs. James 
Schneider ; Ida E., now Mrs. Joseph Trumpy ; 
and John P. In 1854, Mr. Lichtenwalner left 
his native State and emigrated to Green county 
and purchased land in the town of Clarno, on 
section 28, where he engaged in farming. In 
1881, he came to Monroe, where he is leading a 
retired life. He was twice elected supervisor 
of the town, and for many years was school 
director, always taking an active interest in 
education. He is a member of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church, and done much toward the 
support of the same. He now has 268 acres of 
land, valued at $65 per acre. 



994 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT. 



The town of Mount Pleasant comprises con- 
gressional township 3 north, range 8 east, of 
the fourth principal meridian. It is bounded 
on the north by the town of Exeter; on the 
east by Albany; on the west by Washington, 
and on the south by Sylvester. The surface 
of the town is drained by Little Sugar river, 
and its numerous tributaries. The south half 
of the town is principally prairie, while the 
north half consists of oak openings. The soil 
varies. On the prairies it is a rich, dark loam; 
on the low lands a dark muck; and on the roll- 
ing lands it is mixed with clay. The sub-soil 
is clay. 

The assessed value of the farming land in 
Mount Pleasant is $411,270, or $18.33 per acre; 
of village lots, $18,615. The total value of 
real estate and personal property is $609,333. 
The princii)al farm products grown in the town 
of Mount Pleasant during the year 1882, were 
as follows: 1,850 bushels wheat; 69,800 bushels 
corn; 83,930 bushels oats; 195 bushels barley; 
320 bushels rye; 5,270 bushels potatoes; 2,555 
bushels apples; 68 bushels clover seed; 40 bush- 
els timothy seed; 1,450 pounds tobacco; 
2,890 tons of hay; 53,450 pounds butter; 86,300 
pounds cheese. The acreage of the principal 
farm products growing in the town at the time 
of making the annual assessment for the year 
1883, was as follows: 25'i acres wheat; 3,215 
corn; 3,340 oats; 15 barley; 50 rye; 82^ pota- 
toes; 123 acres apple orchard; 3,135 bearing 
trees; 2,771 acres grass; 2,420 acres growing 
timber. There were 1,345 milch cows in the 
town, valued at $30,465. In 1883 there was the 



following live stock in the town: Six hundred 
and forty-eight horses, average value $55. 60, total 
$36,035; 2,566 head of cattle, average value 
$18.90, total $48,415; 3 mules, average value, 
$88.33, total $265; 4,026 sheep, average value 
$1.87, total $7,535; 2,486 swine, average value 
$6.01, total $14,965. The populations of the 
town in 1875, was 1,120; in 1880, 1,086. 

THE PIONEBRS OF MOUNT PLEASANT. 

The exact date of the first settlement in this 
town is unknown, but that it was made by 
Henry Mitchell, hardly admits of a doubt. He 
was a native of England, and came to the United 
States in 1832, immediately making his way to 
the lead mines of southwestern Wisconsin. In 
1837 he was living in a log cabin on section 9, 
where he did some breaking. His family was 
still living in England and he spent the greater 
portion of his time in the mining districts. In 
1847 his family joined him, after which he de- 
voted his attention to farming until his death, 
in 1861. His widow, now ninety-three years 
of age, is still living on the homestead, which 
is managed by James Richards, a son-in-law. 

At about the same time that Henry Mitchell 
settled on section 9, Elias Lutherell entered 
land on the north half of section 28. He 
erected his log cabin near the spring of water 
which gushes forth from the ground at that 
place. He also spent the greater part of his 
time at the lead mines, and thus found little 
time to make improvements. In 1839 Justus 
Sutherland visited the land and cultivated the 
same. In 1843 Mr. Lutherell sold the property 
to William Boyls, Jr., and left the county. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



995 



Mr. Boyls was a native of Pennsylvania. He 
improved the farm and remained a resident of 
the place for many years. 

A. F. Steadman, a prominent citizen of Athens 
Co., Ohio, settled on the northeast quarter of 
section 18 in 1841. He afterwards removed to 
Iowa. 

Archibald and Prosa Whaley, natives of the 
State of New York, settled on the southeast 
quarter of section 25, in 1841. They improved 
some of the land, then sold out and emigrated 
to Iowa. 

John Troy, in 1842, took up his abode on the 
southwest quarter of section 28. He remained 
a few years then sold out and went to Iowa. 
Mr. Troy was a native of Pennsylvania. 

In 1842 the settlement was increased by three 
brothers — John, Benjamin and Daniel Rima 
and Michael McNutt, who came from Ohio. 
The Rima brothers settled on the northeast 
quarter of section 23, where Daniel died. John 
now lives in the town of Exeter, and Benjamin 
removed to Rock county, and afterwards to 
Nebraska. Mr. McNutt settled on the north- 
east quarter of section 26. He afterward re- 
moved to section 29, where he resided until his 
death. 

In 1845 Pliny Colton, Christopher Silver, Ar- 
temus Silver, Daniel Tree, Thomas Stewart, 
Stephen Wood and George Mears, with their 
families, left the State of Pennsylvania to seek 
homes in the far west. They traveled by 
steamboat down the Ohio and up the Missis- 
sippi river to Galena, and thence overland to 
Green county, and soon the larger number of 
them chose land in what is now Mount Pleas- 
ant, and settled down to begin life anew. 

Christopher Silver was born in Grafton Co., 
N. H., May 5, 179*7. He remained in his native 
State until twenty-one years old, then went 
west and settled in Erie Co., Penn. He was 
married in that county March 2, 1820, to Mar- 
inda Loveland, who was born Aug 11, 1803, in 
Hampshire Co., Mass. They remained in Erie 
county seven years, then removed to Mercer 



county where they lived until 1845, at which 
date they came to Green county. He died here 
on Aug. 80, 1881. Mrs. Silver is still living, 
and occupies the homestead. They were the 
parents of thirteen children, seven of whem are 
living — Sarah, Artemas, Azariah, Clarrissa, 
Willis, Ann and Alonzo. 

Azariah Silver, son of Christopher and Ma- 
rinda (Loveland) Silver, was born in Erie Co., 
Penn., May 3, 1838, and was seven years old 
when he came with his parents to Mount Pleas- 
ant. Here he spent his younger days in school 
and upon the farm. He remained with his par- 
ents until 1860. He was married on the 20th 
of May, of that year, to Elizabeth J., daughter 
of James and Elizabeth (Duckworth) Compton, 
a native of Lake Co , Ohio. He bought land 
in the northwest quarter of section 11, upon 
which stood a log cabin. In that they began 
housekeeping. He improved the land and lived 
there until 1866, then purchased land in the 
northwest quarter of section 14, where he lived 
in a log house five years. He then erected a 
good frame house. His farm now contains 191 
acres. He has engaged in raising grain and 
stock, and is a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. 
Silver are the parents of eight children — Ma- 
rinda E., Ella M., Arthur F., Elbert U., Emery 
H., Norman B., Nellie M. and Maudie E. 

Willis Silver, son of Christopher and Marinda 
(Loveland) Silver, was born in Erie Co., Penn., 
on the 25th of April, 1842. When three years 
of age his parents removed to Green Co., Wis. 
He grew to manhood on his father's farm, re- 
ceiving his education in the district school. In 
1865 he went to Boone Co., Iowa; remaining 
there a few months, he went to Kansas, lived in 
that State about a year, then returned to Wis- 
consin. He was married on the 22d of March, 
1868, to Kizpah A. Colton, born in Green coun- 
ty. The lived in the town of Mount Pleasant 
until the fall of 1869, then went to Osage Co., 
Kansas, and purchased a farm. In 1876 he re- 
turned to Rock Co., Wis., and rented a farm 
near Evansville for one year. He then removed 



996 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



to Mount Pleasant, this county. He now lives 
on section 15. Mr. and Mrs. Silver have two 
children — Herbert E. and Cora M, J. While 
in Kansas Mr. Silver was employed by the gov- 
ernment, and drove a team laden with supplies 
to Colorado. 

Artemas Silver, one of the pioneers of Green 
county, was born in the town of Salem, Erie 
Co., Penn., Dec. 11, 1822. When he was three 
years old, his parents moved to Mercer county, 
where he was reared to agricultural pursuits. In 
1844 he came to the Territory of Wisconsin and 
visited Green county, but did not settle here at 
that time. He returned to Mercer county where 
he was married March 12, 1845, to Harriet Col- 
ton, a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y., born 
Oct. 21, 1824. Five weeks later they started 
for Wisconsin. They came by way of the Ohio 
and Mississippi rivers, to Galena, and completed 
their journey to Green county, overland. They 
stopped three weeks in Monroe, where he rented 
a piece of land and put in a crop, then came to 
Mount Pleasant and lived with Pliny Colton 
until fall. He then entered forty acres of land, 
on section 11, of township 3, range 8 east, now 
known as Mount Pleasant. At the same time he 
laid claim to other lands, hiring money to enter 
the same, at 25 per cent. He first built a log 
house which they occupied eight years. He 
then built a good frame house, in which the 
family now reside. The same year he erected a 
frame barn. In 1869 he built another barn, 
larger than the first. He has engaged largely 
in raising grain and stock. Mr, and Mrs. Silver 
have four children— Marion, Lewis, Truman and 
Flora, who is now married to Amos Pierce and 
living in Emporia, Kansas. 

Daniel Tree settled on section 12. In 1860 
he sold out and removed to the Pecatonica river, 
where he died. 

Pliny Colton settled on section 10, and there 
made hia home during the remainder of his life. 

Stephen Wood settled in the town of Exeter. 
Thomas Stewart remained but a short time and 



returned to the State from whence he came, and 
George Mears settled at Monroe. 

A widow lady by the name of Newcomb came 
in 1845, and settled on section 27. She after- 
wards married John Snell and removed to the 
State of Minnesota. 

Hugh McClintock, a native of Virginia, in 
1846, purchased land on section 7, and resided 
there until 1854, then removed to La Crosse. 

Mr. Bushnell, and family settled on section 
14, some time previous to 1844. Gideon Gillett 
purchased the place, and the family left the 
county. 

Ira Foster, a native of Vermont, settled in 
1844 on the southwest quarter of section 7, and 
there died. 

Peter Wilson, a carpenter by trade, came with 
Ira Foster. He at first worked in various parts 
of the county, but finally settled at Monticello, 
where he now resides. 

Walter Bedell also came in 1844, and for a 
few years resided on the southeast quarter of 
section lo. 

During the same year Mr. Ingalls settled on 
the northwest quarter of section 15, and there 
resided for several years. 

John Lewis, a native of Wales, settled on 
section 12 in 1846. He still resides on the 
place he first chose. 

John Lewis was born in South Wales, Nov. 
30, 1813. He was there reared to agricultural 
pursuits. At the age of twenty-one he com- 
menced work in an iron foundry, which he con- 
tinued until 1841, then, having heard of the 
vast prairies of the United States, he resolved 
to see the country for himself, and came to 
America. He located first in Trumbull Co., 
Ohio, where he engaged in farming until 1845. 
The first year he received for his work $100, 
and for the next three years $120 per year. In 
the fall of 1845 he came to Wisconsin and lo- 
cated on Eagle Prairie, in Waukesha county, 
and there spent the winter. In 1846 he came 
to Green county and settled in township 3, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



997 



range 8, town of Mount Pleasant. He bought 
land on section 13, and built a log house, in 
which he lived until 1865. He then built the 
frame house he now occupies. He has engaged 
largely in raising cattle, horses and sheep, and 
has made a large addition to his landed estate, 
and now owns 648 acres, the greater part of 
which is improved and fenced. He was mar- 
ried Aj)ril 19, 1841, to Kesiah Richards, a na- 
tive of South 'Wales. Six children have been 
born to tliem, two of whom are now living — 
John and Theophilus. Mrs. Lewis was born 
Oct. 29, 1819, and died March 19, 1853. From 
that time until Mr. Lewis' second marriage, 
April 11, 1861, he and his sons "kept bach." 
His second wife was Olive Lee, a native of 
Oswego, N. Y. 

Thomas Fenlon, a native of Pennsylvania, 
came from the eastern part of Wisconsin in 
1847, and resided on section 1 until his death. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first school in the town was taught in the 
village of Monticello, in the summer of 1845. 
This was a subscription school, taught by Orinda 
Foster, at the house of A. F. Steadman. 

The first public school was taught in 1848. 
In that year the people erected a rude log build- 
ing near the southwest corner of section 7, 
called it a school house and employed Marintha 
Niles to take possession as teacher and give in- 
struction to all who wished to attend. As there 
was no other school near the attendance was 
quite large. 

In 1851 the people became tired of the log 
building and erected a neat octagon frame 
school house on the northwest quarter of sec- 
tion 8, and emj)loyed Dr. Adams as teacher. In 
1854 this building was moved into the village 
of Monticello and continued to be used for 
school purposes until 1860. It is now used as 
an ice house. The present school house of 
Monticello was built in 1860. It is a frame 
building two stories in iieight. 

Scliool district No. 1 was organized in 1849, with 
the following named persons as the Hrst officers: 



Thomas Fenton, director; Arantha Thomas, treas- 
urer; Ephraira Moody, clerk. A log house was 
built on the northwest quarter of section 12, and 
Lyman Dexter was the first teacher. The log 
house was in use until after the war, when the 
present frame building was erected. There had 
been a school taught in the neighborhood before 
1849, in a log house located on the soiitheast 
quarter of section 4, 

'Ihe first school house in district No. 2 was 
built in 1849, and was located on the southwest 
quarter of section 10. Dr. Adams, Samuel 
Aiken and MelgerColton were among the early 
teachers. The present school house, which is 
located on the site of the first, was built in 1877, 
and Miss M. Edwards was the first to occupy it 
as teacher. 

The first school in district No. 4 was taught 
by Mandana Newcomb in a log house owned by 
Gideon McNaught. In 1850 a log school house 
was erected on the south half of the northeast 
quarter of section 28, and James Powell was 
employed as teacher. The log house soon gave 
place to the present frame building, which 
occupies the old site. 

School district No. 7 was organized in 1858, 
and the first school was taught during the fol- 
lowing winter, in a log house owned by John 
Sutherland. It was located on the northwest 
quarter of section 35. Stella Wheeler was the 
first teacher. In the spring of 1859 a stone 
school house was built, and Stella Wheeler and 
Amelia Woodworth were the first teachers in 
this. 

The first school taught within the limits of 
district No. 9 was in a very early day in a frame 
house built by .fohn Williams. The district 
was re-organized in 1871, and the present school 
building erected on the northwest quarter of 
section 21. The first teacher in this house 
was Hattie Ross. 

The first school in district No. 8 was taught 
in the winter of 1854-5 by Hannah Noble, in a 
log house owned by Thomas Seers. The fol- 
lowing summer tlie present building, located ou 



998 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the line between sections 4 and 5, was built, 
and George Ray served as teacher. 

The first school in district No. 5 was taught 
in 1853 by Julia Stevens, daughter of Dr. J. D. 
Stevens, of Monroe. The stone school house is 
still standing, and is now used as a stable by J. 
F. Annis. The district now has a good frame 
building. 

In 1849 the town of Mount Pleasant was di- 
vided into five districts. The officers of the 
various districts at that time were as follows: 
No. 1. — Thomas Fenton, director; Aranthus 
Thomas, treasurer; Ephraim Moody, clerk. No. 
2. — Amos Perry, director; James Bedell, treas- 
urer; Lyman Wright, clerk. No. 3. — Henry 
Adams, director; A. F. Steadman, treasurer; 
John Manly, clerk. No. 4. — William Lowe, di- 
rector; A. P. Jewell, treasurer; William Boyls, 
clerk. No. 5. — Benjamin Rima, director; Joseph 
Conklin, treasurer; David McKee, clerk. James 
L. Powell was town superintendent of schools. 
On the Istof September, 1849, the reports of the 
district clerks show that there were 210 Scholars 
in the town. At that time districts Nos. 1 and 
4 had log school houses; 2 and 5 stone school 
houses, and No, 3 was without a house. 

TOWN ORGANIZATIOK. 

The town of Mount Pleasant was organized 
in April, 1849. Aranthus Thomas, Henry 
Adams and James L. Powell were among the 
first officers elected. 

At the annual town meetion held on the 3d of 
April, 1850, there were seventy-four votes cast. 
The following officers were elected: Supervis- 
ors, Henry Adams, chairman, L. W. P. Morton 
and J. Moody; clerk, James L. Powell; assessor, 
1 homas Fenton; treasurer, D. Bragg; superin- 
tendent of sciiools, James L. Powell; justices of 
the peace, Henry Adams and Aranthus Thoma^^. 

At the general election held in November, 
1840, there were forty nine ballots cast. The 
following is ihe roster: Abraham Pratt, .lames ]j. 
Powell, Lyman Smith, Thomas Morton, Henry 
Adams, William Boyls, Hall Bedell, Ai>ner 
Aiken, Benjamin Robey, Josiah Marty, Alfred 



Rogers, Aranthus Thomas, I. Jewell, James 
Gillett, James Truax, Joseph Moody, Paul Cas- 
tle, John Troy, William H. Castle, Wesley 
Truax, Benjamin Truax, A. F. Steadman, Lewis 
Morton, William Lowe, Willard Stephens, 
Gideon Troy, Daniel M. Tree, Nathaniel Lewis, 
A. L. Wood, Thomas Fenton, Ephraim Moody, 
James Bedell, AVilliam Morton, James Brod- 
erick, George L. Barks, R. Taylor, R. R. Jen- 
nison, Abraham Pratt, Jr., John Hulett, Porter 
Pratt, Amos Perry, Christopher Silver, Thomas 
Raymond, William Foster, Ira L. Foster, Will- 
iam Hitchcock, Lyman Wright, C. H, Wood- 
worth and Noah Cryst. 

The following is a list of the gentlemen who 
have served as chairman of the board of super- 
visors of this town: Aranthus Thomas, Henry 
Adams, Thomas Fenton, Samuel Johnson, J. 
Troy, Ransom Drake, Charles F. Thompson, 
Jesse Gist, John V. VanSlyke, G. W. Baker, A. 
H. Pierce, F. K. Studley, A. H. Pierce and 
Franklin Pierce. 

The town clerks have been as follows: James 
L. Powell, Mathias Marty, C H. Woodruff, 
Alonzo H. Jeniiii^on, James Broderick, F. R, 
Drake, Cyrus Troy, John V. VanSlyke, W. E. 
Noble, B. C Baker, Samuel Johnson, F. K. 
Studley, David Sears, H. H. Bissell, M. H Fitz- 
gerald and E. F. Wright. 

The following named in succession have held 
the office of assessor since the organization of 
the town: Thomas Fenton, Ransom Drake, 
Heni-y Barkey, B. C. Baker, Samuel Johnson, 
Joel Wood, Henry Adams, A. H. Pierce, E. R. 
Gillett, Thomas Gravenor, Franklin Pierce, 
Jesse Gist, L. W. Wright, Cyrus Troy, J. F. 
Annis, Charles Morgan, L. F. Moore and John 
Stauffacher. 

The following named have filled the office of 
town treasurer: D. 15ragg, John Troy, William 
Foster, Pliny Col ton, Joseph Moody, Edward 
(Jillett, K. V. Fessenden, George W. Bridges, 
Joel Ward, W. C. Kessler, A. M. Uarber, War- 
ren Jones, W. E. Noble, J. Bowen, Cyrus Troy, 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



999 



John Marty, R. Knight, L. P. Aldrich, E. F. 
Wright and John Legler. 

VARIOUS MATTERS. 

In June, 1844, Author Smith, a native of the 
State of New York, was killed by some un- 
known person. Mr. Smith had just sold his 
claim on section 17 for |200, but was to do some 
breaking o:i the place. This he was engaged 
at, and it seems that while in the act of 
sharpening the plow, he was approached from 
behind by some unknown person, who dealt him 
a fatal blow with a hatchet. His body was 
dragged some ten or fifteen rods, and left on 
some low ground, and the cattle with which he 
was plowing were left to wander about the field. 
Mr. Smith was a young man, and at the time 
was keeping "bach." He had been in the habit 
of callijig at A. F. Steadman's, and as he did 
not call as usual, Mr. and Mrs. Steadman went 
to his house where there found things in disor- 
der. This aroused suspicion, and Mr. Stead- 
man immediately went to Exeter to enquire if 
he had been seen; he also went to his uncle's at 
Monroe, but as he had not been there, search 
was commenced by the citizens, which resulted 
in the finding of his body in a partly decayed 
state. An inquest was held at Exeter, but no 
clue to the murderer could be found. It ap- 
pears the murder was committed for money, as 
his trunk had been ransacked, but the money 
was afterward found wrapped up in some cloth. 
His body was buried on the Steadman place, 
but in 1882 was removed to the Monticello 
Cemetery. 

In 1856 Charles Gilson committed suicide by 
cutting his throat while laboring under a fit of 
insanity. He had had an attack of fever and 
ague which had deranged his mind. He left no 
family. 

The first death occurred in 1841, Samantha, 
daughter of A, F. and Patty Steadman. The 
remains were buried on the laud owned by Mr. 
Steadman. 

The first burial place was on the farm of A. 
F. Steadman, wliero six bodies wore interred. 



One has since been removed, and five remain, 
but there is nothing to mark the spot. There 
were also a few bodies buried in the southwest 
quarter of section 6. The first being a daugh- 
ter of David Smith. 

VILLAGE OF MONTICELLO. 

The land now occupied by this village was 
entered in 1843 by Robert Witter, who was 
acting as agent for his brother, Chester Witter. 
He immediately commenced making improve- 
ments, and the following winter completed the 
first saw mill at this place. In 1846 A. F. Stead- 
man purchased the property and platted the vil- 
lage. In 1847 Hugh McClintock purchased a 
a half interest; but in 1848 Mr. Turman became 
sole proprietor of the property. He, however, 
owned the same but a few months, when he sold 
to Jacob and Mathias Marty. These gentleman 
divided the property, Jacob taking that part 
lying on the north side of the river, and Mathias 
that on the south. The latter vacating his por- 
tion, Jacob Marty, in 1850, gave one lot to Peter 
Wilson on condition that he at onee erect a 
house, whereupon Mr. Wilson built a frame 
dwelling, 16x24 feet in size, one story in height. 
This was the first building in the village, audit 
now forms part of the Rural House. 

The first store building was erected in 1851 by 
Sylvester Hills, who became the first merchant. 
He carried a general stock of goods, and con- 
tinued in trade two years, when he was suc- 
ceeded by George Campbell, who soon sold to 
Mathias Marty. He was succeeded by S. S. 
Hills & Co. in 1855. J. W. F. Randall after- 
ward owned a half interest for a short time. In 
1857 (Jeorge Gibson purchased the business and 
finally closed it out. 

The first hardware and tin shop was started 
by David and S. S. Hills and L. B. Conant, but 
was continued but a short time. 

The Marty Bros., wlio were prominent among 
the pioneers of Monticello, were natives of 
Switzerland. They were well educated and 
good business men. Mathias was married to a 
daughter of Josiah Pierce, and is now a resi- 



1000 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



dent of California, whither he went on account 
of his health. He is also a large property hold- 
er in Kansas City, Mo. Jacob Marty married 
a daughter of Sylvester Hills, and is now a 
resident of Paola, Kansas. 

George Bowes was the first blacksmith, al- 
though his shop was not within the village 
limits, it being located on the south side of the 
river. George RoUand built a shop on the 
north side in 1849, and remained two years, 
then went to California. This branch of in- 
dustry is now represented by Thomas Mitchell 
and David Pratt. 

Thomas Mitchell, blacksmith and wagon 
maker, began business in Monticello in 1877. In 
1878, he erected the shop which he now occu- 
pies, a commodious building, 26x32 feet. He 
is engaged in the manufacture of wagons and 
carriages, and does shoeing and general black- 
smith work. He is a first-class workman, and 
is liberally patronized. He is a native of 
Bohemia, born Dec. 9, 1838. At the age of 
eleven he was apprenticed to a blacksmith to 
learn the trade. He served three and a half 
years. When he was sixteen years old, he left 
his native land and came to America. He first 
located at Rock River, Dodge county, where he 
worked at his trade until 1856, then went to 
Bad Axe, now Vernon county, and oj)ened a 
shop at Liberty Pole. He remained there one 
and a half years, then went to Madison, where 
he worked as journeyman one year, then to 
Minnesota, where he stopped a short time in 
Nininger City. In 1858, he located in New 
Glarus, Green county, and in the fall of that 
years, was married to Catharine Schindier, a na- 
tive of canton Glarus, Switzerland. In 1861, 
he enlisted in the service as blacksmith, and 
served six months. He then established him- 
self in business at Rockport, Atchison Co., 
Mo., continuing there until 1873, when he 
sold out and returned to Wisconsin. He opened 
a shop at Junction House, three miles west of 
Monroe. Six months later he went to Adauis- 
ville, Iowa county, and remained until 1^75, 



then went to Dane county and remained two 
years, and, as before stated, came to Monticello 
in 1877. He owns a residence here, besides 
two store buildings, one of which he rents, and 
in the other has a stock of groceries. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of seven children 
— Elizabeth, May, Agnes, Clara, Katie, Edith 
and Thomas. 

The first wagon shop on the south side of the 
river was opened by Robert and George 
Bridges and their father. The fii'st shop on 
the north side was opened in 1857 by Ralsey 
Knight, who continued in business until 1861. 
Thomas Mitchell now represents this line of 
work. 

The first harness maker was William Jordan. 
He established his present business in 1862. 

The first shoemaker was Frank Drake, who 
came in 1853. He enlisted in the Civil War, 
and served as a soldier. He is now living in 
Idaho. The present shoemaker is Fred Swig- 
hey. 

The grange store was established in 1875, 
with F. K. Studley as agent and business man- 
ager. He was succeeded, in 1877, by E. S. 
Sears, and he, in October of said year, by John 
Richards, who had charge until 1884, when he 
resigned and Pelter Holland was appointed. 
This business was owned and conducted exclu- 
sively by members of the Patrons of Husbandry 
until 18-0, when the charter was so amended as 
to allow others to hold stock. I. T. Humiston 
is president and J. F. Sears clerk of the associ- 
ation. A large stock of general merchandise 
and hardware is carried, and a profitable busi- 
ness conducted. 

IraT. Humiston, senior deacon of Monticello 
Union Lodge of A. F. & A. M., was born in 
Allegany (. o., N. Y., Dec. 19, 1824. His par- 
ents removed to Chautauqua county when he 
was four years old. He obtained his education 
in a sul)scri|)tion scliool, and at the age of four- 
teen years was apprenticed to a blacksmith, to 
lea«ii the trade. He served five years, then 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNl'Y. 



1001 



opened a shop in Chautauqua county, where he 
continued business until 1856. He then came 
to Wisconsin, and established himself in busi- 
ness at the village of Monticello, and remained 
there until 1861. In November, of that year, 
lie enlisted in company I, of the 2d Wisconsin 
Cavalry. He went to Milwaukee and in Febru- 
ary following went south. He served until 
April 18, 1863, when he was discharged on ac- 
count of disability, and returned home with an 
impaired constitution. He has never recovered 
sufficiently to perform any manual labor. He 
purchased a farm in 1864, located on section 3, 
to which he removed, living there until 1882, 
when he came to Monticello, which is his home 
at the present time. He was married in 1849 
o Helen M. Woodworth, who was born in Caj^- 
uga Co., N. Y., March 31, 1826. They have 
two children — Robert and Fred W. Fred W., 
the youngest son, was born Aug. 31, 1855. His 
early education was received in the district 
school, and advanced by one years attendance 
at Cedar Valley Seminary, at Osage, Iowa. Af- 
ter this he engaged in teaching. He was mar- 
ried Dec, 31, 1879, to Kate Hayden, born at 
Attica, Green Co., Wis. They have two chil- 
dren — Myrtie T. and Ivan R. He now occupies 
the old homestead. 

The Monticello Union Cheese Manufacturing 
Company was organized in 18*78, and received 
its charter on the 18tli day of IMarcIi. 'J'he 
charter members were: L. W. Wright, C. H. 
Baxter, Peter AVilson, S. C. Taft, W. P. Clem- 
ent and C. W. Whittier. The first officers were: 
Peter Wilson, president; C. H. Baxter, secre- 
tary; David Sears, treasurer; S. C. Taft arul 
Amos Clement, trustees. The association pur- 
chased a lot on which ihey erected a building, 
whicli, when furnished, cost |>2,0()0^. The first 
year they leased the factory to parties who 
bought the milk. Afterwards the patrons hired 
the building, and gave as rent, thirty cents per 
100 pounds of cheese manufactiued. A good 



grade of cheese is here made, which is sold 
in Chicago market. 

The first hotel was built by Jacob Marty, in 
1851, who kept the ])lace about two years, then 
sold it to George Campbell. In 1854 Daniel 
Taft purchased the property, and one year later 
he sold to Thomas E.Fitzgerald. The property 
has changed hands several times since, and the 
house has been enlarged. It is now owned by 
Peter Wilson & Son. 

Peter Wilson, one of the pioneers of Green 
county, is a native of Huntington Co., Penn., 
born April 16, 1818. When he was four years 
old his father died and his mother went to live 
with her parents, and with them emigrated to 
Ohio and settled in Stark county, where he 
spent his early life and obtained his education 
in the j)ublic schools. At the age of eighteen 
years, he was apprenticed to a carpenter and 
joinei", whom he served twenty months, then 
went to Cincinnati and worked under instruc- 
tion sixteen months. He then went to Rar- 
dolph Co., Ind., and worked at his trade two 
years, then returned to Ohio, and settled in 
Mercer county, where, in 1841, he was married 
to Sarah, daughter of Ira and .lane ([jindei ) 
Foster. In October, 1843, he started, in com- 
pany with his father-in-law and family, for the 
Territory of Wisconsin. They traveled with 
teams, bringing with them a portion of their 
household goods. On reaching Kane Co., 111., 
they stopped and remained until January, 1844, 
then pushed on to Wisconsin. Mr. Wilson 
lived with his father-in-law until March, and in 
the summer of 1844 worked at his trade in the 
town of Sylvester. In the fall he went to Mon- 
roe and worked upon the court house until it 
was completed. In 1845 lie moved to Monti- 
cello and lived until 1847, when he made a 
claim on section 1, of township 3, range 7 east, 
now known as the town of Washington. He 
built a log house and improved a few acres. In 
the spring of 1848 he sold this claim and 
bought eighty acres in the same town, which 



59 



1002 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



he sold the next fall and purchased 160 acres, 
also in the same town. This he sold after 
breaking thirty-five acres. In 1850 he built the 
first house ever erected on the present site of 
Monticello, which he occupied eight years. In 
1852 he went across the plains to California, 
and was five months on the road. He engaged 
in mining there until 1854, then returned by 
the way of the Isthmus of Panama. Soon 
after he built a saw mill in company with S. C. 
Taft. In this he owned an interest until 1866. 
In 1872 he bought the "Monticello House," in 
company with his son, and has lived here since 
that time, with the exception of the winter 
of 1882-83, when he purchased a residence 
in Albany, and spent the winter there. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wilson are the parents of four chil- 
dren—Julia, Alonzo, Ira and Harriet. 

Ira Wilson was born in the town of Washing- 
ton, Green Co., Wis., Feb. 22, 1848. He was 
reared and educated in his native county. Feb. 
22, 1865, he enlisted in company G, of the 49th 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and went south to 
Missouri, He served until after the close of 
the war and was discharged with the regiment in 
November,1865. In 1866 he commenced to learn 
t^e shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for 
several years. He was married in 1870 to 
Temperance Loveland, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania. They have three children — Emery, 
Laban and Marion. In 1870 Mr. Wilson went 
to Michigan and remained one year, then re 
turned to Monticello, and in 1879 moved to 
Warren, 111., where he lived three years, work- 
ing at his trade. Since that time he has re- 
sided in Monticello, where he is engaged in 
company with his father, in keeping the 
"Monticello House." 

The Monticello grist mill was built in J 854 
by Orriu Bacon. It is 30x40 feet in size, and 
three and a half stories in height, and has two 
run of stone. Various improvements have been 
made from time to time, and the mill at all 
times does first class work. The dam is a sub- 



stantial structure, built of stone and earth, there 
being a solid stone wall four rods in length. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The Monticello postoftice was established in 
1848, and A. F. Steadman was appointed the 
first postmaster, and he kept the office at his 
house. The office was located on the mail route 
beteen Janesville and Mineral Point, and be- 
tween Monroe and Madison. It is now on the 
route between Monroe and New Glarus. Mr. 
Steadman was succeeded in office by Mr. Tur- 
raan, and lie in turn by Mathias Marty, Vinie 
Godfrey, Dr. Wilcox, James Butts, A. Gorland, 
Frank Drake, L. B. Aldrich and E. F. Wright. 

MONTICELLO PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. E. S. Knapp, who located at Monticello 
in 1854, was the first resident physician. lie 
was a graduate of Rush Medical College, and a 
man of superior attainments. In 1859 he went 
to Kansas, but afterwards returned to this 
place. He is now a resident of Wiota, Wis. 

The second physician to locate here was Dr. 
Jeremiah Wilcox. He remained here for about 
four years, then removed to Iowa. 

Among others who have been located at 
Monticello are: Drs. Ruttan, Bradshaw, Cob- 
len. Stair and Minkler. 

In 1884 the only representative of the medical 
profession at Monticello was Dr. Flower, who 
located here in 1875. 

CIVIC SOCIETIES. 

Monticello Union Lodge, No. 155, A. F. & 
A. M., was organized under dispensation Oct. 
5, 1865, with the following members: James 
Butts, S. C. Taft, Joshua Crowell, S. Johnson, 
I. T. llumiston, T. C. Scolt and B. F. Fessen- 
den. A charter was granted them July 13, 
1866, and the following were the first officers: 
.Tames Butts, W. M.; S. C. Taft, S. W.; Frank- 
lin Pierce, J. W. ; S. Johnson, secretary. 
Joshua Crowell died before the charter was 
granted. The following have served as past mas- 
ters: James Butts, S. C. Taft, F. R. Drake and H. 
M. Barnes. The lodge now has a membership of 
over thirty, and its regular communications are 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1003 



on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 

Mount Pleasant Lodge, I. O. G. T., was or- 
ganized Jan. 28, 1883, with tliirty-nine charter 
members, and the following officers were elect- 
ed: A. R. Taft, P. W. C. T.; Fred Sears, W. 
C. T.; Martha Magood, W. V. T.: Charles Bar- 
low, W. C; G. E. Knight, W. A. S.; Florence 
Buck, W. F. S.; Lewis Thompson, W. T.; 
William Barlow, W. M.; Ella Magoon, W. D. 
M.; Mattie Sears, W. I. G.; R. A. Barney, W. 
S.; Lottie Barlow, N. H. S.; Barbara Meredith, 
L. H. S., and James Moore, L. D. The lodge 
is in a flourishing condition, and now has a 
niembersiiip of sixty. Its meetings are held 
weekly. 

Rescue Division, No. 201, Sons of Temper- 
ance, was organized May 17, 1883, with the fol- 
lowing named persons as officers: Thomas 
Sears, P. W. P.; J. F. Sears, Yi. P.; Susie 
Buck, W. A. P.; Henry Pickford, R. Sec; 
Hattie Trogner, Asst. R. Sec; J. H. Trogner, 
F. Sec; Mrs. Henry Pickford, treasurer; R. P. 
Hyde, Condt.; Mrs. R. Magoon, Asst. Condt.; 
Mrs. D. W. Pratt, I. S.; R. Magoon, O. S., and 
Eider Burnham, chaplain. The division now 
has a membership of thirty-five. Regular com- 
munications are held weekly. 

KELIGIOUS. 

A Methodist Episcopal class was organized 
as early as 1848, and the meetings were held at 
the log school house, located on the southwest 
quarter of section 8, Elder Phelps being the 
first pastor. Among the first members were 
Ira Foster and wife, Elijah Roby and wife, W. 
H. Coates and wife. Elijah Roby was the first 
class leader. 'I'here were several revival meet- 
ings held, and the class afterwards held meet- 
ings in the octagon school house until 1861, 
when a neat frame church edifice was erected. 
The following have been pastors of the so- 
ciety : Revs. Phelps, Frazier, Jones, Harris, 
Knox, Waldrown, Sample, Briggs, Burnish, 
LawsoM, Allen, Lewis, liean, Russell, Walker, 
Fancher, Hurd, Lake, Dudgeon and Gould. 

In 185+ Elder Patton, a regular Baptist 



preacher, organized a society at what was 
known as the Truax log school house, and the 
following named were among the first members : 
Benjamin Truax, Benjamin Smaley and wife, 
Samuel Whitesit and wife, Elisha Gord and wife, 
Edmund Irish and wife, W. W. Martin and 
wife, W. W. Truax, Daniel Titus, Samuel 
Gord, Martin Purintun and wife, Leonard Gord 
and wife, Thomas J. Wittsitt and wife, James 
Truax and wife, E. B. Gord, S. Eldridge, 
Martha M. Wittsitt, Charlotte O. Conklin and 
Jane DeFord. The first deacons were : Benja- 
min Truax and Martin Purintun. Elder*Patton 
was assisted in the organization by Elders 
Reece, Pool and Clack. As a great many 
members have moved away, meetings are no 
longer held regular. 

The Monticello Free Will Baptist Church 
Society was organized Dec. 1, 1855, by Rev. J. 
F. Hill. The first members were : David Sears 
and wife, O. RI. Baker and wife, Cyrus Rob- 
inson and wife, Laura A. Johnson, Robert S. 
Bridges, Robert Moore and Otis Bridges. The 
deacons were : O. M. Baker, and R. S. Bridges. 
Meetings were held at the octagon school house 
until 18G1. The society then erected a neut 
stone church, which in May, 18G2, was dedi- 
cated to the worship of God by Rev. Horace G. 
Woodworth, who took as his text on that occa- 
sion. ^''I?i the name of God ice unfurl our ban- 
nery The following pastors have had charge 
of the society : Revs. William Small, R. R. 
Davis, Edward Berry, Mr. Felt, J. S. Dinsmore, 
Jefferson Bradley, M. M. Thompson and Rev. 
True, the present pastor. The society has a 
membership of about forty. 'J lie deacons are 
J. 11. Trogner, Ralzy Knight and T. Z. Buck, 
and J. F. Sears, clerk. 

THE MONTICELLO CEMETERY. 

The lajid occupied by the Monticello ceme 
tery was donated for burial purposes by 
Matliias INIarly and Robert Bridges, and on the 
10th day of January, 1852, an association was 
formed to take care of the same. The first 
trustees elected were ; Henry Adams, R. Gar- 



1004 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



land, P. Pratt, M. Marty, F. R. Drake and R. 
S. Bridges. Ransom Drake was appointed 
secretary, and R. S. Bridges treasurer. Money 
was raised by taxation to fence the ground, and 
lots were sold at $7.50 each. The association 
failed to meet according to law, and thus lost 
their charter. A new association was formed 
in 1881. The new association took immediate 
steps to clear the ground, repair the fence, and 
now keep the same in good order. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

William Boyls was a native of Green Co., 
Penn., born in 1795. He was brought up on a 
farm, and received a liberal education. He was 
married to Mary Morris, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and settled in Lafayette county, where 
they remained some years, then moved to 
Indiana and settled in Vermilion county. Here 
he bought timber land and opened a farm. In 
1835 he sold out there and went to Illinois. He 
spent one summer in Stephenson county, and in 
the fall of the year came to the Territory of 
Wisconsin, and settled in what is now the town of 
Clarno. He entered land and improved a farm, 
making it his home for some years, then sold 
out and bought land on section 15, where he 
also improved a farm, and remained several 
years. He then sold his farm and removed to 
Monroe, where he lived until 1861. In that 
year he removed to Black Hawk Co., Iowa, 
where he died in August, 1881. His wife died 
a few days previously. They were the parents 
of ten children, six of whom are now living — 
Jemima, now the wife of George Adams, of 
Monroe; Lucinda, wife of John Brown; Matil- 
da, now the widow of George Franklin, and liv- 
ing in Iowa; Casander, wife of Isaac Fan, of 
Lone Rock, Wis.; Sarah Ann, wife of L. W. P. 
Morton; and William, who lives in Nebraska. 
Mr. Boyls was one of the earliest settlers and to 
him is said to belong the honor of naming the 
county. 

Josiah Pierce, the first settler in the town of 
Washington, was a native of the Bay State, 



born in New Salem, Hampshire county. May 
21, 1783. He was married to Ruth Ayers, of 
Granby, Conn. In 1827 they removed to New 
York, and settled in Otsego county, where they 
lived until the spring of 1837. Mr. Pierce 
then being in failing health, concluded to try a 
a change of climate, and came to Milwaukee, 
where he was engaged by Col. Bird, the con- 
tractor who was building the State capitol at 
Madison, to proceed to tliat place and open a 
boarding house for the accommodation of the 
workmen. Accordingly, he joined Bird's party 
and they started overland with four teams, 
carrying provissions, tools and other necessary 
articles. A part of the way they were obliged 
to cut a road, and in some places to build cor- 
duroy roads. He became the second settler in 
Madison, but remained there only until fall, 
when he came to Green county, and entered land 
on section 13, of township 3 north, range 8 east, 
now known as Washington. His nearest neigh- 
bors were at Exeter, seven miles distant. Al- 
though his health was quite poor at this time, 
he was able to be about and attend to business 
for several years. His death occurred Dec. 25, 
1843. He was a man of good education, intel- 
ligent, public spirited and enterprising, and in 
his death the county lost one of its most useful 
and respected citizens. He was one of the first 
commissioners of Green county. His widow 
died June 8, 1863. They were the parents of 
eight children, five of whom are living. 

Franklin Pierce, son of Josiah and Ruth 
(Ayers) Pierce, was born in New Salem, Mass., 
July 17, 1823. He was four years old when his 
parents moved to Otsego Co., N. Y., where his 
younger days were spent in school and upon 
the farm, until he was fourteen years old. He 
then came with his parents to Wisconsin. At 
the age of twenty-one he went to the pineries 
and worked one year. On his return he entered 
land on section 24, of the town of Washington, 
and commenced to improve a farm. He was 
niivnii'd, in lf^4S, to Orinda, datii^hter of Ira L. 



HISTORY, OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1005 



and Jane (Lindse}') Foster. He built a log- 
bouse in wbicb tbey coramenced bousekeeping. 
In 1851 be went to California and engaged in 
mining tbree years, tben returned to Green 
county. In 1854 be sold bis farm and pur- 
cbased anotber on section 25, of tbe same town, 
wbere be lived until 1869. He tben sold and^ 
moved to Monticello. One year later lie bougbt 
a farm on section 16, of tbe town of Mount 
Pleasant, on wbicb be resided until 1876. He 
tben rented bis farm and bougbt a farm adjoin- 
ing the village of Monticello wbere he now re- 
sides. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are tbe parents of 
five children — Ellen, Byron, Waldo, Ida and 
Frank L. Mr. Pierce has been, for many years, 
identified with tbe interests of both town and 
county. His first office was that of superin- 
tendent of schools, in the town of Washington. 
He was elected to that office at the organization 
of the town. He was also assessor of that town, 
and for several years, chairman of tbe board. 
Since living in Mount Pleasant he has served 
as a member of the town board, and as chair- 
man, five years, an office wbicb he still holds. 

Albert Pierce, son of Josiah and Ruth 
(Ayers) Pierce, was born in New Salem, Hamp- 
shire Co., Mass., April 28, 1820, and was seven- 
teen years old when be came with his parents 
to Wisconsin. He was married in November, 
1852, to Sarah E. ]iecker, a native of Jefferson 
Co., N. Y. He settled at tbe time of his 
marriage on section 19, of the town of Mount 
Pleasant, wbere tbey remained two years, then 
sold bis farm and bougbt another, in the town 
of Waahington, upon which they lived until 
1868, then sold and moved to Monticello a d 
purchased land near the village, where he re- 
sided until the time of his death, Feb. 11, 1882. 
He had been prominently identified with the 
affairs of both town and county and tilled offices 
of trust to the satisfaction of all. He also repre- 
sented his county in the Senate of Wisconsin. 
He was always foremost in every enterprise for 
the public good, and enjoyed tbe respect and 
esteem of all. At the time of his death he was 



president of tbe Monticello Mercantile Associ- 
ation, tbe Mount Pleasant Fire Insurance Com- 
pany and tbe Monticello Cheese Factory Com- 
pany, He left a wife and four children to 
mourn his loss. Tbe children are — Ruth, Irwin^ 
Florence and Burton. 

L. W. P. Morton, one of the pioneers of 
Green county, was born in S'pencer Co., Ind.^ 
June 28, 1821. His father had a farm, but be- 
ing a millwright by trade, worked at that a 
great part of the time. In 18^8 he decided to- 
remove to Wisconsin, but before bis arrange- 
ments for removal were complete, he was taker* 
sick and died in January, 1839. In tbe month 
of April following tbe subject of this sketch, 
accompanied by his mother, started for Wis- 
consin with a team, carrying a portion of their 
household goods and provisions for the jour- 
ney. They camped out on the road. On their 
arrival in Green county, they settled on a rent- 
ed farm in tbe town of Clarno. In June of 
the same year, other members of tbe family 
came, driving their stock with them. In 18-41 
his mother bought forty acres of land in Mon- 
roe which was unimproved, and on which they 
resided until 1843. He then engaged to build 
a barn for his brother-in-law, Asa Brown. He 
bad learned tbe carpenter's trade while liv- 
ing in Indiana. After this be rented half of 
Mr. Brown's farm upon which be lived until 
1847. He was then married to Sarah Boyls, 
who was born in Virginia in 1826. He pur- 
chased forty acres of land in township 3 north, 
range 8 east, now known as the town of Mount 
Pleasant, where he erected a small frame house 
and commenced to make improvements. He 
has been industrious and energetic. These 
qualities, combined with good judgment, have 
made him the owner of 300 acres of land, 
which is well improved and fenced. He has 
engaged in raising stock and grain. Mr. and 
Mrs. Morton are tbe parents of eight children 
— Ruey A., Isabelle, William, Imogeue,Volney, 
Wallace, Frankie and Fred. Ruey A. is mar- 
ried to Amos Rutledge; Isabelle is tbe wife of 



1006 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Luther Goltry, and Imogene is the wife of Tal- 
bot Puriuton. Mrs. Morton removed to Buch- 
anan county where she died. 

Erastus Hulburt was born June 18, 1803. He 
was married to Laui-a Webster Jan. 20, 1825. 
They first settled in Manlius, Onondaga Co., 
N. Y. They removed to Wisconsin in 1839, 
and settled in the town of Sylvester, Green 
county. Afterward they removed to Decatur, 
where they resided at the time of their decease. 
They were the parents of thirteen children, six of 
whom lived to manhood and womanhood, five 
sons and one daughter — John, the eldest, was 
born in New York State, Jan. 18, 1833, and was 
married in 1859 to Lorinda Smiley; they reside 
in Mount Pleasant, Green Co., Wis.; Lydia L. 
married Timothy Kellogg, and at present 
is living at Fergus Falls, Minn.; Hiram H. 
is living in Peterson, Clay Co., Iowa; Lorrain 
D., still owns the homestead ;Judson E.died Oct.l, 
1862,aged twenty-three years; Webster,the fourth 
son enlisted in the War of the Rebellion for 
three years. He served his time and re-enlisted, 
serving till the close of the war, and died on 
board a steamer between New Orleans and 
Vicksburg on his way home to be mustered out. 
He died the 19th of December and his father 
died in Iowa at his son John's, the 11th of the 
same month. His remains were brought to 
Albany for interment, and taken to the house 
of his brother Julius, his own farm being rented. 
They kept the body as long as convenient, 
awaiting the coming of the soldier son, know- 
ing that he was on the way home. They buried 
him, and soon after returning from the funeral, 
a messenger came telling them that the son's 
body would soon be there. It was brought in, 
the coffin placed on the same chairs (which had 
not been moved) from which his fathers had 
just been taken. The mother died at her home 
Sept. 16, 1863. They were constituent mem- 
bers of the Monticello Prairie 13aj)tist Church, 
for which they labored much. 

John Hulburt, son of Erastus and Laura 
(Webster) Hulburt, was born in Onondaga Co., 



N. Y., Jan. 18, 1833. In 1839 his parents came 
to Green county, where his childhood and 
youth were spent. He was married in 1859 to 
Lorinda Smiley, daughter of Daniel and Ellen 
(Bemus) Smiley, pioneers of Green county. 
She was born in Janesville. They settled in 
Howard Co., Iowa, where he purchased unim- 
proved land. They lived there two years, then 
returned to Green county, and after remaining 
two and a half years went again to Iowa and 
settled in Harrison county, where he purchased 
land and engaged in farming. In the fall of 
1866 he came back to Green county and settled 
on the old homestead in Decatur. In the fall 
of 1870 he rented his farm here and went to 
Jasper Co., Mo., where he rented a farm and 
lived one year, then returned to Green county 
and resided in the village of Albany two years. 
He then sold his farm in Decatur and bought 
his present farm, located on section 26, of the 
town of Mount Pleasant. It was first improved 
by Charles F. Thompson, and contains 320 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Hulburt are the parents of 
four children — Dan, Nellie, Julia and Johnnie. 

Joseph McGoon, a native of New Hampshire, 
came to this county in the fall of 1841, and set- 
tled in the village of Exeter, where he lived 
some years, engaged in teaming. He died at 
the home of his son Richard, in the town of 
Mount Pleasant. 

Richard McGoon was born in Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., Jan. 17, 1826. When he was six 
years old his parents removed to Michigan 
and lived three years, then to Ohio, and 
settled in Mercer county, where they remained 
until 1841. Richard McGoon was married in 
November, 1847, to Maria, daughter of Stephen 
and Betsey (Loveland) Wood. In March, 1848, 
they settled on section 4, of Mount Pleasant, 
and commenced improvements. He enlisted 
Aug. 29, 1864, in company I, of the 43d Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and went to Tennes- 
see. He participated in the battle of Johnson- 
ville and other minor engagements, and served 
until after the close of the war. He was dis- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1001 



charged with the regiment in June, 1865, re- 
turned home and resumed farming. In 1878 he 
sold liis farm and purchased land adjoining the 
village plat, upon which was a small frame 
house, to which he has since built an addition 
and still occupies. Mr. and Mrs. McGoon are 
the parents of twelve children — Maroa, Martha, 
Franklin, Jackson, Sarah, Ella, Addie, Albert, 
Arthur, Etta and Ernest. Emma, the fourth 
child, died at the age of nine years. 

Charles Parkin is a native of England, born 
May 28, 1823. He was reared upon a farm, 
where he remained until sixteen years old. He 
then engaged in mining. At the age of twenty 
he came to America with his parents. The}' 
stopped for a few months in St. Louis, then 
came to Green county and settled in the town 
of New Glarus, where they were among the 
first settlers. They lived in that town a few 
years, then removed to Exeter, where his par- 
ents died a few years later. The subject of 
this sketch made his home with his parents 
until the time of their death. He was married 
in January, 1854, to Annie E. Stamn, who was 
born in Norway, and came to America when 
eleven years old.. They settled on the home- 
stead in Exeter, where they lived until 18(34, 
then moved to Minnesota and remained one 
year, then returned to Green county and lived 
five years in the town of York. He then went 
to New Glarus and bought the farm upon which 
bis father had first settled, lived there three 
years, then sold out and moved to Mount Pleas- 
ant and purchased a farm of 200 acres on sec- 
tion a. Here he erected a frame house and 
granary, and resided until his death, Dec. 9, 
1883. Mr. and Mrs. Parkin were the parents 
of ten children — Emma A., Carrie E., Eliza J., 
Mary J., Addie L., Josie M., Clara B., Charles 
E., Annie M. and Gracie A. 

William Clark, son of D. W. and Elizabeth 
Clark, was born in Vermilion Co , 111., Dec. 22, 
1841, and was three years old when his parents 
came to Green county. He was reared to 
agricultural pursuits, receiving his education in 



the public schools. In 1^66 he visited Montana 
Territory, where he remained a few months and 
returned to his home in Green county. He was 
married March 17, 1867, to Hannah, daughter 
of Richard and Ann (Pickup) Barlow, a native 
of Derbyshire, England, born Jan, 1, 1847. They 
first settled at the old homestead with his par- 
ents, where they remained one year, then went 
to Boone Co., Iowa, and purchased a farm in 
Worth township. He built a house, broke and 
fenced several acres of the land, and lived there 
four years. He then traded for his present 
farm, located on sections 20 and 21, of the town 
of Mount Pleasant, where he has since resided, 
Mr. and Mrs, Clark have three children — Char- 
lie, Wesley, and Daisey Pearl. 

James H, Conway, an early settler in Green 
county, was born in Salem, Washington Co., 
N, Y., in 1792. He spent his younger days in 
his native county, and when a young man 
learned the shoemaker's trade. He was married 
to Mary Carlton, a native of New Hampshire, 
and a few years later moved to Ohio and set- 
tled in Licking county, where they lived a short 
time, then removed to Huron county and 
bought timber land and cleared a farm. In 
1845 he came to the Territory of Wisconsin and 
settled in Green county. He purchased land of 
Sylvester Hills, on section 8, township 2, range 
8 east, now known as Sylvester, He improved a 
farm and made his home there until the time 
of his death, which occurred in January, 1876, 
Mrs, Conway died in 1879, They were the 
parents of eight children, all of whom lived to 
an adult age, but only three of them are now 
living — James B., Thomas C. and Werlin. 

Thomas Conway was born in Huron Co., 
Ohio, Aug. 25, 1837, and was eight years old 
when he came to Green county. He lived with 
his parents until 1866, then bought land on sec- 
tion 28, of the town of Mount Pleasant. Upon 
this place was a small frame house in which he 
lived until 1881, when he erected the commo- 
dious frame dwelling in which he now lives. He 
was married, in 1864, to Eliza A. Edwards, and 



1008 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



they have four children— Adrian, Mary, David 
and Jesse. 

Theodore Chamberlain, one of the pioneers 
of Green county, was born in Huntington Co., 
N. J., May 12, 1812. When he was twelve 
years old his parents moved to Ontario Co., 
N. Y., where he spent his youth and learned 
the shoemaker's trade. He was married Nov. 
1, 1833, to Emeline Green, who was born in 
Duchess Co., N. Y., April 10, 1812. In the 
spring of 1834 they removed to Ohio and set- 
tled in Vienna, Trumbull county, where he 
worked at his trade and farmed until 1845. In 
that year he came to the Territory of Wiscon- 
sin and settled in Green county. He entered 
land in township 2, range 7 east, now known as 
Monroe. There was a log house on this land, 
in which they lived two years. He then sold 
his land and went to Walworth county, and 
one year later to Rock county, where he 
spent one year. He then returned to Green 
county and bought land on the southwest quar- 
ter of section 35, of the town of Mount Pleas- 
ant. He built an addition to a log house, which 
stood upon the land, and resided here until 
the time of his death, in 1865. He left a 
wife and three children to mourn his loss. 
Their son, James, was born in Ohio, and came 
with them to Green county, remaining with 
them until the breaking out of the War of the 
Rebellion, when he enlisted in the 8th Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, went south and died in 
the service. Since the death of her husband, 
Mrs. Chamberlain has occupied the homestead. 
The children living are — Mary, Albert and 
Theodore. 

Anton Stauffacher, one of the pioneers of 
Green county, was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, in 1814. He was reared on a farm, 
and also worked in the slate quarries. He was 
married to Annie Slauffachei". In 1845, tliey 
left their native home, and in company with 
several other families, came to America, and 
settled in Green county, in the town of New 
Glarus. He remained there a short time, then 



went to Sylvester, where he was employed for 
several years by Mr. Thompson. In 1849 he 
had accumulated enough of his hard earnings 
to purchase a farm, and came to Mount Pleas- 
ant and bought land on section 32, where he 
built a log house and commenced farming. He 
was successful in his enterprises, and afterwards 
bought more land and erected a stone house 
with a frame addition. He died here Nov. 4, 
1883. His wife died in 1879. Eight of their 
children are now living. Their son, John, was 
born in the town of Sylvester, July 16, 1847. 
He was reared upon a farm and educated in the 
public schools. Feb. 7, 1865, he enlisted in the 
46th Wisconsin regiment and went south. He 
served until December of that year and was 
then discharged with the regiment, and re- 
turned home. He was married in 1876 to 
Magdaline Nordor, a native of the town of 
Sylvester. They have three children — Anton, 
Otto and an infant not yet named. Mr. 
Stauffacher occupies the homestead. 

William H. Coates,a pioneer of Green county, 
was born in the town of Abington, Luzerne 
Co., Penn., Nov. 22, 1818. When he was quite 
young, his parents moved to Huntington, in the 
same county, where he was reared and educated 
in the district schools. In his youth he worked 
in a broom factory and learned the trade of 
broom making. In 1838 he went to Susquehan- 
na county and made a claim of government 
land, on which he made some improvements, 
and lived seven years, then in 1846, started 
west to seek a home. He was accompanied by 
his family. They embarked on a canal boat at 
Elmira and went to Buffalo, thence by the 
lakes to Chicago, where he hired a team to take 
them to Roscoe, a few miles from Chicago. 
There they spent three months. He then hired 
a team to bring them to Green county. He 
bought a claim on section 19, of township 4 
north, range 8 east, now known as Exeter. There 
was an unfinished log cabin on the place which 
he completed and. built a frame addition to. In 
the spring of 1848 he sold this place with some 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1009 



stock, for $300, which comprised the sum total 
of his wealth. He then moved to Mount Pleas- 
ant and bought forty acres of land on section 
5. He subsequently purchased more land and 
his farm now contains 240 acres. In 1862 he 
rented his farm and removed to Monticello, 
where he bought village properly and erected a 
commodious frame bouse, which he has since 
occupied. He was married in 1839 to Jane 
Morely, who was born in Susquehanna county, 
Sept. 28, 1818. Eight children were born to 
them — Hamilton J., Washington B., Ellen S., 
Elisha M., William M., Mary Jane, Coralee 
and Luella. Mr. and Mrs. Coates are members 
of the M. E. Church. 

Peter Jenny, a pioneer of Green county, was 
born in canton Glarus, Switzei'land, in 1811. 
He learned the business of wood engraver, and 
followed his trade in his native country until 
1847, when he came to America and landed at 
New York. He went up the Hudson river to 
Albany, then by the Erie canal to Buffalo, 
thence by steamboat to Milwaukee. At the 
latter place he hired a team to carry himself 
and family to New Glarus, this county. He pur- 
chased land in that town and occupied it two 
years, when he sold out and purchased another 
piece in the same town. He erected a log 
house, and also built a good log stable. He im- 
proved a portion of the land, and made it his 
home until his death, which occurred in 1858. 
He was married in the old couvitry to Sarah 
Frauld. Three children blessed this union — 
Fannie, John and Annie. Mrs. Jenny died in 
1882. Their only son, John, was born in can- 
ton Glarus, Switzerland, on the 22d of March, 
1839, and was but six years of age when liis 
parents came to America. In December, 1858, 
he was married to Ursula Baumgardner, born 
in canton Glarus, Switzerland. They settled 
on his father's old homestead, but only lived 
there one year, when they removed to the town 
of Mount Pleasant, and purchased 160 acres of 
land on section 28. His land is mostly im- 



proved. He has a nice, large frame house and 
out buildings, and has shade, fruit and orna- 
mental trees set out. Mr. and Mrs. Jenny have 
ten children — John, Anton, Magdaline, Matilda, 
Lucy, Annie, Peter, Emma, Lydia and Whilmi. 

John H. Trogner, deacon of the Baptist 
Church in Monticello, was born in Lewis Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 13, 1843. Wnen he was five years 
old, his parents removed to Wisconsin and set- 
tled in the town of New Glarus, where his 
younger days were spent. He obtained his 
education in the district school. I>ec. 29, 1863, 
he enlisted in company K, of the 16th Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry. The regiment re- 
mained at Camp Randall until the following 
March, then went south to Vicksburg, thence 
by way of Cairo to Clifton, Tenn., and soon 
after to Rome, Ga., where they joined Sher- 
man's command. He participated in the battles 
of Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta, where he 
was severely wounded, on the 21st of July, 1864. 
He was sent first to the field hospital, then to 
headquarters hospital at Rome. As soon as he 
was able to make the journey, he was granted a 
furlough and returned home. At the expira- 
tion of his furlough he reported at Madison, 
and was sent to the division hospital at Camp 
Randall, and there discharged. May 23, 1665. 
He returned home, and as soon as he was able 
to work rented a farm in New Glarus, lived 
there two years, then moved to Mount Pleas- 
ant and farmed one year. He then bought a 
farm in the town of York, which he sold one 
year later and moved to Exeter, where he lived 
five years, then went to Monroe and remained 
until 1877. At that date he came to Monticello 
and engaged in the flour mill, where he has 
since been employed. He was married in 1868 
to Esther Roby, a native of Ohio. She died in 
1872. In 1873 he was again married to Hattie 
Buck, daughter of Theodore Z. and Lucia W^. 
(Harper) Buck. Four children have been born 
to them — Ora A., Verne, Evelyn and Walter C. 

Thomas Sears, one of the pioneers of Green 



1010 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



county, was born in the town of Knox, Waldo 
Co., Maine, Oct, 18, 1819. He was reared on a 
farm until fifteen years old, when his parents 
moved to the town of Freedom. His father 
owned a woolen mill there, which he after- 
ward gave to Thomas and his brother. Soon 
after this the mill burned and they erected a 
saw and shingle mill, which they operated until 
1844, then went to Georgia and worked as 
millwright through one Avinter, tlien returned 
to Maine and remained until fall, then returned 
to Georgia and spent the most of the time until 
July, 1847, then returned to Maine and was mar 
ried December 29, of that year, to Adeline 
Holt. She was born in the town of Clinton, 
Kennebec county, Nov. 29, 1827. They re- 
mained in Waldo county until the fall of 1849, 
then came to Wisconsin, starting on a steamer 
for Boston, thence by railroad to Buffalo, thence 
by the lakes to Milwaukee, and tliere hired a 
team to bring them to this county. He bought 
land on section 8, with a little improvement, in- 
cluding a log iiouse, into which they moved and 
spent the winter in company with two other 
families. Four years later he erected a frame 
liouse and occupied the same until 1879, when 
he built another which he now occupies. Mr. 
and Mrs. Sears are the parents of five children 
-— Wilmer, Sarah, Ella and Fred. Carroll, the 
third child, was born June 12, 1855, and died 
March 27, 1858. 

Charles St. John, an early settler of the town 
of Mount Pleasant, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania. When he was quite young his father 
died, and his mother soon after moved to Ohio 
and settled in Trumbull county, where he grew 
to manhood and was married to Mary Shoop, a 
native of Ohio. They remained in Trumbull 
county until 1849, then came to this county, 
making the trip overland, a distance of hun- 
dreds of miles, bringing j^i'ovisions along and 
camping on the way. He purchased a tract of 
land on section 25, town of Mount Pleasant. 
There was a log house on the land, in which the 
family lived some years, when he erected a 



frame house. He died there Feb. 14, 1863. 
His widow died Feb. 8, 1881, They had six chil- 
dren who reached the age of maturity — Thomas, 
Catharine, Margaret, George, Charles and Amos. 
The younger son, Amos, now owns and occu- 
pies the homestead. He was born in Trum- 
bull Co., Ohio, in 1842, and was but seven years 
old when he came to Wisconsin with his par- 
ents. Here he grew to manhood, living with 
his parents until the time of their death. He 
was married on the 24th of November, 1863, to 
Margaret Grovenor, a native of Wales. They 
have three children — Mary, George and Roy. 

John U. Elmer, Jr., third son of John U. and 
Verena Elmer, was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, Nov. 22, 1847. When he was two 
years old his parents came to America and set- 
tled in Green county. He attended the district 
school, and afterwards three terms at Evans- 
ville Academy, and five terms at Naperville, 
111., where he graduated in the German course 
in 1868. Pie then taught school one term in 
Sauk county. He commenced preaching in the 
German Evangelical Church, and traveled on 
the Kickapoo circuit one year, then on the New 
London mission, then two years on the Hart- 
ford circuit, two years on the Black River mis- 
sion, one year on Alma mission, and one year 
on the Brandon circuit. He located at Bran- 
don and remained one year, then in 1878 
bought a farm on section 29, of Mount Pleasant, 
where he since engaged in farming and teach- 
ing school, as Well as in preaching. He was 
married May 6, 1874, to Rosa Wurster. She 
was born in Fond du Lac Co., Wis., Nov. 22, 
1S50, and died March 23, 1877, leaving two 
children, one of whom is now living — Adeline. 
He was again married May 16, 1878, to Sophia 
Shultz, a native of Racine county. By this 
union there is one child — John M. 

Thomas Fenton came to this county in 1846. 
He was born in Washington Co.,Penn., Dec. 6, 
1806. When he was quite young his parents 
removed to Trumbull Co., Ohio, where his pio- 
neer life began. His father owned a large 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1011 



farm in Pennsylvania ; also a mill and a distil- 
lery, the products of which he used to take 
down the rivers to New Orleans, on flat boats. 
Soon after their removal to Ohio both he and 
liis wife died, leaving four children, of whom 
the subject of this sketch was the oldest, and 
nine years of age. He went to live with an 
uncle in Trumbull county, to whom he was 
bound until twenty-one years old. When he 
was eighteen his uncle died, but he continued to 
live with his aunt until his term of service ex- 
pired. He then engaged at farming in the 
neighborhood, receiving $8 per month, and 
continued working for the same man seven 
years, then rented the farm and engaged ex- 
tensively in stockraising, paying particular at- 
tention to line stock, and making a specialty of 
fine wool sheep. He remained on this farm 
until 1846. In the fall of that year he came to 
Wisconsin by way of the lakes, hiring some one 
to drive his stock. He located in Ottawa, Wau- 
kesha county, where he rented a farm and en- 
gaged in raising broom corn. He had an in- 
terest in 500 sheep, many of them full-bloods, 
which were brought from Ohio, but the climate 
not agreeing with them, about half of them 
died the first winter. In 1848 became to Green 
county and purchased a claim on section 1, town- 
ship 3, range 8 east, now known as Mount Pleas- 
ant. He entered the land with a land warrant, 
at Mineral Point, Dec. 1, 1818. After entering 
this land he returned to Waukesha county and 
remained until 184 9. In the spring of that 
year he removed here with his family and stock. 
He afterwards entered and purchased other 
land, and engaged in stock raising. At the 
time of his death he was the owner of 514 
acres. He was married to Ellen Buchanan, who 
was born at Little Britain, Orange Co., N. Y., 
July 6, 1812. Eleven children were born to 
them, of whom ten are now living — Sally E., 
Agnes Jane, Robert P., George, Maria, Eliza, 
Emeline, William, Abigail, Jennie and Thomas. 
Five of the daughters were school teachers. 
Mr. Fenton died April 3, 1866, and Mrs. Fenton 



died Feb. 23,1881 . Possessed of a vigorous mind, 
and energetic in action, he was well calculated 
to exert influence and to gain respect, which was 
so plainly manifested in choosing him at various 
times to till offices of trust and responsibility in 
the town, county and State in which he lived. 

William, son of Thomas and Ellen (Bu- 
chanan) Fenton, was born in Waukesha county, 
Jan. 3, 1847, and was two years old when his 
parents removed to Green county. He spent 
his younger days in school and on his father's 
farm. He was married in March, 1875, to Eliz- 
abeth Smith, a native of New York, and now 
occupies the homestead. They have one child 
—Polly. 

Charles H. Baxter came with his parents to 
Green county, in 1853. His father purchased 
240 acres of land on section 20, and drew lum- 
ber from Janesville to build a house. The sub- 
ject of this sketch assisted his father in improv- 
ing a farm. He received his early education 
in the district school, and afterwards attended 
Evansville Seminary, two terms. In August, 
1861, he engaged to teach school the following 
fall, but changed his mind and enlisted in com- 
pany H, of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, State service, and went into camp at 
Madison. The next mouth, he enlisted in the 
United States service, and soon after went to 
Missouri and did guard duty on the line of the 
Iron Mountain Railroad, making Pilot Knob 
headquarters until November, 1861, then went 
to Sulphur Springs, and remained stationed 
there until January, 1862, then went to Cairo 
and in March following, to Point Pleasant, Mo. 
There,provisions gaveout,and they were obliged 
to forage for what they had to eat, often hav- 
ing nothing but corn, which they ground in the 
plantation mills. His health failed, and April 
26, he obtained a furlough and returned home. 
At the expiration of his furlough, he reported 
at Camp Randall, and remained in the division 
hospital until July, when he was transferred to 
Keokuk, and there discharged on account of 
disability, Nov. 26, 1862. He returned home 



1012 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



and was unable to do much work for three years. 
In 1866, he bought land on section 18, which 
was timbered, with the exception of a small 
tract that had been cleared. He improved a 
farm and lived here until 1881, then rented the 
place and moved to Monticello. In 188-2 he sold 
his farm and purchased a house and two lots in 
the village where he now resides. He was mar- 
ried in 1866 to Mary E. Schoonover, formerly of 
Lagrange Co., Ind. They have one child — 
Phila. 

George W. Baker came to Green county in 

1853, and lived near Monroe until the fall of 

1854, then came to Mount Pleasant, and bought 
land on section 34. He had bought a log house 
near Monroe, located on what is now the "county 
farm," moved it to his land, put it up, and lived 
there one and a half years, then sold out and 
purchased forty acres on section 27, erected a 
frame house, and has continued to make that his 
home until the present time. He has bought 
land adjoining, and now has eighty-five acres, 
the greater part of which is improved. He is 
a native of Washington Co., Penn., born March 
20, 1825. He was reared to agricultural pur- 
suits in his native county. When he was 
twenty-two years old, he went to Ohio and set- 
tled in Warren county, where he lived until 
1853, then came to Wisconsin and spent two 
months in Iowa county, previous to coming to 
Green county. He was married in 1854, to 
Martha Whitesitt, who was l)orn in Vermilion 
Co., HI. They have three children— Mary B., 
Charlie W. and Lettie Medora. 

Asahel Wilcox, a native of the State of Con- 
necticut, came from Janesville in 1853, and set- 
tled on section 3, of Mount Pleasant, where he re- 
sided until the time of his death which occurred 
in January, 1868. His widow died in March, 
1879. They were the parents of ten children, 
three of whom are living — Lodena, Junet and 
Edgar. Lodena is the wife of James Barnes, 
and lives in Kansas; Junet lives in Trail Co., 
Dak. Edgar was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, 
Aug. 19, 1838 and was but eight years old when 



his parents came to the Territory of Wisconsin 
and settled at Janesville, where they resided 
until 1853. He was married, Dec. 1, 1870, to 
Eliza, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Campbell. 
They have four childr(»n — Edgar E., Eliza A., 
Nellie M. and William H. He settled at the 
time of his marriage, on his present farm, which 
he liad previously purchased. The land was 
timbered, but is now cleared and fenced and in 
a good state of cultivation. He has erected 
good frame buildings, set fruit trees and has a 
desirable home. 

John Blumer, one of the most extensive 
farmers in the town of Mount Pleasan't, was 
born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 
16, 1816. When he was twelve years old he 
commenced work in a woolen mill and continued 
in that occupation until twenty-four years of 
age, then engaged in farming. He was night 
watchman in the village of Schwanden nine 
years. He was married, in 1836, and his wife 
died in 1849, leaving five children — Annie,Ezra, 
John, Sarah and Caroline. In 1853 he took his 
five children and started for America, making 
the voyage in a sailing vessel in thirty-five days. 
He landed in America with §4 in his pocket, 
and the five children dependent upon him for 
support. He went to New Glarus and engaged 
in farming, working in the harvest field for cents 
cents per day. His oldest son worked through 
the summer and received a small calf for his 
labor. In the fall Mr. Blumei- bought forty 
acres of land in the town of Washington. 
He built a log cabin doing all the work with his 
own hands, as he he had no money with which 
to buy nails, he made wooden pins to use in- 
stead. He also made table, chairs and bed- 
stead with which to furnish the house. He was 
very industrious, and soon was able to buy more 
land. He improved a farm and lived tliere sixteen 
years then sold out and bought another farm in 
the same town, where he lived until 1881, then 
bought his present place which contains 317 
acres, a part of which is in the town of Mount 
Pleasant and a part in Washington. The build- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1013 



ings are located in the town of Mount Pleasant 
and include a nice frame house well furnished, 
two large barns with basements, a granary 
and cheese factory. He keeps sixty cows and 
from the milk makes imitation Swiss cheese. He 
was married the second time, in 1853, to Maria 
Stussy, also born in Switzerland. They first met 
in the ship on their journey to America. They 
have seven children — Sula, Mary, Fred, Sam- 
uel, Katie, Lizzie and Jacob. Their son, Samuel, 
now assists the father in the management of 
the farm. He was born in the town of Washing- 
ton, in October, 1859, and was married to 
Augusta Wilhelmina Butts. One child has 
beeJi born to them — John Herman. 

John H. Titus commenced in the grocery busi- 
ness in Monticello during the fall of 1874. He 
was born in Orange Co., Vt., Jan. 8, 1825. 
When he was seven years old his parents re- 
moved to Wolcott, Lamoille county, and there he 
grew to manhood, being brought up on a farm. 
When he was twenty-one years old he went to 
Boston and worked at lathing for three years, 
then six months at bakery business, then was 
engaged as cook in a restaurant. He then en- 
gaged in stucco work in the city three years. 
In 1854 he came to Wisconsin on account of his 
health and spent one year in the town of Mount 
Pleasant. He then returned east and was 
married in the town of Wolcott, in February, 
1856, to Lucinda Courier, who died the follow- 
ing year. He remained in Vermont and Mass- 
achusetts until the fall of 1860, then came to 
Green county and worked two years at farming, 
then engaged as carpenter and joiner until 1874, 
when he engaged in trade as before stated. 
His second wife, to whom he was married in 
October, 1879, was Alice Barlow. They have 
one child — 11a G. 

Jacob H. Elmer, the sixth son of John U. 
and Verena Elmer, was born in the town of 
Washington, March 11,1854. His youth was 
mostly spent in the town of Mount Pleasant, 
wliere be attended school. He was married 



Oct. 4, 1877, to Verena Hefty, who was born in 
the town of New Glarus, and is a daughter of 
Casper and Elizabeth Hefty. n hey have four 
children — Elma, Lillian, and Alvin and Alonia, 
twins. At the time of his marriage he settled 
on his present farm, located on section 31, town 
of Mount Pleasant, and a part of sections 5 and 
6, of the town of Sylvester. 

Sweting C. Taft, came to Green county in 
1854, and located at Monticello. George Camp- 
bell gave him a lot^in that village, on condition 
that he build a house, which he proceeded to do 
immediately, erecting a frame house, into which 
he moved before it was completed. He then 
commenced working upon the grist mill, for Mr. 
Bacon. In 1854, in company with his brother, 
John, he built a saw mill on the northeast quarter 
of the northwest quarter of section 8, which they 
operated until 1863. He enlisted December 22, 
of that year, in the 5th Wisconsin Battery, and 
was mustered into service Jan. 7, 1864, at Camp 
Randall, where he remained until the last of 
February, then went to Nashville, and from 
there to Chattanooga. He was soon after taken 
sick and sent to the hospital, where he spent 
six weeks, then joined the battery at Rossville, 
and went with Sherman to Atlanta. After re- 
maining there a few days he was sent back to 
Chattanooga, thence to Jefferson, Mo., Hospital, 
where ten days later he was transferred to 
Prairie du Chien. He remained there until 
June, 1865, then joined the battery at Madison, 
and was there discharged, and returned home. 
As soon as able he took charge of the saw mill, 
which he then owned in company with Peter 
Wilson. In 1866 they sold out to the Monti- 
cello Woolen Manufacturing Company, taking 
their pay in stock of the company. Since 1854 
he has worked at his trade (millwright) in dif- 
ferent places in Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan, 
but his home has been at Monticello. He was 
born Dec. 19, 1819, at Springville, Susquehanna 
C/O., Penn. When he was five years old his 
parents removed to Virgil, Cortland Co., N. Y., 
vyhere he grow to manhood, At the age of 



1014 



HISTORY OF GREEK COUNTY. 



twenty-one he commenced learning the carpen- 
ter and joiner's trade. His first work was 
framing barns. In 1846 he went to Steuben 
Co., N. Y., and there worked at his trade as car- 
penter and joiner, and also worked as mill- 
wright, remaining there until 1863, when he 
came to Wisconsin and spent one year at Janes- 
ville. In the spring of 1854 he came, as before 
stated, to Monticello. He resides at present on 
the south side of the river, near the village. 
He was married Sept. 28, 1843, to Elizabeth 
Gray, who was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., in 
October, 1820. She died June 28, 1846. Mr. 
Taft was again married Oct. 25, 1849, to Electa 
W. Fluent, a native of New York, born in Cam- 
eron, Steuben county, Jan. 27, 1825. By this 
union there are four children living— John O., 
Appleton R., Ogden G. and Franklin D. 

Richard Barlow first came to Green county 
in 1854, and engaged in farming in the town of 
Jefferson. Five years later, he came to Monti- 
cello, purchased village property and engaged 
at his trade as merchant tailor. He continued 
in business here until 1883, when he removed 
to his farm on section 16, and remained until 
1884. He then moved to Monroe. He is a na- 
tive of England, born at Berry, near Manches- 
ter, July 13, 1823. His father, Charles Barlow, 
was pressed into the British service when but 
thirteen years old, and served on board a ma»i- 
of-war until the age of thirty-one. He par- 
ticipated in the battle of New Orleans in 1814. 
In one of tlie many engagements in which he 
took part, lie received a wound, from which he 
suffered until the time of his deatli. Tlu; sub- 
ject of this sketch was, in his youth, appren- 
ticed to a tailor, to learn the trade. He served 
until twenty-one years of age, then worked at 
his trade in Manchester and Derbyshire until 
]S51. In that year he came to America and 
spent some time in New Jersey, after which he 
retnrncfl to England and remaincil two and a 
lijilf years. He then came tcick lo tliis conntry 
and settled in Green county, purchasing a farm 
in the town of Jefferson. Soon after he moved 



to Monticello, and traded his farm for a farm in 
Iowa, which he again traded for the farm 
which he now owns. He was married in April, 
1846, to Ann Picup, who was born in Manches- 
ter, England. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow are the 
parents of ten children — Hannah, now the wife 
of William Clark ; Charles, Emma, wife of 
Charles Emmons; Alice E., wife of John Titus ; 
Martha A., wife of Edward Stout; Mary E., 
wife of Edwin Strink ; George E., Joseph H., 
Lottie E. and Willie L. 

James Whitcomb, a pioneer of Green county, 
was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., May 17, 1812. 
He grew to manhood in that county, and was 
there married Sept. 15, 1833, to Nancy Goltry. 
She was born in Steuben county, Aug. 7, 1814. 
In 1838 they emigrated to Indiana and settled in 
Jenning's county, where he purchased timber 
land and cleared a farm. The location proved 
an unhealthy one, and in 1846, he sold his 
farm and moved to Wisconsin, and located in 
Rock count}^ He bought land four miles from 
Johnstown, where he lived three years, then 
came to Green county and settled in the town 
of Mount Pleasant, having traded his farm in 
Rock county for land on section 36. Here he 
made his home until the time of his death, 
which occurred April 12, 1854. Mrs. Whit- 
comb died in May, 1883. There are four of 
their children now living — Rhoda, now the wife 
of John ( ■lemmer ; Rosanna, now the wife of 
Lindsey Neal ; Rufus and .James Martin. The 
latter, James Martin Whitcomb, was l)orn in 
the town of Mount Pleasant, Aug. 19, 1853. 
His early education was received in the district 
schools. When lie was eighteen years old, he 
went to Janesville and studied vocal and instru- 
metital music three years. Since that time he 
has devoted his time to teaching music and is 
well kTiown as a successful teacher. He was 
niarri(Ml in IS74 to Lena, daughter of Daniel 
H. and Cordelia (Walling) Morgan. She was 
born in (ireen county. In 1877 \m', bought tlie 
interest of his brothers and sisters in the old 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1015 



homestead, on section 36, where he now lives. 
They have two children — Harry and Lnie. 

Benjamin Lewis, a native of South Wales, 
was born Oct. 14, 1820. When seventeen years 
of age he commenced work in an iron rolling 
mill, which he continued until 1844. In the 
month of February, of that year, he set sail for 
America, and landed at New York city April 3. 
He then went to Maryland and was there em- 
ployed in a rolling mill until 1847, when he 
went to Kentucky and engaged with the Hillmaii 
Rolling Mill Company, on the Cumberland 
river, for whom he worked a few months, then 
went to Pittsburg, and worked in a rolling mill 
until 1850. He then went to Brady's Bend Iron 
Works, where he was employed until 1854. In 
that year he came to Wisconsin, and bought a 
farm on section 11, of the town of Mount 
Pleasant. There was a log house on the place 
which the family occupied for a time. He then 
built another log house, in which they lived 
until 1870, when he erected the frame house which 
they now occupy. He was married in 1845 to 
Elizabeth Lewis, also a native of South Wales. 
Ten children have blessed their union — Daniel. 
Edward, Elias, George, William, Silas, Thomas, 
Mary, Ellen S. and Freddie F. 

Milo L. Barney first came to this county in 
1855. He was a young man at that time, and like 
many others, had come west to seek his fortune. 
His first employment was type sticking in the 
Sentinel oflice at Monroe, at which he worked a 
few months. In the winter of 1855-6 he taught 
school in Clarno, and the following spring re- 
turned to his home in New York, where he 
spent the summer. In the fall of 1856 he came 
back to Green county and taught school in the 
town of Adams. In 1857 he bought land on 
section i!3, i)f the town of VYashington, forty 
acres of which was fenced, and twenty acres 
broken, and a small frame house was standing 
upon the place. The same year his parents 
moved to the county, and bought a farm on sec- 
tion 24. He lived with them from that time 
until 1859. In 1859 he worked a portion of his 



father's farm, having rented his own land. He 
was married Jan. I, 1859, to Annie Burtis, who 
was born at Saratogo, N. Y. Seven children 
were born to them — (Trace, Eugene, Belle, 
Robert, Fannie, Mary and Maud. In 1860 Mr. 
Barney settled on his farm and remained until 
the spring of 1866. He then bought another 
farm on section 26, upon which he lived until 
June, 1879, when he rented it and moved 
to Monticello. His residence is not in the vil- 
lage, but is pleasantly located on the south side of 
the river. He was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., 
Sept. 14, 1837. He was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, receiving his education in the public 
schools. He made his home with his parents 
until 1854. His father, James Barney, was a 
native of Vermont, born in 1801. When he 
was quite young his parents removed to Jeffer- 
son Co., N. Y., where they were early settlers. 
He was twice married and Milo, the subject of 
this sketch, was a son of his second wife, whose 
maiden name was Matilda Walsworth. She 
was a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y , where they 
resided until 1857, when, as before stated, they 
came to Green county and settled in the town of 
Washington. James Barney died in 1875 and 
his wife in 1879. 

Isaiah Baebler came to Green county in 1854 
and first bought forty acres of land on section 
31, town of Mount Pleasant. He erected a log 
house and immediately commenced improving 
the land, lie soon after bought adjoining land, 
and lived there until 1868, then bought his 
present farm on sections 29 and 30. He now 
owns 259 acres of land, has good buildings, in- 
cluding a large frame house and two barns. He 
keeps a dairy of fifty cows. He was born in 
the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, April 24, 
1831. He was married in 1851 to Annie Rhiner. 
They have nine children now living — Henry, 
Mary, Chloe, Jacob, Annie, Celia,Verena, Susie 
and Barbara. They made their home in Swit- 
zerland until 1854, wlien they came to America, 
making the voyage in a sailing vessel in thirty- 
nine days. They landed at New Orlean.'*i, then 



1016 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



came up the river to Galena, where they located, 
Mr. Baebler having fifty cents left with which 
to make a start in what was to them a new 
country. 

Henry Baebler, son of Isaiah and Annie Bab- 
ler, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzer- 
land, Feb. 16, 1853. He was two years old 
when his parents came to America and settled 
in Mount Pleasant, Green county, where he was 
reared and educated in the district school. He 
remained at home with his parents until 1874. 
He was married January 1, of that year, to 
Anna Bloom, also a native of Switzerland. He 
then purchased a farm in the town of Washing- 
ton, on which he lived six years, then sold and 
bought his present farm on section 18, of Mount 
Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Baebler have five chil- 
dren — Isaiah, Freddie, Anna, Henry and Lena. 

Albrecht Baebler came with his parents to 
Green county in 1855. He is a son of Christo- 
pher and Chloe (Elmer) Baebler. They settled 
in New Glarus and remained some years. Chris- 
topher Baebler is now living at Monroe at the 
advanced age of eighty-two years. The subject 
of this sketch was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, March 11, 1832. He was reared 
upon a farm and remained with his parents 
until 1853. In that year he came to America. 
In 1855 he was married to Annie BarV>ara Veag- 
ley, who was born in the canton of Glarus, May 
16, 1836. At the time of his marriage he pur- 
chased land on section 33, of the town of New 
Glarus, and erected a log house, in which they 
lived a few years. He then built a large frame 
house, also a large frame barn, 54x80 feet, with 
a stone basement. In 18*78 he sold his farm 
and moved to Monroe, and there engaged in 
dealing in live stock until 1883, when he came 
to Moiiticello and purchased a farm adjoining 
the village, where he now owns 230 acres of 
well improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Baebler are 
the parents of seven children — Racliel, Cliloe, 
Christopher, Barbara, Albrecht, John and 
Henry, 



Dietrich Stauffacher was born in of canton 
Glarus, Switzerland, in June, 1830. He at- 
tended the public schools there until he was 
fourteen years of age. From that time until 
eighteen years old he worked on the farm and 
in the slate quarries. Then for four years he 
was engaged in herding cattle on the Alps. In 
1S54 he left his native country and came to 
America, taking passage on a vessel the 11th of 
February, and arriving at New Orleans the last 
of April. He went to St. Louis, Mo., and 
worked in a dairy for a year, when he came to 
Green county and commenced working on a 
farm. In about a month he purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 32. from Charles 
'i'hompson, and worked for him a few months 
in part payment. He purchased a pair of oxen 
and commenced improving his land. The fol- 
lowing winter he split and hauled rails enough 
to fence a part of his farm. In 1856 he was 
united in marriage with Annie Norder, born in 
canton Glarus, Switzerland. He erected a small 
frame house and commenced house-keeping. 
He has been successful in life, and hns added, 
a large addition to his residence; also built a 
large frame barn, with a stone basement. He 
has also added largely to his landed estate. He 
took his first crop of grain to Janesville, and 
sold it for seventy-four cents per bushel. He is 
now engaged in stock raising and dairying. 
He has sixty cows, and makes cheese during 
the summer season. His farm now contains 
558 acres, the greater part of which is improved. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stauffacher have twelve children 
— Katie, Euphemia, Dietrich, Jacob, Annie, 
Nicholas, John, Leonard, Mary, Mathias, Eliza- 
beth and Edward. 

Ralsey Kiiight, the first wagon maker in 
Monticello, is a native of the town of Pike, Al- 
legany Co., N. Y., born Oct. 12, 1815. He re- 
mained in his native State until twenty years 
of age. lie was educated in the district school 
and afterwards attended two terms at Leroy 
Seminary, and five terms at Middlebury Acade- 
my. At the age of sixteen, he wont to Orleans? 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1017 



county atul engaged in farming. Four years 
later he went to Canada, wliere he taught 
school one winter, then returned to Orleans 
county and purchased an interest in a wagon 
shop. He continued in that business until 1854, 
then started for Wisconsin, bringing with him 
a horse and three vehicles, which he shipped to 
Detroit. At tliat point he started overland. 
He sold two of the vehicles in Michigan, and 
continued his journey with the horse and buggy. 
On reaching Monticello, Green county, he 
traded his horse and buggy for land, a part of 
which is now included in the cemetery. He 
then returned to his home in New York, and re- 
mained until the fall of 1856, then moved his 
family to Green county, and located permanent- 
ly, at Monticello. He bought a house and lot 
in the village and spent the first winter in 
building sleds In ISSY he erected a wagon 
shop in the village, in which he worked until 
1860. He then went to Tennessee, and in com- 
pany with others, engaged in manufacturing 
wagons, at a point eleven miles from Murfrees- 
boro. In 1861, at the breaking out of the war, 
he thought it best to return to Wisconsin, and 
as he could not travel by rail, drove through 
with a pair of horses and wagon, bringing his 
family. They took their own provisions and 
camped on the way. They arrived at their 
destination after thirty-two days travel, and set- 
tled on his farm in the town of Exeter, where 
he lived a year, then came to town and worked 
at his trade until August, 1864, when he en- 
listed in company D, of the 35th Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, and went south. He re- 
mained in Arkansas for a time, then went to 
New Orleans, and soon after to Mobile Bay, 
where he participated in tlie siege and capture 
of b'ort Spanisl), from there to Fort Blakely, 
participating in the capture of that point, 
thence up the Tombigbee river, in pursuit of a 
rebel fleet, which was captured. Here he was 
taken sick, and did no more duty. He was 



worked at his trade in Monticello, until 1868, 
then moved to his farm in Exeter, and remained 
until 1870, then sold that farm and bought a 
farm on section 7, of Mount Pleasant, and 
section 12, of Washington. He has since 
since purchased land on section 5, and now owns 
169 acres. Mr. Knight has been twice married. 
First, in 1837, to Caroline Murdock,who died in 
1852. He was again married in 1853, to Emma 
Wood, a native of Rensselaer Co., N. Y. By 
the latter union there are two children— Adel- 
bert and George. Mr. Knight has held offices 
of trust in the town, having been treasurer and 
justice of the peace. The latter office he filled 
for a number of years. 

Theodore Z. Buck, carpenter and joiner, came 
to Monticello in 1856, and purchased a farm in 
the towu of Mount Pleasant, which he lived 
upon one season, then removed to the village 
and engaged in working at his trade, which he 
has continued the greater part of the time 
since. In 1863 he bought land near the villag«, 
and erected the commodious frame house which 
he now occupies. He enlisted Feb. 22, 1865, in 
the 49th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, con^- 
pany G, and went to Missouri. Fie was dis- 
charged in November, of the same year. He 
was born in Canada, June 15, 1822. His father, 
Reuben Buck, was born in Clarendon, Rutland 
Co.,Vt.,and when a young man wenttoNewYork, 
where he made the acquaintance of Polly York, 
who became his wife. She was born in Philips- 
town,SchoharieCo.,N.Y. They settled in Ontario 
county, where they lived until 1822, when they 
went to Canada and remained six raontlis. 
During that time the subject of this sketch was 
born at Norwich, in the province of Ontario. 
Tliey returned to New York and settled in 
Chautauqua county, and afterwards removed to 
Belvidere, Boone Co., III. Theodore resided 
with his parents until 1850, when he went to 
.lanesville, Wis., and worked at his tra<le, which 
he had learned of his father, lie lemained 



discharged at tlie close of the war, at -lonesviile, there until 1856. He was married l>ec. 24, 
Texas, July 10, 1865. He returned home and 1844, to Lui^y W. Harper, who was born in Ver- 



60 



1018 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



million, Huron Co., Ohio, Oct. 26, 1826. They 
have five children living — Orlando H,, Alda, 
Hattie, Susie N. and Florence A. Their eldest 
son, Walter, was born in Belvidere, 111., Feb. 
15, 1846. He lived with his parents until Feb. 
17, 1864, when he enlisted in company E., of 
the 5th Wisconsin Battery. He died in the 
service at Louisville, Ky., Sept. 24, 1864. 

Michael Kealey, a native of Ireland, was 
boi-n in county Wexford, Sept. 29, 1824. He 
was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in 1844 
left his native land and came to this country, 
He landed at New York city, and went to 
Schenectady Co., N. Y., and remained there 
and in Albany county until 1866, when he came 
to Green Co., Wis., and settled at Albany. He 
was in the employ of the Warrens, at that 
place, the greater part of the time for twelve 
years. He then purchased the farm on which 
he now lives, on section 22, of the town of 
Mount Pleasant, where he has since been en- 
gaged in farming. He was married Jan. 28, 
1856, to Celina Riley, who was born in Lim- 
erick Co., Ireland. They have one son — 
George. Mr. Kealey enlisted Jan. 22, 1864, in 
company E., of the 13th Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and went south, to Tennessee and 
Alabama, where the regiment were engaged in 
fighting bushwhackers and doing provost duty 
until after the close of the war. They were 
then sent to Texas, and there discharged, in 
December, 1865, and returned home. Mr. 
Kealey is a great reader, and well posted upon 
all subjects. He is a Protestant in religion. 

Hanford M. Selleck came to Green county into 
1856, and purchased a farm in the town of New 
Glarus. His children managed the farm while 
he worked at his trade as carpenter and joiner 
in different parts of the county. In 1870 he 
sold the farm and went to Monticello, and bought 
a house and some land adjoining the village, and 
has since made that his home. He was born on 
Hart Island, Long Island Sound, Aug. 20, 1820 
When he was but an infant his parents moved 



to Connecticut, lived at Stanford a short time 
and then moved to Greenwich. He made his 
home with them there until fourteen years old, 
then went to live with an uncle on Long Island, 
where he remained one year, when he went to 
New York city and apprenticed to a carpenter 
and joiner to learn the trade, and served five 
years, nine months and seventeen days. He 
then did journey work in the city for a short 
time, then engaged with Peter Lorillard, at West- 
chester, and worked for him two years. Then 
in 1845, went to Pittsburg, Penn., and remained 
one year; then, 1848, went to Nashville, Tenn., 
and spent one year, then returned to Pittsburg, 
where he remained nntil 1855; then he came to 
Wisconsin, and located at Janesville, where he 
remained one year, then came to this county. 
He has been twice married. His first wife, 
to whom he was married in 1842, was Cata- 
lina Cunningliam, Seven children blessed that 
union — George, Annie, Alfred, Guy, Lucian, Cat- 
alina and Charles. Mrs. Selleck died April 7, 
1872. His second wife was Sarah J. Hill, to 
whom he was married Dec. 11, 1873, widow of 
Eli Fitch. She was a native of Lycoming Co., 
Penn., and has two children — Ernest M. and 
Floyd H. 

Adrian Berryraan, son of Ephraim and Mary 
Berryman, was born near Cedarville, Stephen- 
son Co , 111., May 9, 1850, and was seven years 
of age when his parents moved to Green county, 
and settled in the town of Sylvester, where his 
younger days were spent. He obtained his ed- 
ucation in the district school, and remained with 
his parents until the time of his marriage, Oct. 
7, 1874, to Emma Baldwin, daughter of Harvey 
and Margaret Baldwin, and a native of the 
town of Sylvester. They resided in that town 
until 1880, then bought a farm on section 26, of 
Mount Pleasant, where they now live. They 
have two children — Homer and Clyde. 

Capt. John Fuett Annis w^as captain of com^ 
]»any G, of the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, He enlisted April 19, 1861, at the first 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1019 



oall for troops, in company C, of the 3d Wis- 
consin; but that call was filled and he did not 
serve with the three months troops. He imme- 
diately re enlisted in the same company and reg- 
iment, for a term of three years, was mustered 
in at Fond du Lac, in July, 1861, and went to 
the front and joined the army of the Potomac, 
at Harper's Ferry. After serving three months 
in this regiment, he was detached and joined the 
signal service, in which he remained untilJune, 
1862. He was then discharged on account of 
disability, and returned home. July 28, of the 
same year, he re-enlisted in company G, of the 
22d Wisconsin. He was commissioned as 2d 
lieutenant, and went with the regiment to Ken- 
tucky. He was promoted in November, 1862, 
to 1st lieutenant, and in December, 1863, to the 
rank of captain. He served until after the close 
of the war, and was discharged with the regi- 
ment, at Washington, June 12, 1865. He was 
mustered out at Milwaukee, June 22. Among 
the more important battles in which he took 
part, were, first: while serving in the signal 
corps, at Mill Spring, Ky., then, when a mem- 
ber of the 22d, at Thompson's Station, Tenn., 
]-}rentwood, in the same State, where he was 
taken prisoner, sent to Libby prison and con- 
fined one month, then exchanged. He joined 
Sherman's army at Chattanooga, went with them 
to Atlanta, participating in the battles on the 
way. From Atlanta he returned to Lookout 
Mountain, and was on detached duty in eastern 
Tennessee, some time. He then went to Dalton 
where he did garrison duty until March, 1865, 
then joined Sherman at Goldsboroand proceeded 
with his army to Washington. Soon after his 
return home, lie moved to Iowa and settled in 
Taylor county, where he bought land. In 1867 
he sold out there and returned to Green county 
and purchased his present farm on section 25. 
He has since purchased other land, and now 
owns 217 acres on sections 23, 24, 25 and 31. 
He was born at Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y., 
July 28, 1841. lie remained there imtil 1856, 
then engaged in farming one year, in Rock 



county, then came to Green county, and worked 
on a farm until 1858, when he returned to New 
York. In the fall of 1860, he came back to this 
county and located in Decatur, where he was 
living at the breaking out of the war. He was 
married, March 22, 1865, to Olive, daughter of 
John J. and Magdalena(Fleek) Putnum, a native 
of Licking Co., Ohio. They have three chil- 
dren—John Burton, born in Iowa; Edith M., 
born in Mount Pleasant; and Flora B., born in 
Jo Daviess Co., 111. In 1875 Capt. Annis rented 
his farm here and removed to Jo Daviess Co., 
III., where he lived three years, and then 
returned. 

Jabez Clark settled in Green county in 1857. 
He was born in the parish of Plaugham, Lin- 
colnshire, England, March 8, 18-^8. When he 
was very young his parents moved to the parish 
of Minting and there his father died when he 
was six months old. Soon after his motlier 
moved to Hatton parish, where he lived with 
her until fourteen years of age. He then went 
to work to earn his own livelihood. Jle was em- 
ployed by a farmer who paid him £S, equal t'> 
$14.52, the first year. Tne second year hi- 
wages were increased to£3T;the third year,to £5; 
and the fourth year, to £7. When nineteen yeais 
old he went to Derbyshire and worked upon a 
farm six months, then went to Yorkshire and 
spent two years. He then went to Sheffield and 
engaged in dealing in produce, in which enter- 
prise he was not successful, and continued it 
but a short time, then resumed farming. In 
1857 he left his native land and came to Amer- 
ica, coming immediately to Wisconsin and locat- 
ing in Green county. His sole capital was good 
health and willing hands, and he rented land 
until the fall of 1859, when he bought forty 
acres on section 18, also a small frame house 
which he moved to the land and occupied for 
some years, until he built the more commodious 
dwelling which he now occupies. lie liats en 
gaged in mixed farming, raising different kinds 
of grain and stock. He has been successful, 
and at different times, has added to his Ian I 



1020 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



until he is now the owner of a well stocked 
farm, containing 240 acres. He was married 
18.58 to Julia Dyson, who was born in the 
parish of Kirkburton, Yorkshire, England, Nov. 
5, 1823. They have mx children— Mary E., 
William S., George H., Jennie E., Alsinda B. 
and Burnett L. 

Anthony Carroll came here in 1858, and pur- 
chased unimproved land on section 4, of the 
town of Mount Pleasant. Some of his neigh- 
bors assisted him to build a log cabin into which 
he moved, and lived seven years. He then 
built the frame house which he now occupies. 
He is a native of Ireland, born in Tipperary 
county in 1824. He was reared upon a farm, 
and in 1849 left his native land for America. 
He took passage in a sailing vessel and after a 
stormy voyage of five weeks, arrived at New 
York city. From there he went up the Hudson 
river to Albany, where he took the cars and 
went to Buffalo. At that point he embarked 
on a steamer for Milwaukee. On reaching that 
city he purchased a horse and dray and engaged 
in draying, which he continued four years. He 
then went to Janesville and carried on his 
brother's farm until 1858. He brought twenty 
head of cattle with him when he came to Green 
county, and has since engaged in mixed farm- 
ing, raising all kinds of grain and grasses as 
well as stock. He is a successful farmer, and 
has purchased adjoining land until he now 
owns 220 acres. He also owns a large number 
of cattle. He was married in 1849 to Bridget 
Cary, also a native of Tipperary county, Ireland. 
They have seven children — John, William, 
Alice, Mary, Anthony, Catharine and Dennis. 
Mr. Carroll is serving his third term as a mem- 
ber of the board of supervisors, and has been a 
director in the school district several years. 

Adam Elmer, son of John U. and Franie El- 
mer, was born in the town of Mount Pleasant, 
May 12, 1858. Here he grew to manhood, and 
received his education in the district school. 
He was married on the 30th of November, 
1880, to Mary Prien, born in Trenton, Dodge 



county. They have two children — Melvina 
and a baby. Two years previous to his mar- 
riage he settled on his present farm, which is a 
portion of the old homestead. He has a frame 
house and barn. He has a cheese factory on 
his farm, which is run by himself and two 
brothers. 

J. C. Steinman, of the firm of Steinman & 
Knoble, general merchants at Monticello, was 
born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, May 13, 
1854. When he was six years old he came to 
America with his mother and settled in the 
town of Washington. His father had pre- 
viously come to America. He (the father) en- 
listed in a New York regiment in 1861, and was 
wounded in battle, in consequence of which he 
died. Mrs. Steinman was again married to 
Fred Zimmerman and settled in New Glarus. 
The subject of this sketch made his home with 
his mother until he was thirteen years old. He 
then worked at farming in the neighborhood 
until 1878. In the meantime he had saved 
enough of his hard earnings to purchase a farm 
on section 20, in the town of New Glarus, 
where he engaged in farming until 1882. He 
then sold his farm, and in January, 1883, began 
mercantile business at Monticello, in partner- 
ship with Fredoline Knoble. They carry a 
large stock of groceries, dry goods and notions. 
Mr. Steinman was married in 1878 to Barbara 
Legler, who was born in New Glarus, Green 
Co., Wis. They have three children — Lena, 
Barbara and George. 

Fredolin Knoble was born in the canton of 
Glarus, Switzerland, Dec. 7, 1856. In 1860 his 
parents emigrated to America and settled in 
New Glarus, Green Co., Wis. In 1861 his fa- 
ther enlisted in company B, of the 31st Wiscon- 
sin regiment, and went south. He died in the 
service. Soon after, his mother married again, 
and settled in Crawford county. Fredolin lived 
with his parents until he was fourteen years old, 
then on account of ill-treatment, he ran away 
from liome, and walked to Green county. He 
remained with his grandfather, Fred Schindler, 



HISTuRY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1021 



six months, then engaged in farming in the 
neighborhood, receiving for his services |6 per 
month. At the age of fifteen he attended the 
contirmation school, and was confirmed the next 
year. When seventeen years old, he went to 
work in a cheese factory, in which he continued 
five years. He then bought a farm in New 
Glarus and engaged in agricultural pursuits 
until 1882, when he sold his farm and came to 
Monticello. He was married in 1877 to Chloe 
Babler, a native of New Glarus. They have 
one child — Fred. 

Jacob Marty came to Green county in 1864 
and bought a farm on section 31, Mount Pleas- 
ant. There was a frame house on the place, 
and he has since built a large frame barn with 
stone basement. He was born in the canton of 
Glarus, Switzerland, in February, 1819, and was 
reared to agricultural pursuits. He was married 
to Barbara Stauffacher. They have nine chil- 
dren — Henry, Conrad, Jacob, Barbara, Peter, 
Annie, Fred, Mary and Verena Anna. Mrs. 
Marty died in September, 1871, and was buried 
in the Evangelical cemetery, town of Sylvester. 

James Pierce came to Green county in 1864, 
and remained in the town of Washington three 
months. He spent that winter in Jackson 
county, and in the next spring worked on the 
river, rafting lumber. In the fall of 1866 he 
returned to Green county and engaged in farm- 
ing with Ira Baxter, in the town of Mount 
Pleasant. In 1870 he purchased a farm on sec- 
tion 13, in the same town, and followed farming 
there until 1881, when he sold out and purchased 
200 acres on section 19, of Mount Pleasant. A 
small portion of this farm is in the town of 
Washington. He has a good frame house and 
barn on his farm, and in fact, his farm is one of 
the best improved in the town. He was born 
in Crawford Co., Penn., July 11,1845. He there 
grew to manhood, being reared on a farm. He 
lived with his parents until 1864, when he came 
to Wisconsin, as before stated. He was married 
on the 6th of September, 1868, to Susan Baxter, 
born in Vermont. This union has been blessed 



with eight children — Ira, Celia, Arthur, Frank, 
Clinton, Edith, Lester and Charlie. 

John Richards, who was for some years man- 
ager of the Grange store, is a native of Corn- 
wall, England, born Feb. 8, 1849. He is a son 
of .fames and Elizabeth (Bartle) Richards, who 
emigrated to America when he was but a few 
months old. They settled in Iowa Co., Wis., 
where he grew to manhood, receiving his edu- 
cation in the district school. His mother died 
when he was eleven years old, and six years 
later his father removed to Mount Pleasant. 
He resided with his father until 1870, when he 
was married to Martha J. Lewis, daughter of 
Nathan and Sarah (Smith) Lewis, old settlers 
of Green county, where Martha J. was born. 
After marriage, Mr. Richards went to Exeter 
and engaged in farming six months ; then re- 
turned to Mount Pleasant, where he farmed un- 
til 1877. He then became manager of the 
Grange store at Monticello, conducting busi- 
ness successfully until- April, 1884, when he re- 
signed, having engaged as traveling salesman 
for Jacob Wellaner & Co., of Milwaukee, and 
also as agent for Power, Bayard & Co., commis- 
sion dealers in produce, at Chicago. Mr. and 
Mis. Richards are the parents of three children 
— Alice Blanche, S. Earl and DaneC. 

Lewis Franklin Moore came to Green county 
in 1867. He was born in Gilmauton, Belknap 
Co., N. H., June 16, 1845. He was left father- 
less at the age of nine years, and went to 
live with a farmer near Moultonboro, with 
whom he remained two and a half years; 
then went to Meredith and lived until 1866. In 
that year he went to Chicago and remained 
working in a wood and coal yard until the time 
of his coming to this county. His first employ- 
ment here was farming in the town of Albany. 
He was married, June 24, 1869, to Sally A. 
Douw, daughter of Cornelius and Harriet (Flint) 
Douw, and settled at that time upon his father- 
in-law's farm, which he now owns and occupies. 
He has purchased more land and now owns 251 
acres. He has good buildings, including a frame 



1022 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



house and commodious barn, which are located 
on section 24. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have two 
children — Arthur S. and Emma J. 

F. J. Breylinger opened a tin shop in Monti- 
cello, in 1872, and soon after put in a stock of 
hardware and cutlery. He is a native of Feld- 
kirch, Vorarlberg, Austria, born in March, 1847. 
He was reared in his native country and received 
a liberal education in the public schools. At the 
age of nineteen, he came to America. He spent 
nine months in Pennsylvania, working at his 
trade, then went to Freeport, 111., where he 
worked for a time, at his trade. He then went 
to Milwaukee and thence to Monroe, where he 
was employed by Bloom & Ball, to go to 
Juda and open a tin shop, of which he had charge 
until 1872, when, as before stated, he came to 
Monticello. His store is a great convenience to 
the people in the vicinity, who patronize it lib- 
erally. He was united in marriage in 1871 with 
Mary C.Willoughby, a native of Belleville,"Dane 
Co., Wis. They have two children — Leon and 
Otis. 



August Milbrandt came to Sylvester, Green 
county, in 1874. He was employed in farming, 
two years, at Sylvester, then moved to Albany 
and rented the "Nicholas farm," four years, at 
which time he had succeeded in accumulating 
enough to buy a farm, and came to Mount Pleas- 
ant and purchased tbe "Swager" farm of 241 
acres, located on sections 15 and 22. There was 
a log cabin on the place and a frame barn. He 
lived there two years, then bougbt the"Hilliard 
farm" on sections 22 and 23, where he now re- 
sides. He has a good frame house and two 
frame barns, and is now the owner of 421 acres 
of land. He is extensively engaged in raising 
stock and grain. Mr. Milbrandt is a native of 
Prussia, born July 11, 1838. His early life was 
spent in that country. He attended school un- 
til fourteen years old. In 1874 he came to 
America, landing at New York. He came di- 
rectly west to Chicago, and from thereto Green 
county. He was married in 1861 to Wilhelmina 
Lupke, a native of Prussia. They have eight 
children — William, Frank, Amelia, Augusta, 
Julia, Charlie, Herman and Henry. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1023 



CHAPTER XL. 



TOWN OF NEW GLARUS. 



[By Conrad Zimmerman] 



TOPOGRAPHY. 

The town of New Glarus is the second in the 
northern tier of Green county, beginning from 
the west. It is bounded on the north by tlie 
town of Primrose, Dane county; on the east by 
the town of Exeter; on the south by the town 
of Washington; and on the west by the town of 
York. The country is hilly and broken. A 
bird's eye view of the town might suggest the 
idea that a gigantic hand had strewed the hills 
on the surface, hills of the most diversified con- 
struction, although generally of about the same 
height. They are from 200 to 300 feet from 
the foot of the valley. The ascents to these 
hills are generally gradual, so that they are ac- 
cessible with teams from almost any side. The 
country is very well watered, almost every 
farm having springs and running streams. The 
main stream is the Little Sugar river, which is 
formed in this town by the confluence of a 
large number of little brooks. The main 
branch enters the town on the northwest of sec- 
tion 4, takes its course in a southeasterly direc- 
tion, and makes its exit on section 25. The 
numerous little streams arising in the westerii 
and southwestern part of the town flow through 
the northern part of the town of Washington, 
in an easterly direction, and unite with the Lit- 
tle Sugar river in the town of Mount Pleasant. 
The valleys are winding around in all possi- 
ble curves and angles, not unlike one of those 
ancient labyrinths, and just as well adapted to 
mislead a stranger. They are now widening and 
now contracting, in obedience to the freakish 
fancies of those lively promontories, projecting 



here and there into the valley ground. There 
is one exception to this rule. The " Shmurzi 
Thale,"* running nearly due west of the village 
of New Glarus, is not only straight, but even 
without springs. 

The land is well adapted for stock farms. 
The rich, well watered meadows in the valleys 
guarantee a heavy crop of hay, even in dry sum- 
mers, and afford a rich pasture for the Switzer's 
favorite, the cow, even at times when on the 
prairies all the grass is singed by the drought. 
The blessed timber-clad hills are the progeni- 
tors of innumerable springs, which send the 
refreshing element through those cozy valleys, 
that never fail to make the Switzer and his 
"Lobeli"f feel at home. The soil on the 
hills and slopes is a white clay, with a lime- 
stone foundation, whilst in the valley it is a rich 
black loam. The most common kinds of timber 
growing are: Oak, poplar, hickory, elm, walnut, 
and cherry. Limestone quarries are numerous. 
Mineral has never been found. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW GLARUS. 

The settlement of New Glarus is perhaps 
more peculiar and more interesting than that of 
any other town in the county, because the social, 
political and religious conditions of the old 
and of the new world have come into imme- 
diate contact here. It has been remarked very 
maTiy times in a superficial manner, that those 
experts, who were sent here from old Glarus in 
1845, had selected a very poor locality, at a 

* Koasting: Vall.y. t Pet name for a cow. 



1024 



HISTORY OF GREEN COVNTY. 



time, when all the land of the great northwest 
was open to them. It has been considered 
strange, that intelligent men, after traveling 
through the States of Indiana, Illinois and 
Iowa, should recommend these trough-like val- 
leys, these rough, stony hills as being the most 
suitable place for a settlement. Many a visitor 
of this colony has received the impression, that 
if the same amount of work had been applied 
on some rich, fertile plain, the result would 
have been much better, the wealth of the popu- 
lation would now be much greater. Would 
it? It is indeed quite an interesting occur- 
rence. 

Were those experts deep, thorough histor- 
ians, reasoning from historical facts, that the 
most energetic, enterprising and enduring peo- 
ple have been educated in and by such localities, 
where nature mostly depends on human labor 
and perseverance to do any good for man? 

Did they compare the civil virtues of those 
people living in the naturally richest parts of 
the world with those living in the poorest? Did 
they ponder the fact that nature is modifying 
man, as well as man is modifying nature, and 
that this reciprocal modification is the natural 
source of the character of a community, and 
that consequently the physical disadvantages of 
a country, challenging his industry and stimu- 
lating his energy, are more favorable to man's 
ultimate progress, than the mere agency of a 
fertile soil, which tends to make the occupant 
unwilling to perform even the small amount of 
labor necessary for the reproduction of a rich 
harvest? Or have they simply been attracted 
by the similarity of this region with landscapes 
in Switzerland? 

We do not know what idea was predominat- 
ing in their minds. But one thing we do know, 
and that is, that no other class of people were as 
well adapted for this district, or could have 
made New Glarus what it is to-day. And we 
feel confident in saying that not only *"mar- 

*Ehea werden im Himmel geschlossen. 



riages are contracted in heaven," but that Divine 
providence also ties the knot that unites men 
and their habitation. 

It is an act of great self-denial, a self-sacri- 
fice, a sort of re-generation, that is forced upon 
every grown person, who undertakes to make a 
home in the new world. Did you ever notice 
a foreigner move through the streets of your 
city or village the first few days after he came 
across the ocean? Did you ever observe his 
embarrassment, arising from the consciousness 
of being different in manners, clothes, appear- 
ance, language, in most all the objects of in- 
terest, pleasures or aversions? Did you ever 
stop to think, that every one of these has been 
taken away from relations and connections, that 
liave become a part of his nature? He has 
grown up in a country, where the government, 
the Church, the school, the society, the family, — 
in short all the public and private relations 
hpve virtually guided, directed, superintended 
and carried him in the way he should go, and 
prescribed the course that his individual life 
had to take, leaving hardly any question for him 
to decide. Did you ever realize that these for- 
eigners had to conform their whole being, phys- 
ically and mentally to a new world? They have 
to abandon their old, form new habits, learn a 
new language, a new way of living and think- 
ing. This is the gravest of all the sufferings 
that an emigrant has to endure, the root and 
foundation of home-sickness, which is the most 
intense of all sicknesses; and the more a person 
is attached with piety to the venerable customs 
of the society of the fatherland, the harder will 
be the combat. 

This sacrifice has been offered by the first set- 
tlers of the town of New Glarus. They were 
perfect strangers in every respect. Not even 
Ofie of them knew how to handle a plow, or 
faow to sow wheat, or to plant corn, or to 
build a grain stack, or to do anything of the 
kind that was daily required of them in their 
occupation as farmers. They only knew how 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1025 



to tend cows. It will never be fully understood 
by any one who has not had a similar experi- 
ence, what privations, inconveniences and hu- 
miliations they suffered. "We often cried," 
says one of the old ladies now, jokingly, "until 
our heads were like *Laegele, and wished we 
were at home again, even if we had nothing 
else to live on but fSchotte and Clirut." But it 
was worse with them than with the Helvetians 
of olden times, who tore down the bridges and 
burnt the villages behind them when they 
started out to take possession of Gallia. They 
could come back and restore things, and were 
glad to do so, whilst the New Glarusers were 
very much in the dilemma of the bird in the 
adage: J*'Vogel, friss oder stirb!" They had 
to stay and try. 

It would take up too much room to give a full 
description of the journey of the first settlers, 
which took up nearly the whole summer of 
1845; but in order to give an idea of what 
traveling was in that day, we will select some 
of the dates of a day book which Mathias 
Durst, one of the fellow travelers, has left us. 

We started from Biasche, on the lake of Wal- 
lenstadt, in Switzerland, on the 16th day of 
April; 155 persons were expected to assemble 
there, but when we were ready to start our 
number was 193. We understood that our con- 
tract was including our board, but our captain 
told us that he had nothing to do with it. This 
created quite an animated dispute between our 
leaders and the captain. But we could not 
take what was withheld from us. When we 
arrived at Zurich, those of us that had to stay 
on deck were half frozen, and those who found 
a standing room in the cabin were half lame. 
There we learned that there was no room for all 
of us in the ship that was to take us to Basel. 
In great haste and during a heavy rain we had 
to procure four wagons, in which we put our 
women and children, and were afterwards glad 



* Small wooden casks, used for carrying: drinking water 
Into the fields. 

+ Whey and spinach. 
i Eat, bird, or die. 



that they could not find room on the ship, be- 
cause we men suffered greatly of wet and cold. 
We came to Laufenburg that day, and stayed 
over night in a large hall of a hotel, where we 
laid on straw during one part of the night, and 
walked through the streets of the village dur- 
ing the other, in order to keep warm. We came 
to Basel at the same time with the wagons. 
The landlords in the city were very friendly, 
and took very good pay for their frieudliness. 
From Basel we started next morning on the 
Rhine, and came to a place in the evening where 
there was a very big hotel, but they only offered 
beds to single persons, and would not allow a 
family to come into the house. I, however, was 
quick enough to run into the house and take the 
key from a room with two beds, where I put my 
family to bed after dark without being noticed 
by any one in coming or in going. In Mann- 
heim we had to wait two days for the steamer. 
All our money, that we termed the "beginning 
fund," was used up for the journey, and still we 
slept on boxes and benches for many a night. 
From Dordrecht we were transferred to Rotter- 
dam in two small boats, which were so over- 
crowded that none of us could lie down, or even 
fall down. 

At New Dieppe we were to embark for Balti- 
more, but we had to wait one week until the 
ship was fitted up for us. We slept in the ship, 
but we had to do our cooking on the shore, like 
the gypsies. On the 13th of May we bade good 
bye to old lady Europe, and trusted our lives to 
God and the ship. Any sea-sickness? Yes, 
lots of it, but excuse me from describing it; it 
is altogether too personal, and can only be 
understood when at sea. On the 21st we had a 
storm, which lasted nearly a whole week, and 
was fiercest on the 25th. The ship was laid 
over from one side to the other, dipping up 
tons of water, and dispatching the same down 
into the middle deck. Our trunks became liv- 
ing, every one of them traveling on its own 
risk now east, now west. A bag of potatoes 
fell ovei-, and the potatoes were in a hurry to 



1026 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



find the lowest place on the floor, but were un- 
able to do it in spite of their running to and 
fro. A little cask of wine, that some careful 
passenger has slyly hidden in the corner below 
his berth is coming forth lively to join the gen- 
eral promenade. A large basket-bottle with 
still higher graded contents follows the irresist- 
able law of attraction and tumbles clown-like 
on the battle-field, to be crushed the next mo- 
ment by two colliding trunks. Another pot of 
a more prosaic nature rolls forth and upsets. 
The wine keg of course loses its bung on the 
way, and mixes its contents with the indescriba- 
ble chaos. The floor of the deck is inclining at 
an angle of 45 degrees, and the occupants of 
the berths have to brace themselves up with all 
their power, in order to avoid an involuntary 
soramerset. "O, I wish I was at home!" was 
heard from many sides. But we were on the 
open sea, and the danger comparatively small. 

We had poor board. Our crackers were made 
of middlings and bran, too hard for wolf's teeth, 
and coarse enough for a wolf's stomach. It 
often moved my heart with pity to see the 
children tire their jaws at them, to no purpose. 
We were actually suffering from hunger. This 
morning (June 5) the captain had a pig butch- 
ered, and treated every passenger to a ration of 
fresh pork, for which we were very thankful. 

On the forty-sixth day of our sea-voyage we 
heard the joyous cry: "Land, land!" I tell you 
it made the roughest thank God. In the even- 
ing we saw the lights of the beacon. It made 
us all rejoice when the pilot came on board our 
ship. The next morning we were ordered to 
throw our straw beds into the water, and cheer- 
fully we obeyed; but yet we had to stay two 
nights on the ship. We landed on the 30th of 
June at Baltimore. 

From Baltimore to Columbia, Peiin., we were 
forwarded by railroad, for the first time on our 
journey. But we had hardly time to realize 
the glorious manner of flying through the 
country, until our glory was at its end again. 
In the evening we had to leave the cars and 



walk over a bridge, two miles long, over the 
Susquehanna. We were placed in canal boats 
again, like a flock of sheep, from thirty to 
thirty-five persons in a boat of twelve feet 
length and about seven feet width. We could 
not all of us sit down at the same time. Our 
boats were each drawn by one horse. At Har- 
risburg the boats with all the freight on them 
were loaded on cars, which was done by run- 
ning the cars into an excavation under the 
canal. At Huntingdon our boats were again set 
into their element. We moved through laughing 
fields, over some hills and through others. We 
saw log-houses and finely dressed ladies in front 
of them, milking cows. At first we thought 
that it must be some holiday; but later we 
learned that American women always wear their 
Sunday clothes. 

Whenever any of our party stepped out to 
buy victuals, the boatsmen used to let them 
walk along side the boat for three or four 
miles, before they would give them a chance to 
step in again. On one of these occasions, when 
several of the victims were completely tired 
out, I took a hatchet and threatened to cut the 
rope instantly, to which the horse was hitched. 
This made them stop, and from this time this 
trouble was ended. On the morning of the 0th 
we reached Pittsburg. As we moved into the 
city, we sang one or two of our Swiss songs, 
which drew the windows full of hearers. A 
great fire has destroyed about 1,200 buildings 
of this city this spring. But if the work goes 
along for a few months more, as it has done so 
far, there will hardly be a trace of the destruc- 
tion left. Americans are quick, 

A steamboat forwarded us from Pittsburg to 
Cincinnati in one week, and our captain gave 
us an opportunity here to witness the barbarous 
custom of running one steamboat into another, 
much to our terror and indignation. The other 
ship was badly damaged. Cincinnati has now 
*72,000 inhabitants, they say. A great many of 
our party, misled by the cheapness of meat, 
bought more mutton here than could be used, 



HISTORY OF GREEiV COUNTY. 



1027 



and we had to throw it into the river next day. 
The last two nights we have also made inti- 
mate personal acquaintance with another Araer- 
icah evil, the musquitoes. They are little, 
long-legged flies, which draw the blood out of a 
body, and leave a certain poison in exchange, of 
which the parts will swell up. 

On the 23d of June we came to St. Louis. 
Here we expected to receive news from the two 
experts, that had been sent before us to select a 
place for colony. But instead of that we heard 
that they were probably killed by the Indians. 
We rented rooms in the city for a month, and 
moved into them, with all our baggage, two or 
three families into one room. After some days 
however we received a letter from W. H. 
Blumer, of Allentown, that our experts had 
gone to Peru, 111., and it was thought best to 
send two messengers after them. Jacob Grob 
and I were chosen. We took passage on a 
steamboat that went up through the Illinois 
river. But we made more experience in suffer- 
ing than we liked. The water was low and 
our steamer run aground many times, which 
caused long delay. We had no money to pay 
for a cabin, and had to lay on trunks or on the 
floor, the mosquitoes feasting on us and nearly 
killing us. Mornings we were as swollen, tired 
and scabby as poor Job. We lost several 
days, sticking fast in the sand at five or six 
different places; only an iron patience could 
keep our spirits up. Finally the captain con- 
cluded that the ship had to be left altogether. 
Eight sailors entered a rowing boat and brought 
us in this way the last five miles to Peoria. The 
fact that several of them were drunk and re- 
quired the help of others to keep them in the 
boat, did not accelerate our progress any. From 
Peoria we were obliged to walk seventy-five 
miles to Peru. The fare by stage was|5, which 
we could not afford to pay, and no boats were 
going. We traveled through a country, the 
sight of which is able to encourage the most 
down-hearted. We saw innumerable herds of 
cattle grazing on the rich prairies, corn fields in 



full splendor, pleasant groves and charming 
little log houses, scattered here and there. But 
however modest the place of abode may be, the 
people are able and willing to furnish a good 
meal on short notice. We arrived in Peru the 
3d of August, and learned that Messi-s. Durst 
and Streiff had been here, but had gone to Wis- 
consin. Now we were indeed in a worse situ- 
ation than ever. No money, no friends, no 
knowledge of the country. But we found a 
helper in our distress. The Lord has gleaners 
all over his earth. A certain J. Freuler, work- 
ing there, was not only willing to lend us the 
necessary money to go by stage to Galena, but 
he also concluded to go with us. We went by 
the way of Dixon, Forreston and Freeport to 
Galena, on a miserable wagon, but drawn by ex- 
cellent horses. (In Europe they have luxuriant 
stage coaches and very poor horses.) At Galena 
the aim and object of our search was again 
thirty miles from us. They have gone to Min- 
eral Point, we were told. And when we came 
to Mineral Point the same thing was repeated. 

But the directions became more certain and 
definite. They have bought land on the Little 
Sugar river, thirty-two miles east of here. 
There we found them. And in the meantime 
the colonists at St. Louis had received news of 
the whereabouts of Durst & Streiff, and they 
came up the Mississippi to Galena, and reached 
tliere the same night that we returned — the 
seekers and the seekers' seekers. Hail, Colum- 
bia! O, the joy of meeting again! We all 
made for our new home, the men on foot, the 
women and children on wagons. Even this 
second tour had its diflficulties. We missed the 
road, or rather the direction (there was no road) 
several times. But at last we got there. It 
was the 15th day of August, 1845. Every 
earthly trouble has its end, but most generally 
a new trouble links its beginning to that end."* 

Here they were. "New Glarus" shall be the 
name of this colony. It is a blessed country. 



* Here Mr. Durst's day book closes. It was of course writ- 
ten for friends in the old country, and describes things from 
an European stand point. 



1028 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Little Sugar river is full of fishes, that feel very 
much like being at home in spite of the absence 
of the "Lord of creation," or perhaps because of 
the fact. Deer with number, rabbits in abun- 
dance; they came to inhabit these hills and val- 
leys long ago, without the leadership of any 
Switzer. Walnuts, hickory nuts, black berries, 
wild grapes are in great plenty. There is no 
need of starving. "Our meat market," says 
one of the settlers, "was round about us in the 
woods and in the water. Our cooking was 
done under the great dome of heaven. But our 
first house was a poor concern. It was a shanty 
12x50 feet, just wide enough to hold two rows 
of sleepers. It was quite a spectacle to see us 
go to bed. Those that slept on tlie hind end 
had to lay down first, and this respective order 
had to be observed, until all were disposed of 
for the night. If one had the misfortune to 
have to step out in the night (which occurred 
very frequently, for our stomachs naturally re- 
volted against unsalted fish), it always created 
quite an uproar. 'Can't you keep off from my 
pillow?' 'O, you stand on my toes!' 'Ou! ouch! 

you !' Who is here again?' Such remarks 

would be thrown at him both ways, and by 
them we could hear how far or near he was. 
The shanty was built in a hurry. The boards 
were hauled from Galena. All the fresh air 
that we cared for had access through the slits. 
The sides warped in and out, giving the wind 
a chance to blow all kinds of minor melodies, 
reminding us of home. Some of us had brought 
umbrellas from Switzerland, and we were glad 
to use them 'in the house' every time it rained. 
But we erected quite a number of log cabins 
before winter set in, which were occupied by 
two or three families each, and gave better sat- 
isfaction. 

"For our clothes we were dependent on what 
we could earn or find at other places. Many 
a woman went to Monroe to wash, and carried 
her wages back in the shape of old clothes for 
her family. Even several years after, when we 
first assembled at our log church, the men 



went in shirt sleeves, through which their 
elbows looked out inquisitively. And one of 
the most accomplished ladies made lier appear- 
ance at a funeral service in a pair of old men's 
boots, that had been picked up in the streets of 
Galena, and brought to her as a present by a 
gallant landsman. Children's clothes were 
economically cut out of old bed clothes." 

There were several squatters in the neighbor- 
hood — Armstrong, Greenwood, Slater, Morley, 
Britton, Harvey, Lemon, who are often grate- 
fully mentioned by the colonists, as having 
aided them in many respects during the first 
years. But the fight for an existence was a hard 
one, although it did not require more than one 
year, until they could live on the products of 
their own land. They broke small pieces of 
land and raised wheat, which they threshed 
with hickory sticks. But as soon as they had a 
surplus, they tried to find a market. And what 
did they find? Wheat sold for thirty cents a 
bushel in Milwaukee, and it cost twenty-five 
cents to get it there. This was slow business to 
make up money for even a pair of boots. This 
they stood for several years, and the general 
impression was, that they could not stay and 
make any headway, other than merely provid- 
ing for their daily wants in the most primitive 
manner. But in ]850, wlien the railroad came 
as near as Janesville — forty miles — they com- 
menced to think that the land was worth hav- 
ing. Than the entering jjeriod came. Fifty 
dollars would buy a forty acre piece at the land 
office in Mineral Point, and every $50 that could 
be raked up went to the Point. This excite- 
ment must be observed in order to be under- 
stood. Several neighbors would often cast 
their eyes on the same forty. The one that 
could make up $50 first was the victor. Some- 
times it was a close shave. It happened more 
than once, that a man, after he got wind that 
his neighbor was about going to the Point the 
next day, started in the night and bought the 
land before the other came. The land entering 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1029 



period was not the most favorable for cherish- 
ing friendly and neighborly feelings. 

The school at New Glarus was commenced 
under great difficulties. One of the scholars of 
the first English school describes the same as 
follows : The place where the school was 
taught was the largest and best house in tlie 
settlement, that is to say, a log-house about 
18x20, a private house, the one room being 
kitchen, sitting room and dining-room of a 
large family, and school-room at the same tiiue. 
The bed in it was the general depository of all 
the scholars' books, slates, dinner pails, hats, 
caps, mittens, etc. Mr. Kilroy, the teacher, 
had us seated on benches all around the room. 
He ordered us to learn all together at once. 
Every scholar studied spelling, reading and wri- 
ting after his own method, and at his own time. 
The only command of the teacher was, Chinese- 
like, that every scholar must learn aloud. He 
walked up and down in tlie room, stick in hand, 
and punished the disobedient, who did not 
speak up loud. When he was lired, he would 
demand and take room of the length of his 
body on one of the benches, and try to sleep, 
then we would learn pretty loud, so loud that 
Mrs. Schmid, who was cooking and taking care 
of her children, would emphatically raise her 
large wooden pot-ladle, and declare in full force 
and earnest, that she would certainly put a stop 
to this noise. 

The teacher was boarded around, and was 
treated as nobly as possible. One of the ladies 
remembers now, that she borrowed a coffee cup 
for him, so he might drink his coffee from acup, 
instead of dipping it with a spoon out of the pan 
with the family. Whether tins was sincere 
courtesy, or whether sl)e was afraid of the to- 
bacco juice, hanging on his mustache, would 
surely be an impertinent question. Mr. Kilroy 
did not teach but two terms. Since that the 
schools of New Glarus have advanced with the 
times. A new school house was built in 1840, 
and a fine bell was presented for it, by friends 
of the colony from the old home. When the 



bell was rung for the first time, on a Sunday 
morning, just after it had been hauled from Mil- 
waukee, by Mr. Baumgartner, it was on the 
ground, on an elevation just behind the school 
house, and the people, standing around it were 
moved to tears. Now-a days, it must be said, 
there is a great amount of bell-ringing done at 
New Glarus; but it leaves the great majority of 
the people cold, up to the heart. Worldly mat- 
ters are predominant. 

The town of New Glarus has been a wheat- 
growing district for many years. Those hill- 
sides and plateaux have in many instances stood 
the abuse of being plowed and sowed with wheat 
for twelve or fifteen successive years. Little 
else was raised during the time of twenty years, 
from 1 850 to 1870. But when the price of wheat 
came down, after the close of the war, when the 
hill-sides were cut up by numerous ditches, 
when the arable portion of the fields was washed 
away in many places, and above all, when the 
"chinch bugs" appeared, and ate up the wheat 
crop year after year, then the farmers were 
forced to think of the next thing on the pro- 
gramme. The old system had to be abandoned. 
"Aut Caesar aut nihil!" was the alternative of 
the captives of the old Romans, when the point 
of the sword was on their breast. So it was with 
the farmers of the hilly part of Green county. 
"Either cheese or nothing!" and happily we got 
the cheese. The old wheat fields were seeded 
with clover and grass. Cows were put on them. 
Cheese factories were built. After the fact was 
proved, that there was a ready market for cheese, 
it only took five or six years until cheese-mak- 
ing was the main branch of work for the whole 
farming population. At present, no less than 
800,000 pounds of cheese are annually manufac- 
tured in the town of New Glarus during six or 
seven months. This does not only pay better, 
but the farms are constantly made more product- 
ive. 

The grubbing and breaking of land has not 
ceased yet, and will probably not, until every 



1030 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



available piece of land is plowed and turned into 
meadow. Fortunately nature has furnished 
some stony bill-sides and ravines, where they 
can do no better than let the timber grow, or 
else they would shave the whole town bald. 
An another important fact, tending to leave 
some bunches of timber, is, that the sons and 
grandsons of the first settlers are not quite so 
ambitious to change the face of the earth, as 
their fathers were in their days. Fruit trees 
have never done well. As a rule untime frosts 
will destroy the blossoms of the apple trees, and 
the trees themselves will die soon. 

A vineyard was started in 1860, by Mr. 
North, formerly of Alsace, a great grape dis- 
trict in Germany. Mr. North's vineyard has 
been a success. It now counts 1,800 plants cov- 
ering about one acre, and has yielded as much as 
500 gallons of wine in one season, 300 being the 
average. The many large and commodious 
barns are another pleasant feature of the town 
of New Glarus. Generally these barns are 
built on hill sides, with drive-ways from the 
backside into them, some twelve or fourteen 
feet above the hay floor, thereby greatly reduc- 
ing the work of unloading hay. In the stone 
basement there is room for sixty or seventy, and 
sometimes over 100 head of cattle. 

All practical, agricultural pursuits have been 
crowned with success. The good improvement 
oi the soil, the fine buildings, the large herds 
of fine cows, the numerous cheese factories, the 
well patronized saloons, the comforts and lux- 
uries in every house, the grave-yards with their 
numerous costly monuments, all unanimously 
prove the wealth of the population, and even 
the annual tax roll sometimes involuntarily con- 
firms the general conviction. 

But a historian, in order to be of any value, 
must be truthful, and present both sides. The 
progress in New Glarus has been one-sided. 
'I'he nobler ideal pursuits have not kept pace 
with the materialistic. The society of Nevv 
Glarus suffers from insutlicient circulation. 
The social pulse is low. We are missing the 



stimulating influence of other social elements. 
This is the case with all colonies, where 
people from one and the same district of 
the old world, exclusive of all others, are 
transplanted into the new world. Their moral 
and social development becomes suspended, 
owing to the fact, that they are sec'uded as well 
from the new world as from the old. They 
have no opportunity of observing their pecu- 
liarities and infirmities by comparing their con- 
duct with that of others. They are all so familiar 
with each other, that they fail to see the necessity 
of restraining those many improprieties that are 
commonly easily subdued in a society made up 
of different nationalities. Thus it has been 
with us. We stand right there, where society 
stood forty years ago in the canton of Glarus, 
with the only addition of the new impulse of 
making money, that was imparted to us by the 
superlative of good chances, which we found 
in this country for that impulse. And in a 
great many this is the predominant trait of 
character, and perhaps the only one capable of 
manifesting itself to the outside world. Ap- 
parently no other exertion is made. If this 
confession is humiliating, it is at least true. 
And if it is true, a wise man may learn by it. 

ORGANIC. 

'J'he first town election in New Glarus was 
held April 2, 1850. The following were officers 
of the election: John Westcott, chairman; J. 
F. Westcott, clerk; Rudolph Baumgartner and 
Joseph Trogener, inspectors. The following 
town officers were elected: John Westcott, 
chairman, Joseph Trogener and Oswald Baum- 
gartner, supervisors; J. F. Westcott, town clerk; 
Henry Hoe-^ly, assessor; J. F. Westcott, treas- 
urer; Jdhii Westcott, superintendent of schools; 
Oswald iiaumgartner, Joseph Trogener, Peter 
' oung and John Westcott, justices of the peace; 
Henry I ruempy, Henry Hoesly and J. F. West- 
cott, constables; Joseph Trogener, Henry Albly 
and J. F. Westcott, road overseers. 

The town officers elected April 1, 1884, were 
as lollovvs: Fred Kundert, chairman, Fred 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1031 



Becker and Jacob Stuessy, supervisors; Matthew 
Stuessy, town clerk; Adam Schraid, treasurer; 
Christian Lucbsinger, assessor; Christian Luch- 
singer, Thomas Hefty and Fred Luchsinger, 
justices of the peace. 

SCHOOLS OF NEW GLARUS. 

There are but three full school districts in this 
town — District No. 1 has a two story frame 
school house located in the village, valued at 
$2, J 50. Number of pupils 124. District No. 2, a 
good frame house located on section 33, valued 
at $400. Number of pupils, thirty-three. Dis- 
trict No. 3, stone school house on section 9; val- 
ued at |i400. Number of pupils, fifty. There are 
six joint districts — Joint district No. 2, with New 
Glarus and York,school house in York. Number 
of pupils in New Glarus, eighteen. Joint district 
No. 3, New Glarus and York, with house in 
York. Pupils in New Glarus, fifteen. Joint 
district No. 4, New Glarus and W^ashington, 
house in Washington. Number of pupils in New 
Glarus, twelve. Joint district No. 4, New Glarus 
and Exeter, house in Exeter. Number of pupils 
in New Glarus, eight. Joint district No. 4, New 
Glarus, Primrose and Exeter, stone school house 
in New Glarus, section 1, valued at $400. Number 
of pupils in New Glarus, eight. Joint district 
No. 9, New Glarus and Primrose, house in Prim- 
rose. Number of pupils in New Glarus, three. 

PHYSICIANS OF NEW GLARUS. 

Dr. Samuel Blumer was the first resident 
physician of this town. He came here in 1848, 
and practiced until 1852, when he went to Cali- 
fornia. Returnin<>; to New Glarus, in 1855, he 
liad an extensive practice until 18(;8, when he 
left here, and after a few months residence in 
Monroe, he went to Galena, and later to Sioux 
City, Iowa, where lie died in 1871. The doctor 
is well remembered as a conservative, old school 
practitionei-. During liis residence in California, 
this town was without a doctor, but the minister 
of the Swiss Reformed Church, Rev. Mr. 
Streissgurth, who liad a limited knowledge of 



remedial agents, was often called to relieve his 
neighbors in sickness. 

During a portion of the years 1861 and 1862, 
Dr. Fred Hees, who came here from Switzerland, 
practiced medicine. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
army and died in the service. 

Dr. J. J. Blumer, a son of Dr. Samuel Blumer, 
located here in 1869, and. is now the resident 
physician. He has the confidence of the people 
and is in every way worthy of it. 

CEMETERIES. 

In 1884 there were three cemeteries in the 
town of New Glarus. The oldest one is adjoin- 
ing the church of the colonists. The grounds 
forming this quaint church yard, becoming filled 
with the dead of the congregation, a new ceme- 
tery was laid out about eighty rods west of the 
village, which is well cared for. The grounds 
are dotted with memorial monuments; for it is 
the universal custom of the people to mark the 
graves of their dead. 

The third cemetery is located on the same 
road, about half a mile from the village, and 
belongs to the German Evangelical Society. It 
is neatly arranged. 

CHEESE FACTORIES. 

The town of New Glarus is noted through- 
out southern Wisconsin for its dairy products. 
Especially is it noted for its manufacture of 
cheese, including almost every variety of cheese 
known to the trade. Eighteen factories are in 
operation here, and each year notes new enter- 
prises of this kind. 

The village cheese factory in 1884 was oper- 
ated by Henry Holdrich. This establishment 
uses the milk of about 425 cows. It is owned 
by a stock c(Mnpany, the officers of which are: 
Fred Kundert, president; Mathias Stuessy, sec- 
retary; Jacob Streiff, treasurer. The product is 
American and Limburger cheese. This is the 
largest factory in the town. It was built in 
1873. 

The Fred Luchsinger facLory, located on sec. 
tion 1, was built in 1882. The milk of about 



1032 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



100 cows is used in the manufacture of Lim- 
burger and brick cheese. 

The Spring Valley cheese manufacturing 
company built a factory on section 2 in 1876. 
The company hire the workmen and use the 
milk of about 200 cows in producing Limburger 
cheese. 

On section 6 a factory was built by tlie farm- 
ers in 1877, called E. Erickson factory. Jacob 
Blom was operating the factory in 1884, buying 
the milk of 100 cows and making Limburger 
and brick clieese. 

The Fred Streiff factory, also on section 6, 
owned by a stock company, with Nicalaus Zent- 
ner, president. This factory is one of the larg- 
est in the town. It uses the milk of about 300 
cows in making Limburger cheese. 

On section 10 a stock company with Fred 
Becker, president; Adam Schmid, secretary; and 
Jacob Ott, treasurer, are manufacturing the 
milk of 300 cows into Limburger cheese. This 
company have one of the most conveniently ar- 
ranged factories in the town. 

A stock company own a factory on section 13, 
near the residence of Conrad Zimmerman. This 
factory was built in 1875. During the first five 
years it made Limburger cheese. The past four 
years they have manufactured American cheese, 
selling their milk to Thomas Hauser, nKuiuf;ic- 
turer. 

Paul Kundert, living on section 18, keeps 
forty t') fifty cows, and has a small factory for 
his own use. He makes Swiss cheese. 

On section 19 Joseph Schindier for tlie man- 
ufacture of Swiss cheese from the milk of his 
own farm, has erected a factory. He has 
thirty-five cows. 

In 1877 a sto<'k company b'lilt a factory on 
section 20. The managers in 1884 were: John 
Marty and Julius Eichelkraut. This estahlish- 
nuMit makes Limlnirger cheese, and uses the 
milk of about 130 cows. 

There was built in 1881 on section !1 l»y five 
i' irmers (tu^ighhors) a factory lor making Swiss 
cheese, Fred and John Legler are managers. 



Fred Luder buys the milk and operates the fac- 
tory. 

Mathias Elmer, who lives on section 22, 
owns a private factory, and makes up the milk 
of his own cows, about forty in number, into 
Swiss cheese. 

On section 25 Melchoir & Jacob Stuessy own 
a factory, built for their own use in 1875. They 
make Limburger cheese. 

Dietrich Stauffacher, living on section 35, for 
his own use in manufacturing of Swiss cheese, 
has built a factory. He uses the milk of sixty- 
five cows. 

A stock company own a factory on section 29, 
which was built in 1879. Jacob Bloom operates 
this factory, buying the milk of about 120 cows. 
It makes brick and Limburger cheese. 

On section 32 Peter Klassy lives and owns a 
factory. He uses the milk of his own cows and 
buys some of neighbors. He manufactures 
Swiss cheese. 

David Hefty built a cheese factory in 1881 
on section 33, for the manufacture of Limburger 
and brick cheese. He uses the milk of about 
eighty cows. 

The Legler factory is also on section 33. 
Jacob Regetz operates this factory and buys 
the milk of 200 cows from the stockholders. 
This company was formed in 1877. They make 
Limburger cheese. 

SAAV MILLS. 

The first and only saw mill in this town was 
built in 1851, on the branch of Sugar river 
which passes through the town, a little east of 
New Glarus village. This mill site is but a 
short distance north of the village, the water 
power was used by the flour mill; the saw mill 
w."is built by Joshua Wild. Three years later 
he sold to David Klassy, who, in I860 built the 
grist mill which now (18x4) is owned by Fred 
Kundert. I'liis mill lias four run of stone, two 
for flour and two for feed. The building is 
26x30 feet, in size, two and one-half stories high, 
with small wing for ollice. The stream fur- 
nisiies eight head of water here. David Klassy 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1033 



sold the property in 1864 to S. and H. Hoesly, 
who sold in 1868 to Mathias Schraid. One year 
later he sold a half interest to Rudolph Kun- 
dert. In 1873, upon the death of the latter, 
his son, Fred, inherited his interest, and later 
bought the interest of Mr. Schmid. Mr. Kun- 
dert rents the property. The saw mill has for 
long years been among the things that were. 
The grist mill is now (1884) rented to A. N. 
Beeny, an English miller of twenty-five years 
experience — a thoroughly practical man. 

Fredolin Kundert, one of the solid men of 
New Glarus financially, lives about one-half 
mile north of the village. He owns the mill 
property and a fine farm of about 500 acres. 
He is a son of the late Rudolph Kundert, 
and was born Jan. 28, 1854. His father and 
mother, Elizabeth, were born in canton Glarus, 
Switzerland, and came to this town in 1848, 
first settling on section II, but sold there in 
1850 and bought on section 14, the place now 
owned by Fredolin. Of the family, one child 
was brought from Switzerland — Elizabeth, wife 
of John Klassy. Three were born here-Barbara, 
now the wife of Thomas Hefty; Fredolin and 
Adam, who died when six years old. The father, 
Rudolph Kundert, died April 8, 1871; his widow 
was married to J. U. Summer, of Monroe, and 
was living in 1884. Fredolin Kundert, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was married to Maria, 
daughter of Joshua Wild, March 19, 1873, 
They have six children — Fred, born in 1874; 
Barbara, born in 1876; EUeti, born in 1878; 
John II., born in 1879; Edwin, born in 1881, and 
Rudolph, born in 1883. Mrs. Kundert's father, 
Joshua Wild, came from Switzerland in 1845 
with his family, and lived five years in Syracuse, 
N. Y., where he was employed in the machine 
shops of a railroad company. In 1850 he came 
to New Glarus, and built the only saw mill the 
town ever owned. In 1854 he bought the gen- 
eral store in the village and continued in trade 
a few years, then moved to Paoli, Dane county, 
but after a short residence there, returned to 
this town, and being out of health, retired from 



active business life. He died Sept. 24, 1878 
His widow still resides in the village. Five of 
his children are living — Mrs. Catharine Eichel 
Kraut, Mrs. Barbara Streiff, Mrs. Mary Kundert, 
John, and Mrs. Ellen Hoesly. Fredolin Kun- 
dert is the present chairman of the town board 
of supervisors. 

Albert N. Beeny was born in Herstmonceux, 
Sussex Co., England, April 21, 1847. His father 
was a miller and a grain dealer, following this 
business for about forty years before his death. 
He was also a manufacturer of brick and orna- 
mental tile. He did an extensive business in 
both industries. He died in England in 1872, 
aged sixty-nine years. His wife died many 
years before him. There were twelve children 
who lived until the youngest was over thirty 
years of age before a death occurred among 
them. The youngest son, Albert N., was edu- 
cated to the milling business, commencing work 
at twelve years of age, and under the thorough 
system of his father, he became proficient in 
the business. After his father's death, he con- 
ducted an extensive business on his own account 
for five years. . He came to the United States 
in February, 1878. He engaged in the State of 
New York for two years or more in adjusting 
buhr's in a flouring mill. He then came west and 
operated a mill at Pittsburg, Van Buren Co., 
Iowa, part of one season. He was a short time 
after in Nebraska. From there he went to 
Rushford, Minn., and rented and operated a 
mill eighteen months. He came to New Glarus 
in the spring of 1884 and rented the mill owned 
by Fred Kundert. Mr. Beeny is a thorough 
master of his trade, and is also engaged in the 
manfacture of yeast-cakes, which are a great 
favorite with the house-wives. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

Death is never welcome, but very sad it is 
when striking one out of a family. After hav- 
ing passed the privations and hardships under- 
gone by the colonists on their journey from 
Switzerland here, almost in sight of the land of 
their adoption, between Wiota and the end of 



61 



1034 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



their journey, a young son of Mathias and 
Katrina Schmid was called to the eternal home. 
Sadly the parents carried the mortal remains of 
their boy to the end of the journey, and buried 
liim tenderly — their first sacrificial offering to 
God in "New Glarus." 

The first birth in the new colony made the 
family number full again, for Dec. 12, 1845, 
Thomas, son of Mathias and Katrina Schmid, 
was born. 

. Among the first (if not the first) marriages in 
this town was that of Henry Albly and Mary 
Becker, which was celebrated in the Swiss 
style, Oct. 26, 1847. 

VILLAGE OF NEW GLARUS. 

Not after the manner of buying and platting 
of a village site so usual in our west was new 
Glarus village started. The colonists, after tiie 
fashion at home, clustered here, their lands 
more or less remote. Next came their church 
building and school house, and soon the wants 
of the new colony demanded trade and ex- 
change. A store was opened here in 1850 by 
three brothers, James, George and Conrad Ott. 
The building which they erected is now occu- 
pied by Hefty <fe Kundert. They sold not long 
after to J. J. Tschudy (now of Monroe), who 
sold to F. Egger. He was succeeded in trade 
by F. E. Legler, who continued in trade until 
1882, and then sold to the present proprietors, 
Hefty & Kundert. 

Fritz Tschudy opened a store in 1866, in a 
building erected by him in that year. He has 
occupied this building, with some additions, 
and conducted the business of general merchan- 
dising from that time to this date (1884). 
He was born in canton Glarus, Switzerland, 
March 1, 1832. At the age of sixteen years he 
came to the United States, and directly to 
Green county, by the way of Buffalo and the 
lakes, to Milwaukee. He was accompanied by 
Barbara Hottenger, the betrothed wife of J. J. 
Tschudy, who met them at Milwaukee and was 
there married to Miss Hottenger. The trio then 
proceeded to New Glarus. Fritz Tschudy, in 



1854, returned to Switzerland, and was married 
in the church where he was christened, to Araalia 
Blumer, on the twenty-third anniversary of his 
birth, and returned to America in 1855. They 
have four children — Joshua, who is married and 
living in New Glarus village; Fredolin, Catha- 
rine, wife of Henry Luchsinger, and John Jacob. 
Mr. Tschudy has been in trade at his present 
location since 1866. He is an enterprising and 
public spirited citizen. He has served many 
terms as justice of the peace, and many years 
upon the school board. 

Thomas Hoesly, Jr., erected for trade and 
residence a building in 1880, and opened a stock 
of general merchandise. He has continued to this 
date. He was born in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 9, 
1851. Mr. Hoesly is of Swiss descent. His 
father died while he was a babe. His mother 
married again, and died in Spain in 1864. 
Thomas left his mother when he was but nine 
years of age and went to Switzerland. After 
living there three years he came to the United 
States with a party of emigrants. In the year 
of 1864 he came to this town. Several years 
after coming here he lived with his uncle, An- 
drew Hoesly, on a farm. After he became of 
age he learned the harness maker's trade, with 
Henry Muiichean, of Evansville, and in the 
year 1875 he opened a harness shop in New 
Glarus, and followed this business until 1880, 
when failing health compelled him to change 
his avocation. He then erected a building for 
a residence and store, and opened a general mer- 
chandise store, and yet continues in that busi- 
ness, having built up by honesty and energy a 
good trade. Mr. Hoesly married Ellen Kun- 
dert Nov. 23, 1876. She is a daughter of 
Thomas Kundert, and was born in this town 
June 21, 1857. They have had four children — 
Amalia, born November, 1877, died at two 
years of age; Louisa, born in April, 1879, died 
in infancy; Araalia C, born in June, 1882; and 
Thomas A., born in March, 1884. 

Mrs. Gabriel Scliindler, at the residence of 
her husband, keeps the millinery store of the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1035 



village; also a dress making department, a gen- 
eral assortment of goods common to the trade 
in stock. 

Yost Hoesly, Jr., opened a stock of heavy and 
shelf hardware in 1879, and still continues in 
this trade. 

Peter Streiff, formerly of Monroe, opened a 
stock of general and shelf hardware early in 
the spring of 1884. 

The first hotel was called the New Giarus 
House. It was built in 1854, by M. &R. Baum- 
gartner, who sold to Joe Genal, who now keeps 
the William Tell House at Madison. After 
several changes it came into the hands of S. 
Luchsinger, who kept it many years. It is now 
(1884) kept by Henry Marty. 

The Wisconsin House was built for a store, 
about 1862, by Gustavus Alder, who traded 
about two years, when Henry Marty bought 
the building and added to it, and opened a 
hotel, which he kept about fourteen years. 
Henry Hoesly and Ulrich Kubly have been 
landlords. It is now well kept by Henry Albly,Jr. 

Henry Albly, Jr., son of Henry and Mary 
Albly, was born June 7, 1850. His father was 
a farmer, and to this avocation the son was 
reared. He lived with his father, in his employ, 
after becomhig of age, until he was married, 
Jan. 14, 1874, to Mary, daughter of Samuel and 
Barbara Durot. They came from Switzerland 
in 185.T. Three years after the marriage they 
lived in the family of Henry Albly, Sr. Then 
he bought 108 acres of land of his father, on 
section 18, town of Exeter. In the fall of 1883 
he sold his land and bought the Wisconsin 
House in New Giarus, which he now keeps — 
and very satisfactorily to his guests — making it 
a traveler's home. Mr. and Mrs. Albly have 
four children — Ann Mary, born in 1875; Henry 
N., born in 1877; Barbara E., born in 1878; and 
Magdalina I., born in 1881. 

In 1872 Marcus Hoesly bought the store and 
saloon business of Peter Zweifel, and added 
largely to the building, and now does a hotel 
business and also keeps a meat market. He 



was born in the canton of Giarus, Switzerland, 
Feb. 14, 1844. His father, Matthew Hoesly, 
with his wife and two sons, Yost and Marcus, 
were among the first colonists, who came to 
New Giarus in 1845. Matthew Hoesly was a 
farmer, and Marcus was reared upon a farm. 
Yost enlisted early in the year 1863, in the 31st 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and died in the 
service, Nov. 3, 1 864, at Madison, Wis. He had 
been home on a furlough, granted on account 
of sickness, and was returning to his regiment 
when he was again prostrated by sickness from 
which he never recovei'ed. Marcus Hoesly was 
married Oct. 13, 1864, to Anna, daughter of 
Thomas Kuudert, who came from Schweitzer- 
land in 1847, and died here in May 1882. Mrs. 
Kundert (his widow) and her mother, Mrs. 
Anna Schindler, are living in New Giarus. The 
latter is eighty-five years of age. Marcus 
Hoesly, at the time of his marriage was work- 
ing at his father's farm, which he continued 
until the fall of 1872, when he bought the busi- 
ness of Peter Zweifel, store and saloon. The 
grocery store he kept up about two years. He 
then abandoned that business and opened a 
meat market. He has. made large additions to 
his building in the past few years, and as be- 
fore stated, keeps hotel, also a saloon and meat 
market. Mr. and Mrs. Hoesly have had seven 
children — Matthew, born in 1865; Thomas, born 
in 1866; Marcus, born in 1867; Barbara, born 
in 1869; Amalia, born in 1870, and died in in- 
fancy; Amalia, born in 1872, and John M. born 
in 1879. Mr. Hoesly has served six years as 
assessor of New Giarus, and two terms on the 
town board. 

Fred Schindler keeps boarding house, meat 
market and saloon, (the only saloon aside from 
the hotels). Mr. Schindler has been in the busi- 
ness since 1880. He was born in canton of 
Giarus, Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1844. His father, 
Fred Schindler, Sr., came to Wisconsin in 1853, 
He was a blacksmith. The first year he worked 
at Monroe, and came to this town in 1854. In 
1855 be sent to Switzerland for his family to 



1036 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



come to him, and his wife, Elizabeth E., and 
five children came. The children were — Regiila, 
Barbara, wife of George Legler, now deceased; 
Kate, wife of Thomas Mitchell, of Monticello; 
Fred, the subject of this sketch, and Abraham. 
One sister, and her husband, Leonard Ham- 
merly, came from Switzerland in 1853. They 
live near Mound Sterling, in Crawford county. 
Another sister, Dorothea, and her husband 
Casper Knobel, came 1860. He enlisted in the 
3l8t Wisconsin Volunteers, and died in the hos- 
pital in 1864. His widow married a brother of 
her first husband, Abram Knobel. Fred Schin- 
dler, subject of this sketch, married Rosina, 
a daughter of John J. Durst, in 1866. She was 
born in Switzerland in 1842. Her father was 
one of the colonists of New Giarus. He died 
in 1876, Her mother died in Switzerland. 
Fred Schindler, Sr., father of the subject of this 
sketch, died in 1872, his widow survived him 
and lives with Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler 
have five children — Elizabeth, Rosa, Barbara. 
Kate and Fred. They commenced married life 
on a farm of 200 acres which Fred owned on 
section 34. He sold this farm to his brother 
Abram in 1882, Fred bought his property in 
the village and occupied it in 1880, where he 
keeps a boarding house, saloon and meat mar- 
ket. He has served two terms on the town 
board, and is one of the prominent men of the 
village. 

A building was erected in 1867, by Jacob 
Hefty and Samuel Blumer, intended for a dis- 
tillery, but never used in that business. The 
ownership passed into the hands of Jacob Hefty, 
in 1871, who converted it into a brewery. In 
1879 he added to the building largely and con- 
tinues in the business, manufacturing from 600 
to 700 barrels per annum. 

J. Jacob Hefty was born in the canton of 
Giarus, Switzerland, May 8, 1834. His father 
and family were part of the first colony, coming 
here in 1845. His father's name was Frido- 
lin Hefty. His mother, Rosina Hefty, died in 
Switzerland in 1841, His father was married to 



his second wife when he came to New Giarus. 
He died in 1854. His widow survived until 
1872. The subject of this sketch was married 
in Switzerland, June 28, 1850, to Margaret Ortle, 
who was born Jan. 20,1842. They have .five 
children — Fred, born in 1861; Margaret, born 
in 1862; Rosa, born in 1864; Casper, born in 
1867, and Jacob, born in 1878. Mr. Hefty, in 
the early, colony days, did a great deal of land 
breaking with five and six yoke of oxen. The 
price for breaking was $2.50 per acre. He was 
was afterwards engaged in drawing farm pro- 
duce to the markets of Janesville and Madison, 
but has for many years devoted his time entirely 
to his brewery. Mr. Hefty's recollections of 
the journey here, made when he was eleven 
years of age, are vivid. He says, "I had much 
trouble in biting the 'hard-tack', our regular 
food. I remember the slow climbing of hills, 
while canal boats were passed through the lock 
in Pennsylvania, how we were lodged in a cellar 
in St. Louis, for weeks, while waiting for the 
agents to come and pilot us to New Giarus, the 
tired worn out condition in which we reached 
our new home, the passing of our first night 
under a tree, and the next day how father put 
up a hut covered with boughs, in which we lived 
for months. Fortunately we had umbrellas, 
brought with us from our old home, and we 
used them in our new home every time it rained. 
Father made a log house before it was very 
cold and many of the other settlers would come 
to us daily to get warm, during the following^ 
winter. Pumpkins and corn mush comprised our 
daily food. When I look about now and see 
the abundance of everything and the comfort- 
able houses everywhere, I almost doubt my 
own memory." 

SHOPS OF NEW GLARUS. 

The cemeteries of this town are adorned by 
marble work, the manufacturer of which is John 
Peter Schmid, who learned his trade while 
young in Switzerland. 

John Peter Schmid came to New Giarus in 
the summer of 187«, He was born in canton 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



103Y 



Glarus, Switzerland, Aug, 11, 1846. When 
thirteen years old he began learning the marble 
cutter's trade and at sixteen years of age, was 
earning wages at that work. He came to the 
United States in 1877, worked a few months in 
Philadelphia, and from there went to St. 
Louis, where he was employed a short time, 
then spent a short time in Ohio, after which he 
came to New Glarus, where he has since re- 
sided. He opened a marble cutter's shop the 
first year of his residence here, and still con- 
tinues that business, doing all the marble cut- 
ting for New Glarus and surrounding towns. 
Mr. Schmid was married in Switzerland, Feb. 
16, 1867, to Mary Kundert. They have six chil- 
dren — Maggie, now the wife of John Rieder; 
Melchior, Anna and Mary, who were born in 
Switzerland; John Peter and Albert Rudolf, 
born in the United States. Mr. Schmid is an 
excellent workman and strictly honest and con- 
scientious in all of his dealings. 

Gabriel Schindler, proprietor of the wagon 
and blacksmith shop in New Glarus, commenced 
in a small way in 1876. His business increas- 
ing, he rebuilt in 1881, making a two story 
building, 22x36 feet in size, and in 1883, added 
to this of the same height, 22x24 feet, renting 
the upper room to the United Workmen's lodge. 
Mr. Schindler is doing a prosperous business. 
He is a son of Abraham and Anna Schindler, 
and was born in New Glarus, Jan. 24, 1847. 
Abraham Schindler, with his wife and three 
sons, came to New Glarus with the colony of 
1845. They were natives of the canton of 
Glarus, in Switzerland. The three sons were 
— Andrew, Abraham and Fred. The father 
and two of the sons, Andrew and Abraham, 
died with the cholera in 1854. Fred had died 
previous to that time. The mother died in 1861. 
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Schindler in New Glarus — Gabriel, subject of 
this sketch, Jacob, who lives in Ohio, and Anna, 
widow of Oswald Elmer, living in the village 
of New Glarus. Gabriel Schindler was mar- 
ried April 15, 1869, to Barbara Hefty, daughter 



of Sebastian Hefty. She was born in Switzer- 
land, where her parents died. She came to 
New Glarus in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Schindler 
have two children — S. Albert, born in 1871, and 
Anna, boi-n in 1873. Mr. Schindler is one of 
the active business men of the town. Mrs. 
Schindler keeps a millinery store in the village 
and is a woman of much energy and business 
capacity. 

Melchoir Schinid, one of the mechanics of 
the village, has been in tiie blacksmith business 
since 1874. He is a son of Mathias and Catha- 
rina Schmid, who settled in New Glarus with 
the colony, in 1845, and was born in this town 
Feb. 10, 1850. His parents were both born in 
the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. Their first 
location here was upon a piece of land one- 
haif mile south of the present village. Mathias 
Schmid died in 1854 and his wife in 1877. Four 
of their children, who came with them from 
Switzerland, are now living — Mathias lives in 
Dakota; Henry, Adam and Catharine, who is 
married to Caspar Heuser, reside in this town. 
Two children were born in New Glarus — 
Thomas, born Dec. 12, 1845, was the first born 
child of the New Glarus colonists and Melchoir, 
the subject of this sketch. Thomas resides in 
Exeter. Melchoir Schmid was united in mar- 
riage with Rosa Durst, Nov. 13, 1873. She is a 
daughter of Mathias and Verena Durst, also 
colonists of 1845. Rosa was born May 28, 1854, 
Mathias Durst died in 1857. Of the children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Durst who came with them 
from Switzerland, two are living — Sebastian 
and Fanny, wife of Henry Marty. Of those 
born here two are living — Rosa and Nicholas. 
The first death among the colonists after their 
arrival in Wisconsin, was a young son of Ma- 
thias and Catharina Schmid, who died after 
leaving Galena and before they reached their 
destination. Melchoir Schmid is in the black- 
smith business, liaving owned a shop since 1874. 

Constantine Haegele has been running a 
blacksmith shop since 1861. 



1038 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUN'J Y. 



N. C. Durst has been in the harness business 
since 1872. 

Henry Luchsinger established the furniture 
business in 1883. 

Joshua Tschudy, boot and shoe maker, keeps 
a confectionery and notion stan<l. He has been 
in this business about two years. 

New Glarus postoffice was established in 
1850. The first postmaster was a Frenchman 
named Panchouz. He was succeeded by Joshua 
Wild, and he in turn by J. J. Tschudy; then 
F. Egger. F.E. Legler and Thomas C. Hefty, who 
is the present postmaster. The office is in 
Hefty & Kundert's store. 

Thomas C. Hefty, of the firm of Hefty & 
Kundert, was born in this town, and is a son of 
Caspar and Elizabeth Hefty. Caspar Hefty was 
born in Switzerland, and came to Green county 
and settled in the town of Washington, about 
1847. Elizabeth Hefty, also a native of Switz- 
erland, came to this county one year previous 
to her husband. They were married in the 
town of Washington, and a few years later 
came to New Glarus to reside, locating on sec- 
tion 28, where Mr. Hefty bought 250 acres of 
land. Caspar Hefty died in April, J 876. His 
widow now lives with a married daughter, Mrs. 
Jacob Elmer, in Mount Pleasant. They had ten 
children — Marcus, deceased; Henry, living in 
Washington; Caspar, living at the homestead; 
Peter, living in Jefferson Co., Kansas; Mel- 
choir, living in the same county, where they 
own a large farm of 500 acres; Thomas C, sub- 
ject of this sketch; Barbara, wife of Anton 
Richards, of Jeffei'son Co., Kansas; John and 
Elizabeth, deceased. Thomas C. Hefty was 
born March 2, 1859, and was married April 8, 
1880, to Elizabeth, daughter of Paulus Kundert. 
She was born Dec. 30, 1861. They have two 
children — Lillian E., born in 188!, andEsthaS., 
born in 1883. Mr. Hefty is postmaster of New 
Glarus. The firm are doing a prosperous busi- 
ness. Although young, Mr. Hefty has the qual- 
ifications necessary for a successful business 
career. 



The United Workmen lodge was organized 
Aug. 25, 1883, with the following officers: M. 
Hoesly, W. M.; Oswald Babler, P. W. M.; Os- 
wald Elmer, foreman; G. Schindler, overseer; 
M. Schmid, financier; E. J. Eisner, receiver; T. 
C. Hefty, recorder; Yost Hoesly, guide; Freda- 
line Schindler, J. W.; Jacob Hefty, O. W. 
Cliarter membership, twenty-six; present mem- 
bership, thirty-eight. The death of Oswald 
Elmer, the foreman, occurred shortly after the 
organization. The vacancy in the ofiicial staff 
of the lodge was filled by the election of 
Thomas Hoesly. 

CHURCHES. 

The religion of the people of New Glarus is of 
the denomination called the Swiss Reformed 
Church. The first church was a log building 
erected in 1849, and used as a church and 
school house. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. 
Streissgurth, who located in 1849 and remained 
until 1855. In 1884 he was still living, and at 
the Mastei-'s work. He was succeeded by Rev. 
John Zimmerman, who came from Switzerland 
in 1852, and came here in 1855. He remained 
with this people until 1859. He is now the 
pastor of a German Church in Burlington, Iowa. 
In 1859 the present church replaced the log 
church of the colonists. In that year the pres- 
ent pastor was located here. Rev. John T. 
Eltee. He was born in Switzerland, in 1832. 
The son of a clergyman, he was educated to the 
work from his youth. He came to the United 
States in 1850 and studied English in a univer- 
sity at Chambersburg, Penn. His first charge 
was in Tennessee, and later he was settled at Sauk 
City. Going for that purpose, he was married 
in Switzerland, in 1855. He has only two chil- 
dren living, both now residents of Monroe — 
Robert and John T. About 1873 the society 
built a school house for imparting denomina- 
tional education. The house is also used for an 
independent school, in which German is taught 
by Fabian Knobel. 

There is another church owned by the Ger- 
man Evangelical society. This building was 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1089 



erected on section 22, and moved into the vil- 
lage about 1860. About fifteen families in this 
town are connected with this society. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Among the Swiss colonists of New Glarus can 
be found no more enterprising people than the 
following, of whom biographical sketches are 
given. 

Oswald Babler, son of Oswald and Ursula 
Babler, was born June 11, 1835. His parents 
came here with the colony of 1845. '1 he other 
children of Mr. and Mrs. Babler, who came with 
them, were — Elizabeth, deceased wife of John 
Streiff; Esaias deceased; Nicholaus, who was 
killed by lightninsr, in 1853; and Anna, wife 
of Henry Holsby, living in Oregon. Thefatlier 
died the second year of his residence here. The 
mother lived with her daughter, Mrs. Streiff, 
many years before her death, which occurred in 
1873. The subject of this sketch, Oswald Bab- 
ler, went to Madison in 1856, to learn the trade 
of cabinet maker. He remained there three 
years. He then commenced improving his share 
of the land coming to him through the claim 
made by his father and paid for by the family, 
eighty acres of which came into his possession. 
'J'his land is on section 25, and is now a part of 
his farm of 135 acres. He was married June 
15; 1860, to Sarah Kundert, daughter of Mrs. 
Elizabeth Kundert, and sister of Mrs, John 
Luchsinger, of Monroe. Her father died in 
Switzerland, when she was quite young. Her 
mother, who came here in 1855, lives with Mr. 
and Mrs. Babler. Feb. 2, 1865, Mr. Babler en- 
listed in company I, of the 46th Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served until the regiment 
was mustered out. He was mustered out as 
corporal. Twelve children have been born to 
Mr, and Mrs. Babler — Henry Lincoln, Emma E., 
wife of J. Hoesly, of Monroe; Ellen E., Edwin 
A., Otto H., Victor A. (deceased); Emil E. 

(deceased); Victor A., Ida E., Lillie M., AdaA. 
and Alma A. Mr. Babler is a man of energy, 

and does thoroughly whatever he undertakes, 



He has a finely improved farm, with good build- 
ings. 

John Legler was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, April 16, 1837. His father, Fred 
Legler, with his family, were a part of the col- 
ony that came to New Glarus in 1845. His 
twenty acre lot was on section 22. He gradually 
added to his landed estate until he owned a fine 
farm of 200 acres. At the time of their arrival 
in New Glarus, Mr. Legler's family consisted of 
his wife and six sons — Fred, now living in the 
village of New Glarus; Melchoir, deceased; 
Nicholaus, deceased; George, now living in 
this town; Andrew, deceased; and John, the 
subject of this sketch. The father died about 
1871. His widow died three years later. John 
Legler and Dorothea, daughter of Peter Speich, 
were married in 1861. She was born in Switzer- 
land, June 24, 1844, and came to New Glarus 
with her brother, Peter, and sister, Barbara, in 
1852. Her parents died in Switzerland about 
1849. Mr. and Mrs. Legler have ten children — 
Fred, Peter, Barbara, Dorothea, Elsbeth, Anna, 
Emma, Mary, Lena and John, all of whom are 
living with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Legler, 
for several years after their marriage, lived on 
the farm of Mr. Legler's father, which they in- 
herited. He afterwards sold the place to his 
brothers and settled on his present home on sec- 
tion 33, where he owns 160 acres. 

Werner Elmer lives on section 2, where he 
owns a farm of 240 acres, a portion of wliich is 
on section 1, His parents, Werner and Ann 
Maria Elmer, were born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, and came to New Glarus in 1847. 
Five of their children who came with them are 
living — Fanny, wife of Jacob Ott; Mary, wife 
of John Tasher, of Dane county; Euphemia, 
wife of Nicholaus Zentner; Werner and Jacob, 
who live in Dane county. Three children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer after tlieir ar- 
rival in New Glarus — Caspar and Nicholaus, 
who are living at the homestead, and Anna, 
who lives with her sister, Mrs. Ott. Werner 
Elm«r, Sr., settled in 1847 upon section 11, 



1040 



HISTORY OF GREEN CO UN 'IT. 



where he added to his first purchase until he 
owned 400 acres of laud. He died Feb. 6, 1883, 
aged seventy years. His wife died April 5, 
1881, aged sixty-eight years. Werner Elmer, 
Jr., and Barbara Durst were united in marriage 
Nov. 17, 18(54. She is a daughter of Nicholaus 
and Maria Durst, who came from Switzerland 
to New Glarus in 1846, and settled on section 
10, where Mr. Durst died April 19, 1869. Mrs. 
Durst still lives at the homestead with her son, 
Jacob, who now owns the property. Mr. and 
Mrs. Durst brought seven children to this coun- 
try with them — Magdalena, who died one year 
later; Jacob, Henry, living in Monroe; Anna, 
deceased wife of Samuel Luchsinger; Mary A., 
wife of Adam Schmid; Margaret, wife of Jacob 
Streiff, and Barbara (Mrs. Elmer). Five chil- 
dren were born to them afte^ tiieir arrival in 
New Glarus, only one of whom is now living — 
Nicholaus, who resides at Monroe. Mr. and 
Mrs. Elmer have six children — Mary, Werner, 
Barbara, Nicholaus, Fanny and J. Herman. 

Melchoir Stuessy, the owner of one of the fine 
dairy farms of New Glarus,lives upon section 25, 
and has large and conveniently arranged build- 
ings. His farm contains 264 acres of good land, 1 20 
acres of which, with his residence, is on section 
25, sixty acres on section 36, and eighty-four 
acres adjoining on the east, in Exeter. Mr 
Stuessy was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1823. He came to the 
United States in 1845, and spent the following 
winter in New Jersey and two months of the 
next season in Pennsylvania. He then returned 
to New Jersey, where he was employed in a 
cotton factory nearly two years. In May, 1848, 
he came to New Glarus and bought 160 acres of 
his present farm. He was married in 1852 to 
Catharine Legler, daughter of David Legler. 
Ten children have blessed their union — Jacob, 
born in 1853; Samuel, born in 1854; Barbara, 
born in 1857, and died in infancy; Melchoir, 
born in 1858; David, born in 1861; Anna, born 
in 1864; Catharine, born in 1867; Fred, born in 
1870; Henry, born in 1874, and John, born in 



1877. Mr. Stuessy's father, Jacob Stuessy, died 
in Switzerland in March, 1856. The July fol- 
lowing his wife came to this town to reside 
with her son, Melchoir. Mr. Stuessy is one of 
the solid men of this New Glarus. He has held 
the ofiice of chairman of the town board ten or 
twelve terms, and always satisfactorily to the 
people. His brother, Jacob Stuessy, lives on an 
adjoining farm, and owns 120 acres, with resi- 
dence, on section 25, also 220 acres on section 
36. He also has fine improvements. He was 
born in Switzerland Jan. 19, 1829, and came to 
New Glarus in 1850. He was married in No- 
vember, 1856, to Catharine Zumbrunnen, a na- 
tive of Berne, Switzerland. She died in 1873, 
leaving two children — Catharine and Emma. 
Jacob Stuessy was again married in 1875 to 
Verena Marty. By this marriage there are five 
children — Jacob, Mathias, Samuel, Anna M. 
and Walter. 

Andrew Hoesly owns a very fine farm of 
167 acres on section 4. He has erected 
fine buildings upon his farm. He was 
l;Oin in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, 
March 14, 1830. He came to this county, 
a poor lad of seventeen years, with a brother- 
in-law, Henry Durst, for whom he worked to 
pay the cost of his coming, remaining with him 
nearly six years, in the meantime preparing 
for a start in life, with some means. He wa's 
married in 1853 to Barbara, daughter of Jacob 
Durst. She was born in Switzerland, and in 
1848 came to this county. Mr. Hoesly bought 
his farm in 1857. He is an honest and prudent 
farmer, and much respected by all. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ploesly have three sons — Jacob, living in 
this town; Andrew, living in York, and David, 
who is at home with his parents. 

Mathias Elmer was born in the town of 
Washington, Green county, July 10, 1849, the 
same year in which his parents, John U. and 
Verena Elmer, came from the canton of Glarus 
in Switzerland to the New Glarus in America. 
They brought five children witli them — Barbara, 
now the wife of Abram Kulby; Conrad, now 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1041 



living in Monroe; Magdalena, now the wife of 
Isaiah Stanffacher, of Sylvester; John, living in 
Sylvester, and Ulrich, living in Mount Pleas- 
ant. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Elmer after tliey came to tliis county — Mathias, 
Verena, now the wife of Chris Brunko; Henry 
and Jacob, who live in Mount Pleasant; Mary, 
wife of Peter Stauffacher, of Sylvester; Adam, 
living in Mount Pleasant and Euphemia wife 
of Peter Elmer. The subject of this sketch, 
Mathias Elmer, and Mrs. Anna Marty, widow 
of Joachim Marty, were married Oct. 14, 1875. 
She is a daughter of George and Anna Legler 
and b)' her first marriage had four children — 
George, John, Otilla and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. 
Elmer have had three children born to them — 
Clara, Samuel and Augusta. Mr. and Mrs. 
Elmer own one of the best farms in the town. 
It is located on section 22, and formerly belonged 
to Mrs. Elmer's father, George Legler, who 
was one of the colonists of 1845. The farm 
contains 366 acres and is under good cultiva- 
tion. They have fine buildings and other 
improvements. 

David Hefty is the owner of a fine stock 
farm on section 33, of New Glarus. It contains 
265 acres. His father, John Jacob Hefty ,came 
from the canton of Glarus, in Switzerland, in 
1847, and settled upon section 29, of New 
Glarus, where he resided until his death in 1881. 
His widow resides at the homestead with one 
son, Melchoir, and three daughters — Margaret, 
Mary and Madaline. There are also six other 
children — John Jacob, who lives in New Glarus; 
David, subject of this sketch; Rosina, wife of 
J. Becker, of Washington; John, in New 
Glarus; Barbara, wife of Fred Vaegle, and 
Elizabeth, wife of Henry Legler, All of the 
children were born in New Glarus. The home- 
stead contains 140 acres. David Hefty was 
born June 4, 1851, and married Nov. 2, 1876, to 
Rachel, daughter of Albert Babler. She was 
born June 18, 1857. They have two children — 
John Jacob, born in 1877, and Anna Barbara, 
born in 1879. Mr. Hefty is one of the most 



intelligent and enterprising citizens of the 
town, and is much esteemed. 

Fredolin Becker, Jr., owns a fine farm of 
298 acres on sections 10 and 11. His father, 
Fredolin Becker, was one of the colonists of 
1845, His parents were married shortly before 
coming to New Glarus. They settled on sec- 
tion 2, and made a farm of 284 acres. One of 
the children whom they brought to this town, 
Barbara, is now the wife of Esaias Babler, of 
Mount Pleasant. The other, Jost, lives in 
York. Fredolin, Jr., Jacob and John were 
born in New Glarus. The subject of this 
sketch was born June 13, 1851. When eighteen 
years of age he learned the carpenter trade and 
in 1870, went to Kansas and remained four 
years, working there at any employment which 
offered. From there he went to Colorado and 
herded cattle one season. After this he worked 
on a farm in Illinois one year, then in 1876, 
returned to New Glarus. April 4, 1878, he 
was married to Fanny Kundert, daughter of 
Thomas and Amalia Kundert. Mr. and Mrs. 
Becker now reside on the homestead of her fa- 
ther, Mr. Kundert. They have two children — 
Fred, born in April, 1879, and Thomas, born in 
April, 1882. Mr. Becker is a member of the 
town board. The parents of Mr. Becker are 
living with their son, Jacob, on section 14. 
John Becker lives on the old homestead. 

Christian Luchsinger was born in canton 
Glarus, Switzerland, Aug. 20, 1820. In his 
youth he worked in cotton factories, but at the 
age of sixteen years, was apprenticed to the 
watch maker's trade. This work he followed 
seven years, then was made village clerk. He 
was in that position until 1852, in which year 
he came to the United States, and to this town 
with two of his children — Thomas and Eliza- 
beth. The following year he sent for his wife 
and the other son, Samuel. Mr. Luchsinger was 
married in 1842 to Margaret Wild, in Switzer- 
land. He left New Glarus in 1864 for Mineral 
Point, where he worked in the mines, zinc 
smelting etc., a portion of the time, and at 



1042 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



clock repairing a portion of tho time. In 1864 
he enlisted in the ]42d Illinois Volunteers, (100 
day service) and served nearly six months. The 
regiment was discharged, and he enlisted again 
in the 50th Wisconsin Volunteers and served 
fifteen months. He was mustered out with the 
regiment and returned to New Glarus, where 
lie bought a home, upon which he now resides. 
Five children have been born in America — 
J(ihn, born in 1856; Susan, wife of Charles 
Sheple, of Dayton, born in 1858; Margaret, 
born in 1860; Mary, born in 1863, and Sophie, 
born in 1867. Samuel, who cume over with his 
mother, was accidentally killed at Austin, 
Minn., May 24, 1881, while in discharge of his 
duty as yard master, in tho employ of the C. 
M. & St. P. R. R. Company. Christaiji Luch- 
singer has served as town clerk of this town 
ten years, and when not in this position has 
been almost continuously acting as justice of the 
peace. He is one of the prominent public men 
of the town. Genial and kindly in his inter- 
course with others, he has hosts of friends. 

Thomas Luchsinger, son of Christian Luch- 
singer, was born April 5, 1844, in the canton of 
Glarus, Switzerland, and came to New Glarus 
wilh his father in 1852. He grew to manhood 
here and making the best use of his limited ad- 
vantages, acquired a good education, which 
with a mind by nature studious, and a reten- 
tive memory, have made him a well-informed 
and useful citizen. He enlisted in February, 
1864, in company H, of the 35th Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, and served creditably until 
the regiment was mustered out of service. He 
came home an orderly sergeant. After the 
war he was married, in 1868, to Salome Hoesly, 
daughter of one of the first colonists, Mathias 
Hoesly. Both of her parents are living. After 
coming from the army, Mr. Luchsinger learned 
the wagon maker's trade, which he followed 
until 1882, when he moved to Dayton and 
bought the store and stock in trade of William 
Green. He continued in business there until 
the spring of 1884, when he closed out his 



stock and returned to New Glarus. Mr. and 
Mrs. Luchsinger have had live children. The 
first born, Margaret, died at the age of one 
year. The living are — Christian, Barbara, 
Margaret and Salome. Mr. Luchsinger is vvell 
and favorably known throughout Green county. 
He has been the candidate of his party, (demo- 
cratic) for the legislature, also for important 
county offices. That party being the minority 
party, he, though receiving a flattering vote, 
has never been elected. 

Caspar Hauser was born in canton Glarus, 
Switzerland, Nov. 12, 1838. He came to this 
country in 1853 with his parents, Oswald and 
Anna Hauser and three other children —Anna, 
wife of Thomas Schmid; Oswald lives in the 
town of York; and Rudolph, deceased. His 
mother died in 1854. His father is living with 
Oswald in the town of Y'ork. The subject of 
this sketch, Caspar Hauser, and Catliarine 
Schmid, were united in marriage in January, 
1865. They have six children — Catharine, 
Anna, Fanny, Margaret, Oswald and Louisa. 
Mr. Hauser owns a fine farm of 220 acres, whicli 
is under good improvement. About 150 acres 
of the farm is on section 5. The other part is on 
section 4, where he resides. 

J, Conrad Zimmerman was born in canton 
Schaffbausen, Switzerland, Jan. 18, IS'il. He 
came to the United States in 1854, landing in 
New York, September 15, of that year. He 
went directly to Freeport, 111., where he taught 
a German school one year. In the fall of 1855 
he came to New Glarus, and taught the only 
school in town, for the next four years. The 
whole town was included in one school district. 
The school house was the log church of the 
colonists. Oct. 14, 1858, he was married to 
Mary, only child of Peter and Barbara Jenny, 
of New Glarus. Mr. and Mrs. Jenny were 
eaily settlers in the town, coming from Switzer- 
land in 1847. Mr. Jenny brought some money 
here and made more after his arrival. He was 
a hard working and prosperous farmer. He 
died in 1880. His widow still lives at the 



HISTORY OF GRKEN COUNTY. 



1043 



homestead, which consists of more than 200 
acres, on section 13. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman 
also reside at the homestead. They have two 
sons — Peter, born in November, 1859, and John, 
born in October, 1864. Peter is married and 
rents the homestead, and occupies the former 
residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jenny. John is at- 
tendinj? school at Elmhurst Seminary, in Illi- 
nois. The subject of this sketch, J. Conrad 
Zimmerman, in 1859, moved to Freeport, Illi- 
nois, where he taught a German school until 1864. 
He then returned to New Glarus and has since 
resided on section 13. Mr. Zimmerman re- 
ceived an academic education in Switzerland 
and attended the State University in 1857. He 
has served several terms as chairman of the 
town board of supervisors, and is one of the 
prominent public men of the town and county. 
His elder brother, John Zimmerman, was the 
pastor of New Glarus from 1855 to 1859. He 
is now a resident of Burlington, Iowa. Of his 
four sisters who came to the United States, 
Magdalena, wife of Rev. C. F. Doehring, died 
in Missouri in 1865; Verena is the wife of Rev. 
A. H. Fismer, of Boeuf Creek, Mo.; Catharine 
is the wife of C Weber, of Toledo, Ohio; and 
Ursula, widow of Rev. C. F. Doehring, lives in 
Monroe, Wis. 

Andrew J. Magoon resides upon section 2, of 
the town of New Glarus. He is a son of 
Richard and Maria Magoon of Monticello, and 
was born in Mount Pleasant, June 10, 1856. He 
was married July 4, 1877, by H. M. Barnes, 
Esq., of Exeter, to Barbara, daughter of Jacob 
Burgy of Washington. She was born Nov. 21, 
1859. The first year of their married life was 
spent on a farm in Mount Pleasant. They 
then rented a farm on section 2, of the town of 
New Glarus, of his father-in-law. In 1884 he 
bought the farm, which contains 220 acres. Mr. 
and Mrs. Magoon have three children — Maud 
M., born in August, 1878; Melviu Jacob, born 
in February, 1880; and Clarence James, born in 
January, 1882. Richard Magoon came to Green 
county in an early day, there being then only a 



few houses in Monroe,two or three in Exeter, and 
one in Monticello. The first year of his resi- 
dence here, he lived in Exeter. He then moved 
to what is now the town of Mount Pleasant, 
where he now lives in the village of Monticello. 
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Magoon have five children 
living with them — Ella, Albert, Arthur, Etta 
and Ernest. One of their daughters, Martha, 
is a teacher and has taught thirty terms of 
school. They have also one son and two daugh- 
ters living in Iowa. 

Fred Luchsinger was born in Philadelphia, 
March 14, 1847. His parents, John and Bar- 
bara Luchsinger, settled in New Glarus, in 1856, 
buying land on section 1, which is now included 
in the fine farm of 296 acres, owned by the sub- 
ject of this sketch. The other children of John 
and Barbara Luchsinger are John, the present 
county treasurer of Green county; Catharine, 
wife of Mathias Stuessy; and Barbara, wife of 
Jacob Burgy, of Washington. Fred Luch- 
singer was married to Magdalena Durst, Nov. 
28, 1869. She is a daughter of John Henry 
Durst, who came from Switzerland and settled 
in New Glarus in 1847. He now lives in the 
village. Mr. and Mrs. Luchsinger have eight 
children — Barbara, John, Fred, Robert, Maggie, 
Catharine, Mary and a little girl not yet chris- 
tened. Mr. Luchsinger's father died in 1862, 
and his mother in 1868. Fred Luchsinger is a 
popular and respected citizen and one of the 
prominent men of New Glarus. He has filled 
oflices of trust. 

John Klassy owns a highly improved farm of 
300 acres, on sections 23 and 24. He has large 
and substantial buildings. Mr. Klassy was born 
in Switzerland, Dec. 5, 1844, and came to this 
country with his parents, Joachim and Catha- 
rine Klassy, in 1860. One other son, Joshua, 
came with Mr. and Mrs. Klassy to the United 
States. Joshua Klassy lives in Jordan. The 
parents are both living with Joshua, John 
Klassy was married March 9, 1865, to Elizabeth 
Kundert, daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth 
Kundert. She was born in Switzerland, May 



1044 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



17, 1844. They have two children — John, born 
in 1865; and Ellen, born in 1874. Mr. Klassy is 
an industrious and successful farmer. 

Fred Streiff was born in Switzerland, Sept. 

18, 1838, and came to New Glarus in 1861. He 
enlisted October 15, of that year, in the 2d Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, one of the "Iron 
Brigade" regiments. His devotion to the land 
of his adoption was sealed with blood more 
than once. He has the scars of three wounds to 
show for his service in the battles of the Union, 
for which he receives a pension. Recovering from 
wounds received atthe battle of Gainesville,where 
the Wisconsin boys won the title of the "Iron 
Brigade," he was again in line at the "pivotal 
battle of the war," Gettysburg. He was in the 
following battles: Gainesville, Va., Bull Run, 
(No. 2.), Fitzhugh's Crossing, Va., Chancelors- 
ville, Va., Gettysburg, Penn., Wilderness, Va., 
Laurel Hill, Va., Cold Harbor, Va., North 
Anna River, Bethesida Church, Va., Spott- 
sylvania Court House, Va., Petersburg, Va., 
Weldon Railroad and Hatcher's Run, Va., 
and many smaller battles. He was corporal, 
and was promoted to sergeant on the Ist 
day of June, 1864, at Cold Harbor, He was 
married Feb. 25, 1864, while home on a veteran 
furlough, to Barbara, daughter of Joshua Wild. 
After the war Mr. Streiff was in trade at New 
Glarus, in company with his father-in-law, Mr. 
Wild, and later engaged in the same business at 
Paoli, Dane county, then purchased a farm in 
the town of New Glarus, which he commenced 
improving in 1866. It is located on section 7, 
and contains 211 acres with very fine buildings 
and improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Streiff have 
eight children — Agatha, Joshua, Barbara, 
Emanuel, Fredolin, John, Anna and Robert. 
Mr. Streiff has been a member of the town 
board and is a respected citizen. 

Thomas Kundert resides on section 28, on the 
farm his father formerly owned. He is a son 
of Belshazzar and Elizabeth Kundert, and was 
born May 26,1861. His parents came to this 
country from Switzerland, in 1854. They set- 



tled on section 9, where they remained until 1860, 
when they purchased the farm on sections 28 
and 29, where Thomas now lives. The farm 
contains 265 acres, and is well improved, and on 
which Thomas erected one of the largest barns 
in the town. His father died on the 11th of 
May, 1881. His mother lives in the village of 
New Glarus. There are four children living — 
Barbara, born in Switzerland, wife of Jacob 
Voegele, living in the town of Jordan ; Jacob, 
born November, 1862; Elizabeth, born in May, 
1871, and Thomas. Elizabeth lives with her 
mother. Thomas was married to Rosina Hoesly, 
on the 31st of January, 1884. She is a daugh- 
ter of John and Anna Hoesly. Her father died 
May 18, 1881. He came from Switzerland in 
1854, and was a brewer by trade. His mother 
lives in the village of New Glarus. 

Dietrich Stauffacher lives on section 35, where 
he owns a fine farm of 354 acres, well improved. 
He was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzer- 
land, April 23, 1832, and came to the United 
States in 1871. He came dii-ectly to this town, 
and purchased his farm the same year. He 
was married in Switzerland, in 1851, and four 
children came to this county with him — Bai"^ 
bara, wife of Paul Marty, of Exeter; Euphemia, 
wife of Oswald Zentner, Jr., of Mount Pleasant; 
Conrad, who is now married and living on a 
part of bis father's farm, and Mary, who lives 
with her father. His wife, Verena, died July 
28, 1879, aged fifty-four years. Mr. Stauffacher 
was again married, Aug. 19, 1882, ito Mrs. 
Susan (Babler) Zentner, widow of Oswald Zent- 
ner, Sr. She was born in Switzerland. Two of 
her sons were buried under a landslide in 
Switzerland, Sept. 11, 1881. She came to this 
country in May, 1882, accompanied by five 
sons and four daughters. — Hilarious, Oswald, 
Fritz, Henry, Samuel, Regula, Ellen, Susanna 
and Mary. Those buried by the landslide were 
Peter and Caspar. Mr. Stauft'acher bought out 
the last American family in the south half of 
the town, buying his farm of the heirs of James 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1045 



Lemons' estate. A part of the farm lies on sec- 
tion 2, of the town of Washington. 

Jacob Rf'gez was born in the canton of }Jern, 
Switzerland, Sept. 25, 1849. He came to the 
United States in 1869, and lived in Ohio one 
year. His father at that time was operating a 
large cheese factor}' in France, and having 
other interests demanding his attention, Jacob 
returned to France to take charge of this fac- 
tory. He remained in that country, thus em- 
ployed, two and a half years, when the Franco- 
Prussian war compelled a suspension of the 
business, and he returned to the United States, 
accompanied by his brother, Rudolph, and the 
fall of 1872 found him at New Glarus, where 
he established himself in the cheese manufac- 
turing business. He is at present (1884) operat- 
ing successfully ten cheese factories. He thor- 
oughly understands the art of cheese making, 
and has acquired quite a fortune in the busi- 
ness. His father, Jacob Regez, died in Switzer- 
land in 1878. His mother is living in that 
country. Jacob returned to Switzerland on a 
visit, in 1883. Rudolph, who came here in 
1870, lives in Dane county where he operates 
six cheese factories. Another brother, Ernest, 
and a sister, Susan, came to this county in 1880. 
The former is in the employ of Jacob, and the 
latter is living in Monroe. A young sister, 
Rosie, accompaned Jacob on his return in 1883, 



and is now a member of his family. Mr. Re- 
gez was married Jan. 20, 1876, to Louisa Witt- 
wer. Four children have been born to them — 
Ida, Jacob, Louisa and Edward. Their resi- 
dence is on section 33. 

Henry Holdrick was born in Bavaria, Ger- 
many, Dec. 29, 1844. He came to America in 
1867, landing at New York city. Being an 
adept at the dairy business, he sought employ- 
ment in that line, and succeeded in obtaining 
work in a cheese factory in Jefferson county in 
that State. He remained here three years then 
returned to New York city, and was employed 
as clerk and salesman in a cheese and butter 
store. In 1876 he went to Washington De- 
pot, Conn., and worked in a creamery. In 
the fall of that year he came to Green county. 
He spent the following winter in Monroe, and 
the next season was employed in cheese mak- 
ing in Dayton. The next two years he worked 
in a cheese factory at Monticello, after which 
he came to New Glarus, where he is following 
the same business. He was married April 24, 
1879, to Mrs. Margaret Disch, widow of Jacob 
Disch. Mrs. Holdrick has one child by her 
former marriage — John Disch, born July 27, 
1875. Mr. Holdrick thoroughly understands 
the business in which he is engaged, and is a 
well informed and intelligent gentleman. 



1046 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XLI. 



TOWN OF SPRING GROVE. 



Congressional township 1 north, range 9 east, 
of the fourth principal meridian, comprises the 
civil town of Spring Grove, forming the south- 
eastern corner of Green county. On account of 
the correction lines of the government survey, 
this congressional township embraces 24,989.92 
acres of land. This town is bounded on the 
north and west by the towns of Decatur and 
Jefferson, respectively; on the east it is bounded 
by Rock county, and on the south by the State 
of Illinois. The surface of this town is quite 
rolling, but no abrupt bluffs exist except at, or 
near the Clarence bridge, across Sugar river. 
This river crosses the north line of the town, 
by way of the northwest quarter of section 2, 
and flows in a southeasterly direction, to leave 
the town through the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 13. Spring creek, main branch, heads on 
section 30, and on section 10 is joined by a 
smaller branch which heads on section 7. The 
creek, thus formed, flows into Sugar river, from 
the west on section 12. The soil in Spring 
Grove is varied. East of Sugar river is a sandy 
prairie, with timber skirting the river. West 
of the river, the low lands set in, which are cov- 
ered with a soil of rich, black loam; these level 
lands extend from the river toward the higher 
lands. Except along the river, this land 
is not timbered. On the farm of Thomas 
Hamilton, an elevation seventy feet high 
rises from the level lands around, covering 
about ten acres. This is called Rock Hill. 
Tliere is but little soil on the top. The rock 
crops out on all sides, shaded by scrubby tim- 
ber. The north tier of section*^, west of the 



river, are nearly all made up of rolling prairie, 
with a soil of dark loam and clay, and gravel 
subsoil. Sections 31, 30, 32 and 33, all have 
more or less prairie land. Originally the sur- 
face was timbered with different varieties of 
oak, maple, basswood and considerable black 
walnut and other varieties of hard wood. The 
timber soil is generally a black loam, with a clay 
mixture, and clay and limestone subsoil. 

The natural advantages of this town in wealth 
of soil, can hardly be overestimated. It will 
compare favorably with the best in the county. 
To own a farm in Spring Grove was a passport 
to credit in early days. The town was settled 
by men from Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York 
mostly, and some from Indiana, All the early 
settlers were American born. A better class of 
men have never settled in any town in the 
county. "A good soil attracts good men." At 
present the town ranks with the best in the 
county, in real and personal property valuation. 
Its people are thrifty, enterprising and intelli- 
gent. Good residences, fine barns, orchards, 
etc., are seen in every neighborhood. The 
farmers generally are giving much attention to 
stock raising. 

The principal farm products grown in the town 
of Spring Grove, during the year 1882, were as 
follows: 3,865 bushels wheat; 132,976 bushels of 
corn; 122,794 bushels oats; 48 bushels barley; 
5,786 bushels rye; 8,004 bushels potatoes; 1,734 
bushels apples; 155 busl)els clover seed; 595 
bushels timothy seed; 5,253 tons hay; 190,820 
pounds butter; 100,350 pounds cheese. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1047 



The principal farm products growing in the 
town at the time of making the annual asses.'- 
ment in J883, were as follows: 500 acres wheal; 
6,005 acres corn; 4,220 acres oats; 103 acres bar- 
ley; 599 acres rye; 102 acres potatoes; 225 acres 
apple orchard; 12,840 bearing trees; 5,008 acres 
grasses; 3,515 acres growing timber; 1,200 milch 
cows, valued at $33,000. The live stock in the 
town in 1883 was as follows: 738 horses, aver- 
age value |r.4. 33, total $47,482; 3,010 head of 
cattle, average value 119.92, total $59,989; 11 
mules, total value $640.; 1,849 sheep, average 
value $2., total, $3,709; 2,237 hogs, average 
value, $5., total $11,192. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Darius Daniels, formerly from the State of 
New York, in 1836 bought 160 acres of land on 
section 30, and the same year erected a cabin, 
and broke ten acres of land. This was the first 
cabin erected and the first land broke within 
the limits now comprising the town of Spring 
Grove. ""ihe following winter of 1836-7 he 
lived alone; being the first and the only settler 
in the town at that time. He came here from 
Shullsburg, Lafayette county, and had no 
family. 

In the fall of 1837 Daniel Baxter came with 
his family and settled on section 31. He had 
purchased 280 acres of government land in the 
previous May, and did a little breaking. Mr. 
Baxter came from the State of New York. He 
had made a claim a year or so before in Walnut 
Grove, Stephenson Co., 111., which he sold the 
same year that he settled here. After his 
wife's death in 1845, he sold to John Kryder, 
whose sons, A. J. and J. J. Kryder, now own 
and occupy the land. 

In 1837 Daniels, who was an acquaintance of 
the Baxters, left his land in charge of the latter 
and returned to his former avocation — lead 
mining at Shullsburg. The latter sold his land 
to Baxter, and never became a permanent resi- 
dent of Spring Grove. 

Baxter was accompanied, when he came here, 
by a so>i-in-law, Mr. Church, who. however, 



only remained here a short time. The Baxter 
family went to Sauk Prairie. One son, Thomas, 
returned, and still lives in the town. 

Isaac Kline and family came from La Porte 
Co., Ind., in the spring of 1837, reaching this 
town early in May. Accompanying the party 
came two married sons, Eli and John Kline, and 
a son-in-law, Samuel Myers. Isaac Kline was 
an active man, and pushed new enterprises in 
the settlement with energy. He died in Mis- 
souri. One daughter of John Kline, Matilda, 
still lives in the town, the wife of Frank Wag- 
goner. One daughter of Isaac, .Mary, married 
J. H. Clemans, who came here in 1839. Sam- 
uel Myers died in this town during the war, 
and his widow now lives in Monroe 

William Kline was born May 20, 1832, in 
Indiana, and was not quite five years of age 
when his father settled on section 29, in tliis 
town, in March, 1837. His father was Isaac 
Kline, and he came here from La Porte Co., 
Ind. He visited the town in the fall of 1836, 
and purchased his land and made some im- 
provement upon it. The family consisted of 
Mr. Kline and his wife, Catharine, their daugh- 
ters, Catharine, Jane and Mai"y, and their 
youngest son, William. Samuel Myers, a son- 
in-law, husband of an older daughter, Sarah, 
came here at the same time, also an older son, 
Eli, with his wife, accompanied the family. 
Another son, John, came the same year; he 
also was accompanied by his family. Isaac 
Kline was a man of much energy. He built the 
first saw mill in this county, which was in 
operation early in 1839. In 1843 he built the 
pioneer carding mill. He died near Springfield, 
Mo., in 1803. Ilis wife died in this town in 
1853. Eli Kline settled on section 34, where 
he lived until 1866. He then sold out and re- 
moved to Rock Grove, III., where he died in 
1883. John Kline settled on section 29, and 
some years later sold his land to his father and 
bought on section 5. His wife dicMl in 1807, 
and his death occurred in 1873. They left one 
daughter — Matilda, wife of Frank Waggoner, 



1048 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Catharine Kline was married in the fall of 
1839 to Horace GriflRn. Theirs was the first 
marriage in this town. They removed to Mis- 
souri several years ago. Jane died in this 
town. Mary is now the widow of J. H. 
Clemans, and lives in Spring Grove. Samuel 
Myers settled in the southwest part of this 
town. His widow now lives in Monroe. Wil- 
liam Kline, in 1853, was married to Mary Ann 
O'Neal, daughter of Robert E. O'Neal. Four 
children were born to them three of whom 
areliving — Luella, wife of D. C. Allen; 
David L., living in Nebraska; Flora R., 
wife of Claries Hawkins, of Avon, Rock 
county. Mrs. Kline died Aug. 5, 1864. Jan. 
2, 1871, Mr. Kline was again married to Mrs. 
Lucinda Newcomer, widow of George New- 
comer, who died at Petersburg, Va., in 1865, 
He was a member of the 38th Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, company E. Mr. and Mrs. 
Newcomer had seven children — Jacob, living 
in Brodhead; Joseph, living in Clay Co., Neb.; 
Mary, wife of Jacob Keller; Susan, wife of 
Peter Wrenchel; Eva, wife of Charles Robin- 
son; Sarah, wife of John Hawkins, and George, 
deceased. William Kline resided in Missouri 
from 1856 till the fall of 1861. He now re- 
sides on section 20, of the town of Spring 
Grove. Isaac Kline and his son, John Kline 
were, by a short time, the earliest permanent 
settlers in the town of Spring Grove. 

James W. Kildow is one of the earliest set- 
tlers in Green county, living in the town of 
Spring Grove. His residence here dates from 
the year 1837. Mr. Kildow was born in the 
old "Mother of Presidents," Virginia, Nov. 15, 
1815. His father, John Kildow, left his home 
in eastern Virginia, in 1817, intending to go to 
Ohio and make a home for himself and family. 
In those days, money was hard to get, and of 
uncertain value, when obtained. Before start- 
ing upon his journey, he changed all his money 
for Wheeling bank bills, but before reaching 
that place, was met with tidings, saying, 
"Wheeling banks are busted." (so in the good 



old times, banks did burst.) His journey 
ended abruptly. He stopped in Bridgeport, 
Fayette Co., Penn., where, being a miller by 
trade, he rented a grist mill, which he operated 
about six years. He then rented another mill 
in the same county, about twenty miles dis- 
tant, on George's creek. This mill he also 
operated about six years. After this he fol- 
lowed the trade of millwright, the remainder 
of his life. He died in Fayette county in 1838. 
His wife died in 1832. They reared a family 
of nine children, six sons and three daughters, 
seven of whom are now living, (1884). James 
W. Kildow, subject of this sketch, left Penn- 
sylvania, Feb. 22, 1837, in company with James 
Chadwick, Jo. Reed, William Hurlbut and 
Dan Goodwin. The party all came to Wiscon- 
sin, separating at Galena. James Chadwick 
and Mr. Kildow coming to Green county. The 
journey by boat, from Wheeling, occupied 
twenty days, being delayed by ice and other 
causes. Mr. Kildow made his first stop at the 
present site of the city of Monroe where he 
made a temporary home. In 1839, he bought 
land on section 25, of the town of Jefferson. 
This land he partly improved, and held until 
1844, when he bought land on section 30, in 
this town, and made his residence there until 
1857, at the same time owning land on section 
20. He was married Nov. 12, 1840, to Keziah, 
daughter of David Davis, mention of whom is 
made elsewhere in this work. This union has 
been blessed by ten children — David, born in 
October, 1841, and died at the age of eighteen 
months; Levi W , born in February, 1843, and 
died the same year, Joshua P., born in October, 
1844; Thomas C, born in February, 1847, and 
died in May, 1853; John Q. A., born in April 
1849, and died in August, 1850; Josiah N., 
born in June 1851, Polly, born in August, 1853, 
and now the wife of J. T. Clemans; Alfred B., 
born in July, 1855; James N., born in Septem- 
ber 1857, and Willis born in September 1860. 
Mr. Kildow was the first postmaster of the 
first postoffice in the town of Spring Grove, 



HISTORY OF GKEKN COUNTY. 



1049 



which position he occupied from 1845 to 1857, 
when he moved from the neighborhood. 
About two years later, his wife, Keziah Kildow 
was made deputy postmistress of Pe Dee post- 
office. She held that position until 18*52, Sep- 
tember of that year Mr. Kildow was commis- 
sioned postmaster, and held the office until 
1867. He is a man widely known in Green 
county, and possesses hosts of friends. His 
integrity, and firmness in maintaining liis con- 
victions of what he believed to be right, are 
well known. He was, in the old time, an 
abolitionist of the "Garrison and Wendell 
Phillips" faith. At the organization of the 
town of Spring Grove, he was elected chairman 
of the board of supervisors, from 1842 to 1858. 
He has held the office of justice of the peace, 
town clerk, town treasurer, also a member of 
the side board. He was a voter in tlin first 
election held after the organization of the 
county. He has always been a prominent 
citizen. His residence is on section 22, Spring 
Giove. 

Joshua P. Kildow is a son of the pioneer, J. W. 
Kildow, and was born Oct. 4, 1844. He enlist- 
ed in company K, of the 22d Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, Aug. 11, 1862. In March, 1863, 
he was discharged on account of sickness. Re- 
covering his health he re-enlisted, Oct. otli, of 
thatyeir, in Battery D , 1st Wisconsin Heavy 
Artillery, was sent to the Louisiana department 
and stationed at Fort Jackson from Feb. 1864, 
to July of the same year. He then went to 
Brasher City, where he remained till July, 1865. 
He was mustered out at Alexandria, Va. Mr. 
Kildow was married Feb. 21, 1867, to Caroline 
Keller, a sister of Mrs. George W. Zimmerman. 
They have eight children — Mary Jane, Rebecca 
F., James W., Nora E., Attiel B., Nancy E., 
Charles A. and Ethlyn M. Alfred B. Kildow was 
married to Mary A. Clawson, Feb. 22, 1881. 
Her parents were named Hannahs; but tiiey 
(lying when she was an infant, she was adopted 
by a family named Clawson, and afterwards 
went by that name. 



Horace Griffin came in the fall of 1837.. In 
November of the same year he married Catha- 
rine Kline and settled on section 21. After liv- 
ing there about twenty years they removed to 
Missouri, where he died. 

Thomas Judkins had arrived earlier in the 
fall of 1837. He had entered land on section 
29, in 184Q, and the following year brought his 
family, consisting of wife and two sons. They 
lived her-e about twelve years' and finally, some 
years later, removed to the State of Oregon. 

Alfred Blakely, a single man came, with the 
Klines' in 1837, but never made his home here. 

David Davis and his family came from Fay- 
ette Co., Penn., in 1838, and lived in a cabin 
owned by Jehu Chadwick, in the town of Jef- 
ferson, until Mr. Davis could erect a cabin on 
the land he had purchased on section 5, of this 
town. He ereoted a hewn log cabin and put 
in the first sawed lumber floor ever laid in 
Green county. 

David M. Davis, son of the pioneer settler, 
David Davis, resides upon land located by his 
father in 1838, David Davis (pioneer) came 
here from Fayette Co., Penn., accompanied by 
his wife and eight children, six boys and two 
girls. He purchased 280 acres of government 
land on section 5. The children were — Nancy, 
now widow of A. Barmore; Kesiah, wife of J. 
W. Kildow; Thomas, who returned to Pennsyl- 
vania and died there in 1845; James N., living 
in Cadiz; David M., living on the homestead 
farm; Joel, living in Rock county; Samuel A., 
living in Franklin Co., Iowa; and William, who 
died in 1865. After coming to this county Mr. 
and Mrs. Davis had five children boA'n — Dr. 
E. Davis, who lives in Magnolia, Rock county; 
Zachariah P, who enlisted in company K, of the 
22d Wisconsin regiment, and was killed at the 
battle of Resaca, May 15, 1864; Joseph, who 
was a member of the same company and regi- 
ment, died June 30, 1871; John Quincy, who 
died Nov. 1, 1876; and Levi, who died Sept. 15, 
1874. One of the elder sons of David Davis 
preceded the family to Green county. Joshua 



62 



1050 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



P. Davis came in 1837, for the purpose of look- 
ing up a location for his father's family. He 
died at the home of Jesse Mitchell, in the town 
of Sylvester, Feb. 17, 1838. David Davis was 
one of the solid, substantial men of the town 
of Spring Grove. He was ever kind and hospita- 
ble and always foremost in any work tending to 
the public welfare. A most valuable member 
in a new community. He was one of the mem- 
bers of the iirst Baptist Church organized in 
the county, acting as deacon in that organiza- 
tion. He died Feb. 7, 1882, in his eighty-ninth 
year, passing away willingly, in hope of a bet- 
ter life, for which he was fully prepared. His 
wife's death occurred in February, 1871. David 
M. Davis was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Nov. 
22, 1829. He resided with his parents until he 
attained his majority. He was married Dec. 
25, 1850, to Charlotte Ann South, by whom he 
had one son— Enoch T. Mrs. Davis died Aug. 
16, 1853, in consequence of being bitten by a 
rattlesnake. Mr. Davis was again married Oct. 
21, 1854, to Mary Hugh, who died Sept. 19, 
1855. July 10, 1856, he was married to Frances 
C. Boughton, and by this union there were ten 
children, of whom seven are living — Charlotte 
A., Marquis A., John C, Jehiel Z., Viola, Fran- 
ces C. and Joseph N. The three deceased were 
— Mary Jane, Leonard J. and an infant. Mr. 
Davis was again bereaved by the loss of his 
wife, which occurred Nov. 7, 1882. March 3, 
1883, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth 
Davis. One child has been born to them — 
Bertha Elizabeth, born Jan. 7, 1884. Enoch T. 
Davis was married Oct. 27, 1874, to Belle Brown 
and they have two children — Elsie S. and Dal- 
las E. He lives in a separate residence upon 
his father's farm. David M. Davis succeeded 
to his father's estate, to which he has made ad- 
ditions and now owns one of the largest farms 
in the county. It contains 443 acres, all of 
which, except twenty-three acres, is under culti- 
vation. He met with a serious loss in 1882, 
having his barn destroyed by fire. His resi- 
dence is large and commodious. Mr. Davis is a 



man who commands the respect and esteem of 
all, and one of the leading men in this commu- 
nity. 

In the fall of 1838, Stephen Bowen came from 
Warren Co., Ind, and settled on sections 18 and 
19. He died in Kansas. His daughter, Sarah, 
married Joseph Grayson, who came here in 1841. 
Grayson had been through the Canadian Patriot 
War, sometimes called McKenzie's War. They 
went to Missouri, where Mrs. Grayson died. 
Martha Bowen married Isaac Trombley, who 
came here from Ohio, in 1844. She died here. 
Mr. Trombley married again and removed to 
Kansas, where he still lives. 

Hezekiah Bussey came from Indiana, and set- 
tled with his family on section 20, late in 1843. 
He died in 1872.' 

William Bussey, a son of Hezekiah, came in 
1838. In 1844 he built a mill on section 15, on 
Spring creek. John and George, two other sons, 
came in 1842. John now lives in Arkansas. 
George lives in Juda. Nelson Bussey, the 
youngest son, settled here in 1843. He still lives 
in this town. He served in company B, 31st 
Wisconsin Volunteers, and later in the 1st Wis- 
consin Heavy Artillery. He now lives on sec- 
tion 32. 

Daniel and Mordecai Vanderbilts came early 
in the "forties" and settled on section 18. They 
were good citizens, active in public matters. 
Both died in this town. ^>> 

French Lake was born in Virginia, in 1807. 
He came to Lafayette Co., Wis., in 1827, and 
settled in this town on section 7, in 1839, having 
selected and bought 760 acres of land of the 
govertiment in 1830. The tirst night in Sep- 
tember, when he moved here alone, (he remained 
a bachelor until 1851), he tied his oxen to a tree 
where his fine residence now stands, and re- 
moved a small portion of the turf, and making 
an excavation below, buried his money — of 
which he had plenty. Replacing the turf and 
hanging his camp kettle over it, he made his 
fire and cooked his supper, sleeping soundly, 
under the wagon box. The kettle hung there 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1051 



until he built his cabin. No burglar-proof time 
lock safe could have made his money more se- 
cure. But his method of deposits became known 
not long after, for a Mr. Riley came one morn- 
ing wishing to borrow 1 10. The parley was con- 
cluded by Mr. Lake saying he could have it 
to-morrow, but Riley must have it to-day. Lake 
says, you wait and have dinner with me, and 
ostensibly going to the spring for water, betook 
his spade, and removing the nicely adjusted 
turf in the grass plat, where he done his banking, 
he lifted the old sack, and hearing a step, he 
turned and there stood Riley, laughing. Lake 
was confounded and, for some days, could not 
decide where to locate his deposits again. Mr. 
Lake is a very energetic man, has always made 
money and is wealthy, owning nearly 1,300 acres 
of land. He has been a widower for several 
years. His love of the south and present sym- 
])athy with the "lost cause," has embittered 
many against him, but for all, he is a good cit 
izen. 

Mrs. Rachel M. Ten Eyck, is the widow of 
the late Jacob Ten Eyck, who was born in Al- 
bany Co., N. Y., in 1800. His father, Caspar 
H. B. Ten Eyck, moved during the early part of 
the century to Berabroke, Canada West, with his 
family. Jacob Ten Eyck was married in Green 
Co.,N. Y., Oct. 6, 1835, to Rachel M. Van Der 
Zee. They lived in Canada until the outbreak of 
the "Patriot War' or McKenzie's War" so-called, 
when he went to the State of New York. About 
the time of leaving Canada Mr. Ten Eyck 
bought of Rodolphus D. Derrick 540 acres of 
land, (it being a part of Mr. Derrick's purchase 
of 1,200 acres) on sections 3 and 4, town of 
Spring Grove. He settled on this purchase 
during the spring of 1839. He had for a short 
time previously lived in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ten Eyck have had seven children — Lavina, 
born in Canada, Sept. 17, 1836; Albert A., born 
in New York, Sept. 1, 1838; Caspar H. B. 
born July 17, 1840, who died in infancy; Cas- 
par A., born Dec. 'i6, 1841, died Jan. 22, 1848; 
Catharine A., born Oct. 26, 1843; Egbert, born 



Sept. 20, 1846, and Cecelia, born in 1853. Cath- 
arine was the first white child born in this 
neighborhood. Mr. Ten Eyck early gave his 
attention to growing stock, and improving his 
herds, and to this can be charged indirectly his 
death which was a sad event, having been killed 
by one of his bulls, Sept. 3, 1876. At the time of 
his death he was one of the largest land owners 
in the county, having 1,200 acres which is now 
all in his children's possession. His son Albert 
A., was married to Amanda M. Moore. They live 
in Decatur. Lavina was married to M, D. Mc- 
Nair, March 21, 1870. They have two children- 
Egbert D., born Jan. 7, 1871, and Jacob D., 
born April 28, 1880. Mr. McNair has a 
residence joining his wife's property where 
he resides. Catharine was married to Peter 
D. Taylor. They live in Spring Valley, Rock 
county. Mrs. Ten Eyck has been an invalid 
over thirty years, yet is possessed of a cheerful, 
patient mind, and a clear and vigorous intellect, 
often relating incidents of the early settlements 
especially of Peter Emell, the Frenchman, and 
his Indian wife, who often called, always dec- 
orated in her best apparel to take tea with her, 
oftinies bringing others with her. They would 
follow Mrs. Ten Eyck to the chamber, cellar 
and garden, when she would supply them with 
meat and other eatables, and relating of the 
herds of deer that bounded through the brush 
and thicket that then surrounded the place, and 
of the wild turkeys that came and gobbled near 
the door feeding from the corn they found there. 

R. D. Derrick, or 'Squire Derrick, as he was 
called, bought 1,200 acres of land in the town 
Spring Grove and Decatur, and settled on sec- 
tion 3, in 1840. He was one of the leading men 
of his time. 

Henry Dixon came in January, 1843, driving 
a team from New York State and settled on 
section 2. He left some years later, and lived 
in Rock county for some time; but finally died 
in Brodhead. 

Elder G. R. Patton calne from Pennsylvania, 
in Septerabei-, 1843, and lived in this town one 



1052 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



year, then removed to the town of Jefferson, 
where he still resides. 

EVENTS OF INTEREST. 

Horace and Catharine Kline were the first 
couple married in this town. The ceremony 
was preformed in November, 1837. James 
Chadwick and Nancy E. Davis were married 
Oct. V, 1840. James W. Kildow and K^eziah S. 
Davis were married Nov. 12, 1840. J. H. Clem- 
ans and Mary Kline were married in Novem- 
ber, 1839. 

The earliest births in the town were as fol- 
lows: John, a son of Horace and Catharine 
Griffin, was born in the fall of 1838. Doctor 
E., son of David and Mary Davis, was born 
March 12, 1839. Kate, daughter of Jacob and 
Rachel M. Ten Eyck, born in 1839, was the 
first female child born in the town. 

The first death in the town occurred in 1839; 
that of a man named Arnold, a brother of Mrs. 
Thomas Judkins. He was searching for a horse 
and dropped dead in the pursuit. 

TOWN ORGANIZATION, 

The first town election in Spring Grove was 
held April 3, 1849, at the house of Daniel Hos- 
tetter. The whole number of votes cast was 
sixty-eight. The following will show the can- 
didates for the various offices and the vote 
polled. 

Chairman of the Board. 

J. W. Kildow 53 

R. D. Derrick 16 

Supervisors. 

Isaac Farmer 23 

Thomas Woodle 49 

E. B. Hiliard 15 

David Campbell 43 

Clerk. 

Alden Frisbee 50 

A. D. Tenney 13 

Treasurer. 

Thomas Woodle 18 

E R.Allen 39 

E.B. Hiliard 9 

Assessor. 

A. F. Atwood : 55 

David Davis 3 



School Superintendent. 
William B. Cooley 48 

A. 1). Tenney 19 

Justices of the Peace. 

R. D. Derrick 15 

T. AVoodle 60 

J. W. Kildow 66 

David Hosletter 49 

Williuin Farmer 22 

John A. Brant 4 

E. R. Allen 41 

Abner Mitchell 3 

Constables. 

E. P. Darling 31 

George Farmer _ 16 

B. F. Derrick; 15 

Conrad Bender 47 

David Davis 1 

T. C. Brughslugh 10 

A. D. Tenney 6 

William Forner 1 

The inspectors of this first election were: R. 
D. Derrick, chairman, David Davis and Stephen 
Bone; clerk, A. D, Tenney. 

The present officers of the town, elected 
April 1, 1884, are as follows: Supervisors, 
Daniel Dunwiddie, chairman; William H. Cold- 
ren and Isaac Brobst, Jr.; clerk, O. W. Mar- 
tin; treasurer, J. B. O'JSleal; assessor, Fred 
Ties; justices of the peace, J. W. Kildow, E. 
R. Allen and Avery Tracy; constables, J, P, 
Kildow, A. L. Allen and S. C. Williams, 

POSTOFFICES. 

In 1845, mail was delivered at Monroe to be 
distributed by James W. Kildow, for his neigh- 
borhood. This was continued until 1848, wlien 
Mr. Kildow was commissioned postmaster of 
Spring Grove postoffice, supplied by the route 
from Rockford to Mineral Point by the way of 
Monroe. Mr. Kildow held the office until 1857, 
when he moved from the neighborhood, and 
Israel Lake was made postmaster. He lived 
on section 24, town of Jefferson. Some years 
later, upon his death, the office was discon- 
tinued. 

After tlie office had been removed from 
this town, a new office was establislied in 1859, 
called Pee Dee, witli George W. Zimmerman as 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1053 



postmaster, office at his residence on section 33. 
Route, Rockford to Monroe, J. W. Kildow, 
contractor. A few months later Mrs. Keziah 
Kildow was made deputy, and the office re- 
moved to the residence of J. W. Kildow, on 
section 27. In 1862 Mr. Kildow was commis- 
sioned postmaster and kept the office until 1867, 
when he left temporarily, and Fred Ties was 
made postmaster. He kept the office on section 
33, until succeeded by Mrs. Hariiet C. Coulter, 
in January, 1869, who is now (1884) the post- 
mistress. The office is kept at her residence 
on section 22. 

James R. Coulter was born iii the town of 
Green, Richland Co., Ohio, April 1, 1820. His 
father, David Coulter, was a farmer. At the 
age of sixteen years James was apprenticed to 
the trade of bricklayer and general mason work, 
which trade he followed until twenty-eight 
years old, then finding his health was failing 
abandoned it, and became a farmer. He was 
married in Ohio, Oct. 12, 1846, to Harriet 
Chapel, who was also a native of the town of 
Richland, Green county, born Oct. 3, 1819. 
Two years later he commenced farming, which 
he followed in Ohio until 1852, when glowing 
accounts reached him concerning Spring Grove 
in Green Co., Wis., and he was induced to 
come here. He arrived May 28, 1852, and 
bought forty acres of land on section 22, and 
forty acres on section 28, and made his home 
on the former, where he has since lived. The 
land was all new and unimproved excepting 
four acres cleared. Mr. and Mrs. Coulter have 
not been blessed with children and have been 
peculiarly unfortunate with adopted children, 
for they Sept. 13, 1855, adopted Rossie, daugh- 
ter of John A. Emminger, of Ohio; she was 
born May 6, 1849, and was married to Fred 
Ties, of this town and died in January, 1884. 
Simon A. Coulter, born Oct. 4, 1852, a son of 
Mr. Coulter's brother, F. C. Coulter, (who 
lived in this town from 1855 to 1857) was 
adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Coulter, Feb. 10, 1868, 
and died Sept. 24, 1876. At the time of the 



adoption of Simon A., Lavina Jane was adopt- 
ed, who was born Jan. 16, 1861, and was mar- 
ried Nov. 4, 1878, to John N. Lambert, and she 
died Feb. 3, 1884. F. C. Coulter, the father of 
these last two children, enlisted in the Union 
army in an Iowa regiment, and died in the 
hospital at Keokuk late in 1862. Mrs. James 
R. Coulter is and has been many years post- 
mistress of Pee Dee postoffice. The family are 
much esteemed through the township. Another 
brother, Thomas M., has made his home with 
them most of the time since 1855. Mr. Coulter 
has been justice of the peace two terms and 
elected the third time but would not serve. 
He was elected the first time in the spring 1865 
and re-elected the spring of 1868, and served 
till the spring of 1870, and elected the third 
time, in 1884, but would not serve. 

Oakley postoffice was established 1861. The 
present postmaster is Frank Miller. 

SPRING GROVE CEMETERIES. 

The first cemetery located in this town is on 
section 30. Mrs. Baxter, wife of Daniel Bax- 
ter — the pioneer of 1837 — was the first buried 
there. She died in 1845. Electa, daughter of 
Daniel Baxter, was the next one buried there. 

The Washington Cemetery Association was 
formed in January 1851, with Isaac Farmer, 
president; Isaac Martin, treasurer; J. G.Martin, 
secretary. Grounds were selected on section 
23. The officers of the association in 1884 
were: Daniel Brobst, president; James H. 
Chapel, secretary; and James R. Coulter, treas- 
urer. 

There is a cemetery near and belonging 
to the Lutheran Church society, on section 28. 
Louis Klass is buried there. 

An old cemetery, used in the days of Clarence, 
is located on section 2. The place is in an 
open field and entirely neglected. 

A private grave yard is located on the origi- 
nal purchase of R. D. Derrick. Mr. Derrick 
and his wife, Morris and Levi Derrick, and 
Mrs. Borland, a daughter of Dr. Springsted, 
are buried here. 



1054 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



At Union on section 30, is a well kept ground. 
Samuel Myers was one among the first buried 
there. 

Another private cemetery known as "Kline's 
ground," is located on section 29. A man 
named Tiffany, who used to run the Kline Card- 
ing mill, was the first buried there. 

MILLS. 

Isaac Kline and his son, John, erected the 
first saw mill in this town on section 20, on the 
banks of what was then known as Mill creek, 
but now called Spring creek. Work upon the 
mill was commenced in the fall of 1837, and the 
mill commenced operation in May, 1839. Only 
a limited power could be had here, but the 
mill did a successful business. It was in oper- 
ation for twenty-nine years, when, in 1868, it 
was destroyed by fire. 

The next enterprise in the milling line was 
also by the Klines, in what is now Oakley. They 
erected in 1843 the pioneer carding mill in 
Green county, and its benefit and utility to the 
new country can hardly be overestimated. The 
primitive carding mill has grown to be a woolen 
manufacturing mill, and is now (1884) owned 
and operated by John Kelly. 

On section 15, on the banks of the same 
creek, William Bussey erected a saw mill in 
1844. This mill was fairly successful and was 
operated until 1861, when the expense of keep- 
ing up the dam caused it to be abandoned. 

The Alden Frisbee mill was erected on sec- 
tion 21 in 1846. This mill was in use up to 
1860. 

In 1876 William H. Freeman built a saw mill 
at Oakley, putting in a twenty-horse power 
steam engine. In 1880 he sold to the present 
owner, J. J. Davenport, who is doing a good 
business. 

The old Kline carding mill was improved by 
Ebenezer Hilliard, who, after he became owner, 
added to the power and also to fulling, cloth 
dressing, etc. Later, George W. Bussey owned 
the property. He tore down the log building 
and erected the frame building as it now stands 



Bussey sold to Isaac Trombley, who sold to 
the present proprietor, John Kelly, July 13, 
1865. Mr. Kelly has added to the main build- 
ing, which was 20x30 feet in size, twelve feet 
each side. He has also replaced nearly all the 
old machinery with new. 

CHEESE PACTORIBS. 

The first cheese factory in this town was put 
in operation May 20, 1879, by J. W. Westlake, 
pi'oprietor. It was run under the dividend plan 
three years, when he sold out to D. W. Austin. 
It had the milk of about 400 cows. Austin run 
the factory one year, buying the milk of the 
same patrons, when he sold the good-will of the 
establishment to the Brodhead Dairy Co., and 
closed up the factory. 

A stock company was organized in June, 
1883. The stockholders are: P. Atwood, James 
H. Chapel, P. L. Diedrick, F. H. Derrick, T. P. 
Stevens, Daniel Brobst, Harriet C. Coulter, 
Lewis Hooker, O. W. Martin, Robert Wilson, 
Mrs. R. M. Ten Eyck, Benjamin Stabler. Mary 
E. Douglas, Albert Baxter, John Frank, Albert 
Shaff and Daniel Dunwiddie. The officers are: 
P. Atwood, president; F. H. Derrick, treasurer; 
James H. Chapel, secretary; P. L. Dedrick, 
salesman; Charles Prentice, cheese maker. 
The factory is located on the northwest corner 
of section 11. It will use, this season, an 
average of 5,000 pounds of milk per day. The 
factory has been a success. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first school house in the town of Spring 
Grove was erected in 1840 on section 29. Dur- 
ing the following winter school was taught by 
John Herring, and his sister Mercy. John re- 
ceived $10 per month and his sister $8 for their 
services and they "boarded round." 

There are now eight full and one joint school 
districts in the town of Spring Grove. Their 
condition is shown by the following statement 
taken from the records: 

No. 1 has a stone school house (not in the 
best condition) on section 30, valued at $350; 
fifty-four pupils. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1055 



No. 2 has a frame school house on section 36, 
valued at $665; forty-three pupils. 

No. 3 has a new frame house on section 34, 
valued at $600; sixty-seven pupils. 

No. 4 has a frame house on section 21, valued 
at $1,000; sixty-four pupils. 

No. 5 has a stone school house at Clarence on 
section 2, valued at $600; forty-three pupils. 

No. 6 has a frame house on section 5, valued 
at $600; sixty pupils. 

No. 1 has a frame house on section 14, valued 
at $450; thirty-nine pupils. 

No. 9 has a new frame house on section 9, 
valued at $1,200; thirty-nine pupils. 

Joint district No. 8 embraces territory in the 
towns of Jefferson and Spring Grove. The 
school house is located in Jefferson. Six pupils 
belonging to this district reside in Spring 
Grove. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The first church in the town was erected for 
the Methodists, in 1845, and was located on 
section 30. It was constructed of basswood 
hewn logs and was known all through this por- 
tion of the country as the "Basswood Church." 
Rev. James McClure was the first circuit rider 
who preached in this church. It was finally 
abandoned in 1862. 

At this time the Union church was erected on 
section 30, at a cost of $1,400. Its size was 
28x40 feet. The dedicatory services were 
held by Elder Rolfe. In 1884 the church was 
being used by the United Brethrenand Luth- 
erans on alternate Sabbaths. 

The Emanuel Evangelical church is located 
on section 34, near the State line. This church 
was built in 1872. It is 64x32 feet in size, has 
a belfry but no bell, and cost, including furni- 
ture, $2,000. The trustees who superintended 
its erection were Henry Moyer, Frederich 
Arnsmier and G. W. Zimmerman. In 1884 the 
trustees were Henry Moyer, G. W. and Henry 
Zimmerman. The class leaders were G. W. Zim- 
merman and Henry Moyer. The services here 
are conducted in the German lanouage. 



In 1863 a Lutheran church was erected on 
section 28, which was commonly called the 
"Klaas Church," Louis Klaas having been main- 
ly instrumental in its erection. The building is 
22x28 feet in size and cost $1,000. In 1884 the 
pastor was the Rev. Mr. Schnure. 

SPKING GROVE RESERVES. 

The war veterans of Spring Grove met, pur- 
suant to call, at the residence of J. B. O'Neal, 
in July, 1882, and resolved that, "Whereas, we, 
the old soldiers of the War for the Union, resi- 
dents of the town of Spring Grove, in sacred 
memory of those years of war, and of our fallen 
heroes now buried in southern soil and in 
northern cemeteries, and in their honor; and 
that we, the survivors, may form a more perfect 
union, — Resolved, that we form ourselves into 
a company, by election of officers according to 
the rules and regulations of war. Resolved, 
that the company be called the 'Spring Grove 
Reserves,' that we elect officers annually. Re- 
solved that the first annual meeting be held the 
first Saturday in June, 1883, at the residence of 
J. B. O'Neal. Resolved, that we heartily co- 
operate with the county union in agitating for 
and assisting in the the building of a soldier's 
monument for the honored dead of Green coun- 
ty." An annual meeting was held June 3, 1883, 
and following officers were elected: Fred Ties, 
captain; James H. Chapel, 1st lieutenant; J. B. 
O'Neal, 2d lieutenant; S. C. Williams, orderly 
sergeant; J. P. Kildow, 1st sergeant; Jacob 
Haas, 2d sergeant; A. C. Chapel, 3d ser- 
geant; David Colby, 4th sergeant. The fol- 
lowing is the company roll: Allen, A. J.; 
Brant, Samuel; Coldren, William II.; Col- 
well, Samuel; Davis, G. W.; Edwards, Wil- 
liam; Hall, William; Jackson, Thomas H.; 
Keller, Jacob; Kline, William; Smith, S. J.; 
Taylor, William; Young, Isaac W.; Zimmer- 
man, Henry; Allen, E. R.; Allen, D. C; Ded- 
rick, Daniel; Derrick, T. J.; Davis, James H.; 
Farmer, Henderson; McKinley, Leroy; Har- 
rington, William. 



1056 



HISTORY OF GRP:EN COUNTY. 



WAR TIMES. 

Considerable excitement occurred over law 
suits growing out of the chopping down of a 
liberty pole — which was created by the Union 
League in 1863. A few men had hated the 
sight of that mast ever since it was raised, and 
under the plea of safety of people attending 
the union church services, in front of which the 
pole was standing, caused it to be cut down. 
An intense excitement followed. The war 
feeling with its hot feeling for and against was 
revived. Suits were commenced. The offend- 
ing parties were beaten in the suits. 

OLD VILLAGE OF CLARENCE. 

The village plat was located on land on sec- 
tion 2, which was first settled by William 
Sherry, in the spring of 1841. In the fall of 
that year he was joined by his wife and her 
father, Dr. Peter Springsted, with his family, 
consisting of his wife and eight children; also 
James Sherry, a single man, brother of William. 
Two years later Dr. Springsted moved to sec- 
tion 4, and improved a farm, which is now oc- 
cupied by Mrs. Mary Douglas. The doctor 
and his family moved from this town to De- 
catur several years later and died there. None 
of the family are in this town at this time. 
William Sherry built a house and a blacksmith 
shop. Both families lived in this house. Sherry 
in 1845 sold to A. D. Tenny and settled on the 
place where Aug. Giese now lives. He left the 
town in about 1855. 

Soon after, A. D. Tenney, who came from 
New Hampshire, bought out Sherry. He sold 
an interest in the property to B. J. Tenney, 
who came from Beloit (they were not of kin) 
Some time after this A. D. Tenney platted a 
part of the land and sold lots. B. J. Tenney 
opened a small store. The place was known in 
those days as Tenneyville, and was later, in 
honor of Squire Derrick, called Clarence, the 
name of a town in which he had resided in 
State of New York. H. C. Green was the next 
to open business. He built a bedstead and 
chair factory, with steam power, and operated 



it until 18'i6. When he went to Monroe the 
business stopped. 

Caleb Knowles and several sons came from 
Winnebago Co., 111., in 1853. Mr. Knowles 
was father-in-law of A. D. Tenney by his second 
marriage. His first wife died soon after he 
came here. Two of the sons, Horatio and C. C. 
Knowles, went to Kansas in 1859. C. C. 
Knowles formerly owned the Austin farm. 
After the war the father and the rest of the 
family went to Kansas. A. D. Tenney and his 
family joined a spiritualist community at Har- 
mony Springs, Ark., in 1859. He later died in 
Kansas. 

John B. Sawyer came from Decatur in 1 853 and 
bought produce. He now lives in Brodhead. 
Mr. Sawyer, A. D. Tenney and Horatio Knowles 
succeeded to the trade formerly carried on by 
B. J. Tenney, and owned the hotel, blacksmith 
shop and store. Morris Derrick, a brother of 
Squire Derrick, at one time kept a small stock 
of groceries and liquors. Myron Halstead in I 

1854 bought out Sawyer, Tenney & Knowles. 
He was the last merchant of Clarence. Upon 
the building of the railroad, he moved his stock 
to Brodhead. Dr. Towne, now of Brodhead, 
came to Clarence as his clerk. C. A. Warner 
bought the blacksmith shop in 1854, and worked 
there one year. He now lives on section 1. 
He sold to Storrs Smith, who now follows the 
same business in Albany. Mr. Gregory bought 
out Smith and closed the shop about 1859. In 

1855 Thomas Martin opened a harness shop and 
worked two years. The old hotel building and 
barn have been destroyed by fire. The post- 
office was discontinued in 1857. 

OAKLEY. 

This little hamlet was formerly called Spring 
Grove. It is located on section 30. This place 
originated with the erection of a carding mill 
by Isaac Kline in 1843. The first business was 
opened by A. J. Hoffman, in 1847. Many 
changes have taken place among those who 
sold goods in the one store building in the 
place. But among those who have been in trade 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



105) 



here are remembered, John and Daniel Hauver, 
Mott Harrington, George Anrand and his 
brother. 

In 1884 Frank Miller was the only merchant. 

Samuel Mattison, the oldest in years and in 
service of any blacksmith in Green county, is 
the blacksmith of the place. He commenced 
here before the war, and has worked for over 
fifty years in iron, and most of the time in this 
town. 

SPRING GROVE IN THE WAR, 
[By Thomas A. Jackson.] 

Out of a voting population of about 250, she 
sent 100 soldiers to the war from first to last. 
The following military organizations were rep- 
resented by her soldiers: The 3d, 13th, 18th, 
22d, 36th, 38th and 46th Infantry regiments ; 
the Ist, 2d and 3d Cavalry regiments, and the 
Ist Heavy Artillery regiment. 

3d regiment Infantry — Daniel Aughenbaugh, 
Joseph Boyer, Robert W. Patten and S. S. Jack- 
son, regimental band. 

13th regiment Infantry — Ransom Condon, Ira 
Cleveland, Reuben H. Chapel, Austin C. Chapel, 
E. S. Derrick, W. Keifer, John V. Martin, W. 
S. Meaner, John Penn, W. H.Pomeroy, Cyrus 
Robinson, William H. Shaff and Charles Van- 
buren. 

18th regiment Infantry — James S. Alexander, 
William Barnhouse, Maiilon J. Bussey, Benja- 
min Butcher, Clinton Condon, James D. Davis, 
Benjamin S. Davis, George W. Davis, Theodore 
J. Derrick, John A. Farmer, Henderson Farmer, 
A. M. Kasson, Isaiah Kirby, Wilson Olds, Jo- 
seph L. Show, Frederick Teis, Chester W, Wil- 
liams, Thomas A. Jackson, S. S. Jackson, Alex- 
ander Jackson and Isaac W. Young. 

22d regiment Infantry — William S. Newman, 
Joseph Alexander, Andrew Boyer, Fred Baker, 
Josiah Clawson, Allen Davis, Zachariah P. Da- 
vis, Joseph J. Davis, James F. Elliott, Peter 
Feathers, Henry Feathers, Jeff. Feathers, Wil- 
liam H. Herrington, Charles Mattison, A. J. 
Mitchell, James Stahlrucker and George Willis. 

36th regiment Infantry — Avory S. Cole. 



25th regiment Infantry — Nelson Rice. 

38th regiment Infantry — Samuel Brandt, S. 
B. Caldwell, John Donyes, Oliver Gill, Isaac 
Kline, Philip Kilwine, Jacob Keller, George 
Newcomer, Joseph Newcomer, Francis Saurs 
and William Taylor. 

46tli regiment Infantry — E. R. Allen, James 
H. Chapel, Henry Howard, Jacob Haas, Thomas 
Klumb, Thomas J. Meanor, W. A. Meanor, 
Isaac N. Martin, I. C. Martin, Samuel Smith, 
Isaac Trimbly, R. B. Fowler and Henry Zim- 
merman. 

1st regiment Cavalry — John B. O'Neal, John 
Meir, David Beaty, Warren Bates, William A. 
Garrison, William Gill, John Stabler and L. 
Shores. 

2d regiment Cavalry — John Butcher. 

3d regiment Cavalry — DeWitt C. Allen. 

1st Heavy Artillery —Joshua P. Kildow, 
Lovel Matthews, Thomas J. Ostrander, James 
Ostrander and S. Clark Williams. 

12th Battery — William Rice and Nathan 
Rice. 

There were a number of Spring Grove sol- 
diers in the war who were credited to other 
towns on account of local bounty and other 
causes at time of enlistment, whose names we 
cannot now get at, and there may be here and 
there a name enumerated in the above list as 
credited to Spring Grove tha,t is claimed else- 
where; but from the town records and our own 
personal knowledge of enlistments, we believe 
the above account to be substantially correct so 
far as it goes. We are satisfied there are some 
names of Spring Grove soldiers we are unable 
to get at, as some enlisted in Illinois regiments 
and were credited to that State, whose names 
do not appear on our home records. Among 
the list of names given above, the names of 
Benjamin S. Davis of company B, 18th Wis- 
con Infantry, and Zachariah P. Davis of com- 
pany K, 22d regiment Infantry, was killed in 
battle — the former in a bayonet charge at Jack- 
son, Miss., May 14, 1863, and the latter in the 



1058 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



same manner at Resaca, Ga., during Sher- 
man's Atlanta campaign in the summer of 1864. 
Of those who died of wounds and disease, 
were Ransom Condon and John Penn of the 
13th Wisconsin, and William Barnhouse, Johii 

A. Farmer, Isaiah Kirby, Joseph L. Show and 
Chester W. Williams, of the 18th Wisconsin, 
campany B; and George Newcomer of the 38th 
Wisconsin. There may be some others, but we 
have no knowledge who they were, if any. 

Of those who were wounded in battle and 
recovered, and are still living in Spring Grove 
and vicinity, we give the names of George W. 
Davis, Mahlon I. Bussey, Frederick Teis, Hen- 
derson Farmer, J. W. Young and James D. 
Davis, all of company B, 18th Wisconsin Vol- 
unteers, and all wounded in the charge at Jack- 
son, Miss., on the 14th day of May, 1863, ex- 
cept James D. Davis, who was wounded in 
Alabama with five others of company B from 
other parts of the county, including the names 
of George S. Loucks of Brodhead, who was 
shot through the body, the ball piercing the 
lungs; and J. R. Knapp, since dead; William 
H. Denson and George W. Webb, belonging to 
other towns. There are ^oubtless many other 
matters of interest pertaining to Spring Grove 
in the war deserving a historical record or men- 
tion, that for want of correct knowledge and in- 
formation, I am not able to give. Of company 

B. 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, which I had the 
honor to command until about the close of the 
war, I would mention the names of Hiram E.Bai- 
ley and William H.Spencer,killed atSbiloh;John 

C. Bryant, killed at Corinth; James M. Carpen- 
ter, at Vicksburg, all of Green county. Of 
those wounded in the different engagements 
through which they passed during the war, and 
of those who died of wounds and disease from 
other parts of the county, for lack of a correct 
record of the same, we will not try to give it. 
There were a good many of them. At the close 
of the war honorable promotions were con- 
ferred on several old veterans. Commissions of 
captain to Henderson Farmer, and that of lieu- 



tenants to Frederick Teis and Peter Vauorman, 
and non-commissioned appointments of ser- 
geants to George W. Davis and one or two 
others. 

RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY DAYS. 
[By J. W. Kildow.] 

To the Union Puhlishhicf ComjKiny, of Sj^ring- 

field, III. 

Sirs: — In compliance of your request for me 
to give you a statement of my early recollections 
of, and the part that I have taken therein, of 
the early settlement of Green county, and es- 
pecially of the town of Spring Grove, in said 
county. I make the following: 

In October, 1836, John Chadwick and Thomas 
Woodle, of Fayette Co., Penn., (the county in 
which I was raised) influenced by an article that 
appeared in the '■'JSTortJaoestern Gazette and Ga- 
lena Advertiser,'''' contributed to that paper by 
Elder Brunson, (a Methodist preacher stationed 
at Prairie du Chien) and copied extensively in 
the eastern papers, giving such glowing accounts 
of the fertility of the soil, and other advantages 
of northwestern Illinois, and southwestern Wis- 
consin, concluded to take a tour of observations 
to this country, and if they found it as repre- 
sented, they would make it their future home. 
They did so, and each of them entered a quarter 
section of land. Chadwick entered his on sec- 
tion 2, in what is now the town of Jefferson, and 
Woodle, on section 35, now town of Sylvester. 
Upon their return home, (like the spies of old, 
that were sent out to view the promised land) 
they declared that the "half had not been told." 
This caused an endemic western fever. Chad- 
wick's son James, and myself falling victims 
thereto. So in January, 1837, James Chadwick 
and myself entered into an agreement of part- 
nership, (verbally) to come [go] out here and 
follow the mill wrigh ting business, (that being 
my profession) and if we could not find employ- 
ment at that business, to follow that of carpen- 
tering. So we set about making arrangements 
for an early start in the spring. In the mean- 
time the elder Chadwick made arrangements 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1059 



with us, that we should erect for him, on his 
land in this county, a cabin house, as he intended 
to move out here as soon as he could dispose of 
his property there. By this time three other 
young men of the neighborhood, to-wit: Daniel 
Goodwin, William Hurlbut and Joseph Reed, 
concluded to accompany us, (all of us just enter- 
ing upon our majority). So about the middle 
of February the elder Mr. Chadwick went to 
Bridgeport, a thriving town on the Mononga- 
hela river, sixty miles, by water, above Pitts- 
burg, to make arrangements with the officers 
of the steamer, Eiapire, then building at that 
place, for our transportation to St. Louis, (her 
point of destination). The officers enjoined 
Mr. Chadwick to have us on hand on the 23d of 
that month, as the boat would positively sail on 
that day. So on the 22d of February, ISSv, in 
company with James Chadwick, Daniel Good- 
win, William Hurlbut and Joseph Reed, I left 
my native home in Pennsylvania, arriving at 
Bridgeport that night. Upon our arrival we 
found that the boat was not completed, which 
detained us at that point several days. But we 
at last got off, and arrived at Pittsburg, where 
the steamer was to take on her furniture. But on 
arriving at that place, the boat's furniture was 
not ready, (the furniture was made at that place). 
After waiting a number of days, for the boat to 
start, we became restless under delays and de- 
manded of the officers a return of our passage 
money, but after repeated promises of starting 
"to-morrow," and after as many failures to get 
off, the officers finally made arrangements with 
the steamer, Loyal Hannah, and we were trans- 
ferred to that steamer. The next day after our 
transfer to the latter steamer, we got started. 
The boat ran down to Wheeling, Va., stop- 
ping there a number of days awaiting the 
arrival of the western members of Con- 
gress, (who, in those days, traveled from 
Washington to their western homes, by stage, 
to Wheeling, from thence by river steamers to 
points on said river, nearest their residences). 
But on the 10th of March, we got started from 



that place, having on board the great Daniel 
Webster, (who, that year, made his great west- 
ern tour), and a number of other western nota- 
bles, including the notorious G. W. Jones, del- 
legate from this, then Territory, who acted as 
second for H. A. Wise, of Virginia, in the duel 
between Wise and Billey, which resulted in the 
killing of Billey. The boat having to stop at 
all principal places to give the great Daniel an 
opportunity to address the people on the politi- 
cal topics of the day, but more especially the 
grea;t principles of the whig party. At St. 
Louis, we took passage on the steamer, Astoria, 
for Galena, but when arriving at the mouth of 
Small Pox creek, the river at the head of the 
island was gorged with ice, so that the boat 
could not proceed, and not knowing when the 
gorge would break, we left the boat and pro- 
ceeded on foot to Galena, at which place we 
arrived about noon the day after leaving the 
boat. At Galena we parted company with Good- 
win, Hurlbut and Reed, they going to Mineral 
Point and Chadwick and myself, going (coming) 
to this (Green) county, leaving Galena about 2 
p. M., stopping over the first night out at White 
Oak springs. The next morning Chadwick was 
quite unwell, attributing his sickness to the 
rancid butter that he had eaten for supper, 
which out-ranked any officer that was in the 
northwest at that time. We concluded not to 
take breakfast at that place. Thinking that a 
morning's walk of a few miles would improve 
Chadwick's appetite, we started, intending to 
take breakfast at Gratiot, which they told us 
was on our route, about five miles ahead, but not 
knowing, at that time, that two log cabins and a 
stable covered with straw, constituted a western 
village, we passed through it without stopping, 
wending our way across almost a trackless prai- 
rie without seeing a habitation, until we came 
to Wolf creek, a small tributary of the West 
Pecatonica, where we had to stop over night, 
as our next stopping would be ten miles ahead. 
At this place, we found two cabins and a dimin- 
utive orist mill. One of the cabins was occu- 



1060 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



pied by the miller and his family, which con- 
sisted of a man by the name of Curtis and him- 
self. The other was occupied by a man and his 
family, by the name of Hastings, who kept en- 
tertainment and bad whisky. After supper I 
went over to the mill (which was located on the 
opposite side of the stream from the tavern) to 
take a look at its working machinery, which I 
found to be of the most primitive order. In 
conversation with the miller, he told me he had 
bargained his mill to a man from the east whom 
he expected to take possession next June, and 
in case he sold, he intended to erect, in company 
with a man by the name of Gil let, a more pre- 
tentious one on Richland creek, a stream that 
heads in Green county, near Monroe, this mill 
site being at a point on said creek where Or- 
rangevillej in Stephenson Co., 111., is now 
located. At the mill was a customer from 
Rock Grove, having a grist to grind, who 
who said he was going to return home next day 
if the mill could get his grist ground out by 
morning, and we could accompany him as he 
had to go the same route, an invitation which 
we gladly accepted. At this place an incident 
occurred which for a short time affrighted us 
badly. On my return to the tavern from the 
mill I found an acquisition of some three or four 
to our company, who were drinking and playing 
cards, and I made up my mind that the place 
was a tough one. Chad wick being tired and 
unwell, had retired early. Among the guests 
was a man by the name of Armstrong, who re- 
sided near Wiota. Though somewhat set up, he 
was not taking part in their card playing. With 
him I soon got into conversation. He had come 
into the country prior to the Black Hawk War; 
had taken quite an active pai't in the war; was 
very communicative and inquisitive. In reply 
to his questions I told him where we were 
from; where we were going to; what our pro- 
fessions were; and that we had come to the 
country to build mills and houses, but, I con- 
tinued, from the appearance of the country and 
the quality of the timber, (which up to this 



place we found to consist only of the veriest 
scrub burr and white oak varieties) we had a 
good show of starving in that line. He replied 
that he expected that we would have to rough 
it for a few years at least. As the conversation 
began to lag, I retired to bed, but not to sleep, 
for I must confess that if I ever had the blues 
it was at this time; but in time tired nature 
succumbed and I fell into a sound sleep, to be 
awakened by Chadwick punching me in the 
ribs with his elbow and whispering my atten- 
tion to the fact that a person was removing the 
clabboards from the roof near where our bed 
stood. In a few moments I was completely 
awake. I silently raised myself on one elbow 
to watch the movements of the man, who, by 
this time, had got through into our room; and, 
after standing awhile and looking around, ap- 
parently in an amazed condition, he started a few 
steps in the direction of our bed, stopped, 
looked around, finally turned and walked to the 
otlier end of the room and threw himself down 
on some old clothes that lay in the corner of 
the room. By this time I was in a profuse 
sweat, having nothing in our possession with 
which to ward off an attack if the man had in- 
tended one, but I soon came to the conclusion 
that the man meant us no harm, as in a few 
minutes he was in a sound sleep and snoring 
loud enough to wake the seven sleepers. In the 
morning we told the landlord of the circum- 
stance. He immediately went up stairs, waked 
the man up and brought him down. The man 
proved to be one of the parties of the night be- 
fore, who, having filled up with bad whisky, 
had started for his shanty some three or four 
miles away; had got bewildered, and had 
wandered around the greater part of the night; 
had finally in his wanderings got back to the 
tavern, where (he said) he had thumped on the 
door to wake up the landlord, and not succeed- 
ing, concluded to gain an entrance in the man- 
ner above described. In the morning we started 
in company with our guide, traveling some fif- 
teen miles or more to Brewster ferry, on the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1061 



Pecatonica river, where was kept a small boat 
for the purpose of crossing. Here we found a 
small improvement on the south side of the 
river, while the dwelling stood on the north 
side. Plere in crossing we had to (after draw- 
ing the wagon as near the water as possible) 
separate the oxen from the wagon, ferry the 
oxen over, then return for the wagon, which we 
had to run on the boat by hand; after crossing 
the wagon, hitching on the oxen and pulling 
tlie wagon up the river bank. On reaching the 
high prairie, east of where Oneco now stands, 
we separated from our guide, he pointing out 
to us the direction we should take to reach New 
Mexico, a place laid out the summer before by 
Jacob Andrick, intending it for the county seat 
of Green county, (as there was a movement on 
foot at that time to have a new county laid out), 
and containing at that time one house. At this 
house we inquired for a man. by the name of 
William Woodle, (that being our point of des- 
tination), a son of the elder Thomas Woodle, 
who some years previous had moved to Illinois, 
but in 1836 had moved to this county, and had 
settled three miles east of where Monroe now 
stands. Mrs. Andrick could not tell us where 
he resided; had heard the name; thought he 
lived east of there; telling us to go about a mile 
northeast where we would find a store and they 
could inform us where he lived. After travel- 
ing the distance and direction indicated by Mrs. 
Andrick, we came to a log house in which was 
kept by a man by the name of Smith a small 
grocery store with a sprinkling of dry goods. 
Smith at the time of our arrival was shaking 
lustly with the ague, the first case of ague I had 
ever seen.- At this place we learned that it was 
three miles to Woodle's, and being tired and 
hungry, having eaten nothing since early morn, 
we concluded to stop over night, which we did 
at Joseph Paine's, who, at that time, resided 
near the store, and kept entertainment, arriving 
at this place on the evening of March 30, 1837. 
After supper we walked over to the stoi'e, where 
we found several persons discussing the county 



seat question — some congratulating Mr. Paine 
and some Mr. Andrick, on having the county 
seat. I learned from their conversation that, in 
'addition to Mr. Andrick's town, which he 
named New Mexico, Mr. Paine had laid out a 
town, which he called Richland City, as a com- 
petitor to Mr. Andrick's, neither of them hav- 
ing their plats recorded, as required by law. 
At the first session of the first legislative assem- 
bly, which convened at Belmont, in December, 
1836, in the bill defining the boundaries of the 
new county was a section declaring that New 
Mexico should be the county seat. Mr. Paine, 
finding that his point could not succeed, pro- 
posed to Mr, Andrick to purcliase a half-interest 
in his (Andrick) site, but Mr. Andrick was ob- 
durate, and refused to sell, so Mr. Paine slipped 
ofi:' to Mineral Point and had liis town recorded 
New Mexico. Now, in those days the mail ar- 
rived at this point when the mail carrier came; 
provided, he did not let it wash away when 
crossing the streams of water on his route, and 
the carrier would arrive once a week when the 
water in the streams would let him; hence,- at 
this particular time they had not had a mail for 
over a month, hence they had not heard any- 
thing definite about the county seat question 
since the passage of the bill. The next morn- 
ing on our way to Woodle's we met young 
Thomas Woodle, a brother of William, who 
was at that time making his home with Wil- 
liam. He said he was going to the store on an 
errand and proposed to us to accompany him, 
which we did. At the store there were 
several persons, and among them a big 
strapping Indian, who proposed to run a foot 
race with Woodle for the treats. Woodle accept- 
ed, the distance they were to run stepped off, 
the judges chosen, and the racers started. The 
judges decided that Woodle was the winner, 
but Mr. Indian refused to treat, claiming that 
he understood it that the one coming out ahead 
was to buy the whisky. Arriving at Woodle's 
we concluded to re^t over Sunday, visiting with 
the Woodle's. The next Monday after our 



1062 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



arrival, in company with the two Woodles and 
Joseph Smith, (a former brother-in-law of the 
Woodle's,) we started to look up the Chad wick 
land, which was five miles east of Woodle's. 
After finding it (which we did by means of the 
section and quarter stakes which the prairie 
fires had not yet destroyed,) and selecting a 
location for a cabin, we returned to the store to 
procure an outfit for housekeeping, which (with 
us) consisted of two coffee pots, two tin pans or 
])latters, a frying pan, two tin cups, one empty 
oyster can, two Indian blankets, (as they were 
named,) one pound of coifee, a few pounds of 
flour, and ten pounds of bacon, (the two latter 
articles we procured from Daniel S. Sutherland 
as they was not to be had at the store.) We 
returned to the land and commenced operations 
by first putting up a small shanty to live in 
while building a more pretentious one. The 
shanty we built out of logs, by splitting them; 
and for the want of better material we roofed 
it with brush. Having got the shanty comple- 
ted the second day, we moved into it and began 
cutting logs for the cabin. The second night 
after moving into our shanty there came up a 
snow storm, snow falling to the depth of six 
inches. Our roofing not being close enough 
to turn the snow, in the morning we found our- 
selves under a covering of three or four inches 
of snow; the weather turning quite cold and 
having about enough logs cut for a cabin we 
concluded to abandon the shanty for the present 
and go back to Mr. Paine's and try and find 
some way of getting our traps from Galena, as 
we needed some of the tools, as at that time we 
did not know how to build cabins without tools. 
Upon our arrival at Mr. Paine's (or I should 
rather say at the store) we found a Mr. Palmer 
or Parmer, who said that himself and another 
man (I think Mr. Lutteral) was going to start 
in a few days to Galena with a load of lead 
mineral, and was to bring back a part of a load 
of groceries for Mr. Smith, the merchant, 
(^hadwiok proposed to him to bring out our 
traps, which he consented to do, provided 



Chadwick would accompany them, saying he 
did not know what them d — n steamboat men 
had done with them tools, and was not going to 
spend time hunting them up; and as there was 
no other alternative Chadwick consented to go. 
In the mean time I agreed with Mr. Paine to 
work on his tavern house which he was about 
erecting on his town site to be used as tavern 
and court house, until Chadwick returned. But 
as Mr. Sutherland was to boss the job and lay 
out the work, and as Mr. Sutherland could not 
commence work until the following week, I had 
a few days of leisure which I improved by tak- 
ing a stroll down Richland creek to look up 
any mill sites that I might find, and especially 
the one mentioned by Mr. Curtis in my conver- 
sation with him at Wolf creek. On my return 
to Paine's, the next Monday morning, I found 
Mr. Sutherland on hand, and I commenced work 
on Paine's tavern and court liouse, the first 
frame building I believe erected in Green county. 
In a few days after 1 commenced work on this 
building a man by the name of Burrett came 
to where we were working, and after a short 
conversation with Sutherland inquired of him 
if he knew of any millwrights in hi8(this)neigh- 
borhood, saying that himself and a Mr. Gray of 
Mineral Point had entered into partnership to 
build a saw mill on Whiteside branch, a small 
tributary of east Pecatonica stating that a 
Mr.Armstrong(my communicative friend at Wol f 
creek) had informed him that a couple of mill- 
wrights a few days previous had passed Wolf 
creek on their way to New Mexico. Mr. Suth- 
erland pointing to me replied, "I presume that 
man is the one you are looking for." I accom- 
panied Burrett home, took a level of his mill- 
site, and agreed with him to build his mill the 
coming summer. Burrett agreeing to let us 
know when he got ready to begin, as he had to 
build a cabin at the site to accommodate the 
hands employed, as his residence was at least a 
mile distant, and the hands would have to bach 
it. On my return to Paine's I again went to 
work on his house. On the return of Chadwick 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1063 



from Galena, (having been gone at least ten 
days,) we resumed work on the cabin. On the 
afternoon of the following Saturday we went 
to Paine's (which we usually did every Satur- 
day to stay over Sunday except when we staid 
at the cabin and took a stroll over the prairie 
and through the timber adjacent thereto) where 
we found a young man from Ohio by the name 
of John Crawford, a cousin of Chadwick, who 
had heard of our coming through Chadwick's 
folks, and had come out to take a look at the 
promised land. Crawford agreed to stay and 
work with us during the summer, going with us 
the following Monday to work on the cabin. 
A few days after Crawford's initiation to our 
manner of life and mode of living, occurred one 
of those laughable incidents which materially 
assists in driving away that lonesomeness which 
I believe is the common inheritance of all or 
nearly all early pioneers of western life, who 
having left the advantages, pleasure and busy 
scenes of civilized life, and having settled in 
those western wilds, miles, miles from any 
human habitation, save that of the wild Indians, 
to hew out for himself and family a home. 
The incident was this. On one of our frequent 
visits to New Mexico we visited the cabin of 
Hiram Rust and Jarvis Rattan, located near 
Avhere Monroe now is. We saw them turning 
their pancakes which they were cooking in their 
frying pan. After the pancake was sufficient- 
ly baked on the first side they would take hold 
of the handle of the pan, would give it a few 
vigorous rotary motions suflScient to loosen and 
give the jnancake a certain rotary impetus, 
would suddenly change the motion of the pan 
to a vertical one by which means they would 
flop the pancake bottotn side up to complete its 
cooking. After seeing them do it,, we would 
for the purpose of amusement after the days 
work was done, practice this slight of hand )»er- 
formance. Chadwick in a short time became 
quite an adept at it. After Crawford's arrival, 
Chadwick would often perform it for the pur- 
pose of showing Crawford (as he said) what 



could be done. One morning while Chadwick 
was baking pancakes for breakfast, Crawford 
who was near-sighted got on the opposite side 
of the fire, squatted down on his haunches for 
the purpose (as he said) of seeing how Chad- 
wick did it. Chadwick mistaking the degree 
of baking given the pancake, when he under- 
took to flop it over, the pancake instead of com- 
ing over doubled up and falling upon the rim 
of the pan, bounded into Crawford's face, but 
happily for him the pancake was not very hot, 
so that he was but little burnt; but it made 
Crawford terrible mad and he was for whipping 
Chadwick thinking that Chadwick had done 
it intentionally, but upon Chadwick's solemn 
protestation of innocence and myself keeping 
in between them for a few minutes, Crawford's 
good nature (and he had a good share of it) re- 
turning the thing passed off pleasantly, but it 
gave us a full half hour's good laughing. The 
cabin completed we gathered up our traps tak- 
ing them to Woodle's. Next day went to Paine's 
where we worked on Paine's house two or three 
days, when Mr, Burrett came after us to com- 
mence work on his mill. Arriving at the cabin 
we found four hands employed in its completion, 
whom Burrett had engaged to work on the dam 
and mill pit. Here we had to bach it and al- 
though we, us millwrights, were exempt from any 
cooking, as Barrett in his contract had to fur- 
nish the cook, but often did I think of and en- 
dorse the sentiment of the miner when lying in 
his bunk and looking at his partner getting their 
breakfast, exclaimed: "Joe, there has an idea 
struck me." "The devil," replied Joe. "I 
would rather believe that lightning would strike 
you, but since you have been blest with a stroke 
pray tell us what it is." "Well," replied Jim, 
"while I have been lying here and looking at 
you trying to fork that meat out of the fire 
where you spilled it, by upsetting the frying 
pan in which it was cooking, while you was try- 
iug to get tbera potatoes out of the ashes where 
you put them to roast, what a great invention 
woman was." After we had been at work on 



1064 



IJISTURY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the mill a short time we received word that the 
elder Mr. Chadwick had moved to the country 
aiul was settled in the cabin and requested us to 
pay them a visit, so on the following Saturday 
we started on foot a distance of twenty miles to 
visit them; the day being one of those cool, 
drizzling, rainy days in May, which frequently 
occurs in this country. When getting within 
a mile or a mile and a half of the Chadwick 
cabin we came to a cabin in which a man by 
the name of Joseph Woodle aiid his family was 
living, who had come from Pennsylvania, and 
who had built his cabin since we had left. We 
stopped to have a hand-shake, and it being near 
evening they insisted that we should take sup- 
])er with them, which we did, as we had had 
nothing to eat since morning. By the time 
supper was over the sun was down. We stirled 
to find Chadwick's, but instead of going around 
the timber (both of the cabins being in the edge 
of the timber, the one occupied by Woodle on 
the north edge and the one by Chadwick on the 
south) as we had been in the habit of doing, 
we concluded that we could save time and dis- 
tance by going through it, but in doing so we 
missed the cabin, and when we came to the 
prairie we became bewildered and did not know 
which way to go, as by that time it had got 
very dark, but like all lost persons eacli had his 
course marked out, and each one knew his 
course was right, so in turn each would lead 
awhile until we became satisfied that each one 
was lost, and coming to a precipice (over which 
Chadwick fell) we concluded to call a halt and 
put up for the night, but as our clothes were 
thoroughly wet and the night cold, and having 
no means of making a fire we could not stop 
traveling. So selecting a large white oak tree 
(we did not know at that time that it was 
white oak) on the top of the bluff we walked 
around it all night, and I thought it tlie longest 
night ever made. Before leaving it I took my 
knife and made a peculiar mark in the bark so 
that if I should see it again I would know il. 
When dayliijht came we concluded to travej 



west as we were satisfied that we were east of 
Richland timber, and if we could strike that 
timber we could find some settler, but as it was 
still very cloudy and as we were lost we could 
not tell whicli way west lay, but determined to 
strike out and try to find a section stake which 
would decide the course for us to take. After 
traveling a short distance in a southeast course 
we came to the section stake at the southeast 
corner of section 16, in what is now the town 
of Spring Grove. We then started west through 
the timber and on coming out on the prairie at 
the southwest corner of Spring Grove timber 
we came across John Kline, who had a few days 
previous moved to the country from Laporte 
Co., Ind., and who at the time was encamped 
in his wagons on section 29; his father having 
the fall previous entered land on that section. 
Kline at that time was goingacross to Richland 
timber to try to find an old neighbor of his by 
the name of Harcourt, who the previous year 
had moved to the country and settled some- 
where near Richland creek. We told him how 
we were lost and had lain out all night, and in- 
quired if he could direct us to a resident by the 
name of Chadwick who had just moved into 
the country. He said that he could, as his 
wife's uncle, a man by the name of Riley, had 
been out and had entered land at a grove a few 
miles north of us and that his (Riley's) land 
joined that of lands owned by that name (Chad- 
wick). We went with Kline to the divide be- 
tween the waters of Spring and Richland 
creeks where he pointed out to us the timber 
grove where his uucle Riley had made his entr}'. 
Kline finding out that we were millwrights said 
that his fatlier and himself intended to build a 
saw mill the coming fall, and that his father in- 
tended to bring a millwright from Indiana, but 
if we would do the work he would induce his 
father to leave the millwright at his home. 
We arrived at the cabin that afternoon, and 
found Mr, Chadwick's folks mucii excited, as 
Woodle, the man we had taken supper with the 
night before, had come to Chadwick's that fore- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1065 



noon to visit with us, and inquiring for us was 
told that we were at work on Burrett's mil', 
when he related tlie circumstances of our leav- 
ing his residence the night previous about sun- 
down. Mrs. Chad wick insisted that her hus- 
band and Woodle should immediately start out 
to look us up as she believed that we had either 
perished or were scalped by the Indians, as a 
number of them had passed in sight of the 
cabin the previous day; the latter she insisted 
being the more reasonable conclusion, Mr. 
Chadwick and Woodle, taking their guns with 
them, went to the highlands southwest of the 
cabin and saw us ascending on our way to the 
cabin from the south, all parties arriving at the 
cabin nearly at the same time. We completed 
the Burrett & Gray saw mill the latter part of 
September, as the work was matei*ial!y delayed 
for the want of the irons, as they had ordered 
them from St. Louis and from some unexplained 
cause they did not arrive for two months 
after being ordered. After the completion of 
the saw mill, we commenced work on the Kline 
saw mill, the first mill erected in the town of 
Spring Grove. After getting out the timber 
for the mill, cold weather setting in, we sus- 
pended work on the mill and went to Galena 
for the purpose of getting work in some of the 
shops, but failing in this we hired to a contrac- 
tor to assist in getting out timber for some 
buildings to be erected in that place the next 
spring. We went upon an island in the Missis- 
sippi river, a few miles below that place to obtain 
the timber. After we had got out a quantity 
of timber, the sheriff, at the instance of the 
county commissioners, came to the island and 
attached it, the commissioners claiming that 
the timber belonged to the county, under an act 
of Congress giving to the different counties all 
the unsold overflowed lands lying within the 
•county. Again being without employment, we 
concluded to take a stroll through Iowa, finally 
turning up in ]>urlington, where the second ses- 
sion of the first legislative assembly was in ses- 
sion (Wisconsin and Iowa being at that time 



under the same Territorial government). Upon 
our arrival at that place we called upon our 
representative (William Boyls) from this 
county, who informed us that he had intro- 
duced a resolution in the assembly that would 
settle our county seat question, and kindly in- 
vited us to call in the next day, which we did 
in the afternoon, when we found Mr. Boyls' 
resolution under consideration. The resolution, 
in brief, was one defining what was the inten- 
tion of the former session in locating the county 
seat of Green couaty, declaring that the inten- 
tion of the legislature was to locate the county 
seat at the point known as Andrick Town. 
Now, to a novice like myself, I did not think 
there would be any opposition to its passage, 
but I was mistaken, for it met with a most de- 
termined opposition from a number of members. 
Finally the measure was disposed of by a mem- 
ber moving an amendment to strike out the 
words "And rick's Town" and insert ''New 
Mexico," which prevailed, thus leaving the 
question as it was. From Burlington we went 
to St. Louis, and upon the opening of naviga- 
tion in the spring we returned to Green county 
and again commenced work on Kline's mill. 
While at work on the mill, in one of our strolls 
through the timber, we came across the tree 
that we had tramped around the greater part of 
the night in May, 1837; it stood on the bluff, 
near the center of section 16. After the partial 
completion of the mill there arose a misunder- 
standing between the Kline's and a neighbor by 
the name of Judkins about the water flow of 
Judkins' land. Work on the mill was sus- 
pended. We then went to work on a small 
grist mill for Dr. Vanoaljah, on Cedar creek, in 
Illinois, and afterwards on a saw mill on Rich- 
land creek. In October, this year (1838), I was 
taken down with the typhoid fever at Mr. 
Chadwick's, where I lay a number of weeks, 
hovering between life and death, the doctors 
and everybody else, including myself, believing 
that I could not possibly live. But thi'ough a 
vigorous constitution, and the kind care and at- 



63 



1066 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



tention that I received from Mother Chadwick, 
I finally recovered; and here let me record, for 
the gratification and encouragement of her 
descendants, that if there ever was a mother, 
Mother Chadwick proved to be one to me at 
that time, and as long as memory holds its 
sway will I ever remember with gratitude with 
what care, sympathy and patience she adminis- 
tered to my wants on that occasion. But that 
is long years ago, and Mother Chadwick has 
long since passed to her final rest and reward, 
while I am left here to struggle on only a few 
years longer, at best. After my recovery we 
builtasmall house and barn for Levi Wilcox,some 
three or four miles south of where Cedarville 
now stands. In March, this year (1839), having 
learned of the death of my father, I concluded 
to visit ray old home in Pennsylvania, but be- 
ing detained so much in Galena and other 
points on the river between there and St. Louis, 
on account of low stage of water in the river 
and the sinking of the steamer on which I had 
taken passage, I concluded to return, having, 
previous to starting, agreed to build a barn for 
Mr. Chadwick the coming summer. I returned 
in May, and we finished and started the Kline 
saw mill that month, as, previous to that time, 
Kline and Judkins had settled their difficulty, 
and Judkins had deeded to Kline a right of 
flow. After starting the mill we went to work 
on Chad wick's barn. And here I must relate a 
circumstance that shows what manner of man 
Jacob LyBrand was, who at that time kept a 
variety store in New Mexico. While working 
on the roof of the barn I broke my hatchet. 
The shingles for the roofing being made out of 
hard wood, and no pains being taken to joint 
the edges, it was impossible to lay even a fair 
roof without some means of straightening their 
edges. It's true, we might have fastened them 
in the bench vise and taken a plane or draw- 
shave to them, but this was a feat that I felt no 
disposition to undertake, so I went to New 
Mexico to buy one of LyBrand, knowint; that 
lie kept them on hand. After looking them 



over and inquiring the price, (which I thought 
was enormous,) T asked LyBrand if his price 
was not pretty steep. "Why," he replied, "do 
you think it too much?" I said I tiiought that 
it was, whereupon he laid the hatchet back on the 
shelf. I then went to where some carpenters 
were at work on a building near by, thinking to 
borrow one, but they having none they could 
sj^are, I went back to the store, intending to 
buy. Upon going in I said to LyBrand that I 
guessed I would have to take that hatchet. He 
replied that I could not have it. "Why not?" 
I said. He replied, "Did you not say that the 
price was too much? And I don't intend any 
person shall buy any article of me that says the 
price is too much." I then related to him the 
circumstance of ray breaking the hatchet, and 
the necessity of my having one. He said, "Oh, 
I will loan it to you," which he did. After I 
got through using it I returned it, proposing to 
pay him for the use of it, but he refused to 
take anything for the use of it. After complet- 
ing the barn we went south of Cedar creek and 
built a house and small barn for Dr. Vanvalzah, 
on his farra, he having previously soici his mill 
property on Cedar creek to Air. Neigh tic. The 
winter of 1839-40 we ran the Wilcox saw mill, 
on Richland creek. In the summer of 1840 we 
built a house near Cedarville for Reason Wil- 
cox, and a barn at Walnut Grove for John 
Kleckner. In October, of this year, Chadwick 
took unto himself a life partner, marrying a 
daughter of Deacon David Davis; and I, feel- 
ing unwilling, if not unable, to fight the battle of 
life single handed, concluded to take a partner, 
choosing for this purpose a sister of Chadwick's 
wife, and no time throughout our married life 
have I regretted the choice I — or raiher, I 

should say she made, for in my opinion, in this 
matter of marrying the girls have it all their 
own way, for Shakspeare, or some other person 
who has had experience in these matters, truly 
says that — 

"When a woman will, she will, and you may depend on it; 
lUit when she won't, she won't, and that's the end on it." 

The result of this double marriage was the dis- 
solution of partnership between Chadwick and 



HISTORY OF GKEKN COUNTY. 



1067 



myself — a partnership that had lasted nearly 
three years, and during all this time, so far as I 
know, there was no a harsh word or unkind 
feeling existed between us. Shortly after mar- 
rying, Chadwick settled on and opened up a 
farm on section 22, in now the town of Jeffer- 
son, this county, and myself on section 19, town 
of Spring Grove. In the spring of 1841 I 
built a house for Samuel Myers, at the then 
saw mill of Kline & Myers (formerly Kline's 
mill), on section 20, being the first frame built 
in the town. In the summer, fall and winter 
of this year, I did a number of jobs in the 
neighborhood, laying floors, (which formerly 
consisted of hewed puncheons,) making doors, 
putting in additional windows, etc., in houses, 
as the lumber for that purpose could be 
obtained at the saw mill. In the summer of 1842 
I built a barn for John Kline on section 29, now 
owned by Hugh Alexander, the first frame barn 
erected in the town, and in the fall I assisted 
in the building of a store house for John Fisher, 
in Rock Grove. The winter of 1842-3 was an 
unprecedented hard one, snow falling to the 
depth of one foot or more, on the 12th of No- 
vember, ajid by March had accumulated to 
fully three feet, and continued to lay on until 
in April. The month of March was terrible 
cold, the thermometer at Rock Grove ranging 
from one to six degrees below zero every morn- 
ing throughout the month, except the last morn- 
ing, when it commenced thawing, and a gi-eat 
number of cattle throughout the country died 
from exposure. In the spring of 1843 I built 
the carding mill on Spring creek for Kline & 
Myers. After completing the carding mill, I 
was employed by a Boston company to run a 
a grist mill at Winslow; they having erected 
one there in 1841. I ran the mill until the fol- 
lowing May. Returning to Spring Grove, I built 
the second saw mill on Spring creek, on section 
15, for William Hussey. This summer (1844) 
was a terrible wet one, raining almost con- 
tinuously from March to September. Work on 
the mill was nuich delayed on account of the 



rain and high water in the creek. We laid the 
foundation timbers for the mill three different 
times, and as often having them washed out. 
At one time some of them being washed two 
miles below. The wheat and oats crops were 
nearly ruined by the continuous wet weather. 
In the fall of this year I built myself anew res- 
idence, on section 30, being the second frame 
house built in the town. This winter (1844-45) 
the residents of Spring Grove and adja- 
cent country petitioned the postoftice depart- 
ment for a postoftice to be named Spring Grove, 
and located at my residence and the appointment 
of myself postmaster. This request the depart- 
ment refused to grant, on the ground that the 
oftice asked for was not on any established mail 
route. The residents then entered into an ar- 
rangement whereby each one was in turn to 
carry the mail from Monroe and Rock Grove, 
the nearest postoftices to this point, and through 
the kindly intercession of Mr. Walworth, then 
postmaster at Monroe, I was granted permis- 
scion to handle the mail and account to Mr. 
Walworth (a kind of side oftice). In 1847 or 
1848 Congress established a mail route from 
Rockford, by way of Monroe to Mineral Point, 
and the oftice was included in the lettings, and 
I was commissioned postmaster. This oftice I 
held until the summer of 1857, when I resigned, 
as I intended to change my residence to a more 
easterly part of the town, for the purpose of 
farming, as I had become tired of carpentering, 
having to be absent so much from my family, a 
profession that I have since followed, except at 
short intervals, when I would starve out at it, 
and was forced to resort to the tools to replen- 
ish my larder. Upon my resigning the postoftice 
the patrons of the oftice petitioned for the ap- 
pointment of Matt Herrington as my successor. 
Herrington & Hauver at that time, were in 
trade at what is now called Oakley. The de- 
partment referred the application to Alpheus 
Goddard, then postmaster at Monroe (that be- 
ing the rule of the department at the time). 
Mr. Goddard being an uncompromising demo- 



1068 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



crat and a firm believer in the Jacksonian 
policy, that to the victors belong the spoils, re- 
fused to endorse Mr. Herrington upon the ground 
that Mr. Herrington could not repeat the party 
shibboleth, and not finding a democrat to his 
liking in the neighborhood who would accept 
the oflice, the oflice was transferred into the 
town of Jefferson,two miles northwest of its then 
location, and Israel Lake appointed postmaster. 
After the removal of the oflice it became very 
inconvenient to those patrons living in the east 
part of the town, so they petitioned the depart- 
ment for a new office to be named Pee Dee, and 
located at the northeast corner of section 33, and 
with our recent experience in choosing an in- 
cumbent, we thought best to select a democrat 
for that position. This oflSce was established 
in June or July, 1859, with G. W. Zimmerman 
postmaster. In a short time Zimmerman be- 
coming tired of the oflice, as it interfered too 
much with his farm duties, he arranged with 
my wife to run the oflice as deputy, and the 
oflice was transferred to my house, on section 
18. In the fall of 1862 we were having a very 
exciting congressional election, growing out of 
our diversity of views on the war measure. 
The State central committee (of which Mr. 
Rublee was chairman) sent to the office (di- 
rected to the postmaster,) a package of political 
documents, including the address of the central 
committee with a request that the postmaster 
distribute this package (as was the rule with all 
packages so directed), was given to the post- 
master, who upon receiving it declared he would 
not distribute them, saying that if the commit- 
tee wanted them distributed they could come 
and do it themselves. Upon hearing this I 
wrote the chairman that in the future in send- 
ing such documents to the oflSce, to direct them 
to either E. R. Allen or myself, saying that the 
postmaster was an old line democrat having no 
sympathies wuth the republican party, not even 
suggesting a cliange, when in less than a month, 
I received a commission as postmaster, with a 
notice to the incumbent to turn the office over 



to me, which was the cause of two of the most 
surprised men ever in the town. This oflice T 
held until 1867, when I resigned (having sold 
my farm) for the purpose of changing my loca- 
tion, and Fred Teis was commissioned my 
successor, who ran the (/ftice a short time, re- 
signed, and the present incumbent, Mrs. Coul- 
ter, was commissioned. In 1868 I moved with 
ray family to Kansas, intending to make that 
State my future home, but becoming dissatis- 
fied with the country, I returned in 1870, with 
broken health and $800 out of pocket, to Spring 
Grove, where I intend to reside until the Mas- 
ter calls, "Come Home.'" In politics, from boy- 
hood I was a firm believer in those divine truths 
as promulgated from that immortal instrument, 
the Declaration of Independence and corner- 
stone of our American edifice, that all men are 
created equal, and from early manhood I have 
been a persistent advocate of those truths, and 
when in 1842, the first political anti slavery 
society was organized in Green county, I was 
one of the immortal seven (as we were face- 
ciously called) that assisted in its organization, 
and continued a member of that party until 
1854, when the party was merged in the repub- 
lican party, and have been a member of that 
party up to the present time; and I have voted 
at every election that has been held in the 
county since its organization, excepting the two 
years that I resided in Kansas. Upon the tem- 
perance question my neighbors say I am fanat- 
ical, and perhaps I am so, as I have not taken 
any alcoholic or fermented beverages for over 
fifty years, and I can see nothing but evil, and 
only evil, in its use. I am also a sti'enuous ad- 
vocate of woman franchisement, as I cannot 
comprehend by what theory or law of creation 
men have rights that women are not entitled to; 
and I fully endorse the exclamation of the old 
deacon, who, when his elder was preaching, (his 
subject being man) said when he spoke of man 
he included woman as by creation they were the 
same as man, with a little variation," exclaimed, 
"Yes, bless God." 

Spring Grove, March, 1884. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1069 



PROMINENT CITIZENS. 

The following biographical skecthes of promi- 
nent citizens of the town of Spring Grove, will 
give an idea of the enterprise and thrift of this 
town: 

Mrs. Mary Clemans, the widow of J. H. 
Clemans, lives on section 22, town of Spring 
Grove. She is a daughter of Isaac Kline, who 
settled in this town in May, 1837. Daniel Baxter 
(who came the same year) and Mr. Kline were the 
first two permanent settlers in this town. Mrs. 
Clemans was born in April, 182 2. In November, 
1830, she was married to J. H. Clemans, and 
settled the next year on the place where Mrs.. 
Clemans now lives. To them were born nine 
children — Catharine, now wife of Samuel J. 
Smith; Isaac, now living in Todd Co., Minn.; 
Jane, deceased, wife of Jacob Newcomer; Eliza 
Ann, now wife of Ira Mellen, of Yankton, 
Dak.; Elizabeth, who died when four years 
old; Thomas J., who lives with his mother; 
Charles A., now living at Yankton, Dak.; 
Lucinda, now wife of Francis Jenkins, of 
Todd Co., Minn., and Estella, wife of Henry 
Long. Mrs. Clemans was bereaved by the death 
of her husband in April, 18'7'7. lie was formerly 
from Kentucky, and came to Green county in 
1838. Thomas J. Clemans, who lives with his 
mother on the old homestead, was married Nov. 
29, 1874, to Polly, daughter of J. W. Kildow. 
The have two children —Orpha G., born Nov. 
J, 1880, and James F., born Oct. 12, 1875. 

Mrs. Elizabeth A. Davis lives on section 30, 
occupying the same land settled upon by her 
husband, Archibald Davis and herself, 
July 7, 1838. Mrs. Davis was born in 
Pocahontas Co., Va., April J, 1812. She is 
now (1884) vigorous, doing all the house work, 
and attending to care of stock, etc. She was 
married Sept. 19, 1834, to Archibald Davis. His 
father, .Jeremiah Davis, moved from Maryland 
to Warren Co., Ind., in 1822, where he died 
Jan. 16, 1853. His wife, Mary Davis, died 
there Oct. 2, 1863. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Davis' 
father settled in Warren Co., Ind., in 1830, 



where he died. His wife died there also in 
1832. Archibald Davis had two children by a 
former marriage, who made a part of the 
family when they came to this town. Their 
names were -Mary, who married James Ken- 
yon, who died ill 1863; Jeremiah, in Warren 
Co., Ind., in 1853. By the second marriage of 
Archibald and Elizabeth A. Davis. The chil- 
dren born are — James D., who served in com- 
pany B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and now 
lives in Brodhead; Sarah C. M , wife of John 
Ostrander ; Benjamin S. also served in company 
B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and was killed 
in a bayonet charge at the battle of Jackson, 
Miss.; George W., member of same company 
and regiment; Rachel J., wife of Samuel i^rant; 
Nancy E. and Archibald A., both living in this 
county; Elizabeth A., wife of John Mass)^ of 
Benton Co., Ind.; Maria V., wife of John Alex- 
ander, of Durand, 111.; Nancy E , wife of 
Philip Kilwin, of Decatur. Mr. and Mrs. 
Davis came from Warren Co., Ind., to this 
town. Mr. Davis was a great hunter and fond 
of the chase. Many an early settler was in- 
debted to his prowess for his fresh meat. Mr. 
Davis was a good specimen of a pioneer, active, 
full of life and energy,- generous and true to 
his friends. He died Dec. 30, 1879, aged nearly 
seventy-four years. 

George Davis, son of the early settlers, Arch- 
ibald and Elizabeth A. Davis, is one of the 
first born of the town of Spring Grove, that 
event having occurred Jan. 24, 1842. He lived 
with his parents, working on the farm and at- 
tending school winters until he reached man- 
hood, or nearly so, when he enlisted in company 
B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and one week 
from the day of leaving the State was in the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, a rough beginning 
for a soldier boy. He participated in every en- 
gagement of the regiment until the battle of 
Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863, when he was 
wounded and taken prisoner, and carried east 
to Libby prison at Richmond, and later released 
on parole, and taken to Annapolis, Md., and then 



1070 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



sent to the parole camp at St. Louis. In De- 
cember, 1863, he was exchanged, and rejoined 
the regiment at Huntsville, Ala. He was 
in the campaign against Atlanta, and in the 
heroic battle at Allatoona Pass. Mr. Davis has 
a trophy captured in that battle, a Queen Anne 
musket full six feet in length, captured on the 
skirmish line. Veteranizing with a part of 
the regiment, he returned to Wisconsin on a 
furlough in December, 1864. Then returning 
to the command rejoined Sherman's grand army 
at Goldsboro, N. C, in April, 1865. He was in the 
battle of Kingston, N. C, and was in line at the 
grand review of the army at Washington in 
June, 1865, and was mustered out with the reg- 
iment at Milwaukee. Mr. Davis was married 
to Ann E. Brant, daugnter of John A. Brant, 
Oct. 1, 1865, and commenced keeping house on 
seventy acres of land purchased Irom his father 
on section 80. He has since added eighty acres 
of adjoining land in the town of Jefferson. 
They have a very comfortable home eiilivene<l 
by four children — Francis E., born Oct. 25, 
1866; Mattie J., born July 8, 1869; Judd E., 
born Aug. 24, 1870; and George B., born June 
10, 1873. From 1866 to 1883, with the excej)- 
tion of one year, Mr. Davis has served as justice 
of the peace. He is a member of the W. W. 
Patton, G. A. R. Post, No. 90. 

Thomas Hamilton lives on section 34. He 
has a farm of 240 acres, with fine buildings. 
He was born in the State of Indiana Aug. 4, 
1822. When quite young, his father, George 
Hamilton, moved to Edgar Co., 111., where he 
died in 1842. When sixteen years of age, 
Thomas took his fortune in his own hands. 
Leaving home he went to Winnebago Co., 111., 
worked at farm work until 1842, when he came 
to Green county. The first few years he worked 
summers in the villages of the county, and in 
the winter in the pineries, running in the sea- 
sou on rafts below; thus he was occupied until 
he was married in 1845. His wife was Levanche 
Randall. By this marriage six children were 
born, five of whom are living — George, resid- 



ing in Brodhead; Thomas, of Winnebago Co., 
111.; Alexander, in the same county; Emma,wife 
of Myron Bliss, of Winnebago Co., Ill; Eva, 
wife of F. Burke, resides at Virginia City, 
Nev.; Lenora, wife of Isaac Davis. She 
died at the residen<!e of her father in February, 
1875. In March, 1866, Mr, Hamilton was be- 
reaved by the death of his wife. He was again 
united in marriage with Mrs. Jane Forbes, wid- 
ow of Isaac Forbes. She was living at the 
time of marriage in Davids township, Stephenson 
Co., 111. By her first marriage she had two 
children — Emma and William. Emma married 
Mr. Hamilton's son, George. William Foi'bes is 
married and lives in Brodhead. Thomas Ham- 
ilton has by his second wife five children — Wal- 
ter E., born in 1868; Josephine E., born in 1870; 
Kate Maud, born in 1873; Scott, born in 1878; and 
Eleanor, born in 1881. 

Daniel Dedrick was born in Herkimer Co., 
N. Y., Feb. 22, 1836, and came to this town 
with his father's family in 1842. His father, 
Nicholas Dedrick, came from Cattaraugus Co., 
N. Y. Daniel lived with his father until 1847, 
in which year, March 3, he was married to 
Melissa A. Ward, who was born in Michigan. 
Her mother was the second wife of Daniel 
Vanderbilt. Mrs. Dedrick has one boy — Ed- 
die Dedrick, living in Topeka, Kansas, and a 
daughter, Lovinna, also at Topeka,Kansas. After 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dedrick moved to 
Durand, Wis., and later a short distance out in 
Bear creek valley, taking a homestead claim, 
and working at carpenter's trade, in which work 
he was engaged at the outbreak of the Civil 
War. He enlisted Aug. 9, 1862, in company G, 
25th Wisconsin Volunteers, and served two 
years and two months, when he was discharged 
on account of disability. After this he moved 
to Pontiac, Mich. Remaining there only a few 
months, he went to the oil country in Venango 
Co., Penn., locating at Rouseville. He there 
engaged in livery and express business and 
kept a boarding house three years or more, but 
domestic trouble caused a separation from his 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1071 



wife. Then he gave up his town business and be- 
came a contractor for drilling oil wells, and 
followed that occupation until he lost his prop- 
erty. He returned to Spring Grove in 1877, 
and bought lot 6, on section 2, thirty-three 
acres, where he now (1884) resides in a house 
built by an old settler, B. J. Tenney, who about 
thirty-four years ago sold out and went to Salt 
Lake with the Mormons. Mr. Dedrick's pres- 
ent wife was Sarah Jane Gordan. He was 
married to her in June, 1870. She was born in 
Pennsylvania. Their tirst child, Charlie, died 
at the age of thirteen months. They have two 
daughters— Mabel F. M., born May 15, 1872, 
and Zada Bell, born Jan. 11, 1880. 

Charles A. Warner was born in Madison Co., 
N. Y., June 20, 1820. He learned the black- 
smith's trade when a boy, and at nineteen years 
of age was out from his apprenticeship. In 
May, 1842, he came west to Milwaukee, and in 
September of that year to this county, buying 
160 acres of land on section 11, town of Syl- 
vester, remaining only long enough to com- 
mence some improvements. He went to South- 
port, on Lake Michigan (now Kenosha) and 
worked at his trade the following winter, re- 
turning to improve his land the summer of 
1843. In the fall he returned to Southport and 
remained there at work until the fall of 1844, 
when he went to McHeury Co., 111. 'I'here he 
ran a shop which he owned four years, then in 
the fall of 1848 he returned to this county and 
located in the village of Decatur, then about to 
be platted. While in McHenry county, Mr. 
Warner was married to Elizabeth Ward, Dec. 
7, 1847. She was born in Vernon, Oneida Co., 
N. Y. At Decatur Mr. Warner built a shop 
and worked there about eight years, when 
(1856) he moved his family to the village of 
Clarence, in order to be able to improve 192 
acres of land which he had some years previ- 
ously Vjought on section 1, town of Spring 
Grove. Mr. Warner worked at his trade a 
short time in Clarence, but in the spring of 1857 
made his residence on his land on section 1, 



where he now (1884) lives. Mr. and Mrs. War- 
ner have had four children born to them — Ella 
E., born Nov. 1, 1849, now wife of Willie D. 
Bigelow, of Sun Prairie, Wis.; Francis Ward, 
born Nov. 20, 1851, and died Sept 26, 1856; 
Charles M., born July 8, 1857, and now lives at 
home; Catharine C, born July 18, 1861, now 
living at home. Mr. Warner has led an active 
life, never idle in his younger days, if not hard 
at work, could generally be depended upon to 
bring in game or fish. He and Dr. Springsted 
were fast friends, and it was a bad day for all 
kinds of game, when they started out for a 
hunt. Mr. Warner speaks kindly of his old 
friend as a man, and of his skill as a physician. 
Daniel Dunwiddie, one of the pioneers of 
Green county, is living on section 6. His fine 
farm comprises lots 3,4 and 5, fractional additions 
to section 6, 127 acres, and fifteen acres of ad- 
joining land. He also owns twenty acres of 
valuable timber near by in Decatur. He has 
occupied this place since 1847. Mr. Dunwid- 
die was born in Green Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1822, 
and is a son of John Dunwiddie, who reared a 
family of eleven children, ten boys and one 
girl, all of whom lived to be married, and rear 
families. Seven of the family were living in 
1884. At the age of twenty-one, (1843) the 
subject of this sketch came to Green county, 
and lived with his uncle, Thomas Woodle, an 
early settler. In 1845 he bought the southwest 
quarter of section 34, in the town of Sylvester, 
and in December of that year was married to 
Rebecca Austin. She was born in Burlington 
Co., N. J., but at the time of her marriage 
was a resident of Kosciusko Co., Ind. Her 
parents were, for nine years, residents of Green 
Co., Ohio, and it was there that Mr. Dun- 
widdie formed her acquaintance. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dunwiddie first settled on his land in Sylvester 
and after living there one year, he sold, and pur- 
chased his pi'esent farm. They have had nine 
children born to them — Priscilla, wife of John 
Swan, born Feb, 5, 1846; Ezra, born Jan. 12, 
1848; Celista, wife of Alouzo Barnes, born Nov. 



1072 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



2, 1849; John M., born Dec. 1, 1851 ; Louisa, 
born June 29, 1854, and died April 23, 1856; 
Theresa, born Dec. 4, 1856, now the wife of W. 
F. Holcomb of Yankton, Dak; Idella, born Sept. 
1*7, 1861, now the wife of Charles Cronk, of 
Dane county; Minnie, born Oct. 30, 1863, and 
died May 5, 1866; and Myrtle, born Dec. 15, 
1865, and living at home with her parents. Mr. 
Dunwiddie is an active, public-spirited citizen, 
and has served as town supervisor fifteen or 
sixteen years, a part of the time as chairman. 

Moses Kirby was born near Oldtown, Hamp- 
shire Co., Va., in 1812. While a child his par- 
ents, James and Prudence Kirby, emigrated to 
Pickaway Co., Ohio. His mother died there 
and in 1828 bis father moved from there to 
Vermilion Co., 111. His father died some years 
later near Vincennes, Ind. The subject of this 
sketch was married in 1833 to Rachel Corry, 
and ten years later removed to Stephenson Co., 
111., and in the fall of the same year settled in 
Spring Grove, buying 160 acres of land on sec- 
tion 26 where he now lives. Mr. and Mrs Kir- 
by have had six children — Julia Ann, wife of 
William Clements, residing in Champaign Co., 
111.; John, living in the same county; Isaiah 
went with company B, 18th Wisconsin Volun- 
teers, and found a soldier's grave at Corinth, 
Tenn.; Elisha, living in Spring Grove; Lovina, 
wife of Polk Waller, of Winnebago Co., III., 
and Mary, married to Leroy J. McKinley. She 
and her husband live with Mr. Kirby on the old 
homestead. They were married July 30, 1869. 
They have had five children, three of whom are 
living — Olive, born Oct. 4, 1870; Myrtie, born 
Dec. 31, 1880; and Arthur, born May 16, 1883. 
The two deceased are — Jennie, born Dec. 21, 
1874; died Sept. 5, 1876. Warren, born June 
1, 1877; died April 12, 1880. Mr. McKinley's 
father is William McKinley, a merchant in 
Rockford, 111. Leroy J. was born in Winneba- 
go Co., 111., April 20, 1849. When a few weeks 
of age his mother died, and he was reared by 
Mr. and Mrs. James Waller of Avon, Rock 
Co., Wis. 



William H. Oneall was born in Warren Co., 
Ind., Feb. 15, 1829. His father, Robert E. 
Oneall, came to this town in its early days, go- 
ing in 1843, from Warren Co., Ind., he rented a 
farm of the old settler, Samuel Myers, on section 
19, where he lived one year; then on Mr. Jud- 
kins' farm two years. Mr. Oneall brought quite 
a large family here, consisting of a wife and 
seven children — Susan, now married to Philo 
Tracy, and living in Buchanan Co., Iowa; 
William H., the subject of this sketch; Rebecca, 
was married to Matthew Farmer, and died 
in Buchanan Co., Iowa; Martha Jane, who was 
married to P. Atwood, and died Nov. 22, 1882; 
Thomas K., who lives in Benton Co., Iowa; 
Mary Ann, who was married to William Kline, 
and died in 1864; Elizabeth R., who was mar- 
ried to Peter Albert, and now living in Buch- 
anan Co., Iowa. There were born to the parents, 
six children, after their settlement in this town 
— Sarah E., who was married to Charles Mor- 
ton, and lives in Parker, Dak.; John B., who 
lives in this town; Alexona, who is the wife of 
Joseph Keihle, aud lives in Independence, Iowa; 
Edwin and Robert E., who died quite young; 
and Charlie, now living in Nebraska. Mr. Oneall 
bought on section 36, a claim, (now owned by 
Cyrus Putnam), and lived there several years, 
then moved to Richland Grove, and subsequently 
bought prairie land in the town of Jefferson. 
He shortly sold this land, and went to Iowa, 
leaving his family here. Engaging in business 
in Iowa, he made an occasional trip back to visit 
his family. While on one of these trips coming 
home, he was taken sick, and died not far from 
home, after a short illness, in May, 1854. His 
wife died Jan. 10, 1855. William H. Oneall 
was married to Marcia Jones, Aug. 3, 1856 
She was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and was 
a daughter of James Jones, an early settler of 
Rock Co., Wis. They have six children — Teta 
Jane,born July 6,1 857, who was married to George 
Johnson, and now lives in San Francisco; Cyn 
thia L., born Sept. 3, 1858, now wife of Oliver 
W. Martin; Florence A., who lives at home; 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1073 



WyattE., born May 14, 1866, at home; Catha- 
rine v., born April 15, 1871, at home; and Ora 
E., born Oct. 27, 1874, at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Oneall commenced their married life where 
they now live. It was formerly the home of 
their mother, and at that time contained eighty 
acres. It was an old farm, settled back in 1841 
by Aaron Cooley. It is located on section 22. 
Mr. Oneall lives on section 16, and there owns 
120 acres, and owns also 130 acres on section 
16. He is one of the sterling men of the town, 
and has served the public on the board of super- 
visors. 

John B. Oneall, son of the old settler, Robert 
E. Oneall, was born Dec. 21, 1844. After the 
death of his father and mother, which occurred 
when John was about ten years old, he was 
partially homeless, and consequently was early 
thrown upon his own resources. The first year 
after his parent's death, he went to Iowa and 
lived for a time with a married sister. Coming 
back, he lived until about nineteen years old, 
with his brother, William II. Oneall, then with 
a young, xiatriotic impulse, he enlisted in the 
army, in company B, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, 
Aug. 23, 1863. He participated in twenty-four 
engagements, among them, were Dandridge, 
in east Tennessee, and one near Dalton, Ga., 
May 9, 1864, and last, but not least, the one at 
West Point, Ga. He was always on duty, 
and never, except to visit sick comrades, 
saw the interior of a hospital. He was honor- 
ably discharged with the regiment, July 19, 
1865. Feb. 14, 1867, he was married to Mary 
A., daughter of Charles Woodling, who came 
liere from Indiana, in 1846. He was born in 
Union Co., Penn., and went to Indiana in 1837. 
He was one of the sterling men of early days, 
in Spring Grove. The newly married couple 
settled on the Woodling estate, in the place his 
wife's father had lived, who died in November, 
1852. His widow subsequently was married to 
William Farmer. She died July 4, 1871. The 
present home of the subject of this sketch was 



occupied by him in September, 1871. It was 
the property of Mrs. Oneall's mother, at the 
time of her death. The farm is a very valuable 
one, with good improvements and fine buildings. 
They have two children — Carie J., born March 
23, 1868; Hancy A., born Oct. 13, 1870. Mr, 
Oneall is one of the trusted citizens of Spring 
Grove town, and is now (1884), town treasurer. 
He has served three terms on the town board of 
supervisors, and is a man of excellent reputa- 
tion. 

William H. Coldren has lived on section 5, 
town of Spring Grove, since November, 1873. 
His farm of 145 acres is known as the "Kline 
place" having been the home of an old settler 
named John Kline. Mr. Coldren was born in 
Warren Co., Ind. His father, William Coldren, 
in 1844 with his wife and seven children set- 
tled in the town of Jefferson. I'he children 
were — Margaret, Martha, Matilda, Reuben, 
Minerva, William, Orth, and one was born in 
Wisconsin, Evaline. Margaret and Matilda are 
not now living. The father and mother were 
both living in 1884. The subject of this sketch, 
William H., enlisted in the War for the Union 
in August, 1862, in company K, 22d regiment, 
Wisconsin Volunteers, and served until the 
regiment was mustered out after the close of 
the war. He was never in the hospital but 
always in the ranks, and was in every engage- 
ment in which the regiment participated, from 
the first at Spring Hill to the last at Averys- 
boro, N. C. He was in the battles about 
Atlanta, and with Sherman on the memorable 
march to the sea and up through the Caroli- 
nas to the grand review at Washington in June, 
1865. He was a faithful, valiant and valuable 
soldier. He was married Oct. 16, 1867, to Eslie 
Woodle, daughter of A. H. Woodle of Sylves- 
ter, and lived on rented land until 1873, when 
he bought his present home. They have had 
four children — an infant, born and died in 1868, 
Fred, born Aug. 2, 1869; Frank, born Dec. 2, 
1870, now deceased; and Chauncy,born Sept. 30, 
1878. Mr. Coldren is a trusted and valued 



1074 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



citizen, and is now (1884) on tlie town board of 
supervisors. 

Mrs. Sovina Vanderbilt, widow of John N. 
H. Vanderbilt, lives on section 7, town of Spring 
Grove. Mrs. Vanderbilt, is a daughter of the 
late Evan Young, of the town of Jefferson. She 
lives on the property of her late husband con- 
sisting originally of 200 acres, a part of the 
original purchase of Daniel Vanderbilt, made 
in 1845. They were married July 24, 1851, 
and lived two years after marriage at the home 
of Mrs.Vanderbilt's father; then lived in Spring 
Grove. Mr. Vanderbilt enlisted in the army 
Feb. 26, 1862, and died Dec. 4, 1864, in Ander- 
sonville prison. He was born July 30, 1828. 
Mrs. Vanderbilt was born Feb. 21, 1833. The 
homestead now contains seventy-five acres. 
There children are — Daniel W., born in Novem- 
ber 1852, now living in California; Eorie M., 
born in November, 1854, and lives in Cass Co., 
Md.; Nina, now the wife of William A. Reed, 
of Chippewa Co., Minn, born in December,1856; 
William S, at home, born May, 1859; Ettie M., 
born in February, 1862, now the wife of F. E. 
Cain, of Marathan Co., Wis., and Edith B., 
living with her mother, born July, 1864. 
Daniel Vanderbilt, father of John N. H., died 
May 17, 1878; the mother, Annie V., died in 
March, 1854. 

Samuel Brant, son of John A. Brant, lives on 
and owns a farm on section 34, town of Spring 
Grove. He was born in Wabash Co., Ind., 
July 5, 1845. His father moved to this town in 
September of that same year. He was reared 
a farmer and lived at home until he enlisted in 
the army in company E, 38th regiment, Wiscon- 
sin Volunteers, in August, 1864. He served 
until his discharge, June 2, 1865. After his 
return, he lived with and worked for his father 
until Oct. 2, 1869, when he was married to Mrs. 
Rachel Ostrander, widow of Thomas L. Os- 
trander, and daughter of the old pioneer,Archi- 
bald Davis. She had one child by her former 
marriage — Nellie R., born in 1861, who is now 
the wife of Henry Arnsmeir. Her first hus- 



band was a member of battery D, 1st Wisconsin 
Heavy Artillery, and died at New Orleans 
in September, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Brant have 
had five children — Albert, born Aug. 6, 1870, 
and died March 3, 1876; Virginia, born June 
27,1873; Katie, born Feb. 20, 1876; Glorania, 
born Dec. 24, 1878, and Scott, born April 7, 
1880. 

Isaac Brobst, Sr., was born April 2, 1808, in 
Berks Co., Penn. When a child, his father, 
John Brobst, moved to Union county, and there 
Isaac grew to manhood. His father died in 
1846. His motlier's death occurred in 1827. 
Of eleven children, only Isaac and a brother 
are now living. The brother lives near Akron, 
Ohio. The subject of this sketch, Isaac Brobst, 
was married ISov. 9, 1828, to Sarah Beaver, 
born in Union Co., Penn. Eleven children 
have been born to them — Daniel, born in 1829; 
Mary Ann, born 1831, deceased wife of A. 
Stayer; Amelia, born 1834, deceased wife of 
Jacob Hostetler; Elizabeth, born 1836, wife of 
Elijah Clark, Jo Daviess Co., 111.; Martin, born 
1838, resides at Stephenson Co., 111.; Peter, born 
1841 and died in 1859; Fanny, Iwrn 1843, and 
died 1860; John, born 1846, and died 1846; 
Harriet, born 1848, and died 1860; Isaac, Jr., 
born 1850, and William, born 1853. Isaac 
Brobst, Sr., reached the town of Rock Grove, 
111 , June 20, 1845, and settled in Spring Grove, 
Nov. 4, 1846, on the land he still owns and re- 
sides upon on section 33. Mr. Brobst was one 
of the earliest and one of the best of the set- 
tlers of this town. 

Daniel Brobst is one of the leading enter- 
prising men of Spring Grove. He lives on sec- 
tion 21, where he owns a model farm and fine 
buildings. This farm he has occupied since 
1859. He also owns the "Barker place," con- 
sisting of 240 acres on section 25. This he 
bought in 1881. Mr. Brobst was born in Union 
Co., Penn., July 27, 1829, and is a son of Isaac 
Brobst, Sr. He came west with his father's 
family in 1845, reaching Rock Grove, Stephen- 
son Co., 111., June 20; making the whole trip 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1075 



in emigrant wagons. There were seven chil- 
dren in the family. Daniel Brobst and Fred- 
erika Wagner were united in marriage Nov. 6, 
18.56. Mrs. Brobst is a daughter of Peter Wag- 
ner, of Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., 111. They 
commenced life where they now live. They 
have had born to them eight children — Frank, 
born Nov. 11, 18.57, and died Aug. 8, 1877; 
Ida, born May 3, 1859; Adilia, born Jan. 10, 
1861, and died Nov. 4, 1877; Alvin, born Jan. 
19, 1868; Kate, born Oct. 5, 1864; Scott, born 
July 5, 1867; Peter, born Sept. 7, 1870, and 
Roe, born Sept. 29, 1879. Mr. Brobst is a 
prominent citizen of his town, having served 
as assessor and treasurer. Mr. Brobst met with 
a sad misfortune in 1870. While out on a 
chicken hunt, in taking a gun from the wagon 
with the muzzle toward him, it was accidently 
discharged and the charge struck him near the 
wrist joint of his right arm. The wound made 
amputation of the arm between the elbow and 
the wrist necessary. 

Isaac Brobst, Jr., was born in this town in 
1850. He is a good specimen of the younger 
class of the citizens who are to be trusted with 
tlie fortunes of the town in the future. Mr. 
Brobst has already held several positions of 
trust and always creditably. He is now serving 
his third term as member of the side board 
of supervisors, and has served one term as 
town treasurer. He was married Oct. 2-', 
1871, to Sarah A, Wood ling, a daughter of 
Charles Woodling, an early settler of this 
town. She was born Aug. 3, 1852. After 
marriage they settled on a farm which he 
bought of Daniel Westen4iover. They resided 
here until 1876, when he sold and removed to 
his present home on section 15. He has a small 
creamery for his own use, titted to be run by "dog 
power." Mr. and Mrs. Brobst have no chil- 
dren of their own, but have one adopted daugh- 
ter, Sarah Ann, a child of Mrs. Brobst' brother, 
Oliver L. Woodling. Mrs. Woodling died June 
16, 1877, which was one month after the birth 



of the daughter, who was then adopted by Mr. 
and Mrs. Brobst. 

Isaac W. Young was born in Knox Co., Ohio, 
Sept. 14, 1840. His father, Evin G. Young, 
brought his family to Green county in the 
autumn of 1846, and settled in the town of 
Jefferson, about two miles south of the village 
of Juda. There was a family of fourteen chil- 
dren, five sons and nine daughters — William, 
Samuel, Isaac W., Zenas and Joseph L. 
were born in Knox Co., Ohio. William, born 
Feb. 27, 1835; Samuel, Aug. 19, 1838; Zenas, 
-Feb. 2, 1845; and Joseph L., April 18, 1846. 
William and Zenas are now deceased. Nancy 
married Joseph Melick, Feb. 23, 1842; Eliza- 
beth married Andrew Riley, Jan. 4, 1847; 
Savenia, married John Vanderbilt, July 24, 
1851, now a widow, he having died a prisoner 
in Andersonville during the Rebellion; Martha, 
A., married William Riley, Feb. 16, 1862; 
Mary J., married Clarence Bryan, March 12, 
1865; Alice J., married Henry G. Townsend, 
May 18, 1866; Catharine, Rowena, Levina A., 
and Martha A., are now deceased. Joseph 
L. enlisted in 1863, in company G., 1st 
Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, serving until 
the end of the war. He subsequently married 
Eunice Straw, a daughter of Malachi 
Stiaw, Nov. 29, 1869, and is now living near 
Greenwood, Cass Co., Neb. Isaac W., the sub- 
ject of the sketch, lives in this town on 
section 15, which was a part of the Charles 
Woodling place. His father, Evin Y'oung, 
died at Juda, in December, 1880. His mother's 
death occurred less than one month later. He 
enlisted Oct. 23, 1861, in company B, 18th Wis- 
consin Volunteers. He was transferred to the 
Veteran Reserve Corps in 1864. After his dis- 
charge from the army he was married to Eliza 
AVoodling, daughter of Charles Woodling, May 
31, 1868. The year following he worked his 
father's farm in Jefferson, and then moved to 
his present location. They have four children — 
Willie W., born March 31, 1869; Orletta J., 



1076 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



born March 29, ISVl; Anna M„ born Aug. 22, 
18'72; and Clyde E., born Marca 28, 1878. 

Samuel Young married Miss M. T. Hender- 
son, a daughter of William Henderson, Jan, 3, 
1860, and enlisted Aug. 14, 1861, in company K, 
22d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and served until the close of the war, then went 
into the railroad service at Monroe, Wis. After 
the lapse of five and a half years, he was ap- 
j)ointed station agent for the Chicago & St. Paul 
Railroad Company, at Juda. His father, Evin G. 
Young, died at Juda, Dec. 12, 1880, at the age 
of eighty-one years. His mother, Barbara A., 
died Jan. 6, 1881, at the age of seventy-five 
years. Subsequently he bought the old farm in 
the town Jefferson and is the present owner, 
but still continues in the service of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paiil Railroad Company at 
Juda, as station agent. They have four chil- 
dren—Grace E., born June 18, 1862; Esther A., 
born June 3, 1866; William S., born June 2, 
1870; and Frederick F., born May 21, 1878. 

Reuben Babcock lives on section 25, where 
he has a comfortable home, and a farm of eighty 
acres. He was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., 
Oct. 4, 1802, and was brought up on a farm. He 
was married Dec. 2, 1824, to Louisa Palmer, 
who was born Nov. 29, 1807. Sixty years of 
married life finds them in quite vigorous health, 
able to do much work, and superintend the farm. 
Mrs. Babcock has a bi'other living in Oregon, 
Hiram Palmer. Mr. Babcock has a married 
sister living in Ripley Co., Ind., (Nancy, wife 
of Henry Rysinger). Mr. and Mrs. Babcock 
left New York with their family, and settled in 
Ripley Co., Ind. At that time they had five 
children — Lemuel, now living in Minnesota; 
Joseph, now a resident of Jefferson Co., Iowa; 
Elvira, now the wife of Jacob Green; Laviria, 
wife of G. Putnam, of Osage, Iowa, and George, 
now living in this county. Four children- were 
born in Indiana — Harriet, deceased; Samuel, 
who lives in Oberlin, Kansas, and was a mem- 
ber of company I, 46tli Wisconsin Volunteers; 
Hiram, deceased; and Nancy, who was married 



to Rev. H. W. Decker, a Seventh-day Adveutist 
preacher. Mr. Babcock has been a farmer all 
his life. He came to this State in 1847. Since 
coming to Wisconsin, two more children have 
been born to them — Mattie, who was married 
to William Kerr, of Monroe;, and Eunice, the 
youngest, died when two years old. 

DeWitt C. Allen, son of E. R. Allen, was 
born near Terre Haute, Ind., Dec. 14,1843. When 
he was quite young his father settled in this 
town. The latter has been a prominent citizen, 
many years a justice, has also served as sheriff 
and chairman of the county board of supervis- 
ors, and resides on section 26. DeWitt C. is the 
eldest of a family of eight children of whom, 
beside himself, six are now living — Percy 
Ann, wife of G. W. Morton, of Canton, 
Dak.; Alice M., wife of R. A. Slocum; Theo- 
dore F., Amy Jane, wife of John Stahlnecker; 
Abraham L. and Charles H. DeWitt C. enlist- 
ed in company D, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry in 
September, 1863, and served faithfully to the 
end oi the war, always able and willing for duty. 
He has since the war been a resident of this 
town, and Sept. 21, 1873, was married to Catha- 
rine, a daughter of William Kline, and grand- 
daughter of the old pioneer, Isaac Kline. Tliey 
have three children — William E. R., born Dec. 
], 1875; Eliza Ann, born Oct. 8, 1878; and Nora 
May, born Jan 20, 1880. Mr. Allen now (1884) 
lives on section 36, town of Spring Grove. 

Tliodore J. Derrick, son of Franklin II. Der- 
rick, and grandson of the old pioneer, was born 
in the town of Spring Grove, Feb 25,1848. 
Mr. Derrick is one of the enterprising men 
among the younger class native to this county. 
Excepting an occasit)naI absence of a few 
months, he has always bcLMi in this town at 
the home of his father, on a part of the origi- 
nal i)iirchase of 1,200 acres made by his grand- 
father in 1836. He now operates the farm of 
his father on section 3, in company with his 
brother Levi, who was born July 25, 1855, and 
is not married. 'I'heodore was married to Mrs. 
Ellen Purdy, June 5, 1873. Mrs. Derrick is a 



i 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1077 



daughter of Henry Jones, of Brodhead, They 
have one child by this marriage — Jessie May, 
born May 4, 1874. 

Capt. Henderson B"'armer was born in Pulaski 
Co., Ind., Aug. 8, 1842. His father, Andrew 
Farmer, in 1846 brought the family west and 
settled in Laone, Winnebago Co., 111., where he 
bought 160 acres of government land, and lived 
there three years, then sold out and came to 
tins town, locating on section 26, and there 
lived until 1854, and then bought and removed 
to forty acres on section 22. That land is now 
occupied by his son and widow. Andrew Far- 
mer was born in Franklin Co., Va., Dec. 1.5, 
1807. His wife, Mary (Armstrong) Farmer, was 
born Nov. 26, 1808, in Franklin Co., Va. They 
• were married July 17, 1830, and have liad six 
chilliren — Edna, born in 1831, who was married 
to John Martin and after his death to Freder- 
ick Page, now living in Washington Territory; 
Elizabeth, born in 1834, wife of William Hook- 
er, now living in Shelby Co., Iowa; Sarah Jane, 
born in 1835, wife of Jefferson Palmer of Mon- 
roe; James T.,born in September,! 837, and died 
in November, 1846; Franklin G., born in Octo- 
ber, 1839, enlisted in company G, 42d Illinois 
Volunteers, and died at Keokuk hospital in Au- 
gust, 1862; and Henderson, born in 1842. Soon 
after marriage the parents moved to Crawford 
Co., Ohio, where they lived seven years, and 
in 1838 moved to Pulaski Co., Ind., and in 1846, 
to Winnebago Co., 111. Andrew Farmer died 
Oct. 31, 1881. Capt. Henderson Farmer, the 
subject of this sketcli, enlisted Feb. 14, 1862, 
in company B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers. He 
was in tiie battle front at Pittsburg Landing, in 
which the regiment was badly used, suffering 
from killed, wounded and prisoners taken, a 
fearful loss. Mr. Farmer was 2d sergeant when 
the company we!it to the front, a year later was 
orderly sergeant and returned as captain of the 
company, a sure and sul)stantial testimonial of 
his worth and services as a soldier. He was 
married to his present wife, Nancy E. Norman, 
of Jefferson Co., III., May 25, 1870. His aged 



mother resides with him in the home where his 
father died. 

Peter L. Dedrick lives on the homestead pur- 
chased by his father, Nicholas Dedrick, in 1849. 
Nicholas Dedrick came from Ashford, Cattarau- 
gus Co., N. Y., with his wife and four children 
—Nicholas, Jr., John, Daniel and Peter L. An 
older son, George, preceeded his parents in com- 
ing here. He came to this town in 1842. He 
died in 1850, leaving a wife and two children. 
His widow afterwards married Nicholas Ded- 
rick, Jr., and they now live in Eau Claire Co., 
Wis. A married daughter, Nancy, and her hus- 
band, Hiram Frank, came to this county in 1848. 
Mrs. Frank died in Pepin county in 1881. Mr. 
Frank now lives in Spring Grove. The oldest 
son, James H., came here in 1850. He now lives 
in Taylor Co., Wis. John lives in Butler Co., 
Neb., and Daniel in Spring Grove. Nicholas 
Dedrick, Sr., died Feb. 10, 1865, aged seventy 
years. His wife, Nancy Dedrick, died May 5, 
1881, aged seventy-eight years, Peter L. Ded- 
rick was married Sept. 30, 1869, to Sarah L. 
Eldred, daughter of Stephen and Roxanna 
Eldred, who live in the town of Albany, in this 
county. Four children have been born to them 
— Leonard M., born Sept. 3, 1871; LeonaL., born 
Dec. 12, 1873; Elmer P., born Aug. 23, 1877, 
and Frank H., born Sept., 9, 1882. Mr. Dedrick 
is one of the enterprising and public spirited 
citizens of Spring Grove, always ready to give 
a hearty support to any enterprise for the pub- 
lic good. He was born in the State of New 
York. 

Clark Williams, son of Seth C Williams was 
born June 1, 1845, at Freeport, 111. His father 
was born in Cattaraugus Co.,N. Y., Jan. 26,1806. 
His mother, Tharza (Lyon) Williams was born 
June 23, 1804. They were married Feb. 7, 1827. 
They came west and settled in Freeport, 111., in 
1840, farmijig there until 1849. They removed 
to this town and settled on section 29, buying 
100 acres of land. They had born to them 
eight children — John N., living in Douglas Co., 
Neb.; Lysanus W., lives in Berkley, Cal., Marilla, 



107« 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



I 



died in 1851; Maypelyt M,, wife of David Brad- 
ley, of Rock Grove, III.; Chester, etilisted in Co., 
13, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and died iii the 
service; Clark, who lives on the homestead; and 
Lusetta H., wife of Peter Mellis, Douglas Co., 
Neb. Milton died in 1851. 

Seth C. Williams died July 20, 1 883. Tharza, 
his wife, died Oct. 2, 18'79. Clark Williams 
lived with his parents until his death, with the 
exception of the time he was in the army. He 
enlisted Oct. 2, 1863, in company D, 1st Wiscon- 
sin Heavy Artillery. The batteries was ordered 
to Louisana in February, 1864, and he served in 
thut department until the close of the war. He 
was mustered out at Alexandria, Va., Aug. 18, 
1865. Returning to his home, he was married 
Nov. 14, 1867, to Abbie Blaisdell, daughter of 
Juhn Blaisdell, of Wayne, Lafayette Co., Wis. 
Six children have been born to them — John W., 
born Sejitember, 1869, and died October, 18V0; 
Laura M., born Nov. 1, 1870; Elmer J., born 
January, 1878; George W., born November, 
1874; Artie, born February, 1878; and Julia L., 
born August, 1880. Mr. Williams is a member 
of W. W. Patton, G. A. R., post No. 90. 

Thomas Shaff owns and occupies 120 acres of 
land on the northeast quarter of section 10, 
town of Spring Grove, also ninety-six acres on 
section IJ. His residence stands on the lino be- 
tween the two sections, and he has a fine well im- 
proved farm. Mr. Shaff was born in Wayne coun- 
ty, town of Williamson, N. Y., March 13, 1818. 
When he was seven years old his parents moved 
to Oswego Co., N. Y., where Thomas lived until 
he came to this county in 1850. Mr. Shaff was 
married in January, 1842, to Eveline Lake. She 
died in August, 1846, leaving two children — 
William H., now living in Turner Co., Dak., 
and Lydia Ann, now the wife of Larson Olds, 
and living in Avon, Rock Co., Wis. Mr. Shaft" 
was again married, Aug. 15, 1847, to Mrs. Mary 
J. Sidman, a native of Syracuse, N. Y ])y this 
marriage two children have been born — Mar- 
garet A., born Aug. 30, 1850, wife of Leonard 
Beeuiaii, cf Tunu'r Co., Dak., and Albertus L., 



born in January, 1859, who lives with his par- 
ents. Mr. Shaff is among the highly esteemed 
citizens of the town of Spring Grove. 

Josiah Straw was born in Wyandotte Co., 
Ohio, Oct. 15, 1828. He was brought up on a 
farm. In 1849 he came with his father, Israel 
Straw, and the family to Wisconsin. Of the 
five children Josiah was the eldest. The father 
lived in Rock Co., Wis., one year, and then set. 
tied in Spring Grove, on section 36. This was 
in 1850, and the children besides the subject of 
this sketch, were — Eliza, now wife of Jehu 
Thorp, of Decatur Co., Kansas; Daniel, now 
a resident of Brodhead ; Jessie, who lives 
in Spring Grove ; Elmira, who was the wife 
of James Hooker, and died Jan. 10, 1861. 
Josephus Straw, a brother, came three years 
later, with a family, remained a few years, and 
removed to Chickasaw Co., Iowa. The father, 
Israel Straw, died on the homestead, Feb. 15, 
1879. His wife died before him, Jan. 22, 1869. 
Josiah Straw lives on, and owns the old place. 
He was unmarried until Feb. 16, 1884, when he 
abandoned a life of single blessedness, and was 
married to Mrs. Sarah Clawson, widow of Isaac 
Clawson. Her former husband died July 17,1882, 
leaving no children. The father of Mrs. Straw, 
David S])ringsted, died when she was quite 
young. Her mother lives with her sister Dolly, 
(Mrs. John Gardiner, of Decatur). The other sis- 
ters are — Bashie, wife of Charles Lucas, of Brod- 
head; Esther, wife of H. T. Johns, and Geor- 
gie, wife of S. C. Stiles, of Iroquois Co., III. 
The place owned by Mr. Straw was known to 
old settlers as the "William Farmer's" farm. 
Previous to his marriage Mr. Straw lived most 
of the time with his tenants. A nephew, son 
of his sister, Elmira, and James Hooker, was 
adopted by him, with whom Mr. Straw has lived 
a share of the time. 

Powel Karney resides upon section 23, where 
he owns a farm of 186 acres and thirty acres of 
timber, with first-class improvements. Mr. 
Karney's permanent settlement here dates from 
1852. but he has been a resident of the State of 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1079 



Wisconsin since 1844, coming in that year from 
Ohio to Milwaukee. He was born in Massachu- 
setts and when very young removed with his 
parents to Ohio. In his youth he learned the 
trade of joiner, which occupation he followed 
for three years after coming to Milwaukee. In 
1847 he went to Janesville, working there and 
in Johnstown, Geneva, Bradford and other 
points. In 1848 he boug^it eiglity acres of un- 
improved land and several village lots in 
Avon, Rock county. In the fall of that year 
he came to Green county, and spent the winter 
in teaching school in district No. 1, of Spring 
Grove, in what was then called the Kline neigh- 
borhood. Three schools were then in progress 
in town. In the spring of 1849 he went to Wal- 
worth county and worked at his trade one year, 
employed most of the time upon a grist mill, 
near Allen's Grove. The next year he worked 
in Avon, and later, returned to this town. The 
following winter he taught school in the Clem- 
aiis neighborhood. In the spring of 1851 he se- 
cured woi:k at Wiota and afterwards at Darling- 
ton. The next winter he again taught the 
Clemans school. During the summer following 
he built a house for P. Atwood, and the same 
season purchased forty acres of land, a part of 
liis present farm. He was married Nov. 11, 
1852, to Abigail L. Martin, daughter of Isaac 
Martin, and eight children have been born to 
them — Marion L., born in November, 1853; 
Isaac M., born in May, 1856; Eva L., born in 
December, 1858; Willard M., born in May, 
1863; Emma E., born in February, 1867; Mel- 
zar E., born in August, 1869; Jennie O., born in 
April, 1873; and Elmer J., born in April, 1876. 
The last named died Sept. 1, 1881, in Dakota, 
while there on a visit. Mr. Karney has always 
been prominent in the public affairs of this 
town, and has held the offices of supervisor, 
town clerk, assessor and treasurer. 

Pervine Atwood is the largest land owner in 
the town of Spring Grove. He was l)orn in 
i the State of Indiana, Sept. 27, 1822. His father, 
Arillious Atwood, removed his family in 1828 



to Edgar Co., 111., settling in the squatter vil- 
lage of Paris, now the county seat of that 
cviunty. Again, in 1843, he removed to White 
Co., 111., where he died in 1849. His wife died 
later in Clay Co., Kansas. One son, brother of 
P. Atwood, now lives in Walla Walla, Wash- 
ington Territory. The subject of this sketch in 
the spring of 1 845 went to Oregon and re- 
mained until the spring of 1847. He then went 
to California and lived there until the fall of 
1850; then he returned east, and settled in 
Spring Grove, buying 240 acres of land, 160 of 
it on section 14, where he improved a farm. In 
July, 1852, Mr. Atwood was married to Martha 
Jane Oneall, daughter of Robert Oneall. To 
them were born twelve children, of whom four 
daughters and three sons are now living — James 
P., Robert E., Freddie O., Mary Viola, Emma 
Rhoda, Sarah Rebecca and Jessie Belle. Mrs. 
Atwood died Nov. 22, 1882, aged fifty years. 
Mr, Atwood, during his first twelve years of 
residence here, bought at different times of dif- 
ferent persons adjoining lands, until at one 
time he owned 1,300 acres. He has at this time 
(1884) a farm of 800 acres, all under fence. 
From 1866 to 1876 he rented his lands and 
lived in Brodhead. He is one of the public 
spirited citizens of the town, and second to no 
one in pushing enterprises advantageous to the 
public good. 

Isaac E. Martin was born in the town of 
Green, Ashland Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1836. When 
he was fifteen years old his parents came to the 
town of Spring Grove, this county. His 
father was Hugh Martin, and he settled on sec- 
tion 26, After the death of his father Isaac E. 
lived at the home with his mother until his 
marriage with Delia Ann Woodling, a daughter 
of the early settler, John H. Woodling, Sept. 5, 
1861. For some years following this marriage 
the young couple lived on rented lands, and un- 
til about one year before the close of the war, 
when Mr. Martin enlisied in company I, 46th 
Wisconsin Volunteers, and served until the 
regiment was mustered out. The following 



1080 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1 



winter he removed to a place of his own on 
section 36, To Mr. and Mrs. Martin were bom 
three children — Wealtha F., born Aug 5, ]8()2; 
Adelia M., born Feb. 25, 1865; Cyrus E., born 
Dec. 1, 1867, and died Nov. 18, 1870. The 
father, Isaac E. Martin, died Aug. 19, 1870. 
Mrs. Martin was again married, this time to 
George H. Slocum, June 18, 1874. Mr. Slocura 
had been a resident from an early age of Win- 
nebago Co., 111., his father being a pioneer of 
that county. His residence in this county dates 
from the time of his marriage. Three children 
have been born to them, of whom two are liv- 
ing — Emery E , born April 8,1875; Irviii R., 
born Sept. 12, 1876, and died Feb. 27, 1883; 
Martie M., born Oct. 31, 1879. The residence 
of Mr. and Mrs. Slocum is on the State line, on 
section 36. 

Lewis Hooker was born in Knox Co., Ohio, 
April 11, 1831. When he was a lad his father 
removed to Wyandotte county, of the same 
State, where he died in 1844. When Lewis 
was twenty years old, in 1851, with his mother 
and two younger brothers, George and James, 
he came to Spring Grove. Two sisters and a 
brother had come two years earlier. The sis- 
ters were: Mary, wife of John Farmer, and 
Elizabeth, Avife of Malachi Straw. Mary died 
in 1864. Elizabeth and her husband live in 
Page Co., Iowa. William, who came with the 
two sisters, settled on section 36, and after- 
wards went to Brodhead, and now lives in 
Shelby Co., Iowa. George lives in Davison 
Co., Dak., and James lives in Durand, 111. The 
mother bought the farm afterwards owned by 
John D. Horton, and now owned by Uriah 
Hartman. She died in this town. Lewis 
Hooker, the subject of this sketch, was married 
Dec. 18, 1858, to Sarah E. Horton. Catharine 
Horton, a sister of Mrs. Hooker, has her home 
with them. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker lived on llui 
farm of John D. Horton for five years alter 
their marriage, and later on a part of the 
Charles Woodling place, working one-half of 
tlie farm for three years. He had bought lOU 



acres on section 15, and after building a house 
upon the purchase, moved into the same, which 
has since been his residence, the date of re- 
moval being Dec. 20, 1866. They have' had 
four children, all of whom have been spared to 
them, and are at this time (1884) living at home 
— Josephine, born Sept. 24, 1859; Joel A., born 
Feb. 23, 1861; Dexter E, born Nov. 6, 1866; 
Calista S., born June 9, 1876. Mr. Hooker has 
a good farm and comfortable buildings. 

J. J. Newman is one of the largest farmers 
in Green county. He lives upon section 6, 
town of Spring Grove, where he owns 460 
acres. He also owns seventy acres on 
section 7, 100 acres on section 12, and fifty- 
eight acres on section 1, in the town of 
Jefferson, also fractional additions to the 
northeast quarter of said section, south of 
the railroad, making altogether a farm of nearly 
800 acres of contiguous lands, well adapted to 
general farming. His residence and farm build- 
ings are substantial and commodious, and were 
erected at a cost of about IS, 000. His barn is 
70x100 feet, with twenty-four foot posts, mak- 
ing sufficient room for sheltering 120 head of 
cattle and 100 hogs, and above has storage for 
from 7,000 to 8,000 bushels of grain, and 800 
tons of hay. Mr. Newman was born in Fay- 
ette Co., Penn., Nov. 2, 1827. In 1848 his 
father, William Newman, came with his family 
to Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis. The following 
year he (William Newman) removed to the 
"Rittenhouse farm," in the town of Jefferson, 
Green county, and lived there two years, then 
moved upon the "Wash. Alexander farm," in 
Spring Grove, until he could build a house upon 
land which he had i)urchased on section 6, 
where he settled in 1852. Mr. Newman was 
iirst married in Pennsylvania, and his wife dic-d 
there in 1846. A short time before coming 
west, he was again married to Vashti Debolt, 
widow of Andrew Debolt. He had in his 
family at this time, seven children and a step- 
daughter — Anna E. Debolt. Ephraim, the tliird 
son and fourth child, died at Nicholasville, Ky , 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



t081 



while in the service during the late war. He 
was a lieutenant in company K, of the 22d 
Wisconsin regiment; Hannah was married to 
John Batty, and died Sept. 20, 1873; Samuel 
died at Mount Pleasant, March 17, 1876; Eliza- 
beth is married to Jacob Roderick; Nancy lives 
in Decatur; William lives in Jefferson, and 
Anna Debolt is the wife of O. B. Post. After 
coming to Wisconsin, Mr. and Mrs. Newman 
had four children born — Isaac J., born in 1849, 
and died at the age of twenty-two months; 
Louisa, born in 1851, is now the wife of Scott 
Dorsy, of Nebraska; Josephine, born in 1853, 
also lives in Nebraska, and is the wife of Clin- 
ton Condon; Alice, born in 1856, is the wife of 
Daniel Dunwiddie. William Newman died in 
April, 1863, and his wife died Nov. 7, 1874. 
Jefferson J. Newman was married Jan. 27, 1853, 
to Lydia, daughter of Jehu Chadwick, of Jef- 
ferson. They first settled in Jefferson, where 
he bought 200 acres of land on sections 14 and 
23, upon which they lived eleven years, then 
removed to their present residence. They have 
had eleven children born to them — James M., 
born in January, 1854; Mary, born in October, 
1855; (4ilbert, born in September, 1857; Ira, 
born in May, 1860; William, born in August, 
1862; John, born in September, 1864, and died 
Oct. 17, 1865; Elizabeth, born in March, 1867; 
Frank, born in September, 1869; Parker, born 
in March, 1872; Thornton, born in January, 
1876, and Ross, born in June, 1878. The last 
named died Feb. 9, 1879. All of the children 
living, except James M., who is at Cheyenne, 
Wy. Ter., are residing with their parents. 

Austin C. Chapel lives on section 22. He 
settled here in 1854. He was born in Richland 
Co., Ohio, Sept, 16, 1830, and came to this town 
in October, 1853. One year later his brother, 
James H. Chapel, and his mother, came. Four 
brothers and two sisters also came at the same 
time with James H. Their names are — Eben- 
ezer R., who died in Ohio, Oct 3, 1873; Ransom 
A., who died from a wound received at the 
battle of Shiioh, Sept. 30, 1862; Thomas R. , 



died July 28, 1856; Reuben H , residing in 
Mount Auburn, Iowa. He served from Sept. 
7, 1861, to Dec. 2i5, 1865, in the 13th Wisconsin 
Volunteers; Harriet, wife J. R. Coulter, came 
in 1852; LuceliaR., wife of Jacob Hass; Agatha, 
wife of Robert Pomeroy, living in Dixon Co., 
Neb. One sister came with her husband, John 
A. Emminger, in 1855. She died December 13, 
of the same year. Another sister, Martha, wife 
of Simon P. Armstong, lives in Dickinson Co., 
Kansas. The father of this family, John 
Cliapel, died in Ohio, Aug. 23, 1844. The 
mother, Martha Cliapel, lives with her son, 
Austin C. She was born June 1, 1800, and is 
vigorous, healthy, of strong mind and appar- 
ently unclouded intellect. She reads without 
glasses, and walks as elastic as a maiden, and 
enjoys life with the restof them. She was born 
at Montpolier, Vt. and came west to Ohio with 
her parents, wlien eighteen years of age. Austin 
C. Chapel, after coming in the fall of 1853, worked 
at farm work and wood chopping and any em- 
pioyment which offered in a new country. He 
commenced making a farni which he now re- 
sides upon late in 1854. He enlisted Sept. 7, 1861, 
in the 13ih Wisconsin Volunteers and served 
three years and was discharged Nov. 19, 1864. 
After his discharge he came to Spring Grove, 
and June 22, 1867, was wedded to Madeline 
King, daughter of John and Rhoda King, of 
White Co., III. Mrs. Chapel was born March 
25, 1849. Tliey have had seven children — Delia, 
born Dec. 28, 1867, died Nov. 3, 1881; Daisy, 
born Sept. 23, 1869; Dora, born Nov. 24, 1871; 
Cyrus, born May 11, 1873, died Sept. 3, 1873; 
Clark, born Feb. 3, 1875, died May 14, 1876; 
Eunice, born March 26, 1877; Azella, born June 
21,1880. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. 
Chapel has been spent on his present farm. 

George W. Zimmerman was born in Colum- 
bia, Penn., Feb. 25, 1828. He was reared a 
farmer, but after becoming of age learned the 
blacksmith's trade, serving two and one half 
years apprenticeship. He followed that trade 
until 1863 or ten years after he commenced. 



64 



1082 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



He first came west in 1853, locating in Steph- 
enson Co., 111., where he worked at his trade a 
year and a half. In 1855 he came to the town 
of Spring Grove and bought 100 acres of land 
on section 33, where he built a house and shop. 
This property he sold in 1862. The following 
winter he visited his old home in the east, re- 
turning in the spring of 1863, and the autumn 
of that year moved to his present residence on 
section 28. This farm he had purchased the 
year previous (1862). He has in the farm 155 
acres on section 28, twenty acres on section 21, 
and sixty acres on section 20. He was married 
to Elizabeth Keller, in Pennsylvania, March 
13, 1850. They have had eleven children born 
to tl«em — William, born in January, 18 52, and 
died in September, 1853; Isaac, born in August, 
1863, who now lives in Oakley; Lloyd, born in 
February, 1856, and died in July, 1859; Sarah 
Ann, born in March, 1859, and died in ,hi\y of 
the same year; Owen, born in May, 1860, who 
was married to Melinda Walter; Franklin, born 
in February, 1863; Clinton, born in August, 1865; 
Jacob, born in March, 1868; Ida, born in August, 
1870, and died in March, 1877; Elmer, born in 
April, 1873, and Katie, born in April, 1879. Mr. 
Zimmerman is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth 
Zimmerman. When George W. Zimmerman 
returned from the east, father Keller and fami- 
ly returned with him. There were eiglit 
children — Lucy (deceased), Sarah, Franklin, 
Jacob, Phebe, Caroline, Rebecca and Fanny. 
Frank was killed in the army; Fanny was 
married to Charles Mitchell; Caroline was 
married to J. P. Kildow; Rebecca was married 
to Isaac Clemans; Phebe was married to A. 
Spaulding, and Sarah was married to John 
Reahezen. Mr. Keller died in 1878. 

Mrs. Rebecca Klumb, wife of Jacob Klumb, 
lives on the northwest quarter of section 3, 
town of Spring Grove. She was born in 
Os'wego Co., N. Y., in 1829, and is a daughter 
of Thomas Shaff. Her father moved with his 
family to Milwaukee in 1835. He was acciden- 
tally drowned the next year. Her mother in 



1838 was married to John Douglass. They 
came to this county in 1853, settling in Deca- 
tur. Mr. Douglass now lives in Brodhead; his 
wife died in 1880. The subject of this sketch 
was married, March 31, 1846, to Jacob Klumb, 
and they came to Spring Grove moving on to 
the place now occupied by Mrs. Klumb. The 
following winter they moved on to a farm in 
Decatur, since occupied by Isaac Newman, 
which Mr. Klumb bought and three years later 
sold to Mr, Newman, then buying the place 
where his wife now lives, from Allen Woodle, 
consisting of 146 acres. Six children were born 
to them, all of whom are living — Almira, born 
in 1847, wife of Aug. Short; Thomas C, born 
in 1849; Jacob J. A., born in 1850; Alfred A., 
born in 185;:i;Elizabeth, born in 1857, and Ellen, 
born in 1858. Thomas C, was married to Ellen 
Hileman, daughter of Elijah Hileman, formerly 
of Decatur. They live in Hamilton Co., Neb, 
and have three children — Claude, Carl and 
Earl. Jacob J. married Ida Boslaw and is now 
in Hamilton Co., Neb. They have four sons — 
Franklin R., Harry, Guy and Jesse. Alfred 
married Henrietta Sawyer, daughter of John 
B. Sawyer, of Brodhead. They live in Aurora, 
county seat of Hamilton Co., Neb. Ellen also 
lives in that county, and is the wife of W. C. 
Bailey. They have one child — Adith Blanche, 
born July 8, 1882. Jacob Klumb went to 
California in May, 1858. After reaching there he 
kept up correspondence with regularity until 
1872. He was during these years striving to 
win a fortune and when prospects were bright 
would fix a probable time for a return to his 
family, but fortune the"fleeting Goddess" while 
often in sight was never to be embraced. The 
latter year (1872) he wrote his wife that he 
was about to change his location, and was 
uncertain where he should go, and requested her 
not to write until she heard from him. Years 
rolled by, and no tidings were received. To be 
satisfied as to whether he was living or dead, 

Mrs. Klumb's son-in-law, R. J, Ilolcomb, in 
1883 visited California and found Mr. Klunab 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1083 



still in pursuit of the "fickle goddess." Mrs. 
Klumb is again in communication with her 
husband and hopes for his eventual return. 
Randolph J. Holcomb is a New England man 
by birth, having been born in Green Co., Conn., 
in 1850. His father was Alfred Holcomb. At 
the age of nine years, Randolph was left 
motherless. His mother died in Hartford, Conn. 
His father afterwards came to Brod- 
head, and returning east, died in 1861, at Rock- 
ville, Conn, Another son lives in this State at 
Beloit. Randolph J. was married to Elizabeth 
Klumb, June 18, 1874. They have three chil- 
dren — Clara L., born June 3, 1877; Lura M., 
M born Sept. 16, 1879, and Clayton, born June 23, 
1881. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb live on the old 
homestead with the mother of Mr.s. Holcomb, 
on section 3. 

Samuel L. Boyles was born in Kalamazoo 
Co., Mich., Sept. 27, 1834. His father, Samuel 
Boyles, was a farmer and to this avocation 
Samuel L., was reared, with the advantages of 
a common school education . His father and 
mother, Rebecca Boyles, are living in Richland, 
Kalamazoo Co., Mich., where they have resided 
since 1829. They were formerly from Chester 
Co., Penn. Samuel Boyles was called out 
twice in the militia during the excitement in 
Michigan attending the Black Hawk War, The 
subject of this sketch, Samuel L. Boyles, came 
to this county a single man, in January, 1854. 
He was married Feb. 25, 1855, to Nancy J. 
Benjamin, a daughter of Ira Benjamin. She was 
born in Herkimer Co., N. Y,, Oct. 30, 1837, 
and came to this State in 1842, There have 
been born to them six children — Samuel I., 
born in November, 1856; Lydia R., born 
in March, 1858, and died in infancy; Jennie J. 
born in March, 1859, wife of Franklin Brant; 
Duane D., born in July, 1862; Benjamin L., 
born in January, 1866, and Era A., born in 
March, 1873. Mr. Boyles was bereaved by the 
death of his wife, Aug. 15, 1881. There mar- 
ried life was spent under a roof upon the same 
s|)ot of ground where they commenced house*' 



keeping four days after marriage, and where 
Mr. Boyles now lives on section 9. His farm 
contains 300 acres on sections 9 and 16. During 
the war when heavy taxes were levied, Mr.Boyles 
served two years as town treasurer. He has 
also served two terms as assessor, and has 
always been identified with the best men of 
his town in promoting the public good. 

James H. Chapel was born in Richland Co., 
Ohio, Dec. 31, 1832, and was a son of John 
Chapel, a farmer. James H. was brought up 
on a farm, but at the age of eighteen years, ap- 
prenticed himself, for a term of three years, to 
the trade of wagon making, his wages consisting 
of his board and clothing. He served his time 
and then worked one year at the trade. In 1854 
he came to this county, locating in the town of 
Spring Grove and working for P. Atwood for two 
years on a farm, meanwhile buying seventy 
acres of land known as the Kramer place. He 
was married Dec. 28, 1856, to Mary E. Martin, 
daughter of Isaac and Nancy Martin, who, with 
three daughters — Margaret, Lavina and Mary, 
and a married son, Isaac N., an<l his wife with 
tliree children, settled in Spring Grove in 1850. 
They came from the town of Greene, Ashland 
Co., Ohio. .Mr. Martin bought 160 acres of land 
on section 23. Two married daughters were 
left in Ohio — Nancy, wife of John Menoe, now 
living in Avon, Rock Co., Wis., and Martha, 
wife of James M. Cobert, now living in Brod- 
head; and one son, Thomas, who lives in Hayes- 
ville, Ohio. Of the three unmarried daughters 
Margaret married John Q. Fitzgerald, and they 
live in Canton, Dak.; Lavina married Powel 
Karney, and they live on the old homestead of 
the father; Mary married James H. Chapel, of 
this town, as before stated. Mr. Martin was 
connected with the Presbyterian Church about 
forty years of his life, and was an elder for 
thirty years. 'I'he first Sunday after reaching 
this town ho organized a Sabbath school, and 
from that time to the end of his life, was a su- 
perintendent of a Sabbath school in this 
town. He was map of many sterling quali- 



1084 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ties, of strict integrity and honor. He died 
Feb. 4, 1862. His wife died Nov. 28, 1864. 
In 1857, the year following his marriage, the 
subject of tliis sketch, James H. Chapel, com- 
menced life on his own farm. After living 
there one year, with his wife and his brother, 
R. H. Chapel, he left for the west to seek a for- 
tune, 'i hey started with a team and covered 
wagon, traveling west until late in August. 
They reached the Missouri river at Booneville, 
Mo., where they remained until the following 
spring, cutting and barking wood on a contract. 
April 4, 1859, one year to a day from the time 
of leaving his Wisconsin home, having ex- 
changed his horses for oxen, they left the Mis- 
souri river, and " Westward Ho ! bound for 
Pike's Peak," was the cry. With varied ad- 
venture they reached the present site of the 
city of Denver, during the last days of June 
While there, a few days later, Mr. Chapel as- 
sisted in raising the first house of any kind ever 
built in that city. It was constructed of Cot- 
tonwood logs. July 4, Mr. Chapel and his 
brother joined fortunes with seven others, and 
started prospecting for gold in the inountaius. 
They made a claim about fort5^-five miles from 
Denver. The day they reached the mountains 
it snowed furiously, and the party suffered se- 
verely with the cold. Not many days afterward 
Mr. Chapel returned to Denver for provisions. 
He made these trips several times, and at one 
time upon his return loaded with fifty pounds 
of flour, and climbing the mountain path just 
wide enough for an Indian pony to walk, he 
met a large party of Arapahoes, who were re- 
turning from the war path with scalps of their 
enemies, the Utes, war paint and war trappings, 
which gave them a wicked appearance, and 
Mr. Chapel was in doubt as to whether they 
might not be yet one scalp short. But they 
dashed by, every brave giving the short "how." 
Mrs. Chapel spent some weeks at tlie foot of 
the mountains grazing the oxen and one cow, 
in company with another woman, the wife of 
one of the party, twenty miles from the 



camp at the working claim. The mountain 
fever getting hold of Mr. Chapel, he was cured 
of the "gold fever," and a longing for the re- 
freshing shades and quiet dells of Wisconsin 
came over him, and then it was that "Home- 
ward Ho," was the cry. A long, tedious jour- 
ney was before them. In September they set 
their faces eastward, and Dec. 2, 1859, found 
them again in Spring Grove. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Chapel found themselves not only broken 
in expense, but also in health, from exposure 
necessarily incident to the kind of life they had 
been leading. They were obliged to rent lands 
until 1863, when he bought land where he now 
lives on section 23. On that section, and on 
section 22, he now owns 213 acres of good land, 
all under improvement. They have had nine 
children — Alvarus, born Oct. 7, 1857, and died 
in infancy; Viella N., born Feb. 12, 1860, wife 
of Adam Bener; Hattie V., born Aug. 19, 1863, 
wife of Uriah H. Hartman ; J. Ralph, born 
Sept. 22,1866; John A., born Nov. 25, 1868, and 
died July 15, 1876; Maud A., born Nov. 9, 
1870: Martha E., born Oct. 6, 1875; Columbus 
C, born Oct. 14, 1877, and Jessie M., born June 
21, 1880. Mr. Chapel enlisted in company I, 
46th Wisconsin Volunteers, and served until 
the regiment was mustered out of service. He 
was elected town treasurer in 1867, and held 
that office for eight years, during which time 
he made the town assessment three or four 
times. He is now the town assessor. He is a 
public spirited man, and a good citizen. He is 
a member of the G. A. R. Post No. 90. 

James P. Atwood, one of the young men 
born in the town of Spring Grove, is a son of 
P. and M. J. Atwood, and was born Jan. 10, 
1855. He was brought up on a farm, and lived 
with his father until his marriage with Susan 
A. Baxter, Oct. 24, 1874. His wife is a daugh- 
ter of Thomas J. Baxter, and a granddaughter 
of the old pioneer, Daniel Baxter, who settled 
in this town in 1837. She was born June 17, 
18 56. Two boys have been born to them— 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1085 



John P.jborn July 18, 1876, and Robert Lincoln, 
born April 12, 1878. Mr. Atwoocl owns and 
occupies eighty acres of land on section 14, 
also owns eighty-four acres of unimproved land 
in the town of Kensett, near North wood, Worth 
Co., Iowa. He is one of the promising young 
men of the town. 

Saul Mattison was born in Genesee Co.,N.Y., 
May 29, 1812, where he grew to manhood, learn- 
ing the trade of blacksmith. In 1836 he was 
married to Nancy Gilbert. To them one son 
was born — Ransom, who is now living in Min- 
nesota. He was captain in the late Civil War 
in a Minnesota regiment. Saul Mattison lost his 
wife in 1837, after a little over one year of mar- 
ried life. He was married April 29, 1841, to 
Charlotte Gray. By this union there wei-e six 
children — Charles E., Oscar, (deceased) aged 
one year; Marion, wife of James Davis; Char- 
lotte, who died at age of five years; Ida M., 
living at home; Florence, single. Mrs. Matti- 
son was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., June 19, 
1820. Mr. Mattison moved his family west and 
settled in this town in 1855. He was one of 
the first mechanics in the town in his line. He 
is now (1884) working at his trade at Oakley, 
where he has lived since 1859. 

August Short was born at Coblenz, on the 
Rhine, Prussia, in the year 1834. His father, 
Nicholas Short (the name has been American- 
ized) came to America with his family, landing 
at New York, July 6, 1852. He came directly 
to Milwaukee where he now lives. Of his 
eight children, four died the first summer with 
cholera in that city, and his wife died in 1858. 
The other children — Joseph, August, Elizabeth 
and Nicholas are living. The subject of this 
sketch left the family, the next day after reach- 
ing Milwaukee, and obtained employment at a 
brickyard, where he received $7 per month. He 
borrowed $10 and went to Bloomington, 111., 
and worked upon a farm there until the next 
spring. He then returned to Milwaukee with 
his earnings, |55 dollars in gold, which he gave 
o his father and again went to work in a brick- 



yard, for |16 per month. He afterward went 
to Henry Co., 111., where he worked until the 
spring of 1854. He then went to work on the 
Racine & Beloit Railroad for a short time, after 
which he engaged to work on a farm with John 
Robinson, in whose employ he came to Spring 
Grove in 1855. Mr, Robinson moved into a 
house which stood on the site of Mr. Short's 
present residence. The property was then 
owned by Mr. Derrick. In 1856 Mr. Short 
rented a farm of Nelson Thompson and worked 
it one year. He continued to work rented lands 
until 1866, in which year he bought the Derrick 
farm, upon which he new lives. It comprises 
lots 2 and 7, and the west half of lots 1 and 8, 
fractional additions to the northeast quarter of 
section 4, 138 acres. He also owns forty acres 
on section 8, and ten acres on section 9, making 
altogether a valuable farm. He is an example 
of what may be accomplished by industry, hon- 
esty and perseverance. Mr. Short was married 
March 1, 1863, to Almira Klumb, daughter of 
an old settler, Jacob Klumb. They have one 
daughter— Rella, born Oct. 22, 1864. 

Melville Karney, son of Powel and Abigail 
Karney, was born in this town May 11, 1856. 
He was reared a farmer, and lived with his par- 
ents until his marriage, which occurred Dec. 7, 
1882. His wife was Abbie Hamblett, daughter 
of Horace and Lana Hamblett. Her father en- 
listed in the 13th Wisconsin regiment in 1863, 
and died while on his way home on board a shij) 
off New York harbor. Her mother subsequently 
married Gilbert Ross, and now lives in Brod- 
head. Melville Karney is a son of one of 
Spring Grove's best citizens, and, as such, 
promises to fill the expectations of his family 
and friends. He is at present living on a por- 
tion of his father's farm on section 23. 

Oliver W. Martin, son of W. N. and Eliza- 
beth Martin, was born in the town of Spring 
Grove, Dec. 10, 1856. His parents came from 
Ashland Co., Ohio, and settled in this town in 
1854. His father is among the respected citi- 
zens of the town. Oliver is one of a family of 



1086 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



five children. The other four are — William A., 
who died Nov. 10, 1883; Flora B., Minnie M. 
and Nellie. Oliver W. lived with his parents 
until his marriage Oct. 31, 1882, with Ella 
Oneall daughter of William II. and Marcia 
Oneall. She was born Sept. 3, 1858. Their 
only child, Inez May, was born Aug. 18, 1883. 
Mr. Martin is one of the best among the 
younger class of men in the town. He has made 
the most of his opportunities, fitting himself for 
school teaching, and has taught eight terms, 
with credit to himself and satisfaction to the 
people. He is now serving his third term as 
town clerk. 

D. W. Austin is one of the large farmers of 
Spring Grove. He owns 475 acres of valuable 
land on sections 11 and 12. He keeps about 
100 head of cattle; milking in the season about 
fifty cows; keeping also about 200 sheep, and 
other stock. He has shelter for all and storage 
for feed. Mr. Austin was born in Scotland, 
Albany Co., N. Y., July 16, 1821. When 
twenty-one years of age he came to Wisconsin, 
spending the first year in Racine county. His 
father, John Austin, came later and settled. 
With him his son made a home a large share 
of the time until his marriage with Jane E. 
Hugunin, which occurred at Johnstown Center, 
Rock county, March 2, 1847. He lived with 
his father until 1852, when he bought a farm at 
Johnstown Center, and lived on the same until 
1856, when he sold his farm and came to Brod- 
head and engaged in the livery business, 
which he followed seven years; in the 
meantime buying at different times of 
different parties 440 acres of his present 
.farm. Closing out his business in Brodhead, 
he has made his farm his residence since. Mr. 
Austin's mother died in 1854, and his father in 
1872. Thomas Austin, a brother, lives at 
Johnstown, Rock county, and owns 2,300 acres 
of land in that county. The subject of this 
sketch, D. W. Austin, was one of the first men 
in this part of the county to engage in breed- 
ing the Holstein family of cattle. He is a 



practical farmer, Mr. and Mrs. Austin have 
four children — Mary Ann, born in 1848, wife of 
Dr. E. H. Dudley, of Shell Rock, Iowa; Carson 
A., born in 1853; Cora H., born in 1861; and 
David E., born in 1863. 

Samuel Colby was born Jan. 13, 1805, in Og- 
den, Monroe Co., N. Y. His father died in 
September, 1809, and his mother in 1818. 
Samuel is the last of a family of seven chil- 
dren, three sons and four daughters. He set- 
tled in Oakland Co., Mich., near Pontiac, April 
20, 1826. He was married May 25, 1829, to 
Eliza Douglass, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., 
who came to Oakland county when six years 
old. In March, 1841, Mr. and Mrs. Colby 
came to Rock Co., Wis., bought land in Ply- 
mouth, made a farm and lived there thirteen 
years, then, selling out, purchased land in this 
town (now owned by Cyrus I. Putnam), and 
lived on the same until 1866, then, after renting 
the place one year, sold out to Mr. Putnam. 
Two years later they spent one season in Fay- 
ette Co., Iowa, then living one year in Brod- 
head, went to Rock county, buying a farm in 
Spring Valley, and lived there until 1882, then 
came to this town to live with his son, David 
Colby. Mrs. Colby died in Brodhead Dec. 19, 
1868. Mr. Colby has six children living — Wil- 
liam, born Oct. 14, 1830, now living in Fayette 
Co., Iowa; George, born Oct. 17, 1832, a resi- 
dent of Decatur Co., Kansas; James H., born 
April 20, 1834, living in West Union, Iowa; 
Melissa, born Oct. 19, 1846, wife of S. J. Bab- 
cock, of Decatur Co., Kansas; Samuel F., born 
Aug. 18, 1843. The last was born in Rock 
county, the others in Michigan. His son, 
David, with whom Mr. Colby lives, was born 
Nov. 28, 1835. He owns a farm on section 35, 
where he lives. David served in company I, 
46th Wisconsin Volunteers, until the regiment 
was mustered out. He was married Feb. 26, 
1863, to Julia A. Martin, daughter of one of 
the early settlers, Joseph W. Martin. Mr. 
Martin enlisted in the 13th regiment, Wisconsin 
Volunteers, and died at Chattanooga, Tenn. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1087 



Mr. Martin's wife died at West Union, Iowa, in 
1881. David Colby, after bis return from tbe 
army, settled upon bis present farm, and has 
since lived there. While in tbe service his 
wife lived with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. 
Colby have had ten children — Adill, born 
Dec. 31, 1864, wife of Abraham Barker; 
Elva and Alva B., twins, born Jan. 22, 
1867; the latter died April 8, 1880; Ada F., 
born Feb. 16, 1869; Samuel W., born May 30, 
1871; Frank F., born Sept. 15, 1873, and died 
April 6, 1880; Walter G., born March 21, 1876; 
Bertha, born Aug. 14, 1877, and died April 8, 
1880; Roy R., born March 23, 1880; Earl, born 
April 19, 1882. 

Orland B. Post owns and occupies a farm 
comprising lots number 5 and 6, fractional ad- 
ditions to the northwest quarter of section 4, 
and lots number 1 and 8, fractional additions to 
the northeast quarter of section 5. His resi- 
dence is on lot 1. The land on section 5, was 
known in early days as the "Condon place," 
and the land on section 4 as the "Morris Der- 
rick farm." Mr. Post bought the Derrick 
farm in 1867, and lived there until 1875, when 
he purchased the Condon place, adjoining, to 
which he removed. He was born in Chautau- 
qua Co., N. Y., in 1836, He was reared a farmer, 
and at the age of twenty-one years, came west, 
reaching Jordan Prairie, in this county, April 
1, 1857, He e.ngaged in farming here three 
years, then, in 1860, went to Goodhue Co., 
Minn,, and remained one year, teaching the 
first school in the town of Holden, during the 
winter. The school house was a miserable, 
half built log cabin, heated by an old cooking 
stove. The fuel was delivered at the school 
house door, sled length, to be prepared by the 
teacher, for the stove. He received the enor- 
mous compensation of ^15 per month and 
"boarded round." Miss Debolt, to whom he 
was afterwards married, taught the same winter 
in Oak Hill district, in Decatur, in this county, 
receiving $10 per month and boarding round. 
Mr. Post contemplated remaining in Minnesota, 



and purchased eighty-seven acres of land on 
which he made some improvement. He changed 
his mind and returned to Spring Grove, where 
Oct. 10, 1861, he was married to Anna E. De- 
bolt, daughter of Andrew Debolt and step- 
daughter of William Newman. She is a native 
of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of five 
children — Arthur, born in November, 1862; 
Mary, born in November, 1864; Walter, born in 
March, 1868; Charlie, born in January, 1870, 
and Harry, born in June, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. 
Post resided in Sylvester several years before 
coming to Spring Grove. He is one of the 
valuable citizens of his town, and highly re- 
spected by his neighbors. 

Cyrus A. Horton is a son of John D. Horton, 
who came from Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1857, 
and settled on section 35, town of Spring 
Grove, Green Co., Wis., with his wife and three 
children — Sarah, wife of Lewis Hooker; Catha- 
rine, now living with Mr. and Mrs. Hooker, 
and Cyrus A. John D. Horton died at the 
home he made in Spring Grove, March 10, 1882, 
in his seventy-sixth year. His wife, Curlista, 
died Dec. 12, 1881, in her sixty-fifth year. The 
old homestead of 100 acres was bought by 
Cyrus A. Horton, and by him sold to Thomas 
Hartman. The subject of this sketch was mar- 
ried to Mary Jane Woodling, daughter of John 
H. Woodling, of Spring Grove, June 25, 1863. 
They commenced married life on the farm of 
Mr. Horton's father, and lived there many 
years; but in 1874, Cyrus bought thirty acres in 
Laona, over the State line in Illinois, and sub- 
sequently added forty acres of land adjoining 
it, and in 1876 moved on to his farm, and has 
since been a citizen of Illinois. He has made 
his farm valuable by improvements in build- 
ing, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Horton have had five 
children — Harriet A,, born April 3, 1864, and 
died Oct. 17,1865; Eunice M., born April 3, 
1867; Kate Ann, born March 22, 1868; Cyrus 
Burton, born Feb. 13, 1873, and Nancy C, born 
Feb. 19, 1877. Mr. Horton was born in Ren- 



1088 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



sselaer Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 1839. Mrs. Hortoii 
was born in Vigo Co., Ind., June 5, 1844. 

John Kelley, proprietor of the Oakley woolen 
mill, was born in Milton, Northumberland Co., 
Penn., Nov. 25, 1823, and there grew to man- 
hood, learningthe trade of woolen manufacturer. 
His parents died in his native county; the father 
in 1838 and the mother in 1834. John was mar- 
ried D«c. 3, 1845, to Eliza Van Dyke, who was 
born in said county, March 27, 1826. They 
came west in the fall of 1857, (Mr. Kelley hav- 
ing spent a part of the previous year at Beloit 
and other points.) They lived a few months at 
Brodhead, then moved to Peoria, 111., Mr. Kel- 
ley having engaged in buying wool and selling 
goods for an eastern establishment. The next 
spring they returned to Brodhead. In the fall 
of 1858 he made a contract with George Bussy, 
the owner of the Oakley woolen mill, to operate 
the same on shares. In the spring of 18G1 he 
went to Cedarville and entered into partnership 
with Joseph Jackson in the woolen factory at, 
that place. There he remained some time, oper- 
ating in that partnership, and renting a part of 
the time until 1864, when he returned to the 
Oakley mill which he rented of Isaac Trembly, 
and in July, 1865, he purchased the property. 
He has since enlarged and refitted the mill with 
new machinery, which he still owns and oper- 
ates. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have five children — 
Emma Jane, born Sept. 18, 1846; Elissa Ann, 
born July 23, 1848; James A., born June 22, 
1850; Oscar W., born Jan. 1, 1861; and Jennie 
A., born Oct. 28, 1862. Mr. Kelley has held 
the office of justice of the peace, and has been a 
prominent man in promoting the welfare of the 
public in his township. 

Mrs. Emma J. Myers resides on section 19. 
She was born in Union Co., Penn., Sept. 18, 
1846, She is a daughter of John Kelley, who 
is now a resident of Spring Grove. She was 
married to George Myers, Jan. 9, 1866, and had 
four children — Edgar W., born May 11, 1867; 
Walter L., born Jan. 12, 1869, and died March 
12, 1870; Oliver B., born Feb. 18, 1871; and 



Nellie May, born March 29, 1876, and died 
March 4, 1877. Samuel Myers, the father of 
George Myers, came to this town, accompanied 
by his father-in-law, Isaac Kline, in March, 1837, 
and settled on section 19. George Myers died 
Dec. 27, 1881, aged forty-five years, ten months 
and eleven days. Mrs. Myers lives on the 
homestead, which contains eighty acres. There 
is also 114 acres of land adjoining in the town 
of Jefferson . 

Samuel J. Smith was born near Alton, 111., 
Aug. 27, 1838. His father, Samuel Smith, 
came from Kentucky to Illinois, and three 
weeks before the birth of Samuel went to Texas 
for the purpose of selecting a home for him- 
self and family, and was never afterwards 
heard from. His mother became satisfied that 
he was dead, and in 1841 was married to Daniel 
Freeman. By this marriage five children were 
born — James W., who lives in Shullsburg, Wis.; 
William H., who lives in Oakland, Iowa; Daniel 
B., also living in Oakland; Levi E., living in this 
town; and Benjamin F.,of Oakland Iowa. The 
father also lives in Oakland. In 1843 the fam- 
ily removed to Rockford, 111., and in 1846 to the 
town of Avon, Rock Co., Wis,, living there un- 
til 1850. Mrs. Freeman died in 1850, and the 
family was broken up. Mr. Freemen went to 
Missouri, and returning lived in Wiota until 
1876 when he went to Iowa. The subject of 
this sketch went to live with Jackson Waller, of 
Laona, 111., and remained with him four years, 
then being sixteen years old started to make 
his way alone visiting his half brothers in 
Iowa, and returning worked as a farm laborer 
until his marriage with Catharine, daughter of 
J. H. and Mary Clemans, Oct. 17, 1857. In 
1864 he purchased land on sections 26 and 27. 
His home is on section 26. In 1865 he enlisted 
in company I, 46th Wisconsin Volunteers, and 
served until the regiment was mustered out. 
They have five children — John H., born in 
1858; Mary E., born in 1860; Harvey J,, born 
in 1862; Burt E., born in 1870; and Stanley R,, 
born in 1878. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1089 



Fred J. Ties was born in Westphalia, Prussia, 
Jan. 4, 1841. He is the son of Henry and Sophia 
Ties. In 1858 his father came to the "land of 
the free," reaching New York, July 1, and 
came directly west, arriving in Chicago, July 
4, and reaching Spring Grove July V, and 
stop[)ed with his son-in-law, Frederick Arns- 
meir, where he lived for two years; then bought 
twenty acres of land on section -27, and lived 
there until 1866, when he sold and bought forty 
acres in the same section, where he lived until 
his death which occurred May -26, 1878. His 
wife survives him and now lives with her son, 
Henry, in Avon, Rock Co., Wis. Five children 
came over the sea with the parents — Sophia, 
deceased wife of John Leuts; VVilhelrainie, 
now wife of Frederick Tilka; Fred J., the sub- 
ject of this sketch; Amelia, wife of Henry 
Beckmeier; and Henry. Two children had pre- 
ceded the parents — Louisa, wife of F. Cerns- 
meier, and Elizabeth, wife of Philip Heitkam. 
Frederick J. enlisted in company B, under 
Capt. Charles Jackson, and was a faithful, capa- 
ble and intelligent soldier, and is a member of 
the G. A. R., W. W. Patten Post, No. 90. 
The same year he came home from the war he 
was married Dec. 13, 1865, to Rossie Aurine 
Emininger, daughter of John Emminger. 
She was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, and was an 
adopted daughter of James R. Coulter. Seven 
children have been born to them — Abbie S., 
born Sept. 29, 1866; Harriet F., born Oct. 16, 
1868, and died March 18, 1881; Nellie J., born 
Sept. 23, 1870; Mary C, born Feb. 2, 1873; 
Allethe J., born March 24, 1875; James R., 
born Sept. 13, 1877; Fred M., born April 18, 
188U. Mr. Ties met with an irrepai-able loss 
in the death of his wife, wliich occurred Jan. 
U), 1884. The first two years of Fred Ties 
residence in this county lie worked for J W. 
Ivildow, and the next year for John H. Wood- 
ling, a)id at the time of his enlistment was 
working for his brother-in-law, Mr. Arnsmeir. 
, All his relatives opposed his going to the war, 
claiming that as a young German settler he 



could have no interest in the issue. Fred 
could not sleep nights on account of his anxiety 
to strike a blow for his adopted country, and go 
he would and did. Mr. Ties has served on the 
town board, and one term as assessor. He is 
one of the active public spirited men of his 
town. He owns a farm of 200 acres. 

William Johnson is one of the substantial 
farmers of Spring Grove; his fine improvements 
on section 29, shows him to be a practical and 
successful farmer. He owns on this section 210 
aci-es, and on section 19, 120 acres; also, on sec- 
tion 30, fifty acres. This land on section 30, is 
the oldest improvement in the town, it being a 
part of the Darius Daniels land, bought in 1836, 
and ten acres of the part now owned by Mr. 
Johnson was broken that year, the first sod turned 
in the township. Mr. Johnson was born in 
Northampton Co., Penn., May 7, 1825. He was 
reared a farmer, but after twenty-two years of 
age learned the carpenter's trade, at which he 
worked some seven or eight years, and some 
later, doing his own work. He was married 
Oct. 7, 1854, to Catharine Long, of Northamp- 
ton Co., Penn., and in March of the following 
year (1855), moved to Freeport, 111., and in 1858 
made his present location his home. They have 
four children — Elizabeth, born Oct. 13, 1857, 
wife of John Straley, of this county; Hebron, 
born in August, 1860, who lives on his father's 
farm, and who was married to Emma Robinson, 
Nov. 20, 1881, and has one child— George R., 
born Dec. 11, 1882; Mary J., born Feb. 7, 
1866; and Ellen Maria, born June 25, 1868. 

Charles F. Gardner was born in Rensselaer 
Co., N. Y., April 2, 1853. His father, George 
W. Gardner, when Ciiarles was three years old, 
came to this county and lived in the town of 
Decatur until the winter of 1859, when he went 
to Texas, and with the exception of a few let- 
ters received shortly after he reached there, has 
never been heard from. His wife, later, bought 
a place in tlie tovvn of Decatur, where she died 
in February, 1877. Charles F. has two broth- 
ers, Burton J., now living in Brodhead, and 



1090 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



John, living in the town of Decatur, Charles 
F., the subject of this sketch, was married Feb. 
15, IHiG, to Mary L., daughter of James M. 
Davis, now a resident of the town of Clariio. 
They lived, after marriage, with his mother. 
After her death they lived upon a farm owned 
by his father-in-law, in the town of Decatur, 
five years, then he bought his present residence 
and farm, on section 5, of Spring Grove. The 
place contains sixty-nine acres of choice land. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gardner had a child born June 15, 
1881 — James G. He died at the age of one year. 
Maud was born July 24, 1883. Mrs. Gardner is 
a granddaughter of David Davis, the pioneer 
settler of 1838. 

Jacob Haas was born in Juniata Co., Penn., 
Nov. 29, 1837, and came with his father and the 
rest of the family, to Rock Grove, Stephenson 
Co., III., in May, 1850. The family consisted 
of the parents, David and Barbara Haas, 
and six children — Valentine, John, who died 
in 1881, in Stephenson county; Sarah, who 
married Levi Bolender; Jacob, Edward, who 
died in 1859; and Catharine, who was married 
to Hugh Alexander, now living near Lena, 111. 
David Haas, in 1856, located in Spring Grove, 
on section 83, living there until 1868, when he 
bought land on section 27, and moved there and 
lived until his death, which occurred in Novem- 
ber, 1881. His wife he had lost by death in 
1859, three years after coming to this town, and 
in 1864, he was married to Mrs. Mary Ann Sny- 
der, widow of Samuel Snyder. Slie survives 
him and lives at the homestead. The subject 
of this sketch, Jacob Haas, was married Oct. 4, 
1859, to Lucelia R. Chapel, daughter of John 
and Martha Chapel, and March 18, I860, 
moved on eighty acres of land on section 33, 
bought of his father. He also owns forty acres 
on section 21. His residence, made in 1860, he 
has continually occupied, with the exce])tion of 
five years, (1874 to 1879), to the present time. 
Those five years he lived on a farm, purcliased 
on section 21. Mr. and Mrs. ^Haas have been 
blessed with a goodly number of children 



— Barbara L., wife of E. II. Marsh; Rosa- 
mond, wife of Fred Arnsmier; Nellie F., Nettie 
May, John J., Harriet L , Adelia, Emerson B. 
and Fairy M., live wnth their parents. An in- 
fant child died in 1861. Agatha F.,died in 1864. 
Marion died in 1875. Mr. Haas is an industri- 
ous, respected citizen of Spring Grove. 

William Hall, Jr., was born in Theresa, Jeffer- 
son Co., N. Y., March 16, 1836. He is the old- 
est of five children. The others are — Nathan- 
iel II., living in San Francisco Co., Cal.; Mary 
A., wife of James L. Eldridge, living at Clover- 
dale, Cal.; Emma, wife of Chester Gifford; and 
Lewis, living at Peoria, 111. In 1843 his father 
came to Janesville, Wis., and settled. He lived 
in Rock county sixteen years, was engaged at 
different points in the agricultural machine 
trade. He owned and operated at different 
times several farms. In 1859 he moved to this 
county and bought of Thomas Hall a very fine 
farm in the town of Jefferson. It is now known 
as the Holmes farm, and contains 240 acres of 
land. He resided there about five years and 
then sold it to Mr. Holmes and entered into 
partnership with Axtel & Shafer in the grain 
trade at Juda. He was in that trade several 
years, then opened a general merchandise store 
at Attica, and later returned to Juda, and from 
there to Doylestown, Columbia Co., Wis., 
where he engaged in the grain trade. While 
there he bought two farms in Rock county. He 
moved there and managed the prctperty, but in 
March, 1883, sold the farms and moved to War- 
ren, 111., where he now (1884) lives. In 1866 
his wife died. William Hall, Jr., lived with 
his father until he was married, Jan. 16, 1865, 
to Adeline Thompson, daughter of Wilson 
Thompson, of this town. Her father died in 
April, 1871. Her mother lives with her son, 
Myron Thompson, at Waverly, Iowa. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hall commenced housekeeping on the 
Holmes place in the town of Jefferson, and 
later lived at Twin Grove. He then removed to 
their residence in this town. Mrs. Hall's 
father, Wilson Thompson, settled in this State 



HISTORY OF GRKEN COUNTY. 



1091 



iu Mihvaukee county, in 1837, and in Green 
county in 1854, on section 10, this town. 
He was a ship carpenter. Mrs. Hall has 
six brothers living--Lafayette, in this town; 
Washington, in the town of Jefferson; Charles, 
Frank and Myron, who lives near Waverly, 
Iowa; and Grant, in Shell Rock, Iowa. All but 
Myron and Grant are married. She has one 
sister, Louisa, wile of Edward McNair. Mr. 
Hall's brothers are — Nathaniel, George, Eugene 
and Rush. They all live in San Francisco, Cal. 
Two sisters, Hattie, wife of Fred Cronett, re- 
sides in San Francisco; and Ida B., wife of An- 
drew Goble. resides in Peoria. 111. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hall have had two children — Eugene, born 
Sept. -Il, 1865; Minnie May, born June 4, 1867, 
and died Sept. 12, 1868. Mr. Hall lives on sec- 
tion 8. Mr. Hall enlisted in Uecember, 1861, in 
the 3d batallion, 2d Wisconsin Cavalry. He 
was discharged in 1863 for disability. 

Thomas A. Jackson was born on the 2d day 
of March, 1829, in what is now Stewart town- 
ship, Fayette Co., Penn; received less than one 
year's schooling, all told, in the common 
schools of that day. His parents were born in 
the State of Maryland. His father, Elijah 
Jackson, was by trade a stone and brick mason. 
Thomas, the oldest of eleven children, was 
hired out among the farmers from the age of 
twelve years most of his time until of age; and 
in this way may have been said to have been 
reared a farmer, in which business he has con- 
tinued most of his time since. When a young 
K man he taught school live winter terms, three 
of them in the same district. In 1854 he was 
married to Mary Morris, a farmer's daughter, of 
the same township. Nine children have been 
born to them, four sons and five daughters, all 
living but one. Their names and ages are — 
Laura, twenty-nine; Marshall, twenty-seven; 
Charles Willard, twenty-five; Emma Luella 
died in 1862, nearly two years old; Walter; 
twenty; Fred, seventeen; Minnie, fourteen, 
Clara, twelve; and Jessie Belle, youngest, five 



years of age. In the spring of 1854 he was 
elected captain of the Falls City Guards, a uni- 
formed military company raised in Fayette 
county, in which capacity he served two years, 
when he resigned and removed to Wisconsin in 
the spring of 1856, settling at Beloit, Rock 
county, near which place he remained nearly 
two years, coming to Green county in the spring 
of 1858, settling near his present residence, re- 
maining one year, then removing to what is 
known as the Scotch settlement, ten miles 
northeast of Rockford, Winnebago Co., 111., 
where he resided during the years 1859, 1860 
and most of 1861, engaged mostly in farming. 
About the time the war broke out he was 
elected captain of the Independent Scotch In- 
fantry, a military company raised by the young 
men of the Scotch settlement. The company 
not entering the service as an organization, he, 
with his brother, Charles H. Jackson, who had 
just been discharged from the three months' 
service in the 10th Illinois Infantry, came to 
Green with a few men from the Scotch settle- 
ment and commenced to recruit a company for 
I he 13th Wisconsin Infantry. That regiment 
being full before the company was full, it was 
assigned to the 18th Wisconsin Infantry. 
Thomas was elected 1st lieutenant of the com- 
p.iny, the captaincy being conceded to Charles 
II. Jackson, by reason of his three months' 
active service in the field. The company went 
into camp at Milwaukee in December, 1861, 
with the other companies composing the 18th, 
and, upon the organization of the regiment, 
was assigned and lettered company B, the sec- 
ond post of honor. 

The 18th remained in camp at Milwaukee un- 
til the 30th day of March, 1862, just one week 
to a day prior to the first day's battle of Pitts- 
burg Landing, when it broke camp and was 
started by rail for the front, passing through 
Chicago, St. Louis, Cairo, Paducali, Ky., and up 
ihe Tennessee river to Pittsburg Landing, where 
it arrived on Saturday afternoon, April 5, a 
few hours before the battle, and was pushed out 



1092 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



to the extreme front, three and one-half miles, 
that same evening; assigned to Gen. B. M. 
Prentiss' division. Lieut. Jackson was in com- 
mand of his company, and in the front line of 
attack on the morning of the 6th of April, and 
was on the evening of that day taken prisoner, 
with about IVS men and officers of the 18th, 
with what was left of Gen. Prentiss' division — 
some 2,200 men and officers; spending nearly 
seven months in rebel prisons, being confined 
in Montgomery, Ala., Macon and Madison, Ga , 
and lastly, in old Libby prison, Richmond, Va., 
where with his fellow officers he was parol led 
in October, 1862, and passed into the Union 
lines. About two months later he was exchanged 
and commissioned captain of his company, re- 
joining his regiment at Lake Providence, La., 
in February, 1863; afterwards participating in 
the battles of Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863; and 
Champion Hills, Miss., May 16, 1863; and the 
siege of Vicksburg; the battle of Missionary 
Ridge, in November, 1863; Allatoona, Ga., Oct. 
5, 1864, and the battle of Wise's Fork, N. C.,in 
March, 1865. He was mustered out of service 
in April, 1865, at Goldsboro, N. C, and arrived 
at home in May, 1865, after three and one-half 
year's service. In the spring of 1866 he was 
elected town clerk of his town, and held the 
position for seven consecutive terms. He was 
elected to the legislature from his district in 
the fall of 1868, and re-elected to the same posi- 
tion in the fall of 1869, serving two full terms; 
was during his last term, appointed by Gov. 
Fairchild a member of the State visiting com- 
mittee from the 3d congressional district. Since 
that time he has been mostly employed on his 
farm. Within the last four years he lias spent 
the greater part of his time as an underwriter 
for a fire insurance company in Iowa. His 
parents, Elijah and Mary A. Jackson, lived in 
Green county on the farm now owned by Thomas 
A. Jackson, for over twenty years; removing to 
Hamilton county in 1876, where his father died 
in 1880, aged seventy-five years; and where his 
mother still lives, aged seventy-seven years. 



Of his four brothers, three are living. Col. 
Charles II. Jackso!i, the next oldest, resides in 
Missouri. He has been engaged as a real estate 
dealer, handling farming and mineral lands- 
William C. Jackson lives in Gage Co., Neb., 
and is a farmer. The next one, Sylvester S. 
Jackson, resides in the State of Georgia, and is 
a professional musician and teacher. The young- 
est brother, Alexander Jackson, died in Hamil- 
ton county in 1879, and was a farmer. Four of 
the five brothers served through the late war as 
commissioned officers in the Union army; all 
but one of them for over three years. Of his 
six sisters, two died many years ago in Wiscon- 
sin. The other four are all married, and living 
in Hamilton Co., Neb. 

Andrew J. Kryder lives on section 30. His 
farm of 160 acres is a part of the land entered 
by Daniel Baxter in 1836. His brother, John J. 
Kryder, who lived on the same section, also has 
a farm of 160 acres, a part of the land bought 
by Baxter at the same time. Andrew J. Kryder 
also owns another farm of eighty acres on sec- 
tion 31, adjoining the homestead? Mr. Kryder 
settled here in 1862, coming from Stephenson 
Co., 111. He was born in Clinton Co., Penn., 
May 16, 1831, His father, John Kryder, brought 
the family to Stephenson Co. ,111., in 1847, where 
lie now lives, in the town of Lancaster. The 
mother died there in 1866. Andrew J., the 
subject of this sketch, was married in Buckeye 
township, Stephenson county, Dec. 28, 1857, to 
Lavinia Zimmerman. She was born in Lycoming 
Co., Penn., Sept. 16, 1831, and came west with 
her father's family settling in Buckeye in 1846. 
Her father, Mathias Zimmerman, died March 2, 
1875. Her mother, Catherine Zimmerman, died 
in May, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Kryder lived on 
his father's farm until they made their removal, 
in 1862, to their jjresent residence. They have 
had three children — Catharine Ann, born Oct. 
30, 1858, and died in infancy; Charles Wesley, 
born Oct. 25, 1860; Clara Alice, born Oct. 23, 
1863. Both are living with their parents. Mr. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1093 



Kryder is one of the thorough practical farmers 
of Spring Grove. 

Mrs Martha Miles, widow of James Miles, 
lives upon section 7, in the town of Spring 
Grove. She is a daughter of George Hodgson, 
one of the pioneer settlers of northern Illinois. 
Mr. Hodgson came from Cayuga Co., N. Y., 
nearly half a century ago, and settled, with his 
family, consisting of a wife and seven children, 
in Stephenson Co., 111. Mrs. Miles, subject of 
this sketch, was the youngest of the family. 
Her husband, James Miles, was born Jan. 31, 
1831, in Clinton Co., Penn., and in 1850, came 
with his father's family, to Stephenson county, 
where he was married Dec. '27, 1855. They 
resided in that county about eight years, then 
came to Spring Grove and settled on section 27, 
where they lived until 1869. In that year they 
removed to section 7, Mrs. Miles' present resi- 
dence. Mr. Miles died April 24, 1S74. They 
had four children — Ashley, born in December, 
1856, and died in November, 1858; Lucy, born 
in April, 1858; Mary, born in November, 1861, 
and Maud, born in August, 1871. 

Isaac Zimmerman came to Spring Grove in 
April, 1869, and bought ninety acres of im- 
proved land, known as James Farmer's place, 
on section 36, where he now lives. He was 
born in Pennsylvania, and was reared in North- 
umberland county. He was inclined to come 
west on account of his children having preceded 
him. His son, George, came west in 1853, and 
has been a resident of this town since 1855. 
His son, Henry, came west in 1853, and now 
lives on section 27. Benjamin came with his 
father, and now lives on section 34. Mr. Zim- 
merman had two unmarried daughters — Cath- 
arine and Lavina, and Elizabeth, a grandchild. 
Catharine, June 30, 1872, was married to 
Thomas O. Cavenaugh, a son of John O. Cave- 
naugh. His mother died when he was five 
years old, and he was brought up by Reuben 
Babcock. They have two children — Addie, 
born May 24, 1873, and Rowena, born Feb. 21, 
1876. Lavina was married to Andrew Lanby, 



and the grandchild, Elizabeth, was married to 
John Moyer. Another daughter, Hettie, came 
west. She was married to Fredrick Gable. 
They settled in Winnebago Co., 111., where she 
died. A child she left was adopted by John 
Reader. Mr. Reader lives in Winnebago coun- 
t}^ They have two children and two adopted 
children. Mr. Zimmerman lost his wife by 
death Sept. 15, 1875, at the age of sixty-seven 
years. 

Benjamin Zimmerman, a son of Isaaac Zim- 
merman, was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Oct. 
19, 1830. His father was a farmer, and Benja- 
min was reared on a farm. He was married to 
Amanda Savage, who was born in Northumber- 
land, Penn., in 1836, and came to this county 
in 1869, locating in Spring Grove, and living the 
first eighteen months in a house on John H. 
Woodling's farm. He bought eighty acres on 
section 34 and built a house, into which he 
moved during the fall af 1870. He has since 
resided there and owns also thirty acres on sec- 
tion 26. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have had 
the good fortune to be blessed with eleven chil- 
dren, all of whom are now living — William, 
born in June, 1855; Galen, born in August, 1856; 
Lavina, born in September, 1859; John S., born 
in December, 1861; George T., born in Febru- 
ary, 1864; Isaac A., born in October, 1866; 
Sarah E., born in October, 1868; Catharine, 
born in May, 1871; Riley, born in June, 1873; 
Maggie, born in October, 1874; and Annie, born 
in June, 1877. 

John S. Zimmerman, son of Benjamin and 
Amanda Zimmerman, was born in Pennsylva- 
nia, Dec. 22, 1861. When he was in his eighth 
year, his father removed with his family to this 
town. At the same time came his grandfather, 
Isaac Zimmerman. John has grown to man- 
hood in this town. "Ben," as he is familiarly 
called, is well and favorably known as a young 
man of correct life, good habits, honest, indus- 
trious and of a genial disposition. He will 
soon leave the old home to carve out his for- 
tunes, and if the future can be judged by the 



1094 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



past, he will successfully accomplish whatever 
he undertakes. 

John A. Brant was born in Somerset Co., 
Penn., July 20, 1816. His mother died when 
he was quite young, and he, when ten years of 
age, went to live with his grandfather. John 
Lambert, who lived in the same county, lived 
with him until sixteen years of age, and was 
then apprenticed to David Ross, to learn tiie 
trade of carpenter and joiner. After four years 
with Mr. Ross, in 1836, he went to Tuscarawas 
Co., Ohio. He worked at his trade there seven 
years, and from there went to Wabash Co., Ind., 
bought land there, but followed his trade. In 
1842 he married Eliza J. Kent, and from there 
moved to this county in 1845, lived a few 
months with Isaac Kline, and the followingyear 
rented the Brant saw mill. He run this mill 
until he moved to his present residence on sec- 
tion 34, where he has ever since lived. Mr. and 
Mi's Brant have had ten children — Ann Eliza, 
wife of George W. Davis; Samuel, living on 
same section; Jefferson died in infancy; 
Mary, deceased wife of Samuel Boyles ; 
Frank, living in Jefferson; Tillman H., Olive, 
Maggie, John and Myrtie. A grandchild, the 
daughter of Mrs. Mary Boyles, has been taken 
into the family. Mr. Brant has always voted 
the republican ticket. 

John H. Woodling, a farmer of the town of 
Spring Grove, is one of the respected old 
pioneers of that part of the county, and now 
lives on section 26, where he settled in 1845. 
He was born in Montgomery Co., Penn., May 
27, 1809, near Germantown. His father, Jacob 
Woodling, was also a native of that county, and 
was four weeks old at the time of the battle of 
Brandy wine, and died Oct. 13, 1844, in Vigo 
Co., Ind. His wife, the mother of John H., 
died Aug. 11, 1859, at the residence of her son. 
There was a family of ten children, seven of 
whome settled in Vigo Co., Ind., in 1837. The 
names of the children were — Jacob deceased; 
John H., Francis, now in Brodhead; Chai'les, 
died in this town; Eliza, wife of E. R. 



Allen, Esq.; Maria, Ann, deceased; Polly, now 
living in Pennsylvania; Jacob, deceased; and 
Catharine, deceased. John H. Woodling, the 
subject of this sketch, was married in Vigo 
Co. Ind., Jan., 28,1841 to Nancy B. Roland, 
and came here bringing his mother with him, 
arriving in this county, as before stated, in 1845, 
when he bought 200 acres of land. The mar- 
ried life of Mr. and Mrs. Woodling gave them 
eight children — Delia Ann, born Dec. 28, 
1841, wife of George H. Slocum; Mary Jane, 
born June 5, 1844, wife of Cyrus A. Horton; 
Almina, born Oct. 15, 1849, died Aug. 26, 1850; 
Chauncy S., born Aug. 24, 1851, died Oct. 29. 
1852; John Lyman, born Sept. 8, 1853, died 
Jan. 14, 1855; Eunice L., born Jan. 4, 1857, 
wife of Levi E. Freeman; Emery R, born 
Sept. 16, 1859, lives at home; Harriet E., born 
Deo. 6, 1862, died Feb. 27, 1864. Mrs. Wood- 
ling departed this life March 1, 1881. Mr. 
Woodling has alvvjtys been an active, public 
spirited citizen, and has served his town on the 
board of supervisors, for a number of terras. 
Emery R., his son, was married to Kale, daugh- 
ter of Daniel Brobst. They have one child — 
John H., who was born July 25, 1883. Mr. 
Woodling hasalwa)S been politically a republi- 
can, since the organization of that party. He 
and his wife were members of the United 
Brethren Church, until that organization here 
became defunct. Mr. Woodling is not now a 
member of any Church, but is a Christian gen- 
tleman. 

Cyrus I. Putnam lives on section 36, town of 
Spring Grove. His good improvements, fine 
buildings, and highly cultivated farm of 180 
acres, indicate a farmer of thrift and enterprise. 
He was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 23, 
1835. His parents moved to Canada, when he 
was quite young, and subsequently to Ogle Co., 
III. His father, Jolm Putnam, died in Winne- 
bago Co., 111., in 1852. His mother died in 
1867. Mr. Putnam lias a sister, Mrs. Maria 
Keyser, living in Ogle Co., 111., a brother, G. 
Putnam, in Mitchell Co., Iowa, a sister, Mrs. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1095 



Jane Amen, in West Union, Iowa, a brother, 
Henry, at Fort Worth, Texas, and a brother 
William, at Deer Lodge, Montana. Cyrus I. 
Putnam, was married Aug. 15, 1856, to Harriet 
Sapderson, who was born in Old Cambridge, 
Mass., in 1836. Her parents came to Winneba- 
go Co., 111., in 1839. Her father, John Sander- 
son, died in Laona, that county, in 1851. Her 
mother now lives with her. Mrs A. Ludlow 
and Mrs. J. V. Richardson are half sisters to 
Mrs. Putnam. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam have had 
born to them four children — Ida, born Oct. 12, 
1860; she was married to Theodore Allen. 
Mettie, born June 9, 1867, lives at home; 
George A., born April 20, 1872, and one child 
died in infancy. 

Hiram Dunwiddie, son of John Dunwiddie, 
was born in Green Co., Ohio, in 1843. He came 
to Green Co., Wis., in company with his broth- 
ers, Daniel, David and Brooks, all of whom are 
living in this county. Hiram was married to 
Mary Woodel, and ten children were born to 
them — Joel, deceased; Ruth, wife of George 
Osborn, living in Furness Co., Neb.; Susan, 
wife of Chai-les Scudder, of Bates Co., Mo.; 
Adelaide, deceased; Newton, Alice, wife of 
Frank Osborn, of Furness Co., Neb.; George, 
living in Idaho; Eldora, deceased; Libbie, wife 
of Charles Swan. Hiram Dunwiddie settled in 
the town of Jefferson, one and a half miles 
south of Juda, where he owned 220 acres of 
land. He resided here until his death, which 
occurred June 17, 1869. His widow now lives 
in the village of Juda. 

D. T. Dunwiddie, son of Hii'am and Mary 
Dunwiddie, was born in the town of Jefferson. 
He resided upon the homestead farm until his 
marriage with Alice, daughter of William >.ew- 
man, Aug. 29, 1875. Four children liave been 
born to them, all of whom are living— Eldora 
v., born Aug. 18, 1876; Daniel R., born Jan. 4, 
1879; George J. born Dec. 13, 1880; and Hiram 
J., born March 2, 1883. Mr. Dunwiddie lives 
on a part of the farm owned by P. Atwood, on 
section 14. 



Levi O. Knudsen, one of the large farmers of 
Spring Grove, lives on section 12, where he has 
very fine farm buildings, including a creamery, 
for manufacturing the product of his own cows, 
keeping about forty. The farm contains 406 
acres. His brother, Abram, lives adjoining, 
and together they have all of section 12, except 
eighty acres, besides land in other places. The 
brothers were born in Norway; Levi in 1842. 
Their father, Ole Knudsen, came to America 
bringing the family with him, and first located 
near Oxford, Rock county, but the next spring 
bought eighty acres in the town of Spring 
Grove. The buildings owned by his son, Levi, 
are located on this purchase. Seven children 
came with the parents — Lucy, wife of Truls 
Knutson; Knute, deceased; Christian, deceased; 
Isabella, wife of O. Onnesgord, of Rock county; 
Levi, the subject of this sketch; Ole, who lives 
in Rock county; Cary and Abram, who still 
.live in Norway. The father died in March, 
1873; the mother now (1884) lives with Levi, 
Oct. 31, 1868, Levi O. Knudsen and Sarah Peter- 
son were married. Her father, Alex. Peterson, 
came from Norway to Rock county this State, 
when Sarah was five years old. He died in 
1874. Her mother survives and lives with her 
son, Orloff Peterson, in Rock county. Mr. and 
Mrs Levi Knudsen have eight children — Olis, 
born June 1, 1869; Albert, born in February, 
1871; Betsey, born in February, 1873; Alvah, 
born in October, 1874; Sophia, born in Novem- 
ber, 1876; Carl, born in April, 1879; Clare, born 
in April, 1881; and Leonard, born in November, 
1883. 

Benjamin Stabler, in 1873, bought of F. 
Mundhanke, his residence and farm on section 
4, one of the finest locations and residences in 
this part of the town. The farm was known to 
the early settlers as the Woodel farm, Allen 
Woodel making the original entry and the first 
improvements, away back in the pioneer days. 
Mr. Stabler was born in Juniata Co,, Penn., 
Dec. 23, 1839. His father, George Stabler, re- 
moved with his family of five children, two 



1096 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



boys and three girls, to Stephenson Co., 111., in 
June, 1850. He died the next month; liis wife 
died in Nebraska, in September, 1880. The 
rest of the family, excepting Benjamin and one 
sister, Jane, are all in Nebraska. Jane is the 
wife of Jacob Minzer, of Rook Grove, Stephen- 
son Co., 111. Benjamin Stabler was married on 
May 15, 1860, to Amelia Stahlenecker. They 
have had ten children born to them — George E., 
born Nov. 23, 1861; John L., born June 18, 
1863; Mary E., born March 2, 1865; Emma M , 



born Jan. 2, 1867; Franklin W., born June 18, 
1868; James L., born April 9, 1870; Abbie A., 
born Feb. 20, 1872; Frederick B., born April 6, 
1873; Oscar W., born May 31, 1874; Robert E., 
born Feb. 20, 1877, and died March 18, 1877. 
After marriage, Mr. Stabler lived on the farm 
belonging to his father's estate, six years, pay- 
ing rent to the estate for the same; and then 
bought the farm, and lived there until he sold 
out in 1873, and came to Spring Grove. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1097 



CHAPTER XLII. 



TOWN OF SYLVESTER. 



The town of Sylvester embraces the territory 
of congressional township 2 north, range 8 east, 
of the fourth principal meridian, containing 
22,945.56 acres. It is bounded on the north by 
the town of Mount Pleasant; on the east by 
Decatur; on the south by Jefferson, and on the 
west by Monroe. This is one of the best towns 
in the county, containing 22,921 acres of farm- 
ing land, valued (assessed) at 118.60 per acre. 
The total value of real estate is $426,510, and 
of real and personal property, $567,887. The 
population of the town in 1880, was 928. The 
farm products of the town of Sylvester, grown 
during the year 1882, were as follows: Two 
thousand nine hundred and ninety-two bushels 
of wheat; 107,605 bushels of corn; 90,539 
bushels of oats; 274 bushels of barley; 3,190 
bushels of rye; 5,992 bushels of potatoes; 6.090 
bushels of apples; 361 bushels of clover seed; 
251 bushels of timothy seed, and 3,527 tons of 
hay. This town is one of the most extensive 
stock raising districts in the county, as the fol. 
lowing statistics will prove: There are 656 
horses in the town, average value 160.05, total 
value $39,395; 2,390 cattle, average value $17.- 
89, total value $42,763; 3 mules, average value 
$51.66; total value $155; 3,824 sheep, average 
value $1.64, total value $6,280; 3,006 swine, 
average value, $5.27, total $15,869. Number 
pounds of butter made in 1883, 44,160. 

BARLY SETTLEMENT. 

The first settlement within the limits now 
comprising the town of Sylvester was made by 
William Woodle. Thomas Woodle, father of 
William, visited Green county in 1836, with his 



son, Joseph, and bought land on sections 34 
and 35. They came with one horse and buggy 
from Fayette Co, Penn., and returned to 
Pennsylvania that fall. In the spring of 1837 
Joseph returned with his family, coming down 
the Ohio river, to Cairo, up the Mississippi river 
to Galena, and from there by wagon to their 
destination in the town of Sylvester. At the 
same time came Jesse Mitchell and family, who 
settled on section 35; and Tliomas Woodle, a 
single brother of Joseph. Joshua Davis, a 
single man, came at the same time. He died 
in the winter of 1837-8. During the summer 
following their arrival, xMilchell and Woodle 
built cabins. Allen Woodle, a brother of 
Joseph, came shortly afterward. \\'iiiiam had 
come before this and located on section 31. 
Allen was a single man. I.'e owned land and 
afterward settled in Spring Grove. He is now 
farming near Leroy, Minn. 

Joseph McCracken and family came liere in 
1836, from Edgar Co., III. The old gentleman 
settled on section 30, where he built a cabin, 
broke ten acres, and lived for many years, then 
removed to Monroe, where he died May 6,1867. 
His wife died on the place. One of his sons 
was in business at Monroe for several years. 

Amos R. Sylvester, for whom the town is 
named, was one of the earliest settlers and a 
prominent man. He was born in Onondaga Co., 
N. Y., March 8, 1810.- His father, Richard 
Sylvester, was born in Scituate, R. I., in 1782, 
and was married to Rachel Sutherland, March 
19, 1809. Si»e was born in Rutland, Vt., in 
January, 1791, and ditd in Sylvester, March 17 



65 



1098 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1876. Richard Sylvester died at Darian, Gene- 
see Co., N. Y., July 22, 1826. They reared a 
family of five children — Amos R , John, Har- 
low, Charles and Mary. The sons removed to 
Edgar Co., 111., where they lived until they 
came to Green county. In the spring of ]83G, 
Amos came here and entered land for his broth- 
ers and others, and returned to Illinois. In the 
fall of that year, the Sylvester brothers, Amos, 
John, Harlow and Charles, and their families, 
came here to reside permanently. Amos set- 
tled on the northwest quarter of the northwest 
quarter of section 15, where he erected a log 
house with a puncheon floor and roof of shakes. 
John settled on the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 21, where he lived a short time, then re- 
moved to the northwest quarter of the 
northwest quarter of section 12. He af- 
terwards moved to Belleville, Dane coun- 
ty, and afterwards went to Kentucky, where 
he died, at Athens, May 16, 1860. He was 
born Nov. 27, 1812. He was twice married. 
His first wife was Phiania Hills, who was born 
in 1820, and died Dec. 29, 1851, leaving fou]' 
children. He was again married in 1854, to 
Lucinda H. Smith, who was born in East Avon, 
N. Y., in 1820. She died Sept. 22, 1859, leav- 
ing three children — Frank A., who was drowned 
in Folk Co., Wis; Phiania E. and Ellen A. Har- 
low Sylvester settled on the southeast quartei- 
of section 3, where he remained until about 
1869, then sold out and moved to Madison, 
where he still resides. Charles Sylvester set- 
tled on the west half of the northeast quarter 
of section 10, remained there a short time, then 
sold and went to Belleville, where, in company 
with John Sylvester, he engaged in mercantile 
business. He now lives in Polk Co., Wis. 
Amos R. Sylvester received a common school 
education, and at the age of seventeen years, 
left home. He started in the world with fifty 
cents, which his mother had given him, being 
all the money she had. He served an appren- 
ticeship to learn the blacksmith trade, and after- 
wards was foreman in a shop at Camillxs, N . 



Y., where he was married Feb. 14, 1831. His 
wife died in Sylvester, Aug. 30, 1847, leaving 
five children — Richard, deceased; Abram W., 
Henry W., Mary, deceased; and Moses. He 
was again married Aug. 7, 1848, to Mrs.Loraine 
Rust, widow of Henry Ford. Mr. Sylvester 
was prominent in both town and county affairs, 
lie held the oflice of assessor seven years. He 
was one of the originators of the Insurance 
Company of Sylvester. He was killed by his 
team running away, Sept. 14, 1882. He was a 
much esteemed citizen. His widow still resides 
at the homestead. Charles Sylvester, who came 
at the same time as did Amos, married and went 
to Kansas; but later returned and now lives in 
Pc.lk Co., Wis. 

On the 2d of May, 1837, Davis Bowen, a na- 
tive of Virginia, came and entered land on sec- 
tion. 27, where he broke some land and erected 
a cabin. The following fall he returned to Vir- 
ginia, and brought his family back with him in 
the spring of 1838. He died in this town May 
6, 1867. 

James E. Bowen, a son of Davis Bowen, an 
old settler and prominent citizen, was born in 
Fayette Co , Penn., Sept. 25, 1825. He went 
with his father's family to Preston Co., Va., 
where they had many relatives, and resided un- 
til the spring of 1838. They then started, 
traveling with teams to the Ohio river, then by 
water, to Galena, 111., thence to Green county, 
arriving in the town of Sylvester, April 21. 
.James E. being quite young at that time, spent 
considerable time in hunting and fishing, with 
the young men of his age, sons of the earliest 
settlers of the county, who resided in that vicin- 
ity. He went back to Virginia in the fall of 
1848, and on his return to Green county, found 
when he arrived in St. Louis, that the Missis- 
sippi river was frozen, so took a steamer on the 
Illinois river and came as far as Urbana, where, 
on account of the ice, he left the boat and took 
passage by stage to Freeport, which was within 
twenty-five miles of his home, paying his fare 
to that point. On account of bad traveling hie 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1099 



was obliged to walk a good share of the time. 
Finally, becoming disgusted with that mode of 

I travel, he abandoned the stage, and struck out on 
foot for home, and walked a distance of sixty 
miles. He received a limited education in ihe 
common schools. In 1851 he went to Oregon 
and California, crossing the plains, having in 
charge six yoke of oxen, and arrived at the first 
settlement in Oregon on September 17. He 
engaged in mining in California until the spring 

I of 1853, when he returned to Green county by 

{ way of the Isthmus of Panama, New Orleans, 
and the Mississippi river. Since that time he 
has visited Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and 
Kansas. He was married March 17, 1859, to 
Martha A. Clark, who Avas born in Perry, Penn., 
Feb. 14,1829. Her parents wei'e natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and settled in Miami Co., Ohio, in an 
early day. They came to Green county in 1848 

{ and settled in the town of Decatur, where Mrs. 

! Bowen lived until the time of her marriage. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have two children- Davis 
and Susan H. Mr. Bowen is politically a dem- 
ocrat. He owns a fine farm of 440 acres, valued 
at |60 per acre. 

In the spring of 1838 Reese Rush came with 
his family and settled on section 35. 

Benjamin Mitchell, a brother of Jesse, came 
at about the same time. He was back and 
forth between this place and Pennsylvania, but 
finally settled here and is still a resident. 

i Benjamin Mitchell is a native of Fayette Co., 

! Penn., born in 1814. He grew to manhood and 
obtained his education in his native State. His 
parents were natives of the same State, and em- 
igrated to Green county in 1846. They reared 
a family of ten children, of whom Benjamin was 
the second. Mrs. Mitchell died in this county, 
in 1862, and Mr. Mitchell, in 1884. The sub- 
ject of this sketch came to Green county in the 
spring of 1838. He lived two years with his 
brother Jesse, then bought land and settled in 
the town of Spring Grove. He was married, in 
1855, to Elizabeth Conn, a native of Kentucky, 
born in 1833. He continued to live in Spring 



Grove until the spring of 1860, when he bought 
liis present home and removed to it. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mitchell have three children — Amanda, 
So[)hia and Carrie. Mrs. Mitchell and her two 
(laughters are members of the Baptist Church at 
Juda. Mr. Mitchell paid #20 per acre for his 
farm in 15 60, which contains eighty acres, now 
valued at |60 per acj'e. 

In the spring of 1839, there came a party 
from Fa\ ette Co., Penn., consisting of Dr. 
Griffith, Isaac Betts and family and Jacob 
Stull. 

At about this time the little settlement was 
visited by Abner Mitchell, the father of Jesse 
and Frank. The old gentleman shortly after- 
ward became a resident of the county. Abner 
was a preacher of the Baptist faith, and fre- 
quently lield services in the neighborhood. 

T. W. Thompson, a native of New York city, 
came to Green county, at a very early day, and 
settled in the town of Cadiz. In the fall of 
1838, he came to the town of Sylvester, and 
settled on section 11, where he lived until the 
time of his death. The family remained upon 
the place for several years, then the widow 
lived with her children in various places. 

In May, 1839, Justus Sutherland and family 
came from Coles Co., 111., having originally 
come from Madison Co., X. Y. Justus Suther- 
land located on sections 10 and H, where he 
lived until the time of his death in December, 
1873. The little old log cabin, which was 
erected in 1839, still stands in a fair state of 
preservation, while near by stands the dwelling 
which was afterward erected, furnishing a 
marked contrast. Mr. Sutherland was seventy- 
six years of age when he died. He was born in 
the State of Vermont in 1797, emigrated to the 
State of New York, from thereto Illinois, and 
from thence to Green county. He left at the 
time of his death, a wife and ten children. The 
widowdied in April, 1875. The children were 
—John and Andrew, who now live in Mon- 
roe; J. A., who lives in Sylvester; George, 
who is in business in Monroe; Samuel, who is 



1100 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



now in Dakota; Arick, who still occupies the 
old homestead; Jerusha, tlie oldest girl, mar- I 
ried Abner Long, and now lives in Dakota; 
Hannah married Mr. Yant, and now lives in 
Iowa; Kate married J. W. F. Randall, and now 
lives in Monroe; and Mary, unmarried, now 
lives on the homestead. 

With this party, when they came to the town 
of Sylvester, came two of Mr. Sutherland's 
sisters: Mrs. Rachel Sylvester, mother of A. R.; 
and Mrs. Jerusha Colton. Mrs. Sylvester set- 
tled on land on section 21, where she lived with 
her son, Charles, for a few years; then broke 
up housekeeping, and lived with A. R., her son, 
until her death. She had four sons — John took 
land adjoining his mother, where he lived a few 
years, then went to Belleville, Dane county, 
where he went into business. He died a num- 
ber of years ago, in Kentucky. Harlow Sylves- 
ter came here several years after the arrival of 
his mother, and settled on section 3. H« lived 
there a number of years, then removed to Madi- 
son, to school his children at the university 
and still lives upon a farm near that city. The 
youngest son married Miranda Hills and, 
settled on a farm on sections 1 and 12. He lived 
there a while, then bought and entered land 
on section 10, where he lived a few years, then 
left and now lives in Polk Co.. Wis. 

Mrs. Jerusha Colton entered land and settled 
on section 9, where she lived until the time of 
her death. Her youngest son, Melzar, still lives 
upon the old homestead; John, the oldest son, 
took land adjoining his mother's, married Eliza- 
beth Hilborn, and lived there until the time of 
his death. His widow is now in Dakota. Mrs. 
Colton had one daughter, who married Nelson 
Hills and settled on section 3. She died in 
1883, in Polk county, where they had moved 
after a number of years residence in Sylvester. 

Sylvester Hills also came in the fall of 1838, 
from the State of New York, He located on 
section 21, where he lived eight or ten years, 
then went to a farm on sections 4 and 9. He 



remained there for a number of years, then 
removed to Albany. He died in 1880, while 
visiting one of his daughters in this town. His 
widow died in 1883. 

A. G. Houghton, a native of Kentucky, came 
here in 1 838 and entered four "eighties" and 
one "forty" on sections 35 and 36. His parents 
had settled at Springfield, 111., and he struck 
out for the lead mines at Galena and Mineral 
Point, before the Black Hawk War. A few 
years later he came to Monroe, where for a time 
he was postmaster, and finally to the town of 
Sylvester. He was a single man. Bringing a 
team and plow with him, he broke a few acres 
for himself and some for Davis Bowen and 
Henry Miner. About 1853 he was married to 
Priscilla Summerill, a school teacher. They 
lived in the town for ten or twelve years after 
that time, when he sold out and went to An- 
drew Co., Mo., where he died. 

Others who should be mentioned as early set- 
tlers in this town are : Daniel Wessel, John 
Chryst, Mr. Roderick, Jacob Stauffacher and 
Samuel Vaiice. 

Jacob A. Stauffacher was born in Switzerland, 
in December, 1835. He came with his parents, 
Anton and Anna Stauffacher, to Green county in 
1845. After living in New Glarus six weeks, 
the family came to Sylvester, and the father 
worked out for three years at fifty cents pe 
day, boarding himself. In 1848 he bought a 
farm in Mount Pleasant, where he lived until 
his death, with the exception of six months he 
lived with his son, Isaiah, in the town of Sylves- 
ter, where he died Nov. 5, 1883. The mother died 
July 4, 1879. There was a family of nine chil- 
dren, six boys and three girls — Jacob, Mathias, 
Anton, Isaiah, John, Edward, Anna, Barbara 
and Mary. Jacob, the subject of this sketch, 
received a common school education, and was 
married Dec. 7, 1871, to Cathai-ine Luchsinger, 
who was born in Switzerland, in June, 1832. They 
have five children — Anton, Lucinda, Gilbert 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



llOl 



Edwin and Emma. The farm contains 225 
acres, which makes a desirable home. 

Samuel Vance, one of the pioneers of the 
town of Sylvester, first located on section 6, of 
the town of Jefferson, in 1845, but the following 
year, sold out, and entered forty acres in Syl- 
vester, on which he still resides, also purchased 
the northwest quarter of section 33, of Whit- 
ney and Ripley, for which lie paid $200. He 
has been a large land holder, owning a 
one time, 468 acres. He paid $29 per acre 
for the last land that he purchased. He was 
married in Pennsylvania, Feb. 16, 1841, to 
Lavina Johns, a 'native of Fayette county of that 
State. They had seven children — James P., 
George D., John B., Hugh J., Ezekiel T., Dan- 
iel W. and Rebecca R. His wife died April 4, 
1883. She was, with her husband, a member 
in good standing, of the Baptist Church in Juda. 
Samuel Vance was born in George township, 
Fayette Co., Penn., Feb. 21, 1816. His father 
was a native of Ireland, and his mother of 
Switzerland. She came with her parents to 
America when three years old. Samuel ob- 
tained a common school education in his native 
county where his younger days were spent, and 
was engaged in farming previous to coming to 
this county. 

REMINISCENCE. 
[By T. B. Sutherland] 

We are asked to sketch from memory a few 
items of the early history of Green county. 
While any person's life is a history that would 
interest most readers if written up with the 
vivid delineation that flows from the pen of 
Hugo; yet while to live, history is a natural 
sequence of life, to write it is another thing. 
Having written this much of preliminary, I will 
try and render the little assistance I can in 
helping to preserve the memory of the times in 
which I have lived. Hoping that all who read 
may not read to criticize, but with charity for 
the failings I am but too conscious of. 

My earliest recollections of my own life is 
when my father and family lived near the resi- 



dence of D. W. Sutherland, where they first 
settled after their removal here from Darien, 
Genesee Co., N. Y. I was born in Darien, N. 
Y., on the 29th of September, 1834. I will re- 
cite a few of the incidents of my life which al- 
though they may seem very common place and 
uninteresting to most readers, made a lasting 
impression upon my mind during the period of 
early childhood. I have a faint recollection of 
chills and fever, which though almost universal, 
and oft recurring in many cases, left me after 
three weeks never to return. William C. Green 
was my first teacher. Being a great friend of 
my father's he often trundled me on his knee, 
and used to tell me if I would learn fast and 
grow up a good man, I should have a certain 
daughter of his of my own age, for a wife, and 
amuse himself hearing me spell whig — hwig. I 
remember Gov. Henry Dodge visited the family 
as he did many families in the then Territory, 
he being engaged in a controversy with the 
wild cat banks of the time, discussed the ques- 
tions of the day, the bank question among the 
rest, my father he being opposed to such unsta- 
ble institutions. And, that after insisting on 
paying for his entertainment and lodging, and 
the refusal of the older members to take pay, 
he gave me one of the dollars of our daddies 
because my name was Thomas Benton, as he 
said a sound money man. 

When our family removed to section 15, town- 
ship 2 north, range 8 east, since named Sylvester, 
a distance of seven miles, we passed only three 
houses, and there were only eighty rods between 
the two farthest. Our house 18x20 feet inside 
was surrounded by grass five to seven feet high, 
and a spring of thirty feet in circumference and 
three feet deep was searched in vain' for by 
the three younger members of the family, a re- 
ward being offered if we found it that night, 
which we failed to do. A huge fire place sup- 
plied heat and a place to cook our food. 

There were at this time five boys — Martin, 
John, Solomon, James and myself, (Thomas) 
and two girls — Esther Jane and Frank C, 



1102 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



making, with our parents, nine persons. In June, 
1843, a heavy fall of rain for three days, with 
intervals between showers, so swelled the little 
rivulets near the house, that it became a rushing 
torrent of forty rods in width, submerging every 
foot of ground about the house. The little 
chicks first sought safety on one point, and then 
on another, on the mound of chips near the 
house, and then the house. Soon the floor, 
(which was of loose or un-nailed boards), began 
to float, and the chickens and children sought 
the loft for safety. It was from the efforts on 
the part of my father to secure and save his 
floating property, that he, by over exertion and 
exposure, became the victim of miasmatic influ- 
ences in the form known as chills and fever. 
The news of his illness brought to his bedside 
many friends, one of whom influenced him to 

send for a so-called doctor, who by the wicked- 
est of lies, cheated him into taking calomel, and 
thereby becoming salivated, and dying from the 
terrible poisoning, after weeks of untold suffer- 
ing; being unable to take nourishment, as one of 
his nurses has since told me, for three weeks. The 
loss of my father, I have always considered the 
greatest calamity of my life. Thus left an or- 
phan at the early age of six years, the youngest 
of the second family, having one own sister, my 
mother and three half brothers. I grew up with 
the country, vegetating through years of monot- 
onous misery, seeing little outside of a few ad- 
joining farms, attending school a few weeks in 
each succeeding winter, when too often the ped- 
agogues simply taught because they were good 
for nothing else. One of the first I remember 
about, being incapable of interesting his class 
in the rules of orthography, etc., as taught in 
the first pages of the old elementary spelling 
book, undertook to frighten, and even succeeded 
in so frigiitening his class that they did actually 
improve in recitations; by making them believe 
he would be obliged to hang them if they failed 
again. He covered his face with his hands, and 
emitted groans and shed tears until he drew 
tears from the eyes of his class. The school 



room was a log house, situated on the northwest 
quarter of section 15, of what is now the town 
of Sylvester. It was erected by the united ef- 
forts of the citizens. The house was heated by 
a fireplace; the wood being cut at noon by the 
big boys. Fuel was donated and hauled to the 
school by its patrons. This school house has an 
interesting histqry of its own. But to continue 
about schools — another teacher was called "too 
baby," because he was so effeminate. It was 
fine sport for the boys to hunt rabbits at noon; 
and they never could hear the rap of the rule 
on the window, which was the teacher's only 
call, until the last boy was tired of the sport. 
Thus it was that, on a certain occasion, when 
two of the county school commissioners, (there 
were three for the county; whose duties were 
somewhat similar to that of the county superin- 
tendent at the present time), came to visit our 
school, were surprised about half past 2 o'clock, 
by the appearance of a company of fifteen boys, 
ranging from seven to twenty years of age, who 
appeared at the school room door, under the 
leadership of Capt, C, F, Thompson, with all 
the pomp and pride of conquering warriors. In 
fact the surprise seemed to paralyze both par- 
ties for an instant. The commissioners, how- 
ever, S. P. Condel and E. T. Gardiner, when 
they understood the importance of our mission, 
and that we were regularly mustered into the 
service, and out on duty, with some effort sup- 
pressed their smiles, and gravely admonished us 
to use a degree of moderation in the exercise of 
our duties; when our captain blandly explained 
that we did not take as extensive exercise, except 
on very tine days, like the present one, which 
was very bright and sunny, as our wet garments 
from wading in the snow, knee deep, gave tes- 
timony. 

Another teacher was that poor, unfortunate J, 
L, Brows, once captain of Her Majesty, Queen 
Victoria's body guard, and who claimed a col- 
legiate education and the mastery of seven dif- 
ferent languges, with many other distinguished 
accomplishments. He did not believe in a re. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1103 



publican government, and desired to make it 
ludicrous in the eyes of his pupils. Thus, if 
they were boisterous and noisy, he would 
laugh and say: "Such is the result of Ameri- 
can free institutions; there is no government 
about the American system." If any one sug- 
gested that he should keep better order, he 
would reply: "Hit's a free country, let them 
'ave their freedom." If any quarrels were going 
on, and he was appealed to, he would reply: 
"Oh, hit's a free country, let them fight hit out." 
When he thought us tired of sitting, or uncom- 
fortably cold, he would call us out on the floor, 
and forming the old fashioned figure four, 
would whistle for us to dance. Our studies 
were limited to the three R's, in the parlance 
of the olden time, with spelling. School some- 
times commenced by reading a chapter or two 
from the Bible; then the class, often consisting 
of twenty pupils, in the old English reader, 
would read from one book, passing it from one 
to the other; then a class of new beginners read 
short sentences from the old elementary spell- 
ing book. 

My earliest recollections of religious services 
are those that were held in this old school 
house by Rev. James Sherrad, of the Christian 
denomination, and then a man by the name of 
Lowe, of the same Church, held services off and 
on for about two years; the former being a man 
of culture from the State of New York, and the 
latter an uncultured Hoosier, one of those ne'er 
do well, happy and easy sort, who claimed to 
have been called to preach, but who called very 
few to hear. This man usually stopped at our 
house for dinner, and after his noon day pipe 
would saunter out into the adjoining woods, and 
within an hour or two would come back, ex- 
pressing his admiration of nature, the soothing 
effect of the balmy air of the shady grove. The 
fact soon developed that he was hiving the bees 
that congregated near the door, and that he 
was a very good bee-hiver. But the path of 
duty is often rewarded by a crown of thorns; 
and so it came about that after the third suc- 



cess in his after sermon bee-hiving, some half 
dozen of the mischievous young Americans of 
the neighborhood congregated one Sabbath af- 
ternoon and turned this field of afternoon ser- 
mon meditation into one of boisterous hilarity. 
The prize of the zealous Christian was appro- 
priated by the unruly Sabbath-breakers. The 
sound of the ax was heard; the voice of the 
thunders announced the fall of the mighty oak, 
and the bees were overpowered with fire and 
smoke; then the pillage and its result; colic to 
the victors, who left the field one by one, ex- 
])ressing sweet satisfaction in their share of the 
spoils. They would saunter off toward the 
house, quickening their pace to a run as soon 
as out of sight of the unsatisfied, and when they 
reached the house, presented faces contorted 
with pain and cried out for sweet milk as an an- 
tidote. 

At the age of thirteen, 1 attended school in 
the same district where I first commenced my 
education. The teacher, Ozara Stearns, was 
very energetic and forcible in his work. (He 
has since been United States senator to fill 
vacancy from Minnesota.) During my four- 
teenth year I attended school in the old log 
house, which, by the way, was our first home 
in the town of Sylvester. The teacher was 
George Mclntyre, of the State of New York. 
The next summer a new school house was built on 
the northwest corner of the northeast quarter 
of section 10. Being painted red, it was called 
the Red school house. Here I attended school 
a few weeks, but the measles being prevalent, 
and myself one of the victims, I received but 
little benefit from the school. 

At the age of sixteen, (my brother, Martin, 
having died, and some changes being neces- 
sary), I went from home to work for my 
brother, A. I. I then went home for a month; 
thence to A. R. Sylvester, wliere, on the 3d of 
July, after working hard, and it being a very 
hot day, I went in bathing, and so injured my 
health that I became an invalid; and for sev- 
eral years during this time, I must acknowledge 



1104 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



the extreme kindness of ray brother's family. 
The natural kindness and solicitude of an af- 
fectionate mother, and the forbearance and 
liberality of my brother, Solomon, which was 
fully equalled by the kindness and generous 
helping hands of my sister-in-law, Mrs. Ellen 
Sutherland. 

In the spring of 1858, I started with my 
cousin, W. W. Sutherland, to look for govern- 
ment land, walking from the town of Sylvester 
to Chippewa Falls, with the exception of a 
ride on the cars of sixty miles, and two miles 
in a wagon. We walked over fifty miles one 
day, and for several days made from forty to 
forty-five miles. In the fall of 1860, I cast my 
first vote for President, voting for Stephen A. 
Douglas. Having gone through that exciting 
campaign, supporting him and his policy of 
government, actively and enthusiastically, feel- 
ing that a failure to elect would bring war and 
all its accompanying disasters. I had on elec- 
tion day left ray raother quite unwell; she hav- 
ing been an invalid for fifteen years and often 
seriously ill. Supposing there was no immedi- 
ate danger, and my sister, F. C, being with her, 
I only returned to find her on her death-bed. 
The last long sleep of life had fallen upon her. 
Thus she passed from earth as she had lived, in 
peace and quietness, with none to blame, but 
many to bless. If fault she had, as is but human 
nature, the greatest was in generosity and self- 
sacrifice. Being my father's second wife and 
sister of the first, she had been a mother to his 
children years before her sister's death, her 
sister being in poor health. After her sister's 
death, she took full charge of the family, the 
youngest being a mere babe. After the older 
boys were grown to manhood, it was necessary 
to come into the far west away from all the old 
friends and early surroundings that there could 
be a home secured for all. This she cheerfully 
consented to do, knowing and feeling that her 
own children must be deprived of the benefits 
of her already hard earned right to the enjoy- 
ment of all the privileges of the society that 



had become established and organized by the 
kindred spirits of her old New England home, 
with schools and Churches. A country abund- 
antly supplied with fruit, and endowed by all 
the privileges that tended to make life pleasant 
and secured home comforts. On the death of 
my father, his only will was to charge my older 
brothers to be kind to her, always furnish her a 
good home, with its necessary comforts; to give 
his children a home and an education. It was 
then that her great life trials commenced, and 
well did she fill her part, laboring with head 
and heart and hands from long before dawn, 
often into the small hours of the beginning of 
the coming day dawn, cheerfully, hopefully 
without the asking of others, working because 
work accumulated, as work one must with a family 
of from six to nine, where, as in the olden time, 
hand carding, spinning, weaving, hand-made 
clothing, and the everlasting knitting must be 
done. Still her heart was borne up with her 
truly Christian spirit, and the patient, pleasant 
smile. The oft quoted Bible maxim, the wis- 
dom of poor Richards sayings and raaxiras; the 
wit and wisdom of Franklin; bits of poetry 
from Burns, Dryden, Pope, Campbell and 
Shakespear, Moore, Scott, and others. Now 
and thcQ snatches of hymns, full of plans for 
others, always oblivious of self. She carried 
her part and did the work more than her 
strength was sufficient for, until finally her con- 
stitution gave way; lung fever, followed by 
permanent weakness of the lungs, and then 
consumption, slow, but carrying its seal of death 
always in view, no one knowing the day or the 
hour. If it be possible to earn in this life a re- 
ward in the life to come, her reward must be 
great indeed. 

Then came the anxiety of National affairs; 
the old slow way of getting in the returns had 
to be endured. Finally the defeat of Douglas 
came; and though young in political experience, 
it seemed as if the future was opened to rae. 
The night after the news came, not a minute did 
I close my eyes. War, with all its concomitant 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1105 



horrors, seemed a certainty to me. Then oame 
the discussion, public debates and constant agi- 
tation of the questions of compromise or war, 
in which I took an active part as a conservative, 
upholding J. J. Crittenden's compromise reso- 
lutions; feeling sure the predictions of A. H. 
Stephens wouki be realized if the south rushed 
headlong into secession. She would lose her 
cherished curse of slavery, and be whipped 
back into the Union, deprived of her rights of 
free government, because the rule of force 
would have to be resorted to. Thus time passed, 
and the war came, with a feeling that there was 
much wrong on both sides. But having been 
taught from childhood, as all democrats of the 
time were taught, the Union must be preserved 
at all hazards, "or liberty dies;" and having 
worn the talismanic banner on my "little Giant 
hat" during the Douglas campaign, though 
scoffed at by those who now cried out that all 
were disunion unless they supported and sanc- 
tioned all that was done by the republican ad- 
ministration and Congress. I still clung to the 
Union as the only salvation of the Nation, oc- 
cupying the position of peace-maker. 

The memory of the war times seems like a 
terrible night-mare. Prominent republicans 
jumping up and down and swearing that even 
Abraham Lincoln ought to be shot or hung for 
countermanding Gen. Fremont's order in regard 
to slavery. At the same time listening and ap- 
plauding some soft-brained orator, made wild by 
the sudden acquisition of power by the repub- 
lican party, advocating tlie hanging of some 
garulous southern sympathizing, though good- 
hearted and harmless old lady of the neighbor- 
hood. The riding on rails of good Union men, 
and even republicans, because they would not 
subscribe to Gen. Pope's orders, issued on a 
rebel community, in a secession State, in our 
county seat. 

A mob having been organized by some of the 
citizens of Monioe, based on the story of some 
ignorant supeistitious person, that a company 
of secessionists were being organized, or likely 



to be, undertook to enforce this order of Gen. 
Pope's, requiring all persons to subscribe an 
oath to support the constitution of the United 
States. 

A citizen of the town of Sylvester was asked 
and refused to sign, saying, he being a justice 
of the peace, he had already taken such an oath, 
in accordance with law, and should not comply 
with the demands of a mob, nor otherwise en- 
courage them. He was first egged, then rode 
on a rail. Still refusing, he was given twenty- 
four hours to leave the county, or be hung. A 
large number of the citizens of the county took 
the matter in hand, knowing the old man to be 
in no way a dangerous person, and although not 
particularly conciliatory in speech and manner, 
and a man of stubborn will; one who had never 
forfeited his rights to protection fi'om violence, 
and a man feeble in health and strength, called 
a meeting to be held at the house of J. Chryst, 
in the town of Jefferson, he being at the head 
of the movement. About 200 assembled there, 
and resolved to protect all law abiding citizens 
from mob violence from whatever source; my- 
self being on the committee of resolutions. 
The meeting then appointed a committee to go 
to Madison with the person threatened — Shel- 
don Rust — and present his case to Gov. Har- 
vey. I. Chryst, William Rittenhouse and S. 
Roub were of the committee. They started 
the next day, and on presenting the case to the 
governor, were told that they need fear no fur- 
ther threats, that he would inform the gentle- 
men at Monroe that he was chief executive of 
the State of Wisconsin, and to disband all un- 
lawful organizations or he would have them ar- 
rested. Thus ended a most shameful attempt 
on the part of a few individuals to over-ride all 
law, and popularize themselves through violent 
demonstrations, in putting down rebellion 
where none existed. 

On the 5th of October, 1864, a draft was is- 
sued against the town of Sylvester for thirteen 
men to report at Prairie du Chien on the 20th of 
that month. B Fitch, A. W. Sutherland, S. Cot- 



1106 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



lerman, J. Stephenson, Webster Lindley, Reu- 
ben Coldren and B. Sutherland were among the 
number that reported. I think the number wanted 
was five. Two took French leave ; the rest re- 
ported, and were given time to fill the quota 
with volunteers, which they found no trouble 
in doing, though they had to pay well for them. 
Your humble servant being the last on the 
list, the quota was full long before reaching 
his name, and he .was therefore exempted 
for one year. After giving about $50 to help 
out the ones enrolled, he returned home to re- 
flect upon the sincerity of certain persons who 
had always opposed raising bounty by town 
tax, declaring that a draft was the only fair way 
of filling the quota of towns, but when drafted, 
whined and cried over their hard fate. This 
was the last and only draft levied on our town. 
In spite of a strong opposition on the part of a 
few, a liberal bounty was voted and the quota 
of the town promptly filled. 

I remained a conservative, supporting the 
war as a necessity of the times and the Union, 
at all hazards, except the curtailment of liberty; 
voting bounties with the majority of our citi* 
zens, to soldiers ; support to soldiers' families ; 
soldiers' relief fund, to alleviate suffering from 
the vicissitudes of war, and supply the wants 
of the suffering in camp, fields or ho.spital. 

The report of battles brought more pain than 
joy, though the victory for the Union had its 
mead of safisfaction. The wavering and fluctu- 
ating of the public mind had little influence ; 
it was too often upon a pinacle of glory and 
triumph, aud then down deep in the slough of 
despair. My faith in the ultimate result of 
victory for the Union never left me, 
though the time dragged heavily, and ter- 
ribly lengthened, until hopes seemed almost 
against fate. The time came, that memo- 
rable day in 1865, reaching our isolated 
town without telegraph, steam propeller or 
railroads, as the winds of Heaven sweep o'er 
the face of the earth, bringing life and joy on 
Hs wings. Thus came the news from one voice, 



to be re-echoed by another, and then another, 
until joy filled the breasts of all — even the few 
whose whole sympathy seemed with the south. 
The glorious old flag was honored always and 
at all times by our patriotic citizens, and the 
glory of its victory crowned with peace and 
heralded by fraternal solicitude. 

I have written this much of the history of the 
war time to insure the proud record of the fra- 
ternity, and the strong ties of neighborly friend- 
ship that bound our citizens together and pre- 
vented the alienation and estrangement of 
friends and neighbors duriiig the terribly ex- 
citing period of war. Though many were of 
of southern birth and education, with strong 
sympathy and fillially bound to our combatants 
south; as one who stood between the two ex- 
tremes of Garrisonians and the followers of 
Breckinridge, I give testimony that all joined 
in the work of carrying on the War for the 
Union, and in the course of events developed 
patriotism and loyalty in every citizen of our 
town, even to protecting our citizens from mob- 
violence without I'esorting to violent means, 
and without distinction of party or place of 
birth, or difference of opinion. 

Now, that the passions of individuals are 
buried by the charity we must have for all, let 
passionate words be buried in the oblivion of 
time. Their acts alone can tell the true im- 
pulse of their natures. 

Truly may we believe the free institutions of 
our fathers must and always will be preserved, 
where such men as were leaders actively en- 
gaged in moulding public opinion in the town 
of Sylvester in those times that tried men's 
souls. 

MATTERS OF INTEREST. 

The first celebration of the 4th of July, was 
liehl at Justus Sutherland's in 1847. Reuben 
Stevens beat the drum with Daniel Wessel 
iuid N. Heinstret. In raising the liberty pole 
which was spliced and put up through a tree, it 
broke, and was cut off and spliced, and the flag- 
then unfurled from it. An oration was deliv; 
ered by a man from near Monticello. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1107 



The first murder committed in the town was 
that of F. Ohm, who was killed by his son, 
Fred, in June, 1878. The murderer had two 
trials and was finally sentenced to States prison 
for life. 

The first death in the town was that of 
Joshua Davis, an estimable young man who 
came from Fayette Co., Penn., with Joseph 
Woodle. He was taken sick with fever and 
died in the winter of 1887-8. His remains 
were buried on the southwest quarter of section 
35, near what was then known as Rock Spring, 
but were subsequently disinterred and now rest 
in the Mount Vernon cemetery. 

The first blacksmith shop in the town was 
opened on section 35, in 1837, by Joseph 
Woodle. 

An early school in the town was taught in 
the winter of 1840-41, in a small house on sec- 
tion 35, which had been erected by Joseph 
Woodle for a blacksmith shop. It was taught 
" by Isaac Woodle, a graduate of Washington 
University, Pennsylvania. He afterward 
studied law with Judge Whiting, of Janesville, 
and began practice. When the v\ar broke out 
he enlisted, served as quartermaster of Gov. 
Barstow's regiment, and died in the service. 

The first school in the northern' part of the 
town was taught by Paul Chandler,who afterward 
died of hydrophobia in 1855. Levi Leonard, 
step-father of Burr W. Jones, the present con- 
gressman from this district, was also an early 
teacher. It was in a building that had been 
erected by the settlers on section 15, in Decem- 
ber, 1840. The term was commenced in the 
house of Justus Sutherland in order to secure 
the apportionment of the school funds, and was 
finished in the building that was erected. 
Among the scholars were Solomon Sutherland, 
Melzar Colton, T. B. Sutherland, Chloe Suther- 
land, James, John T. and John Sutherland. 

One of the first marriages in the town — if not 
the first — was that of William Baird to Eliza- 
beth Woodle, daughter of Joseph Woodle. The 



ceremony was performed on the 4th of July, 
1839, by Rev. Daniel Harcourt. It was after 
the 4th of July celebration at New Mexico 
had been participated in by the parties, and all 
partook of a good dinner, although there was 
no display. 

Among the early settlers was Jacob Stauf- 
facber, who located on section 6, in 1845. Like 
many others he was very short of money. Dur- 
ing the first three years of his residence here, 
the only money which he became possessor of, 
was ten cents, and that he borrowed from Syl- 
vester Hills, by whom he was at that time 
employed. This money was borrowed to pay 
one of the pioneers who had the instruments 
and was an expert tooth puller, for pulling one 
of Mr. Stauffacher's teeth, which had been 
aching for several days. On arriving at the 
"dentist's" he was told that the charges would 
be twelve cents, and he would not pull the tooth 
without the additional two cents. Mr. Stauf- 
facher plead, but in vain, and almost distracted 
with pain, he went and borrowed the other tico 
cents and paid the dentist, and had his tooth 
drawn. Our informant refused to give the name 
of the dentist. The tools (turnkey) with which 
this job was performed are now in the possess- 
ion of Arick Sutherland. 

Ball's mill is located on Reeder's branch on 
section 22. On this site a saw mill was erected 
by Amos R. Sylvester, in 1843, a frame build- 
ing having been put up, 45x18 feet in size. 
Later a turning lathe was added and also a 
blacksmith shop. A sash saw was put in and 
afterward a muUey saw. A good water power 
was furnished here and a large business was 
done. Mr. Sylvester ran the mill until 1865, 
when S. D. Ball, the present pi'oprietor, pur- 
chased it. 

Samuel D. Ball was born in Erie Co., Penn., 
Nov. 6, 1818. He is a son of Gary and Polly 
(Davis) Ball, natives of Pennsylvania. Samuel 
was the second of eleven children. In 1842 he 
came to Green county and located on section 25, 
town of Sylvester. He lived there until 1860, 



1108 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



when he erected the Marion House at Jucla. 
He also erected a flouring mill at Juda. lu 
1865 he pui'chased the mill and place where he 
still resides. His farm contains 1 76 acres. He 
is a republican, politically. On the 1st of June, 
1840, he was united in marriage with Lydia 
Montgomery. She was born in Ashtabula Co., 
Ohio, May 6, 1822. Seven children is the re- 
sult of this union — Martha J., Theresa P., 
George G., Charlotte M., Lettie M., Frederick 
G. and Franklin R. Mr. Ball is the originator 
and builder of the political car in 1860, of which 
mention is made elsewhere. 

The McCracken mill was built by Joseph Mc- 
Cracken. He put up a frame building about 
36x50 feet in size, equipped it with an old- 
fashioned sash saw and for propelling motor 
used a fifteen horse power. Mr. McCracken 
sold to Mr. Mosher. Tlien it was owned suc- 
cessively by Messrs. Scoville, Henry Bowell, 
Samuel Dennis, and in the fall of 1883, E. K. 
Albright purchased the property and is the 
present proprietor. 

In the spring of 1873 a company was formed 
consisting of Jacob Stauffacher, Jacob Luch- 
singer and Henry Babler, for the purpose of 
erecting and operating a cheese factory. The 
same spring a building was erected on section 
6, on Jacob Stauflacher's farm. It was a neat 
fram building 14x16 feet in size, one story high. 
In this the cheese was made, milk being pur- 
chased from the neighboring farmers and 
worked into cheese here. It was run as a cheese 
factory until it was burned in June, 1878. At 
that time a new building was erected, 18x20 feet 
in size, one story high, on the site of the old 
building, in which the business is still carried 
on. The present proprietors are Peter Stauf- 
facher & Bros. 

The Nevada Cheese Factory was established 
in the spring of 1877. A building 18x50 feet in 
size, two stories high, was erected by S. D. Ball. 
Chris Carlan carried on the business until 1880, 
when Mr. Ball put in a set of machinery and 



ran it until the fall of 1882 when he sold the 
machinery and closed out the business. 

James Harker carried on a blacksmithing 
business from 1870 for a number of years. 

In the summer of 1883 W.W. Kellogg scraped 
out around a spring on his farm on section 
20, and made a carp pond, in which he placed 
fifty carp procured of the fisli commissioner at 
Washington. It is now owned by Charles W. 
Read. 

OFFICIAL. 

The first election in the town of Sylvester 
was held at the house of Amos R. Sylvester, on 
section 22, on the 3d of April, 1849. The fol- 
lowing town officers were elected: Supervi- 
sors, T. W. Thompson, chairman, Reujben D. 
Stephens and Joseph Reeder; clerk, Martin C. 
Sutherland; assessor, Cyrus Benson; treasurer, 
A. K. Sylvester; superintendent of schools, S. 
P. Campbell; justices of the peace, A. R. Syl- 
vester, Joseph McCracken, Justus Sutherland, 
and Henry Burkey; constables, James Brood, 
A. W. Sutherland and Edgar Bowen. The 
judges of this election were Joseph McCracken, 
Davis Bowen and Samuel Vance; the clerks 
were Daniel Murdock and Jacob Leonard. 

On the 23d of August, 1864, a special town 
meeting was held by the voters of the town at 
the house of A. R. Sylvester, which resulted in 
raising a tax for the purpose of paying town 
bounties to volunteers to the amount of $1,800, 
which sum was placed upon the tax rolls of that 
year. 

On the 27th of December, 1864, an election 
was called for the purpose of voting a special 
tax to raise $200 for each man who should vol- 
unteer into the service of the United States, 
and be accredited to the quota of the town. 
This was in answer to the President's call for 
300,000 men, issued in December, 1864, and to 
fill all former deficiencies. The election resulted 
in a majority for the tax. 

In 1884 the town officers were as follows: 
Supervisors, E. J. Dodge, chairman, William 
F. Moore and Henry Roderick; clerk, G. H. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1109 



Pengra; assessor, Charles J. Stephenson; treas- 
urer, R. C. Murdock; justices of the peace, M. 
H. Pengra, Melzar Colton and T. B. Suther- 
land; constable, William Beckett. 

SYLVESTER MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY. 

The Mutual Insurance Company of the town 
of Sylvester, Green county, was organized under 
chapter 103, laws of 1872, with twenty-nine 
stockholders, who had subscribed $53,600 in 
stock. They met Jan. 7, 1873, and elected the 
following directors: Benjamin Harlan, M. H, 
Pengra, William Duboise, John Brown and W. 
H. Covell. The officers were: B. L. Hoyland, 
president; M. H. Pengra, secretary; and John 
Brown, treasurer. 

The object of the organization was to insure 
against loss by fire or lightning, farm buildings 
and their contents, such as stock, farm produce, 
etc. The company collects no funds except a 
fee of two mills on each dollar of insurance. 
Eleven years have passed since its organization, 
during which time only two assessments have 
been made, one of four, and one of two mills on 
each dollar of insurance. The amount of assess- 
ments during the eleven years have thus been 
only six mills on the dollar. 

From the original amount of $53,600, the 
stock subscribed has increased until in January, 
1884, it amounted to $213,480, while there was 
a surplus fund in the treasury of $237.83. In 
1884 the directors and officers of the company 
were: Henry Roderick, president; M. H. Pen- 
gra, secretary; J. A. Sutherland, treasurer; 
William C. Gorham and Jacob Stauffacher. 
Annual meetings are held in January. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The first building in the town erected for 
school purposes was located on the northeast 
corner of section 26, on land owned by George 
West. It was erected in 1845 by the voluntary 
contribution of the settlers. It was a log house, 
16x18 feet in size, covered with shakes, with 
rough boards for the floor. 

The first school here was a summer term 
taught by Polly Phillips. A term of school 



vvas also taught the following winter by a Mr. 
Ross. This building was afterward rebuilt, 
made higher, and used by Mr. West as a tene- 
ment house. 

The first school in the town was taught by 
William C. Green in the winter of 1839-40, in 
a log building located on section 30. Mr. Green 
was afterward superintendent of schools and 
was a prominent man in educational affairs. He 
died in this county. 

There was no regularly organized school dis- 
trict here until after, the organization of the 
town, in the spring of 1849. At this time the 
town was divided into three districts, compris- 
ing territory as follows: District No, 1 em- 
braced sections 1, 2, 11 and 12; district No. 2 
embraced sections 3, 4, 9 and 10; district No. 3 
embraced sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, and the 
southeast quarter of section 15, and the north- 
east quarter of section 22. In 1850 school build- 
ings were erected in all of these districts; those 
in Nos. 1 and 2, being frame, and the one in No. 
3, being stone. 

The building in No. 1 was rebuilt, and in 1 884 
was still used. This building is located on the 
southeast corner of section 2. In 1884 it had 
an attendance of thirty-seven. 

The building in district No. 2 was located on 
section 10. This building was afterward sold, 
and is now used as a residence. A new school 
house was erected on the southeast corner of 
section 4, which is still used for school purposes. 
The attendance is fifty-one. 

The school house in district No. 3 was located 
on section 24. The building was used for school 
purposes until the summer of 1883, when it was 
torn down and the material used in the construc- 
tion of a new house, which was erected on sec- 
tion 23. The first teacher was Abigail Decker, 
who had an attendance of about twenty. Her 
school was commenced in a room in the house 
of P. Hopkins, on section 23, and continued 
there until the new house was completed. In 
1884 the attendance was twenty-three. 



1110 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



District No. 4 includes sections 5, 6, 7 and 8. 
A stone building was erected in 1850, on sec- 
tion 5, which is still in use. There is an attend- 
ance here of fifty pupils. 

District No. 5 embraces the southeast of the 
southwest quarter, and the southeast quarter of 
section 20; the south half of sections 21 and 22; 
sections 27 and 28; and the east half and the 
northwest quarter of section 29. A frame house 
was erected on section 28, which was used until 
the summer of 1881, when it was replaced by a 
new frame building, erected on the old site. In 
1 884 there were twenty-five children of school 
age in the district. 

District No. 6 embraces all of section 15, ex- 
cept the southeast quarter, sections 16, 17 and 
18, the north half of sections 19, 20 and 21, and 
the northwest quarter of section 22. The school 
house is frame and is located on section 21. 
This district was organized in 1857. 

Joint district No. 7 includes the teiriiory in 
this town, and in Monroe. The school house is 
located on the northwest corner of section 31. 
There are fifteen children of school age belong- 
ing to this district, who live in this town. 

District No. 8 embraces sections 25, 26, 36, 
and nearly all of section 35. The first building 
was a frame structure, located on the northwest 
quarter of section 36. This building was used 
until 1855, when it was burned. A brick build- 
ing was erected on the old site, but owing to the 
settling of the foundation, it became dangerous, 
and a frame building was erected nearby, which 
is still in use. In 1884 there were eighty schol- 
lars of school age in tiie town. 

The balance of the territory in this town be- 
longs to joint districts with Jefferson. 

RELIGIOUS MATTERS. 

Tlie first religious services within the limits 
now comprising the town of Sylvester, were 
held at the house of Joseph Woodle on section 
34, in the summer of 1837, by Rev. Mr. Sliunk, 
a Metho<list preacher from Pennsylvania. ^J'his 
preacher had heard that Woodle was from 
Pennsylvania, and was acquainted with rela- 



tions of his, so he called and held services at 
Woodle's house, before the cabin was finished. 
Services were held here for two years, when 
Mr. Woodle sold out and removed to section 32, 
where they continued to hold services two years. 
After this, meetings were held at the McCrack- 
en school house on section 31, until the class, 
which had in the meantime been organized 
here, was merged with the Monroe society. 
Among the early members of the M. E. class 
in Sylvester were — Mr. Baird's family, Joseph 
McCracken, Charles Southern and family, Jack- 
son Southern and family, Asa Brown and fami-. 
ly and William E. Satterlee and wife. 

The German Zion Church of the Evangeli- 
cal Association of North America, was organ- 
ized Aug. 24, 1860, at a meeting held at the old 
log school house. Rev. Andrew Tarnutzer was 
elected chairman; J. U. Elmer, secretary; J. U. 
Elmer, Anton Stauflfacher and Henry Bable, 
trustees. Jacob Stauffacher was the first class 
leader and Anton Stauffacher, admonisher. 
During the same year (1860) they erected a neat 
frame church. The following named have 
preached to this class since its organization: 
Revs. Andrew Tarnutzer, Jacob Sill, William 
Strasburg, Leonard Vanwald, Peter Massanger, 
John M. Hammitzer, Nicholas Shook, Charles 
Finger, Leonard Buehlei, Christian Brandell, 
Henry Upphove, Frederick Moser, Conrad 
Green and Peter Held. Rev. John U. Elmer 
is the present pastor. There are from thirty to 
forty families who are members of this class. 
A Sabbath school was organized by Father 
Howard a number of years ago. I. Robinson 
was the first superintendent. Henry Stauflfa- 
cher is the present. 

A great many of the early settlers were Bap- 
tists. The first services of this denomination 
were held at the house of Jacob Stull in 1839. 
This house was the one formerly occupied by 
Mr. Woodle, which was located on section 35. 
Rev. William Stillwell, from Winnebago county, 
was the first pastor. An organization was ef- 
fected and meetings were held monthly. From 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1111 



this grew the Church at Juda over which Elder 
G. R. Patten now presides. 

CEMETERIES. 

The first burials of deceased residents of this 
town were made in Richland cemetery. 

A burial ground was started at an early day 
on the farm of Justus Sutherland. The remains 
of James Sutherland was about the first inter- 
ment made here. This was used as a cemetery 
until 1856 or 1857, when a new cemetery was 
laid out on section 2, and several bodies were 
removed to it from the Sutherland ground. 
When the Gap Church cemetery was laid out, 
another removal was made, leaving but few 
graves in the former grounds. 

The cemetery of the Mount Vernon Baptist 
Association is located on the southw est corner 
of section 36. 

The Evangelical Cemetery Association was 
formed in 1860. They bought one-half acre of 
land of Jacob Stauffacher on section 5. In 1872 
it was platted into lots. It contains twenty- 
eight lots, 18x34 feet in size. It was laid out 
by Jacob Norder, Henry Baebler, Dietrich 
Stauffacher and Jacob Stauffacher. Among the 
first burials here were those of the remains of 
John Rhiner and Michael North. The present 
directors are Dietrich Stauffacher and Henry 
Stauffacher. The treasurer is John Elmer. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

In the following pages are to be found bio- 
graphical sketches of some of the most worthy 
and enterprising citizens of the town of Sylves- 
ter, among which are some of the oldest settlers 
of the county. 

William Baird, one of the earliest settlers of 
the county, was born March 21, 1817, in Beaver 
Co., Penn. When he was quite young his par- 
ents removed to Ross Co., Ohio, where thoy 
died when he was about twelve years old, leav- 
ing seven children of whom he was the fifth. In 
1831 he went to Tippecanoe Co., Ind., and re- 
mained until Aug. 15,1835. He then started 
with an ox team, for the (then) northwest terri- 
tory, and arrived at his destination August 29, 



being fourteen days on the road. He settled on 
section 15, in the town of Clarno, where he pur- 
chased forty acres of land and remained until 
January, 1843, when he sold out, and bought a 
farm on section 32, town of Sylvester, which has 
since been his residence. He owns a fine farm 
of 200 acres, valued at |50 an acre. In politics, 
he was formerly a whig, but has been a mem- 
ber of the republican party since the organiza- 
tion of that body. He has held the office of 
justice of the peace twelve years, and also has 
been a member of the town board for some time 
and has held other local offices. Mr. Baird was 
married July 4, 1839, to Elizabeth Woodle, who 
was born May 30, 1822, in Fayette Co., Penn. 
They were one of the first couples married in 
the county. They are the parents of ten chil- 
dren — Hannali, Harriet, Sarah J., John, Rachel, 
George W., Almira, W^illiam W. Mary E. and 
Edna R. Mr. and Mrs. Baird are members of 
the M. E. Church. The former has been con- 
nected with that organization since Aug. 28, 
1832. 

Melzar Colton was born in New York, Dec. 
7, 1830. He is a son of Melzar and Jerusha 
(Sutherland) Colton. His father was born in 
New York, where he died, June 10, 1835. In 
the summer of 1830 his mother removed with 
her family, her brother, Justus Sutherland, and 
family; her sister, Rachael Sylvester, and fami- 
ly; and her sister's son, Amos R. Sylvester, and 
family, to Coles Co., 111., remaining there until 
the spring of 1839, when she came to Green 
county in company with her brother, Justus 
Sutherland, and settled soon after on the east 
half of the northeast quarter of section 9, where 
Mrs. Colton died Feb. 5, 1863, in the seventy- 
first year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Colton had 
three children — John, deceased; Mary, de- 
ceased, and Melzar, the subject of this sketch. 
Mrs. Colton was converted when quite young, 
and united with the Baptist Church, with which 
she was connected for about thirty years. She 
then withdrew from that Church and joined the 
jAethodist Church, of which she was a consist- 



1112 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ent member at the time of her death, Melzar 
Colton, of this sketch, was educated in the 
district schools, and taught school six terms. 
He has since engaged in farming. He was mar- 
ried Nov. 1, 1855, to Malvina A. Wheeler, a na- 
tive of Mount Holly, Vt., born Jan. 1, 1827. 
She came to this State in 1850, and taught 
school one term in Rock county, then came to 
Green county. She taught twenty-one terms of 
school in all. In her youth she became a mem- 
ber of the IJaptist Churcii, with which she was 
connected until the time of her death, Sept. 18, 
1881. By this union there were six children— John 
E.. William O., Freddy M., deceased; Mary E., 
Malvina J. and Hattie L. Mr. Colton was again 
married Sept. 12, 1882, to Hannah M. Hulbert, 
who was born in North Manlius, Onondago Co., 
N. Y., Aug. 14, 1839. She came with her par- 
ents to this county in 1859. Politically, Mr. 
Colton is a republican, and has held the office 
of town school superintendent, also the office of 
township clerk and other local offices. He is at 
present justice of the peace. Mrs. Colton is a 
member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Colton's 
farm contains 120 acres of land valued at over 
$50 per acre. Mr. Colton worked as a farm 
hand for his uncle, Justus Sutherland, in the 
summer of 1848, at $10 per month, thereby put- 
ting in 160 of the first purchase money which 
he now lives to enjoy. His familj'^ now at home 
consists of himself, wife and hired man. His 
two sons are married and located on farms near 
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., Dak. Ty. The 
older one is school superintendent of the same 
county. His three daug'iters are at Beloit, 
Wis., taking a graduating course at the Beloit 
High School. 

Solomon Sutherland, a son of James Suther- 
land, who was an old settler of this county, was 
born in Darien, N. Y., March 3, 1823. When 
he was fifteen years old he came with his parents 
to this county, where he attended school and 
worked on a farm. He was married Dec. 24, 
1856, to Mrs. Ellen M. (Thompson) Sutherland, 
who was born in Susquehanna Co., Penn., in 



182*7. Her parents moved to New York city 
and in 1838 came to this county by wagon, and 
lived the first year in the town of Clarno, then 
they moved to section 11, of the town of Syl- 
vester, where she was first married to M. C, 
Sutherland. He died in 1853. She re-married 
afterwards, as before stated, and died in June, 
1879. She had two children by her first mar- 
riage — Emma L. and Henry T. Mr. Suther- 
land, in politics, adheres to the republican party, 
and has held local offices. He lives on the old 
homestead. The farm contains 160 acres, and 
is valued at about $50 per acre. 

Thomas Washington Thompson came from 
England when fourteen years of age. His 
father settled in Susquehanna Co., Penn. Here 
he was married to Meroe Campbell. The chil- 
dren born to them here were— Ellen, Maria, 
Charles Frederick and Henry Thomas. He 
removed to New York city in the year 1836. 
From there he removed to Wisconsin in the 
spring of 1838, with a span of horses and a covered 
wagon. Nothing unusual occurred on the jour- 
ney, the incidents being the ones common to 
such trips. They traveled in the day time stop- 
ping at hotels and farm houses at night They 
arrived in Green county on the 5th day of June, 
1838. They stayed for about three weeks at 
what was then known as Dennison's grist mill. 
Then moved to what was then known as Irons 
& Dennison's saw mill, and stayed there until 
the next March; thence to his farm in what is 
now known as the town of Sylvester. Mr. 
Thompson held the office of county commis- 
sioner at one time. James Alfred Thompson, 
the youngest child, was born in Sylvester in 
1841. Ellen married for her first husband 
Martin Sutherland, for her second one 
Solomon Sutherland. She lived and died in 
Sylvester. Charles F. married Kate Chandler ; 
Henry T. married Caroline Chamberlain, lived 
a ft'w years in Sylvester, afterwards in Monroe 
and Milwaukee, and at present lives in Chicago; 
James A. was unmarried. He served three 
years in the army during the War of the Rebel- 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ins 



lion, and died soon after his discharge, of disease 
contracted in the army. After locating on liis 
farm T. W. Thompson bought a number of 
cows, making butter and cheese in addition to 
the usual farm labors. In 1846 he opened a 
general store on his farm in Sylvester. After 
his death, in 1849, his sons, Charles and Henry, 
carried it on until 1852. 

Sylvester R. Stephens is a son of Reuben and 
Sally (Milk) Stephens. His father was born 
in Herkimer Co., N. Y., and his mother was a 
native of the same State, who were married in 
Ithaca, and lived in Erie Co., Penn., until 1841 
when they emigrated to this county and settled 
on section 36, town of Sylvester, where the 
father died in 1858, aged fifty-seven years. The 
mother is still living, and at this time (1884) is 
eighty-on^ years old. They brought up a 
family of eight children, of whom Sylvester, 
the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. He 
was born Sept. 20, 1822, in Tompkins Co., N. 
Y. He went with the family to Pennsylva- 
nia, and from there to Green county, where he 
still lives. He was married Oct. 16, 1844, to 
Wealthy Ball, who was born in Pennsylvania 
May 18, 1823. Her parents moved to Will Co., 
111., in 1838, where the father died; after which 
she made her home for two years in Walworth 
Co., Wis., and thence came to Green county. 
They have eight children — Alfred R., Susan E., 
Wilder M., Amanda M , Alba H., Ed. W., James 
S. and Theo. R. Mr. Stephens enlisted in 
August, 1862, in company K, 22d regiment, Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and served until 
June, 1863, when, by reason of disability, he 
received his discharge and returned to his home. 
His farm contains 234 acres, and is valued at |40 
per acre. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are members 
of the M. E. Church at Juda. Politically he is a 
republican, as was his father l)efore him. 

Pitt Lindley, deceased, was a native of In- 
diana, born Jan. 13, 1822. When he was nine 
years old, his parents removed to lilinois, 
where his father died when he (Pitt,) was about 
twenty-one years old. He then came with his 



mother and her family to Green county, and 
settled near Ball's mill, in the town of Sylves- 
ter. He was married July 23, 1846, to Betsey 
Hills, who was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., 
March 26, 182*7. Her parents came to this 
county in 1839, and settled in the town of Syl- 
vester, on the place where Mr. Connelly now 
lives. Her father was a native of Connecticut. 
Her mother, a native of New York, died when 
she was six years old, and her father was again 
married. They reared fourteen children, of 
whom she was the ninth. Mr. Lindley, subject 
of this sketch, died April 30, 1867. Mrs. Lind- 
ley is still living and is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church. They had seven children — Luella, 
C, now Mrs. James Burt, born Oct, 22, 1848; 
Alfonso E., born Aug. 9, 1852, and died Oct. 
11, 1863; Delpha L., born Dec. 10, 1856; New- 
ton, born Feb. 1, 1859; Mary E., born Dec. 8, 
1860; Ida M., born Dec. 5, 1862, now married to 
Julius Carver, and Arthur, born Oct. 25, 1864. 
Mr. Lindley was a republican, and at the time 
of his death owned 240 acres of land. He was 
brought up in the Society of Friends. 

Samuel West, a son of George West, an old 
settler ofthetownof Sylvester, was born in 
Sylvester, March 11, 1843. He has lived upon 
the homestead, where he was born, all his life, 
except three years spent in the army. He enli't- 
ed in company K., of the 22d Wisconsin Vol- 
teer Infantry, and participated in numerous 
engagements. He was taken prisoner near 
Franklin, Tenn , March 25, 1863, and sent 
to Richmond, where he spent one day and 
night in Libby prison. Marcli 28, 1863, he was 
paroled and sent to parole camp at St. Louis 
Mo., where he was exchanged and returned 
to his company, at Nashville, Tenn. He 
was with Sherman on his march to the sea, 
and was present at the grand review at Washing- 
ton. He was mustered out of the service near 
Washington, June 12, 1865, after which he re- 
turned to Sylvester. He was married Marcli 
23, 1867, to Katie M. Read, who was born in 
Cortland Co., N.Y,, June 2, 1849, and came 



1114 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



with her parents to Juda, in December, 1864. 
Mr. and Mrs West have five children — George, 
Mattie E., Susan I., Nettie M. and Bertha. 
Mr. West owns 450 acres of land and also works 
his father's farm of 270 acres. He is largely 
engaged in stock raising, especially in breeding 
blooded horses. His first purchase of that 
character being "King Swigert," in March, 
1882, for which he paid $1,500, the next, "Har- 
lequin," a shire bred stallion, for which he paid 
$2,450. This is a horse of many fine points. 
The next addition to his stable was "Athlete," 
a fine Kentucky bred stallion, purchased when 
two years old, for $3,000, by Dr. Strong, in 
1876. This horse, in the fall of 1883, was pur- 
chased by Shaddock & West, of Dr. Strong's 
estate, and is kept at the West farm. In addi- 
tion to the foregoing, he has valuable horses of 
the Norman breed. One, Froissart, is a dapple 
gray, foaled in 1877, imported from France in 
1881; recorded in Percheron, Norman stud 
book. Vol. II, No. 1,314; a high-headed horse, 
finely cut in the throttle, broad and high on 
withers, strong bone, good feet, stands straight, 
on splendid legs, possessing all the qualities re- 
quired for a first class draft horse. One called 
"Black Diamond," is a result of his own care- 
ful breeding, and compares favorably with the 
best horses in the country. Unless sold, this 
horse will doubtless be the means of much im- 
proving the stock of this section. 

William C. Gorham is a native of Auburn, 
Geauga Co., Ohio, born Aug. 31, 1825, where he 
was reared upon his father's farm. His educa- 
tion was obtained in the common schools of his 
native town. In 1844, he, with his parents, 
came to Green county and settled in what is 
now the town of York, where his father, Elisha 
Gorham, resided until his death, which occurred 
Dec. 1 4, 1873. He was a native of New Haven, 
Conn., born Oct. 1, 1784. His parents were 
from England. He was twice married, first to 
Hannah Bradley, in 1805, who died in New 
Berry, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1823, leaving seven chil- 
dren. Again married April 8, J 824, to Mrs. 



Clarissa (Rice) Crafts, who survived him until 
April 16, 1882. She was born in the town of 
Gorham, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1800, where she was 
first married. J5y that union there were two 
children. By the last union there were two 
children — William C, of this sketch, and Henry 
C, who died in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 
1865, in company I, 46th Wisconsin Volunteers. 
Elisha Gorham was a believer in religion and 
a member of the M. E. Church. Mrs. Clarissa 
Gorham was a member of the Freewill Baptist 
Church for many years. William C. returned 
to Ohio, in 1851, where he was married Jan. 3, 
1853, to Elvira M. Chaffee, of Troy, Geauga 
Co., Ohio, born in Kirby,Vt., March 22, 1833. He 
came back to the town of York and began farm- 
ing with a yoke of oxen and living in a log hut 
called a house. He enlisted Feb. 3, 1865, in 
company I, 46th Wisconsin Volunteers, and 
served until discharged, Sept. 15, 1865. In 1867, 
he removed to the town of Sylvester, where he 
now resides. He now owns 465 acres of land and 
a residence in the city of Monroe. He is engaged 
in farming and raising stock, among which he 
has some fine blooded horses. He is politically 
a republican. They have two children — Rice 
D., born April 11, 1854, who is married and 
owns a farm in the town of Monroe; and Ernest 
W., born Dec. 8, 1860, residing with his parents 
on the farm, a member of the I. O. G. T., and 
also one among the first members of the Mon- 
roe City Guards. 

William Bulfinch removed with his family, 
to this county, in the fall of 1844, The first 
winter they lived in town of Sylvester, when, 
owing to the loss of their household goods by 
shipwreck on Lake Michigan, they went to 
Winnebago Co., 111., and remained until the fall 
of 1849. They then returned to this county 
and settled upon section 22, of the town of Syl- 
vester. He went to California in 1853 and re- 
mained two years, then came back to his home 
in Wisconsin, where lie died, Nov. 28, 1865, 
He was a native of Massachusetts, -born Deo. 
22, 1796, and was married Feb. 19, 1821, to 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1115 



Mary Sherman, who was born in Massachusetts, 
March 26, 1796, and died April 19, 1852, in 
Green county. They had nine children, two of 
whom are now living — Marshall L., now living 
in Grant Co., Mo.; and George W. Mr. Bnl- 
finch was by trade a shoemaker and tanner, and 
resided in New York and Pennsylvania, pre- 
vious to coming J,o Wisconsin. He belonged to 
the Masonic order. 

George W. Bulfinch was born in Chautauqua 
Co., N. Y., June 11, 1830. He came with his 
parents, to Green county, where he received a 
common school education. In 1853 he went 
overland to California and worked in the mines 
until the fall of 1856, then returned to Green 
couHty. He was married May 14, 1861, to Alice 
Fletcher, who was born Aug. 16, 1840, at Green 
Dykes, England. They have three children — 
Erwin Marshall, Mary Alice, and Arthur 
Fletcher. Mr. Bulfinch is a republican and has 
held local office; also a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. 

Henry Stauffacher, a native of Switzerland, 
was born in January 1845, the same year his par- 
ents emigrated to the United States. They 
settled upon section 5, in the town of Sylvester, 
where his mother died Nov. 17, 1874. His 
father died at Monroe March 29,1877. They 
were the parents of sixteen children of whom 
Henry was the fifth. He grew to manhood 
upon the farm and received a common school 
education. Feb. 7, 1865, he enlisted in com- 
pany F, of the 46th Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served until September 27, of the same 
year, when he was discharged by reason of the 
close of the war. He then returned to Sylvester 
and engaged in farming, which occupation he 
still follows. He is a republican in politics. 
He was married April 9, 1871, to Louisa Ebert, 
a native of Germany, born Oct. 6, 1852. 
When she was three years old, her parents 
came to the United States and settled at New 
London, Wis., where they lived one year then 
moved to Pella, Shawano coiiuty, of the same 
State. They now reside in the village of 



Shawano, in that county. They had six chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Stauffacher is the fourth. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stauffacher are living upon the 
homestead farm, formerly owned by his father. 
It contains 191 acres, valued at $45 per acre. 
They are members of the Evangelical Society, 
and the parents of six children — Benjamin F., 
Edward H., George L., John W., Araeal W. 
and Ida V. 

Nathaniel Stephenson was born in Ireland, 
Oct. 25, 1826. He is a son of John and Jane 
(Smith) Stephenson, who emigrated to the 
United States and settled in Trumbull Co., Ohio, 
where they engaged in farming until 1845, when 
they came to Green Co., Wis., and located in 
the town of Mount Pleasant, where they lived 
until the death of the father, John Stephenson, 
Nov. 3, 1876, aged seventy-seven years. His 
wife died Aug. 23, 1864. They had six chil- 
dren, of whom, Nathaniel, subject of this sketch, 
was the third. He was married Nov. 30, 1851, 
to Nancy Ann Harris, who was born in Trum- 
bull Co., Ohio, May 12, 1834. She came with 
her parents to Green county in 1845, who set- 
tled on section 2, town of Syltester. The par- 
ents lived here until their death. The father 
died Sept. 22, 1847, aged forty-two years. The 
mother died Oct. 27, 1849, aged forty-two. 
There was a family of six children, of whom 
Mrs. Stephenson was the third child. Mr. and 
Mrs. Stephenson have four children — Ozias E., 
Mary J., Emma A. and Byron E. The- farm 
contains ninety acres. When Mr. Stephenson 
came to Green county he had but little money, 
but by industrj'- and energy he has been success- 
ful in accumulating a considerable property. 

John Stephenson is a son of John and Jane 
(Smith) Stephenson, natives of Ireland. His 
parents emigrated to America and settled in 
Trumbull Co., Ohio, where they remained until 
1845; then came to Green county and first set- 
tled in the town of Mount Pleasant, and lived 
there two years. In 1847 they removed to the 
town of Sylvester, and located on section 2, 
where Mrs. Stephenson died Aug. 23, 1863, aged 



1116 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



sixty-eight years. Mr. Stephenson died Nov. 3, 
1876, aged seventy-six years. Tliey reared a 
family of six children, of whom the subject of 
this sketch was the fourth. He was born April 
1, 1832. He received a common school educa- 
tion, and has always been engaged in agricul- 
tural pursuits. He was married to Mary A. 
Lowry, April 3, 1855. She was born March 1, 
1829. This union has been blessed with three 
children — Cordelia M., Matilda J. and Almira 
E. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson are members of 
the Baptist Church. He owns 158 acies of land 
in the town of Sylvester, where he resides, val- 
ued at $60 per acre. 

Matthew West, one of the prosperous farmers 
of the county, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., May 
30, 1824. He is a son of John S. and Avis 
(Bowen) West. The former was born near 
Rochester, N. Y., and died in Erie county in 
February, 1875, aged eighty years. The latter, 
a native of Vermont, is still living, in her 
eighty-sixth year. They reared a family of ten 
children, of whom Matthew was the fourth. 
He was reared upon his father's farm, and edu- 
cated in the comrnon schools. He remained at 
home until the fall of 1846, then came by way 
of the lakes and Milwaukee, to Green county, 
and pre-empted eighty acres of land on section 
26, of the town of Sylvester. He was married 
Sept. 14, 1847, to Sarah J. Decker, a native of 
Boston, Erie Co., N. Y., born Aug. 8, 1830. 
After marriage he built a log house, into which 
they moved the following spring, and in which 
they lived for fifteen years. He then erected 
the substantial frame house in which they now 
reside. At the time of marriage, Mr. West had 
but $17, and his wife $16, but by perseverance 
and industry they succeeded in accumulating a 
nice property. His farm contains 350 acres, 
valued at 860 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. West are 
the parents of three children — George A., Den- 
nis W. and Susan E. 

John C Murdock is a son of Daniel and 
Rhoda (Clawson) Murdock, who were settlers 
of 1846. His father is a native of Green Co., 



Penn.,born Nov. 27, 1818, where he received a 
common school education, and taught three 
winter terras, but as a business he has always 
followed farming. He was married July 6, 
1843, to Rhoda Clawson, a native of Green county, 
born Sept 21, 1823. In the fall of 1845 Daniel 
Murdock visited Green Co., Wis., and looked 
the country over with a view to settlement. 
On account of its general healthfulness he here 
selected a spot for his future home and returned 
east. The following spring he came with his 
family by water, landing at Galena, 111., on 
the 4th of April, where they remained for some 
days snow-bound. Having arrived in this county 
he first rented a farm near Monroe, and in Sep- 
tember bought land near Juda and remained 
two years, then sold out and bought another 
farm, where he has since resided. His nearest 
market was Milwaukee a distance of ninety-two 
miles, or Shullsburg in Lafayette county, at 
which places a mill could be found. With a 
load of wheat it took from five to nine days to 
make the trip. His first experience in market- 
ing his surplus wheat was not encouraging. He 
received thirty-eight cents per bushel, and when 
he returned from market with empty wagon, 
having sold the wheat for thirty-eight cents per 
bushel, he found himself |4 out of pocket by 
the transaction. The next season he raised a 
good crop and it broiight a good price. He 
paid $100 for the forty acre tract on whicli he 
lives, and pre-empted forty acres adjoining at 
the government price of $1.25 per acre. He 
now owns 163 acres valued at $50 per acre, and 
has given his oldest son a farm. Mr. and Mrs. 
Murdock have three children — Emma J., now 
widow of Cyrus Fisher; John C. and Ross C. 
They are members of the Baptist Church. Po- 
litically, Mr. Murdock adheres to the republican 
party, and has held local offices of trust and 
honor. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and 
is a prominent prohibitionist. John C, the 
subject of this sketch, was born in the town of 
Sylvester Dec. 22, 1855, where he grew to man- 
hood and received a common school education. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1117 



He was married Jan. 13, 1878, to Hattie Fleek, 
of the town of Decatur. They now live on sec- 
tion 23, and have a good farm of 365 acres. 
They have one child living — Harry D. Mr, 
Murdock is a republican and a much respected 
and worthy citizen. 

William H. Covell was born in Madison Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 4, 1812, and is a son of Lemuel and 
Eunice (Edgerton) Covell. The former was 
born in New York in 1779. The latter was a 
native of Wallingford, Vt., born in 1783. 
They were married in Wallingford and settled 
in Madison Co., N. Y., where he engaged in 
farming. They afterwards removed to Chau- 
tauqua county and then to Ashtabula Co., Ohio, 
and from thence to Knox county, where Lemuel 
Covell died April 17, 1845. Mrs. Covell resided 
with her son, William H., until her death, Oct. 
14, 1856. They had five children, four daugh- 
ters and one son. The subject of this sketch 
was brought up on a farm and educated in the 
common schools. He was married Jan. 11, 1837, 
to Jane A. Raymond, who was born in Ply- 
mouth, Chenango Co., N. Y., May 24, 1818. In 
the spring of 1848 they came to Green county, 
arriving in what is now the town of Sylvester, 
May 24. He purchased the farm on which they 
now live, paying |3.50 per acre, for 120 acres. 
He had left, after paying for his land, $200 on 
which to live until he could raise a crop and 
build a house. When he came to the county 
he was an adherent of the democratic party, but 
on account of the action taken by the adminis- 
tration in regard to the "border ruffian" trouble, 
he left that party and joined the ranks of the 
republican party, to which lie has since adhered. 
Mr. Covell and wife are members of the Close 
Communion Baptist Church. They have five 
children — Ann J., Orrin M., Merritt A.^, Amasa 
L. and William A. 

George Saftord Pengra was born in Alexan- 
der township, Genesee Co., N. Y., April 12, 
1821, He went with the family to Erie Co., 
Penn., where he grew to manhood and received 
an education, such as could be obtained in the 



common schools. He was married in Pennsyl- 
vania, Sept. 11, 1849, to Maria Walts, a native 
of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., born Nov. 10, 1827. 
Her parents were natives of New York, but 
moved to Erie Co., Penn., in 1834. Her grand- 
father was a soldier of the Revolution. Im" 
mediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pengra 
started for the west to seek a home, came to 
Green county and settled on section 23, in the 
town of Sylvester, where they are still living. 
The farm contains 200 acres, valued at $75 an 
acre. In politics Mr. Pengra is republican. He 
has been a member of the county board two 
terms, also a member of the township board 
and town treasurer. They have had three chil- 
dren — Wallace A., born in 1851 ; George H., 
born in 1853, and William S., who was born in 
1856, and died at Che3^enne, Wy. Ter., Aug. 4, 
1881. Wallace A. is married to Jane N. Bald- 
win, a native of Ohio. They have one child — 
Hugh. George H. was married Oct. 5, 1876, to 
Anna M. Johnson, of the town of Sylvester, 
and has one child — Stella May. George Pen- 
gra and wife are members of the M. E. Church. 
He is serving his third term as town clerk. 
He is well educated and has taught school eight 
terms. 

.John Elmer was born in Switzerland, June 
15, 1845. In 1849 his parents, John U. and 
Verny (Marty) Elmer, came to the United 
States and settled in Washington, Green 
county, where they remained six years, then 
moved to Mount Pleasant, where Mrs. Elmer 
died Dec. 31, 1872, aged fifty-five years. They 
were the parents of thirteen children, of whom 
twelve are now living. John, the subject of 
this sketch, was the fourth. He received his 
education in the district school. In 1869 he 
bought the farm upon which he now resides, 
and Nov. 20, 187u, was married to Anna Elmer, 
who was born in the town of Washington, Oct. 
13, 1853. Bj' this union there are five children 
— Mathias, John U., Jacob, Victoria and Eu- 
phema. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer are members of 
the Evangelical Church. He is politically a 



1118 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



republican, and has held local office. His farm 
contains 160 acres, valued at |50 per acre, Mr. 
Elmer's son, John U., in the fall of 1879, got 
caught in a threshing machine and lost his left 
arm, near the shoulder. 

Alfred Barmore was a native of Green Co., 
Penn., born June 30, 1818, where his younger 
days were spent. He was reared upon a farm 
and obtained a common school education. He 
was twice married. First in 1841 to Ann Ridge- 
way, a native of the same county. Soon after 
which, he emigrated to Athens, Ohio, and in 

1849, to Monroe, Green Co., Wis., where his 
wife died. May 21, of the same year. Feb. 27, 

1850, he was married to Mrs. Nancy E. (Davis) 
Chadwick, who was born in Fayette Co., Penn., 
Oct. 7, 1818, and came with her parents to 
Green county in 1838. She was married Oct. 
7, 1840, to James Chadwick, also a native of 
Fayette county, born Feb. 20, 1816. He came 
to Green county with his j^arents when a young- 
man, and died here Sept. 17, 1846. By this 
union there were three children — Louisa R., 
Mary J. and James J. Mr. Barmore had, by 
his first marriage, three children — Sarah A., 
David R. and Joseph S., also three children by 
his second marriage — Harvey D., Thomas J. 
and Kesia S. The family are members of the 
Baptist Church at Juda. Mrs. Barmore resides 
on section 34, town of Sylvester, where Mr. 
Barmore died Aug. 14, 1882. 

Samuel Cotherman, a settler of 1849, was 
born in Union Co., Penn., March 16, 1826. He 
grew to manhood in his native county, veceiving 
a limited education. In 1848 he went to Rock 
Grove, Stephenson Co., 111., and remained one 
year, then came to Monroe, Green county, 
where he engaged in the nursery business and 
also worked at the joiner's trade. He con- 
tinued the first about three years, but worked 
at joining business some time longer. In the 
spring of 1856, he bought a farm in the town 
of Sylvester, on section 32, where he lived 
twenty-two years. It contained 140 acres. He 
then sold, and in the spring of 1878 he bought 



a farm on section 31, where he now lives. It 
contains yi5 acres of good land, valued at $65 
an acre. He is engaged in stock raising and 
dairying. He was married Feb. 9, 1854, to 
Elizabeth Bloom, a native of Centre Co., Penn., 
and daughter of George Bloom, an early settler 
of Green county. Six children have been born 
to them — Florence E., Allie E., Grace E., 
George Valentine, James A., deceased; and Ed- 
gar S. Mr. and Mrs. Cotherman are members 
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is 
politically, republican, and has held local 
offices. 

Joseph Gans has been a resident of Green 
county since April, 1850. He was born in 
Mongalia Co., Va., Feb. 9, 1811. His parents 
removed to Fayettte Co., Penn., where he spent 
his younger days and obtained a common school 
education. At the age of sixteen he com- 
menced learing the shoemaker's and tanner's 
trades, and served an apprenticeship of four 
years. He followed his trade until he came to 
this county, and also for a number of years 
after his arrival. He settled in the village of 
Juda where he remained until 1865. He now 
I'esides upon section 35 in the town of Sylves- 
ter, where he owns a farm of 175 acres, valued 
at|55 an acre. Mr, Gans was married in 1831 to 
Phebe Rodgers, a native of Pennsylvania, who 
died in 1850, leaving five children. He was 
again married in December, 1851, to Sarah Rod- 
erick, who was born in Fayette Co., Penn., 
Aug. 29, 1827. By the latter union there are 
four children. Mr. and Mrs. Gans are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church at Juda. 

George Bloom settled in Green county in the 
fall of 1851, upon a farm in the town of Jeffer- 
ton, which he rented and lived upon one year. 
He then purchased land on sections 31 and 32 
of the town of Sylvester, to which he removed 
two days after the election of President Pierce. 
He lived in this place until 1878, then removed 
to his farm on section 32. He was born in 
Snyder Co., Penn., Nov. 9, 1802. His early 
live was spent in Union county, and h« was 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1119 



married in Centre county Nov. 23, 1826, to 
Elizabeth Kooken, a native of Northampton 
Co., Penn. He engaged in farming until 1851, 
when he went to Will county, and the same 
year to Stephenson Co., 111., from whence he 
came to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom had 
eight children — Mary A., Elizabeth, John K., 
"William H., Thomas K., George W., James K. 
P. and Samuel R. Their eldest son, John K., 
is a Lutheran preacher in Linn Co., Iowa. Mrs. 
Bl®om is a member of the Lutheran Church. 
On the morning of the 9th of April, 1884, Mr. 
Bloom went to the barn, fed the stock, and did 
what other work there was to do. He returned 
to the house and sat down in a rocking chair, 
and in a few minutes died without a struggle. 
Thus passed away another old settler of Green 
county; a loving husband and affectionate father. 
His words and kind deeds are indelibly printed 
on the hearts of a host of his acquaintances, 
who will ever remember him. He was aged 
eighty-one years and five months, and was a 
worthy member of the Lutheran Church. 

Benona Milliken came to Green Co., Wis., in 
1851. He was born in Green Co., Penn., Nov. 
5, 1813, where he obtained a common school ed- 
ucation, and remained upon his father's farm 
until he was eighteen years old. He then began 
learning the saddler's trade, at which he served 
an apprenticeship of three years, after which he 
went to Washington county and was there en- 
gaged in working at his trade seven years. He 
then removed back to Green county, where he 
was engaged in working upon a farm for seven 
years. He then, with his family, removed to 
Green Co., Wis., in the year 1851, and hired to 
McCracken & Sutherland, to run the engine in 
their saw mill. In 1852 he bought the farm on 
which he still resides, for which he paid $700. 
It contains 150 acres and is now valued at |55 
an acre. Mr. Milliken is a member of the dem- 
ocratic party, and has held local office. He was 
married Sept. 13, 1838, to Casander Crabb, who 
wai born Jan. 24, 1817, in Washington Co., 



Penn. She died March 12, 1882. Their chil- 
dren are — Sarah J., Ellen, Isabel, Matilda, Het- 
tie, Samuel E., Mary M., deceased, and Emma. 
Mr. and Mrs Milliken are members of the M. 
E. Church. 

Charles J. Stephenson, is a son of William and 
Mary Jane (Harris) Stephenson, the former 
born in Ireland, March 18, 1825. William 
came to the United States with his father and 
settled in Ohio in 1838. They removed to 
Green county in the fall of 1843, and the father 
entered land on the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 3, in the town of Sylvester, and was mar- 
ried April 8, 1851, to Mary Jane Harris, who 
was born in Wethersfield, Ohio. By this union 
there was one child — C. J., the subject of this 
sketch. The father was killed during the fall 
of 1855, by beingcaught in a threshing machine. 
He was an active, industrious man, and his loss 
was deeply felt by the whole community. 
Charles J. was born Oct. 2, 1852, in the town of 
Sylvester, where his young days were spent on 
the farm and attending school. He was mar- 
ried Nov. 19, 1871, to Hester M. Hare, born in 
Michigan, April 18, 1853. They have two chil- 
dren — Willie L. and Jessie. Mr. Stephenson, 
during his early days, was a democrat, but now 
votes for the best man regardless of party aftili- 
ations. He takes an active part in town affairs, 
has been a member of the board, and is now 
assessor. 

Samuel Hutzel settled upon his present farm, 
in the fall of 1856. It is located on section 34, 
in the town of Sylvester, and contains 303 acres, 
valued at |55 an acre. He was born in Somer- 
set Co., Penn., Dec. 3, 1827. He was brought 
up on a farm, and obtained his education in the 
common schools of his native county. In the 
fall of 1852, he came to Green county and re- 
mained until the spring of 1853, then returned 
to Pennsylvania. The following fall he came 
back to Wisconsin, and at that time, purchased 
the farm on which he now lives. For a time he 
made his home with his brother-in-law at Rich- 



1J20 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



land, in the town of Jefferson. He was married 
Sept. 3, 1854, to Lavinia Blackford, who was 
born Nov. 20, 1825, in Fayette Co., Penn. Her 
parents were early settlers in the town of Jeffer- 
son, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Hutzel are 
the parents of eleven children, of whom eight 
are living — Rachel E., Rebecca E., John W., 
Ida R., James O., Alice O., Ada L. and Nora G. 
E. Judson, George O. and Bertie are deceased. 

George Sadler was born in the town of Scriba, 
Oswego Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1839. He is a son 
of Lewis and Hannah (Morgan) Sadler, natives 
of New York, who emigrated to Wisconsin in 
August, 1852, leaving their home in New York 
to make a new one in the western wilds. They 
settled in the town of Mount Pleasant. There 
the subject of this sketch was brought up on 
his father's farm, and received such education 
as could be obtained at that time in the district 
schools. He was married Oct. 23, 186*7, to Mary 
J. Beach, who was born June 4, 1843, in the 
town of Hadley, Saratoga Co., N. Y. She is a 
daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Wilcox) Beach, 
natives of Luzerne Co., N. Y., where they were 
married, and afterwards moved to Saratoga 
county, and in 1846 to Walworth Co., Wis., re- 
maining one year, then removed to Columbia 
county, where the mother died Oct. 21, 1879. 
The fatlier, in 1884, was living in San Jose, 
Cal. Tiiere was a family of thirteen children, 
seven boys and six girls. Mrs. Sadler was the 
seventh. In March, 1882, Mr. Sadler bought 
the farm, on which he now lives, from Hiram 
Phillips, an old settler, who entered the land 
from the government. The farm contains eighty 
acres, valued at $50 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. 
Sadler have two children — Myrtle Belle and 
Frank Ernest. 

Andrew Streiker is a native of Germany, born 
Oct. 20, 1831. He grew to manhood in his na- 
tive country, and received a common school edu- 
cation. He learned the baker's trade. In 1853 
he emigrated to this country, locating in Green 
county, where he worked for John Smith at 
brick-making in Monroe for three years. He 



also worked for awhile in a saw mill. In 1865 
he purchased a farm near Albany. In 1867 he 
sold out and bought the farm on which he now 
resides. He was married on the 2d of June, 
1865, to Eliza Riley, born in Ireland. By this 
union there were three children — Mary, Eliza- 
beth and Joseph. Mr. Streiker is a member of 
the Catholic Church. His farm contains 238 
acres, valued at $50 per acre. 

Eli Steninger was born in Union Co., Penn., 
April 22, 1838. He is a son of Henry and 
Catharine (Fetrulf) Steninger, born in Pennsyl- 
vania, of German parents. His father was 
born in August, 1801, and his mother in No- 
vember, 1805. They followed coopering in 
connection with farming until the fall of 1853, 
when they came to this county and settled on 
section 16, where they resided until December, 
1881, when they removed to Linn Co., Iowa, 
where they still reside. Twelve children were 
born to them, eight of whom are living. Eli, 
the subject of this sketch, was reared on the 
farm, and also worked in the cooper shop. His 
father being poor, his education was limited. 
At the age of twenty-one years he crossed the 
plains to California and Nevada, remaining un- 
til the winter of 1864, when he returned to 
Green county. The next year he went to Mon- 
tana. Returning that fall, he purchased the 
farm upon which he now lives. It contains 276 
acres, and is valued at $40 per acre. He was 
married Dec. 24, 1874, to Mary Pratt, born in 
Monticello, this county, Oct. 29, 1850. They 
have three children — Will, May and John H. 
Mr. Steninger and family are members of the 
German Evangelical Church. 

D. W. West, second son of of Mathew West, 
and old settler of the town of Sylvester, was 
born Aug, 13, 1854. He was reared to agricul- 
tural pursuits and received a common school 
education. He was married April 7, 1875, to 
Libbie C. Hall, who was born in Green Co., 
Penn., Aug. 5, 1853. Her parents settled in 
Magnolia, Rock Co., Wis., wliere her father 
died in 1856. Her mother removed to Green 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1121 



county, where she was married to David Taylor, 
and died Feb. 14,1861. Mrs. West is the 
sixth of a family of eight children. Mr. and 
Mrs. West are the parents of two children, 
Olo and Matthew. Mr. West owns a farm of 
120 acres, valued at $50 per acre. He is a 
republican, and has held local office. Mrs. 
West is a member of the Baptist Church at 
Juda. 

Henry Chesbro was born in Albany Co., N. 
Y., March 8, 1844. He is a son of Eliakimaiid 
Sarah (Ripley) Chesbro, natives of New York. 
They emigrated to Wisconsin in 1854, and 
settled in the town of Mount Pleasant, Green 
county, where the father died Nov. 17, 1874, 
aged seventy-nine. The mother still resides in 
the town, aged eighty-three. They had four 
children, of whom Henry was the third. He 
grew to manhood and received a common school 
education. In 1882 he bought the farm where 
he now lives, of S. T. Mallory. Mr. Chesbro 
never married, preferring single blessedness. 

John L. Sherbondy, was born in West More- 
land Co., Penn., July 15, 1834. He is of 
French-German extraction, and his parents 
were natives of the same State , where his 
father died. His mother moved to Ohio, where 
she died. John was the tenth of fourteen chil- 
dren. He received a common school education 
and when nineteen years old, went to Ohio, 
and in the fall of 1854 came to this county, 
where he worked at his trade of carpenter 
until 1801, when he took charge of the old 
county poor farm, about four years. In Feb 
ruary, 1865, he enlisted in company G, 49th 
Wisconsin, and served until the close of the 
war, then returned to Green county and settled 
on eighty acres on section 1, which he had 
previously purchased. He now owns 140 acres 
with good buildings. He was married Dec. 25, 
1859, to Elsie J. Burt, who was born in Trum- 
bull Co., Ohio, May 12, 1837. They have had 
four children, two of whom are living — Harri- 
son B., deceased; Shelby L., deceased; John E., 
and Ross D. Mr. and Mrs. Sherbondy are 



members of the Baptist Church. He votes 
with the republican party. When Mr. Sher- 
bondy came to the county he did not have 
money enough to pay postage on a letter, but 
by his own endeavor he has accumulated a 
competency. He built a residence in 1883, at a 
cost of $2,500. His barn was erected in 1880, at 
a cost of $1,500, and his improvements are 
among the best. 

William Lore, a prosperous farmer of the 
town of Sylvester, was born in Union Co., Penn., 
Jan. 27, 1815. His grandfather emigrated to the 
United States from Holland, and his parents 
were natives of Pennsylvania. They afterwards 
removed to Stephenson Co., 111., where they 
died. William was the fourth of eight chil- 
dren. He was reared upon a farm in his native 
State, and obtained a limited education in the 
common schools. He was married in 1844, to 
Susanna Duck, who died in 1856, leaving three 
children — Henry, Sarah and Alice. Mr. Lore 
removed from Pennsylvania to Stephenson Co., 
111., in 1854, remained there a short time, and 
came to Green county, purchasing at that time, 
the farm where he now resides in Sylvester, 
where his wife died. He was again married, 
June 4, 1861, to Susan Dunkel, who was born 
in Pennsylvania, in the county of Lancaster, 
Nov. 20, 1829. By this union there are five 
children — Frank, Ida, Ella, Dora and Charley. 
Mrs. Lore's parents are dead. Her father died 
in Sylvester, and her mother, in Pennsylvania. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lore are members of the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church. He owns 200 acres 
of well improved land, valued at $60 per acre. 
He has good substantial buildings and is en- 
gaged in stock raising and dairying. 

William F. Johnson has been a resident of 
this county since 1856, when he settled upon his 
present farm. He is a son of John and Nancy 
(Reeper) Johnson, natives of Pennsylvania, and 
was born in Lawrence Co., Penn., Feb. 1, 1830. 
His father died in that State in 1837, and his 
mother again married, and removed to Mercer 
county where her husband died, after which 



1122 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1 



she went with her family to Johnsonville, Ohio, 
where she died. She had seven children by her 
first marriage of whom William ¥., of this 
sketch, was the fifth. His early life was spent 
in his native State. He was married May 13, 
1856, and came to Green county the following 
fall. His original farm contained eighty acres, 
to which he has added until it now contains 210 
acres. He has good buildings, including house, 
barns and other farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnson have five children — Anna M., Frank 
R., Mary L., Ada M. and Ira F. Mrs. Johnson 
was formerly Sarah C. Gilson. She was born in 
Fulton Co., 111., Oct. 20, 1834. Her parents 
formerly-lived in Ohio, where they were mar- 
ried. Her father died when she was six years 
old, and her mother, soon after. They left a 
family of four children, of whom Mrs. Johnson 
is the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are mem- 
bers of the Dawson Methodist Church. Mr. 
Johnson is a republican. 

William Brunkow is a son of Frederick and 
Mary (Zimmerman) Brunkow, old settlers of 
the town of Sylvester, where they settled in the 
summer of 1857. William was boi'n in Doelitz, 
Prussia, Jan. 12, 1853, and was three years old 
when his parents came to Green county, where 
he grew to manhood and received a common 
school education. He was married May 29, 
1879, to Julia Hartwick, who was born near 
Watertown, Wis., July 11, 1861, and came 
with her parents to this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brunkow have two children — Charles Fred and 
Zoe Louisa. They are members of the German 
Evangelical Cliurch. Mr. Brunkow is a repub- 
lican, and has held local offices of trust. His 
farm contains sixty acres, valued at |40 per 
acre. 

Godfrey Neicks, a native of Prussia, was 
born May 25, 1816. He grew to manhood in 
his native coup.try, receiving a common school 
education. He was reared upon a farm, and in 
1844 was married to Mrs. Louisa (Redeen) 
Moldenhaner, widow of John Moldenhaner, 
who had, by her first marriage, two children — 



Augusta, deceased and Frederick W., now en 
gaged in the drug and grocery business at Juda 
Mr. and Mrs. Niecks emigrated to the United 
States in 1857, and settled near Monroe, in this 
county, where they rented land, and lived three 
years, then purchased the farm on which they 
now live, on section 34, town of Sylvester. It 
is valued at $50 per acre, and contains 230 
acres. They have had ten children, six of 
whom are living — August, Amelia, Haner, Her- 
man, George and Edward. Mr. Niecks and his 
family are members of the Evangelical Luther- 
an Church. 

George E. Coates came to Green county in 
December, 1857, and engaged in farming at 
Monticello, remaining there till the fall of 1867, 
when he purchased the farm on which he now 
lives. He has a nice farm, containing ninety 
acres, valued at $50 per acre. He was born in 
Luzerne Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1826. He grew to 
manhood in his native county, and was there 
married, Jan. 23, 1848, to Jane Brown, who 
was born in Luzerne county, June 24, 1825. 
Mr. and Mrs. Coates have had ten children — 
Elizabeth, Esther, John, Charles, Mary, Almira, 
Carrie, Elbert A., Myrta and Arthur. Three 
are deceased. 

Christian F. Matzke was born in Doelitz, 
Prussia, Aug. 15, 1826. He attained his ma- 
jority in his native village, and attended school 
as he had opportunity. In June, 1856, he emi- 
grated in company with three brothers to the 
LTnited States, and stopped near Watertown one 
year, then they came to this county, and worked 
out by the day until 1866, when Christian 
bought a farm, on which he now resides. He 
was followed to this county by a married 
brother, who worked the farm and with whom 
Christian made his home three years, then the 
brother bought himself a farm and moved on 
it, and is now living just over the line in the 
State of Illinois. In December, 1869, Christian 
was married to Augusta Enstina Laufmaiin, 
who was born in Prussia, May 21, 1850. By 
this union there are two children — William F. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1123 



and Miene. Of the four brothers who came to 
Wisconsin John F. settled jnst across the line 
in Illinois; William settled in the town of Jef- 
ferson; and Michael F. is living in Illinois. Mr. 
Matzke had nothing when he came to America, 
but he has succeeded in accumulating a good 
property, and is now in easy circumstances. 

William F. Moore came to the county in Oc- 
tober, 185Q, and settled on section 13, of the 
town of Sylvester, where he still lives. His 
farm contains eighty acres, valued at |60 per 
acre. He was born in Duchess Co., N, Y., 
April 19, 1822. He was reared upon a farm, 
and educated in the common schools. He fol- 
lowed farming in his native State until 1851, 
when he came to Waukesha Co., Wis., wliere 
he was married March 9, 1853, to Minerva 
Clawson, a native of Green Co., Penn., born 
June 15, 1828. They remained in Waukesha 
county until they removed to Green county in 
1859. Mr. and Mrs, Moore have three children 
— Edgar J., Ella M. and Lottie C. Mr. and 
Mrs. Moore are members of the Baptist Church 
at Juda. 

Harris Lassell, a native of Swanton, Franklin 
Co., Vt , was born March 8, 1803. His early 
life was speiit in his native State, where he ob- 
tained a limited education. When twenty-ono 
years old he went to New York State, where he 
was married, in 1829, to Lydia M. Fisk, who 
was born in Otsego couuty, April 25, 1802, In 
the spring of 1854 they came to Green county, 
and settled in the village of Decatur, were they 
lived until 1865. They then removed to their 
present home, on section 12, of the town of Syl- 
vester. Mrs. Lassell died Feb. 14, 1873. They 
were the parents of seven children, of whom 
Emily A., the youngest, lives at home with he r 
father, 

Gustave Norder was born March 13, 1830. 
He is the son of Leonard and Magdalena Sauf- 
facher, natives of Switzerland, They emigrat- 
ed to the United States and settled first at 
New Glarus, then in 185S they came to Sylves- 
ter, settling on section 2C, where he lived until 



his death, Oct. 9, 1882. His mother died Feb, 
2, 1881, There was a family of fifteen children, 
eight of whom are now living, Gustave, the 
subject of this sketch, was born on the farm 
where he now resides. He was married Oct. 
18, 1880, to Anna Geigle who was born in Mon- 
roe in 1863. They have two children — Magda- 
lena and an infant not now named. The farm 
contains eighty acres, valued at $40 per acre, 

John W, Hutzel, a native of Green county, 
was born March 23, 1859. His father, Samuel 
Hutzel, of whom mention is made elsewhere, 
is an old resident of Sylvester. John received 
a common school education, and Jan. 18, 1882, 
was married to Alice Gans, who was born in 
the town of Jefferson, Green county, and re- 
moved with her parents to Sylvester, when she 
was six years old. Her parents are still resi- 
dents of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Hutzel are 
members of the Juda Baptist Church. They 
have one child — Opal. 

Isaiah Stauffacher was born in Switzerland, 
Nov. 27, 1842. He came with his parents to 
Green county, and grew to manhood on his 
father's farm in the town of Mount Pleasant, 
and received a limited school education. He 
enlisted in company B, 31st regiment, Wiscon- 
sin Volunteers, Aug. 14, 1862, and participated 
in many important battles. Among them were 
Nashville and Atlanta. He was discharged 
July 15, 1865, by reason of the close of the 
war, and returned home. He was married June 
22, 1866, to Magdaline Elmer, who was born in 
Switzerland July 25, 1843, She is the daughter 
of John U. and Vrana (Martin) Elmer, who 
came to the United States about 1847, and 
stopped in the town of Washington, where 
they remained some years, then moved to Mount 
Pleasant where the mother died Dec. 26, 1872. 
Mr. and Mrs, Stauffacher are members of the 
Evangelical Church, Tliey have eight children 
— John, Ernest, Isaiah, Electa, Emanuel, Daniel, 
Caroline and an infant not now named. His 
farm contains 320 acres in a good state of cul- 
tivation. 



1124 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



f 



Dorwin Ilulburt was born Dec. 19, 1819, in 
Onondaga Co., N. Y. He was married to Eliza- 
beth F. Sherwood, born Feb. 23, 1816. In 1859 
he came with his family to Green county, and 
settled in the town of Sylvester, where he lived 
until his death in October, 1882. He had a 
family of eight children. Mr. Ilulburt took an 
active part in religious affairs, and was an active 
member of the Baptist Church, of which he 
was a deacon. 

Marvin M. Hulburt was born Feb. 1, 1853, in 
Onondaga Co., N. Y. He was six years of age 
when his parents came to this county, where he 
received a common school education. He then 
taught six winter terms of school and followed 
farming during the summers. He was married 
March 31, 1878, to Laura L. Hare, who was 
born in the town of Sylvester, June 18, 1856, 
by whom lie had one child, who died in infancy. 
Mrs. Hulburt died Jan. 27, 1880. Mr. Hulburt 
again was married May 19, 1881, to Jane 
Hamman, of Monroe, who was born in August, 
1844. Mr. Hulburt is a republican. and has held 
local offices in the township. He has been a 
member of the town board for two years. He 
is a member of the Baptist Church, and his 
wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal organ- 
ization. His farm contains sixty-five acres and 
is valued at $75 per acre. 

Herman F. Zietlow was born in Germany, 
Sept. 19, 1861, When six months of age his 
parents emigrated to United States and settled 
in the town of Sylvester, this county. They 
now reside in the town of Jefferson. Herman 
F. grew to manhood in Green county, receiv- 
ing a good education. He was married Dec. 
7, 1882, to Lena Schwrin, born in the town of 
Sylvester, Aug. 30, 1862. They moved to their 
present home in March, 1883. They are mem- 
bers of the German Evangelical Church One 
child has been born to them— Esther. 

Carl Schwartz is a native of Germany, born 
June 20, 1817. He grew to manhood in his 
native country, receiving a good education in 
the common schools. In 1860 he emigrated to 



America. He came to Wisconsin and located 
in the town of Sylvester, this county, where he 
still resides. His farm contains ninety acres, 
valued at $40 per acre. Mr. Schwartz was married 
in 1 840 to Augusta Arnt, born in Germany in 
1815. They have one child — Fred. Mr. Schwartz 
and wife are members of the Evangelical 
Church at Juda. 

Luke Edwards is a native of Wayne Co., N. 
Y., born in the town of Wolcott, Sept. 20, 1818. 
He was married on the 16th of August, 1837, 
to Sally Maria Miller, born Oct. 23, 1819, in 
Kingston, Duchess Co., N. Y. She is a daugh- 
ter of David and Alvina (Wolvin) Miller, 
natives of Duchess county, who afterwards re- 
moved to Onondaga county; thence to Green 
Co., Wis., where they first settled in the town 
of Sylvester; then to Mount Pleasant where 
they died. They had a family of eleven chil- 
dren. Mr. Edwards came with his family to 
Green county in June, 1854, and settled near 
Ball's mill. In 1867 he purchased and removed 
to the farm where he now resides. They are the 
parents of ten children, six of whom are living — 
Eliza A., Anson D., David O., Pembroke P., 
Lydia M., and George A. Mr. Edwards is a son 
of Moses and Sophia (Johnson) Edwards, 
natives of Wolcott, Wayne Co., N. Y. In 1844 
they emigrated to Monmouth, Warren Co., 111., 
where the mother died. His father died in 
April, 1868, near Rock Island, 111. They raised 
a family of nine children, the subject of this 
sketch being the seventh child. His farm now 
contains 170 acres. Eighty acres, including the 
homestead, is valued at $75 per acre; and ninety 
acres on section 15, is valued at $40 per acre. 
George A., the youngest son, was born in the 
town of Sylvester, July 25, 1857. He was reared 
on liis father's farm, and was married on the 
24th of December, 1883, to Emma A. Stephen- 
son, born in the town of Sylvester, March 22, 
1857. They live at the old homestead. 

Robert D. Searles came to this county in 
1868, and settled upon the farm where he 
now lives. It is located in the town of Sylves-' 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1125 



ter, and contains 180 acres, valued at |60 per 
acre. He was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., 
June 26, 1838. His younger days were spent 
in Irs native State, and. his education was 
obtained in the common schools. He enlisted 

I Aug. 9, 1862, in company C, 21st Michigan 
Volunteer Infantry, and served until May, 1863, 
when he was discharged for disability. He 
returned to Michigan, where he was married 
April 23, 1865, to Celia E. Bliss, who was born 
in Michigan Dec. 8, 1845. Mr. Searles is a 
member of the republican party, and is the 
present chairman of the town boai'd. He has 
also held the office of assessor, two terms. Mr, 
Searle's parents removed from New Yorl-, heir 
native State, to Michigan, where his father 
died. His mother lives in Kansas. They were 
the parents of seven children, of whom Robert 
D., of this sketch, was the second. 

William Malkut was born in Germany in 
1841. He was married in 1865 to Louisa 
Abitz. They emigrated to the United States, 
locating in Watertown. In 1868 they came to 
Green county. His wife died Oct. 24, 1872. 
They had one child. He was married the second 
lime in March, 1873. The result of this union 
was three children — Herman, August and 

[ Ferdinand. They also have an adopted child 
— Esther Lena. 1 he family are members of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Malkut's 
farm contains about eighty-six acres, valued at 
|>10 per acre. 

Herman Coplien, a native of Germany,- was 
bom April 13, 1861. He is a son of Michael 
and Louisa (Ilartwick) Coplien, also natives of 
Germany. In 1869 they came to America, se'- 
tling near Juda. In March, 1877, they pur 
cliased the farm wliere they now live. They 
have had ten children born to them, Herman 
being the second. He was married on the 20tli 
of April, 1882. They have one child — Freddy. 
Mr. Coplien has 100 acres of land, valued at 
$45 per acre. 

Othraar Lnchsinger, wasborn in Switzerland, 
May 17, 1855, He lived in liis native place 



until fourteen years of age, when he emigrated 
to the United States, in company with some 
friends, and located in this county. He worked 
out in this county, also in Jefferson and Wal- 
worth counties. He was married March 11, 
1878, to Maggie Luchsinger, a daughter of 
Jacob and Catharine (Marty) Luchsinger. She 
was born Sept. 11, 1859, in the town of Sylves- 
ter. Her parents are natives of Switzerland. 
They came to America in 1852, and settled on 
section 7, this town, where they lived until 
1878, when they removed to Monroe where they 
yet reside. They had a family of eleven chil- 
dren, ten of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Othmar Luchsinger have three children — Anna, 
Arnold, and an infant. His farm contains 231 
acres, valued at $30 per acre. 

William Brechlin was born in Germany, 
March 14, 1839. He was united in marriage 
with Sophia Miller, on the 19th of October, 1866. 
She is a native of Germany, and was born May 
20, 1843. In 1869 he emigrated to the United 
States, with his family, and settled in the town 
of Sylvester, this county. He has a good farm 
of 120 acres, worth $40 per acre. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brechlin are members of the Evangelical 
Church. They have five children — Pauline, 
Anna, Charley, Emma and JNIartha. 

F. W, Smith was born in Waupaca Co., Wis., 
May 1, 1856. He was reared to manhood in his 
native county, receiving a good education in the 
common schools of his day. He was married on 
the 5th of October, 1875, to Matilda McCullow, 
born in Flusliing, Long Island, N. Y. They have 
one child — Solon B., born March 18, 1880. In 
the spring of 1870 Mr. Smith came to Green 
county and remained until 1875, wlien he re- 
turned to Waupaca county; and in 1879 returned 
to Green county. 

August Behrudt was born in Prussia, April 
30, 1860. He is a son of Godfred and Anna 
(Schrumm) Behrudt. They emigrated to the 
United States in 1873, locating in Pennsylvania 
where thoy remained one year, then came to 
Green county and rented land of Amos R. Syl- 



1126 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



vester. In 1878 they bought the farm on sec- 
tion 1*7, where they reside. They have two 
children, the subject of this sketch being the 
eldest. He was married on Sept. V, 1882, to 
Paulina Pagel, born in Prussia. They have 
one child — Hannah L. Mr. Behrudt purchased 
the farm on which he now lives, Oct. 25, 1888, 
of Andrew Streiker. It contains eighty acres, 
for which he paid $3,360. 

Waldo Fuller was born at Johnstown Center, 
Rock Co., Wis., Sept. 23, 1856. When he was 
four years old, his parents removed to Dane 
county, where he grew to manhood and received 
a good common school education. He has al- 
ways been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He 
is a son of Charles and Celestia ( Wilf ord) Fuller. 



The former was born in Whitehall, N. Y., Sept. 
20, 1820, and the latter at Batavia, in the same 
State, Feb. 20, 1819, and they were married at 
Meadville, Crawford Co., Penn., in December, 
1844, and came to Wisconsin in 1851, and in 
1860 removed to Dane county, where they re- 
mained until 1877, then came to Green county, 
stopping at Monroe, thence going to Prairie du 
Chien, Crawford county, in 1880, where they 
still reside. There was a family of four chil- 
dren, the subject of this sketch being the third. 
He came to the town of Sylvester in the spring 
of 1882. He was married Feb. 9, 1881, to Au- 
gusta Fisher, who is a native of Stargard, Pom- 
erania, born May 2, 1862. They have two chil- 
dren — Charles F. and Jeremiah W. Mrs. Fuller 
is a member of the Lutheran Church. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1127 



CHAPTER XLIII. 



TOWN OF WASHINGTON. 



The town of Washington comprises the terri- 
tory designated on the government survey as 
congressional township 3 north, range 7 east. It 
is bounded on the north by the town of New 
Glarus, on the east by Mount Pleasant, on the 
south by Monroe, and on the west by Adams. This 
town embraces 22,870.80 acres of land which it 
is stated 22,858 acres are farming lands. The 
value of farming lands is assessed at $12.58 and 
the total value assessed is $287,630. This total 
represents the assessed value of real estate in 
the town, while this together with the personal 
property amounts to $411,620. The population 
of the town in 1875 was 870; in 1880, 882. The 
principal farm products of this town grown dur- 
ing the year 1882 were as follows: 2,684 bush- 
els of wheat; 78,510 bushels corn; 70,003 bush- 
els oats; 852 bushels barley; 671 bushels rye; 
4,812 bushels potatoes; 590 bushels root crops; 
2,898 bushels apples; 22 bushels clover seed; 
37 bushels timothy seed. There were 25,465 
pounds of butter; 267,550 pounds of cheese, and 
3,787 tons of hay made. The acreage of the 
principal farm products grown in 1883 was as 
follows: 260 acres wheat; 3,130 corn; 2,321 of 
oats; 70 of barley; 72^ of rye; 76 of potatoes; 
100^ of apple orchard; 2,556 bearing apple trees; 
4,150 acres grasses; 4,130 acres growing timber. 
In 1883 there were 1,727 milch cows in the town, 
valued at $41,120; 2,955 head of cattle; assessed 
value, $19.70, total value, $58,221; 458 head of 
horses; assessed value, $52.29, total value, $23,- 
945; 4 mules, assessed value, $70, total value, 
863 sheep, assessed value $2, total 



value, $1,726; 1,977 swine, assessed value $5.75, 
total value, $11,369. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

Washington was first settled in 1837. The 
honor of being the pioneer belongs to Josiah 
Pierce, who was originally from Massachusetts, 
but came direct from the State of New York to 
Madison, Wis., in the spring of 1837. The 
State capitol had just been commenced and Mr. 
Pierce had been engaged to board the workmen. 
Wisconsin had only been a Territory for a little 
over a year and Madison was a mere hamlet. In 
the following November, Mr. Pierce removed 
to a cabin which he had built during the sum- 
mer on section 13, in what is now the town of 
Washington. Here he remained until the time 
of his death. 

The next settler in the town was Noah Phelps, a 
native of the State of New York. Prior to the 
Black Hawk War he had helped to survey 
Green county, and after finishing his work he 
returned to his eastern home expecting to bring 
iiis family to Wisconsin in 1837. Mr. Phelps 
states that he was almost ready to start in May, 
when specie payment was suspended by the 
banks. Government land could only be bought 
with coin and as all his money was in bank 
notes, he was obliged to wait. When specie 
payment was resumed in May, he was still 
ready, and started, and in June, 1838, he made 
the second settlement within the limits now 
comprising the town of Washington. He set- 
tled with his family on section 24, and remaine(i 



1128 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



for a few years, then moved to Monroe, and 
still lives near that city. 

Asel Smith came herefrom Michigan in 1842, 
and made a claim on section 7. He remained 
but a few years, then sold out and returned to 
his former home. 

Hiram Bane came from Ohio in 1844, and 
claimed the southwest quarter of section 1. In 
1848 he sold his claim to Fred Streif, and bought 
forty acres on the northwest quarter of the 
same section. In 1850 he sold out and went 
to California, where he froze to death in the 
winter of 1852-3. 

Samuel Holloway, a native of Maryland, came 
in 1844, and made a claim on section 22. K^e 
was a blacksmith by trade, the first in the town. 
He remained here two years, when he sold his 
claim and removed to Monroe. Later he went 
to Richland county, where he died in 1855. 

Jarvis Rattan, a native of Illinois, cime to 
Green county as early as 1836, and entered land 
now included within the limits of the city of 
Monroe. He was a single man when he came, 
and he kept "bach" for two years in a little log 
house that stood between Bridge's block and the 
spring. In 1838 he was married to a daughter 
of Josiah Pierce. He sold out at about this 
time, and settled in the southeastern corner of 
the town of Monroe and lived there until 1844, 
when he removed to the town of Washington, 
locating on the southeast quarter of section 24. 
In 1854 he sold out and moved to Charles City, 
Iowa, where he built a saw mill and engaged 
at farming. Three years later he returned to 
Green county, settling on section 21, in the town 
of Mount Pleasant, A few years later he sold 
his farm to the county, and soon afterward re- 
moved to San Joaquin Co., Cal., where he still 
lives. 

Jared Fessenden, a native of Chautauqua Co., 
N. Y., and a brick-maker by trade, came to 
Green county in 183T, and located in Monroo. 
He spent the summer making brick, and liie 
winter in the pineries. In 1844 he was married 
to a daughter of Josiah Pierce, and settle<i in 



the town of Washington, on section 25. He 
improved a farm and lived there until his death 
in 1880. His family now live in Cloud Co., 
Kansas. 

James Crouch came in 1844. He lived near 
Monroe until 1847, then located in this town on 
section 22. He has since died Two of his 
sons now reside on section 22. 

James Crouch was born in Virginia, June 13, 
1801 . He moved to Ohio when a young man, and 
settled in Ross county, where he was married to 
Nancy Thomas, also a native of Virginia. They 
remained in Ohio twelve years, then removed to 
Lafayette, Ind., where he engaged in running a 
ferry boat across the Wabash river, which he 
continued two years. He then moved to War- 
ren county and bought land near Independence, 
where he improved a farm and remained until 
1844. In that year he started, in company with 
three other families, for the Territory of Wis- 
consin. They traveled with teams, bringing 
their household goods with tliem, and camped 
on the way. He first settled three miles south 
of Monroe, where he bought ciglity acres of 
land, and lived three years. He then traded 
for land on section 22, of the town of Wash- 
ington, to which he removed in the fall of 1847. 
He built a log house which was his home for 
several years, when he built a frame house, in 
which he lived until the time of his death, 
March 10, 1873. Mrs. Crouch died April 10, 
1881. Five children were born to them, four 
of whom are now living — William R., Martha, 
now the wife of James Waite, of Iowa; Samuel 
T. and Elizabeth, wife of John Gauge, living 
in Dakota. It was mainly due to Mr. Crouch's 
efforts that the M. E. Church was established in 
the town of Washington. He also took an in- 
terest in the cause of education, and was in- 
fluential in establishing a good school in the 
town. 

Samuel T. Crouch, son of James Crouch, was 
born in Lafayette, Ind., Dec. 6, 1834, and was in his 
tenth year when he came to Green county with 
his parents, where he attended the pioneer 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



1129 



school and assisted his father in clearing a 
farm. He was married in 1859 to Amelia 
Marshall, a native of New York. At the time 
of his marriage he settled upon land which he 
had previously purchased, and began house- 
keeping in a log house. In 1861 he sold his 
farm to take charge of his father's place, and 
has since resided on the old homestead. Mr. 
and Mrs. Crouch have five children — Albert, 
Alma E., Libbie, Arthur and Josiah. 

William R. Crouch, eldest son of James and 
Nancy (Thomas) Crouch, was born in Fayette 
Co., Ohio, Oct. 14, 1824, and was ten years old 
when his parents moved to Indiana. He re- 
mained with them there and in Green county 
until 1851, when he was married March 5, to 
Mary Virtue, a native of Richland Co., Ohio, 
born Jan. 14, 1834. He then settled on his 
present farm on section 22, of the town of 
Washington. He had purchased the land two 
and a half years before, and erected a small 
frame house, to which he has since built an 
addition. They have ten children — Emanuel 
F., Louisa, James, Argalas, Elizabeth, John 
Wesley, Ella F., Thomas, Charlie and Mary 
Elta. 

Alexander Sires, a native of Ohio, arrived 
here in 1844, and settled on the northeast quar- 
ter of section 28. In 1853 he sold out and re- 
moved to Richland county, locating in the town 
of Henrietta. He there plaited a viUage called 
Siresville, but it did not liourish. He is now 
dead. 

In 1845 John L. Perrine came and settled on 
section 25. His son now occupies the farm, 
while he lives in Monroe. 

William C. Perrine, son of John L. and Eliza 
(Gordon) Perrine, was born in Jeifersoii Co., 
N. Y., July 11, 1836, and was ten years old 
when he c.ime to Green county with his parents, 
who first settled in Monroe, where they re- 
mained three years, then removed to tlie town 
of Washington. Here William spent his youth 
\n attending the district school and assisting his 
faLlier on the farm. He was married iu 1861 



to Clarissa Gist, and settled on the old home- 
tead. His wife died in March, 1868, leaving 
one child — Addie. He was again married in 
February, 18*70, to Helen, daughter of Joseph 
and Permelia (Spencer) Brayton, early settlers 
of the town of Exeter. Mr. and Mrs. Perrine 
have two children — Charlie and Laura. 

Charlton J. Simmons, one of the pioneers of 
Green county, is a native of North Carolina, 
born in Green county, June 1, 1819. When he 
was thirteen years old, his parents emigrated 
to Illinois, and stopped for a short time in Law- 
rence county^ then went to Crawford county 
where they were early settlers. His father 
bought land and commenced to improve a farm, 
and make a home for his family, but he died in 
April, 1834. The following February, Mrs. 
Simmons also died, leaving seven children, the 
subject of this sketch being the eldest, and upon 
him devolved the care of the family. Soon af- 
ter his mother's death, the farm and stock were 
disposed of in such a manner that the children 
realized but $1 each, from the proceeds. Charl- 
ton J. went to work for a Methodist minister 
in Lawrence county^ with whom he continued 
one year. The first ten months he received $5 
per month, and the last two, $10 per month. 
He saved the money and loaned it to a man 
who ran away and never paid it. He continued 
to work at farming in the neighborhood until 
1840. He was married March 12, of that year, 
to Mary Allison, who was born in May, 1823, 
in Lawrence county. After mnrriage he rented 
a farm on Allison Prairie, in Russellville, Law- 
rence county. In 1842 he took the. produce 
which he had raised the previous year, loaded 
it on to a fiat boat, and Avent down the river to 
New Orleans where he disposed of it. In 1844 
he again went down the river with his produce, 
this time disposing of it at the mouth of the 
Arkansas river. In April, 1845, he came to 
Wisconsin and settled in Green county. He 
rented land that is now included in the village 
of Monroe, and bought twenty acres of winter 
wheat of Robert Kirkendal, which yielded thirty^ 



6? 



1130 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



bushels per acre. In 1845 lie pre-empted the 
northeast quarter of section 35, township 3 
north, of range 1 east, now known as the town 
of Washington. He built a frame house upon 
this land and settled there in the fall of thai 
year. The following spring he wished to enter 
forty acres on section 26, and in order to obtain 
the money to pay for it, he drew oats, with a 
team, to Janesville, where he sold them for six 
and a fourth cents per bushel, and the amount 
received lacked $2 of the sura required to pay 
for the land. He then sold three large yearling 
calves at $3 a piece, making enough money to 
pay his expenses to Mineral Point and enter 
his land. In 1847 he went to the pineries on 
the Wisconsin, and engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness, buying manufactured lumber, which he 
rafted down the river and sold at different 
points. The first wheat that he raised upon his 
farm, he drew to Milwaukee and sold for thirty- 
seven and a half cents per bushel. He bought 
groceries and provisions, which he drew to the 
pineries, a distance of 200 miles, and there dis- 
posed of them to the lumbermen. He was en- 
gaged in the lumber trade seven years, after 
which he devoted his time to the improvement 
of his farm, which at one time contained 1,100 
acres. He engaged in the cattle business, and 
during the war dealt in horses, many of which 
he shipped to Chicago and sold to the govern- 
ment. He also engaged in breeding tine cattle 
and horses. He bought one horse in Kentucky 
which he sold for $1,800. In 1882 he met with 
an irreparable loss in the death of his wife, 
which occurred on the 28th of March, that year. 
He has fourteen children living — William, Car- 
oline, Charles, Mary, George, Lida, Lucinda, 
Charlton J., Edward and Edgar, twins; Flora, 
Eva, Ida and Albert. 

Samuel Allison, a native born Kentuckian, 
arrived in the county in 1844. In 1846 he came 
to the town of Washington and located on sec- 
tion 36. In 1856 he disposed of his farm and 
removed to Charles City, Iowa, where he soon 
died. 



James Lang came here in about 1845 and 
settled on the northeast quarter of section 9, 
He lived there for several year, then sold out 
and left. He was a Mormon. 

John Hendrickson, a native of Indiana, also 
came in 1846. He settled on the northeast 
quarter of section 27, and built a log cabin near 
the spring. He lived there for a few years, 
then sold out and returned to Indiana. 

Gabriel Lang, a native of Indiana, came in 
1846 and located on the tiorthwest quarter of 
section 21. lie remained but a few years. 

Barney Becker, a native of the State of New 
York, came in 1845, and spent one year in Mon- 
roe. In 1846 he settled, on the southwest quar- 
of section 25. He improved a farm and lived 
there several years, when he sold out and moved 
to Monroe, where he died a short time later. 

In 1846, Elijah Roby, a native of Virginia, 
came from Ohio and entered the northeast 
quarter of section 2. lie had been a stone 
mason, but devoted his time to farming. He 
took a great interest in town affairs, and was 
the first chairman of the board, hold that office 
for several years, as well as other offices of trust. 
In 1881 he sold out and moved to Evansville, 
where he now resides. 

Mr. Kirkpatrick, a blacksmith, came in 1846 
and settled on the northwest quarter of section 
21. He sold, in 1849, to P. J. Miller, and went 
to Iowa. 

Elias Wright, of Indiana, arrived here in 

1846, and settled on the northwest quarter of 
section 22. A few years afterward he sold out 
and removed to Iowa. 

Oswald Blum, a native of Switzerland, came 
here in 1847 and bought twenty acres on the 
southwest quarter of section 2. He made his 
home there until the time of his death. 

Caspar Baker, another Swiss, came the same 
year and entered land on the northeast quarter 
of section 10, where he now lives. 

William Tucker, an Englishman, came in 

1847, and located on section 22. In 1853 he 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1131 



sold to Argalus Loveland and removed to 
Chickasaw Co., Iowa, where he now lives. 

Emanuel Wissemiller, a native of Switzer- 
land, came from Oliio, in 1848, and settled on 
section 17, where he entered 160 acres of land. 
Here he erected a log cabin and lived until the 
time of his death. His son, Jacob, now occupies 
the old homestead. 

Fred Swickey, a native of Switzerland, came 
in 1847 and bought land on the northwest quar- 
ter of section 12. He improved a farm and 
lived until his death, in 1883. 

Adam Blumer, a Swiss, came in 1849 and 
entered 240 acres of land on sections 8, 9 and 
10. He improved a large farm and lived there 
until the time of his death. He was born in 
the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Nov. 6,1798. 
He was reared on a dairy farm where he learned 
the art of cheese making. He was married 
in October, 1829, to Margaret Blum, who was 
born in the canton of Glarus, in November, 
1805. In 1849, they left their native land for 
America, taking passage in a sailing vessel to 
New York, where they arrived after a voyage 
of twenty- four days. They proceeded up the 
Hudson river to Albany, thence, by way of the 
Erie canal to Buffalo, where they took passage 
on the lakes to Milwaukee. There he hired 
teams to bring them to Monroe. He entered 
240 acres of land on sections 8, 9 and 16, of the 
town of Washington, and built a log house on 
the southwest quarter of section 9. He pur- 
chased two pairs of oxen and immediately com- 
menced improving the land. The first spring- 
he bought five cows, from which they made 
butter and cheese. He engaged in grain and 
stock raising and resided here until the time of 
his death, which occurred in Jatuiary, 185-'). 
He left a widow and five children — Jacob, 
Magdalena, Elsbeth, Catharine and Adam. 
Jacob lives at Sioux City, where he works ;vL 
his trade, as carpenter and joiner; Magdahna 
is the wifeof John l>altzly, and lives in Illinois; 
Elsbeth died in 1S66; Catharine is tl\e wife of 
Jacob Hefty, of Monroe. Adam was born 



April 1, 1844, and was five years old when he 
came to Green county. He was reared and 
educated in the town of Washington. March 
23, 1865, he was married to Margaret Hefty, 
who was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzer- 
land, July 7, 1844. They settled at the time 
of their marriage, on the old homestead, which 
they now occupy. He has purchased more 
land, and now owns 476 acres. He has two 
large barns and a good frame house. In 1868 
he commenced making cheese, keeping at that 
time, twenty cows. He now keeps seventy-five 
cows and continues to manufacture cheese. Mr. 
and Mrs. Blumer have seven children — Rosana, 
Mary, Catharine, Adam, Emma, Fredolin and 
Jacob. 

Daniel and James Hilton, natives of Maine, 
came in 1850. Daniel entered land on sections 
5 and 6, where he improved a farm and lived a 
few years, then lived in Brooklyn several years, 
after which he moved to Missouri. He now 
lives in Pocahontas Co., Iowa. James en- 
tered land on section 7, where he lived five or 
six years, when he sold out and removed to the 
town of York, where he still lives. 

Andrew Harper, a settler of 1851, was born 
on the North Shetland Island, Nov. 28, 
1838. When he was thirteen years old he em- 
grated to America and settled in Leroy, Genesee 
Co., N, Y., where he lived until 1846, then 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin and 
stopped temporarily five miles east of Janes- 
ville and in January 1847 removed to Spring 
Valley, Rock county, in which town his father 
entered land and improved a farm, and is now 
living at tiie age of seventy-nine years. The 
subject of this sketch made his home there with 
his parents until 1853. On the 22d of Fehrnary 
of that year he was married to Agnes Ilalcrow, 
who was born on North Shetland Island. In 
January, J 852, he came to Green county and en- 
tered land on section 27, town of Washington, 
locating the same with a land warrant for which 
he had traded in Rock connty, paying for the 
t vHie a pair of o,Nen and a wagon, with $60 in 



1132 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



money. He then had left, one pair of oxen and |20 
in money, which constituted his entire earthly 
possessions. The following March after mar- 
riage he came to the town of Washington, but 
not having means with which to improve his 
land, he rented land on section 21 for three 
years. He had good crops and there made some 
money with which to start improvements on 
his own land. In 1855 he built a frame house 
14x22, and moved during the fall of that year 
and immediately commenced work on the land 
and was in a few years able to buy more land. 
He now owns 360 acres, the greater portion of 
which is improved and under fence. Mrs. 
Harper died May 5, 1874. Twelve children 
were born to them, eleven of whom are now liv- 
ing — Robert, Libbie, Malcolm J., Susan, Agnes, 
Andrew, Tena, Thomas, Jane, Hine J. and 
William. Mr. Harper joined the Presbyterian 
Church in York State, but since coming to Wis- 
consin has worshiped witli the Methodist Epis- 
copal organization, of which Church his wife and 
nine of her children were members. 

Joseph and Gustavus Hilton, natives of Maine, 
came in 1851. Joseph had a land warrant which 
he located on sections 5 and 8. He improved a 
farm and lived here until the spl-ing of 1884, 
when he sold out and settled in Lyon Co., Iowa. 
Gustavus entered 100 acres of land on sections 
6 and 7. He now lives on section 6. 

Gustavus HiltoJi, fifth son of John and Lu- 
cinda (Williams) Hilton, was born in the town 
of Embden, Somerset Co., Maine, Jan. 17, 1828. 
His younger days were spent upon a farm in his 
native town, and he obtained his education in 
the public schools. He remained with his par- 
ents until twenty-one years old. He then en- 
gaged in farming in the neighborhood during 
the summer seasons, and in lumbering during 
the winters, and running logs down the Kenne- 
bec river in the spring. In 1851 he came to 
Wisconsin, traveling by rail to Buffalo, thence 
on the lakes to Detroit, crossed Michigan by 
rail, crossing Lake Michigan to Milwaukee, 
where he employed a farmer by the name of 



Webb, (who resided near Decatur, Green county 
but who happened to be in Milwaukee at the 
time) to bring him to Monroe. He entered 
land on sections 6 and 7, of the town of Wash- 
ington, but made his home with his brother, 
Joseph, until 1857. He was married in Febru- 
ary of the following year to Sarah Maria Fres- 
her, a native of Tioga Co., N. Y. He erected 
a frame house on the southwest quarter of sec- 
tion 6. He has cleared and improved seventy- 
live acres of land, and now owns 180 acres. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have seven children — 
Emma A., Elroy B., Marcellus E., Herbert W., 
Millie L., Lorrin L. and Daisy B. In 1854 Mr. 
Hilton's parents came to Washington and 
bought land on section 8, on which they lived 
two years, then sold and returned to Maine, 
where Mr. Hilton died in 1874. He was born 
in Wiscasset, Maine, in March, 1786. At the 
age of twenty years he went to sea, and sailed 
before the mast seven years. He then aban- 
doned the sea and was married to Lucinda Wil- 
liams, also a native of Wiscasset, born April 
17,1789. They settled at Stark, Franklin Co., 
Maine. He was a a soldier in the War of 1812. 
He afterwards bought land in Embden, Somer- 
set county, where they resided until 1854, when, 
as before stated, they came to Green county. 
On his return to Maine he lived in the town of 
Embden with his daughter, until the time of 
his death. His widow now lives with her son, 
James, in the town of York, and although nine- 
five years old, is still in the enjoyment of good 
health. Eleven children were born to them, 
nine of whom reached maturity. 

James Gaines, a native of "Bonnie Scotland" 
and a veteran of the Mexican War, came from 
the town of Exeter in 1853, and bought land on 
the northeast quarter of section 23. About 
1877 he sold out and moved to Nebraska, where 
he still lives. 

The records of the first town meeting were 
destroyed, but we learn that the following offi- 
cers were elected at a town meeting held in 
James Long's house in April, 1849: Elijah 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1183 



Roby, chairman ;Peter Wilson and James Crouch 
side board; William Tucker, town clerk; A. H. 
Pierce, assessor; and Frank Pierce, superintend- 
ent of schools. 

At the election held in the Bloomer school 
house, district No. 6, on April 1, 1884, the fol- 
lowing officers were elected: Andrew Harper, 
chairman; S. T. Clayton and Thomas Hefty, 
side board; Thomas Lemon, clerk; John Baum- 
gartner, assessor; he refused to serve, and Henry 
Hefty was appointed by the board to fill vacan- 
cy; A. Loveland, treasurer and justice of the 
peace. 

EDUCATIOISrAL. 

The first school house in district No. 3 was 
erected in 1854. It was a stone building, lo- 
cated on the northwest quarter of section 9. 
Mary Hutchison was the first teacher. In 1882 
a frame house was erected on the old site, in 
which Kate Wescott taught the first school. 

The first school in district No. 1 was taught 
by John Brown in a log house in the winter of 
1848-9. The house was situated on the north 
line of the southwest quarter of section 22. 
During the following fall the first school house 
in the town was built on the southwest quarter 
of section 22. B. T. Hancock was the first 
teacher in this house. The house was built of 
logs furnished by the citizens, who also erected 
the same. The present building was erected in 
1868, and is a neat frame structure, situated on 
the site of the old one. Lorain Marshall was 
the first teacher in this house. 

The first school taught in district No. 2 was 
in Jarvis Rattan's house, in 1851. Mary A. 
Sutherland, of the town of Sylvester, was the 
teacher. She received |2 per week for her 
services, but was taken sick and died before her 
term had expired. School was afterward 
taught in Frank Pierce's house. In 1854 a 
school house was erected on the northeast cor- 
ner of the northeast quarter of the southwest 
quarter of section 25. Louisa A. Tilson taught 
the first term of school in this house. The pres- 
ent building was erected in 1871. It is situated 



on the northwest quarter of section 36. Lydia 
Shake, now the wife of William Bailey, was 
the first teacher in that house. 

The first school house in district No. 4 was 
erected in 1850. The people of the neighbor- 
hood turned out and drew the logs together, 
some furnishing one and others three and four 
logs. Then a "bee"' was held and the house 
was put up. Edwin Noble was the first teacher. 
This house was located on section 2, and was 
used until the present one was erected. 

The first school in district No. 6 was taught 
by Mrs. James Lang, in her husband's bouse on 
the northeast quarter of section 9. This was 
in 1851. The following year a log school house 
was erected on the south line of section 9, in 
which Emily Lamars taught the first school. 
The log school house was used until 1870 
when a frame building was erected near the 
center of section 9. 

The first school in district No. 8 was taught 
by Mrs. William Fleury, in her husband's house 
in 1856. During the same year a log house was 
built on the northeast quarter of section 19. 
Phoenix Bennett taught the first school in this 
louse. In 1874 a small frame building was 
erected on thg old site, in which Annie Mc- 
Curry taught the first term of school. 

KELIGIOUS. 

In an early day the people met for worship in 
the school house on section 9. The pulpit was 
supplied by preachers from Monroe, among 
whom were Revs. Snell, Smead, Hagerman, 
Angelberger and Fotsch. Rev. Hirz is the present 
pastor. In 1876 a neat frame church building 
was erected on the northwest quarter of section 
21. Rev. Fotsch was the first to preach in this 
church. The first trustee was Christian Isley. 
There is a flourishing Sabbath school in connec- 
tion with this Church, of which Christian Isley 
is superintendent. 

The first Methodist Episcopal meetings were 
held at the house of Alexander Sires, in the 
winter of 1847-8, by Rev. Allen. A class was 
organized with the following members : James 



1134 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Crouch and wife ; Alexander Sires and wife ; 
Elias Wright and wife; David Sires and wife, 
and Jacob Ashley and wife James Crouch 
was appointed class leader. For a short time 
the class met at the school house, and later, at 
at the house of James Crouch, for some years, 
when they again met in the school house. In 
W74 they erected a church on the southwest 
quarter of section 26. It is a neat frame struc- 
ture, painted white. The following are the 
pastors who have had charge of the Church : 
Revs. Dudgeon, llurd, Fancher, Lake, Walker, 
Rupel, Allen, Lewis, Semple, Knox, Briggs, 
Burnip and Ilaight. The latter being the pas- 
tor at the present time. Ehler Crouch preached 
the dedicatory sermon. A Sabbath school is 
connection with the Church. Thomas Lemon 
is superintendent. 

The first services in this town, of the Im- 
manuel Church of the Evangelical Association 
of North America, were held by Rev. Leonard 
Buhler, of the town of Sylvester, in 1809, on 
the occasion of the funeral of Jacob Zum Brun- 
nen. Rev. Buhler organized a class, and meet- 
ings were held in the school house until the 
church was built. The church is a neat frame 
structure, situated on the northeast quarter of 
the southwest quarter of section 21. 

FIRST MARRIAGE. 

The first marriage in the town was Hiram 
Rust and Maria Pierce, at the residence of the 
bride's parents, in 1838, by Joseph Kelly, jus- 
tice of the peace. Mr. Rust is now dead. His 
widow lives in Kansas. 

PROMINKNT CITIZENS. 

Among the prominent citizens of the town of 
Washington, are the following, of whom we 
give biographical sketches : 

Thomas Lemon, an early settler of Green 
county, was a native of Centre Co., Penn., bor)i 
in 1802, He was there married to Sarah Gun- 
sallus, who was born in the same county, in 18J5. 
He was a weaver by trade, which occupation he 
followed in Centre county, until 1843. He then 
came to Wisconsin and spent one year in Lafay 



ette county, then came to Green county. He 
rented a farm, one year, in the town gf Sylves- 
ter, then went to New Glarus and bought gov- 
ernment land on section 35, where he built a 
log cabin and cleared a portion of the land. He 
died in that town, June 14, 18.54, leaving a wife 
and six children — James, Catharine, William, 
Thomas, Amanda and Maria. The family con- 
tinued to live in New Glarus for a number of 
years, and made considerable improvement upon 
the farm, but they are now scattered, James 
lives in Custer Co., Neb; Catharine is dead; 
William and Thomas reside in Washington; 
Amanda is the wife of Jacob North, and living 
in Chase Co., Kansas. Maria is the wife of 
Frank Loveland. Thomas was born in the 
town of Sylvester, Dec. 15, 1845. He grew to 
manhood in New Glarus, and in May, 1872, was 
married to Eminah Loveland, daughter of Arga- 
lus and Jane (Orwing) Loveland. They went 
to Nebraska and bought a farm in York county, 
where they remained four years, then returned 
to Green county and bought a farm on sections 
27 and 22, of Washington, upon which was a 
large barn with a stone basement, and also a 
cheese factory. In 1883 he built a commodious 
frame house. He keeps a dairy of twenty cows. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lemon have one child — Eddie 
Elgin. Mr. Lemon was elected to the office of 
town clerk, in 1882, and has been twice re- 
elected. He has also been supervisor. 

William Lemon, son of Thomas and Sarah 
Lemon, was born in Centre Co., Penn., Dec. 13, 
1841. He was quite young when his parents 
came to Green county. He grew to manhood in 
this county, and on the 3l8t of August, 1864, 
enlisted in the 35th Wisconsin, company D. 
He first went to Tennessee, then to Arkansas, 
then to Alabama, where he engaged in the siege 
and capture of Mobile. He then went to Texas, 
thence to New Orleans, where he was dis- 
charged in July, 1865. He returned home, and 
in October, 1869, was united in marriage with 
Rebecca Willis. She was born in Coshocton 
Co., Ohio, and is a daughter of Solomon and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1135 



Lavina Willis, pioneers of Green county. He 
had been making his home with his mother, on 
the old homestead, but on his marriage he set- 
tled on land he had previously ])urchased on 
section 14. He has since bought land on section 
23, and has erected a good set of frame buildings. 
They have four children — Jesse, Ethlen, William 
and Myrtie. 

Samuel Holloway, a pioneer of Green county, 
was born in Worcester Co., Md., in 1799. He 
was there married, to Mahala Godfrey, also a 
native of Maryland. In 1835 they removed to 
Illinois, and were early settlers in Schuyler 
county, where he worked at his trade as black- 
smith in the town of Brooklyn. They remained 
there until 1844, when they came to Green 
county, and took a claim on section 22, township 
3, range 7 east, now known as Washington. Two 
years later, he traded that land for a claim in 
Monroe, where he lived until 1852. He then 
went to Richland county and settled in Rock- 
bridge. He died in that town, two years later. 
He was twice married. His first wife died in 
1848, leaving ten children, eight of whom are 
now living. He was again married in 1850, and 
by this union had one child, who now lives in 
Rockbridge, Richland county. 

Ara S. Holloway, eldest son of Samuel 
and Mahala (Godfrey) Holloway, was born 
Maryland, Nov. 13, 1823. In his youth he in 
learned the blacksmith trade. He remained 
with his parents until 1848, when he was 
married to Rebecca Rice, a native of In- 
diana, and settled in Monroe, where he opened 
a shop and worked at his trade three years. He 
then removed to Monticello and engaged in the 
same business, which he continued until 1878. 
In that year he sold out, and bought a farm on 
section 35, of the town of Washington. He has 
built a shop upon his farm and carries on black- 
smithing in connection with farnnng. His first 
wife died ten months after marriage. He was 
again married to Emiline Rice, a sister of his 
former wife, who died eleven years later. His 
third wife was Ann Gates, who lived but two 



and a half years after marriage. He was after- 
wards married to Harriet N. Jones. The sec- 
ond IMrs. Holloway left two children — Jane and 
Thomas. The present Mrs. Holloway has ont- 
child — Ara C. 

Jolin Baumgartner, son of Anton and Mag- 
dalena Baumgartner, early settlers of Green 
county, was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, Aug. 9, 1838. He was nine years 
of age when his parents came to America and 
settled in Green county, where he grew toman- 
hood. He attended school in his native coun- 
try, and also in the jjioneer schools of Wash- 
ington. In 1862 he bouglit the northeast quar- 
ter of section 21, on which he built a log house 
and kept "bach," until 1865. He was married 
January 19 of that year, to Anna Hefty, also a 
native of the canton of Glarus, born March 6, 
1846. He continued to occupy the log house 
until 1882, when he erected a large frame house. 
He has also built a large barn, with a stone 
basement, a granary 16x26 feet, and a stable of 
the same dimensions. He is engaged in raising 
grain and stock. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner 
have nine children — Magdalena, Anna, Mary, 
Lydia, Herman A., Richard J., Reuben H., 
Otto M. and Bertha J. 

Thomas Hefty, son of Fredolin and Rosanna 
Hefty, pioneers of Green county, was born 
March 15, 1846, and was one year old when he 
came to America with his parents. He grew to 
manhood in the town of Washington, receiving 
his education in the district schools. He was 
married Feb. 16, 1871, to Barbara Kundert, a 
native of the town of New Glarus, and daugh- 
ter of Rudolph and Elsbeth Kundert, early set- 
tlers in that town. He settled then upon the 
homestead with his parents, on section 4, of the 
town of Washington, where he still resides. 
He hasa large frame house and a frame barn, 
40x72 feet, also a stone barn, 34x44 feet. His 
farm contains 400 acres, and he is extensively 
engaged in raising grain and stock, also keeps a 
laige dairy. Mr. and Mrs. Hefty have three 
children — Fridolin K., born Sept. 20, 1871; 



1136 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Elsbeth K.jborn Dec. 27, 1873, and Rosina K., 
born March 4, 1877. 

Jacob Burgy, one of the pioneers of New 
Glarus, was born in the canton of Glarus, 
Switzerland, March 9, 1794, and died in the 
town of Washington, Dec. 12, 1874, In his 
youth he was employed in a cotton factory, and 
also in gardening in his native country. He 
was married to Barbara Holsy, and they had 
one son — Jacob. In 1847 they started, April 1, 
for America, and arrived in New York city 
after a voyage of fifty-seven days. They came 
directly to Green county, traveling by steamer 
to Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, where 
they embarked upon the lakes and came to Mil- 
waukee. There he hired a team for $25 to 
bring them to Green county. They stopped for 
a few days in New Glarus, with a friend named 
Holsy, who lived on the present site of the vil- 
lage of New Glarus. Mr. Burgy then bought 
a claim on section 1, of Charles Parkin, and 
entered forty acres. There was a log cabin 
upon the claim, into which they moved, also 
ten acres of winter wheat and seven acres of 
corn growing. The wheat yielded 308 bushels, 
the most of which he had ground at the Attica 
mills and sold the flour to the people in the 
neighborhood. After the wheat had been 
gathered from the field, the children in the 
neighborhood went into the field and gathered 
up the scattering heads of wheat which was 
ground into flour. Mr. Burgy soon after en- 
tered eighty acres adjoining his first entry. He 
cleared a good farm and resided here until 1862. 
He then bought a house and lot in the village 
of New Glarus, where he lived until the death 
of his wife, June 28, 1873, then went to live 
with his son, with whom he remained until his 
death. Their only son, Jacob, was born in the 
canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Jan. 15, 1837, 
and was ten years old when he came to Green 
county, where he assisted his father in clearing 
the farm. He was married July 1, 1858, to 
Barbara Luchsinger, daughter of John and Bar- 
bara (Wilde) Luchsinger. She was born in the 



canton of Glarus, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 1842. 
They settled on the homestead farm, where he 
built a large barn with a stone basement, and 
lived until 1872. He then rented the homestead 
and bought a farm of 124 acres in the town of 
Washington. He has since purchased land ad- 
joining, and now has 310 acres in one body. 
There was a stone house upon this farm, which 
he now occupies, having enlarged it by a frame 
addition. In 1879 he built a barn, 34x56 feet, 
with eighteen foot posts and having a stone 
basement. He raises grain and stock, paying 
particular attention to the raising of fine blood- 
ed horses. Mr.- and Mrs. Burgy are the parents 
of nine children — Barbara, Rosa, Julia, Ame- 
lia, Jacob, Louisa, Carrie, Olive and Herman. 
Samuel T. Clayton was born in Bourbon Co., 
Ky., June 22, 182i. When he was but an in- 
fant his parents moved to Illinois and settled in 
Crawford county,where they were early settlers. 
His father bought timber land, improved a farm 
and lived there until the time of his death. 
The subject of this sketch there grew to man- 
hood. When he was fourteen years old his father 
died, and two years later his mother was again 
married. He then started out for himself and 
went to Lawrence county, and there he found 
employment on a farm. He was there married 
when he was eighteen years old, to Elizabeth 
Simmons, who was born in Green Co., N. C. 
They located in Crawford county and remained 
one year, then lived on a claim in Lawrence 
county two years, then moved to Richland coun- 
ty andrented land for two years. In 1848 they 
came to this county and spent the first winter 
at Monroe. He was there engaged in mining, 
and in teaming to the pineries, a distance of 
200 miles. In the spring of 1849 he moved to 
Washington and engaged in mining two years, 
then returned to Lawrence county and rented a 
farm one year, then came back to the town of 
Washington and bought a claim of forty acres 
on the northeast quarter of the northeast quar- 
ter of section 34, and subsequently entered the 
land. There was a small frame house on the 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



11 {{7 



place at the time. He did but little work on 
his land but engaged in mining and carpenter- 
ing two years, then paid attention to farming. 
He now owns 140 acres and is engaged in rais- 
ing stock and grain. They have eight children 
living — Mary E., Sarah C, George, Libbie, 
Nettie, Samuel 'J\, William and Myrtle. Mary 
E. is the wife of Anton Baumgartner; Sarah C. 
married John W. Bailey; Libbie is married to 
Jacob Baumgartner. Mr. Clayton and wife are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

Anton Baumgartner, a pioneer of 1848, was 
born in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, in 
November, 1812. There he was reared to 
agricultural pursuits. When a young man he 
learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed 
in his native country until 1848. He made the 
voyage to America in a sailing vessel, landed at 
New Orleans and proceeded up the Mississippi 
river to Galena, where he hired a team with 
which to complete the journey to Green county. 
He settled in the town of Washington, moving 
into a log house owned by his brother-in-law, 
Jacob Marty, located on section 9. The follow- 
ing fall he bought sixty acres on section 28, 
where he built a log house, into which he moved 
the next spring. He improved this place, pur- 
chased more land, and in 1868, erected a frame 
house. He was married to Magdaline Marty, 
also a native of Switzerland. They were blessed 
with nine children, seven of whom are now 
living — Magdalitie, John, Ursula, Euphemia, 
Anton, Anna and Jacob. Mrs. Baumgartner 
died in 1877, and soon after, Mr. Baumgartner 
went to live with his children. He lives at 
present with' his son-in-law, John Jenny, in 
Mount Pleasant. Their son, Anton Baumgart- 
ner, was born in the canton of Glarus, Switzer- 
land, in January, 1847, and was very young 
when his parents came to America. He grew 
to manhood in the town of Washington, and 
was educated in the district school. In August, 
1869, he was married to Mary E. Clayton, and 
after marriage, remained on the homestead four 
years. He then bought his present farm on 



section 26. He has built a good frame house 
and other buildings. They have five children — 
Arthur, Henry, Clinton, Weltha and Bessie. 

Jacob Baumgartner, youngest son of Anton 
and Magdalina Baumgartner, was born in the 
town of Washington, April 13, 1854. He ob- 
tained his education in the public school, and in 
1878 was married to Libbie Clayton, a native of 
Washington. He then settled on the old home- 
stead where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. 
Baumgartner have two children — Winnie and 
Willie. 

Andrew Jackson Smith was born in Newark, 
Licking Co., Ohio, Dec. 18, 1828. His parents, Jabez 
and Earlis (Standi ey) Smith, were natives of 
Massachusetts. Jabez Smith was a soldier in 
the War of 1812, was wounded in battle and 
drew a pension. Earlis Smith died at Newark, 
and Jabez Smith, died near Marengo, III., in 
1861. In 1848, Andrew J. came to Wisconsin 
with his father and settled in the town of Jor- 
dan. March 30, 1849, he was married to Eliza- 
beth Ellis. In 1855, they went to Richland 
county and settled in the town of Henrietta 
where they lived five years, then came back to 
the town of Jordan, where he died Jan. 6, 1862. 
There were seven children born to them — 
Richard A., Jabez N., Mary A., Earlis, Ella, 
Earl S., and Jessie, of whom Richard, Mary 
and Ella, only are now living. Mr. Smith was 
a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. 

Richard A. Smith, son of Andrew J. and Mary 
(Ellis) Smith, pioneers of Green county, was 
born in the town of Jordan, Green Co., Wis., 
Jan. 25, 1850. He was twelve years old when 
his father died, leaving his mother with three 
children, of whom Richard was the eldest. He 
assisted his mother in supporting the family, 
working at farming in the neighborhood, for 
which he received, at first, $5 per 
month. His wages were increased gradually, 
until he received |18 per month. In 1872, he 
went to Iowa, and rented land, where he put in 
a crop which, after harvesting, he returned to 
Green county. In the fall of that year, he was 



1138 



HIS'rORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



married to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Eliza 
(James) Hammond, of Green county. Soon 
after marriage, they went to Iowa and lived 
two years, then came back to this county and 
rented land until 1883, when he bought his 
present farm on sections 23 and 26, of Wash- 
ington. They have two children — Charlie and 
Roscoe. 

David Benkert, was born in the canton of 
Bern, Switzerland, March 1, 1820. He was 
reared to agricultural pursuits, and in his youth, 
worked with his father, who was a tanner. He 
afterwards engaged in the same business for 
himself. In 1851 he left his native country and 
came to America, landing at New York city 
and coming directly west to Green Co., Wis. 
He arrived on the 5th of June, and immediate- 
ly engaged in farming in Monroe, receiving for 
his services, $12 per month. In 1852 he rented 
a farm which he carried on two years, then 
came to Washington, and bought a farm on 
section 22, upon which was a log cabin, and a 
few acres broken. Since that time he has im- 
proved and cleared a farm, and built a good 
frame house. He still makes this his home. 
In 1882, he bought another farm on the same 
section. He was married in 1843 to Catharina 
Kung, who was born in the canton of Bern. 
They have five children living — Mary, David, 
John, Jacob and Fred. Their sons, Jacob and 
Fred, are now engaged in mercantile trade in 
Albany. Jacob was born in the town of Wash- 
ington, Dec. 25, 1857. He spent his early life 
on his father's farm, and obtained his education 
in the district school. When eighteen years of 
age he engaged as clerk in a dry goods store. 
In 1879, lie began mercantile trade at Monti- 
cello. He continued in business there until 
1881 when he closed his store, and moved his 
goods to Albany, where he established a good 
trade. The fire of November, 1883, destroyed 
his entire property, but in December, 1883, he 
resumed business in company with his brother, 
Fred. They carry a large stock of clothing 
and gentleman's furnishing goods with a tailor 



shop in connection. He was married in 1881 
to Jennie Patterson, of Monroe, Wis. 

Jacob zum Brunnen, Sr., was born in the can- 
ton of Bern, Switzerland, Nov. 2, 1802. When 
a young man he learned the tailor's trade, which 
business he followed until eighteen years of 
age. He then engaged in making hemp ropes, 
worked at that business for fifteen years. He 
worked at the pottery business for two years. 
The clay not being good, he lost money in the 
enterprise. He then engaged in the manufac- 
ture of ropes, and also opened a dry goods and 
grocery store. In 1845 he purchased some land 
and engaged in stock raising. In 1852 he sold 
out his business and emigrated to the United 
States with his family, which consisted of his 
wife and six children. They crossed the 
ocean on a sail vessel, being twenty-two days 
making the trip. They landed at New York, 
and came to Green county at once, arriving 
here on the 16th of October. He clerked in 
Monroe for six months, and in the spring of 
1853 purchased some land on section 28, town 
of Washington. He lived there until 1867, 
when he removed to section 34, where he had 
purchased land the year previous. He erected 
a large frame house and barn, and resided there 
until the time of his death, which occurred 
May 20, 1869. His widow died Feb. 4, 1879. 
They had six children, three of whom are liv- 
ing — Jacob, Gotleib and Martin. John, the 
second child was born in Switzerland in August, 
1836, and died Jan. 15, 1870 ; Catharine, the 
only daughter, was born Jan. 20, 1838, and died 
in October, 1873, and Bartholomew, the young- 
est child, was born June 16, 1842, and died Jan. 
5, 1870. 

Martin zum Brunnen was born Dec. 28, 1840, 
in Switzerland. In 1852 his parents came to 
America. He made his home with his parents 
until their death. He was married in April, 
1878, to Euphemia Marty, born in the town of 
Mount Pleasant. They have one child — Bar- 
tholomew. Mr. zum Brunnen o.vns and occu- 
pies the farm his father purchased in 1866, on 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1139 



section 34. He has altogether, on sections 19, 
21, 27, 33 and 34, 480 acres of land. Sixty acres 
of this is timber land. He keeps seventy milch 
cows, and makes the milk into cheese. His 
father commenced cheese-making in 1856, with 
the milk from twelve cows, and continued in 
the business until his death. 

Jacob zum Brunnen, Jr., oldest son of Jacob 
and Susanna (Sigrist) zum Brunnen, was born 
in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, Dec. 12, 
1830. He received his education in the public 
schools of his native country. In his youth he 
assisted his father in making ropes, and after 
his father purchased a farm, devoted his time 
to agricultural pursuits. He came with his par- 
ents to America in October, 1852, and in 1853 
engaged with a carpenter and joiner at Monroe, 
for one year, to learn the trade at which he 
worked, after the first year in connection with 
farming, until 1857. Upon the 29th of April, 
of that year, he was married to Susanna Fraut- 
schy, who was born in the canton of Bern, July 
22,1836. He then settled in New Glarus and 
worked a few months at his trade, after wbicb 
he moved to his father's place, and in company 
with his father and bi'Other, carried on the 
farm until 1861. In the fall of that year he 
settled on his present farm on section 28, in the 
town of Washington. He erected a log house, 
to which he has since made a frame addition ; 
and also erected a frame barn, 38x44 feet. He 
is the owner of 305 acres of land. He keeps a 
dairy and sells milk. Mr. and Mrs. zum Brun- 
nen have nine children living — Jacob, John, 
Gotleib, Emma, Erail, Edward, Mary Susanna, 
Louise Helena, Clara Lidia. Mr. zum Brunnen 
and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. 
Mr. zum Brunnen's father and mother are dead. 

Linus Hare was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., 
in September, 1812. He obtained his education 
in the common schools. When fifteen years of 
age he engaged with a blacksmith to learn the 
trade, which he followed a few years, then went 
to Salina, where he was employed as foreman 
in a lumber yard until 1852. He went to Mich- 



igan, in that year, and located in St. Joseph 
county, where he purchased a farm, which, in 
the spring of 1854, he sold, and came to Green 
Co., Wis. He bought a farm in the town of 
Sylvester, where he soon became prominent in 
public affairs, and tilled many offices of trust, in 
the town. He was elected in the fall of 1880, 
to the office of county treasurer, and re-elected 
in 1882. At the time of his first election to 
that office, he moved to Monroe, where he died, 
Feb. 1, 1883. He was twice married, first to 
Ora Spencer, who died a few years after mar- 
riage, leaving three children, only one of whom 
is now living — Helen, who is married and lives 
in Syracuse. His second wife was Clarinda 
Hill, and by this union there were nine chil- 
dren, five of whom are now living — Henrietta, 
Alvah E., Lucy, Mary and Hester. Alvah E. 
was born in Salina, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 
8, 1844, and came with his parents to Green 
county, where he grew to manhood in the town 
of Sylvester. He enlisted April 24, 1864, for 
100 days, in company A, of the 40th Wisconsin 
regiment, and went to Memphis, Tenn., and 
was present when Forrest made his attack upon 
that city. He served five months, and was dis- 
charged with the regiment and returned home. 
He was married Nov. 13, 1866, to Sarah Ham- 
mond, a daughter of Jacob and Eliza (James) 
Hammond, pioneers of Greeu»county. ]\Ir. and 
Mrs. Hare settled in Albany at the time of their 
marriage, and remained one year, then moved 
to Mount Pleasant and rented a farm three 
years. He then moved into the village of Mon- 
ti cello, and kept the Monticello House two and 
a half years. He then resumed farming. In 
1876 he bought a farm on section 26, of Wash- 
ington, where he has erected a good frame 
house, and is engaged in raising stock and grain. 
They have two children — Myrtie and Linus. 

Eldridge W. Chesebro was born in Knox, Al- 
bany Co., N. Y., March 14,1822. His early 
life was spent in his native county, where he 
attended the district school, and afterwards, 
three terms at Knoxville Academy. He was mar- 



1140 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



ried in March, 1850, to Elmina Ketcbam, also a 
native of Knox, Albany county. He bougbt a 
small farm in bis native town and lived tbere 
until 1854, tben sold his farm and came to Wis- 
consin. He lived in Walworth county one year, 
then settled in Mount Pleasant, Green county, 
where be purchased a farm in company with 
his father, on section 26. Two years later he 
sold bis interest and bought a farm on tbe same 
section, upon which was a log house and a straw 
stable, and fifty acres broken. He lived upon 
this farm four years, then removed to an ad- 
joining farm which he had purchased, living 
there until 1868, when he came to Washington 
and bought his present farm on section 25, 
where, he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. 
Chesebro are the parents of seven children — 
Milton, Simmons, Oscar, Allen, Sarah, Edwin 
and Eldridge. Mr. Chesebro enlisted Feb. 22, 
1865, in the 49th Wisconsin regiment, company 
G, and went to Missouri where he was stationed 
on guard duty. He was detached from the reg- 
iment a part of the time. He was discharged 
at Benton Barracks, Nov. 8, 1865. 

Argalus Loveland came to Green county in 
1854. He was born in Smithfield, Madison Co., 
N. Y., May 5, 1814. When he was three years 
old his parents moved to Springfield, Erie Co., 
Penn., where they lived until 1828, then moved 
to Salem, Mercer-county, of the same State. He 
remained with his parents until twenty-one 
years of age, then went to Orleans Co., N. Y., 
wliere he was employed in farming during the 
summer and chopping wood in the winter. He 
staid there a year, then returned to his home in 
Mercer Co., Penn., remained a few weeks, then 
went to Michigan, where he stopped a short 
time and returned to Cleveland, Ohio, and went 
to work in a stone quarry, five miles east of the 
city. A few months later he went to Warrens- 
ville, near Cleveland, and commenced learning 
the carpenter trade. Some time later he re- 
turned to Cleveland and worked at his trade 
until 18.37, when he went back to Mercer county 
and took an interest in his father's farm. He 



was married in that county, Oct. 11, 1838, to 
Jane Orwick, who was born near Coshocton, 
Ohio. The following spring he bought land 
two miles from his father's place, upon which 
he lived until 1853, then sold and went to Pa- 
vilion, Kendall Co , 111., and remained one year, 
then came to Green county. He bought a farm 
of William Tucker on sections 22 and 23 of the 
town of Washington. There were fourteen 
acres of the land fenced and broken, and a log 
house was standing upon the place. He now 
has the land all improved and fenced, and has 
erected a large frame house, doing the work 
himself. Mr. and Mrs. Loveland have nine 
children living — Franklin, Orrilla, Jane A., 
Eminah, Temperance, William A., Edwin A., 
Alfred E, and Silas E. Harrison, the second 
son, was born in Mercer Co., Penn., June 25, 
1841, and made his home with his parents until 
1863. In the summer of that year he went to 
Monroe and engaged in a marble shop, to learn 
the trade, but soon after enlisted in the 1st Wis- 
consin Heavy Artillery, and went to Louisiana. 
In the summer of 1864 he was taken sick at 
Brazier City and sent to the hospital at New 
Orleans, where he partially recovered, and with 
200 others, started for New York on the steam- 
er North America which, during a storm, sprung 
a leak and sunk. Nearly all on board perished, 
Harrison among the number. Mr. Loveland is 
the present town treasurer, which office he has 
filled for seven consecutive years. He has also 
been chairman of the board, a member of the 
side board, assessor and town clerk. He is a 
member of the Seventh Day Advent Church at 
Monroe. He is politically a republican, and has 
been elected to office in a town where his party 
is largely in the minority. 

Frank Loveland enlisted April 22, 1861, at 
the first call for troops, in company C, of the 
3d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and joined 
the Army of the Potomac. He participated in 
the following battles: Bolivar Heights, Win- 
chester, Cedar Mountain, second battle of Bull 
Run and Antietam, where he was wounded and 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1141 



sent to the hospital, and remained four months, 
then joined the command opposite Fredericks- 
burg, in January, 1863. He afterwards partici- 
pated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Ger- 
mania Ford and Gettysburg. In the fall of 
1863, he joined the western army. He veteran- 
ized December 23, of that year, and went with 
Sherman on his march to the sea, and to Raleigh, 
N. C, taking part in most of the more important 
battles of that campaign. He was taken sick 
at Raleigh, but again joined the regiment at 
Alexandria, in June, 1865. He was mustered 
out in Kentucky in July, 1865, and returned 
home. He was born in Mercer Co., Penn., July 
30, 1839, and came to Wisconsin with his par- 
ents with whom he remained until the time of 
his enlistment. He was married June 20, 1874, 
to Maria Lemon, a native of Green county. He 
then settled on his present farm on section 15, 
which he had purchased some years previously. 
He has improved the land and erected a good 
frame house and barn. Mr. and Mrs. Loveland 
have four children — Otto, William, Franklin 
and Ada. 

Joshua Moore came to Green county in 1854, 
and bought eighty acres of land on section 36, 
of the town of Washington. There was a stone 
house upon the place and all the land was im- 
proved and under fence. In 1867 he sold this 
place and bought 120 acres of land on sections 
14 and 15, forty of which was improved. A log 
house was standing upon the southwest quarter 
of section 14, into which he moved. He has 
since purchased more land and erected a good 
frame house in which he now lives. He was 
born in Guilford Co., N. C, March 15, 1799. 
He was reared in his native county, to agricul- 
tural pursuits. In 1822 he went to Tennessee 
and located in Roane county, where he engaged 
with a saddler and harness maker, to learn the 
trade. He served six months, then engaged in 
the same business for himself. He was mar- 
ried in Tennessee, in December,1823, to Hepsey 
Ann Childres, who was born in Anson Co., N. 
C., Nov. 12, 1804. A short before liis marriage 



he bought a piece of timber land and built a log 
house, in which they began house keeping. It 
was furnished with home-made furniture. lu 
1830 he bought 100 acres, opened a tan yard and 
then in 1837 sold his place and went to Indiana, 
and entered 400 acres of land in Davis county. 
He remained there but a short time, however, 
and returned in 1838 to Tennessee. The man 
to whom he had sold his Tennessee farm, for 
11,000, failed to pay for it, and he had to start 
anew. He had $100 and he bought a piece of 
land on credit, built a log house and put in a 
tan yard. He afterwai'ds built a good frame 
hoiif^e, arid lived at Post Oak Springs until 1854, 
when he again went to Indiana and remained 
one year, then came to Green county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Moore have had three children — Mary R., 
John C. and Thomas. Mary R. is the widow of 
Jacob Berkey; Thomas is dead; John C. is a 
farmer and lives in Washington. 

James Confer, class leader of the Centre M. 
E. Church, in the town of Washington, was 
born in Centre Co., Penn., Jan. 10, 1821. There 
he grew to manhood, obtaining his education in 
the public schools. At the age of eighteen 
years he commenced working in a tannery, 
which occupation he continued eight years. He 
was married P'eb. 20, 1845, to Mary E. Zlebuch, 
who was born in Union Co., Penn., Sept. 3, 1824. 
In 1847 they removed to Illinois and located in 
Winnebago county, purchasing land in Harlem 
township, where he built a stone house and im- 
proved a farm. He resided there until 1854, 
then sold his farm and came to Green Co., 
Wis. He purchased u'limproved land on sec- 
tion 34, of the town of Washington, on which 
he built a log house. A few years later he 
erected the frame house in which he now lives. 
Mr. and Mrs. Confer are the parents of four 
children — John W., who is a farmer, and lives 
in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa; Francis M., a practic- 
ing physician at Monroe; Jacob S., a farmer, 
living at Monticello, and James E., who resides 
ar home with his parents. 



1142 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Melschior Schlittler came to Green county in 
1858, and settled in the town of New Glariis. 
He was a single man at that time, and worked 
at farming. For his work the first year he re- 
ceived 1 100. In 1862 he purchased land on sec- 
tion 12, town of Washington. There was a log 
house on the place, in vvhich he lived. He was 
married in July, 1867, to Elsbeth Zweifel, horti 
in Switzerland. They have six cliildren--Bertha, 
Emma, Albert, Lena, Mina and Amelia. In 
1867 he rented a farm on sections 1 and 12, and 
the next year sold a part of his old farm and 
bought the one he had rented, and which he 
now occupies. He has 191 acres in the towns 
of Washington and New Glarus, and 200 acres 
in the town of Exeter. He has a large frame 
house and good barns, also granaries and other 
out houses. 

John G. Bidlingmaier came to Washington 
in 1861, and purcliased land on section 30, 
which consisted of sixty-seven acres, twenty 
acres of which were broken. A log cabin had 
been erected upon the land. He soon after pur- 
chased 133 acres of adjoining land. He was 
born in Wurteniburg, Germany, in 1814, 
where he was reared upon a farm. He was 
mai-ried to Annie Woernei*, and in 1851 they 
came to America, and settled in Tuscarawas 
Co., Ohio, where he was employed in farming 
three years. He then rented a farm until 1861. 
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs.. Bid- 
lingmaier, only one of whom is now living — 
Michael, who was born in Germany, Dec. 3, 
1843, and was seven years old when he came to 
America. He was married in 1877 to Ann Mary, 
daughter of Christian and Verena (Buenker) 
Iseli. She was born in Oliio. They settled at 
the time of their marriage upon the homestead, 
wliere they still reside. They have three chil- 
dren — John G., Christian A. and Lydia Verena. 

Christian Iseli came to this county in 1861, 
and bought wild land on section 30, of the town 
of Washington, all of which was timber and 
grub land. He has since cleared and fenced 
about 100 acres. He was born in the canton of 



Bern, Switzerland, July 4, 1828. His father 
was a gunsmith by trade, and also owned a small 
farm. The subject of this sketch assisted his 
father on the farm and in the shop until 1846, 
when he left his native land, and came to the 
United States. He first stopped in Tuscarawas 
Co., Ohio, and engaged in mining four months. 
He then ran an engine at the iron ore furnace 
five years, after which he was engaged as en- 
gineer in different places for three years, then 
was again employed at the mines, doing outside 
work until 1861. He was married in 1857 to 
Verena Buenker, a native of Switzerland. They 
have had fourteen children, thirteen of whom 
are now living — Samuel, Ann Mary, Verena, 
John, Jacob, Rosina, Elizabeth, Louisa, Maggie, 
Henry, George, Wilhelm D. and Annie B., 
twins. Annie, the ninth child, died in 1880, 
aged seven years and six months. The family 
are members of the German Evangelical Re- 
formed Church, of which Mr. Iseli was one of 
the first trustees, and is the superintendent of 
the Sabbath school. 

John Norton came to Green county in Mai'ch, 
1865, and worked at farming for James Barney. 
In 1867 he bought 100 acres of land on section 
24, of the town of Washington. He improved 
this land, and at the sametime, worked Mr. Bar- 
ney's farm on shares. In 1877 he removed to 
his own land. He lived upon this place until 
1881 when he bought a farm on section 25, of 
the same town, where he has built a large frame 
house and a barn 36x70 feet, with twenty foot 
posts and having a stone basement. He owns 
402 acres of land, the greater part of which is 
improved and under fence. He keeps a dairy 
of forty cows. Mr. Norton was born in county 
Limerick, Ireland, May 10, 18 25. He was there 
reared upon a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools. In 1848 he left Ireland and came 
to America, landing at Philadelj)hia. He re- 
mained in that city three months, then went to 
Berks county, where lie lived till 1851. He 
then removed to Ohio and located in Lake 
county where he rented a farm and remained 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1143 



till 1865, when, as before stated, he came to 
Green county. He was married in 1854 to 
Mary Codde, who was born in connty Wexford, 
Ireland. They have eight children — Micliael, 
Frank, George, John, Robert, James, Ella and 
Mary V. 

John Bass came to Green county in 1874, and 
engaged in cheese making, in the town of Wash- 
ington. In 1881 he bought the Fessenden farm, 
located on sections 23, 24 and 25, Here he 
built a large barn with a stone basement and 
enlarged the frame house he now occupies. He 
is still engaged in the manufacture of cheese, 
using at the present time the milk of 130 cows. 
He also has a factory in Dane county. He 
manufacturers Limburger and brick cheese. He 



was born in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, 
June 6, 1836. He learned the art of cheese 
making when a boy, and when seventeen years 
old went to France, where ho was engaged in 
that occupation. In 1856 he left that country 
and came to America, locating in New Jersey, 
where he lived one year. He then went to New 
York and engaged in making cheese in Oneida 
county, remaining there the greater part of the 
time till 1870 when he came to Wisconsin and 
located at Watertown where he started two 
cheese factories, which he sold in 1874, and as 
before stated, came to Green county. He was 
married in 1874 to Louisa Weismiller, daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Elizabeth Weismiller, pioneers 
of Green county. Mr. and Mrs. Bass have three 
children — John, Bertha and one not yet named. 



]]44 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



TOWN OF YORK. 



This is the northwest town of the county. 
The territory is identically the same as that of 
congressional township 4 north, range 6 east, of 
the fourth principal meridian. It is bounded on 
the north by the town of Perry, Dane county; 
on the east by the town of New Glarus; on the 
south by the town of Adams; and on the west 
by the town of Moscow, Iowa county, and town 
of Blanchard, Lafayette county. 

TOPOGRAPHY. 

The western part of the eastern tier of sec- 
tions make the water-shed between the waters 
that flow southeast, uniting with Sugar river, 
and the waters that flow southwest, uniting 
with the Pecatonica river. The eastern part of 
the town is very rolling, and generally prairie, 
interspersed with groves, and the larger j^art of 
the town, including the western part of the 
eastern half, and all of the western half is quite 
hilly. The hills in the western and southwest- 
ern portions reaches an elevation of from 150 
to 250 feet above the valley level. Many of these 
hills are quite abrupt, but farmers living in the 
valleys are able to make roads leading to their 
lands on the ridges. Three considerable streams 
are made within the limits of this town, by 
spring branches coursing their way down the 
many valleys. These streams flow southwest- 
erly, and finally find their way to the Pecatonica 
river. The many highways of the town are de- 
vious, now following a valley through a settle- 
ment, and now over a ridge or high land, and 
again entering a valley, ""i'liere is one exception 
to this rule. One well traveled road passes 



north and south through the eastern tier of sec- 
tions. This is what is known as the Argyle and 
Madison road. 

The highlands with the exception of York 
prairie, spoken of, were originally timbered 
with the common varieties of oak, principally, 
black walnut, poplars, basswood and hick- 
ory. The valleys were generally filled with a 
rank growth of grass and weeds, varied by oc- 
casional patches of wild plum and wild apple 
trees, and j)lenly of wild grapes. 

The soil of the prairies is a black loam, with 
a limestone and clay foundation. 'J'he valleys 
have generally an alluvial soil. The timbered 
highlands are principally clay with a limestone 
mixture. Plenty of limestone for all purposes 
is found, and in the southwest part considerable 
sandstone crops out. 

The town is well watered, and especially well 
adapted to stock and dairy business. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. 

John Stewart made the first settlement in the 
territory now known as the town of York, in 
in 1838. He came from Union Co., Ohio, in 
1837, after which he spent one year in Wiota, 
Lafayette county. He made a claim upon sec- 
tion 27. This claim was mostly prairie, but the 
west side was covered with timber; in which, 
near a si)ring, he built his log house. Mr. 
Stewart was born in 1806. His father, Joseph 
Stewart, settled in Ohio in the early part of this 
century. John Stewart was married in Union 
Co., Ohio, to Adeline Robinson, March 2, 1830. 
She was born Oct. 13, 1809. When he came to 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



1145 



Wisconsin he had five children. One child, 
John W., died at Wiota, when quite young. 
His death was caused by a singular accident. 
He was trying to blow a large tin dinner horn, 
and fell, driVing the small end of the horn 
through the roof of his mouth and the side of 
his head, causing death a few days later. In 
1884 only two of the children were living. De- 
catur lives in Turner Co., Dak.; and Ellen, who 
was born at Wiota, is the wife of Charles Green, 
and lives in Nebraska. The others were Ade- 
line, who died when but a child, in 1847; Jeru- 
sha, deceased wife of E.N.Thayer; and George 
who died in California. His wife died Sept. 5, 
1844. In 1850, accompanied by his son, George, 
Mr. Stewart went to California, returning in the 
winter of 1851-2. A few years later George 
went back to California where he died. Some 
years after his wife's death, Mr. Stewart mar- 
ried Mrs. Huldah Brown. Two children was 
the result of this union — Banks, who lives in 
Lincoln, Neb.; and Grant, who lives with his 
widowed mother in Albia, Iowa. John Stewart 
was one of the best blacksmiths and iron-work- 
ers ever known in this country, excelling in 
handling edged tools. Mr. Stewart is well re- 
membered by the early settlers as an honest, in- 
dustrious citizen, kind and charitable; genial in 
his intercourse with all men. He never was a 
party either as plaintiff or defendant in a law- 
suit. His death, which occurred in February, 
1867, caused much sorrow among his many 
friends. His youngest child by his first mar- 
riage was John W. Stewart. 

John W. Stewart, son of John and Adeline 
Stewart, was born Sept. 4, 1844. He was 
married to Carrie M. Lundly, Oct. 30, ]8'70. 
She was born during an ocean voyage May 20, 
1852. Her parents are now living in this town. 
They have three children — John W., Ida A. 
and Nellie M. Mr. Stewart now lives on section 
22, town of York. 

The next settler was William C. Green, who 
came here from Wethersfield, Wyoming Co., 
N. Y., in the fall of 1839, and built a small 



log house. He returned to New York, com- 
ing back the following spring with his wife 
and children. His children were — Rebecca, 
wife of Clark Hickox, of Iowa county; Jane 
A., wife of Duncan McDonald, Vernon Co., 
Mo.; Amy, wife of Thomas Biggs, died in 
1855; William U., who enlisted in company C, 
37tl> Wisconsin Volunteers. In one of the as- 
saults made in the fall, 1864, upon the defenses 
of Petersburg, as 2d sergeant he had charge of 
the colors of the regiment. The charge was re- 
pulsed and being wounded in both legs he 
was unable to walk, and under the terrific fire 
of the rebel lines, he dragged himself (draw- 
ing the colors by his teeth), back to the Union 
intrench ments, a brave and glorious deed by a 
worthy son of a worthy sii-e. He died in the 
hospital from wounds received that day. An- 
other son, John Murray, a veteran of the 3d 
Wisconsin Volunteers, died in the service at 
Fayetteville, Tenn. Franklin L. died in 
1855. One daughter, Laura, is the wife of 
Decatur Stewart, Dak.; and Martha Ann 
lives in Woodstock, Ohio, wife of Ralph 
J^urnhani. Three children were born in this 
town — Albert^M., (see his biography), Charles 
R., resident of Madison Co., Neb.; and Isabelle 
S., wife of Edward Ruff, of Denver, Col. Mr. 
Green settled on section 23. The old log house 
Htill stands, near the fine residence of his 
son, Albert M. He was a prominent man 
in public affairs in his town and county. He 
was a man of many sterling qualities, and re- 
presented Green county in the State legislature 
of 1850. Joanna, his wife, died in this town, 
Oct. 21, 1846. In the year of 1848, Mr. Green 
married Mrs. Eliza Hobbs, and in the year 1861 
they made their home in Monroe, where Mr. 
Green died Aug. 3, 1870, aged seventy years. 
His widow is now living at Monroe. 

Amos Conkey came from Wyoming Co., N. 
Y., in the year 1841, accompanied by Samuel 
and Josiah Eddy. Mr. Conkey settled on sec- 
tion 14, on land previously owned by Hall 
Chandler, who was from the same town and conn- 



ed 



1146 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



lyinNew York. He built a log house and lived 
a bachelor several years. When about forty 
years of age he married Mrs. Mary Ann Mar- 
ston. She was born and reared in Englatid. 
Mr. Conkey died near Monroe, (where he lived 
the latter years), Dec. 21, 1874, aged sixty-live 
years. His widow yet survives him. 

Albert M. Green, a son of Hon. William C. 
and Joanna Green, was the second child born 
in this town. The date was April 23, 1842. 
His father was the second settler of this town, 
and perhaps the most prominent man of the 
town in its early days. (For extended notice of 
him and family see history of early settlement.) 
Albert M. Green was reared a farmer. He was 
one of the first to respond to the call of his 
country upon its patriotic sons. He enlisted in 
company B, 18th Wisconsin Volunteers, and 
one week from the day of leaving Milwaukee 
the untrained regiment was fighting gallantly 
in the front of Prentiss's division at the battle 
of Pittsburg Landing. In this engagement 
with many others of the regiment, who held 
out until retreat was impossible, he was taken 
prisoner; he was held until June and then 
paroled. He then went into the parole camp at 
St. Louis, and remained there until October. 
He was then sent to Superior City with a part 
of the reserve force in the Indian campaign 
against the Sioux (1862). He was exchanged 
and rejoined the regiment July 20, 1863. After 
some hospital experience he was discharged for 
disability in January, 1864. His disability was 
permanent and he now receives a pension. 
Dec. 6, 1864, he married Ella G. Brown, 
daughter of Mrs. Huldah Brown, the second 
wife of the old pioneer, John Stewart. Mr. 
and Mrs. Green have had four children — Ralph 
B., Dall H, (died at the age of eighteen monihs), 
Nellie Grace and Amy K. As one of the first 
born of this township, Mr. Green lias witnessed 
its growth and development and to this has 
contiibuted his full share. He has always 
voted the republican ticket. 



Charles Reed, came with Mr. Green's family 
in 1840. He was a single man about twenty 
years of age. He worked for Mr. Green to pay 
for eighty acres of land, entered for him by 
Mr. Green, on section 23 This land he sold to 
Albro Crowel next year. Mr. Reed then made a 
new claim, and in 1846, he returned to New 
York, and married his afiianced, Amelia 
Sherman. His wife died in this town in 1882. 
Later he sold his farm and moved to Dunn 
county, this State. None of the family are now 
residing in the town. 

Albro Crowel with hie wife and one child ac- 
companied by his brother, Chester, came from 
Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1841. He settled on 
section 23. on land purchased of Reed. His 
farm is now owned by R. Mosher, and part of 
the village of Postville is on this land. Mr. 
Crowel sold his farm in 1858, and moved to 
Kansas, where the same year his wife died. 
The following spring he returned to this town 
and bought a farm on section 25, where he died 
in February, 1880. His brother, Chester Crowel, 
married Lydia Ann Day, in November, 1843. 
This was the first matrimonial event in town. 
They went to Iowa in 1854, and shortly after to 
Kansas, where he died in 1875. 

In 1842 William Crowel and his family set- 
tled on section 22. He was the father of Albro 
and Chester. The rest of the family came with 
him. Of the children only one now resides 
in this town, Roswell Crowel, a son, living 
on section 22. Mr. Crowel had two married 
daughters, Alma, wife of Simeon Allan and 
Polly, wife of Joseph Miller. The former 
came in 1841, and the latter came in 1842. Mr. 
Allan and his wife afterwards went to Iowa, 
where he died; his widow now lives in Min- 
nesota. Mr. Miller and his wife are now resi- 
dents of the city of Monroe. 'I'he other chil- 
dren, all sons, are away from here. Riley lives 
in Dakota; Dan, in Moody Co., Dak.; Harlow, 
in St. Joseph, Mo.; and Seth enlisted in the War 
for the Union, in an Iowa regiment, and died at 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1147 



Little Rock, Ark. The father,William Crowel, 
died in this town in 1859. His wife died in 1845. 

Roswell Crowel, son of William and Polly 
Crowel, was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 
19, 1826. He came to the town of York 
with his parents, when sixteen years of age. 
He was married July 2, 1853, to Janet Scott, 
daughter of Joseph and JNIargaret Scott, of 
Argyle. Her mother died in Scotland, and she 
came to America with her father in the winter 
of 1842-3. Five years later, her father settled 
in Argyle, where he died in 1856. Mr. and 
Mrs. Crowel have six children — Flora, wife of 
Arthur Gabriel, of Calhoun Co., Iowa; Dan C, 
a resident of York; Lottie, wife of Andrew 
Peterson, a merchant at Pof<tville; Lillie, Spen- 
cer and John S., are living with their parents. 
Mr. Crowel resides on section 22, where he 
owns a fine farm of 190 acres. Mr. Crowel is 
one of the pioneers of the town of York, and 
has contributed his full share to its growth and 
development. 

Ezra Wescott, who came from State of New 
York, in 1840, was here transiently during the 
two or three years following, making his home 
with William C. Green, when in the town. He 
taught school at Wiota a portion of the time. 
He selected land on section 25, and in 1842, 
commenced improvements. In November, 
1845, at Wiota, he married Nancy Brown. He 
was the first magistrate in the town of York, 
and a prominent public man in the township 
and county. He represented the south assem- 
bly district in the legislature of 1863. He" also 
served as register of deeds and county treasurer. 
Before the war he became a resident of the 
town of Cadiz. He died in Minneapolis, while 
there for medical treatment. His widow in 
1884, was living in Cadiz. 

J efferson F. Wescott settled on section 25, 
in 1842. He was one of the public spirited men 
of this town, farmer, merchant and magistrate. 
He represented his assembly district in the 
legislature of 1869. He died much regretted 
Feb. 16, 1879. 



Jefferson Fayette Wescott was born March 
26, 1826, in the town of Wethersfield, Wyoming 
Co., N. Y., where he lived until 'the summer of 
of 1842, when he came to Farmer's Grove, Wis., 
in company with his brother Ezra, and A. L. 
Cleveland. They embarked on a brig at Buf- 
falo, and after a long, tedious and perilous trip, 
arrived at Milwaukee. From there they came 
on foot, arriving at Green's Prairie one dark, 
stormy night, about midnight, having followed 
the Indian trail which led from Rock river to 
Galena. Tliere was, at this time, only two set- 
tlers on the prairie, John Stewart and William 
C. Green, and they boarded with Mr. Green 
until fall, when they made a claim and built a 
cabin, where for more than a year they kept 
"bachelor's hall," supplying their table with 
bread from corn which they raised, and with 
meat from the deer and wild turdeys, of which 
they killed an abundance from the door and 
window of their cabin. In the winter of 1843 
he taught the first district school ever kept in 
the northern part of the county, and in the 
years following taught several terras in diJfferent 
parts of the county. In 1849 the township form 
of government having been adopted, and his 
cabin being just within the limits of New 
Glarus, he was elected town clerk and justice of 
the peace, for that town; and as it had just been 
settled with Swiss people, unacquainted with 
our language or laws. Mr. Wescott and his 
father (who had been elected chairman of su- 
pervisors), really discharged the duties of all the 
town offices <»f that town, for that and the fol- 
lowing year. He was married March 26, 1856, 
to Sarah E. Rogers, who was born in Bradford 
Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1831, and her father, Dick- 
erson Rogers, settled on section 31, in 1854, and 
now lives in Argyle, Lafayette county, aged 
eighty-nine years. Mrs. Wescott's mother died 
Dec. 7, 1861. One sister, Fannie, wife of Wil- 
liam Brooks, lives in Exeter; one brother, Henry 
D., lives in Argyle. Mr. and Mrs. Wescott have 
had eight children, all of whom are now living 
- Myra E., wife of Charles E. Brooks; Frank, 



1148 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



who is married and lives on part of tlie farm; 
Charles, who lives in Nebraska; Clara, who is a 
school teacher; Mary, wife of Albert Loveland; 
Nellie, Walter and Daisy are living at home. 
In 1869 Mr. Wescott was elected to the assem- 
bly from the first assembly district of this 
county, and discharged the duties of the office 
with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of 
his constituents. He was a man of more than 
ordinary ability, having all hiis life been a stu- 
dent, and having a wonderfully retentive mem- 
ory, was able to treasure up what he learned for 
future use. He was very diffident and retiring 
in his manners, and never effected a knowledge 
or an ability he did not possess. He was kind 
and courteous to all, as well as generous and 
just, and never intentionally wronged a human 
being. Politically, he was an active repuVdican, 
having helped in the organization of that party, 
and ever afterward labored faithfully and ear- 
nestly to maintain its ascendency. He was 
strictly a temperance man, having never used 
tobacco or liquors in any form. His health was 
always good, until the summer of 18Y7, 
when he was injured at a barn raising at a 
neighbor's, from the effects of which he never 
recovered. He died Feb. 16, 1879. His widow 
and family live on the old homestead, which 
now contains 3.50 acres. Mrs. Wescott is a lady 
of refinement and intelligence, possessing, in an 
eminent degree, those qualities of heart and mind 
which constitute the true woman. 

William Spears came from Ohio and settled 
on section 2.5, in 1842. After a few years' resi- 
dence here he sold his place and went to Prim- 
rose, Dane county, and died in Moscow, Iowa 
county. 

Bolvin Day came also in 1842 with quite a fam- 
ily, and settled on section 3.5. He was a farmer 
and a mechanical genius. He procured a turning 
lathe ; he made chairs, bedsteads, baskets, etc. 
He died in the State of Iowa. His son, David, 
settled on section l,in 1843; he now lives in 
Brodhead. None of the family are imw resi- 
dents of this town. 



Philander Peebles came in 1842, and settled 
on section 13. He was born in the town of 
Middlebury, Genesee Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 1816, 
At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed 
to learn the blacksmith trade. He followed 
that avocation until he settled in this town, and 
a portion of the time twenty years later. He 
was married to Hannah Hurlbut, March 12, 
1837. They lived in Wethersfield, Wyoming 
county, until October, 1842, when they came 
here. Mr. Peebles bought government land on 
section 13. where he has since lived. Mr. and 
Mrs. Peebles have had fourteen children, five 
girls and nine boys, eleven of whom are living. 

Henry Hurlbut, a brother of Mrs. Philander 
Peebles, came at the same time, and settled on 
adjoining lands. He left this town in 1882, and 
now lives in Peterson, Clay Co., Iowa. His 
father, Augustus Hurlbut, with his wife and 
two children, in 1843, settled also on section 13, 
where he died in 1870, and his wife died soon 
after. He was an ordained minister of the 
denomination known as Christians. He held 
religious services frequently in the new settle- 
ment, and was always ready to respond to the 
calls of the afilicted, and to assist in Chri.stian 
burial of the dead. He was a good man, and 
universally respected. 

Silvenas Conkey family came from Ohio in 
1843, and settled on section 14. He was elected 
magistrate in 1844. He went to California, in 
1850, and returned in 1853, for his family. He 
died in California. 

Lemuel Case settled on section 14 in 1843. 
His wife was a widow when she married him, 
and was the mother of the two Conkeys. He 
u as the first postmaster in the town, and was a 
well-educated man. His last days were shrouded 
in poverty. He died in Dane county. 

Hibbard Peebles came to t^)is town in Octo- 
ber, 1845, and bought land on section 13, leav 
iiighis family in Michigan. They joined him 
in May, 1846. He was born in Wethersfield, 
(now Genesee) Wyoming Co., N. Y., Feb 28, 
1820. He was married Nov. 3, 1842, to Mary 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1149 



Green, who was born in Gainsville of the same 
county, Aug. 1, 1822. Their only child, Guil- 
forJ, was born Jan. 13, 1844. Mr. Peebles lo- 
cated in the town of York, on section 13, in 
October, 1845. His family joined him in May, 
of the year following. He lived on section 13 
until 1879, when he sold out and bought his 
present home on section 23, a fine farm of 118 
acres. He is a good citizen, an ".lonorable, up- 
right man, and is prominently identified with 
the Free Will Baptist Church. Guilford Pee- 
bles has always lived with his parents, except- 
ing the time of his service in the army. He was 
drafted Sept. 29, 1864, and assigned to company 
B, 3d Wisconsin Volunteers. He was at Navsh- 
ville, Tenn., Dec. 15, 1864, at the time of the 
great battle between Generals Thomas and Hood; 
did picket duty, etc., but was not brought into 
the battle. He was taken prisoner at the cap- 
ture of a railroad train in Kentucky, December 
23, and was paroled on the field. The parole 
was not recognized by his commanding officers, 
and he joined the regiment Jan. 8, 1865, at Sa- 
vanna, Ga. He was in the campaign through 
the Carolinas, under Sherman, was in the en- 
gagement at Robertsville, S. C, Jan. 29, 1865, 
also at Averysboro, N, C, March 16; he was at 
Bentonville, but not under fire, March 19. He 
was in line at the grand review at Washington, 
June 24, 1865. He was married to Adeline 
Saddler, Dec. 7, 1870. 

Hiram Gabriel came to this town in 1845, 
from Union Co., Ohio, and settled on section 34, 
where he now resides. He owns about 800 acres 
of land, mostly improved. He owns the hotel 
property formerly owned by Gilbert Post, at 
Postville. Mr. Gabriel has served as chairman 
of the town board of supervisors, town clerk 
and assessor; he also represented his assembly 
district in the legislature of 1882 and 1883. 

The first Norwegian settler of the town of 
York, was Rasmus Dahlen. He came from 
Norway with his wife and two daughters in 1851, 
and settled the same year on section 4. His 
daughters were — Anna and Ingabor. He lived 



in this town several years and then moved to 
Kendall Co., 111., where both he and his wife 
died during the same week, in 1879. Anna 
also died in that county. 

The next settlers were Christian Ula and Ole 
Kanutson, who came together in 1853, from 
Albany, this county, where they had lived 
about one year; they left Norway in 1852. 
Both men had families. Mr. Ula settled on 
section 20, where he now lives. 

Christian H. Ula was born in Norway, June 
22, 1808, and was married in May, 1839, to 
Olang Oleson, born Oct, 14, 1804. They came 
to the United States in 1852, and to this county, 
bringing five children with them, 'l^hey lived 
on a rented farm in the town of Albany one 
year. In the spring of 1853 they came to the 
town of York, and bought 120 acres of govern- 
ment land on section 17. He afterwards bought 
fifty acres of land on section 20, and moved 
there in the fall of 1866, where he and his wife 
'still live, with their son, John C, who now 
owns the farm. Of the other children who 
came from Norway — Julia is the wife of E. L. 
Soper, of the town of Jordan; Hans C, livys in 
the town of York; Ole C, lives in Buffalo Co., 
Wis.; Inger is the wife of Iver A. Skindings- 
rud, of this town. 

John C. Ula, the oldest son, with whom the 
parents are living, was born Aug. 31, 1840. He 
was married June 27, 1864 to Thora A. Skin- 
dingsrud, who was born in Norway, Aug. 11, 
1847. She came to the United States with her 
parents in 1857, and settled in the town of 
Adams. This union has been blessed with 
twelve cliildren, all of whom are now living, 
and make their home with their parents — A. 
Christian, C. Andrew, G. Olena, O. Jertina, I. 
Thoneta, Olia, Hannah, Peter O., Johan T., T. 
Julia, Anna E.. and Clara T. Mr. Ula has now 
a farm eontaijiing 411 acres, and he is one of 
the prominent representative citizens (^f the 
town. He has held several offices in the town, 
two terms as chairman of the town board; has 

een supervisor eight years, assessor one year, 



]150 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



town treasurer three years, magistrate six years 
and notary public the last ten years. He also 
took the United States census in this town in 
1880. In February, 1865, lie enlisted in com- 
pany A, 46th Wisconsin Volunteer, and served 
until the close of the war, when the regiment 
was mustered out of service at Madison, Wis. 
M. O. Eidsmore was born in Valdeis, Norway, 
Aug. 6, 1825. He came to the United States 
in 1852, reaching Blue Mounds June 13, of ih;it 
year. On September 2 of the same year lie 
was married to Annie Helland, who was born 
July 17, 1827, in Norway. They were members 
of the same party of emigrants. They settled 
in the town of York, May 10, 1854, when lie 
pre-empted forty acres of land on section 10. 
He has added to this land until the homestead 
now contains 160 acres. He also owns a timber 
lot of seventeen acres on section 6. They have 
five children — Ole M., born in 1853; Gunhild 
O., born in 1855, the wife of J. A. Kiltleson; 
Julia, born in 1858, wife of Otto Peterson, of 
Moscow; Martin, born in 1861, and Anton, born 
in !S63. The two last named are living with 
their parents. Ole M. suffered by a partial stroke 
of paralysis when three years old. He has but 
little use of his right arm. He is a school 
teacher by profession, having received his edu- 
cation in the district schools, the Normal school 
at Platteville and State University. M. O. 
Eidsmore served in the Kings army in Norway, 
from tlie spring of 1848 to the spring of 1852. 
In February, 1865, he enlisted in company I, 
45th Wisconsin Volunteers, and served until 
the close of the war. He is a good citizen and 
possesses many commendable traits of charac- 
ter. A brother of his, A. O. Eidsmore, came 
from Norway in 1852. In his journey west he 
passed through Buffalo, and there embarked for 
Detroit in the fated steamer Atlantic. This 
boat left her dock at Buffalo on a beautiful mid- 
summer night, filled with emigrants from every 
State in the east. She also numbered among 
her passengers an emigrant part}'^ of 132 Nor- 
wegians. The hundreds of human souls, filled 



with confident hope of a new life in the bounti- 
ful west, then beginning to develop its teaming 
wealth, were all joyous in the prospects before 
them. How sad the tragedy of the morning. 
Off the port of Erie, in the darkness preceding 
the break of day, the ill starred steamer was 
struck by the east-bound propeller Ogdens- 
hurg, and in less than twenty minutes, was 
engulfed in the waters of the lake, with hun- 
dreds of her passengers. The fates were mer- 
ciful to Mr. Eidsmore and his. He was saved 
with his wife and two children, but with the lost 
were sixty-eight of the hardy sons and daughters 
of the Norsland. He made his home in Dane 
county until 1854, when he came to this town 
and made his home on section 10, where he 
now lives, (1884). Another brother, Christopher 
Eidsmore, also left Norway in 1852; each of the 
three families, though leaving Norway the same 
year, came at a different time. He settled first 
in Springdale, but came to this town in 1854, 
and settled on section 15. After several years 
he made his present residence on section 1. 

FIRST EVENTS. 

The first death which occurred in the new 
settlement was that of Harriet, daughter of 
Philander and Hannah Peebles. She died Jan. 
1, 1843, aged two years and seven months. 

The wife of John Stewart died Sept. 5, 1844. 

The first birth in the town was that of Lucy 
Jane, daughter of Joseph and Polly Miller, 
which event occurred Dec. 2, 1841. She died 
March 12, 1859. 

The second birth was that of Albert M. 
Green, son of Hon. William C. Green. The 
date was April 23, 1842. 

Emeline, daughter of Albro and Elmira 
Crowel, was born March 30, 1843. She is now 
the wife of John Burr of this town. The first 
marriage solemnized in this town was that of 
Chester Crowel and Libby Ann Day, in Nov- 
ember, 1843. Ezra Wescott and Nancy Brown 
were married in 1845, Thomas Biggs and 
Amy Green were also married in 1845. 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



1151 



The first stone house was built by Philander 
Peebles in 1851. The first to break land and 
built by in 1852. The first frame house was 
Hibbard Peebles raise crops was John Stewart. 
The first public house in the town of York was 
a log house opened on section 12, by Eli George. 
The York Prairie House was opened on the sanje 
section in the same year. 

The first man to enlist in the Union army from 
the town of York in 1861 was Levi Bryant. He 
lost an arm at the battle "of Chancellorsville; 
he afterwards found employment under the 
general government at Washington, in which 
he is now (1884) engaged. 

The early settlers found market for their 
produce at Mineral Point, Galena, lead min- 
ing districts, and Milwaukee. They have drawn 
wheat to Milwaukee, a distance of 110 miles 
and sold it for forty and fifty cents per bushel. 
They would get a return load of store goods 
and emigrants, occupying seven days to make 
the round trip. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN. 

In the winter of 1841-42 a meeting of 
the settlers was held to adopt a name for the 
settlement, at which time, the name Gi'een's 
Prairie was adopted. After the organization 
of the State, the county of Green was organ- 
ized, and being sub-divided into several town- 
ships, this town, in honor of the old home of 
most of its settlers — "York State," was called 
York. Its first election as a separate township 
was held in April, 1850. Among the men who 
have been prominent in town affairs, are Wil- 
liam C. Green, John Stewart, P. Peebles, J. F. 
Wescott, D. C. Day, J. S. Gabriel, H, Gabriel, 
E. B. Crowel, A. O. Eidsmore and S. C. Camp- 
bell. The present ofiicers of the town are: 
Hiram Gabriel, chairman; S. C. Campbell and 
Briiidiel Syverson, side board; Dr. A. L. Day, 
town clerk; J. A. Kittleson, assessor; A.Peter- 
son, treasurer; A. O. Eidsmore and A. Wheeler, 
justices of the peace 

The town of York has four full school dis- 
tricts: District No, 1 is the Postville district; 



the school house, a frame building, valued at 
$555 including site and furniture, is situated in 
the village. Number of pupils, tifty-seven. 

District No. 2 has a stone school house on 
section 15, valued with lot and furniture at $500. 
Nutnber of scholars, twenty-three. 

District No. 8 has a frame school house on 
section 18, valued with grounds and furniture 
at |455. Number of pupils, thirty-two. 

District No. 4 has a frame building on section 
29, valued at |235. Number of pupils, forty- 
four. 

There are five joint districts in the town. 
District No. 1, Perry and York. The school 
house is situated in Perry. Number of pupils 
in York, nine. 

District No. 2, York and New Glarus. The 
frame school house is situated on section 12, 
town of York, valued at $125. Number of pu- 
pils in this town, thirty. 

District No. 4, York and Moscow, School 
house is located in Moscow. Number of pupils 
in York is five. 

District No. 6, York and Perry, with the 
school house in Perry. Number of pupils in 
York, eighteen. 

District No. 11, York, Perry and Moscow; 
the school house is located in Moscow, Num- 
ber of pupils in York, one. 

KELIGIOUS. 

The first religious services were held in this 
town in the year 1842, by Rev. Mr. Halstead, 
(the Methodist minister then located at Monroe) 
at the reside .ce of Joseph Miller. Services by 
that denomination from this time onward were 
held in this town with more or less regularity. 
They have always maintained an organization 
since that date, and in 1868 completed and ded- 
icated a church in Postville. This building is 
36x50 feet in size, has a belfry, but no bell; its 
cost was $2,300. Its trustees and building com- 
mittee were: G, Post, James Byrne, S C. Camp- 
bell, R. Crowel, Alvin Thatcher and others. 
Rev. P. W. Matthews, presiding elder of the 
Madison district, conducted the dedicatory ser- 



1152 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



vices in December, 1868. Rev. Thomas Clawson 
was the first pastor of the Church. He was 
followed by Revs. A. D. Jenks, Richard Pen- 
gallie, Robert Bnrnip, E. W. Allan, P.K.Jones, 
W. N. Thomas, W. T. Briggs and the present 
pastor, appointed in 1883, Rev. Mr. Case. 

The Free-will Baptist Society also built a 
church in Postville the same year (1868). Thoy 
dedicated their church in January, 1 869, the Rev. 
Dr. Graha.a, of C!hioago, officiating. This 
church has a belfry but no bell. The building 
is 36x45 in size. Its cost is $2,300. The church 
was built under the pastorate of Rev. J. S. Dins- 
more. The building committee were: Joseph 
Miller, Rev. J. S. Dinsmore and William John- 
son, with Hibbard Peebles as tieasurer. Rev. 
Dinsmore was succeeded by Rev. W. A. Pott( r, 
who was settled here about ten years, and was 
succeeded by Rev. O. H. True. He is now 
(1884) the pastor of that Church. 

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church 
is located on section 5. It was built in 
1861. It size is 36x56 feet. It has a belfry but no 
bell, and its cost was $3,000. The building com- 
mittee was E. S. Holland, William '^I'jentland 
and Christopher Gulson. Rev. Mr. Fjield was 
was the first pastor. He remained until 1881, 
when he retired from the active ministry, and 
is now living in Black Earth, Dane county. 
The congregation has been divided, and one 
part is under the pastorate of Rev. M. Isberg, 
while the other is under the pastorate of Rev. 
Theodore Reimestead. Both societies worship 
in the store. 

CEMETERIES. 

The York Prairie Cemetery was located on 
section 23, in 1846. Joanna, wife of Hon. Wil- 
liam C. Green, was the first person buried there; 
she died Oct. 21, 1846. Mrs. Molly Peebles, 
who lived to the age of ninety-one years, was 
buried in this ground in 1853. Mrs. Lucy Mil- 
ler, who reached the same age, was buried here 
in 1867. Elisha Gorhara, in his ninetieth 
year, was buried here in 1873. 



On section 27 there was a private burying 
ground on the old John Stewart farm. Mrs. 
Adeline Stewart, wife of John Stewart, was the 
first one buried here; she died Sept. 5, 1844. 

The Norwegian cemetery on their church 
grounds, was established the year their church 
was built. The first burial there was that of 
Karine, daughter of Thomas Thompson. This 
event occurred the day the frame of the church 
was put in position, in June, 1861. There is an 
older Norwegian cerhetery located on section 
17. This was the first Norwegian burial place 
in the town. 

POSTOFFICES. 

The first postoffice was established in 1846 
and called Farmer's Grove. Lemuel Chase was 
made postmaster, and the office was kept at his 
residence on section 14. He was succeeded by 
Obadiah Ames. His wife, Mrs. Sarah Ames, 
was the deputy, and did all the business of the 
office. Gilbert Post was the successor of Mr. 
Ames; and he was followed by Robert Garrett, 
and he by J. F. Wescott, who kept the office at 
his residence on section 25, until his death in 
1879. Then his widow, Mrs. Sarah E. Wescott, 
was made postmistress, and still retains the 
office. With each change of officers until the 
last, the office has been moved. The name of 
the office has attached itself, for the time being, 
to each neighborhood in which it was situated. 
The next postoffice established, about 1850, was 
called Bern; Charles Crowel was the first post- 
master and kept the office at his residence on 
section 12. This office is now kept by William 
Owens, Jr., at his residence on section 13. The 
third postoffice established, about 1862, was 
named Stewart, in honor of the pioneer settler, 
Jolm Stewart. Fred Durham was the first 
postmaster; he was succeeded by John Hollar, 
and he by Albro Crowel, and lie by Alanson 
Sherman. R. S. Mosher is the present post- 
master, but the office is kept by Andrew Peter- 
son, deputy, at his store in Postville. 

John Stewart, soon after his settlement in 
1838, built a blacksmith shop. All old settlers 



HISTORY OF GKEEN COUNTY. 



116H 



speak highly of his skill as a workman, particu- 
larly in making and handling edged tools. 

Philander Peebles, who settled in 1842, also 
worked at the forge. He was an excellent me- 
chanic and did work hard to excel. 

John Stewart built a saw-mill on section 20, 
on a branch of the Pecatonica river, which was 
ready for operation lu 1855. Alonzo Wheeler 
was the builder. Mr. Stewart, a few years 
later, sold the property to his son, Decatur, who 
afterwards sold it to John Presher. Mr. Presher 
operated the mill until about 1868, since which 
time it has been unused. 

Albro Crowel, who settled in 1841, built the 
first house in Postville, which is now standing. 
A few years later he opened a small stock of 
goods at his residence. He was the first mer- 
chant in the town of York. He traded two or 
three years only. Some years later he was 
again in trade, in a larger way, and continued 
until he moved to Kansas, in 1868. 

The next mercantile venture was that of Ed- 
ward Sendel, who erected a small building on 
section 14, in 1848, and kept a small stock of 
goods. He closed out in about two years. 

About 1850 E. T. Gardner, in the neighbor- 
hood of Farmer's Grove, on section 25, opened 
a store. Two years or so later he sold his goods 
to Gilbert Post, and his farm to Milton Kelly. 
Mr. Post traded there until 1858, when he 
moved his stock to what was afterward known 
as Postville. Trade was continued at Farmer's 
Grove by J. F. and W. S. Wescott, in a build- 
ing erected by J. F. Westcott for that purpose. 
This business was commenced in 1862. In 
1866 J. F. Wescott bought the interest of his 
partner, and continued the business until his 
death, in 1879. During the active business life 
of Mr. J. F. Wescott, Farmer's Grove was quite 
a point. There were two blacksmith shops 
open there, and several families living there. 
Nothing of its former business now remains 
(1884.) 



POSTVILLE. 

The growing corners began to assume the ap- 
pearance of a village in about 1858, when Gil- 
bert Post moved in from the prairie and com- 
menced trade there. Mr. Post erected a build- 
ing for a residence and store under the same 
roof. This property for many years has been 
known as the Postville Hotel, and in 1884 was 
owned^ by Hiram Gaoriel. Mr. Post sold his 
goods to Pascoe & King in 1874, ani3 in tR*?? 
moved to Monroe. In 1883 he went to Lemars, 
Iowa. He had two twin sons — Owen G. and 
Orren C. The former left Postville in 1882, 
and the later in 1883. They also live in Iowa. 
The firm of Pascoe & King, who succeeded Mr. 
Post, was dissolved by the dealh of Mr. Pascoe 
in May, of the following year. His death was 
caused by injuries received from the running 
away of a team. The firm was changed to 
King & Crowel. They occupied a new build- 
ing, erected by O. S. Jones during that year. 
The firm became King & Jones in February, 
1876. They did business until May 1, 1879, 
when they sold to Andrew Peterson &H. Hurl- 
but. In September, 1880, Mr. Peterson bought 
the interest of his partner, and is now (1884) in 
the business. Postville has one other store, 
which was built in 1870 by E. Sherman, who, 
the next year, put in a light stock of goods. He 
only traded a short time, and now lives at Le- 
mars, Iowa. In 1873 John W. Gabriel and R. 
M. Hurlbut stocked the store and continued in 
trade about one year, when they sold their stock 
to H. Cunningham, who moved the goods from 
the town. Mr. Gabriel now keeps a railroad 
hotel in Ohio. R. Barlow, F. E. Legler 
and R. A. Etter have successively occupied 
the building. Mr. Etter sold his stock to Hurl- 
but, of the old firm of Gabriel & Hurlbut, who, 
in 1883, closed out and moved his stock to Peter- 
son, Iowa, where he is now in trade. The build- 
ing is now occupied (1884) by Gabriel & Lundy, 

boot and shoe dealers. 

Dr. A. L. Day opened a drug store in the 
spring of 1867. A year or so later he sold his 



1154 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



stock to Gilbert Post. Dr. Rundlet owned the 
stock afterwards. After liim Dr. Pierce kept a 
small stock of drugs. After the return of Dr. 
Day from Iowa, he kept a drug department in 
the store of King & Co., two or three years, 
then he sold his stock to the company, who sold 
out the trade. 

A shop was built by Gilbert Post in 1859, 
and occupied by Thomas Mitchell, afterwards 
by Peter Olson, and later by Mr. Kayser, and 
after him by Andrew Thompson. When Peter 
Olson left the old shop, he built a new one, 
which he afterwards sold to Andrew Thompson, 
who closed the old shop. He continues the 
the business of blacksmithing and wagon re- 
pairing. There is another shop in the village 
with Samuel Copeland as proprietor. Mr Rath- 
burn had a cabinet shop here in the early days. 
Mr. Fellows was the first wagon maker and re- 
pairer. He now lives in Iowa. 

Dr. Smith located here in 1856. He owned 
a farm and lived within the present limits of 
the village. He was a botanical physician. He 
moved to Monroe about 1859. He died there 
not many years ago. The town some years af- 
ter his removal was without a resident physi- 
cian. 

In 1867 Dr. A. L. Day commenced practice 
here, continuing two and one-half years, when 
he moved away. He returned here in 1875, and 
is now the resident physician of the town. He 
has the confidence of all and his practice is 
consequently large. He is skillful as a surgeon 
as well as a physician. 

During the absence of Dr. Day, Dr. Rundlet 
was located here a short time, and after him Dr. 
Pierce. 

A large well-built and well-furnished cheese 
factory was built and put in operation in Post- 
ville in 1874. It was built by a stock company 
at a cost of $2,500. The officers of the com- 
pany are: S. C. Campbell, president; E. H. 
Miller, secretary. The association of farmers 
operating the factory have a board of directors 
with J. S. Gabriel, president; E. H. Miller, sec- 



retary; and D. Ash, treasurer. The milk of 
about 450 cows is used in the manufacture of 
American cheese. 

The Farmer's Grove Cheese Factory, located 
on section 25, was built in 1877. It is owned by 
an association of farmers with John Burr, presi- 
dent; J. M. Peebles, secretary; Jacob Hoesly, 
treasurer. The milk of abqut 200 cows is used 
in the manufacture of Limburger cheese. 

A cheese factory was put in operation by a 
farmer's association on section 16, in 1882. 
They use the milk of about 200 cows in the 
manufacture of Swiss cheese. 

A factory was put in operation the same year 
on section 29, which manufactures Limburger 
cheese. 

On section 10 there is a factory in operation, 
using the milk of about ninety cows in the 
manufacture of brick cheese. This is also 
owned by an association of farmers, and put in 
operation in 1882. 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Joseph S. Gabriel was born in Union Co., 
Ohio, Nov. 16, 1826. He was reared a farmer. 
He came to the town of York, in April, 1846, 
and worked for his uncle, John Stewart, on the 
farm now owned and occupied by himself, until 
October of the same year, when he went back 
to Ohio, and remained eighteen months. He 
then returned to this town and worked on a 
farm until the fall of 1849. He then took a 
trip through northern Iowa, and southern 
Minnesota, working a few weeks in a sawmill 
in Clayton Co., Iowa. In the spring of 1850, 
in company with his brother, Hiram, his uncle, 
Johii Stewart, and George, son of John Stewart, 
he went to California. Starting on the 22d of 
April, and crossing the plains, arrived at 
Georgetown on the 10th of September, raining 
on the American river with his brother, until 
October, 1861, wlien they returned to Ohio, by 
the way of San Francisco, Acapulco and 
Papama city, then came down the Shagres 
river sixty-five miles in asmallskiff to Shagres. 
Then shipped aboard the steamer Ohio, for New 



HISTORY OF .GREEN COUNTY. 



n >5 



York, landing their on the first day of Novem- 
ber; thence by the way of Philadelphia to 
their destination, where Joseph remained until 
1852. In that year, he again came to York 
and bought 280 acres of land on section 30, 
upon which he lived till 1868, when he bought 
his present farm on section 27, which was the 
first farm made in the town, by John Stewart, 
the pioneer settler. Mr. Gabriel was married 
June 3, 1853, to Eliza Jane Cunningham, who 
was born Sept. 11, 1834, and is a daughter of 
Matthew Cunningham, who came from Darke 
Co., Ohio, and settled in the town of Adams, 
in March, 1841. He died in 1872. His widow, 
Mrs. Prudence Cunningham, now lives in Iowa 
county, with her sister, Mrs. Mary King, widow 
of John King. Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel, have ten 
children — Lethe M., wife of Fred L. Ames; 
Mary Jane, Huldah O., Maria S., John Houston, 
George L., Hittie Luella, Byron J.. Hiram A. 
and Rodney C. Mr. Gabriel is a prominent 
representative citizen. He has served three or 
four terms as chairman of the town board, also 
as a member of the side board, as assessor, 
several terms as treasurer, and also as magis- 
trate. 

Samuel C. Campbell was born in Washing- 
ton Co., Va., July 1, 1827. His father, James 
Campbell, was a farmer, and to this avocation 
the son was reared. His father died Aug. 18, 
1840, aged fifty-four years. Samuel C. Camp- 
bell and Martha J. Cook were married Feb. 10, 
1846. She was born Jan. 15, 1827. Being 
under age, they were obliged to leave the State 
to have the ceremony legally performed. They 
crossed the western line of the State, and were 
married in Tennessee, Oct. 16, 1847. They left 
their home destined for Memphis, Tenn. They 
remained there until March 7, 1848. Then 
they came to Green county, by way of Galena, 
renting a farm in this town the first season. 
In December, the same year, Mr. Campbell 
made a claim in Perry, Dane county. He 
moved there in February of the following year 
and lived tliere nineteen years. In the fall of 



1867, he sold his farm there of 204 acres, and 
moved to York, buying the farm iie now owns 
and occupies, on section ^5. His farm was 
known as the "Gorham place," and contains 
231 acres. 'J'hey have had seven children and 
all are living — James R, a commission mer- 
chant in Eau Claire, Wis.; Frank B., who lives 
also in Eau Claire in the agency business; 
Charles C, living in Monroe, is in the agency 
business; Sarah A., the wife of E. H. Miller; 
Addie A , wife of R. A. Etter, of Monroe; 
Ulysses Grant, was (1884) attending school at 
Monroe; Samuel A., lives with his parents. Mr. 
Campbell is a prominent public spirited citizen 
of the town, an active promoter of evex'ything 
tending to public good. He is now (1884) one 
of the board of supervisors of the town. His 
mother died Sept. 3, 1883. Politically he is a 
republican. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are both 
members of the M. E. Church. 

Richard Gabriel came to Green county in 
1845, locating in the town of Adams, where he 
purchased land and engaged in farming 
and prospecting for mineral, also worked a 
portion of the time, in the Badger Diggings, 
until 1850. In that year he moved to the town 
of York. He was born in Union, Union Co., 
Ohio, May 20, 1813. In November, 1836, he 
came west and located in Wiota, remaining in 
that vicinity about four years, engaged, gener- 
ally, in mining. In 1840 he removed to Grant 
county, and settled near the headwaters of Ce- 
dar creek. Pie remained there about eighteen 
months, then returned to Wiota. In 1851 he 
purchased 160 acres of land on section 27, and 
made his home there. In 1872, he sold this 
farm and bought a farm a little west of the 
village of Postville, where he and his wife now 
reside. Mr. Gabriel was married Jan. 14, 1846, 
to Elizabeth Cunningham, who was born in 
Marshall Co., Va., Nov. 11, 1830. They were 
the first couple married in the town of Adams, 
Green Co., Wis. The ceremony was performed 
by Sylvanus Conkey, Esq. Seven children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel — Prudence, widow 



n56 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



Di Rodney Gabriel, resides in Union Co., Ohio. 
Catharine died in infancy. Their twin sons, 
Arthur and Cyrus, live in Calhoun Co., Iowa. 
Joseph P. is a residenL, of Ohio. John Wesley 
lives in Union Co., Ohio. Rv^bert lives in Iowa. 
Obadiah Ames came from the State of Maine 
in 185(». He lived for three years upon rented 
land, then settled on section 25. His family, 
who accompanied him from Maine, consisted of 
a wife and iive children — Maria, now the wife 
of Jacob Garrett, Eau Claire, Wis.; Laban L. 
living at Fall City, Dunn Co., Wis.; George R. 
■a resident of Nebraska; Lucinda, wife of C. O. 
Westcott, and Elwin are living at Farmer's 
Valley, Neb. One child — Fred L., was born in 
this town. 

Fred L. Ames and Lethe Gabriel were mar- 
ried Dec. 23, 1875. They have one child — 
Theodore, born Sept. '/, 1880. He (Fred L. 
Ames) sold his farm on section 35, early in 
1884, with the intention of removing to Farm- 
er's Valley, Neb., in the spring of 1885, where 
he has purchased an improved farm. George 
R. Ames was a member of the 8th Wisconsin 
Volunteer regiment (the Eagle regiment) com- 
E. He served four years and was wounded at 
the Spanish Fort at Mobile. The wound was 
not serious, but through an injury to the spinal 
nerve, he was permanently disabled, so as to 
prevent manual labor or active business life. 
He receives a pension of $30 per month. He 
was married to Olive Tibbetts, of Downsville, 
Dunn ^Co., Wis. They have four children — 
Walter H., Hartley L., Maud and Earl. Their 
residence is in Aurora, Hamilton Co., Neb. Mr. 
and Mrs. Obadiah Ames removed to Monroe in 
the spring of 1881. Mrs. Ames, while on a 
visit to her children in Nebraska, died in the 
■summer of 1883. Mr, Ames was at one time 
postmaster at Farmer's Grove, his wife attend- 
ing to the business of the officers. 

John Burr was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- 
land, Feb. 9, 1829. In 1837 he was brought to 
the State of New Jersey by his cousin, William 
Burr. About one year after he went to Ohio. 



He lived with Gilbert Post during the latter 
part of Mr. Post's residence in Ohio and came 
to this town with him in 1852. He worked 
here for Mr. Post and others at farm work, un- 
til he enlisted in company E, 8th W^isconsin 
Volunteers (Eagle Regiment) Aug. 21, 1861. 
He was wounded at the battle of Corinth, Oct. 
3, 1862, which necessitated his discharge from 
the army. He now receives a pension. March 
15, 1863, Mr. Hurr married Emeline, daughter 
of Albro and Alraira Crowel, who settled in 
this town in 1841. Mrs. Burr was the third 
white child born in this town, March 30, 1843. 
After their marriage they lived upon rented 
lands until the spring of 1866, when he bought, 
on section 16, a farm of 160 acres known as the 
Henry Green place. In the fall iie sold his 
place and worked his father-in-law's farm in 
1867. He afterwards made other changes, and 
in the year 1874, he bought ninety-one acres of 
improved land of D. T. Biggs, on sections 24 
and 36. His '•esidence is on section 24. They 
have two daughters residing at home (1884) — 
Nettie A. and Almira E Politically Mr. Burr 
has always been a republican. 

William Owens, Jr., a native of Canada 
West, was born Jan. 3, 1853. In 1 854 his father, 
William Owens, moved to the town of York, 
where he has, until recently, been engaged in 
farming. He now lives in the village of Post- 
ville. William Owen, Jr., was married May 
10, 1875, to Mrs. Martha J. Byrnes. They have 
four children — Ernest E., Frederick L., Oliver 
Garfield and Lillie. Mrs. Owens' first husband, 
Jaraes Byrnes, came from Canada in 1851, and 
settled on section 13, of *Jie town of York. He 
died Aug. 30, 1869, leaving fourchildren — Will- 
iam J., Mary J., George and Emma. Mr. and 
Mrs. Owens reside upon the homestead of Mrs. 
Owens' first husband, which contains 300 acres 
of valuable land. Mr. Owens is postmaster of 
Bem postoffice which is kept at liis residence. 

Knute Olsen Syre was born in Norway, Feb. 
6, 1818. In 1849 he was married to Gunheld 
Ellingsen, and they came to the United States 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



l]r,7 



tbe year following. One child was born to 
them in Norway — Catharine. She was two 
weeks old when they started for this country. 
His first settlement was made in Dane county. 
He bought 120 acres of land near Stoughton 
and lived there until 1854, when he sold out 
and came to the town of York and bought 214 
acres of land, which he still owns and occupies. 
His residence is on section 2. They have had 
six children born in this country — Berthine, the 
deceased wife of Thorsten Eidsmore; Julia, 
wife of George Johnson, who lives in the town 
of Perry; Olena, a resident of Chicago; Olaus, 
Susan and Gustav, who live with their parents. 
Mr. Olsen is a very intelligent, enterprising 
citizen, a man of strict integrity and a good 
neighbor. 

Adne Burgeson was born in Norway in 1809. 
He came to the United States, withhis wife and 
three children, in 1843, and settled in Christiana, 
Dane county, where he lived until 1855. In the 
spring of that year he sold his farm there and 
bought 160 acres of land on section 1, of the 
town of York, where he and his wife now live, 
advanced in years, with their son, Ole, who now 
owns the homestead. The children who came 
from Norway with them are — Elizabeth, the 
wife of Ole Kettleson; Rhoda, deceased, wife 
of Jacob Jorgeasen; William, who enlisted in 
the 15th Wisconsin Volunteers, in 1861, and 
died in the general hospital at Nashville, in Oc- 
tober, 1863. There were born in this State — 
Ole, who died in infancy; Edwin, who died in 
1882; John, a resident of Lake Mills, Iowa; and 
Ole, with whom the parents are now living. 
Ole was born Nov. 1, 1851, and was married 
April 14, 1882, to Julia Hadley. She was born 
Oct. 28, 1858. They have two children -Anna 
Helena, born in February, 1883; and Huldah 
Amanda, born in April, 1884. 

James T. Hilton was- born in Somerset Co., 
Maine, Oct. 1, 183u. His father, John Hilton, 
was a farmei', and to this avocation James was 
reared. He came to Green county in 1850, and 
lived in the town of Washington, seven years 



owning a farm of 100 acres on section 7. In 
1857, he bought the farm he now owns and oc- 
cupies, on section 25, this town. The land was 
entered as government land, by Amos and Hor- 
ace Green. His purchase included 148 acres. 
He has added to this, and now owns 240 acres. 
Oct. 10, 1858, he married Ellen, daughter of 
Philander Peebles. She was born in Wyoming 
Co., N, Y., in October, 1838, and was four years 
of age when her parents settled in this town. 
Six children have been born to them — Edith, 
the wife of Frank Westcott; Nira, wife of John 
Snow; Elam, Hannah, Lucinda and Ernest. Mr. 
Hilton enlisted in company I, 46th Wisconsin 
Volunteers, and served until the regiment was 
mustered out, Daniel, his oldest brother, came 
west in the fall of 1850, and lived twenty years 
in the town of Washington. He now lives in 
Pocahontas Co., Iowa. One brother, Parker L. 
Hilton, lived in this town one year, 1849-50. 
He then went to California, and afterwards 
back to the State of Maine. Two brothers, 
Joseph and Gustavus, settled in Washington, 
in 1851, and the former moved to Sioux Co., 
Iowa, in 1884. His father died in Somerset Co., 
Maine, aged eighty-eight years. His mother 
has for many years lived with him. She was 
ninety-tive years of age, April 17, 1884, and in 
good health. She reads and enjoys herself and 
is seldom absent from the family table. 

Alonzo Wheeler was born in Oneida Co., N. 
Y., Nov. 6, 1819. His father, Joseph Wheeler, 
shortly after moved to Oswego county, where 
the subject of this sketch was married to 
Frances M. Rich, May 19, 1851, and came 
directly to Beloit, in this State. Living there 
one year, they went to Lafayette county, where 
he rented some land and worked at his trade of 
millwright. In December, 1853, he moved to 
the town of York, and lived in a house owned 
by William Crowel. In March, 1855, he moved 
to Adams, rented a farm and worked at job 
work of different kinds. In 1850 he bought 
120 acres of land on section 8, of the town of 
York, where he lived until 1866, when he 



r'58 



HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY. 



bought the farm he now owns and occupies, 
which contains 190 acres, with the residence on 
section 14, and was the third place to be set- 
tled in the town, known as the "Amos Conkey 
place." The first postoffice of thistown, "Farmer's 
Grove," was established on this place. Mr. atid 
Mrs. Wheeler have had twelve children, and 
eleven of them at this time (1884) are living, 
and with their parents. Don A., Willard R., 
DeAlton, Reuben L., Edward C, Laura A., 
Cora R., Isaac J., Mary, Frank, who died 
March 23, 1872; Julia and Lettie. Mr; Wheeler 
is a good mechanic. In early days he built 
the John Stewart saw mill on section 20. He 
is a good citizen, an upright man, and has the 
respect of the community in which he lives. 

Jacob A. Kittleson lives upon section 10, 
where he settled in 1872. He was married in 
November of that year, to Gunhild, daughter 
of M. O. and Anna Eidsmore. Mr. Kittleson 
was born July 13, 1850, in Norway. His wife 
is a native of this town, born July 3, 1855. His 
father, Isaac Kittleson, came to the United 



States in June, 1855, and settled in the town of 
Perry, Dane county, where he now resides, and 
owns 240 acres of land. His family, who ac- 
companied him from Norway, consisted of his 
wife, Ellen Christine (Lee) Kittleson, and three 
children, all boys — Jacob A., subject of this 
sketch; Christian E. and James E The latter 
died at the age of seventeen years. The 
former is living in Trempealeau Co., Wis. Five 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kittleson 
in Wisconsin — Anna M., now the wife of Her- 
man B. Dahle, a merchant at Mount Vernon; 
Eliza, living with her parents; Elsie A., wife of 
A. P. Dalby, Edelle and Isaac E. are living at 
home. Jacob Kittleson purchased his farm of 
M. O. and C. O. Eidsmore. It contains 160 
acres. He is a prominent and useful citizen. 
He served as town clerk in 1874 and 1875, and 
again in 1880 and 1881. He was elected chair- 
man of the town board in 1882, and re-elected 
in 1883. He was elected assessor in 1884. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kittleson have five children — Isaac 
M., Edward A., Clara A., James G. and Ellen G. 



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